Chapter 61
Qusang's gathering lasted for three days.
On the third day, several people from Xiliang suddenly dragged a corpse that had been gnawed by wild wolves into the city, causing a commotion among the singing and dancing crowd.
Shabona sat in front of the campfire, glanced at the corpse, and raised his wine bowl to the Tulun tribe.
"He killed the wolf's offspring and received the wolf's revenge."
The group looked at each other and laughed, then drank the strong liquor in their bowls.
The Xiliang people surrounded the corpse of their tragically murdered companion, drew their swords, and shouted that they would catch the murderer and feed him to the vultures.
Several people rushed to the campfire and questioned Mang Bao and the others about where they had gone last night.
Mang Bao took a sip of wine and laughed loudly, "We were having fun on women's bellies last night. Didn't you hear the women's satisfied cries?"
The Xiliang man's face darkened. He rushed forward and grabbed his clothes: "Why are you laughing? Did you kill A-Liao? Take them all back for questioning!"
His companion came up.
The sound of scimitars being drawn echoed around the campfire. The men of the Tulun tribe stepped forward, swords in hand, and sneered, "If you want to take Mangbao away, leave your corpses behind."
The atmosphere suddenly froze.
Both sides glared at each other.
A series of hurried footsteps came from outside the crowd. The Xiliang soldiers in charge of the gathering rushed over and dragged away the angry Xiliang people.
The people of the Tulun tribe laughed loudly at their retreating figures.
An hour later, the Xiliang soldiers announced that the dead Xiliang people had died in the mouths of wolves in the wilderness, and the commotion quickly subsided.
The deceased's companions were dissatisfied with the result, insisting that the deceased must have been beaten to death and dumped in the wilderness, and demanded that the investigation continue.
The Xiliang soldier pointed to the throngs of people in Qusang City: "Look, there are so many tribes, we can't even tell how many people have come. How can we investigate? A Liao killed a Turk to snatch a female slave, and every Turk could be a murderer who retaliated against him."
His companion clenched his fist and roared, "Ah Liao and I grew up together, I'm going to avenge him!"
The Xiliang soldier stood on the high platform, looking down at Qusang City, and said, "You must be patient. General Kang Wugu is invincible. He will lead us to more victories. We Xiliang people will conquer this land sooner or later. You will have your chance to take revenge."
...
In the distance, the people of Xiliang sang the ballad praising the god of war again. The Xiliang soldiers excitedly told others the story of how General Kang Wugu led his army to a great victory over the Tang army, and how the corpses of the Tang army filled the valley and covered the sky.
Although Tong Jin couldn't understand the lyrics of the song sung by the people of Xiliang, he could tell from their radiant confidence and the admiration and respect in their eyes that the people of Xiliang were united and that General Kang Wugu held great prestige in Xiliang.
He sighed and said, "The people of Xiliang love and respect General Kang Wugu very much. No wonder the governor of Xizhou once said that this General Kang Wugu is brave and good at fighting. If he leads the troops, our army will have a hard time winning."
Wei Mingsu was also listening to the people of Xiliang singing: "Listen, they are all spontaneously praising Kang Wugu. Kang Wugu has a very high prestige in Xiliang."
Tong Jin scratched his head. He could see it all, so why did the young master emphasize it again?
Wei Mingsu withdrew his gaze and looked at the corpse that the Xiliang people had retrieved from the wilderness: "But Kang Wugu was ultimately not the emperor of Xiliang."
Tong Jin was taken aback.
Wei Mingsu said in a low voice, "The officials sent by Xiliang are nepotistic and protect the people of Xiliang. They forcibly levy exorbitant taxes, which has aroused conflicts between tribes. These tribes are outwardly submissive, but they are already dissatisfied internally. The conflict between the tribes and the people of Xiliang is fierce. This is the problem they will face when they expand their territory by force."
"The people of Xiliang sing praises to General Kang Wugu, but not to their emperor. General Kang Wugu wields immense power in the court. As a military general, he expands the territory and consolidates his position through force, plundering a great deal of wealth for his family. Other ministers in the Xiliang court, who have not received a share of the spoils, may not all agree with his ideas. Moreover, the emperor of Xiliang is getting old and should assume personal rule. The people of Xiliang only know the general, not the emperor, which is also a problem in Xiliang's internal affairs."
Tong Jin was stunned, and admiration arose spontaneously within him.
They only stayed in Qusang City for three days, and the young master had already discerned the Western Liang.
External threats and internal troubles!
These past two days, apart from buying some jewelry and spices at the market, the young master hasn't done anything else. He thought the young master was really playing the role of a merchant.
Wei Mingsu turned back to his tent and said, "Remember my words: if you want to reclaim the four towns, you must unite the tribes that are loyal to the Great Zhou and dissatisfied with Xiliang. If Kang Wugu holds absolute power in Xiliang, you cannot rashly send troops to attack him; you can only avoid his sharp edge."
"If the internal affairs of Xiliang become unstable, that will be our opportunity. We can send envoys to contact the pro-peace faction in Xiliang, and at the same time, we can gather a large army to attack."
Tong Jin listened attentively and nodded, saying, "Ah Lang, I've remembered it all."
He wasn't sure if Wei Mingsu's letter would be successfully delivered back to Xizhou, so just in case, he decided to write down all the information.
When the gathering in Qusang City came to an end, Wei Mingsu and Shabona parted ways outside the fence.
The tribespeople packed up their felt tents, rode their horses, herded their cattle and sheep, and sang loud songs as they embarked on their respective journeys home.
As the sun slowly sank below the horizon, it painted the snow-capped peaks in the west a magnificent red.
Shabona took a bag of strong liquor and tossed it to Wei Mingsu, laughing, "Prefect Wei, this is all I can do for you. I hope we'll have the chance to meet again."
Wei Mingsu accepted the wine, covered his face with a veil, and rode his horse northwest, his slender figure gradually disappearing into the blood-red setting sun.
...
The sun is setting.
The rammed earth city walls of Liucheng stand tall in the golden glow of the sunset. The west wind blows across the avenue, smoke rises from the chimneys in the south of the city, and pedestrians hurry along the avenue.
Lu Huaying walked out of a house, stuffed the money she had just spent on medicine into her sleeve, and glanced at the house across the street.
Two figures lingering under the earthen wall quickly disappeared into the alley.
Ayu whispered, "I saw them when I went out this morning. They've been following us all day."
Lu Huaying stepped into the stirrups and mounted her horse: "It must be Zhou Wei's man."
Zhou Wei wanted revenge on Lu Huaying, so he constantly found excuses to provoke Chen Er. Chen Er was impulsive, and Lu Huaying was worried that he would get hurt, so she had been personally delivering medicine to him these past few days. She took A Yu with her everywhere she went, and Zhou Wei, perhaps wary of A Yu and his knife, dared not approach them, only sending servants to follow them.
The two rode their horses onto the main road when suddenly the sound of hooves came from the direction of the city gate behind them. Several fast horses escorted two carriages into the city, with soldiers leading the way and driving away pedestrians on the main road.
Lu Huaying and A Yu also turned their horses and moved to the side of the road, watching the carriages rush off towards the government office.
Back home, Wang Yu sat in the main room keeping accounts. Seeing that they had returned safely, she breathed a sigh of relief.
Lu Huaying handed the money to Wang Yu, washed her hands, and prepared to eat dinner when she heard someone knocking on the door in the courtyard. The magistrate called out from outside the door, "Third Sister Lu, open the door quickly! Madam Ming wants you to come over right away!"
Chen Er opened the door, and Fang Zheng walked into the room, panting as he urged Lu Huaying on.
Lu Hongbi frowned and asked him why the magistrate's wife wanted to see Lu Huaying. The neighborhood official shook his head and said he didn't know either.
"They might be asking about the face powder."
Lu Huaying grabbed a flatbread, took Ayu out, ate the flatbread on the way, and when they arrived at the magistrate's house, the steward led them directly to the inner courtyard.
As Lu Huaying passed through the courtyard, she was surprised to find that the two carriages that had just entered the city were parked at the magistrate's house.
The maid led Lu Huaying into the room, where the magistrate's wife greeted her and asked in a low voice, "Third Sister, there's something urgent, which is why I called you over so late. Your Lu family's facial medicine can remove dirt, fade blemishes, and lighten scars, leaving the skin smooth and white. Can it treat sores?"
Lu Huaying said, "What kind of sore? I need to see what kind of sore it is before I know if it can be treated."
The magistrate's wife hesitated for a moment and said, "Wait a minute, I'll go ask."
The lady invited Lu Huaying to sit down, went into the inner room, and relayed Lu Huaying's words to the noblewoman waiting for news inside.
The noblewoman frowned, but before she could speak, the sharp voice of the young woman wearing a veil on the bed rang out: "No! How can she see me like this! I don't want to see Lu Sanniang! If she sees my face, she'll definitely tell everyone! And I'll be unable to hold my head up in Xizhou!"
The magistrate's wife kept her head down and remained silent.
The noblewoman frowned and asked the magistrate's wife, "I heard you all use the Lu family's face powder. Is their face powder really effective?"
"Is that right?"
The magistrate's wife smiled and said, "Madam Zhang, every night after I wash my face, I mix Third Sister's facial medicine into a paste with warm water, apply it to my face and hands, and wash it off with warm water the next morning. I've been doing this for over a month, and my skin has indeed become a bit whiter. Other people in Liucheng who have used it have also said it's good. However, I don't know if it can cure sores."
Madam Zhang scrutinized the magistrate's wife.
When Magistrate Yan took office, his wife went to a banquet at the Zhang family's house. She did seem to be a little fairer than the last time she was seen, and her face looked rosy and radiant.
Madam Zhang pondered for a moment, glanced at her daughter wearing a veil, and said, "Please invite Lu San Niang over."
Zhang Heng
She screamed, "Mother! How could you let a lowly woman look at my face! She's not a doctor, how could she treat sores? Besides, I mocked her on the way to Dayun Temple, and she heard me!"
Madam Zhang frowned and said, "These past few days, your father has invited all the famous doctors from Xizhou to our home, and you've taken all the medicine they prescribed, but it hasn't worked at all. Although Lu Sanniang is now of lowly status, the Lu family's ancestral secret recipe is a treasure; even the powdered medicine bestowed by the palace isn't as good as theirs. Your father and I have tried everything we can think of, and now we can only try their medicine. Your wedding is approaching; do you want to marry into the Ma family looking like this on your wedding day?"
Getting married can be said to be the most important day in one's life. Zhang Heng was the center of attention since childhood and was the most eye-catching young lady of a powerful family in Xizhou. She had been preparing for her wedding for a long time and hoped to marry her husband in a grand manner. However, she recently fell ill and suddenly developed sores on her face that kept oozing pus. No medicine could help her.
Her appearance was ruined.
When the Ma family welcomes the bride, the bride must remove her fan so that all the guests can see her face.
Zhang Heng felt saddened at the thought of that scene and couldn't help but cry: "Mother, what's the point of living if I've become like this? I'd rather die of illness than become a laughing stock in Xizhou and bring shame to the Zhang family!"
Given the long-standing relationship of intermarriage between the Ma and Zhang families, it's impossible for the Ma family to break off the engagement. But Zhang Heng has become ugly. Even if the Ma family doesn't say it, can they accept her in their hearts?
Mrs. Zhang sighed.
If Zhang Heng's face really couldn't be cured, she could only painfully ask her husband to take the initiative to break off the engagement, let Zhang Heng become a nun, and then choose a young woman from the clan to marry into the Ma family.
This husband was chosen by Madam Zhang and her husband together, but they had to give him away. Madam Zhang was very sorry, but her daughter's happiness was not as important as the interests of the Zhang family. The Zhang family could not send a disfigured young woman to the Ma family.
The mother and daughter were heartbroken in the inner room, while outside, the county magistrate's wife and Lu Huaying explained the situation.
Lu Huaying thought for a moment and smiled, "Madam's consideration for Third Sister shows her trust in her, and Third Sister is extremely grateful. If I were to refuse this matter, firstly, I would be betraying Madam's trust, and secondly, Madam would have difficulty explaining it to Madam Zhang. However, Third Sister is afraid of offending Madam Zhang and causing Madam a dilemma."
The magistrate's wife smiled and said, "Don't worry, I'm here! Madam Zhang was so anxious that she came to Liucheng to ask you to take a look at the young lady's face and tell me if you can cure her. But you must keep this a secret, otherwise I can't help you."
Lu Huaying said, "Don't worry, Madam. Third Sister came to the manor today, said a few words to you, and then went back."
The magistrate's wife nodded in satisfaction.
As the two entered the room, Madam Zhang dismissed all the maids and instructed Lu Huaying, "Whatever you saw in this room today, you must not utter a single word of it!"
After saying that, she lifted Zhang Heng's veil.
The magistrate's wife gasped.
Zhang Heng's face was covered in festering sores, with pus and medicine mixed together, making it a truly gruesome sight.
The magistrate's wife felt nauseous and looked away.
Lu Huaying looked at Zhang Heng's face calmly, took a few steps forward and got closer to examine her closely.
Zhang Heng lowered her eyes, trembling with embarrassment.
After a while, Lu Huaying turned to look at Madam Zhang and said, "This is a malignant sore. It is recorded in the 'Dan Jing' (a classic text on alchemy) and can be cured."
Zhang Heng, the magistrate's wife, and Madam Zhang were all stunned.
Madam Zhang, desperate as a last resort, planned that if the sores couldn't be cured, she would ask Lu Huaying to come up with a way to prepare a facial medicine to cover up the sores on her daughter's face.
Hua Ying had previously only shown people by applying a layer of red on her face, but unexpectedly, Lu Hua Ying confidently said that she could cure it after just a few glances.
She was skeptical: "Can it really be cured? Third Sister, if you can't cure it, just say so. Our Zhang family won't make things difficult for you."
Lu Huaying smiled slightly and said, "Third Sister doesn't know anything about medicine. If your daughter had come to us because she was sick, Third Sister would never dare to say that she could cure her. However, your daughter has a malignant sore. Third Sister has not only read about it in the 'Dan Jing' (Classic of Alchemy), but she has also seen her maids in the family get malignant sores and cure them using the methods in the 'Dan Jing'. Therefore, Third Sister dares to say that she can cure it."
The magistrate's wife knew that she was not one to make empty boasts, and said, "Whether Third Sister's method works or not, let's try it first and we'll know."
Madam Zhang looked at Zhang Heng.
Zhang Heng had mocked Lu Huaying and worried that Lu Huaying would take the opportunity to retaliate against him, but when he heard Lu Huaying say that his sores could be cured, he couldn't help but feel hopeful. He sat there blankly for a moment, not knowing what to do.
Thinking of the approaching wedding date, the rumors circulating about her daughter in Xizhou, and the care that Chief Secretary Fan Hui had shown Lu Huaying, Madam Zhang nodded and said, "Alright, since you say you can cure her..."
"Then Hengniang and I can only count on you, Third Sister. If you can cure Hengniang, our Zhang family will reward you handsomely!"
She suddenly stopped, her expression turning serious.
Knowing what Madam Zhang was about to say, Lu Huaying stood before Madam Zhang and her daughter and solemnly said, "Madam Zhang, please rest assured, since I, Lu San Niang, am going to do business, I will not ruin my reputation. I can send the face powder over the day after tomorrow, and ask the Zhang family's physician to examine it in person and bear witness. Before each use, young lady, you can have your maid try it first, and then apply a little behind your ear. If there is no discomfort, then apply it to your face. I will tell the physician which medicinal materials I used, but the dosage of each medicinal material is my family's secret recipe, and I will not reveal it."
Madam Zhang's expression softened, and she nodded, saying, "Since Third Sister can name the medicinal herbs, what else could I possibly worry about? Thank you for your hard work, Third Sister."
Lu Huaying looked at Zhang Heng and said, "Young lady, don't apply any other medicine tonight. Just wipe the pus clean, don't eat any meat, and get some rest."
After saying that, she took her leave.
The magistrate's wife saw her out.
Inside the room, Zhang Heng watched Lu Huaying's retreating figure, feeling somewhat worried: "Mother, could Third Sister Lu be lying to us?"
Madam Zhang's expression was stern: "Hengniang, Lu Sanniang has suffered a lot. She's not that stupid. She wouldn't do something that harms others without benefiting herself. Do you think she would take your mocking words to heart? You overestimate yourself and underestimate her."
...
Two days later, Lu Huaying brought the medicine to the county magistrate's house.
Both the Zhang and Yan families invited doctors, and several doctors examined the medicine and shook their heads, saying they found no problem.
Madam Zhang was still not at ease, so she had four maids test the medicine. Only after confirming that the maids did not feel unwell did she allow her daughter to take the medicine.
In the afternoon, Zhang Heng felt a cool sensation on her face, and the pus from a festering sore on the left side of her face had stopped oozing pus.
The next morning, Zhang Heng woke up and found that the sores on her face were not as painful as they had been the day before.
The doctor said Zhang Heng's face was improving.
The mother and daughter wept with joy.
Madam Zhang immediately ordered her servants to deliver gifts to the Lu family.
Zhang's steward, dressed in a sheepskin coat, arrived at Lu's house with his servants. He placed the gifts down, conveyed his master's thanks to Lu Huaying, and smiled warmly.
After the steward left, A-Yu sneered, "Third Sister, I remember this steward. He was the one who stopped us when we went to Dayun Temple that day."
Wang Yu sighed and said, "Feifei, you've been wronged this time."
Lu Huaying closed the ledger, looked up, and smiled, "Sister-in-law, you can't be picky about customers when doing business. Whether it's the Zhang family or the Ma family, as long as they sincerely come to ask for the medicine, we'll take their business."
Moreover, the Zhang family were not ordinary customers. The fact that Zhang Heng had contracted a malignant sore could not be kept secret from other prominent families in Xizhou. On the day of Zhang Heng's wedding, when the guests saw her healed face, they would naturally inquire about what medicine Zhang Heng had applied.
"Sister-in-law, we'll be even busier next month."
...
On the day of Zhang Heng's wedding, the female relatives of the prominent families in Xizhou all came to witness the ceremony.
Before the wedding, everyone had heard about Zhang Heng.
Rumors circulated that Zhang Heng had been disfigured, and some busybodies found an excuse to visit him at the Zhang family home.
The Zhang family said that Zhang Heng was at home preparing her dowry and did not allow her to show herself.
With the divorce date fast approaching, the Ma family couldn't help but get anxious and went to the Zhang family to inquire whether Zhang Heng's face had healed.
The Zhang family said: We'll find out on the day of the wedding.
The Ma family had no way to express their grievances, so they comforted the groom, telling him that no matter how ugly the bride was, he must not embarrass the Zhang family during the wedding procession.
On the evening of her wedding day, when Zhang Heng appeared before everyone in her light blue wedding dress, all eyes were on her face.
Zhang Heng looked very healthy, with rosy cheeks.
The next day, the Ma family sent someone to Liucheng to ask for medicine for their young lady.
The Lu family became even busier, even during holidays.
That day, while Lu Huaying was drying motherwort in the yard, she suddenly remembered something and turned to look at Afu.
Afu sat listlessly at the doorway, talking to Ayu.
Lu Huaying asked, "Afu, isn't Governor Wei's birthday coming up soon?"
Afu turned to look at her, and said blankly, "My husband said he doesn't know his own birthday."
Lu Huaying was taken aback.
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