Chapter 26 (He visited Xizhou four years ago)
When the curtain was lifted, the light from the campfire outside shone into the tent. A man stood with his hands behind his back in front of the tent, his eyes gazing in the direction of Xizhou in the distance. His figure appeared even more slender and thin in the flickering firelight. When the light shone on him, he was as sharp as a sword; when he was in the shadows, he was as deep as an abyss.
Before Lu Huaying could get a clear look at Wei Mingsu's face, the curtain fell.
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He untied the ropes binding her hands and handed her the medicine and water pouch. Since it was inconvenient to prepare the medicine outside, the doctor gave her a bottle of black pills, each about the size of a cherry.
After taking the medicine, Lu Huaying asked, "What kind of medicine is this?"
Tong Jin glanced at her and smiled, saying, "Don't worry, Madam Lu, it's not poison, it's medicine for injuries. Did you feel sleepy after taking the medicine? That's because the doctor added a sedative to the prescription. The medicine that Vice Minister Zhou's men gave you was too harmful. You couldn't sleep that night because of the pain. You were trembling all over and talking a lot in your sleep. The medicine was prescribed by the doctor at the master's request, and you only fell asleep after taking it."
When Lu Huaying recalled that night, all she remembered was the silver strands at Wei Mingsu's temples.
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Tong Jin got up and went out. Before lowering the curtain, he instructed her, "Only Afu and I can come in. If anyone else comes in, shout for help."
A series of eerie and chilling sounds came from outside the tent, accompanied by the howling of the cold wind and the roaming, howling of wolves.
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As the setting sun sank into the beautiful valley, a thin mist rose from the mountains, enveloping the lush green pines and cypresses as if covered in frost. The twilight deepened, and at the foot of the mountain, wisps of white smoke rose from the villages scattered along the riverbank.
Fifteen-year-old Lu Huaying led a horse, walking alone on a deserted mountain path.
The mountain forest was exceptionally quiet, with only the occasional bird call coming from the branches.
Lu Huaying saw a dilapidated, abandoned temple nestled among bamboo groves halfway up the mountain. She untied the sheepskin bag hanging beside her saddle, led her horse into the woods, and hid it. Walking to the temple, she removed her veil and called out, "Zheng Ba! Come out!"
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After a while, once it was confirmed that she had no attendants, footsteps were heard from inside the temple. A young man with fair skin and delicate features, wearing a brocade robe with small floral patterns, walked out. He recognized Lu Huaying, looked surprised, and narrowed his eyes: "How come it's you?"
“I’ve come to see you on behalf of Sister Wang.” Lu Huaying untied the sheepskin bag and opened it for the boy to see. “Inside is the gold you wanted. Where’s the letter? Did you bring it?”
Zheng Ba smiled slightly, his face as handsome as jade in the twilight, his expression frivolous, and said, "Of course I brought the letter."
Lu Huaying picked up the leather bag and said, "Alright, I'll give you the gold, and you give me the letter."
Zheng Ba smiled and nodded, took the leather bag from Lu Huaying's hand, took out a letter from his sleeve, and handed it to her.
Lu Huaying reached out to take the letter, but Zheng Ba suddenly withdrew his arm, his frivolous expression deepening. He raised his eyebrows and looked her up and down, laughing as he said, "Third Sister, I used to invite you to go hunting and drinking, but you always ignored me. Today you actually came to see me, I'm overjoyed! How can a vulgar woman like Wang Liuniang compare to you?"
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"Look, the mountains are so beautiful, with lush trees and lovely scenery. I'll accompany you for a walk, and then I'll give you the letter when I see you down the mountain..."
Lu Huaying had long suspected that Zheng Ba wouldn't keep his word. She glanced at the writing on the envelope and, before Zheng Ba could finish speaking, slashed down with her palm.
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Lu Huaying stepped forward, kicked Zheng Ba to the ground, pounced on him without saying a word, grabbed the letter from his sleeve, stuffed it into her bosom, and ran away.
Zheng Ba lay on the ground, stunned for a moment, then came to his senses and was immediately furious. He regretted underestimating his opponent, and scrambled to his feet, shouting, "Lu San Niang, do you think you can escape? I was waiting for Wang Liu Niang, but I didn't expect it to be you. You walked right in here, how could I, Zheng Ba, miss this god-given opportunity?"
His face was full of anger as he turned around and shouted towards the temple, "Catch up with Lu Sanniang!"
A group of strong servants ran out of the temple.
Zheng Ba pointed at Lu Huaying's retreating figure: "Chase her! Catch her!"
A burly servant hesitated and said, "Hachiro, she's a young lady from the Lu family..."
Zheng Bayi slapped the servant across the face: "Take the letter back! Even if she's a princess of the Li family, she wouldn't dare to make a sound! Go after her!"
The servant agreed, mounted the fast horse hidden in the temple, and went to chase after Lu Huaying.
Hearing the approaching hoofbeats behind her, Lu Huaying dared not let her guard down. She whistled, and the white horse galloped out of the woods. She leaped onto its back, and the white horse raced down the mountain path.
After running for a while, she gradually left her several strong servants behind. Covered in sweat, she didn't have time to catch her breath before realizing that it was already dark. The night sky peeking through the branches was pitch black, and she was surrounded by dense forests, making it difficult to tell which way to go.
The sound of chasing hooves came from behind.
Lu Huaying could only choose to continue in the opposite direction. The road in the mountains was winding and rugged, with the terrain rising and falling, so the white horse could not gallop as fast as it could on the plains and walked very slowly.
Zheng Ba's strong servants caught up with them, their shouts coming right up to them.
Suddenly, a whooshing sound filled the air, and several arrows flew out diagonally from the woods.
Lu Huaying was startled; Zheng Ba actually dared to order his servants to shoot arrows at her!
Fortunately, it wasn't Sister Wang who came today.
Zheng Jiajian's servants pursued relentlessly. The white horse was hit by an arrow and let out a long neigh, but it endured the pain and continued to carry its master forward. Lu Huaying gritted her teeth and pulled out the Xiliang knife from her boot.
A faint flash of light suddenly appeared ahead.
Lu Huaying thought there must be a village ahead, so she gripped her Xiliang sword and spurred her horse toward the direction of the firelight.
As she got closer, Lu Huaying was disappointed to find that the light was not from the village lights. It was just a low, simple thatched hut with a mud wall and thatched roof. There was no door at all, only a cloth curtain hanging in the doorway, and a flame flickered behind the curtain.
A figure was sitting by the oil lamp reading a book when he heard the sound of horses' hooves outside, so he got up and went out.
In the darkness of night, a cold face appeared, with sword-like eyebrows and dark eyes. The night wind blew up his old robe, and his thin figure resembled a piece of wood withered and bare.
When Lu Huaying met his gaze, she couldn't help but curse her bad luck in her heart: How could it be such a coincidence that she ran into her enemy when she was in danger?
The sound of hooves came from the woods.
Without hesitation, Lu Huaying turned her horse and headed east, hoping that Wei Mingsu would not recognize her.
"That's a dead end."
Wei Mingsu's voice sounded from behind. He stepped forward, grabbed Lu Huaying's reins, and gestured for her to go west.
"There's a ravine behind the woods, let's hide there."
Lu Huaying didn't believe Wei Mingsu would help her; the wounds on his face from the beating hadn't healed yet. But he pulled the white horse around, and there was a chorus of chasing sounds behind them. Turning back was too late; there was no time to lose, so they could only head west. Sure enough, there was a forest ahead, and a little further on was a hidden ravine. She dismounted, led the white horse down the ravine, and hid.
What if Wei Mingsu was lying to her?
Lu Huaying took out the letter she had snatched from Zheng Ba; if she were caught, she would...
He tore the letter to pieces and swallowed it.
Voices and hoofbeats approached the thatched hut, and someone was loudly questioning Wei Mingsu.
Lu Huaying lay prone in the grass, listening to the sounds coming from the other side.
Those people seemed to have broken into the hut, searched the surrounding area, but found no ravine in the woods, and then rode off in another direction.
Lu Huaying was worried that they would become suspicious and turn back, so she dared not move.
After a long time, footsteps echoed from the ravine.
Both of them breathed a sigh of relief.
The mountains were already cool and secluded, and the nights were even colder. The night dew was silent, and the mountain breeze was damp. Wei Mingsu sat outside, and although he was facing a small campfire, his face and hands were still red from the cold, but he seemed oblivious to it, his expression focused.
Wei Mingsu stood there, in the shadows, his features blurred, making it impossible to discern his expression.
Wei Mingsu did not turn around, but carefully deciphered the words on the paper.
Lu Huaying woke up with a start, only to find that she had let her guard down and fallen asleep on the table.
Lu Huaying smiled slightly: "Good sister, I've read the letter. Can you rest assured now? I haven't read it. I'll wait for you to confirm it yourself. If it is, then burn it."
Despite his young age, he turned out to be an old scholar.
Wei Mingsu picked up a scroll from the wooden table, turned around, and walked out of the thatched hut.
"They're gone, you can come up now."
Night had fallen, the dark clouds had dispersed, and the bright moonlight bathed the mountains and forests. The night was serene, with the sound of rustling pines and the babbling of flowing water.
Lu Huaying watched his figure disappear into the morning light, touched the letter in her arms, turned around and walked into the village, asking the villagers to help her deliver the letter to the Wang family.
She felt even more guilty and secretly glanced at his face; the wound at the corner of his eye was still somewhat bruised.
As she expected, Zheng Ba lost the letter threatening Wang Liuniang and failed to capture her. After his impulsive act, he thought about the consequences and was terrified. That night, he quietly left Chang'an.
Wang Liuniang took the letter: "Feifei, didn't you see what was written in the letter?"
Lu Huaying couldn't help but chuckle to herself. Someone like Wei Mingsu must be the kind of person who dislikes people like herself the most.
Wei Mingsu looked at the book without turning around.
He was reading a book.
Lu Huaying got into the carriage, handed her the letter, and interrupted her crying: "Here's the letter. See if it's the one you wrote. If it is, burn it now."
Lu Huaying looked up in surprise; Wei Mingsu had already recognized her.
A cough came from the corner, and a weak voice called out to Wei Mingsu: "Prefect Wei."
"Go inside and sit down. When it's light, I'll escort Miss Lu down the mountain via the side path."
Lu Huaying gripped the letter tightly, her heart pounding.
As dawn broke over the mountains, Wei Mingsu put away his books, placed them in a bamboo scroll beside him, smothered the campfire with dirt, slung the scroll over his shoulder, and said to Lu Huaying, who was dozing at the table, "Young lady, I'll escort you down the mountain."
He visited Xizhou four years ago.
Tong Jin said, "Young Master, it is Young Master Lu the Second."
Where did Wei Mingsu go?
She had her maid light a fire and burn the letter.
The campfire flickered in front of Wei Mingsu.
She didn't defend herself. If the matter of Sixth Sister's letter got out, her reputation would be ruined. She promised Sixth Sister that she would keep quiet.
Lu Huaying calmed the white horse down and climbed onto it.
Lu Huaying secretly sent people out to inquire, but Wei Mingsu kept his word and did not mention to anyone that he had seen her in the mountains.
Lu Hongbi leaned against the corner of the wall, covered with a blanket, and looked up at him with her pale and effeminate face: "We first met in Xizhou."
"Young Master Wei!" Lu Huaying called out to him, "About last night..."
…”
Wei Mingsu had his back to her and remained silent.
Wang Liuniang was stunned for a moment, her eyes filled with tears and her face full of emotion. She opened the letter, glanced at it, and said, "It was written by me!"
A thought flashed through Lu Huaying's mind: Could the things in Wei Mingsu's book collection be all his possessions?
Lu Huaying stared at him for a long time.
The two walked down the mountain in silence, one after the other. Wei Mingsu led Lu Huaying to a village and then turned to leave.
Wei Mingsu turned around, his gaze fixed on his feet, and said, "I will not let this get out."
Lu Huaying thought to herself that she should properly thank Wei Mingsu tomorrow.
Lu Huaying nodded and followed Wei Mingsu into the thatched hut. She didn't know how to thank him. Her hair was already disheveled when she ran away, and she looked very disheveled. Perhaps Wei Mingsu didn't recognize her, which was why he helped her. If she revealed her identity, would he immediately turn on her?
Half an hour later, Wang Liuniang arrived with her maid. Seeing Lu Huaying in such a disheveled state, she burst into tears, saying, "Feifei..."
Lu Huaying rubbed her hands together and said, "Young Master Wei, come inside. It's warmer inside than outside, and there aren't as many bugs."
Looking at the wounds on Lu Huaying's face, Wang Liuniang felt extremely guilty. She took a handkerchief and wiped her face, saying, "Feifei, you helped me get back the leverage that Zheng Ba had in his hands. Zheng Ba can no longer threaten me. He must not be content with this. You must be careful of him."
Lu Huaying lay in the carriage, laughing nonchalantly, "Sister, don't worry, the letter has been retrieved. If Zheng Ba were smart, he would have already run away."
Wei Mingsu raised his eyelids and looked at Xizhou under the night sky in the north.
...
That night, Wei Mingsu never looked back.
Lu Huaying meant well, worried that he would get cold. He clearly heard her but remained indifferent and silent. She raised an eyebrow and couldn't help but say to his back, "Young Master Wei, I am a young lady, and I am not afraid. Are you afraid of me, Young Master Wei?"
A figure sat by the door, tending a small campfire. The yellow light of the fire attracted small flying insects that swarmed around him. He lowered his head, looking down at the dark yellow paper in his hand.
It was Wei Mingsu's voice.
He was indifferent to why Lu Huaying was being chased in the mountains. Lu Huaying didn't have to think of a reason to lie to him. She sat down and let out a long breath. The wounds she had sustained while running away started to hurt. She checked herself and found no arrow wounds. She breathed a sigh of relief.
The matter was settled, and there was no word of it outside.
Lu Huaying secretly ran away from the manor and did not return home that night. Although Wang Liuniang helped her cover it up, the Duke of Yan was still furious and punished her.
Wei Mingsu turned around and walked up to Lu Hongbi.
Lu Huaying rubbed her eyes and lifted the curtain.
"They've searched this place once, they won't come back."
Lu Huaying raised her head.
When Wang Yu offered the scriptures, she praised Wei Mingsu's calligraphy for having a Buddhist quality. It was already rare for children from poor families to be able to go to school and learn to read. It was extremely rare for someone like Wei Mingsu to be able to write such beautiful characters without the guidance of a famous teacher. Given his background, it is not hard to imagine the hardships he endured to become a sutra copyist at Luyuan Temple at the foot of Chang'an.
The bookcase was very old, clearly having been used for a long time. The worn areas were reinforced with hemp rope. Inside the bookcase were several scrolls of books, paper, pens, inkstones, flint and steel, a bamboo bowl and chopsticks, two pairs of straw sandals, a few pieces of blue cloth, and a set of old clothes.
"Thank you for your help tonight."
He closed his eyes and rested for a while, then stood up, glanced at the tent, and led his companions on a tour of the inn's interior and exterior.
Lu Huaying led the horse and followed behind Wei Mingsu, her gaze sweeping over the books on his back.
She was all alone in the hut.
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