Chapter 94
After crossing the Bashan Mountain, they headed south, the weather getting warmer and warmer, and they seemed to be getting further and further away from their original destination, Luoyang.
The planned itinerary was suddenly changed, which surprised everyone.
Pei Jingyao was also puzzled. Wei Mingsu was seriously injured. He should be rushing back to Luoyang as soon as possible to ask the best imperial physician in the palace to treat his injuries. Why didn't he go east and change his route to the south?
Pu Bu, however, was not surprised. He said privately, "Governor Wei was seriously injured in an assassination attempt. Although he survived, those assassins will not give up. From Hexi to Luoyang, righteous people who hate him are coming one after another, all wanting his head to avenge the late Prince Yong. Of course, he dares not take the official road back to Luoyang. He changed his route to save his life."
Pei Jingyao pondered all night and quietly discussed with Lu Huaying, "Third Sister, should we go back to Luoyang ourselves? I'm worried that the assassins who tried to kill Governor Wei will come back again."
Lu Huaying was both amused and exasperated, saying, "It's not safe for us to go back to Luoyang on our own. Who knows who might get into trouble? If we travel together, we can look out for each other. Besides..."
She paused for a moment.
Besides, she owed Wei Mingsu too much; how could she possibly ignore Wei Mingsu's life and death and return to Luoyang on her own?
"If the assassins come again, I will protect Governor Wei."
Lu Huaying pressed her hand on the Xiliang knife at her waist and said softly.
Pei Jingyao recalled the assassins from before, and felt a pang of worry. He sighed and nodded, saying, "Then let's go back to Luoyang together. Although going south is a longer route, it's definitely safer."
The others, however, thought differently. Several sons of noble families from Luoyang in the group had been away from home for a year, barely surviving a near-death experience. Finally able to return home, they were all eager to reunite with their families. After crossing the Hexi Corridor, the group did not head east but instead kept heading south, as if they had no intention of returning to Luoyang. Duan Sanlang was the first to lose his temper. When the group stopped to rest in a village that day, he became increasingly angry. He smashed his water bag, drew his waist knife, and, with a few of his men, stormed off to find Wei Mingsu, demanding that Wei Mingsu explain why the route was wrong.
Pei Jingyao quickly told Lu Huaying the news that Wei Mingsu was recuperating from his injuries. Lu Huaying was worried that something had happened, so she rushed over, but she didn't hear any noise. The village house where the carriage was parked was quiet. Duan Sanlang and the others came out of the room where Wei Mingsu was recuperating.
People who had come to watch the spectacle crowded around him, asking for information. Duan Sanlang, looking somewhat pale, pushed through the crowd and left without a word.
Seeing that even the youngest and most impetuous Duan Sanlang dared not object to Wei Mingsu's change of route, everyone was somewhat alarmed. Later, when Wei Mingsu suddenly requested to change course again, everyone in the group obediently complied without further objection.
There were no objections, but there was no shortage of discussion.
"So it turns out that Governor Wei is afraid of death."
More and more people believe that Pu Bu's judgment is correct: Wei Mingsu was afraid of death, so he temporarily changed his route to confuse the assassin.
Regardless of what people were saying, Wei Mingsu never came forward to explain anything.
People speculated that Wei Mingsu dared not show his face because he was afraid of being ridiculed for being cowardly.
Lu Huaying didn't understand why Wei Mingsu kept changing the route at the last minute without giving any explanation, but she was certain that Wei Mingsu's refusal to come forward was not because he was afraid of being ridiculed.
He lost too much blood and had to take a sedative decoction every day. After taking the medicine, he would fall into a deep sleep and rarely woke up. When he did wake up, he was either reading or writing official documents or handling affairs, so he would not see anyone.
When the group entered the village to rest, Lu Huaying requested to stay overnight with Wei Mingsu's personal attendants. Wei Mingsu often woke up in the middle of the night and asked his attendants to bring a lamp in. Soon after, his shadow would be reflected on the window as he wrote.
One night, the shadow on the window suddenly fell down.
Lu Huaying was startled and quickly pushed open the door to go inside.
The oil lamp was still burning, the wick leaning against the rim of the bowl. In the dim light, Wei Mingsu leaned against the wall, already asleep, a few silver strands glittering at his temples, his arm hanging down, still holding a pen in his hand.
Lu Huaying tiptoed to the bedside, took the pen from his hand, helped him lie down, and covered him with a blanket.
Wei Mingsu was extremely exhausted and did not wake up.
Lu Huaying looked down at him.
The moon shines brightly outside the window, the empty mountains are quiet and serene, and a faint light shines from the southeast corner.
As dawn broke, a few faint croaks of frogs could be heard in the distance, after which the world fell silent again, without a sound.
He's very tired and should get some rest.
Lu Huaying blew out the lamp, stepped out, and closed the door.
The next day, Lu Huaying came to work the night shift and asked her, "Did you go into the room last night?"
"What? Did you touch your husband's paper and pen?"
Lu Huaying said, "I went inside and covered the yellow papers on the table with something because I was afraid they would be blown away by the wind."
Actually, she was afraid that what Wei Mingsu wrote was confidential and dared not move it casually, so she covered it up.
Tong Jin nodded, went inside to report, and came out after a while.
Lu Huaying asked, "Is there something you can't find?"
Tong Jin shook his head and glanced at her.
“We never dare to touch anything with writing on it in the young master’s room without his permission.” After saying that, Tong Jin smiled and softened his tone, “Don’t worry, nothing is missing, and the young master didn’t mean to blame you, he was just asking.”
Lu Huaying frowned slightly.
Even Wei Mingsu's close attendants were not allowed to touch anything in his room without permission.
Last night, she simply covered him with a few sheets of yellow paper after he fell asleep. When he woke up, he immediately noticed the difference and questioned his attendants... Does he have to be this cautious every day?
The group continued south.
The towering mountains gradually transformed into rolling hills, with layers of green peaks rising one after another. The distant mountains, stretching into the distance, appeared and disappeared in the sea of clouds. The trees were lush and verdant, and the vegetation was abundant. The vast expanse stretched to the horizon, like a beautiful and tranquil landscape painting.
The ten warriors in the group, who had come from the western regions to the Central Plains, were used to the boundless grasslands and glaciers beyond the Great Wall, and were accustomed to the strong winds of the frontier. Seeing such beautiful scenery for the first time, they felt very novel.
The others had no interest in appreciating the scenery, as they were astonished to find themselves getting closer and closer to Xiangzhou.
When someone pointed out that Xiangzhou was just ahead, the crowd was incredulous and looked at each other blankly. Then, their faces showed fear, and they scattered like birds and beasts, not daring to discuss the matter.
Pei Jingyao was so frightened that he was completely at a loss, and he consulted with Pubu.
Pu Bu pondered for a moment and comforted Pei Jingyao: "Prefect Wei dares not go to Xiangzhou. Perhaps he just happened to pass by this road to Xiangzhou."
After discussing it quietly, everyone agreed that Wei Mingsu wouldn't dare go to Xiangzhou; he was just passing through on a detour.
Lu Huaying sensed the increasingly heavy atmosphere in the group and asked Pei Jingyao, who hesitated and told her not to press him.
"Third Sister, I'm doing this for your own good. The less you know, the better."
Pei Jingyao refused to say, so Lu Huaying had to ask Tong Jin, but she couldn't get anything out of him either.
Two days later, the caravan suddenly slowed down and returned to the official road. Wei Mingsu changed his previous cautious approach and ordered the caravan to rest at the post station. He also sent his personal attendant on a fast horse to inform the local officials.
The words "Xiangzhou" are clearly engraved on a large stone tablet beside the official road outside the post station.
Everyone stared in horror at the character "襄" on the stone tablet, their clothes soaked with cold sweat.
Soon, the sound of horses' hooves came from outside the post station, and several officials rushed over to greet Wei Mingsu.
Wei Mingsu ordered everyone to stay at the post station, while he left with his entourage and officials.
Everyone seemed relieved, as if they had escaped a disaster, and watched him leave with complicated expressions.
Lu Huaying mounted her horse and was about to follow.
Tong Jin stopped her, saying, "Third Sister, you don't need to go with him. The young master is going to meet someone and there can't be any outsiders present. You should wait at the post station."
Lu Huaying glanced at the post station.
The rest of the group stayed behind. Some looked in the direction Wei Mingsu had left, their expressions filled with grief and indignation, some even with tears in their eyes. Others avoided her gaze, not daring to show any expression, but they couldn't hide the trembling all over their bodies.
They were all afraid of Xiangzhou and dared not set foot in it.
Lu Huaying turned to look at Tong Jin: "Who is Governor Wei going to Xiangzhou to see?"
Tong Jin said, "Seventh Prince."
Lu Huaying's expression changed, she gripped her riding whip tightly, and asked, "Is this an order from Luoyang?"
"Yes, it's His Majesty's secret order." Tong Jin nodded and said, "My lord instructed you to stay at the post station and not..."
Go to Xiangzhou.
Lu Huaying raised her head and looked at the official road leading to Xiangzhou.
Wei Mingsu had already ridden away, clean and efficient, without hesitation or lingering, as if he were just going to see a friend.
But the person he met was not a friend, but the Seven Kings.
After the late emperor's death, the seventh prince ascended the throne, but was soon overthrown by the empress and...
The prime minister was deposed and demoted to a useless person.
Wei Mingsu was going to see the Seventh Prince, a deposed emperor.
Last time, when the late emperor passed away, he went to see the Empress's other son, Prince Yong, a deposed former crown prince, and forced the former crown prince to commit suicide.
From then on, Wei Mingsu's reputation was ruined, and he was reviled by everyone.
This is a stain that he can never wash away in his entire life.
Now that the Empress has ascended the throne, the Turkic tribes are attacking the Great Zhou under the pretext of helping the Seven Princes reclaim the throne. Local officials are calling on the people of the land to revolt because of the Seven Princes. At this time, Wei Mingsu is ordered by the Empress to go and meet the deposed Seven Princes...
The color drained completely from Lu Huaying's face.
Tong Jin gestured for his four attendants to stay and watch over her, then climbed onto his horse and followed Wei Mingsu to Xiangzhou.
The sound of hooves came from behind.
Tong Jin turned around, frowned, and said to Lu Huaying, who had caught up, "Third Sister, the master wants you to stay at the post station. Don't make things difficult for me."
Lu Huaying caught up with him, reined in her horse, and pointed to the four attendants he had left behind, saying, "I won't make things difficult for you. I'll stay at the post station, so you don't need to send anyone to watch over me. Take these four men to Xiangzhou. Assassins could appear at any time, and Governor Wei needs them more."
Tong Jin was stunned.
Lu Huaying urged him, "You should catch up with him quickly. Don't worry, I won't leave the post station."
Tong Jin came to his senses, stared at her for a moment, and nodded, saying, "Alright, Third Sister, no matter what happens in Xiangzhou, don't interfere."
He left with four close attendants.
Lu Huaying returned to the post station.
Although Wei Mingsu left with his entourage, and although some people were secretly wiping away tears, the rest of the group still dared not discuss Xiangzhou or the Seventh Prince of Xiangzhou. Everyone was afraid that they might accidentally reveal something and be reported to the authorities, falling into the hands of cruel officials and suffering a fate worse than death.
Unable to bear the oppressive atmosphere in the hall, Pei Jingyao ran upstairs and quietly asked Pubu, "Is the Seventh Prince also going to commit suicide?"
Pubu quickly gestured for him to shut up, reminding him that loose lips sink ships.
Pei Jingyao dared not ask any further questions.
An hour later, in Xiangzhou, several trembling local officials led Wei Mingsu and his entourage to the place where the Seventh Prince was imprisoned. After watching Wei Mingsu and a group of close attendants with swords board the boat, an official left on the shore couldn't help but ask the same question as Pei Jingyao in a low voice: "Is the Seventh Prince also going to commit suicide?"
The other officials' expressions immediately changed. One of them stepped forward, raised his hand and slapped the other, shouting, "Do you think you have too much time on your hands?"
The official who was beaten realized what he had asked, felt a chill of fear, trembled, and retreated, covering his face.
The ship soon reached the shore, and Wei Mingsu disembarked, showing the soldiers guarding the Seven Kings the Empress's secret edict.
The soldier led him to see the seven kings.
At the foot of the mountain, a winding river flows slowly, with a circle of yellow mud walls along the riverbank. Outside the walls, weeping willows and green mulberry trees are planted, surrounding several rice paddies and vegetable gardens. A neat row of houses is nestled among the green trees. With its overlapping mountains and picturesque scenery, this village in the valley is like a paradise far away from the strife and turmoil of the world.
The inhabitant of this idyllic paradise is the Seventh Prince, a prince who briefly became the supreme ruler of the land, tasted the power before being deposed and exiled, and was destined to never escape the strife.
The arrival of Wei Mingsu startled the women of the Seventh Prince's household who were working in the vegetable garden.
A soldier announced that an imperial messenger had arrived.
After a moment of hesitation, the woman and child turned and ran toward the house behind the mud wall, screams and cries filling the air.
Wei Mingsu walked to the courtyard gate.
At the gate, a chorus of mournful cries filled the air. The Seventh Princess, cradling a group of frightened children and holding an infant in her arms, knelt on the ground, tears streaming down her face.
The soldier asked, "Where is His Highness the Seventh Prince?"
The Seventh Princess held her child and wept bitterly, unable to answer.
The soldier was to take care of the servants of the Seven Kings and their wives and go to find the Seven Kings. The servants went.
A moment later, a servant ran back, looking nervous and anxious.
The soldier asked, "Where are the Seven Kings?"
The servant knelt on the ground and said sadly, "When His Majesty heard that the Holy One had sent an envoy, he was so frightened that he jumped into the river and committed suicide!"
Everyone was stunned and shocked.
The Seventh Prince committed suicide.
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