Chapter 78
The night breeze was cool and refreshing.
Paulina's tone also took on a chill, making it impossible to tell whether she was mocking Wei Mingsu, being self-deprecating, or both.
Wei Mingsu glanced at Fan Hui.
Fan Hui left with the others.
Wei Mingsu pulled up Lu Huaying's cloak to block a sudden gust of cold wind.
Lu Huaying was truly drunk, unconscious, and unresponsive.
People who are drunk are prone to catching a cold, so Wei Mingsu took off his outer robe and covered Lu Huaying with it.
Paulina glanced at him and said, "Feifei will stay tonight. I'll take her to the tent."
Two maids from the Tulun tribe helped Lu Huaying up, one on each side. She was tall and slender, and the petite maids could barely support her; after taking one step, all three of them stumbled.
"Afi is drunk? I'll help!"
Mangbao, who was dancing by the campfire, kept an eye on this side. He put down his pipa, ran over in big strides, and reached out his hand.
Paulina remained silent.
The maid released Lu Huaying.
When Mang Bao was about to take over supporting Lu Huaying, a pair of hands reached out, wrapped around Lu Huaying's waist, and took her directly from the hands of the two maids.
"I'll take Third Sister back."
Wei Mingsu pulled Lu Huaying into his arms, looked at Mang Bao, and said.
Mang Bao was somewhat displeased.
Paulina couldn't help but laugh, gave Mangbao a wink, and said something in a foreign language.
Mang Bao frowned and stepped aside.
Paulina looked up and said, "Prefect Wei, why should I hand Feifei over to you? What is your relationship with her?"
Wei Mingsu looked down at Lu Huaying, who was leaning against him.
Reason told him that he and she should have no connection and should sever all ties.
Thinking this, he picked up Lu Huaying and said calmly, "Paulina, what you did tonight is not helping her; this is not what she wants."
Paulina smiled and said, "What about Governor Wei? Isn't that what you wanted either?"
Wei Mingsu remained silent for a moment.
"I want it."
He said in a deep voice, his expression restrained.
Paulina paused, making sure she hadn't misheard, and frowned deeply: "Then why won't you cooperate with me? Are you getting revenge on Feifei for abandoning you?"
Wei Mingsu shook his head.
“She feels guilty towards me, she is grateful to me, and she will not refuse any reward I ask of her.”
Just like in Liucheng, when Lu Huaying mistakenly thought he wanted to possess her, she didn't resist, smiled slightly, and closed her eyes.
Wei Mingsu could not resist such temptation.
But she didn't love him.
They have a heavy and bitter past. When she faces him, she can't let go of the burden in her heart. She got drunk tonight, probably because she was thinking about a few years ago.
The alcohol didn't intoxicate her; what made her drunk was the guilt.
She was so lively and cheerful when she was with Mang Bao and the others.
She played the pipa, sang, and danced by the campfire, full of vigor and spirit; that was the real her.
As a child, she was trapped by her father, brothers, and family.
Later, he was trapped by his lowly status.
After being trapped for more than a decade, she can finally be free.
She should spread her wings and fly high.
However, he was already doomed. Though not old, his temples were already gray, and he had sunk into an abyss beyond redemption.
"Paulina, I don't want her to regret it in the future."
Wei Mingsu said, holding Lu Huaying, and turned to walk away.
Mang Bao saw it and rushed over to follow.
Paulina stopped Mang Bao, and looking at Wei Mingsu's back as he carried Lu Huaying under the dark sky, a trace of sorrow appeared on her face.
Several years ago, she met four people on the grassland: her lover, Lu Huaying, and Wei Mingsu. They were all young, vibrant, and full of life.
Back then, Lu Huaying could drink a thousand cups without getting drunk, while Wei Mingsu would blush after just a few sips.
She was innocent and proud, and loved
Lang is honest and simple.
Years later, they had all changed.
...
Wei Mingsu carried Lu Huaying away.
At the camp, they put her in a carriage and wrapped her in a blanket.
The carriage swayed and bumped, and he was worried that she might vomit and choke, so he helped her up and held her in his arms.
Lu Huaying frowned slightly and gave a soft hum.
Wei Mingsu held her in one arm and picked up the water bag in the carriage with the other, bit it open, bent down, and fed her water.
I used to take care of her, and I still remember all her little habits.
What is etched in the heart, even if buried deep in the memory, will reignite like cold ashes after a fire, an unstoppable blaze, once it is stirred up.
The carriage returned to the city. Wei Mingsu lifted the curtain and got out, then turned to carry Lu Huaying down.
She suddenly opened her eyes, her mind still hazy. She stared at his face for a long time before reaching out and wrapping her arms around his neck.
Wei Mingsu froze.
Tong Jin and A Yu were stunned for a moment, then stepped back.
Fan Hui rode his horse back behind the carriage, his eyes wide open.
Wei Mingsu lowered his eyes and looked at Lu Huaying.
She hugged him, her body pressed against his chest, her eyes slightly red.
The familiar scent that once intoxicated him and made him lose control.
Wei Mingsu did not hug Lu Huaying. He released his hands from her waist, slowly turned around, bent down and carried her on his back, heading towards the courtyard where she lived.
In the dead of night, all was quiet. A gust of wind swept through the yard, and the sand and dust carried by the wind slowly settled down.
Tick-tock.
Wei Mingsu paused, startled.
Another wave of coldness washed over my neck.
He felt a jolt in his heart, as if he had been cut.
The young woman clinging to his back had tears streaming down her face, each tear falling into his thin shirt and burning his heart.
Wei Mingsu didn't look up, but asked softly, "Why are you crying?"
Lu Huaying was completely drunk. She grabbed his shirt and wiped her face, saying, "I'm sad. I'll cry if I want to."
He's still the same as before; he gets angry when he's drunk.
Why are you sad?
Wei Mingsu asked gently.
Lu Huaying said a few words, but they were unclear.
Wei Mingsu asked, "What?"
"……wood……"
She buried her head in his shoulder, tears streaming down her face.
Wei Mingsu turned his head to the side.
In the stillness of the night, he carried her on his back, walking step by step across the courtyard. His boots creaked on the ground as she cried and called his name.
Wei Mingsu softened and asked, "What's wrong with Mu Tou?"
Lu Huaying said, "Feifei and Mutou got married."
A night breeze blew by, lifting the black hair beneath her brocade hat and brushing against Wei Mingsu's face.
A sudden pang of pain shot through his heart, and he stopped in his tracks, his expression bittersweet.
"That's fake, just child's play."
He said bitterly.
Lu Huaying choked up as she said, "Mu Tou married me, we had a wedding, and he was serious."
A few years ago, they got married. Wei Mingsu treated her as his wife; she was family to him.
Outsiders believed that she had only deceived Wei Mingsu's feelings back then, and humiliated him when he went to the Lu family to propose marriage.
No, she really did marry him.
Then, she abandoned him.
Wei Mingsu didn't want her to suffer from gossip, so he kept the matter a secret, and even Fan Hui and the others were completely unaware of it.
He swallowed all the pain alone.
Even during the years he mistakenly believed she was dead, he kept this secret and never told anyone else.
Lu Huaying sobbed, "I thought Mu Tou didn't hate me anymore, that he had forgiven me, that we could start over, and that he would meet someone..."
He truly loved his young wife, and he diligently served as an official, striving for his ideals and principles, realizing his pursuits and beliefs, forging ahead without hesitation…
She hugged Wei Mingsu's neck and sobbed softly.
"But now I realize I was wrong; the wood can't be started over."
"He gave me his heart...and only then did I realize how good Wood was...I lied to him...Now, Wood's heart is dead..."
The heart that was offered to her once burned brightly, then died, leaving only desolation.
How can a dead heart be rekindled?
She can leave the past behind and start a new life, but Wei Mingsu cannot have a new beginning.
He died in the past, leaving only his shell.
The Wei Mingsu of the past, though taciturn, was merely reserved, not dejected or decadent. He could also be passionate, unlike now, filled with a desolate sense of impending death.
He pulled her out of the mud, but he himself willingly sank into the dark abyss.
"Wood said he doesn't need friends... He has no parents, no family, not even friends... He's all alone... He's having a hard time..."
She wept.
Wei Mingsu listened to Lu Huaying's drunken ramblings in silence for a long time before saying calmly, "It's alright, he's always been alone, you don't need to worry."
His expression was cold, but his tone was very gentle.
Lu Huaying, lost in her drunkenness, didn't hear him. She wiped her tears on his shirt and continued, "I know... I'm the one who hurt Mutou the most. I should stay away from him, I shouldn't bother him anymore, we have nothing to do with each other... But I can't help it... I want to know if he's doing well, I want his heart to come back to life..."
"I feel sorry for Wood."
She sobbed.
Wei Mingsu felt a jolt in his heart and a burning sensation in his chest.
My shoulders are damp.
Those were Lu Huaying's tears.
In a daze, memories of the past surfaced one by one, every day and night I spent with her was unforgettable.
The night wind blew against them, and Lu Huaying shivered on his back.
Wei Mingsu calmed down, carried Lu Huaying into the corridor, pushed open the door, walked to the bedside, and put her down.
She was still crying, her fingers clutching his shirt tightly.
Wei Mingsu turned around, took Lu Huaying's hand, gently pried open her fingers, and helped her lie down.
He went out and got a basin of hot water, came back into the house, wiped away Lu Huaying's tears, fed her a bowl of hot tea, put down the bowl, loosened her belt, took off her Hu robe, and covered her with a quilt.
The candlelight flickered gently.
Wei Mingsu gazed at Lu Huaying, gently patted her back, and coaxed her to sleep.
She was asleep, illuminated by the candlelight, her face rosy, her black hair disheveled, and her lips adorned with a luscious, vibrant color.
Wei Mingsu lowered his head, pulled the blanket up a little, stood up and went out.
He closed the door, asked the maid to go to the room to look after Lu Huaying, and returned to his own courtyard.
Two lanterns swayed gently in the night breeze.
He went into the house.
Tong Jin and A Yu thought Wei Mingsu wouldn't be back tonight and were about to go to sleep when they saw him. They were both dumbfounded and their faces were full of astonishment.
Wei Mingsu entered the study and instructed A Yu, "Go and invite Chief Secretary Fan."
Ayu agreed and turned to leave.
Tong Jin came to his senses, turned around and ran out. A little while later he returned with a bowl of soup, placed it on the desk, and said, "Ah Lang, you drank quite a bit tonight. Have some soup."
Tonight, after Lu Huaying was invited to the translation office by Fan Hui, Wei Mingsu has been drinking.
Wei Mingsu glanced at the celery soup, but didn't drink it. He said, "Bring some wine."
Tong Jin was taken aback and brought over the wine.
Wei Mingsu poured himself a bowl.
Hurried footsteps echoed in the courtyard. Fan Hui strode into the study and stared at him in disbelief for a long time.
"No wonder she likes to call you Wei the Wooden Head."
Fan Hui said sarcastically.
Wei Mingsu waved for everyone to go in and quietly finished his bowl of wine.
&n
Fan Hui walked over and sat down, poured himself a bowl of wine, and said, "You used to not drink, but now you've developed a good tolerance for alcohol."
Wei Mingsu poured himself another bowl, looked down at the glistening wine in the bowl, and said, "Feifei likes to drink it."
Lu Huaying likes to drink when she's in a good mood, and she also likes to drink when she's in a bad mood.
Wei Mingsu then tried drinking a little as well.
Later, he would drink whenever he thought of her.
It wasn't to get himself drunk, nor was it because he couldn't live without alcohol. He didn't like drinking; he just didn't enjoy it. But when he thought of her, he couldn't help but want to do the things she loved to do.
That's how you develop a high alcohol tolerance.
He finished another bowl of wine.
Fan Hui took a sip with him, sighed, and asked, "Did something happen in the capital when you called me here?"
Wei Mingsu handed him a letter, saying, "Someone has accused Qiu Shenji of rebellion. His Majesty has already dismissed him from his post and imprisoned him."
Fan Hui was startled and looked down at the letter.
After Wei Mingsu finished reading the letter, he took it and threw it into the brazier, then asked, "What do you think of His Majesty's governance of his subordinates?"
Fan Hui pondered for a moment, then whispered, "His Majesty has the wisdom to recognize talent, dares to make exceptions in appointing people, and is skilled in managing his subordinates."
Wei Mingsu nodded and continued, "His Majesty is skilled in governing. In the past, to divide the power of the prime minister, he widely recruited scholars into the palace, allowing them to participate in politics and cultivate his confidants. Those whom His Majesty entrusted with important responsibilities were all outstanding and truly talented. However, since the death of the Great Emperor, His Majesty has appointed a group of cruel officials to suppress the imperial family and dissidents..."
He said, "His Majesty is about to begin to crack down on the cruel officials."
The Empress was resolute and decisive, possessing both the broad-mindedness and ruthless cruelty of an emperor. Initially, she tolerated cruel officials in order to seize imperial power and strike at her rivals. After the rise of the Zhou dynasty and the stabilization of the political situation, the Empress sought to appease the people. Once the cunning rabbit was dead, the hunting dog was cooked.
Fan Hui's expression was solemn: "You are different from Qiu Shenji. His Majesty values you, and you have just made contributions. This time, you should not be implicated."
Wei Mingsu looked up.
It was pitch black outside the window.
They are all pawns of the Queen. The Queen only cares about winning or losing the game, and each of them can become her discarded pawn at any time.
Wei Mingsu said indifferently, "The one who reported Qiu Shenji should be Zhou Qin. Zhou Qin doesn't dare to touch me for the time being, but only for the time being. After I return to the capital, you should assist the governor in pacifying the tribes, training the troops, and preparing for battle. Within two years, there will definitely be a battle between the Great Zhou and the Western Liang. The success or failure of recovering the four towns will depend on this battle."
Fan Hui nodded.
...
Lu Huaying either doesn't get drunk, or when she does, she falls into a deep, unconscious sleep.
When she woke up, the sun was already high in the sky.
Ayu brought her a hangover soup and a plate of flatbread.
After finishing the sweet and sour hangover soup, she picked up a flatbread, took two bites, rubbed her temples, and after a moment of absentmindedness, suddenly said, "I was drunk last night."
Ayu nodded: "Third Sister, you were very drunk and wouldn't let go of your husband. He had to carry you back."
Lu Huaying was feeling embarrassed when the curtain was lifted and Wei Mingsu walked in, his deep eyes looking at her.
He changed into a new robe.
Lu Huaying held the flatbread in both hands, staring blankly at Wei Mingsu.
He seems a little different today.
Wei Mingsu waved.
Ayu lowered her head and went out.
Wei Mingsu poured a cup of tea and placed it in front of Lu Huaying.
"Third Sister, you asked me the other day if we could be friends."
He sat down expressionlessly and asked.
Lu Huaying nodded.
Wei Mingsu turned to look at the door and said, "Okay."
Lu Huaying was stunned for a moment and hadn't reacted yet when Wei Mingsu continued, "I've made too many enemies in the capital these past few years. Don't let outsiders know about our relationship."
After saying that, he stood up and left.
Lu Huaying stood there for a long time, the pancake in her hand had gone cold, before she came to her senses.
Wood has made friends.
She was delighted, took a bite of the flatbread, and her eyes lit up.
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