Chapter 63

Lu Huaying dared not keep the messenger from the capital waiting in Xizhou any longer, so she took Ayu back to Liucheng after receiving the imperial decree.

Both of them rode horses without any luggage, which was faster than taking a carriage, and they saw the city gate of Liucheng by noon the next day.

Lu Huaying dismounted and stepped forward, lifted her veil, and handed over her and A Yu's belongings.

When the guards looked at her residence, they were surprised to find that she was no longer of lowly status. They exchanged surprised glances and congratulated her with smiles.

She smiled slightly, then saddled and mounted her horse.

They were returning to Xizhou the next day and didn't have time to settle accounts with each household. Lu Huaying sent Ayu to the west of the city while she went directly to the magistrate's wife to explain the situation and ask her to help explain to the other ladies.

The magistrate's wife already knew that Lu Huaying had been freed from her lowly status and was returning to Luoyang. She wrote a letter asking Lu Huaying to deliver it to her relatives in the capital, along with generous gifts, and was reluctant to part with her. Lu Huaying cured Zhang Heng's carbuncle, much to the Zhang family's delight. Taking advantage of this opportunity, the magistrate's wife flattered Madam Zhang, frequently inquiring about and showing concern for Zhang Heng, successfully establishing a relationship with the Zhang family. The magistrate's wife grew increasingly fond of Lu Huaying and was plotting to win her over when, unexpectedly, she was about to leave.

"You've already gone back to your senses. I don't know if we'll ever have a chance to meet again." The lady smiled. "We won't be able to buy your family's noodles in Liucheng anymore."

Lu Huaying declined the gifts from the madam, but took out all the prepared medicine she hadn't taken with her and gave it to the magistrate's wife, asking her to help look after the people in the alley.

The magistrate's wife was overjoyed and readily agreed.

After leaving Magistrate Yan's house, Lu Huaying went home to tidy up, found a child to help her run errands, and asked her former neighbors to come and move all the usable and edible things from her house.

The child went out for a while, and then a panicked shout came from outside the door, mixed with crying.

A group of children ran into the courtyard, knelt at Lu Huaying's feet, and cried, "Third Aunt, Young Master Zhou and his family kidnapped Atai and the others this morning!"

Atai was the oldest boy among the children who worked at Lu Huaying's house.

Lu Huaying frowned, went inside, picked up her saber, helped the children up, and asked, "Where did Zhou Wei take Atai?"

...

In a courtyard of the Zhou family.

Zhou's strong servants pinned several teenage Hu boys to the ground and forced them to put their fingerprints on the indenture.

"Press your fingerprints, and from now on you'll be part of the Zhou family. You'll live a life of luxury with the young master, and you'll never have to work hard for others again. Press your fingerprints now!"

Some of the boys were so frightened that they trembled and cried loudly, while others struggled violently in anger, none of them willing to put their fingerprints on the paper.

The Zhou family steward advised, "Your parents have already agreed to let you work as servants in the Zhou family. If you know what's good for you, hurry up and put your fingerprints on the document to avoid suffering."

The boys raised their heads, glared at Zhou Wei standing in front of them, and loudly cursed him in the foreign language.

Zhou Wei's face darkened.

He wanted to take revenge on Lu Huaying, but couldn't find an opportunity. After Lu Huaying returned from Xizhou, she started a noodle and medicine business, winning over the noblewomen of Liucheng and even curing the young lady of the Zhang family. The elders of the Zhou family warned him not to try to cause trouble for Lu Huaying again.

Zhou Wei was dissatisfied and gathered some cronies to discuss how to sabotage Lu Huaying's business.

Just then, Lu Huaying suddenly left Liucheng.

While Zhou Wei was furious that he could no longer retaliate against Lu Huaying, a thought popped into his head: if Lu Huaying could run a noodle and medicine business, so could he! He could take advantage of the situation and steal Lu Huaying's noodle and medicine business.

His cronies also wanted a piece of the pie and urged Zhou Wei to act quickly.

Zhou Wei acted immediately. He sent people to follow Lu Huaying every day. Knowing that these children in the south of the city were working for the Lu family, he ordered the steward to intimidate their families, arrest these children and bring them into the Zhou family as servants, forcing them to make noodles for him.

Surprisingly, these children refused to put their fingerprints on the paper!

Zhou Wei glared at the boys and ordered the steward, "Make them suffer a bit!"

The steward should untie the whip from his waist, step forward, and raise the whip.

With a series of sharp cracks, the boys were whipped, their faces covered in blood, and they screamed in agony.

Zhou Wei sneered, "Beat! Keep beating them! Beat them hard! Those who refuse to put their fingerprints on the paper, beat them to death!"

No sooner had the words been spoken than a loud crash came from the doorway, as if something heavy had struck the gate, and the entire courtyard seemed to shake.

&n

Everyone was startled and stunned.

Another loud bang, followed by shouts and screams, and the locked courtyard gate crashed down to the ground, raising a cloud of dust, as everyone stared in disbelief.

Before the dust had settled, a black horse trampled over the fallen door panel and charged straight in.

Before everyone could see clearly who the figure in bright red on horseback was, a cold light flew out from the red figure's raised hand, followed by a terrified scream. With a crack, Zhou Wei suddenly collapsed to the ground.

After a series of terrified, shrill screams, the courtyard fell silent.

The Zhou family's servants all looked in the direction from which the screams came.

Zhou Wei sat on the ground, his face ashen and his whole body trembling.

Just now, he saw a flash of silver light, followed by a chill on his head. Before he could react, he reached up and touched his forehead, his fingers brushing against the icy blade!

There was a saber stuck between his turban and hair!

That flash of silver light just now was a saber thrown over!

If... if the saber had been just a little lower, it would have pierced his head!

Zhou Wei was terrified. He screamed, his legs went weak, and he collapsed to the ground.

When the servants came to their senses, they all saw the saber stuck in Zhou Wei's turban. Terrified, they quickly walked towards Zhou Wei to help him up. As they got closer, they smelled a foul stench.

Everyone was stunned, their gazes falling on Zhou Wei's brocade robe.

His brocade robe below his waist was already wet.

The group exchanged glances, afraid of incurring his wrath if they saw his disgraceful behavior, and dared not move forward.

The sound of horses' hooves came from behind.

The crowd quickly pushed them away.

The woman in red on horseback jumped off and walked up to Zhou Wei. She bent down and patted the saber still stuck in his head: "Young Master Zhou, I have now been freed from my lowly status, so I am no longer harming the noble by my lowly status. I have practiced swordsmanship since I was a child, and this pair of sabers is much easier to use than a pestle. Look, it didn't even scratch your skin, it only cut off a few strands of your hair."

Zhou Wei's face turned pale, and he felt a chill run down his spine.

Lu Huaying smiled and slowly drew her saber, turning the sharp blade over to gently pat Zhou Wei's face.

"Young Master Zhou, what do you think of my swordsmanship?"

She asked with a smile, then suddenly flicked her wrist, and the blade lightly grazed Zhou Wei's face.

Zhou Wei rolled his eyes and fainted from fright.

...

Upon hearing the news, A-Yu from the west of the city rushed over.

The gate to the courtyard was still covered in dust. Lu Huaying led a group of children out of the courtyard. The children were very excited and crowded around her. The servants of the Zhou family followed behind, each one cautious and fearful.

Ayu was taken aback: "Nothing happened, right?"

Lu Huaying sheathed her sword, waved a stack of yellow hemp paper in her hand, and shook her head, saying, "It's alright, I've already taken care of it. Zhou Wei oppressed the common people and forced free people into slavery. He has already put his fingerprint on the document to confess his guilt. All the servants in the Zhou family are willing to identify him, and they have promised to pay compensation."

After she finished speaking, she turned around and glanced at the Zhou family's steward.

The managers all trembled slightly.

A Yu glanced at Zhou Wei, who was being supported by two stewards, had wet his pants in fright, and whose eyes were swollen from crying. He had clearly just been reprimanded, and A Yu couldn't help but chuckle to himself.

Previously, the Lu family had not yet been removed from the register of the family, and Third Sister did not want to cause trouble, so she tolerated Zhou Wei's provocations. Now that the Lu family has been removed from the register, Zhou Wei is still courting death. He deserves it!

That evening, the Zhou family sent their steward to visit Atai and the others with compensation, to apologize to Lu Huaying, and to say that Zhou Wei had been sent to the vineyard overnight.

After Lu Huaying finished dealing with Zhou Wei's matter, settled the accounts, left a sum of money, and also left several simple noodle recipes.

The children were reluctant to see Lu Huaying leave, tugging at her sleeves to wipe their tears. She sighed.

In one breath, he promised them he would write back.

This delay meant they stayed in Liucheng for a day, and only set off back to Xizhou the following afternoon. After traveling for two hours, it got dark. Recently, strong winds had picked up, making it unsafe to travel at night, so they stopped in front of an inn.

The inn was deserted, with the lobby empty except for a few merchants sitting in front of the stove.

The shopkeeper was dozing against the wall when he heard A-Yu lift the curtain. He raised his eyelids, yawned, and slowly stood up to greet them.

Lu Huaying walked into the hall, the firelight reflecting off her face and clearly illuminating her delicate features. She had been too busy in Liucheng to change into men's clothing.

Whether in Chang'an, Luoyang, or Xizhou, respectable women generally do not go out alone. The merchants in the hall were stunned for a moment, then exchanged smiles. Soon after, foul language and laughter came from around the stove.

Lu Huaying looked at the men around the stove who were talking about her.

The men, knowing she had overheard their conversation, grew even more smug, openly looking her up and down as they continued their gossip.

With a "whoosh," Lu Huaying raised her hand, drew her saber from its sheath, and a flash of cold light rushed toward the stove.

The merchants were stunned, their souls nearly leaving their bodies. They tried to get up and hide, but the cold light was already right in front of them.

"Smack."

The saber pierced through the crowd and stuck into the wall, remaining motionless.

The businessmen were still shaken.

Lu Huaying walked to the wall, drew her saber, and glanced at the merchants.

The merchants lowered their heads and shut their mouths, not uttering a single word.

Although the inn was deserted, all the few rooms were occupied.

Merchants usually carry luggage with them when they go out, and they can sleep on the floor in the lobby. Ayu and Lu Huaying didn't bring any luggage, so they had to rent bedding from the innkeeper and find a seat by the stove.

"Your knife is quite rare, madam." The innkeeper warmed a pot of wine and brought it to Lu Huaying, laughing, "It doesn't resemble a knife from the Central Plains; it's more like a knife from Xiliang."

Lu Huaying nodded; her knife was more similar in style to the Xiliang cavalry saber.

The waiter's eyes lit up, and he asked, "Madam, do you speak the Xiliang language? Do you know any people from Xiliang? We have a customer here who wants to go to Xiliang, but he can't find a guide. He's been asking around for days. He says he's willing to give a guide twenty taels of gold if he can show him the way!"

As if afraid that Lu Huaying wouldn't believe him, the waiter pointed to a corner of the lobby.

"That's him! This guest is very generous and will definitely not treat the guide unfairly!"

The corner was dimly lit, and a man sat alone by the wall, drinking. He was tall and muscular, with a full beard, wearing a Shu brocade robe and a Hu hat with a flower pinned to the side. A curved knife hung at his waist. Judging from his robe, he certainly looked like a wealthy merchant who spent lavishly.

"I don't know any people from Xiliang."

Lu Huaying shook her head and dismissed the waiter.

The waiter looked disappointed.

The guest promised to give him ten strings of cash as a reward if he could help him find a guide to Xiliang. For the past few days, the innkeeper had been asking every guest who came to stay if they spoke the Xiliang language or knew anyone who could be a guide. Unfortunately, despite his efforts, he had not found anyone.

Thinking of the ten strings of cash, the waiter put away his dejection, put on a smile again, and went to the other customers to continue asking them.

Lu Huaying carried her saber, and the night passed peacefully; no more foreign merchants mocked or harassed her.

The next day, just as dawn was breaking in the east, she and A-Yu left the inn and returned to Xizhou.

...

Winter is not over yet.

Two days later, the wealthy merchant Lu Huaying had met at the inn failed to find a reliable guide from Xiliang, but instead encountered a caravan trading with the people of Xiliang. The merchant offered gold intended for a guide, and the caravan leader agreed to take him to Xiliang.

The Great Zhou and the Western Liang were locked in a tense struggle for control of the Western Regions. Every caravan had to be thoroughly inspected, and anyone suspected of being a spy or having a suspicious identity was immediately arrested.

The wealthy merchant joined a caravan that included people from Xiliang. The Xiliang people made some arrangements, and the soldiers quickly allowed them to pass.

The caravan leader asked the wealthy merchant where he was going.

The Way of the Rich:

"Wu Zhi, I need to find someone. Does anyone in the caravan know the way to Wu Zhi?"

The caravan leader said, “Wuzhi? It seems to be the territory of a tribe. If you go to Wuzhi to look for someone now, you might not see a single person even after hundreds of miles! I just heard some news. Not long ago, General Kang Wugu sent a governor to govern the tribes and summoned all the tribes to Baishui City. The tribes of Wuzhi must have gone there as well. Why don’t you go to Baishui City to inquire? We should also change our route to Baishui City now.”

The wealthy merchant pondered for a moment, then nodded and said, "Alright, I'll go to Baishui City too."