Chapter 54
Lu Huaying turned her head and looked out the door.
The ground was covered with a blanket of snow, and the sky above the courtyard was overcast. Flakes of snow, as soft as cotton, drifted silently down from the sky.
The firelight cast a rosy glow on her face, and her heart warmed slightly. She asked, "When did Chief Clerk Fan receive Governor Wei's letter?"
Fan Hui thought for a moment and said, "It was probably around the time of the first snowfall in Liangzhou."
An indescribable feeling welled up in Lu Huaying's heart.
Fan Hui received Wei Mingsu's letter asking for his help when the first snow fell, so the letter must have been sent out before the snow, or even earlier... The letter was probably sent out when Wei Mingsu was interrogating her in the prison in Liucheng.
At that time, Wei Mingsu was so indifferent, yet he invited a doctor to treat her injuries.
How could he know she had old injuries?
When they were in Liucheng, Lu Hongbi wanted to tell Wei Mingsu what had happened to her six years ago, but Wei Mingsu said he didn't want to hear it.
So he already knew.
Who told him?
Lu Huaying's thoughts were like the snowflakes falling outside the door, filling the air.
A gust of cold wind blew by, and a few snowflakes drifted into the room, landed on the ground, and melted in the warm fire.
Fan Hui scrutinized Lu Huaying. Her hair was tied in a simple bun without any hairpins or ornaments. She wore an inconspicuous plain-colored coarse cloth robe with short sleeves. She was dressed simply and looked much thinner than she had been four years ago, but her features were still delicate and beautiful.
A dreamlike memory surfaced before his eyes.
Four years ago in Wangchuan, the green hills stretched endlessly, and the spring waters were like mist. A gentle breeze swept by, and petals fell in profusion on the mountain path. A bright and beautiful young girl, wearing a golden hairpin, a yellow shawl, and a seven-panel skirt, came down carrying several lotus flowers. Her clothes fluttered, and she was so beautiful and radiant that he couldn't help but wonder if he had encountered a flower fairy.
That evening, Fan Hui and Xiao E accompanied Xiao Jijiu to burn incense and worship Buddha in the main hall of Luyuan Temple, and listened to the monks preach.
Wei Mingsu, who had been writing Buddhist scriptures all day, hurried in, his face covered in sweat. As he sat down, a lotus petal fell from his old robe.
Amidst the wafting fragrance and the murmuring chanting, Wei Mingsu bent down and picked up the petal.
A series of hurried footsteps interrupted Fan Hui's recollection.
Afu ran in: "Chief Secretary Fan, did the young master send me a message? May I go back now?"
Fan Hui shook his head and said, "I came to Liucheng today to take care of some business and also to visit Third Sister."
Afu was a little disappointed, so he turned around, went out, brewed a pot of hot tea, and brought it inside.
Fan Hui held the teacup, his gaze falling on the stove, and said, "Is anyone in Liucheng giving you trouble? If you encounter any difficulties, have A Yu go to Xizhou to report it."
Lu Huaying thanked him, gathered her thoughts, and asked softly, "Chief Secretary Fan, did Governor Wei leave any instructions before he left?"
Fan Hui nodded: "He wants me to take care of you."
Hearing the expected answer, Lu Huaying's heart trembled slightly.
She asked, "When will he be back?"
A look of worry flashed across Fan Hui's eyes, and he shook his head, saying, "I don't know when he will return. The rest are court secrets, and I cannot reveal them."
He looked up at Lu Huaying, raised the corners of his lips, and smiled with a hint of mockery.
"Third Sister, you asked when Wei Mingsu will return, you care about him, and you want to see him?"
Lu Huaying lowered her eyes and said, "I hope Governor Wei can return safely."
Fan Hui turned his head and looked at the snowflakes falling at the door with her.
Both of them fell silent for a moment.
There were no trees or flowers in the yard, and the earthen walls were covered with snow, creating a world of silver and white.
After a while, Fan Hui said, "Four years ago, after Wei Mingsu was driven out of Chang'an by your Lu family, he went to Luoyang. Later, he went to Bazhou and then to Yangzhou. He was also imprisoned for several months because of some things. When he heard the news of the Lu family's troubles, he sent back the news of your death... If he had known earlier, he would have definitely tried to help you."
Lu Huaying was unaware of these matters.
She dared not talk to Wei Mingsu about the past, and could only inquire about his experiences over the past four years from Afu and Ayu. Afu was wary of her.
She wouldn't say much, and A-Yu was just a follower who didn't know Wei Mingsu. All she heard about him was his official career.
Fan Hui paused, then suddenly smiled: "Third Sister, you have a good eye for people. You chose Wei Mingsu four years ago."
Lu Huaying felt a sharp pain in her heart.
Fan Hui once said that Wei Mingsu unfortunately met her.
All she brought him was harm.
Can
For her, she was incredibly fortunate to have met Wei Mingsu when she was feeling hopeless and self-destructive.
...
At noon, Magistrate Yan braved the wind and snow to invite Fan Hui to a banquet.
Fan Hui did not refuse. He left behind the doctor and some medicinal herbs, called Xiao Suniang over and scolded her a few times, then went to the banquet surrounded by Magistrate Yan and officials from Liucheng. He married Xiao Suniang's cousin and became a relative of the Xiao family.
Xiao Suniang was scolded and looked disheveled. She watched Fan Hui leave, breathed a sigh of relief, and then went up to Wang Yu and chattered about how Fan Hui was beaten by his in-laws when he married her cousin a year ago.
Lu Huaying was a little absent-minded. She asked Lu Hongbi, and then came back to ask Wang Yu. Both of them said that they had not told Wei Mingsu about what happened six years ago.
How did he know?
That evening, Afu brought Lu Huaying a bowl of medicine and a bottle of wound medicine, saying, "This was given to you by a doctor. He said you should continue taking the medicine to recuperate. Apply this wound medicine to your joints every night before bed. It might hurt a little when you first apply it, but just bear with it."
Lu Huaying took the medicine and applied the ointment to her joints before going to bed. Sure enough, she felt unbearable pain, like being pricked by needles.
She lay down in pain and covered herself with the blanket.
The candlelight shone on the window; the snow was still falling outside, the wind seemed to have stopped, and the heavy snow was silent.
Such a peaceful winter night left Lu Huaying somewhat dazed, as if she didn't know what day it was.
When I was twelve, it snowed just as heavily.
Lu Huaying knelt in the snow, her whole body numb with cold.
When her sister-in-law Wang Yu came over to persuade her, she shook her head tremblingly.
Her father and elder brother both wanted her to give up martial arts, learn etiquette from Wang Yu, and wait to marry into the Wang family.
Lu Huaying refused.
She was the apple of her grandfather's and father's eye. Why was she no longer a apple when she grew up, and why was she forced to marry into another family to suffer?
Marriage is not good at all. No matter how good a man's wife is, he will take a concubine. No matter how good a woman's family background is, she must stay in the inner quarters, tolerate her husband's philandering, and raise the children of her husband and his concubine.
After thinking for a few days, Lu Huaying said earnestly to her father, "Father, if not getting married would cause the Lu family to lose face, then I can become a nun!"
If she never marries, she can remain Lu Wanyan forever.
Lu's father was furious.
Lu Huaying didn't know how long she had been kneeling in the snow. At night, Wang Yu and her maid carried her back to her room after she fainted.
She fell ill, and when the old Duke of Yan heard about it, he was furious and rushed to Chang'an to take her back.
With her grandfather, Lu Huaying could do whatever she wanted without any worries.
But my grandfather is old.
That winter, my grandfather fell ill, and the doctor hinted to the Duke of Yan to prepare for his passing. Two months later, my grandfather died in his sleep.
After his grandfather's funeral, Lu's father discussed with the Wang family about getting engaged after the mourning period ended.
Lu Huaying was taken back to Chongrenfang in Chang'an. Without her grandfather to support her, her father took away her saber and told her to focus on learning etiquette from Wang Yu and stop thinking about practicing martial arts.
Wang Yu advised Lu Huaying to give up.
She was unwilling to accept it.
She didn't shirk her responsibility as a daughter of the Lu family; she just wanted an opportunity, was that not allowed?
Lu Huaying thought that her father might not understand her because he didn't know her. As long as she could show him her efforts and determination, he would give her a chance.
She soon got her chance when a ball game was to be held at Princess Taiping's residence.
Lu Huaying trained secretly every day.
On the day of the match, she wore a red robe and appeared on the court as Lu Wanyan.
At thirteen, she disregarded the danger and fought desperately to gain victory.
Seize the sphere.
She was knocked off her horse, her head bleeding profusely. Her guards rushed onto the field to help her off. She wiped away the blood, tore off her belt to bandage her wound, picked up her club, climbed back onto her horse, and continued the game despite her injury.
Later, they won.
Amidst the thunderous cheers, Lu Huaying swung her golf club toward her father, blood flowing down her red robe.
Princess Taiping specially called her over and personally handed her the prize.
Holding the prize money, she was excited and searched for her father and brother in the crowd. She saw two gloomy faces; her father and elder brother were staring at her coldly, their faces devoid of pride, only filled with anger.
Before they even returned to Chongrenfang after leaving the princess's residence, Lu Huaying's father and elder brother couldn't help but start criticizing her, saying that she was making a fool of herself.
"Be good from now on"
"You must stay in the Duke's mansion and stop dressing up as a boy to play ball! Next month I'll tell Her Highness that Lu Silang has died of illness, and that Lu Silang is no longer in this world."
Lu Huaying was furious and did not return to the Duke's mansion. Instead, she turned her horse around and left the city, returning to the courtyard where she used to live with the Duke of Yan. The more she thought about it, the more heartbroken she became. She cried in front of the old Duke's memorial tablet, and her tears soaked her clothes.
Wang Yu was worried about her injuries, so she went out of the city to bring her home, treated her wounds, and persuaded her to listen to her.
Lu Huaying wiped away her tears and said, "Sister-in-law, I don't want to be Lu San Niang anymore, I want to be Lu Si Lang. Can Father promise me that?"
If she could only choose one of these two identities, she would choose Lu Silang.
Wang Yu sighed.
Lu Huaying did not want to give up, so she waited for the Duke of Yan to return from court and knelt in his courtyard to beg him.
The Duke of Yan said she was being delusional and that she would become sensible after she got married.
Lu Huaying stood up and shouted, "Father insists that I get married. Fine, I'll get married! I want to bring my saber with me when I get married. I want to continue practicing martial arts. Father, remember to tell the Wang family beforehand that my husband will take a concubine, and I will also find a lover."
The Duke of Yan was so angry that he trembled all over.
Lu Huaying was punished again by being confined to her room to reflect on her mistakes. She kicked off her feet, jumped over the wall, and went back to the courtyard where she lived as a child.
A few days later, as drizzling fell from the sky, her eldest and second eldest brothers and sister-in-law came to visit Lu Huaying, urging her to go home and telling her that the Duke of Yan had rejected the marriage proposal from the Wang family.
She breathed a sigh of relief and went home with her brother.
The Duke of Yan was waiting for her at his residence and took her to burn incense for the old Duke of Yan.
As soon as Lu Huaying entered the courtyard, she felt that the atmosphere was strange.
A light drizzle was falling. Several people she didn't recognize stood in the courtyard, all with somber faces and serious expressions, staring at her without saying a word.
She looked toward her father.
The Duke of Yan looked at her coldly.
She went to see her brother again.
The eldest brother also looked indifferent, while the second brother, Lu Hongbi, seemed to be afraid to meet her gaze, taking a step back and looking away.
With a clang, the courtyard gate behind Lu Huaying closed.
Her heart skipped a beat.
"Third Sister, kneel down." Duke Yan looked at her and said, "Over the years, I have always regretted letting you learn martial arts as Lu Silang... I regret letting your grandfather spoil you... You are thirteen years old, and your father can no longer be soft-hearted. Only by being ruthless in disciplining you can I do what is best for you."
"Only by crippling your martial arts will you obey."
Lu Huaying couldn't believe it and turned to run outside.
The Duke of Yan was prepared. He waved his hand, and the guards in the courtyard surrounded and seized her.
She pleaded with her father, but he remained unmoved. She was taken into the house and pinned to a blanket, struggling and calling for her grandfather.
The Duke of Yan sighed and walked up to Lu Huaying.
“Third Sister, this is what your grandfather told me before he died. He said that he taught you martial arts because he saw your talent, just wanting to enjoy his grandchildren. He never expected you to persist for so many years. Your grandfather regrets it. He said he has harmed you. Only by crippling your martial arts can you live in peace as Lu Third Sister.”
Lu Huaying was stunned.
She looked up at the courtyard where her grandfather had lived, and at her father.
Before her death, her grandfather asked her father to cripple her martial arts skills and completely extinguish any thoughts she might have.
She laughed.
"Mountain
The Classic of Mountains and Seas describes a beast that resembles a fox, with a white tail and mane, named Feifei. Keeping it can relieve sorrow.
She was the most beloved granddaughter of the old Duke of Yan. The old Duke of Yan often said that when he saw his precious granddaughter, he would immediately forget all his worries.
Therefore, the old Duke of Yan named her Feifei.
Lu Huaying always believed that although her father and brother did not understand her, at least she had her grandfather's understanding and support.
It turned out that her grandfather, who had always doted on her, did not understand her aspirations. Like her father and brothers, he believed that since she was a girl, she should accept her fate, get married, become a wife, and become a mother.
Even though she was exceptionally talented, and even though her grandfather loved her so much.
For countless cold winters, she stood in the snow practicing her internal skills diligently; for countless sweltering summers, she sweated profusely and was so tired that she was dizzy, but she never slacked off.
She put in more perseverance and effort than her brothers to achieve her goals, but she still didn't deserve it!
It turns out that her grandfather taught her martial arts only because he was depressed in his later years.
It turns out that Lu Huaying, in the end, is no match for her grandsons!
When the heart is dead, the pain is excruciating.
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