Fantasmas en la facultad de medicina Archivos de terror

Capítulo 12

The next day, Zhu Ci, seeing that Jing Yun was alright, felt somewhat relieved and busied himself with purchasing supplies. Jing Yun was a meticulous, obedient, and gentle woman. Having witnessed Zhu Ci's great help the previous day, she felt grateful and favorable, and thus devoted herself wholeheartedly to taking care of his daily needs. After half a month, Jing Yun's thoughtfulness and tenderness gradually stirred feelings in Zhu Ci.

The procurement of goods was completed, and they were preparing to return home. However, fate intervened, and Zhu Ci, due to days of overwork, suddenly fell ill. Fearing that the delay in purchasing the goods would disrupt business, and also worried that Zhu Ze would be anxious at home if he didn't return on time, Zhu Ci sent his servants back with the goods. This way, he could both ensure the business's success and send a message to Zhu Ze. He himself would wait until he recovered before setting off for his hometown. Jingyun, worried about leaving Zhu Ci alone, stayed to take care of him.

Nearly a month passed, and Zhu Ci finally recovered thanks to Jing Yun's tireless and meticulous care. Seeing how much weight Jing Yun had lost while caring for him, Zhu Ci was deeply moved. This month of close companionship and mutual understanding had deepened the bond between Zhu Ci and Jing Yun.

Upon arriving home, Zhu Ci recounted Jingyun's story to Zhu Ze. Seeing Jingyun's pitiful and well-mannered appearance, Zhu Ze couldn't help but feel a surge of affection for her.

Zhu Ci and Zhu Ze were both cheerful people who were used to joking and playing around. They spoke freely and without any guile. Jing Yun was also a person of strong emotions. The three of them were of similar age, so after a while, they got along very well and had a lot of fun chatting with each other.

Zhu Ze was unaware that his elder brother Zhu Ci and Jing Yun had long harbored feelings for each other. As he spent more time with Jing Yun, he found his affection for her growing stronger with each passing day. Every smile and gesture of hers was deeply etched into his mind, impossible to erase or forget.

"I searched for her a thousand times in my dreams, but suddenly when I turned around, I found her where the lights were dim!"

Zhu Ze was overjoyed that he had finally found the woman he liked.

One day, Zhu Ci suddenly summoned Zhu Ze and said he had something important to discuss.

"Brother, what's wrong? What can't we talk about between brothers?"

Zhu Ze saw his elder brother standing to the side, his face flushed, stammering for a long time without uttering a single word. His brother was usually so decisive and efficient. Why was he so hesitant today?

Zhu Ze was wondering when he suddenly heard his older brother blurt out a sentence.

"I'm going to marry Jingyun!"

Zhu Ze's head suddenly went blank, and he was speechless for a long time. A sudden pain flashed through his heart. His elder brother's words were like a sharp arrow that had quietly cut a wound in his heart, and the wound was now slowly oozing blood.

Are you really going to marry my older brother?

Jingyun lowered her head in a panic, avoiding Zhu Ze's eyes, which were filled with pain and sorrow.

"The person you love is me! It's me! Say it! It's me!"

Zhu Ze grabbed Jingyun's thin shoulders and shouted frantically.

Humans aren't plants or trees; how could they be without feelings? How could the clever and obedient Jingyun not know the deep affection Zhu Ze held for her? In her heart, she admired Zhu Ze's talent and humor. In comparison, Zhu Ci seemed rather clumsy and dull. Although Zhu Ze was a man, he possessed a woman's thoughtfulness and gentleness, showering her with care and affection, which secretly moved Jingyun. However, she knew Zhu Ci had saved her life. Although Zhu Ci rarely expressed his feelings, his silent thoughtfulness and care deeply touched her. Deep down, she loved both of them, but ultimately she could only choose one, inevitably hurting the other!

"I can only marry your eldest brother, do you understand?"

A single, crystal-clear tear, deep within Jingyun's eyelashes, trembled precariously.

Just like the drop of blood that slowly seeped from the wound in Zhu Ze's heart, it was now slowly sliding deeper into his heart.

On the day Zhu Ci and Jing Yun got married, Zhu Ze got completely drunk. Jing Yun knew the bitterness in Zhu Ze's heart, but as someone who was already married to another man, what could she say at that moment? At the same time, she could only hide her own bitterness in her heart.

From then on, Jingyun became Zhu Ze's sister-in-law, and Zhu Ze could no longer playfully joke and laugh with her as before. Zhu Ze was in unbearable pain; he had to suppress his love for Jingyun while pretending to be indifferent in front of his elder brother. Faced with this daily torment, Zhu Ze could only numb himself with alcohol each day; only then could he temporarily stop thinking about anything and find a moment of peace for his aching and sorrowful heart.

From then on, Zhu Ze stopped caring about anything and ignored everything, spending his days drinking himself into a stupor. Jingyun saw this and felt a pang of pain in her heart, but she knew she couldn't help him except by causing him further suffering. One evening, as dusk approached, Zhu Ze, having spent another day indulging in alcohol, staggered home. Suddenly, his stomach churned, and he involuntarily vomited, followed by a wave of dizziness as he collapsed to the ground with a thud.

When Zhu Ze woke up, it was already broad daylight. He found himself lying in a corner of a broken wall, covered with a dirty, tattered piece of clothing.

"You're awake?"

Zhu Ze barely managed to lift his throbbing head and looked at the person standing in front of him. It was a thin, petite, dirty beggar. Although the beggar was dressed in filthy rags, she was still pretty with delicate features and a refined appearance, with a hint of feminine fragility in her eyes.

Zhu Ze felt a wave of nausea. He threw off the tattered beggar's clothes covering him, stood up unsteadily, and walked towards home.

"No good deed goes unpunished; I saved you and you didn't even say thank you!"

The beggar was furious when he saw that Zhu Ze not only showed no gratitude but also threw his clothes aside and left.

"You made me all dirty and smelly, and I haven't even settled the score with you yet!" Zhu Ze said angrily as he turned around.

"If it weren't for my tattered clothes, you would have frozen to death on this street long ago!"

As the beggar picked up the clothes, he yelled at him and then muttered something under his breath.

Zhu Ze gave a bitter smile, never expecting that he would be reduced to needing a beggar to help him.

"Then what kind of reward do you want? Just say it!" Zhu Ze looked at the beggar coldly and said in a disdainful tone.

The beggar glared at Zhu Ze with disdain, then walked away without looking back.

Zhu Ze was left standing there alone, stunned.

The next day, Zhu Ze got completely drunk again and staggered to the dilapidated corner of the wall from the previous day. A gust of cold wind blew by, instantly sobering him up considerably. Unconsciously, he thought of Jingyun again and suddenly couldn't help but sob.

After crying for a while, he turned to leave, but suddenly noticed the dirty beggar from yesterday watching him from behind. Feeling ashamed and angry, he said, "What are you doing standing behind me?"

The beggar didn't answer, but sat down in the corner. "A man doesn't easily shed tears, unless he's truly heartbroken!"

"You?" Zhu Ze felt a surge of anger as Zhu Ze felt that his words had hit a sore spot.

The beggar didn't speak, but squinted at himself, basking in the warm sun.

Zhu Ze thought this man was truly unreasonable and turned to leave, when he suddenly heard the beggar speak again.

"Since keeping it inside is so painful, you might as well just say it out loud!"

Zhu Ze was startled. How could he know how much I wanted to confide in someone about this pain?

Looking back at the beggar, Zhu Ze saw that the beggar was also staring at him with two small, dark eyes. So Zhu Ze, disregarding the dirt, sat down next to the beggar and told him his pain in detail. The beggar listened quietly without asking a single question. When Zhu Ze finished, he only sighed softly.

From then on, whenever Zhu Ze felt suffocated, he would often go to the beggar to talk. Every time Zhu Ze spoke, the beggar would listen quietly and never ask any questions. Zhu Ze felt much better. Over time, Zhu Ze felt like he had met a kindred spirit.

One day, Zhu Ze proposed to become sworn brothers with a beggar. The beggar was surprised for a long time, then suddenly burst out laughing. She pulled off her beggar's hat, and her beautiful hair fell down.

The beggar's name was Zi Ning. She wasn't originally from this area. Her parents had died in a drought in her hometown, so she fled here. Being unfamiliar with the place and all alone, she had no choice but to beg for a living. Because she was a girl, she disguised herself as a boy to avoid trouble. Zhu Ze couldn't help but feel deep sympathy for the beggar when he heard this.

It wasn't good for a young girl to wander alone, living the life of a homeless beggar. Therefore, Zhu Ze advised Zi Ning to stay at the Zhu residence first, and they could discuss their livelihood later. After arriving at the Zhu residence, Zi Ning and Zhu Ze spent a lot of time together. They got along quite well and soon developed feelings for each other. Zhu Ze gradually focused his attention on Zi Ning, but he would still occasionally think of Jing Yun, and a lingering heartache remained in his heart.

A year later, Zhu Ze and Zi Ning got married. Zhu Ze knew he loved Zi Ning, but he could never forget Jing Yun. Whenever he saw Jing Yun unhappy or sad, he felt a pang of pain in his heart. He hoped she could be happy and joyful. In his heart, there was always a concern and a tenderness for her.

Soon, Zi Ning slowly realized that Zhu Ze still loved Jing Yun. He would go crazy for a single glance from her, be infatuated by a single word from her, feel heartbroken at her moment of confusion, and wither away at her slightest sorrow. The sweetness of their love began to turn bitter, and a deep sorrow and pain slowly rose in Zi Ning's heart. She knew that Jing Yun also deeply loved Zhu Ze. Whenever Zhu Ze gazed at Jing Yun with that affectionate look, Jing Yun would return his gaze with that same sorrowful yet tender look. Every time Zi Ning saw them like this, her heart felt as if it were being pierced by needles, and she would often weep alone in solitude.

But Zi Ning loved Zhu Ze too much. She thought that love could encompass everything, and that perhaps Zhu Ze would forget Jing Yun soon. Perhaps it was just a matter of time. She comforted herself with this thought every time, even though her heart was filled with more and more sorrow.

Two years ago on this day, it was the day Jingyun first entered the Zhu family. Zhu Ci specially invited an opera troupe to perform for Jingyun for a whole day.

Zhu Ze recalled the day he first met Jingyun, who looked so pitiful and charming. He then thought of the happy and playful times they had spent together. Now, she, now his sister-in-law, was sitting there lovingly watching a play with her elder brother, Zhu Ci'en. Overwhelmed with grief, he locked himself in his study and drank himself into a stupor.

Seeing Zhu Ze's heartbroken and dejected state, Zi Ning knew he was grieving for Jing Yun. She went to the study to comfort him. Just as she was about to push open the door, she suddenly heard Zhu Ze burst into wild laughter, followed by loudly reciting:

Those who have abandoned me, the days of yesterday cannot be retained.

Today brings many worries and anxieties that trouble my mind. Haha...

You can't cut water with a knife; you can't drown your sorrows with a cup of wine.

Life is full of disappointments; tomorrow I'll let my hair down and drift away in a small boat. A pang of pain shot through Zi Ning's heart, and two clear tears streamed down her face. She suppressed her grief and peeked through the crack in the door. She saw Zhu Ze holding a wine jug in one hand and a sword in the other, frantically brandishing the sword against the wall while reciting poetry. At that moment, Zi Ning felt a wave of desolation wash over her; a suffocating feeling almost made her faint.

Back in her room, Zi Ning was utterly despondent.

"I gave you my whole heart, but who knew you would waste your life longing for her. 'Those who have abandoned me, yesterday's days cannot be retained; those who trouble my heart, today's days are full of worries.' It is clear that I am a superfluous person and should not cause you such trouble!"

Gazing at the cold moon outside the window, Zi Ning recalled Zhu Ze's usual infatuation and concern for Jing Yun.

"Since ancient times, those who are affectionate have only ended up with regrets, and how much more so on this desolate autumn day!" Zi Ning slowly stood up with a sad smile.

A three-foot-long white ribbon floats on the beam, a wisp of fragrant soul soars to the ninth heaven.

"Young Master, something terrible has happened!" Zi Ning's personal maid rushed towards the study, crying as she did so.

Zhu Ze was still fast asleep, the wine jug in his hand rolled to one side, and the sword was carelessly discarded on the ground.

The young maid pushed open the study door with a "bang" and saw Zhu Ze still lying on the bed, fast asleep. She grabbed his clothes and shook him, saying, "Young Master, wake up, wake up!"

Zhu Ze woke up groggily, with a terrible headache.

"What's wrong? Why are you in such a panic?"

Zhu Ze said angrily while pressing his temples.

The little girl wiped away her tears with her hand and sobbed as she mumbled:

"Madam, she...?"

"Tell me quickly, what happened to Madam!"

Zhu Zemeng felt a pang of pain in his heart when he saw the little girl crying incessantly.

"Madam... she hanged herself!"

"Ah!" Zhu Ze, who had been struggling to get up, was stunned when he heard the news. He leaned back and fainted on the bed.

"Young Master, what's wrong? Someone come quick!"

The little girl standing nearby suddenly saw Zhu Ze faint and screamed in fright.

Steward Zhu rushed over with his men, silencing the little girl's screams. He pinched Zhu Ze's philtrum, and after a while, Zhu Ze finally woke up, swaying slightly.

"Zining, Zining, I need to see Zining!"

"Young Master, please rest for a while. We will handle Madam's matter!"

"No, I want to see Zi Ning! I need to go see Zi Ning!"

Zhu Ze struggled to sit up, then jumped out of bed and rushed towards the door. He stumbled and fell by the door. Butler Zhu quickly helped him up.

"Young Master, please rest for a while and we'll talk again when you're feeling better!"

"No, I'm going now! All of you get out of my way! I need to see Zi Ning right now!" Zhu Ze stood up unsteadily, leaning against the door frame.

Zhu Ci also arrived. "Steward Zhu, let my younger brother go see Zi Ning one last time!"

After saying that, she helped Zhu Ze stumble and stagger towards the mourning hall.

Inside the mourning hall.

As soon as Zhu Ze entered the mourning hall, he knelt down beside Zi Ning's body with a thud.

"Zining, I'm here! Zining, wake up! It's me! I'm here!"

While crying and shouting, he tried to pull Zi Ning up, but everyone quickly pulled him back and helped him to the side. Jing Yun, who was standing nearby, felt a pang of sorrow in her heart.

That night, the little girl stood in front of Zhu Ze.

"Do you know why the lady committed suicide? Did she leave any words before she died?"

“Last night, Madam went to the study to find you. After she came back, she told us all to leave. I heard Madam sitting alone in the room crying. This morning I went to wake Madam up, but who knew that Madam…” The little maid couldn’t help but sob as she said this.

Upon hearing this, Zhu Ze understood what had happened. It seemed that Zi Ning already knew about his drunken state in the study yesterday. Thinking of this, and recalling all the kindness and affection Zi Ning had shown him, he was heartbroken.

"Zining, do you know that you are the woman I love most? Although I can't let go of Jingyun, you are the one I love most in this life. I can give up everything else, but I absolutely cannot live without you. And now you are so cruel as to leave me alone in this lonely world. How am I supposed to live from now on?" Thinking of this, she couldn't help but burst into tears.

From then on, Zhu Ze would lock himself in his study every day, refusing to see or talk to anyone. Jingyun tried several times to comfort Zhu Ze, but he ignored her completely, so she had to give up.

The servants in the Zhu household were whispering among themselves that Zi Ning had committed suicide out of resentment because the young master, Zhu Ze, loved Jing Yun. Soon, this news reached Zhu Ci. Zhu Ci immediately summoned a servant for questioning. The servant initially hesitated, but seeing Zhu Ci's anger, he finally stammered out the gist of the story: Zi Ning had committed suicide because the young master, Zhu Ze, loved Jing Yun. Upon hearing this, Zhu Ci slammed his fist on the table and roared, "Nonsense! Who dares to slander the young master and Jing Yun like this?" The servant panicked and hurriedly said, "I'm not lying. The young master's study is engraved with poems expressing his longing for Lady Jing Yun. Lady Zi Ning committed suicide after seeing those poems." Zhu Ci dismissed the servant and decided to go to Zhu Ze's study alone to investigate.