Chapter 42
Lu Huaying returned to the place where Wang Yu and Xiao Suniang had drawn lots.
Both of them seemed to have received good fortune, and they had smiles on their faces.
Wang Yu held Lu Huaying's hand and said, "Feifei, I just drew a fortune stick for you, and it's a good one!"
The Wang family were devout Buddhists. In the past, Wang Yu often invited scribes to the Luyuan Temple in Wangchuan to copy scriptures for worship.
Lu Huaying thought of Luyuan Temple and felt a moment of daze. She smiled and said, "Sister-in-law, the fortune slip you drew is the most accurate. From now on, our bad luck will definitely turn into good luck."
Xiao Suniang nodded in agreement, saying, "Third Sister, Eldest Sister-in-law, the most difficult time is over. After all the suffering, the good times will come. Even Buddha said so!"
Wang Yu smiled and glanced at Lu Huaying.
Lu Huaying smiled slightly at her.
Xiao Suniang breathed a sigh of relief when she didn't see her brother Xiao E. Without asking where he had gone, she dragged Lu Huaying and Wang Yu to explore other places.
At each Buddhist temple, Wang Yu would devoutly kowtow and silently pray.
Seeing that Wang Yu was in high spirits, Lu Huaying calmed down and quietly stayed with her. She was not a Buddhist, but she knew that Wang Yu needed something to rely on.
After strolling around, Xiao Suniang and Wang Yu were satisfied but also a little tired, so they prepared to leave Dayun Temple.
Fearing she might be impolite, Wang Yu asked Xiao Suniang, "Suniang, should we tell your brother?"
Xiao Suniang shook her head vigorously: "Don't worry about him! He's busy finding a scripture for the Ministry of Rites' Sacrificial Affairs Department."
No sooner had the words left her lips than Xiao E's voice came from the front corridor: "Su Niang! Third Sister!"
After parting ways with the monk, Xiao E encountered several acquaintances from Luoyang. While they were talking in the corridor, they saw Xiao Suniang and the others, exclaimed in surprise, and quickly walked over.
Xiao Suniang rolled her eyes at him.
The young man in brocade robes who was talking to Xiao E turned around and looked at Lu Huaying. He was handsome and had a bright smile. It was Chai Yong.
Chai Yong, dressed in formal attire, walked over to Lu Huaying and the others, smiling and nodding to Wang Yu and Lu Hongbi.
Pei Jingyao stood behind him and smiled at Lu Huaying and Wang Yu.
The other young men in brocade robes in the corridor frowned, exchanged glances, and stood still as they watched Chai Yong walk toward Lu Huaying.
Xiao E and Chai Yong both came over. Xiao Suniang glanced at her brother, then at the elegant Chai Yong, stepped forward, and stood in front of her brother, saying, "Brother, we are going back. I know you have things to do. You should go ahead and do your work. Official duties are important. There's no need to see us off."
She pushed Xiao E away.
Xiao E felt a little embarrassed and glanced at Lu Huaying.
Lu Huaying walked straight out of the courtyard without looking back. Chai Yong was beside her, turned back and waved to Pei Jingyao and the others, indicating that he had to leave first, and then walked away with Lu Huaying.
Xiao E stood there dejectedly.
Several young men in fine clothes walked down the steps in the corridor.
A young man patted Pei Jingyao on the shoulder and asked, "Has Sanlang really taken a liking to Lu Sanniang?"
The other young master wore a gloating expression and laughed, "Third Master, you've really stolen her away!"
Pei Jingyao watched Lu Huaying's retreating figure without saying a word.
...
Lu Huaying and her group walked a long way before returning to the courtyard where the carriages were parked.
Xiao Suniang nervously looked back, not seeing Xiao E chasing after her. She smiled and breathed a sigh of relief. Turning back, she looked Chai Yong up and down for a while, her gaze shifting between him and Lu Huaying. She then grabbed Wang Yu's arm and said, "Sister-in-law, I just saw a painting of the Vajradhatu Mandala on the wall. It's so beautifully painted..."
She quickened her pace, pulled Wang Yu to the front of the carriage, and left Lu Huaying behind.
Chai Yong raised an eyebrow and smiled, taking two steps forward to walk alongside Lu Huaying: "Third Sister, don't rush off. Today, Wu Lang and I came to Dayun Temple to attend a ceremony. I was planning to look for you after the ceremony, and I just happened to see you. Wait a moment, I'm going to get something from the carriage."
Without waiting for Lu Huaying to speak, he turned and ran away.
A short while later, Chai Yong strode back carrying a brocade box more than three feet long, opened it, and handed it to Lu Huaying.
Lu Huaying glanced down at the brocade box and was taken aback.
Inside the brocade box were a pair of Xiliang treasure swords, with more than a dozen gemstones of various sizes inlaid on the scabbards, and the blades were crystal clear, sharp, and gleaming with a cold light.
“I bought these in the market.” Chai Yong held the brocade box and smiled. “I originally wanted to send someone to Liucheng to buy your pair of Xiliang swords. They are your usual swords, and they would definitely be easier and more convenient to use. However, those swords are also evidence, and the people in the government office don’t remember who took them. So I could only go to the market to buy a pair of new swords to give to you.”
"Third Sister, precious swords should be given to those who know how to use them. Please accept this pair of Xiliang swords."
Lu Huaying raised her head, looked at Chai Yong, and shook her head: "Young Master Chai, these Xiliang swords are too valuable."
Chai Yong smiled: "Even the most valuable sword can't compare to good swordsmanship. Third Sister, you're going to teach me the Xiliang swordsmanship, so you're my teacher, and I'm your disciple. How can a disciple not pay his teacher a fee? These Xiliang swords are a gift from me."
Please accept this tuition fee, teacher.
He spoke with such sincerity, and his smile was so genuine that it was impossible to refuse.
Lu Huaying thought for a moment, then shook her head: "I only teach the prince swordsmanship, I am not his teacher."
Chai Yong immediately stopped smiling, straightened his back, and said solemnly, "Third Sister, you are mistaken. A teacher for a day is a teacher for life. I admire Third Sister's swordsmanship and sincerely ask Third Sister for guidance. Third Sister is generous and willing to pass on her unique skills to me. How can you not be my teacher?"
Lu Huaying raised her eyes, looked into Chai Yong's eyes, and said calmly, "Young Master Chai, I can teach you swordsmanship, but you don't need to become his disciple."
Chai Yong's gaze lingered on Lu Huaying's face, and his voice softened slightly: "Third Sister, are you worried about what others will say?"
Lu Huaying remained silent.
Chai Yong laughed and said, "Third Sister, you don't need to worry about those things. Our Chai family has never been prejudiced against women practicing martial arts!"
He paused for a moment, his voice becoming even softer: "Third Sister, the Chai family is descended from meritorious officials. My great-grandfather's elder brother married a princess. That princess once raised an army in response to Emperor Taiwu, commanding 70,000 troops and becoming a force to be reckoned with in Guanzhong."
Lu Huaying's heart skipped a beat, remembering Chai Yong's family background: "Is the young master referring to Princess Pingyang Zhao?"
Chai Yong nodded with a smile.
Princess Pingyang Zhao, the third daughter of Emperor Taiwu Li Yuan, was exceptionally courageous and resourceful. After Li Yuan raised an army, she recruited troops to support her father, leading 70,000 soldiers to garrison the Mianhe Pass. Later, she led 10,000 elite troops to join forces with Emperor Taizong Li Shimin at the Wei River, and they captured Chang'an. Because the people called Princess Pingyang Zhao "Lady Li," the place where she led her troops to guard became known as Niangzi Pass (Lady's Pass).
In the sixth year of the Wude era, Princess Pingyang passed away. Emperor Taiwu was extremely grieved and, despite the opposition, broke with precedent by burying the princess with military honors and bestowing upon her the posthumous title "Zhao".
Princess Pingyang Zhao was the only princess to be buried with military honors, accompanied by "military music and drums, and elite soldiers."
Before her death, the princess married Chai Shao and had two sons. The eldest son inherited the title, and the second son married the princess. Later, the second son was involved in the Fang Yi'ai case, which implicated the whole family, leading to their decline.
Chai Yong's grandfather was an illegitimate son of the Chai family who escaped the turmoil. Although he was not of Princess Pingyang Zhao's blood, he respected Princess Pingyang Zhao as an elder. In addition, the Chai family retained the tradition of martial arts, so the Duke's mansion did not prohibit the young ladies in the family from practicing martial arts.
However, practicing martial arts is too arduous, and with the world at peace, noble families are indulging in extravagance and debauchery, and fewer and fewer young men from prestigious families are learning martial arts. Young women who practice martial arts are as rare as phoenix feathers.
Chai Yong had practiced martial arts since childhood. He did not know Lu Huaying from before, but he could imagine the hardships Lu Huaying had to endure to master her superb swordsmanship.
He held the brocade box, looked at Lu Huaying with bright and firm eyes, and said earnestly, "Third Sister, you taught me swordsmanship, so you are my teacher!"
Can a man become a teacher?
Why can't women?
"My brothers can all learn martial arts, why can't I?"
"Feifei, because you are a girl."
Lu Huaying lowered her eyes to look at the precious sword in the brocade box. A cold, clear light shone in her dark eyes. In an instant, some broken and heavy memories suddenly surged in her mind, vivid and clear.
She remained silent for a long time, her heart filled with mixed emotions.
"Third Sister... do you think I'm too old to learn swordsmanship?"
Chai Yong joked.
Lu Huaying shook her head.
"So you don't like those Xiliang swords?" Chai Yong sighed and said, "It's all my fault. I have bad taste. I only wanted to pick a pair that looked like your Xiliang swords, instead of choosing the prettier and more valuable ones. You don't like these gems?"
He picked up one of the Xiliang knives: "Wait a minute, I'll pry all these gems out!"
As he spoke, he lowered his head and actually tried to pry the gem in the scabbard with all his might, his cheeks taut as if he were using every ounce of strength he had.
The tall man, dressed in a formal suit, had a handsome and deep-set face, looking like a mature man. However, he was holding a knife and carefully carving out a gemstone. When he smiled, his brows were full of bright, youthful innocence.
Lu Huaying's thoughts were stirred up, and her mood became somewhat heavy. Even though she knew that Chai Yong was deliberately teasing her, she couldn't help but smile and say, "Alright, since it's the young master's tuition, I'll accept it for now."
Chai Yong has already brought up Princess Pingyang Zhao; if she were to refuse again, it would seem petty of her to do so.
She accepted the brocade box.
Chai Yong's face immediately lit up, and he happily clasped his hands in thanks, saying, "Thank you for not abandoning me, Teacher!"
...
Lu Huaying boarded the carriage carrying the brocade box.
Xiao Suniang looked at her and the brocade box in her hand with a smile, her gaze meaningful.
Wang Yu also looked at Lu Huaying.
Lu Huaying put down the brocade box, her expression calm.
The carriage returned to the north of the city. Lu Huaying first helped Wang Yu down from the carriage and escorted her into the courtyard.
Wang Yu looked up and said, "Feifei, Chai Shizi's character and family background are impeccable. What's most remarkable is that his family doesn't object to women practicing martial arts."
Lu Huaying shook her head and said, "Sister-in-law, I know what you want to say. Young Master Chai just wants to learn swordsmanship."
Wang Yu sighed.
Chai Yong is the heir of the Duke's mansion and would not marry a woman of low social status. Lu Huaying could not possibly become Chai Yong's mistress.
She dismissed the thought and asked, "Feifei, did you see anyone at Dayun Temple today?"
When Feifei returned, she looked a little strange.
Lu Huaying stopped in her tracks, recalling her encounter with Wei Mingsu at Dayun Temple, and felt somewhat embarrassed. She gave a self-deprecating laugh: "I saw Governor Wei."
Wang Yu looked at Lu Huaying and sighed deeply in her heart.
She had guessed it when she was at Dayun Temple, because she saw a long-lost childlike innocence on Lu Huaying's face.
...
Chai Yong watched Lu Huaying's carriage leave Dayun Temple, then turned back.
The young men in fine clothes who had come to Dayun Temple with him had all gone to the market to drink, only Pei Jingyao remained. When he returned, they threw him the reins.
Why didn't you take Third Sister and the others back?
Chai Yong took the reins, mounted his horse, and said, "I'm afraid I'll frighten Third Sister by being too attentive."
Pei Jingyao felt a pang of jealousy and couldn't help but kick Chai Yong: "Sanlang, what exactly do you mean by this? You just got beaten up for nothing?"
A few days ago, Pei Jingyao beat up Chai Yong, and Chai Yong did not fight back.
Pei Jingyao grew angrier the more he thought about it, and kicked Chai Yong again, snorting coldly, "Why don't you confess to Third Sister? This isn't like you, Chai Sanlang."
“I wanted to speak up, but Third Sister thanked me first.” Chai Yong smiled and said, “Besides, Third Sister just escaped death and has a lot on her mind. She should be happy. I don’t want to take advantage of her and make her feel burdened. Fifth Brother, what I’m saying to you is from the bottom of my heart, not a joke. I admire Third Sister and want to help her redeem herself and take her back to Luoyang.”
Pei Jingyao was a little surprised and frowned, saying, "Sanlang, are you serious? With Sanniang's current status... the county princess won't agree."
He thought Chai Yong was just acting on impulse.
Chai Yong's expression remained unchanged as he smiled and said, "No matter what my mother thinks, I will find a way to help Third Sister."
Pei Jingyao was silent for a moment, then said, "Sanlang, I'm somewhat of an experienced person, and I have to remind you that you must think carefully. Have you heard about what happened to Sanniang in the past?"
Chai Yong turned to look at Pei Jingyao, his expression solemn: "Fifth Brother, I've heard about Third Sister's past, but I don't care."
When people in Luoyang mention Lu Huaying, besides...
It's a pity, and there are also some derogatory remarks about her, implying that she is not virtuous and is dissolute.
Chai Yong smiled nonchalantly and said, "If I had met Third Sister earlier, I would have gone to her house every day to pick her up and take her out to play. I would have taken her wherever she wanted to go, just to make her happy."
Pei Jingyao glared at him, a look of disgust on his face, and kicked him again.
Chai Yong didn't dodge; he patted the boot print on his dress and smiled without saying a word.
...
The grand assembly at Dayun Temple concluded successfully.
Officials throughout Xizhou breathed a sigh of relief. The fact that a high-ranking monk from Luoyang was preaching the Great Cloud Sutra in Xizhou symbolized that even the border region thousands of miles away from Luoyang had received the Empress's favor.
They are now only worried about one thing: whether the Chief Secretary's assistance to the Xu family in their escape will implicate other officials in Xizhou.
The prominent families of Xizhou tried to sound out Wei Mingsu's intentions, but Wei Mingsu turned them down. So they could only ask the governor of Xizhou for information.
The governor of Xizhou was overwhelmed by the troubles. In the past, his chief secretary would handle these matters for him, but now that the chief secretary had been arrested, it was as if he had lost an arm. Some things that he used to be too impatient to deal with now he had to do personally.
On the last day of the Dharma assembly, a ceremony was held, which was attended by the governor, officials from Xizhou, and scions of prominent families from Luoyang.
After the ceremony, the Governor of Xizhou immediately returned to the Protectorate.
"Chief Secretary, the man surnamed Wei has arrived."
The guards entered the house to report.
The governor of Xizhou gave a cold laugh.
Wei Mingsu entered the study, where his attendants stood outside carrying several boxes. He walked to the desk of the Governor of Xizhou and placed a box down.
The governor opened the box, inside were the chief secretary's seals, both official and private.
Wei Mingsu took out a stack of yellow paper and said, "Governor, I have checked all the official documents in the Chief Secretary's study. Now I am returning to the Protectorate. The book is here. Please take a look."
The governor took the register, which listed the items searched from the chief clerk's room, which were evidence and were sent back to Luoyang, which were private letters and were given to the chief clerk's family, and which were left in the protectorate. He remembered everything in great detail.
The guards carried the boxes from the doorway into the house.
Wei Mingsu pointed to one of the locked boxes and said, "I personally checked all of the Chief Secretary's letters. Those involving military intelligence and secrets of Xizhou were picked out by me and I request the Governor to handle them."
The governor looked at the box and his heart skipped a beat; a bead of cold sweat rolled down his back.
What is the deeper meaning behind Wei Mingsu's move?
He kept these important ones.
With his methods, Xizhou would have been under his control sooner or later, yet he handed over all that leverage.
The governor couldn't understand it. He checked everything, signed the register, raised his eyes, and looked at Wei Mingsu's face.
Wei Mingsu remained calm and said, "Governor, a secret edict has been sent from the capital. Please receive it."
The governor broke out in a cold sweat, stood up, and looked grave.
Will the Empress go on a killing spree to establish her authority?
Wei Mingsu took out the secret edict that had determined the fate of many people and handed it to the governor.
The governor opened the secret edict, and after reading it, his pupils contracted. He read it again from the beginning, then looked up at Wei Mingsu in shock, bewildered and puzzled.
Wei Mingsu's expression remained calm.
After a long while, the governor finally realized that he had not misread the document. He put away the secret edict, his expression increasingly puzzled: "The new chief clerk is coming to Xizhou... then what about Governor Wei?"
Wei Mingsu said calmly, "His Majesty has made his own arrangements."
The governor looked at him with a complicated expression. After a moment of silence, he said in a sarcastic tone, "Prefect Wei has put so much effort into this case, only to find that it was all for nothing?"
Wei Mingsu said, "With innocent people released and the situation in Xizhou stable, how can I say that my efforts were in vain?"
The governor was shocked and speechless for a moment.
Wei Mingsu, through painstaking effort and at the cost of offending the chief secretary's subordinates and confidants, managed to capture the real culprit in the shortest possible time and stabilize the situation in Xizhou. However, he did not receive a promotion, as the new chief secretary was already on his way to Xizhou.
The newly appointed Chief Secretary was incredibly lucky; Wei Mingsu did all the dirty work and bore all the blame. The new Chief Secretary arrived...
After that, you can easily take over.
The governor thought Wei Mingsu's target was the Chief Secretary of Xizhou, so he was willing to offend the Chief Secretary's confidants and subordinates to investigate the case. He never expected that Wei Mingsu had never coveted the position of Chief Secretary.
"Is Governor Wei leaving Xizhou?"
The governor, filled with doubt, asked.
Wei Mingsu nodded.
...
Half an hour later, Wei Mingsu walked out of the Protectorate General's residence.
Tong Jin led his horse to greet him.
Wei Mingsu mounted his horse and asked, "Have we gone back?"
Tong Jin nodded and said, "I'm going back. I'll follow behind and come over after Lu San Niang enters the courtyard."
Wei Mingsu looked up at the northern sky and said, "Can we send her back to Liucheng now? Is everything arranged?"
"My lord, everything is arranged."
They traveled north along the north-south road and returned to their quarters.
It was already late, and a dim candlelight shone through the window. Attendants were tidying up Wei Mingsu's study. There was a brazier on the floor, and the attendants threw all the papers in the study into it and burned them.
Wei Mingsu walked to the front of the north courtyard and glanced inside.
The people in the courtyard moved out, and the courtyard was pitch black.
He withdrew his gaze, lowered his eyes, walked into the study, sat down at the desk, opened a sheepskin he had obtained from the Hu merchant that day, and placed it in front of the candle.
The attendant carried the brazier out.
Wei Mingsu took a piece of paper, laid it on the sheepskin, drew a few strokes on the paper, and frowned in deep thought.
The candlelight flickered gently.
Before I knew it, it was midnight.
Exhausted after many days, Wei Mingsu put down his pen, put away the sheepskin, walked to the bedside, took off his blue robe, lay down, and fell asleep in exhaustion shortly afterward.
A gust of cold wind blew into the room and brushed against his face.
Wei Mingsu heard his own voice.
"I never want to see you again in my life."
He sat on the bed, weak and pale, and said coldly.
Outside the tightly closed wooden gate, the young woman's figure froze.
Tears streamed down her face, one drop at a time.
She wiped her eyes, put down the bundle in her arms, turned around, and walked away step by step.
Wei Mingsu closed his eyes.
"wood!"
Suddenly, I heard the young woman's voice in my ear.
He opened his eyes.
Lu Huaying stood not far away, holding a bundle, wiping away tears as she said, "Wooden Head... don't you want to see me again..."
She suddenly looked up, her face pale, and smiled at him.
"Wood, I'm dead. You'll never see me again."
The candlelight flickered.
A sudden, sharp, stabbing pain shot through my heart.
Wei Mingsu suddenly woke up and sat up.
A chilling wind swept past the window.
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