Chapter 80
After Tong Jin and A Yu led Nie Zijie to the woods, they immediately took Wei Mingsu back to the courtyard, where the most dangerous place was also the safest place.
Before entering the room, Lu Huaying glanced at her disheveled and tattered black robe, washed herself up, and borrowed a blue robe from A Yu to change into.
Ayu pushed open the door.
The room was filled with the smell of medicine for wounds. Figures moved about as soldiers tidied the room, organized documents, and reported news—a flurry of activity. Wei Mingsu sat on the bed, wearing only a thin garment. Two soldiers were treating his wounds, and a basin of blood lay on the floor.
Lu Huaying followed A Yu into the house.
The guards stood beside the basin of blood and reported on the pursuit of Nie Zijie. Wei Mingsu remained silent, his eyes fixed on the doorway.
As soon as Lu Huaying entered the room, he immediately said, "Everyone out."
His expression was stern.
Everyone in the room sensed the tense atmosphere and, without saying a word, all left.
Silence.
Ayu turned around, intending to leave as well.
Lu Huaying grabbed him and whispered, "Are you brothers?"
Ayu had no choice but to stay and walk up to Wei Mingsu with Lu Huaying.
Wei Mingsu's gaze swept past Lu Huaying's hand holding A Yu's arm, and finally settled on A Yu's face.
"go out."
He said coldly, with anger.
Lu Huaying opened her mouth, and Wei Mingsu looked up at her. In the dim light, her face was extremely pale.
He turned to A-Yu, who was hesitating, and said, "Get out!"
Wei Mingsu was calm, taciturn, deep and reserved. Even when he was angry, he was solemn and dignified, rarely showing such anger.
Ayu broke out in a cold sweat, inwardly groaning. He glanced at Lu Huaying, giving her a look that said "good luck," before turning and fleeing in panic.
With a "snap," the door was slammed shut by A-Yu from the outside.
The room fell silent.
The window was open, and suddenly a gust of wind blew in, extinguishing the oil lamp.
"What happened?"
Wei Mingsu questioned.
Lu Huaying looked up and glanced at Wei Mingsu discreetly.
The light from the lanterns outside shone in, making the room faintly visible. Wei Mingsu sat in the darkness, looking at her with a gloomy face and a cold aura, clearly still suppressing his anger.
Lu Huaying had anticipated that Wei Mingsu would be angry.
However, Lu Huaying did not expect him to be so angry.
A few years ago, when he was angry, she only needed to act cute to calm him down.
Now we have no choice but to honestly confess to him.
She said, "After I learned about your plan from Chief Secretary Fan, I asked Shabona to take me with him. He agreed, but I was afraid you would object, so I didn't tell you..."
Nie Zijie has vanished without a trace, and Wei Mingsu wants to eliminate this potential threat before heading to the capital.
The plan to lure the enemy was devised by him and Fan Hui before they set off.
He separated from the chieftains, returning to the capital with only a few close followers, including Tong Jin. He secretly instructed Sha Bo Na to lead a group of skilled soldiers disguised as a caravan of Hu people heading to Luoyang, following behind him and waiting for Nie Zi to take the bait.
Before Lu Huaying left Xizhou, she learned about the plan from Fan Hui and asked to participate, which Fan Hui agreed to.
She solemnly apologized to Mang Bao and the others, saying that she had to help a friend and could not travel with them. She introduced them to a translator who would teach them Han Chinese etiquette. They found Shabona and stayed in the caravan.
To deceive Nie Zijie, Shabona's caravan couldn't get too close to Wei Mingsu, and its route couldn't be exactly the same as his; it would stop in other places for a few days along the way. Shabona even took this opportunity to do some business with merchants from Liangzhou.
Wei Mingsu was very cautious. He had neither met nor contacted Shabona. Lu Huaying stayed in the caravan the whole time, and he did not notice anything amiss.
“I’ve been with Shabana all this time…”
Although Nie Zijie was highly skilled in martial arts, he was used to acting alone. Even when he was wanted, he did not give up his habit of wearing a flower in his hair, which shows that he was very arrogant and conceited and valued the reputation of being the number one swordsman in the world.
Shabona and Lu Huaying formulated specific
The plan was implemented and several rehearsals were conducted.
Lu Huaying finished recounting what had happened.
Wei Mingsu's expression did not soften; instead, it darkened further: "Fan Hui took it upon himself to tell you the whole plan?"
He personally devised the plan, and Lu Huaying was involved, but he was completely unaware of it!
“I’ve met Nie Zijie before, and I recognize him.”
Lu Huaying explained.
"You've put yourself in a very dangerous situation, luring the enemy into a trap."
"Shabona is unfamiliar with the Central Plains and wanted to find an assistant, which is why Chief Secretary Fan told me about this plan. My internal strength has recovered, my skills are not bad, and I cooperate well with Shabona, making me a suitable assistant for him."
Lu Huaying became more and more confident as she spoke, straightening her back.
Wei Mingsu asked in a deep voice, "Do Tongjin and Ayu both know that you are by Shabona's side?"
Lu Huaying whispered, "Ayu knows."
Wei Mingsu lowered his eyes.
An awkward silence.
Lu Huaying had a sudden realization: Wei Mingsu was angry tonight not because she had participated in the plan without permission, but because she had participated without permission and kept it a secret from him.
The key point is concealment.
Her eyes darted around, and she quickly admitted her mistake: "Prefect Wei, I shouldn't have kept it from you. I won't do it again next time."
Wei Mingsu's gaze fell on her face again, and he asked, "What won't you do next time?"
Lu Huaying casually apologized, not expecting him to ask further questions. She paused for a moment, then said seriously, "I won't hide it from you next time."
“This time it wasn’t intentional to keep it from you… Nie Zijie knows you went to Wuzhi, but he doesn’t know who the spy is. The news might leak out, so Shabo and I haven’t contacted you.”
Although they set up the ambush together, they were unaware of each other's specific plans after they went their separate ways. As a result, Wei Mingsu did not sleep in bed every night, and he was also unsure whether Shabona could arrive in time when Nie Zijie appeared.
Wei Mingsu was silent for a moment, then said, "Discuss it with me first next time."
Lu Huaying couldn't see the expression on his face, but she could sense that his tone had softened.
She breathed a sigh of relief and nodded with a smile: "Okay."
Wei Mingsu coughed and said, "Go and rest."
Lu Huaying turned and walked out, then turned back and said, "You should get some rest too. Nie Zijie has been poisoned; Sha Bo won't be able to catch him soon."
Wei Mingsu nodded and watched her leave.
...
After being kicked out, A-Yu didn't dare to leave.
Lu Huaying came out and smiled at him: "It's alright."
Ayu wiped away a cold sweat and saw her out.
Lu Huaying didn't see Tongjin and asked, "Where did Tongjin go?"
Ayu said, "Just now, the young master woke up and was furious. He ordered me and my companion to go out and find you immediately. We dared not disobey and went out separately. He should have gone to Shabo's place."
Lu Huaying was taken aback.
Just in case, Tong Jin and A Yu have only one task tonight: to protect Wei Mingsu. They must stay close to Wei Mingsu and protect him every step of the way. However, Wei Mingsu sent them away to find her.
Fortunately, Tong Jin knocked Wei Mingsu unconscious, otherwise Wei Mingsu wouldn't have left. Nie Zijie's target was him, and he couldn't stay.
After seeing Lu Huaying off, A Yu returned to his room.
The guards entered the room, lit the oil lamps, and continued to treat Wei Mingsu's wounds.
Wei Mingsu glanced at A Yu.
Ayu stepped forward.
Wei Mingsu asked, "Was she injured?"
Ayu said, "No, just some minor injuries. I gave her some medicine."
Wei Mingsu nodded: "You knew she was with Shabona, why didn't you report it?"
Ayu scratched his head: "My lord, I promised Third Sister, I can't go back on my word."
He thought for a moment and added, "If Ah Lang has any doubts, he can come and ask me, and I will nod in agreement."
Wei Mingsu remained silent.
Thinking of how he had left Lu Huaying to face Wei Mingsu alone, A Yu felt a little guilty and said with emotion, "My lord was so angry tonight, which frightened Third Sister. Third Sister was worried about you, which is why she came to the capital with us."
Wei Mingsu's face was grim.
He was born
What angered them wasn't that Lu Huaying had gone to Beijing with them.
She is very strong. She is slowly recovering her martial arts skills and regaining her former courage and confidence.
He wouldn't stop Lu Huaying from taking the risk.
But he cannot be kept in the dark.
If he had known earlier that Lu Huaying was involved in the plan, he would have been more cautious and meticulous in formulating it. He would have had Tongjin and Ayu accompany her to minimize her risks.
Instead of finding her in danger so suddenly, like tonight.
In that instant, I lost all reason.
Wei Mingsu's hands trembled slightly as he said, "After returning to the capital, you and your colleague will receive your punishment yourselves."
Ayu replied with a pained expression.
Third Sister came out smiling; he thought that he and his companion could escape punishment!
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