Chapter 39

Hua Ying placed the pen on the pen holder and picked up the teapot to pour tea for Chai Yong.

"Why does Prince Chai ask this?"

She asked softly.

"You're still sick, let me do it."

Chai Yong shook his head and swiftly took the teapot from Hua Ying's hand.

He poured himself a bowl of tea, looked into her eyes, his smile unchanged, and said, "It was my presumption, Third Sister and Governor Wei's affairs are not something I should concern myself with. However, I said some things related to Third Sister, which may cause Governor Wei to misunderstand Third Sister, so I had to come and tell Third Sister."

Hua Ying looked into his eyes and asked, "What did the young master say?"

Chai Yong smiled faintly, but his expression was serious and earnest. He slowly said, "After Governor Wei caught the real culprit, I asked the Commander-in-Chief if I could redeem Third Sister. The Commander-in-Chief said no. I asked if I could take you back to the capital. The Commander-in-Chief told me that without the Emperor's pardon, he could not let you leave Xizhou."

Hua Ying was somewhat surprised that Chai Yong was actually considering taking her back to Luoyang.

Chai Yong sighed and said, "The bad news of the Prince's death in Liucheng may have been sent back to the capital. At that time, the news of Third Sister in Xizhou will also spread. After the Wuzhe Assembly, Fifth Brother and I have to return to the capital and cannot stay any longer. So I have some plans and would like to ask the Governor to help take care of Third Sister."

He paused for a moment, then suddenly lowered his eyes, a hint of shyness appearing in his smile.

“I told the governor that I admired Third Sister and wanted to take care of her. If I could help Third Sister redeem herself, I would like to take you back to the Duke of Huo’s mansion.”

Hua Ying was stunned.

The governor must be furious when he hears Chai Yong's words.

Chai Yong scratched his head, his gaze falling on the alchemical text that Hua Ying had just finished writing, and said with a smile, "This matter was presumptuous of mine, please forgive me, Third Sister."

After saying this, he stood up, bowed deeply, and apologized to Hua Ying.

Hua Ying came to her senses and said with a smile, "The young master meant well and wanted to help me."

Compared to life, reputation is worthless.

As for Chai Yong's concern that Wei Mingsu might misunderstand, that's an overreaction; Wei Mingsu wouldn't care.

Chai Yong neither agreed nor disagreed with Hua Ying's statement.

Hua Ying poured herself a bowl of tea, stood up, cupped her hands in a gesture of respect to Chai Yong, and said with a smile, "After I was arrested, my sister-in-law and brother were taken care of by the young master. The young master is so kind and generous, I haven't thanked you yet. Young master, today I will use tea instead of wine to thank you!"

She held up the teacup with a slight smile, her gaze clear and sincere, filled with nothing but gratitude and appreciation for Chai Yong.

Chai Yong scratched his head, raised his teacup and clinked it against Hua Ying's, tilted his head back and drank the tea, then put the teacup down.

He came to tell Hua Ying about this for two reasons: first, he hadn't asked Hua Ying's opinion before saying those things, and he was afraid of offending her; second, he didn't know how Wei Mingsu would react after hearing those words.

Chai Yong had heard some things about what happened between Wei Mingsu and Hua Ying four years ago from Wang Yu, but he didn't know the details and had no right to ask. He couldn't help and could only worry.

That day, Chai Yong leaned over the wall and talked to Hua Ying. Although they only exchanged a few words, he could still tell that Hua Ying looked much better than when she was in Liucheng. The relaxed smile on her face and the bright look in her eyes told him that she trusted Wei Mingsu.

Wei Mingsu did not torture her.

After much deliberation, Chai Yong gradually developed a suspicion: Did Wei Mingsu still have feelings for Hua Ying?

However, yesterday Wei Mingsu sent his confidants to clarify the rumors in Xizhou about him and Hua Ying, and he said he would send Hua Ying back to Liucheng.

Upon hearing the news, Chai Yong felt a subtle emotion stir within him.

He said, "Third Sister, rumors spread yesterday that Governor Wei sent someone to clarify the rumors, saying that he has nothing to do with you anymore. But your situation is still very dangerous. I'm worried that someone like Zhou Wei will make things difficult for you."

Hua Ying was taken aback.

Did Wei Mingsu send someone to clarify the rumors?

Both Zhang and Ma had misunderstood. Wei Mingsu didn't want to have anything to do with her anymore, so he had to clarify the rumors as soon as possible to prevent them from becoming more and more outrageous.

Hua Ying's expression remained calm.

They broke off all contact four years ago.

"three

"Mother." Chai Yong cleared his throat and chuckled, "If you ever encounter someone like the Prince again, you can use me as a shield. Although I'm just a good-for-nothing playboy, I'm still a descendant of meritorious officials, and ordinary people wouldn't dare offend the Chai family."

He raised his chin and deliberately made a face.

Hua Ying chuckled: "Thank you."

She asked Chai Yong, "When will Prince Chai return to Luoyang? I still owe you something."

Chai Yong was taken aback, then asked with a smile, "What does Third Sister owe me?"

Hua Ying picked up the pen from the pen holder, flicked her wrist, and the sharp pen tip lightly grazed the yellow paper: "Xiliang Knife Technique".

Chai Yong suddenly realized.

Hua Ying said she would teach him swordsmanship.

Chai Yong nodded and said, "We haven't set a departure date yet. I'll ask you for advice when you're feeling better, Third Sister."

Looking at Hua Ying's hands, he couldn't help but ask, "Third Sister, your swordsmanship is superb. Have you been practicing martial arts since childhood?"

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Hua Ying nodded, her smile fading.

Chai Yong looked up at Hua Ying's profile.

He could tell that Hua Ying had practiced martial arts, but Hua Ying seemed to only have familiar moves; when drawing and sheathing her sword, she didn't seem to have much internal strength.

Was she seriously injured?

He wanted to ask more questions, but seeing Hua Ying lower her eyes, with a hint of melancholy and reluctance in her expression, he smiled and got up to take his leave.

Just as Chai Yong's figure disappeared through the doorway, Xiao Suniang emerged from the next room, approached Hua Ying, and whispered, "Third Sister, what did Young Master Chai say to you?"

Hua Ying wrote down what Chai Yong wanted to do to help her.

Xiao Suniang narrowed her eyes, leaned closer, and said, "Third Sister, Young Master Chai was raised by the Princess of Jinxiang County. Although he is not good at his job, he is a talented young man who is skilled in both literature and martial arts."

Hua Ying focused on writing and hummed in agreement.

Xiao Suniang rolled up her sleeves to help her rinse the brush, and while shaking the brush, she told Huaying about the Chai family.

Hua Ying finished writing on a sheet of paper, while Xiao Suniang was still talking non-stop. She put the paper aside, pressed down on Xiao Suniang's hand, took the pen that Xiao Suniang had already rinsed clean, and continued writing.

Xiao Suniang talked for a while, but when she realized that Lu Huaying didn't seem to have listened to a word, she sighed and stopped talking.

...

With the help of Lu Hongbi, Xiao Suniang, and Wang Yu, Hua Ying was able to concentrate on memorizing the "Dan Jing" (Classic of Alchemy).

She recited from memory from morning till night, and did not leave her room until the day before the Dharma assembly ended.

During this period, Tong Jin brought a doctor to visit her several times.

The red spots on her body had disappeared, and the whip marks from before had healed, but Afu still brewed medicine for her every day. She felt that she had recovered and asked what kind of medicine it was.

Afu said, "It's a prescription from a doctor. I don't understand it either, but it's medicine that's good for you. The herbs are very expensive, so you can't waste them. You have to take them all."

He worried that Hua Ying was wasting Wei Mingsu's salary, so he kept an eye on her every day to make sure she took her medicine.

When Wang Yu came to see Hua Ying, she looked her over for a while and couldn't help but laugh and say, "Feifei seems to have gained weight."

Hua Ying borrowed a bronze mirror from Xiao Suniang and looked at herself, discovering that she had indeed gained a little weight.

Afu was very proud of this, saying, "I used to herd cattle for others. Every day I would lead the cattle a long way to the mountains to eat the tenderest grass. The cattle I raised were stronger and more energetic than others'!"

Hua Ying was speechless.

So, she was raised like a cow by Afu?

Before we knew it, the Dharma assembly at Dayun Temple was coming to an end.

That evening, Hua Ying wrote the words "No immortals?", let out a long sigh, and put down her pen.

The room was quiet. Xiao Suniang sat to one side, looking out the window and listening to the chanting coming from the direction of Dayun Temple.

Hua Ying remembered that Xiao Suniang had been by her side these past few days and hadn't gone to the Dharma assembly yet.

Having come all the way from the capital to Xizhou, Xiao Suniang certainly didn't want to miss this grand event at Dayun Temple.

"Su Niang, tomorrow is the last day of the Dharma assembly. Why don't you go and visit Dayun Temple? You don't need to come with me."

Xiao Suniang was lost in thought. After a while, she came to her senses and shook her head, saying, "If you're not going, I won't go either. I want to stay with you."

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After she finished speaking, she turned around and looked at Hua Ying, who was washing her pen with her head down and looked tired. A feeling of pity welled up in her heart.

"Third Sister!" Xiao Suniang's eyes darted around. "Come with me to Dayun Temple tomorrow! If you go, I'll go too. Let my sister-in-law and the second young master go as well. They've worked so hard these past few days, everyone should rest for a day and relax. It'll be a good way to mark the trip to Xizhou."

Lu Huaying pondered for a moment.

There are no more rumors about her and Wei Mingsu in Xizhou now. The Zhang and Ma families know that she has moved to a new residence, so neither of them sent any servants over. She shouldn't cause any trouble for Wei Mingsu when she goes out.

"Okay, I'll go with you."

Xiao Suniang was overjoyed: "I'll go tell my sister-in-law and the second young master!"

Lu Huaying shook her head: "Wait, let me ask Afu first."

That night, Afu came to deliver dinner, and Lu Huaying asked him if he could go to Dayun Temple the next day.

Without hesitation, Afu nodded and said, "Okay, remember to bring Ayu along."

Wei Mingsu gave instructions that Lu Huaying could leave the city at any time, meet anyone, and go anywhere in the city, as long as she did not leave the city.

The next day, the attendants picked up Wang Yu and Lu Hongbi, and the group set off together for Dayun Temple.

Lu Hongbi remained indifferent.

Wang Yu really wanted to go to Dayun Temple to burn incense and draw lots, her expression full of anticipation. Xiao Suniang's eyes were filled with undisguised excitement as she pulled Wang Yu aside to discuss the sutras chanted by the monks at the Dharma assembly.

Lu Huaying wore a veil before setting off.

Their carriage exited the alley and entered the north-south avenue. After traveling for a short while, a long neighing sound suddenly came from outside, and the carriage stopped.

The servant whispered, "We've run into the Zhang family again."

Lu Huaying's heart skipped a beat; just what she feared most had come to pass.

I guess I'll have to head back home again today.