Chapter 45
The carriage disappeared behind the mottled earthen wall.
Lu Huaying stood at the door, gazing at the crisscrossing tire tracks in the snow, her thoughts racing.
A biting north wind blew in, and the snow on the eaves fell softly, landing on Lu Huaying's shoulders.
The sky was overcast, and fine snowflakes began to fall again.
The tire tracks on the ground were gradually covered by the falling snow, leaving a vast expanse of white without a trace.
Just like Lu Huaying and Wei Mingsu, they forgot everything that happened four years ago, and from then on, they had no further connection with each other and went their separate ways.
The wind blew the house deed in Lu Huaying's hand, and the yellow paper slapped against her fingers.
Lu Huaying snapped out of her daze and smiled slightly.
He gave her the courtyard in Xizhou.
Settle the score and have no more entanglements.
This was the best ending she had envisioned for Wei Mingsu over the years.
He came from humble beginnings, was dutiful and worked diligently for his ambitions. She seduced him, causing him to be ridiculed, humiliated, and trampled upon. This man, who had once offered her his true heart, disregarded everything for her, and was deeply hurt by her, did not take advantage of her misfortune when she fell into the mire and was surrounded by enemies. Instead, he disregarded the hidden danger and pulled her out of the mire.
Lu Huaying dared not hope for Wei Mingsu's forgiveness. She was already grateful that he no longer disliked her and could speak to her calmly. What more could she ask for?
She patted the snow off her face and turned to go back into her room.
Xiao Suniang sat by the table, holding a black purse in her hand, staring at it blankly.
Hearing Lu Huaying's footsteps as she returned, she quickly put away her purse: "Third Sister, where did Brother Wei take you? Where did he go?"
She craned her neck to look outside.
"He went back."
Lu Huaying went back to her room to change her clothes. After a moment of absentmindedness, she perked up, went into her study, picked up the ink stick, and slowly drew large circles in the inkstone.
Xiao Suniang put away her purse and followed Lu Huaying into the study. She poured some water into the inkstone and glanced at Lu Huaying's expression.
Lu Huaying put down the ink stick and picked up the brush in the pen holder to dip it in ink.
Xiao Suniang looked a little embarrassed and said, "Third Sister, my eldest brother came when you went out just now."
Lu Huaying hummed in agreement.
Xiao Suniang picked up the ink block that Lu Huaying had put down and ground it hard and fast, angrily saying, "Third Sister, you don't need to worry about me. My eldest brother is all married and has a career, yet he's still so ignorant! He had ulterior motives, so I scolded him back! From now on, when you see him, just ignore him!"
Xiao E came here today to apologize to Lu Huaying for his rudeness at Dayun Temple.
Xiao Suniang was his sister. She saw through his thoughts and reminded him that he was already married. If he considered Lu Huaying a friend and wanted to help her, Xiao Suniang would not stop him. But if he had other ideas, he should quickly give them up. Lu Huaying would never become his concubine.
Xiao E was embarrassed and angry that his little sister had guessed his secret. The two siblings started arguing, and in the end, Xiao E stormed off.
Xiao Suniang was angry, ashamed, and somewhat sad.
The Xiao family was just an ordinary official family; the Duke's mansion had no dealings with them. Previously, Lu Huaying only spoke to Xiao E because of Wei Mingsu. Now that Lu Huaying was no longer a concubine of the Duke's mansion, Xiao E looked down on her and started daydreaming about wanting her to marry him.
Xiao Suniang felt increasingly sad for Lu Huaying: "Third Sister, all men are scoundrels! My brother is one too."
Lu Huaying smiled and said calmly, "The weak are prey to the strong. My status has changed, and your elder brother's attitude towards me has also changed. It's only natural."
Previously, she was the legitimate daughter of the Duke's mansion, and Xiao E respected her status and dared not show her the slightest disrespect. Now, however, she was of lowly status, and when Xiao E faced her, on the surface, it seemed as if nothing had changed; he showed no...
His actions, though offensive, revealed a condescending attitude that he himself was unaware of.
Xiao Suniang sighed deeply.
Lu Huaying lowered her head and wrote.
She will have to face many people like Xiao E in the future, so she needs to finish writing the alchemical text as soon as possible.
Next, Lu Huaying focused intently on...
Copying scriptures on the ground.
As evening fell, the snow intensified, and overnight, the courtyard gate was mostly buried in snow.
The locals said it was not advisable to travel in this weather, so they stayed in West Virginia for a few more days.
After the grand assembly concluded, the people who had traveled from afar to attend gradually departed. Xiao Suniang returned after leaving and remarked that there were fewer carriages and pedestrians on the north-south avenue than in the previous days.
Lu Huaying sits by the window every day, writing with great concentration.
That day, the heavy snow stopped and the sky cleared.
After several busy days, Afu informed Lu Huaying that they could set off to return to Liucheng the day after tomorrow.
Lu Huaying put down her pen and let out a heavy sigh over the yellow paper covered with writing.
Before leaving Xizhou, she finished writing the alchemical text.
Soon, the alchemical text was presented to Wei Mingsu.
He checked it once and handed it to Tongjin.
Tong Jin remembered his previous instructions and immediately summoned his subordinates, ordering them to send the alchemical text and a letter written by Wei Mingsu to Luoyang as quickly as possible.
The fast horse left Xizhou and headed east towards Luoyang.
After Lu Huaying finished writing the alchemical text, she didn't rest. Xiao Suniang forgot to wear a hat when she went out and got frostbite on her ears. She wrote down a prescription, and Xiao Suniang sent someone to buy the ingredients according to the prescription. She taught Xiao Suniang's servants to soak the ingredients in wine and then apply the ointment to her ears.
Xiao Suniang's ear felt much better the next day.
Two days later, at dawn, Dongfang Weiming, Lu Huaying, Wang Yu, Lu Hongbi, and Xiao Suniang left Xizhou together in a carriage.
Chai Yong and Pei Jingyao arrived.
They had completed their mission of escorting the scriptures and were preparing to return to Luoyang. They were supposed to set off with other noble young men, but two of the young men in the group got into a fight the day before because of jealousy over a Hu woman, and both were injured and needed to rest for a few days.
Chai Yong immediately decided to go to Liucheng with Lu Huaying and the others for a few days. Lu Huaying had just finished writing the alchemy classic, so he could ask her for advice on swordsmanship. When the other young noblemen were about to leave, he would return to Xizhou to meet them and go back to Luoyang together.
Xiao E came to see Lu Huaying and her sister off; he could not leave Xizhou for the time being.
Lu Huaying sat in the carriage. Xiao E rode over to talk to her, but she didn't show herself. She exchanged a few polite words through the curtain and said, "Brother Xiao, I heard from Su Niang that you married the second wife of the Yang family. I've met the second wife a few times before. She's well-educated and reasonable. Brother Xiao is truly blessed."
Xiao E stiffened.
The carriage stopped in front of the crowded city gate, and the guards carefully checked everyone's passageway.
Lu Huaying lifted the curtain and looked back towards the north of the city.
After returning from that courtyard in the east of the city, she never saw Wei Mingsu again.
I wonder what he's busy with.
The carriage began to sway, and the guards inspected the passageway, indicating that they could proceed.
Lu Huaying looked away and lowered the curtain.
After leaving the city and traveling for a while, the carriage stopped. Although the sky had cleared, the roads after the snow were still difficult to travel on. The carriage bumped and swayed, and the ropes binding the luggage were not tied securely. With a clatter, several boxes fell through the gaps.
Afu and his men picked up the boxes, and he casually grabbed a small box and stuffed it into Lu Huaying's carriage: "These are your things, you can keep them, I'm afraid they'll get lost if I leave them outside."
Lu Huaying didn't recognize the box in front of her: "My things?"
She opened
The box was stunned.
The box contained a pair of curved knives, longer, narrower, thinner, and lighter than ordinary knives, with handles shaped like eagles.
Lu Huaying stared blankly at the saber in the box.
After a while, she suddenly raised her head, lifted the curtain, and called out to Afu, who was tying the ropes: "Afu, how did these sabers end up here?"
Afu turned around, somewhat smug, and said, "The Prince was murdered in Liucheng, and you were arrested. These double sabers became evidence and were taken from Liucheng to Xizhou. After the case was closed, the sabers were taken by someone, and later ended up in the hands of a garrison soldier. My husband instructed me to buy them back. He said that these sabers were used by you, Third Sister, for several years and should be returned to their rightful owner. By the way, my husband said that since you are a descendant of the Lu family, you should be allowed to carry a saber. He has already spoken to the yamen, and from now on, these sabers are yours; you don't need to hand them over to the yamen."
Ordinary people are generally not allowed to carry or possess weapons,
Lu Huaying was a woman, and even though she argued her case and demonstrated her superb swordsmanship, the magistrate of Liucheng County still believed that she was not qualified to carry a sword. He would only give her the saber when he needed her to perform, and she had to return it after the banquet.
Lu Huaying thought she would never see those sabers again.
Unexpectedly, Wei Mingsu sent someone to buy the knife back and return it to her, and even secured for her the right to possess a sword.
Lu Huaying's nose suddenly stung, and tears welled up in her eyes.
Something burning hot was boiling inside me.
Lu Huaying held back her tears and asked Afu, "When did Governor Wei order you to go find these sabers?"
Afu thought for a moment and said, "After the chief clerk was arrested, the young master instructed me to collect all the evidence on your side and return it to you when you return to Liucheng."
Lu Huaying paused for a moment, her throat dry and hoarse.
The wood is still the same wood.
His dignity was trampled underfoot by the Lu family, his sincerity was deceived by her willful behavior, leaving him battered and bruised, his heart ashen, and he never even thought of hurting her.
Lu Huaying stroked her saber.
The blade was as smooth as water, reflecting her image.
A fire seemed to be burning inside her, its heat choking her throat.
Lu Huaying laughed.
A smile rose from her eyes and slowly spread across her entire face.
She put down the box, looked up, her face beaming. Under Afu's astonished gaze, she lifted the carriage curtain, jumped off the carriage, and quickly walked to Ayu, who was following beside the carriage, saying, "Ayu, can I borrow your mount for a moment?"
Ayu paused for a moment, then loosened the reins and dismounted.
Lu Huaying thanked him, took the reins, mounted the horse, and turned it around.
"I just remembered that I forgot something very important, and I have to go back to get it myself. Please wait for me."
After speaking, Lu Huaying spurred her horse and rode off in the direction of Xizhou.
In the cold, thin morning light, she wore a plain robe, held a riding whip, and galloped away. The road was covered with snow, and she skillfully controlled her horse, braving the biting wind, whipping it on and galloping at full speed. The wind blew her long hair and sleeves, and her tall, slender figure appeared heroic and spirited.
A ray of sunlight pierced through the leaden clouds, shining on her shoulders as if draping her in a silver armor.
Everyone present stared in disbelief as she rode away on horseback.
It wasn't until Lu Huaying's figure disappeared into a dazzling golden light that Afu reacted, turned around, and stared at Ayu wide-eyed: "Third Sister, did you forget something important?"
Xiao E, Chai Yong, and Pei Jingyao were all stunned.
A moment later, Chai Yong came to his senses and a smile appeared on his face.
He knew he hadn't misjudged her; at that moment, he saw again the suppressed sharpness in Lu Huaying when she performed her knife dance.
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