Chapter 46
Lu Huaying galloped through the snow, and after entering the city, headed straight for the north side.
She had a pass signed by the governor and Wei Mingsu, and the guards did not stop her.
Upon reaching the side gate of the temple leading to the monks' quarters, Lu Huaying dismounted.
Who are you?
With a loud shout, several gloomy-looking henchmen jumped out, brandishing their knives and pointing them at Lu Huaying with wary eyes.
Lu Huaying pointed to the horse she had ridden back and said, "I am Lu Sanniang, and I humbly request an audience with Governor Wei."
The head of the entourage glanced at the quiver and bow hanging beside the saddle, recognizing it as A-Yu's mount. He then looked at Lu Huaying's quarters, his expression softening. He gestured for everyone to lower their scimitars and said, "Yesterday, people from Shendu came to escort the Prince's coffin back. Since last night, no one else is allowed to enter or leave this quarters. We cannot let you in; you should go back."
Lu Huaying paused for a moment, then asked, "I wonder if Tongjin is here? If it's convenient for him, could you please ask him to come out? I just want to say a few words."
The captain initially intended to dismiss her, but upon hearing her call out Tong Jin's name, he hesitated and said, "Then you wait here, I'll go in and inform him for you."
He turned and went inside, crossed a long corridor, and ran into the inner courtyard.
The courtyard was silent and oppressive, with everyone wearing anxious and uneasy expressions.
The team leader found Tong Jin and said, "Lu San Niang is waiting outside. She said she wants to see her husband."
Tong Jin was taken aback: "Didn't she go back to Liucheng?"
He personally witnessed Lu Huaying leaving the city.
The team leader said, "She came back alone. She said she had a few words she wanted to tell her husband in person before returning to Liucheng."
Tong Jin frowned, put down a piece of blood-stained linen, paced back and forth for a while, glanced at the study, and was in a dilemma.
"I will go in and inform my husband."
After hesitating for a moment, Tong Jin pushed open the door and entered the room. Standing in front of the curtain, he craned his neck to look at the couch.
Wei Mingsu lay on the couch with his eyes closed, his face haggard and pale, devoid of any color.
Tong Jin coughed and said, "Master, Lu San Niang is back, and she wants to see you."
Wei Mingsu was fast asleep and unresponsive.
Tong Jin sighed.
...
One day ago.
After arranging Lu Huaying's luggage for her return to Liucheng, Afu came to Wei Mingsu to report and requested to return to Wei Mingsu's side to serve him.
“My lord, Lu San Niang has recovered. I bought several boxes of medicinal herbs from the pharmacy, all for her to recuperate. They've all been distributed, and I estimate they'll last until next year. You've transferred A Yu to protect Lu San Niang, so I don't need to go to Liucheng with him, right? I don't know martial arts like A Yu. I'd better come back and take care of you, my lord!”
As Afu spoke, he felt a pang of heartache, for the money for the medicine had all come from his own pocket.
Wei Mingsu raised his head, looked at Afu, and said, "Afu, you are reliable. I feel more at ease with you going to Liucheng with Lu Sanniang."
Afu knew he was stupid, and after being sent by Wei Mingsu to take care of Lu Huaying, he remained sullen.
Wei Mingsu wanted him to go to Liucheng with Lu Huaying. He felt abandoned and felt even more upset. The day before he left, he came to report to Wei Mingsu, actually wanting to plead for him.
Hearing Wei Mingsu praise him for being reliable, Afu felt a little better. He also realized that Wei Mingsu wouldn't change his mind. He glanced enviously at Tongjin and the other attendants, and nodded, saying, "Don't worry, Master, I will take good care of Lu Sanniang and fatten her up! I'll go to Liucheng and wait for Master to come back."
He left and bid farewell to his companions.
As they saw him off, they could tell from his expression that he was still somewhat dissatisfied. Back in the study, they asked, "Why didn't you take Afu with you, Ah Lang?"
Wei Mingsu said, "This trip to Wuzhi is too dangerous, and I'm not confident. Afu doesn't know martial arts, so I won't take him."
Tong Jin felt a chill run down his spine, a coldness creeping up from the bottom of his heart.
Wei Mingsu picked up his pen and wrote an article on the yellow hemp paper, then asked, "Has the letter been sent out?"
Although the question seemed abrupt, Tong Jin immediately understood that he was asking about sending them back to Luoyang.
The letter read: "It's been sent out; the fastest horse from the post station has been chosen."
Wei Mingsu hummed in agreement.
Tong Jin asked, "They're going back to Liucheng tomorrow. Alang, are you going to see them off?"
Wei Mingsu shook his head.
They bowed their heads and tried to leave.
Wei Mingsu suddenly asked, "When do they set off tomorrow?"
/>
Tong Jin stopped and said, "I heard from Afu that they left at dawn."
Wei Mingsu nodded.
At noon, Wei Mingsu was still engrossed in writing an article in his study.
Tong Jin brought him mutton soup and flatbread. He drank the soup, ate the flatbread, and continued writing.
He worked as a scribe for many years, writing swiftly and steadily at his desk.
As darkness fell outside the window, Tong Jin went into the study, lit a candle, placed it on the desk, and added some charcoal to the brazier.
The cold wind seeped in everywhere, the curtains swayed, the candlelight flickered gently, and wisps of smoke rose from the brazier.
Wei Mingsu stared intently at the yellow hemp paper.
It was late at night.
A cold wind whistled through the quiet temple, stirring up the snow on the rooftops. Moonlight shone on the snow-covered ground in front of the windows, casting a clear, watery glow on the corridor.
Suddenly, a gust of wind rushed into the curtains, extinguishing the candlelight and plunging the room into darkness.
Wei Mingsu put down his pen and looked up.
Without the candlelight, the moonlight shining through the window appeared even more serene.
In the clear, still night, with the moon shining brightly and all sounds hushed except for the biting wind.
Suddenly, a breeze blew, the curtains billowed, and with a whooshing sound, a white light as swift as a shooting star pierced towards Wei Mingsu in the darkness.
The white light came too fast, as fast as lightning, and Wei Mingsu's hand injury had not yet healed. Knowing that he did not have time to get up, he could only dodge to the side.
With a "bang," the white light brushed past him, knocking the paperweight off the desk and onto the mat.
Wei Mingsu looked down.
A cold glint flashed on the mat; the paperweight had been knocked off by a curved knife, still in its sheath.
Footsteps sounded outside the door.
The sound was very soft, occasionally drowned out by the whistling wind, barely audible. Gradually, the footsteps got closer and louder to the door, causing a tremor in front of the threshold.
A figure stopped in front of the door and pushed it open.
Sitting in the darkness, Wei Mingsu calmly raised his head.
Moonlight shone through the doorway, and a burly man strode into the house. Looking at Wei Mingsu, whose face showed no fear, he laughed and said, "Prefect Wei, you have quite the courage."
Wei Mingsu replied, "Your martial arts are excellent."
The burly man laughed heartily and said, "I am Nie Zijie from Youzhou."
He was tall and imposing, wearing a turban, brocade robes, a belt, and black boots. He held a knife at his waist, and a rare flower was pinned to the side of his turban. He had fierce features, a full beard, and a long scar on his right cheek. He looked extremely grotesque and crude, yet he was dressed in fine clothes and had the air of a nobleman. His eyes were piercing and his aura was imposing.
Wei Mingsu remained expressionless and said, "It's as famous as thunder in my ears."
Nie Zijie grinned, raised his chin and said, "I have long heard of Governor Wei's reputation, but Governor Wei's reputation is all bad."
Wei Mingsu remained silent, took out a flint from beside his desk, lit the candle, and picked up his pen.
The dim candlelight illuminated the hemp paper.
His gaze was calm as he wrote.
Nie Zijie was taken aback. He glanced at the hand holding the pen in Wei Mingsu's hand, frowned, and asked, "Since Governor Wei has heard of my name, does he know how I, Nie Zijie, make a living?"
Wei Mingsu nodded, holding his pen: "I know that you are the most skilled swordsman in Youzhou, making a living by killing."
Nie Zijie looked at him, narrowed his eyes, slowly drew his sword, and said, "Since Governor Wei knows I'm here to kill someone, why don't you shout for help?"
Wei Mingsu, head bowed, wrote calmly, "It is said that you are the greatest swordsman of the Great Zhou, possessing unparalleled martial arts skills, capable of scaling walls and leaping across rooftops, and wielding a sword that can take on a hundred men single-handedly. Taking a man's head is as easy as turning one's hand. My entourage are all on duty outside. You arrived at my door late at night, yet there was no sound of fighting outside. I think you must already be..."
I've already fought against them.
Nie Zijie nodded with a smile and said, "That's right, their martial arts skills are not bad, but unfortunately they ran into me and were all knocked unconscious. Even if you shout for help, no one will come to save you."
He had subdued the attendants in the quarters, and the guards outside were subordinates of the Prefect of Xizhou. Even if they heard Wei Mingsu's cries for help, they would not come in to rescue him.
Wei Mingsu remained silent, calmly and rapidly writing in the flickering candlelight.
Nie Zijie asked, "Doesn't Governor Wei want to know who paid me to send me to kill you?"
As Wei Mingsu wrote, he said, "Too many people want my head."
Nie Zijie laughed heartily.
"You do have some self-awareness."
He paused, his sharp gaze falling on the yellow hemp paper in front of Wei Mingsu.
"Wei Mingsu, you're about to meet the King of Hell, and you're still writing articles. Aren't you afraid of dying?"
Wei Mingsu smiled faintly.
From the moment he decided to become the Queen's sword, he knew this day would come.
Nie Zi broke the silence.
He could tell that Wei Mingsu wasn't just pretending to be calm; this scholar was truly unafraid of death.
Wei Mingsu was prepared to die at any time.
Nie Zijie was a member of the Nie family in Youzhou. His parents died early, leaving him a vast fortune. He was generous and dissolute, spending his days wandering around with a group of纨绔子弟 (sons of wealthy families who squandered their wealth), engaging in violence and brawling, neglecting his duties, and spending money like water. He quickly squandered his fortune, and his cronies also deserted him. He fell into poverty, often going hungry. Fortunately, he had loved martial arts since childhood and learned some skills. On a friend's recommendation, he became a servant to the son of a powerful and wealthy man.
Later, Nie Zijie once stood up for someone and offended the brother-in-law of that powerful man, implicating his friend's entire family. In a fit of rage, Nie Zijie killed the powerful man's brother-in-law to avenge his friend, and was then forced to flee.
To make a living, he became a chivalrous knight-errant.
Nie Zijie has killed many people over the years.
Everyone is afraid of death.
Before each murder, Nie Zijie would announce his name. Some people would panic, some would be angry, some would cry, and some would faint from fright. Even the most ruthless villains would feel fear and beg for mercy before they died.
Nie Zijie had met a few people who were not afraid of death, but he had never seen anyone like Wei Mingsu who, despite Wei Mingsu's undisguised murderous intent, still wrote without looking up.
Nie Zijie asked curiously, "Is Governor Wei writing his last words to his wife and children?"
Wei Mingsu paused for a moment, lowered his eyes, and shook his head, saying, "I have no wife or children."
Nie Zijie took a few steps closer, carrying his knife, and glanced at the yellow hemp paper, utterly astonished.
He came from a privileged background, was educated, and could read written texts.
Wei Mingsu wrote an article discussing how to govern Xizhou, educate the border people, and ensure long-term peace and stability on the border.
Wei Mingsu was still handling official business before his death?
Nie Zijie fell silent.
The candlelight in the study grew dimmer and dimmer. Wei Mingsu was writing at his desk, his back straight, but his brows furrowed with weariness.
Nie Zijie glanced around the study.
He had already infiltrated Xizhou and was hiding in a temple, observing Wei Mingsu and his entourage, waiting for the opportunity to take Wei Mingsu's head.
Before coming to Xizhou, Nie Zijie thought he was going to kill a notorious, cruel and vicious official.
However, what he saw was Wei Mingsu, who was exhausted by paperwork and insisted on overturning the case of a female slave despite the pressure.
High-ranking officials and nobles lived in magnificent mansions, surrounded by a multitude of beautiful maids. They ate delicacies from land and sea, wore fine silks and satins, frequented brothels and taverns, embraced foreign women, drank wine, and were intoxicated by their charming dances, indulging in pleasure and lingering there.
Wei Mingsu was busy with official duties and ate and slept almost entirely in his study. His residence was simple, and he dressed plainly. Since arriving in Xizhou, he had never been to a tavern.
Nie Zijie raised his sword and pointed it at Wei Mingsu: "You have no grudge against Prince Wei, so why did you force him to his death?"
The person who asked him to take Wei Mingsu's head was the son of King Wei.
The gleaming blade was right before him, yet Wei Mingsu's expression remained calm. He put down his pen and said indifferently, "Prince Wei committed suicide out of fear of punishment."
Nie Zijie looked into his eyes, remained silent for a moment, then shook his head and sighed.
“I think that although you have lost the integrity of a scholar for the sake of power, you may be a good official for the people… It’s a pity that I accepted the money from the son of the King of Wei.”
Nie Zijie said regretfully.
Wei Mingsu seemed not to see Nie Zijie bowing his head to wipe his waist knife, and raised his eyes to look at the moonlight outside the door.
"The person you wish to kill is me. I beg you to take my head, but do not harm the innocent."
He said calmly.
Nie Zijie cleaned his knife, exhaled, and said, "As long as I can take your head, I won't kill anyone else."
He raised his hand and swung the knife.
"stop!"
An angry shout came from outside the door, and a long knife was thrown in through the doorway.
Nie Zijie's knife was already aimed at Wei Mingsu when he suddenly heard a whooshing sound behind him. He didn't panic, picked up his blood-stained knife, threw his head back and laughed loudly: "Wei Mingsu, you're lucky to be alive. I, Nie, will come back to take your head another day!"
Without turning back, he picked up the curved knife from the mat, stuffed it into his sleeve, calmly walked to the window, and jumped out, his figure disappearing into the night.
"My lord!"
They rushed into the study together.
He wasn't in the courtyard tonight; he had gone out to deliver a message. When he returned, he found the courtyard unusually quiet, and the attendants on duty were nowhere to be seen. He immediately rushed to the study.
Blood flowed down Wei Mingsu's shoulder, quickly staining his blue robe red. He glanced at Tongjin, lost consciousness, and collapsed onto the desk.
Tong Jin quickly helped him stop the bleeding, helped him lie down on the bed, called a doctor to bandage his wounds, and found the other followers who had been knocked unconscious by Nie Zijie and left in the snow. He dragged them back to their rooms one by one and woke them up.
In the middle of the night, Wei Mingsu woke up.
His attendants knelt outside the door to beg for forgiveness. He waved for them to leave and instructed his companions, "Don't let anyone know what happened tonight."
Tong Jin responded with a "Yes."
Wei Mingsu's injuries were not very serious, but he lost too much blood and was delirious. He only gave one instruction before closing his eyes.
Tong Jin, fearing that Nie Zijie would return, stayed in the study and dared not leave.
As dawn approached, Wei Mingsu suddenly opened his eyes.
"Is she about to leave?"
He asked.
Tong Jin was stunned.
Wei Mingsu sat up, clutching his shoulder, and looked at the bed in front of him, searching for his boots.
Tong Jin came to his senses, took Wei Mingsu's boots, helped him put them on, and helped him stand up.
Wei Mingsu put on his cloak, walked out of the study, and boarded the carriage amidst the stunned gazes of his attendants.
The carriage arrived at a courtyard but did not go in; instead, it stopped at the corner.
Laughter and chatter drifted from the courtyard.
Lu Huaying came out.
Beside her was a tall, handsome young man in brocade robes, with a beaming smile; this was none other than Chai Yong.
The two walked down the steps side by side, discussing swordsmanship as they went.
Xiao Suniang, Wang Yu, Lu Hongbi, and Pei Jingyao walked behind them and laughed when they saw Chai Yong gesturing excitedly as he spoke.
Tong Jin stood beside the carriage and glanced back at the carriage.
Wei Mingsu leaned against the car window, his gaze somewhat unfocused, but his dark eyes remained fixed on Lu Huaying in the distance.
He watched her board the carriage and saw it disappear into the snow.
Tong Jin glanced at him discreetly: "Aren't you going to see Lu San Niang off?"
Wei Mingsu looked at the tire tracks on the ground, shook his head, and lowered the carriage curtain.
The last time she met Lu Huaying was four years ago. She came to visit him and spoke to him through the door, but he heartlessly refused to look at her. She left sadly.
Later, we really couldn't see Feifei anymore.
Wei Mingsu was afraid.
Now, every time he sees her off, he has to watch her back as she leaves before he can feel at ease.
After Lu Huaying and her entourage had gone far away, Wei Mingsu instructed his companions to return.
The carriage returned to the courtyard, and Wei Mingsu got off. He helped him back to the study, where he fell into a deep sleep as soon as he lay down.
...
Wei Mingsu
After he went to bed, Tong Jin took the linen he had changed out of and went out to wash it. The squad leader came in to announce that Lu Huaying had arrived.
Tong Jin was somewhat at a loss and could only go to the study to report.
Wei Mingsu was still unconscious and had not yet regained consciousness.
Tong Jin stood outside the curtain for half a day before turning around and leaving.
He planned to persuade Lu Huaying to return to Liucheng.
Since Wei Mingsu cannot see her, she can write a letter and leave it for him to deliver to Wei Mingsu.
They went out together after opening the door.
A weak voice suddenly came from behind.
Tong Jin paused for a moment, then turned and walked back to the bedside.
Wei Mingsu woke up, his brows furrowed, and asked, "Lu Sanniang... what happened to her?"
Tong Jin paused for a moment.
Wei Mingsu didn't hear him clearly and thought something had happened to Lu Huaying.
He said, "My lord, Lu San Niang is outside, she wants to see you."
Wei Mingsu's expression relaxed.
She was fine.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
