Chapter 43
The closed door was suddenly pulled open, and the creaking sound seemed particularly cold and sharp in the cold, windy night.
The attendants on duty in the courtyard were all startled.
Tong Jin, who was dozing by the brazier in the east wing, was startled awake. He rubbed his eyes, got up, opened the door, and looked towards the study.
The study was pitch black. A slender figure emerged from it, descended the steps, crossed the courtyard, and headed towards the north courtyard.
The night was still. He was not wearing a turban or an outer garment. His attendant raised a lamp, and the dim light shone on him, revealing the broad and sturdy shoulder blades beneath his plain-colored robe. The lamplight flickered on his face, making his cool and dignified features appear and disappear in the dim light and darkness, with the silver strands at his temples even more noticeable.
The attendants on duty looked at each other in bewilderment.
Tong Jin was stunned for a moment, then came to his senses, rushed into the study, grabbed the cloak from the shelf, ran out, and caught up with Wei Mingsu.
"My lord, it's so cold in Xizhou, please don't catch a cold."
Wei Mingsu seemed not to hear, pushed open the gate of the north courtyard and walked in. He stopped, looked up, and gazed at the empty courtyard under the night sky.
The night sky was desolate, and the view was bleak.
His tall figure stood against the night sky, exuding an indescribable desolation.
Tong Jin followed him into the courtyard. Looking at Wei Mingsu's back, he felt a pang of sorrow. After hesitating for a moment, he stepped forward and draped an outer garment over Wei Mingsu's shoulders: "My lord, shall I prepare your horse?"
He had been by Wei Mingsu's side for three years. Before coming to Xizhou, he had never seen Wei Mingsu lose his composure for anyone. Seeing Wei Mingsu in a daze, he immediately thought of Lu Huaying.
Wei Mingsu asked, "What time is it?"
Tong Jin said, "It's probably around the time of the chou-yin (1-3 AM) transition."
Wei Mingsu shook his head.
Tong Jin was puzzled, but after a moment's thought, he understood why Wei Mingsu hadn't let him prepare the horses. It was already past midnight, the time when everyone was fast asleep. If Wei Mingsu suddenly went to find Lu Huaying in the middle of the night, it would attract too much attention.
Throughout Xizhou, countless eyes are watching Wei Mingsu. Moreover, he has already survived several assassination attempts since his arrival in Xizhou from Luoyang. Perhaps at this very moment, someone has infiltrated Xizhou to observe his every move.
Tong Jin sighed inwardly and couldn't help but speak his mind: "My lord, why did you have to make Lu San Niang move away?"
Keeping her by his side means that even if they don't meet, the man can at least catch a glimpse of her from afar when he wants to see her, and sometimes he can even hear her voice through the wall.
Wei Mingsu said calmly, "I'm afraid I won't be able to control myself."
Tong Jin scratched his head in confusion.
What is it that you, my lord, fear you can't control?
Could it be that you're worried he won't be able to control himself and will take Lu San Niang's body? Then why not just take Lu San Niang as your concubine?
Wei Mingsu walked up the steps and pushed open the door.
All the rooms were emptied. Lu Huaying had no luggage. Afu was very frugal and took everything he could use with him, leaving not even a piece of paper behind. Before leaving, he cleaned the yard spotlessly. There was no trace of Lu Huaying living there.
Wei Mingsu walked to the desk under the window.
This is where Lu Huaying sat when he wrote the alchemical text.
He once stood in the courtyard, gazing intently at her sitting by the window.
Wei Mingsu lowered his eyes and gently stroked the desk.
The intense pain in my heart gradually subsided.
Wei Mingsu was already very familiar with this kind of heart-wrenching pain.
For the past three years, he has been awakened time and time again from the same dream, forced to confront her death time and time again, and in one silent night after another, he quietly waits for the pain to subside, and then waits for the next dream.
Wei Mingsu thought this excruciating pain would accompany him for the rest of his life.
Every time he woke up from the dream, it felt like his heart was being ripped out.
But he didn't want to end those dreams.
Because Philippians died.
I can only see her again in my dreams.
That fleeting moment of sweetness must be exchanged for a long period of bitterness.
Wei Mingsu raised his eyes and looked at the dimly lit window.
The silhouette of someone intently writing, reflected in the window, came to mind.
She is alive.
It was just a dream.
I saw her at Dayun Temple today.
She saw him and immediately hid behind the stone tower. There was a circle of footprints on the ground; she had circled the stone tower once.
Wei Mingsu's face showed a change in expression.
She must have been really anxious and forgot about A-Yu. He would know she was there as soon as he saw A-Yu, so what was the point of hiding?
She used to be so bold and lively, barging into his sight time and time again.
Now, I've become so afraid of him.
When they saw him, they were filled with fear and trepidation, and dared not raise their heads to look at him when they spoke.
"You don't want to see me, I'm afraid seeing me will upset you."
Wei Mingsu stood quietly, his face growing even more bitter as he thought of Lu Huaying's words, before turning and leaving.
He returned to his study, leaned against the couch, closed his eyes, and did not take off his boots.
A gust of north wind howled past.
The eastern sky gradually turned a fish-belly color.
Wei Mingsu opened his eyes, got up and walked out of the study.
...
The sound of a box being dragged could be heard outside the window.
Afu and his entourage are carrying luggage.
Lu Huaying woke up, washed up, took her medicine, and picked up a pen to write down the alchemical texts from memory.
Xiao Suniang was probably tired yesterday and hadn't gotten up yet, so Lu Huaying didn't wake her up.
Suddenly, footsteps sounded at the door. Afu hurried over and asked, "Third Sister Lu, have you finished organizing the first few volumes of the alchemical texts you wrote?"
Lu Huaying nodded, pointed to several books, and said, "They're all organized. My brother and Su Niang checked them twice."
Afu said, "If you want to see it now, find it for me and I will take it to you."
Lu Huaying handed him the several volumes of alchemical texts she had written.
Afu took the books and went out.
Lu Huaying continued writing, and as she changed the paper, she heard Afu coughing in the courtyard.
She looked up at the window.
A gaze turned towards them.
On the vast snow-covered ground, a figure in a blue robe stood quietly, facing her window, having arrived at some unknown time.
Lu Huaying froze for a moment, then instinctively leaned down to block the view from the window.
That way, Wei Mingsu wouldn't be able to see her.
Outside the window, Wei Mingsu watched as Lu Huaying's head suddenly disappeared inside, then turned around.
Lu Huaying lay on the desk for a while, then slowly raised her head and looked outside.
The figure disappeared into the snow.
She was slightly lost in thought when a deep voice came from above her head.
How many more volumes are left to finish?
Wei Mingsu stood behind her and asked.
Lu Huaying was startled and said, "This is the last volume."
Wei Mingsu hummed in agreement.
Lu Huaying gripped her pen, composed herself, and continued writing.
Wei Mingsu stood behind her, watching her silently.
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