The next morning, Chen Qing accompanied Wang Gong to inspect Ganquan Fort. Wang Gong did come to find evidence against Chen Qing, but he soon discovered that Chen Qing had no evidence at all.
Especially when he saw Chen Qing's small courtyard covering an area of less than an acre, and when he saw Chen Qing's wife leading a donkey back to fetch water, Wang Gong was speechless.
"Chen Dutong must have soldiers! Why don't you let the soldiers fetch water?" Wang Gong suspected that Chen Qing was deliberately doing it to show him.
Chen Qing smiled and explained: "Wang Shijun doesn't know. Ganquan Fort is too remote and there is no maid even if you want to hire one. It is not impossible to use personal soldiers to fetch water, but many generals do not have personal soldiers. They are all wives."
My parents went to fetch water, and I asked the soldiers to fetch water. This would make the generals at the bottom feel uncomfortable and affect their morale, so I had no choice but to ask my wife to fetch water."
Liu Jing next to him smiled and said: "What a last resort. We understand Chen Dutong's difficulties."
Since it was a last resort, Wang Gong had nothing to say. At this time, a doctor came out from the next yard carrying a medicine box, shook his head to Chen Qing and said: "Du Tong, I have tried my best, can you get through this?"
, it depends on God’s will!”
Liu Jing asked: "Are Chen Dutong's family members sick?"
"No! It's Emperor Xian De."
Wang Gong was shocked, "Is Emperor Xiande ill?"
Chen Qing nodded, "She was too thin and fell ill soon after she came back. Her condition has not improved. The spring cold has been severe these past few days, and her condition has become a bit serious again."
One of Wang Gong's main tasks when he came to Ganquan Castle this time was to take Emperor Xiande back to Lin'an. Now Emperor Xiande actually fell ill. How should he explain it?
He quickly said to Chen Qing: "Can you let me see her?"
Chen Qing glanced at the doctor. The doctor thought for a moment and said, "She just fell asleep. It's okay to check at the door. Don't disturb her. She's too weak."
Chen Qing took Wang Gong into the small courtyard. Zhao Qiaonv lived in the west wing of the main house. Wang Gong stood at the door of the living room and looked into the room. He saw a girl lying on the bed covered with a thick quilt, with deep eye sockets.
Her lips and face were sunken, and there was no trace of blood on her lips or face. Perhaps it was because of the pulse diagnosis. Her left hand was placed outside. Her hand was very small, and her wrist was as thin as a hemp rod.
Wang Gong took a breath of air, this is Emperor Xian De? She is as thin as a beggar.
At this time, Li Qingzhao came out of the house and gently closed the door. Wang Gong was stunned, "You are... Yi An, you... why are you here?"
Li Qingzhao's life was very difficult for a period of time. In order to ask for her husband's salary, she always came to the Ministry of Personnel to ask for an explanation. At that time, Wang Gong was working as a member of the Ministry of Personnel, and he knew Li Qingzhao.
"It turns out to be Mr. Wang, long time no see."
Chen Qing smiled at the side and said: "Ji Shi Yi An is my wife's master and we came here together."
Wang Gong understood. Li Qingzhao probably couldn't survive in Lin'an anymore, so he followed Mrs. Chen Qing to Ganquan Castle.
Liu Jing asked: "Is the Emperor Xian De being taken care of by layman Yi An?"
Li Qingzhao nodded, "She was tortured by the Jin people and could only eat one meal a day. She is too thin. She is lucky to be alive. She has been ill for almost half a month this time. It depends on whether she can survive it.
Let’s do this!”
Wang Gong hesitated for a while and said, "Can you take her back to Lin'an for recuperation?"
"Absolutely not!"
The doctor flatly objected, "Don't even mention going to Lin'an. Even if she goes to Hanzhong, her body won't be able to support it. She will... die of illness on the way."
Li Qingzhao also said: "Wang Yuanwailang, we have been doing our best to treat her, and finally she is getting better. Seeing that the weather is getting warmer day by day, she may slowly recover, but she must not travel long distances now, otherwise all her efforts will be wasted."
Wang Gong looked at Chen Qing in embarrassment, and Chen Qing smiled and said: "Let's do this! When she recovers, I will bring her back with me when I go back to report on my work next time."
Liu Jing whispered: "Now it seems that this is the best way. We have all seen it with our own eyes, and the officials can understand it."
"All right!"
Wang Gong had no choice but to agree. He also saw with his own eyes that Emperor Xian De's wrist was as thin as a stick. He probably couldn't do it. If she died of illness on the road, he couldn't bear the responsibility.
"Please ask Chen Dutong to take good care of her and let her recover as soon as possible."
"This is my responsibility, Wang Shijun, don't worry!"
After everyone walked out of the yard, Zhao Qiaoyun stood up secretly to look around. Li Qingzhao quickly waved her hand to let her lie down. Don't reveal her secret at this time.
........
Walking to the street, Wang Gong asked again: "How did Chen Dutong arrange the other concubines and maids?"
Wang Gong has already read the list, and there are no important people in it. The highest titles in the palace are only talented people, and there are no concubines, so he has not taken away their enthusiasm.
Chen Qing sighed and said: "They are all poor women. It would be a great merit if I could find them a home. Originally, many of my generals were not married, so I could help them, but they have special status. Without the consent of the court, I dare not
I am planning to ask the imperial court for permission to make decisions without permission."
Wang Gong's eyes lit up. This was a good idea. He could settle on the spot and marry the border guard general.
"This is a good idea, I think it's feasible."
"But they were once palace ladies!"
Wang Gong shook his head, "They are no longer there, and the court will definitely not recognize them."
"What do you mean?" Chen Qing still didn't understand.
"Chen Dutong still doesn't understand? All the previous palace files were destroyed in the war. The current palace records are from the Jianyan year. Even if they return to Lin'an, they can't prove their identities and no one knows them.
, the imperial court will at most give them some money to make a living on their own, and what you think they can do is not to marry hastily. Since they are all married, it is better to marry the border guards, at least they can make some contribution to the fight against the Jin Dynasty. "
Although it was an excuse, Wang Gong's words made sense. If they returned to Lin'an, their fate would indeed be worrying.
Chen Qing thought for a while and said: "Having said that, I'm afraid that someone will make a fuss about this matter in the future and say that I..."
"No! Please rest assured, sir. This is a shame for the imperial court. No one will make a fuss about this matter. Anyone who dares to make an issue out of this matter will definitely be attacked by all the officials of the imperial court."
Liu Jing also winked at Chen Qing, saying that he could rest assured.
Chen Qing smiled and said: "In that case, I will be responsible for settling them! To be honest, there are a lot of bandits on the road, and I really don't trust them going south."
After a pause, Chen Qing smiled again and said: "Wang Shijun, go and talk to them! Let them stay with peace of mind."
Wang Gong thought for a while and said: "Okay, I will tell the truth and let them understand their situation and give up their intention to return to Lin'an!"
........
The discussion between Wang Gong and the palace officials really worked. Originally, a few palace concubines wanted to return to Lin'an, but now they gave up completely and could only start to consider their destination in a down-to-earth manner.
Wang Gong only stayed in Ganquan Fort for two days. He saw that the Song army was actively preparing for war, and he was actually afraid of the outbreak of war and could not leave.
Early on the third day, he and his deputy Liu Jing left Ganquan Castle with several entourage and headed for Beixianren Pass, escorted by fifty guards.
Chen Qing sent Wang Gong away and returned home after receiving news from his wife, but unexpectedly found that Zhao Qiaoyun was also at home, waiting for him to come back. Of course, she was not alone. Lu Xiu and Li Qingzhao were also sitting nearby.
Chen Qing smiled and comforted Zhao Qiaoyun: "He is gone, you can rest assured!"
"What happens next?"
Zhao Qiaoyun whispered: "I mean, can you just go with the flow and say that I died of illness?"
Chen Qing shook his head, "This definitely won't work!"
"Why not?" Zhao Qiaoyun looked disappointed.
Chen Qing sighed and said: "There are many people who know you. There are hundreds of women here. They will marry my men. Then the fact that you cheated your death will become a handle for me. If I offend anyone, a deceiver will be killed."
All your sins have been put on my head."
Zhao Qiaoyun nodded silently and said apologetically: "I'm sorry, I was too selfish and didn't think about the general."
Chen Qing smiled and said: "Don't worry, Ganquan Fort is thousands of miles away from Lin'an. It's not easy for the envoy to come. I just found an excuse and sent it away. I said you went back to the Song Dynasty to visit the mountains and rivers to relax."
Who knows when you will come back, and Queen Mother Wei never wants you to come back, so what are you worried about?"
Lu Xiu also smiled and said: "That's it! What are you worried about? Our Chen Dutong promised a thousand gold coins. As long as you don't want to go back, he won't let you go back!"
