Chapter 28: The Monk

  The people of the Great Xia Empire were very kind and generous to those who had renounced worldly life.

  Wang Erge saw it and quickly handed the lighter to his sister, then squatted down to check the monk's breath.

  Still okay, can still feel a faint breath. Should still be saved.

  Wang Ergou pushed the monk's shoulder slightly.

  The monk murmured a sound of "en" and said something unclear with his mouth.

  Wang Ergou didn't hear clearly, and he leaned his ear close to his head and asked, "What did you say?"

  The eldest sister of the Wang family disdainfully curled her lip at him, "He said 'save me'. You didn't even hear that?"

  Wang Ergou got up with a smile and flattered his sister, saying: "Sister, your ears are even more sensitive than those of a dog. How can I compare to you? Only Siyan's ears are slightly better than yours."

  The eldest sister of the Wang family was talked to by her younger brother and laughed, nodding: "Yes, I'm just a bit more clever than your ears, but not as good as your sister Siyan." This is a roundabout way of scolding Wang Ergou for being "dog-eared".

  Wang Ergou naturally heard it, but he laughed loudly and didn't take it seriously.

  They have many siblings in the royal family, and they all get along well. It's common for them to bicker and joke around every day, and even if someone says something careless, no one really holds grudges or harbors resentment for a lifetime; they're all broad-minded people.

  "Alright. Since he's still breathing, let's take him back." Wang Ergou said, bending down to help the monk up.

  The monk seemed to have come around, but appeared to be seriously injured, with weak legs and difficulty standing up.

  "What's wrong with you? It's late at night, how did you end up lying alone on the mountain road?" Wang Jia's older sister walked over and supported the monk's other arm, asking curiously.

  The monk weakly said: "Our family is unfortunate, we encountered evil thieves on the road and were beaten unconscious." As he spoke, he moved his head and told Wang's older sister: "Quickly extinguish the fire...". It seemed like he was afraid of being seen by others.

  The old lady Wang shook the firebrand and took a look at his back of the head, just in time to see a black lump on the back of his head, which looked like congealed blood. She was so frightened that she spat out her tongue, hastily swung the firebrand and extinguished it, then lowered her voice and said: "You've been robbed by bandits? Look at this wound, you're lucky to be alive, your ancestors must have accumulated a lot of virtue."

  The monk was so embarrassed by the princess that he felt uncomfortable, closed his eyes and said intermittently: "...... Save me, I will thank you heavily in the future."

  The eldest sister of the Wang family said bluntly, "What are you thanking for? You're too polite. Are we going to benefit from your funeral rites and Buddhist chanting in the future? Since we've met you, we must save you. However, your wound looks quite serious." As she spoke, she turned to Monk Two on the other side of Wang Ergou and said, "Ergou, why don't you go find a doctor tonight?"

  The monk listened and hastily said: "No need to trouble, no need to invite a doctor." After a pause, he added: "Don't let others know."

  "Huh? What's going on? Could it be that you weren't ambushed, but were being pursued by the Qi family?" The eldest sister of the Wang family had a burst of inspiration and quickly sketched out a thrilling scene.

  Wang Ergou and the monk looked at each other silently, both tightly closing their mouths. - There's nothing to say to a woman with a big brain hole, any simple thing will be taken by them to add oil and vinegar as material to play...

  It wasn't until Wang's older sister finished speaking that Wang's second brother spoke in a low, muffled tone: "Sister, what you said sounds good, but you forgot one thing - they are monks. It's best not to apply your love, hate, and emotions to them." After finishing, he whispered, "Zheng's second miss is fine, but she shouldn't have written that 'Four Great Classical Novels', it's driven all these women mad."

  When he heard the four words "Zheng Er Miss", the monk's whole body stiffened for a moment, and then slowly relaxed. He muttered: "... Zheng Er Miss's book." Then he turned his head to look at Wang Jia's sister carefully.

  Under the moonlight, Wang Jia's elder sister had skin as smooth as silk, a pair of sparkling eyes shining brightly under the moonlight, full of spirit. Her thick black eyebrows, high nose, and clear-cut, plump red lips made her look stunning. She was tall and slender, with a prominent chest and extremely thin waist, wearing wide-leg pants that made her legs appear exceptionally long. ——Compared to Zheng Xiang Rong, she was a completely different type of woman.

  He remembered that Zheng Xiang Rong was petite, only reaching his chest. Although he didn't mind, Zheng Xiang Rong was extremely dissatisfied with her height and had once worn a pair of high-heeled shoes to meet him. She told him they were called high-low shoes. Later, high-low shoes became popular in the Great Xia Dynasty...

  "What's wrong with him?" she mouthed to Wang Er Ge in surprise.

  Wang Erge shook his head in surprise and said, "......If you don't want to invite a doctor, let Wang Danni from next door take a look. Her medical skills are not inferior to those of the doctors who run clinics outside."

  "Yes. But you also need to make it clear to Wang Danniang. If she is willing to treat, then let her treat, don't force her." Wang Jiejie said with great care.

  "I understand." Wang Ergou nodded.

  Two men, one on the left and one on the right, supported the monk as he came down the mountain.

  At night, Wujiacun and Wangjiacun were quiet, with only occasional barking of dogs.

  A group of people in black clothes were moving stealthily along a rural path, searching all around as if they were looking for something.

  "Found it?"

  "No. Shall we go take a look at the mountain over there?"

  "I heard there are snakes on that mountain, and they're the most venomous kind. Let's wait till dawn and find a few villagers to go up with us."

  "What if that kid has gone up the mountain?"

  "If that little brat goes up the mountain and gets bitten by a snake, it would be for the best. No need to dirty everyone's hands..."

  "Alright, let's leave a few people to guard the foot of the mountain. The others will continue searching. At dawn, we'll enter the village and find someone to guide us." A leader-like person clapped his hands decisively, having made up his mind.

  When these men in black went down to the foot of the mountain, Wang Ergou and Wang Jia's sister had already supported the monk to grope into Wangjia Village.

  The sky had just floated a piece of dark cloud, covering that bright moon and starlight tightly.

  The Wang family village was suddenly plunged into darkness, so dark you couldn't see your fingers in front of your face.

  Wang Ergou and Wang Jia's elder sister quietly brought the monk into their own courtyard without alarming anyone.

  The monk asked them to keep it a secret, saying that once the secret was revealed, not only would he be in danger of losing his life, but also their entire family might lose their lives. He told them to weigh the pros and cons before deciding whether or not to save him.

  Wang Ergou and Wang Jia's elder sister discussed it and decided to let the monk live in Wang Ergou's room.

  The Great Xia Empire has a civil service examination system, which is held every three years, divided into autumn and spring examinations. Except for the hereditary official positions held by the heads of the four major families, all other officials are selected through the imperial examination system.

  The higher the ranking in the examination, the greater the official position awarded.

  The top three winners were respectively awarded the titles of Zhuangyuan, Bangyan and Tanhua, and directly entered the six ministries to serve as trusted advisors by the emperor's side.

  Wang Erge was the most book-loving child in the Wang family, so his parents specially set aside a small three-room courtyard in the backyard of their home for him to live alone, and forbade other children from disturbing him on ordinary days.

  Wang Ergou's brothers and sisters also knew that this younger brother would be the most promising person in the Wang family in the future, so they all took good care of him.

  The monk hiding in his room is the safest.

  ……

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