The Red Chamber begins with a bastard

Chapter 156 Lead the snake out of the hole
Jia Huan stretched out two fingers and gently placed them on Lin Ruhai's pulse gate. He tilted his head slightly and looked towards the door with his eyes blankly, as if he was paying attention to the pulse.

Lin Daiyu looked at Jia Huan suspiciously, but she couldn't help but have a glimmer of hope in her heart. Huan'er was always unexpected. Could it be that he had lived in seclusion for the past few years and really learned medical skills? However, medical skills are profound and profound. Which famous doctor has not experienced more than ten years? Even though Huan'er has spent the past few years studying medicine, his level is still limited.

Thinking of this, the glimmer of hope in Lin Daiyu's eyes slowly disappeared. No matter how many elderly famous doctors were invited to treat her father's disease, they still had no effect, let alone a young boy like Huan'er.

In fact, Jia Huan knows nothing about medical skills. He is just pretending to be pretentious at the moment. However, although Jia Huan does not know medical skills, he knows how to observe words and emotions and understand people's hearts.

When Jia Huan met the housekeeper Diao Sheng at the gate just now, Jia Huan felt strange. He had clearly written a letter to Lin Ruhai. The latter should not continue to keep people like Diao Sheng around as housekeepers. But when Jia Huan saw When Lin Ruhai looked like he was dying, he vaguely understood. Lin Ruhai was so sick that he was about to die. How could he spare any time to investigate and deal with Diao Sheng?He might not even have a chance to read his own letter.

In addition, the way Diao Sheng peeked outside the house, obviously having something up his sleeve, aggravated Jia Huan's suspicion. Then Aunt Zheng's movements and expressions after delivering the medicine were also very abnormal. She could not see any sadness or worry, but she was. She wished Lin Ruhai could drink the medicine quickly.

Originally, Lin Ruhai had always been healthy and was fine in the first half of last year. Jia Huan was shocked when he suddenly became so ill. Combined with the performances of Diao Sheng and Aunt Zheng, suspicion inevitably arose.

People are unpredictable.

Diao Sheng's father, Diao Yide, was rich in gold and silver. He was very wealthy in his hometown and planned to buy land to build a big house. The source of the money was unknown. It was most likely that Diao Sheng, who worked as a housekeeper in the Lin Mansion, poached it from his master's house.

Once things in this world are linked to wealth and sex, they are probably inseparable from filth and filth. Lin Ruhai suddenly became so ill. It was normal for Jia Huan to be suspicious.

Yes, Jia Huan suspected that Lin Ruhai's illness was not a disease, but poisoning. There were many chronic poisons that could cause death in the world. If someone around him poisoned him, he would be able to do so without even noticing.

Jia Huan took his pulse for nearly a minute. During this period, everyone held their breath, so the room was very quiet. Diao Sheng, who had been listening with his ears pricked up outside the room, felt inexplicably uneasy, so he poked his head in one after another, and this scene was... It fell into Jia Huan's eyes.

"When did uncle's illness begin?" Jia Huan finally asked.

Lin Ruhai coughed and said: "I don't remember too clearly. I'm afraid it was three or four months ago. It was probably the twelfth lunar month last year. I had a stuffy nose and a runny nose. I called a doctor and said I had a cold occasionally. It's not a serious problem. Take a few doses." The medicine was fine, but after taking the medicine, instead of getting better, it became more and more serious. At first, I had nausea and vomiting, abdominal pain and diarrhea. I just thought it was a bad stomach after eating, or the quack doctor prescribed the wrong prescription, so I hired another doctor Prescribing medicines still didn’t help much, and my condition was getting worse and worse, coughing, chest tightness, palpitations, and difficulty falling asleep.”

Jia Huan nodded thoughtfully and asked, "For the past few months, uncle has been taking medicine every day?"

Lin Ruhai said bitterly: "The doctor has seen a lot, and the medicine has almost never been discontinued. I'm afraid the prescription has been changed dozens of times. This is probably the so-called emergency medical treatment."

Lin Daiyu couldn't help but ask: "Huan'er, since you took my father's pulse, do you know what the disease is?"

Jia Huan whispered apologetically: "Jia Huan has little talent and little knowledge. I can't tell what's wrong with him for the time being."

Although Lin Daiyu had expected it, she was still disappointed and lowered her head sadly.Seeing this, Jia Huan hesitated to speak, but finally swallowed his words and lowered his voice and asked Lin Ruhai: "Has uncle received the letter I sent you?"

Lin Ruhai shook his head blankly. When Jia Huan saw this, he had an idea in his mind. A slave intercepting his master's letters privately could be described as "lawless", and it was very possible for him to do something even more shocking.

Although Lin Ruhai was not in good condition at the moment, he was an old official in the officialdom. He obviously sensed something was wrong, and Jia Huan deliberately lowered his voice, so he glanced out the door thoughtfully.

At this time, Aunt Zheng returned and handed a prescription to Lin Ruhai. The latter took it and handed it to Jia Huan and said, "This is the prescription. Brother Huan, please take a look."

Jia Huan took the prescription and glanced at it. He found that it was indeed some traditional Chinese medicine that can replenish qi and blood, relieve cough and reduce phlegm. He folded it and put it in his arms, vowing: "Huan'er probably has some clues about my uncle's disease. I'll think about it later." One or two, then prescribe a prescription and keep the medicine until the disease is cured."

Lin Ruhai and Lin Daiyu were both stunned when they heard this. Didn't they just say that their talents and knowledge were shallow and they couldn't see what was wrong with them? Why are they so confident now?

However, Lin Ruhai reacted quickly, shook his head and said with a bitter smile: "If this is true, Brother Huan is really the reincarnation of Hua Tuo, and Bian Que is resurrected. I know you are filial, but there is no need to use other ways to comfort my uncle."

Jia Huan smiled and said, "Huan'er is not trying to comfort my uncle, but he gave me two days to come up with a prescription."

Lin Ruhai nodded and said: "It doesn't matter, my uncle has taken a lot of medicine anyway, so he is not bad at this." After saying this, he closed his eyes tiredly and fell asleep.

Jia Huan said: "Uncle is also tired. Huan'er will come to see you and Sister Lin tomorrow."

Lin Ruhai hummed and said: "Xueyan, take Brother Huan to live in the room where he used to stay, so you don't have to stay in an inn outside."

Xue Yan agreed and led Jia Huan out of the room. At this time, Diao Sheng was still waiting outside the door. When he saw Jia Huan coming out, he quickly smiled and saluted, "Third Master Huan."

Jia Huan nodded slightly and walked straight over.

A strange light flashed in Diao Sheng's eyes, he took a few steps forward and fell to his knees in front of Jia Huan.

Jia Huan frowned and said, "What does Butler Diao mean?"

Diao Shengcheng said fearfully: "My father is blind and has offended Third Master Huan a few days ago. I have already scolded the old man so hard that I wish I could cut off the relationship between father and son. I originally planned to rush back to Xiaohe Village to apologize to Third Master, but what happened?" The master is seriously ill and cannot be separated, so it has been postponed until now. Now it happens that the third master Huan is here, so I will take this opportunity to apologize to the third master. I hope that the third master has enough money to forgive me. "

After Diao Sheng finished speaking, he kowtowed three times, showing his sincerity.

Jia Huan pretended to be surprised and said: "It turns out that Diao Yide is really your father. I thought he was someone else pretending to be him. Anyway, for the sake of housekeeper Diao, let's forget about it. There is no need to mention it again, and there is no need to bother my uncle." There, he will not be able to live peacefully even if he is sick."

Diao Sheng hurriedly said happily: "Thank you, Third Master. Third Master is really a man who can support a boat. I will put a table on the table and let the old man apologize to you in person."

"That's not necessary. Anyway, your father has learned the lesson he deserves. Let him restrain himself in the future. Don't use my uncle's name to act arrogantly outside and ruin my uncle's reputation. If it happens next time, don't blame me, Jia Huan." I won't give you face." Jia Huan said coldly, and walked away after speaking.

Diao Sheng got up from the ground, a hint of ferocity flashed in his eyes. At this moment, Jia Huan turned around suddenly. Diao Sheng was secretly surprised and quickly pretended to lower his eyebrows and smile flatteringly.

Jia Huan saw this and asked calmly: "By the way, I wrote a letter to my uncle last month. I wonder if my uncle received it?"

Diao Sheng's heart skipped a beat, and he shook his head and said, "Have Third Master Huan written to the Master? I haven't received it yet. I'll ask the concierge carefully later. This bastard always leaves things behind."

Jia Huan said calmly: "I haven't received it. Maybe the postman lost it on the way. Let's just leave it. It's nothing important anyway." After saying that, he turned around and left again.

Diao Sheng stood there, his face changing. He was eavesdropping outside the door just now, but he didn't hear Jia Huan mention the letter to Lin Ruhai, but now he asked about it in front of him, and he didn't know what it meant.

"Damn it, come sooner or later, but come at this time." Diao Sheng flicked his sleeves angrily, feeling uneasy. Although Jia Huan was young, in his opinion, he was much more difficult to deal with than Jia Lian. .

It's night, and insects are chirping.Lin Daiyu sat in front of the window hugging her knees. The candlelight cast her shadow on the green window screen. A few moths were fluttering, trying to pass through the window screen and chase the light.

Lin Daiyu was still thinking about what happened during the day, wondering about Jia Huan's secret glances, wondering about Jia Huan's strange behavior, why did he deliberately knock over the bowl of medicine, and why did he speak inconsistently?What's the mystery in this?
Oh, we haven't seen each other for three years. Huan'er has grown a lot. He is taller than me and seems... more beautiful.Lin Daiyu's thoughts were ups and downs. She couldn't help but think of this aspect. She also recalled Jia Huan's innocent face when he knocked over the medicine bowl and hurriedly took out a handkerchief to wipe herself. Her face couldn't help but feel a little hot.

Xue Yan was the maid who had followed Lin Daiyu since she was a child. She had accompanied Lin Daiyu to Beijing and the Jia Mansion. Naturally, she would accompany Lin Daiyu back to Yangzhou this time. The eldest maid Zijuan was from the Jia Mansion, so it was inconvenient to follow her.

"Girl, it's time to sleep." Xue Yan lifted the bead curtain and walked in from the outside, saying softly.

Lin Daiyu shook her head and said, "I'm not sleepy yet. Master, who will stay up tonight?"

"It's Aunt Dong." Xue Yan replied while picking up the wick of the candle to make the light brighter.

After Xueyan finished picking out the candle wicks, she took another piece of gauze and put it on Lin Daiyu, and whispered: "Just now, my servant came back from Third Master Huan, passed by Second Master Lian's residence, and bumped into Jin'er, the girl next to Aunt Zhang. "

Lin Daiyu frowned and said nothing. Although she ignored economic affairs, she did not understand anything. On the contrary, she was very smart, but due to her personality, she was too lazy to take care of it.Her father now entrusted Brother Lian with full authority to handle his posthumous affairs. Naturally, everyone in the family wanted to curry favor with him, including several aunts. They just wanted to share more of the inheritance, and her father was dying. She was heartbroken and couldn't bear it. How could she still do it? I'm interested in this.

Xue Yan sighed and said: "Girl, there are some things that I shouldn't say, but I don't feel comfortable saying them. Mr. Lian has called us since he came to the house. He doesn't care about the master's illness, but he is proactive in handling the property of our Lin family." Very well, he went out with Butler Diao all day long to socialize, eat, drink and have fun, which seemed unreliable. However, Third Master Huan was sincere to the master, asking for his welfare and feeling his pulse. I didn’t know what he said could cure the master. Is it true? It would be great if it were true.

If the master is gone, what will the girl do in the future?Mrs. Jia is very kind to the girl, but the Jia family is not the girl's home after all. When will it end living like this without a name or status?Moreover, if you live under someone else’s roof, you will inevitably become annoying if you live there for a long time. There is no filial son in front of the bed for a long time, let alone outsiders. According to my maid, girls should pay more attention to money matters. If you save more money for yourself, you can have more money in the future. There is no need to look at other people's faces everywhere. "

Lin Daiyu couldn't help being touched when she heard the words, but at the same time she secretly wondered, Xueyan has never talked much, why did she say such insightful words tonight?He asked suspiciously, "Did Huan'er teach you to say these words?"

Xue Yan said quickly: "It's nothing. This servant is just expressing her feelings. How could Mr. Huan teach this servant to say these things? What would happen then?"

Lin Daiyu breathed a sigh of relief after hearing this. Although Xue Yan's words were reasonable, if they were taught by Jia Huan, they would be suspected of sowing discord and would be too rude. She would be afraid to stay away from him in the future.

"By the way, why did you go to Huan'er just now?" Lin Daiyu asked.

"Third Master Huan asked his maid to bring him the leftover dregs of the decoction. He also asked his maid to keep quiet." Xue Yan was already a bit silly and cute. He looked confused and even more stunned.

Lin Daiyu couldn't help but frowned. Why did Huan'er want the medicine dregs? What kind of medicine was he selling in the gourd?

For a moment, Lin Daiyu couldn't help but fell into deep thought again.

……

It was late at night, and the lights were still on in Aunt Zheng's room. Aunt Zheng, who was only wearing pajamas, was leaning on the bed. She was at the age of a wolf and a tiger, and her figure was also like a wolf and a tiger.

At this time, the inner door curtain was lifted, and a man tiptoed in. It was the butler Diao Sheng.

"Don't look around, I've sent the maids and wives away." Aunt Zheng on the bed opened her eyes and said calmly.

Diao Sheng chuckled, stepped forward and started to move. Aunt Zheng knocked his hand away and said angrily: "How long has it been, and you still have this idea?"

Diao Sheng frowned and said, "What's wrong?"

Aunt Zheng said angrily: "The bowl of soup was knocked over by that boy Jia Huan in the afternoon. Moreover, this boy said that he had a way to cure the master. He swore to himself. If he really cured me, wouldn't our work in the past six months be in vain? Already?"

Diao Sheng sneered and said, "It's just bragging. How many famous doctors can't see anything wrong? His Jia Huan's hair is not even long. How much skill can he have even if he studied medicine from his mother's womb?"

Aunt Zheng burst into laughter and said, "How do you know that this person's hair is not even long, and she is not shorter than you, and she looks handsome, with red lips and white teeth. Even I can't help but want to hug her and hurt her."

Diao Sheng pinched Aunt Zheng's butt hard and cursed: "Slut, are you itchy again? I didn't feed you enough yesterday?"

Aunt Zheng slapped Diao Sheng in pain and said angrily: "You are heartless. I really don't want to live such a life of fear. Take me away quickly. Anyway, you have made a lot of money, so why bother?" We’re going to put him to death.”

Diao Sheng's face darkened and he said: "My wife, if Lin Ruhai doesn't die, even if we fly far away, we won't be frightened every day. How can we live a good life? If we just have to endure it, when Lin Ruhai dies of illness, I can justifiably marry him." You are here, and you can also get a considerable inheritance, so why not?"

Aunt Zheng was silent after hearing this. Diao Sheng put his arm around the former's shoulders and said seductively: "Lin Ruhai has only a few days to live. If he drinks a few more doses, he will die. Once he dies, we won't have to be sneaky anymore. If you want money, you can still do it." Wouldn’t it be happy to continue eating delicious food in Yangzhou?”

Aunt Zheng nodded and said, "Okay, but the thing you gave me has been used up. It's a shame that that boy Jia Huan knocked over a bowl."

Diao Sheng sneered, took out a paper bag from his arms and stuffed it into Aunt Zheng's hand: "Remember, don't put too much, just a small piece, otherwise the stuffing will be exposed easily."

Aunt Zheng hid the paper bag close to her body, and then the two fooled around for a while, and Diao Sheng left.

As soon as Diao Sheng left Aunt Zheng's courtyard, a thin black shadow slid down from a nearby tree and walked through the wall with ease and skill to a room.

At this time, the room was still lighted, and a dark figure flashed forward, pushed the door open and stepped in silently.

In the room, a young man was carefully rummaging through a pile of medicine dregs under the candlelight, and it turned out to be Jia Huan.

The thin black figure took off his scarf and hood, came to Jia Huan and said with a smile: "As expected by the third master, the housekeeper Diao Sheng sneaked into Aunt Zheng's residence and left after almost a stick of incense. Adultery.”

This thin black shadow is none other than Shitou. This boy is agile and has a small stature, which makes him suitable for this kind of work.

Jia Huan nodded after hearing this. That's right. Today he deliberately said in front of Aunt Zheng that there was a way to cure Lin Ruhai, and asked about the letter in front of Diao Sheng. It was nothing more than knocking on the mountain to frighten the tiger and lure the snake out of its hole. If these two people There was really an adultery and conspiracy to assassinate Lin Ruhai, and there was a high probability that they would meet tonight. So after entering the dark, Jia Huan sent Shi Shi to secretly monitor Zheng Aunt Shi's residence, and he was caught.

"Shitou, you've worked hard. Go down and rest. Keep Hu Zi's attention. I'm afraid Diao Sheng will jump over the wall in a hurry." Jia Huan woke up to the fierce look Diao Sheng had inadvertently shown today, so he ordered.

Shitou smiled and said: "Don't worry, as long as Huzi and I are here, Diao can't make trouble."

After sending away the stone, Jia Huan continued to carefully rummage through the pile of medicinal dregs and compared it with the package of unfried medicine. Suddenly his eyes lit up. He picked up a piece of the medicinal dregs and smelled it, then stretched out his tongue to lick it. He licked it, and it made him shiver with pain, and his tongue was still a little numb.

Jia Huan didn't know what it was, but after repeated comparisons and tastings, it seemed that this piece of Chinese medicine was extra, because the unfried pack of Chinese medicine didn't seem to have this stuff.

Jia thought for a moment and wrapped the piece of Chinese medicine in a handkerchief.

(End of this chapter)