Chapter 32
Lu Huaying walked out silently.
In the pitch-black night sky, large clumps of snowflakes drifted down, covering the ground with a layer of white.
The wind has stopped, but it's even colder now.
She shivered from the cold and stepped into the snow.
"Wait!" Tong Jin chased after her with a black cloak lined with fox fur, and handed it to Lu Huaying without saying a word. "It's snowing, and you're feeling weak. Wear this back, and have Afu bring it back tomorrow."
Lu Huaying shivered from the cold, but did not refuse. She put on the cloak, looked at Tong Jin, and thanked him earnestly: "Thank you."
Under the snowy night, she smiled faintly, her hair was jet black and shiny, her eyelashes were thick and long, her eyes were dark, and her face was as white as jade, like a pure white and noble epiphyllum.
Wei Mingsu stood with his hands behind his back by the window, where he could see the entire courtyard. He dared not stare directly at Lu Huaying. He carried the lantern and saw her out. Standing at the door, he watched her slender and graceful figure disappear into the darkness, lost in thought, before turning back.
The candle was blown out by the wind, and the room was pitch black.
Wei Mingsu remained standing in the same spot, gazing at the swirling snow outside the window, his profile calm.
They lit a new candle together.
"Have Afu make her some ginger soup to dispel the cold and stop her cough, and make it thick."
Wei Mingsu said in a low voice.
Tong Jin paused for a moment, then turned to look at Wei Mingsu, scratched his head, and laughed, "Brother, when I saw Lu San Niang off, she also asked me to cook a bowl of soup."
Wei Mingsu's back remained still: "What soup?"
Tong Jin's gaze fell on Wei Mingsu's hands, and he was taken aback.
Wei Mingsu's hand remained motionless in front of the open window crack for a long time, a layer of snow settling on the back of his hand and sleeve.
Tong Jin looked away and said with a smile, "A bowl of celery soup. Lu San Niang smelled the alcohol. She said that every time A Lang drank alcohol, he would have a headache and feel dizzy the next morning. Drinking a bowl of celery soup can sober him up. She also told me to add more vinegar. A Fu and I are really too careless. We have been with A Lang for three years and we didn't know that A Lang likes to drink sour celery soup when he is drunk."
He and Afu were both young and clumsy, and they were not very meticulous in their work. Wei Mingsu rarely made any demands. They took care of his daily life, but they did not know that he liked to drink celery soup after drinking alcohol.
There was a moment of silence.
Tong Jin asked in a low voice, "Sir, there's pickled celery in the quarters. Shall I go and make some celery soup?"
Wei Mingsu turned around, sat back down at the table, picked up the wine pot with his hands red from the cold, and remained noncommittal.
Tong Jin didn't ask again, but went out to ask the monk for vinegar and celery, and asked Afu to cook ginger soup for Lu Huaying.
When he carried the celery soup back to his room, Wei Mingsu had finished the remaining half pot of wine, holding an empty bowl in his hand, expressionless, lost in thought.
The celery soup was placed on the table, emitting a strong sour smell.
Wei Mingsu put down his wine bowl, picked up the soup, lowered his head, and looked at the soup in the bowl with deep, melancholy eyes. The steam made his face look indistinct.
He took a sip.
The familiar sour aroma.
This was the first time he had drunk celery soup in four years since they parted ways.
She remembered that he would have a headache the day after drinking, and that he loved celery soup.
She misunderstood him, and even though he emphasized many times that he didn't want to see her, she wanted to apologize to him in person.
Things have changed, but people are no longer the same.
How much courage does Lu Huaying need to insist on seeing him now?
She was just standing in the courtyard when people coming in and out of the dormitories looked at her with disdain.
She ignored it.
You get used to it and become numb to it.
Wei Mingsu finished his celery soup.
"My lord." Tong Jin stood in front of the door, looking at the empty bowl, and a thought popped into his head. After hesitating for a moment, he mustered up his courage and said, "I have to go out every day to deliver letters for you, my lord. Ah Fu is too clumsy, careless, and forgetful. Why don't we ask Lu San Niang to take care of your daily life?"
Wei Mingsu raised his eyes, his expression turning stern: "Let her concentrate on writing the 'Dan Jing' (Classic of Alchemy)."
"yes."
They retreated together.
The next morning, an attendant announced at the door that Prince Chai requested an audience.
Tong Jin said, "Young Master is too busy and has no time to see him. Did you ask Prince Chai why he wants to see Young Master?"
The attendant discreetly touched his purse and chuckled, "It's all because of Lu Sanniang! Young Master Chai has been making arrangements for her, running around doing everything he can, and even got a request from the Governor. The Wuzhe Assembly is being held at Dayun Temple the day after tomorrow, and he wants to invite Lu Sanniang to go with him."
When the Great Cloud Sutra was delivered to the Great Cloud Temple, the temple planned a grand, unrestricted assembly. People from all walks of life in Xizhou, regardless of social status or wealth, were welcome to attend and listen to the high monks expound the Great Cloud Sutra. The pampered young nobles, however, were indifferent to the situation in Xizhou and eager to return to Luoyang, urging the temple to choose the nearest auspicious day.
Tong Jin frowned, thought for a moment, and went into the house.
Wei Mingsu sat at his desk reviewing official documents. The snow that fell last night stopped in the latter half of the night, and it was still cloudy today. A candle was lit on the desk.
Tong Jin then told him about Chai Yong's visit to the Governor of Xizhou for help, saying, "My lord, Young Master Chai wants to take Lu San Niang to the Wuzhe Assembly. He has come several times in the past two days to inquire when you will release Lu San Niang to return to Liucheng."
Upon hearing this, Wei Mingsu raised his eyes, looked out the window, and calmly said, "Let her see whoever she wants; you don't need to stop her."
Tong Jin was somewhat surprised: "Young Master Chai wants to attend the Unobstructed Assembly with Third Sister Lu."
Looking at the snow in the courtyard, Wei Mingsu said, "His Majesty said that all the Unobstructed Gatherings of Dayun Temples throughout the world can be attended by men, women, and children of all ages, regardless of social status."
Tong Jin understood his meaning, agreed, and went out to relay the message to everyone.
Chai Yong knew that Wei Mingsu was busy interrogating Young Master Xu and wouldn't see him, but he still came to try his luck. He was overjoyed when he heard what Tong Jin said.
He immediately went back and relayed the news to Lu Hongbi and Wang Yu.
"Since Governor Wei has allowed us to meet with Third Sister, he will definitely release her."
Lu Hongbi paused, his expression somewhat complicated.
Wang Yu wept with joy.
...
When Lu Huaying got up in the morning, she asked Afu to return the cloak to Tongjin.
Afu glanced at the black cloak, his expression changed slightly, he rolled his eyes at her, and placed the ginger soup in front of her.
"Remember to finish it."
He picked up the cloak and went outside.
After drinking the ginger soup, Lu Huaying felt her cough had improved a bit, and sat down to write the "Dan Jing" (Classic of Alchemy).
Wei Mingsu is currently facing many difficulties, and there's nothing she can do to help him. He asked for the "Dan Jing" (Classic of Alchemy), and she wants to finish writing it as soon as possible and give it to him.
At noon, someone came over to deliver lunch and saw Lu Huaying writing the "Dan Jing" with complete focus. They smiled and said, "Young Master Chai wants to invite you to the Wuzhe Assembly at Dayun Temple. The young master has agreed, but he has instructed that you are not allowed to leave the city."
Lu Huaying paused for a moment, then looked up with a smile on her face. She knew that Lu Hongbi and Wang Yu were nearby, but she couldn't feel at ease until she saw them. Chai Yong had invited her to the Wuzhe Assembly, and he would definitely take them with him.
They put down the bread and soup and went back.
The atmosphere in the courtyard was oppressive, and the attendants all looked tense and hurried along.
Tong Jin's heart skipped a beat, and he quickly went inside.
Wei Mingsu had just returned and was sitting at his desk reading official documents. His blue robe was stained with large patches of bright red blood. A doctor sat beside him, applying medicine to his wounds.
The servant whispered to his companion, "When the young master was interrogating the prisoner just now, he was slashed."
Tong Jin frowned deeply: "How could there be a knife on the prisoner?"
The attendant said, "It's not an ordinary knife; it's a very sharp little knife. I don't know how he hid it. Maybe someone secretly brought it in last night."
Tong Jin's brows furrowed even more.
Everyone in Xizhou sympathized with the Chief Secretary; they simply couldn't guard against him.
He sighed, found a new robe, and asked Wei Mingsu to change his clothes.
Wei Mingsu took off his old robe, which was stained with blood, and put on the new one. His gaze swept over the black cloak hanging on the rack.
"Is she going to the Unobstructed Assembly the day after tomorrow?"
Tong Jin nodded and said, "Go. I just told her, and she was very happy."
Wei Mingsu hummed in agreement and said, "You'll be with her the day after tomorrow."
Tong Jin looked at Wei Mingsu's wound with some concern: "And what about you?"
"I want to interrogate the prisoner,"
Nothing will happen.
Wei Mingsu rubbed his temples and said.
He hesitated, as if he wanted to say something but then stopped.
...
Two days later, Dayun Temple set up a huge altar in front of the main hall. Several eminent monks from Luoyang and Xizhou, dressed in purple robes, sat under a canopy and chanted the "Dayun Sutra". Other monks from the temple stood on both sides behind them and chanted loudly together, creating a solemn and dignified atmosphere.
The chanting of sutras was rhythmic and melodious, with hundreds of solemn voices converging into waves like a tsunami above the temple, shaking the clouds.
The audience listened with rapt attention.
Before Lu Huaying even stepped out of the house, she could hear the chanting coming from Dayun Temple.
Tong Jin walked into the courtyard carrying a black cloak.
"I'll go with you to Dayun Temple. It's getting colder and colder. The sun isn't shining today, and it's even windy. Wear more clothes."
He handed the cloak to Lu Huaying, gesturing for her to put it on.
Seeing that he and the other attendants were all wearing the same black cloak, Lu Huaying took it and put it on.
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