Chapter 62

Does Wei Mingsu not know his own birthday?

Lu Huaying looked up at the distant white mountains in the sky above the earthen wall and was momentarily dazed.

She was lost in thought when she heard footsteps outside the door.

Ayu pushed open the courtyard gate and strode in, saying, "Third Sister, Yan Mingfu's entourage just arrived. Mingfu wants us to set off for Xizhou immediately. The carriage and horses have been prepared for us. They will come to pick us up in an hour. Mingfu said we must leave today and cannot delay. If there is no time to pack our luggage, just take some valuables."

Lu Huaying snapped out of her daze, put down the motherwort, and said, "Going to Xizhou? Leaving today? Why the rush?"

Ayu shook his head: "The attendant didn't say."

Lu Huaying frowned, went inside and told Wang Yu and Lu Hongbi the news, and both of them were taken aback.

Wang Yu couldn't help but sigh. Her family was now of low social status, and they had to go wherever the government told them to. They had just settled down and enjoyed a period of peace, but now they had to leave again. She didn't know if this was a blessing or a curse. Moreover, the county magistrate was urging them to leave immediately. They were unprepared and had no time to arrange their family business.

The people hired by the Lu family to work were also panicked, and the children cried in fear.

The sound of horses' hooves rang out outside the courtyard gate; Magistrate Yan's entourage was approaching in a carriage.

Lu Huaying first calmed everyone down and asked Chen Er to give everyone several months' worth of extra wages before returning to her room to pack her luggage.

The most valuable things in the Lu family were the medicinal herbs used to make the face medicine. Because business had been good recently, Lu Huaying had just bought a new batch of medicine.

Wang Yu was in charge of bookkeeping and managing all household expenses. Every penny passed through her hands. She knew how difficult it was to do business and was reluctant to part with the medicinal herbs she had just bought. She wanted to take them with her, but they only had one hour. The herbs had not yet been sorted and classified, so they could not be packed into boxes and taken away.

She squatted down and picked up the scattered medicinal herbs.

Lu Huaying helped Wang Yu up and comforted her, saying, "We can only leave her here for now. We'll figure something out when we get to Xizhou."

Wang Yu was heartbroken, but had no choice but to board the carriage with all the account books in her arms.

The family embarked on their journey to Xizhou again with trepidation.

Two days later, they saw the earthen cliffs rising above the river again. The carriage followed the flow of people into the city, and the guards, after checking their route, took them directly to the Protectorate General's Office.

Several attendants were waiting for them outside the mansion gate.

Lu Huaying recognized one of the men as one of Fan Hui's close associates and breathed a sigh of relief. Fan Hui had sent someone, so it shouldn't be trouble.

Wang Yu felt relieved. On the way to Xizhou, she was worried, thinking that her family would be exiled to an even more distant and desolate place.

Afu recognized Fan Hui's attendant, paused for a moment, then suddenly beamed and said, "It must be my lord returning! Ayu and I can go back now!"

He rushed forward excitedly and asked the attendant, "Has the young master returned to Xizhou?"

The attendant was taken aback and shook his head, saying, "The Chief Clerk hasn't received any letters from Governor Wei recently."

Afu's face immediately fell in disappointment.

The attendant led Lu Huaying and the others inside, saying, "The imperial edict was sent from the capital the day before yesterday, so the chief clerk wants you to come to Xizhou as soon as possible."

Is there a document from Luoyang?

The group exchanged glances and followed their attendants into the Protectorate General's residence.

Fan Hui was reviewing official documents in his study when he heard that the Lu family had arrived. He got up to greet them and glanced at Lu Huaying and the others, who looked travel-worn, and said, "Go and freshen up and change your clothes."

Lu Huaying and Wang Yu changed their clothes and came out of the house.

Fan Hui stood outside the door waiting for them and said, "Third Sister, the imperial edict has arrived from the capital. In the twelfth month, a banquet will be held in the capital garden, and the 'Shengshou Le' will be performed. Your 'Dan Jing' will be presented, which perfectly matches the sixteen characters of the 'Shengshou Le': 'Sheng Chao Qian Gu, Dao Tai Bai Wang, Huang Di Wan Sui, Bao Zuo Mi Chang'. The emperor was very pleased and issued an edict to pardon the Lu family. You will no longer be of lowly status."

"Congratulations, Third Sister."

Before changing her clothes, Lu Huaying had already guessed from Fan Hui's expression that the document from Luoyang must be related to the "Dan Jing" (Classic of Alchemy). However, when Fan Hui uttered the words she had been hoping to hear, she was still stunned, her mind blank.

Wang Yu and Lu Hongbi were both stunned, as if they couldn't believe their ears.

After an unknown amount of time, Wang Yu burst into tears of joy, her eyes filled with ecstasy. She turned around and hugged Lu Huaying tightly, crying out, "Feifei! Feifei!"

The fortune sticks they drew at Dayun Temple were indeed effective; their bad luck had truly turned into good fortune!

Lu Hongbi's gloomy face also showed a hint of ecstatic joy.

Lu Huaying was overwhelmed with thoughts and feelings. She smiled at Wang Yu, looked around the courtyard, walked to the railing, slowly sat down, let out a long breath, and her wildly beating heart gradually calmed down.

From being reduced to a lowly status to today, for more than four years, I have been powerless, at the mercy of others, experiencing hardships and tribulations. I see no hope for the future, only painful endurance and torment.

The responsibility of taking care of her family weighed heavily on her shoulders and in her heart. She dared not fall down, fearing that if she did, she would never be able to get up again.

She was so tired, so very tired.

Wang Yu recalled the past few years

Lu Huaying struggled to support her family alone, her heart aching, tears streaming down her face.

Looking at Lu Huaying's pale face, Fan Hui sighed and said, "Third Sister, I've sent someone to fetch the messenger who will deliver the imperial edict. Come with me to receive the decree."

Lu Huaying tried to stand up, but she couldn't move at all.

Fan Hui bent down and reached out to help her.

Lu Huaying shook her head, looked up at him and smiled, then slowly stood up.

Fan Hui led them to the main hall and told them to wait in the courtyard. After a short while, the messenger who was delivering the imperial edict to Xizhou came out, holding a silk scroll in his hands, and asked them to kneel down to receive the edict.

Several people knelt down.

The messenger unfolded the yellow silk book and read it aloud. The contents of the edict were the same as what Fan Hui had said. Lu Huaying presented the alchemical text, which pleased the emperor greatly. He pardoned the Lu family, bestowed upon them several bolts of silk, several gold ingots, and several acres of land, and summoned the whole family back to the capital.

Lu Huaying accepted the commission.

Lu Hongbi knelt at the messenger's feet and bowed deeply in worship.

Wang Yu burst into tears.

Ayu, Afu, and the others standing nearby couldn't help but sigh for them.

...

Fan Hui's attendants escorted the Lu family away from the Protectorate and took them to Fan Hui's residence in Xizhou.

Ayu volunteered to go out and buy wine.

Ah Fu cheered up and said he would cook a few dishes.

The steward of the Fan family also enthusiastically prepared an incense burner for worshipping their ancestors to celebrate the pardon granted to the Lu family.

In the afternoon, Lu Hongbi got very drunk.

Even Wang Yu got drunk, sometimes crying and sometimes laughing.

Lu Huaying drank more than them, but she didn't get drunk.

When Fan Hui returned, Wang Yu, Lu Hongbi, and the others were not there.

Lu Huaying stood alone in the courtyard, gazing at the sky.

Fan Hui stood under the eaves for a while, then looked up and asked, "Looking at the sky?"

Looking at the clouds floating in the sky, Lu Huaying smiled and said, "Looking at those clouds, for the past four years, I have often looked at the clouds in the sky and imagined that one day I would regain my freedom and be able to drift wherever I want, just like the clouds."

Fan Hui couldn't help but feel pity, and said, "Floating clouds are like white robes, changing like greyhounds. Third Sister, the most painful days are over."

"Thank you, Chief Secretary Fan. I appreciate your kind words."

Lu Huaying smiled, exhaled, turned her head, and smiled brightly.

Fan Hui was silent for a moment, then looked away and said, "Third Sister, before Wei Mingsu left, he told me something."

Lu Huaying was slightly taken aback and asked, "What else did he reveal?"

Fan Hui said, "Wei Mingsu asked me to promise not to bother you in Liucheng or mention him before the Emperor pardons you, so that you can recuperate quietly in Liucheng. I asked him why..."

He said it was because you looked too tired.

At that time, Fan Hui didn't understand Wei Mingsu's words, but now he understands somewhat. Lu Huaying, still of lowly status, was powerless, burdened with too much pressure, unable to be free, unable to be herself; everything and everyone from the past only made her burden heavier. Only after receiving a pardon did her smile truly lose all its shadow.

Lu Huaying stared blankly at Fan.

Hui.

She did not cry when she received the imperial decree.

But now, she suddenly felt tears welling up in her eyes.

...

The imperial edict stated that Lu Huaying and several others were to be summoned back to Luoyang.

The messenger inquired when Fan Hui and the Lu family could depart, as he still needed to deliver imperial edicts to other places and could not bear the weather in Xizhou, so he wanted to leave for Luoyang as soon as possible.

Fan Hui asked Lu Huaying.

Lu Huaying knew that Wang Yu and Lu Hongbi were eager to return to the Central Plains, and since the Empress had summoned them back, they could not delay. So she discussed it with the two of them.

Wang Yu's family moved from Chang'an to Luoyang, and she was naturally eager to return home.

Lu Hongbi didn't want to stay in Xizhou any longer; he had long been fed up with the sandstorms there.

Lu Huaying replied to Fan Hui: "It would be a pity to lose the things in Liucheng. I also need to go back and settle the accounts there. I'll go back and pack my luggage, make arrangements there, and then return to Shendu with the messenger."

Fan Hui nodded: "Okay."

After the two set a departure date, Lu Huaying asked, "Chief Secretary Fan, do you really not know when Governor Wei will return?"

Fan Hui looked at her and said, "Third Sister, I really don't know."

Lu Huaying felt empty inside.

She shouldn't disturb Wei Mingsu's life anymore; she should stay away from him... But before returning to Luoyang, she wanted to know if he had returned safely.

Seeing her frown, Fan Hui said, "Third Sister, you can go back to Shendu with peace of mind. If Wei Mingsu comes back, he won't stay in Xizhou for long. He will definitely go back to Shendu, and then you will be able to see him."

Lu Huaying thought to herself that she could only wait for news from him in Luoyang.