"Returning to Before Husband's Castration" 《回到老公自宫前》Chapter 35
Lu Bing was too stubborn, he had to maintain a tough image to others, he couldn’t be weak at all.
Banquets for officials usually meant men drinking to their heart's content, if someone gave a toast, he had to drink.
It was natural instinct for someone to cherish life, but Lu Bing always placed his duties before his own health, emperor Jia Jing had not gone to court for over thirty years, he remained at the Xiyuanli in the palace concocting pills of immortality, Lu Bing’s embroidered uniform guards was his main way to control politics and court.
The so-called “a good man has a no good wife, a lazy man has a perfect wife”, from the smallest family to the state, where there’s a lazy person there’ll be someone diligent, otherwise life wouldn’t go on.
Emperor Jia Jing had a lot of time per day to concoct immortality pills only because he had the weapon Lu Bing to defend his authority, protecting his position as emperor.
Lu Bing had been in his position for almost thirty years, he didn’t dare slack at all, emperor Jia Jing often “called for Lu Bing in the middle of the night”, no matter through “wind, frost, rain and snow”, Lu Bing would “put on a cloak and gallop on his horse into the palace”.
Staying up late drinking, a coffin is prepared.
Lu Bing had no choice, even with a doctor’s warning, he would repeatedly take his chances with a carefree attitude, that’s why Wei Cai Wei was so certain in this lifetime Lu Bing would still take the same path, not living past this year.
Lu Bing always placed emperor Jia Jing’s life before his, when Jia Jing was eighteen years old, the emperor was at his Weihui residence, during the night a fire broke out, everyone fell over each other trying to escape, only Lu Bing went against the crowd, braving the dangers of being burnt to death, he ran into the fire, stubbornly carrying emperor Jia Jing out on his back.
Lu Bing was that kind of loyal official who would give his life to the emperor— or he could be called a stupidly loyal.
He didn’t care what people thought of this emperor who hadn’t attended court for over thirty years, Lu Bing had been unswerving from start to finish.
Lu Bing also understood his own personality, Wei Cai Wei words weren’t said to scare him, he said: “You have a lot of nerve, you dare to tell me directly when I’ll die, even imperial physician Song doesn’t dare to say these words.”
Wei Cai Wei said: “Just now didn’t Lord Lu say if I lied again, I would die.”
“Leave.” Having sent Wei Cai Wei away, Lu Ying had a lot to say to his father, but Lu Bing waved his hand, “I’m tired, you should also rest, you still need to help me with my work tomorrow, there’ll be guards taking turns to watch over me tonight without blinking, if something happens, they’ll go and get imperial physician Song, don’t worry.”
Lu Ying could only take his leave, he caught up with Wei Cai Wei relying on the crutch, “Doctor Wei please wait.”
Wei Cai Wei knew what Lu Ying wanted to say, she said: “I didn’t say anything unnecessary just now, everything was determined from the position of a doctor. Lord Lu’s body is like a dam covered with ant nests, it seems formidable, but if a torrent hits it, it will collapse.”
Lu Ying asked: “From your view, is there a way to cure him?”
Wei Cai Wei said: “Acupuncture and medication can only strengthen the dam, it’s no use against the ant nests, there’s simply no treatment, the only way to extend his life—” Wei Cai Wei used her crutch to point at Lu Bing’s room, she said: “Actually leader Lu knows in his heart, Lord Lu won’t accept it.”
Lu Bing would never retire from his position due to ill-health and return home to take care of himself. So long as he breathed, he would protect emperor Jia Jing’s position.
He truly would work himself to his death.
Lu Ying lowered his head in silence, he muttered: “Is there any ancient miracle prescription to treat a stroke? Please tell me doctor Wei, even if its at the end of the world, I will find it for father.”
Wei Cai Wei heard this too many times, facing serious illness, many family members suffered more pain and anxiety than the patients.
Wei Cai Wei sighed: “There’s no effective cure or miracle medicine, if there was, I would be a swindler. Leader Lu needs to accept this reality, when you have time, prepare for the future.”
The two of them stood there talking while fireflies flew out from the grass, mosquitoes were also attracted, Wei Cai Wei passed the mosquito repellent pouch Wang Da Xia had returned to her over to Lu Ying, “Wear it, mosquitos won’t come near you.”
Lu Ying took the pouch, at this moment a person suddenly jumped out from behind the rockery, Lu Ying drew his sword instinctively, putting Wei Cai Wei behind him, “Who is it?”
“It’s me.” Wang Da Xia walked out under the moonlight, his eyes fell on the pouch in Lu Ying’s hand. Humph, she had given it away so quickly.
Wang Da Xia’s jealousy could fill a bowl of pickled fish.
Lu Ying put his sword away, “Why were you hiding behind the rockery?”
Wang Da Xia stared at Wei Cai Wei. He had stormed out just now, swearing he wouldn’t talk to Wei Cai Wei or Lu Ying, but half way, he remembered Wei Cai Wei was still using a crutch, and the path couldn’t be seen properly at night, it wouldn’t be good if she fell over.
Thus Wang Da Xia came back, but he had just sworn he wouldn’t care about Wei Cai Wei, he would lose face if he rushed back so he secretly followed Wei Cai Wei, but he didn’t expect Lu Ying to chase after her and Wei Cai Wei would give the mosquito repellent pouch which was originally his to someone else.
Wang Da Xia blew his top, he was so angry he popped up from behind the rockery.
Wei Cai Wei had wanted fifty coins from him for that but she gave it to Lu Ying for free without mentioning money.
Wei Cai Wei’s difference in treatment made Wang Da Xia feel like he had been injured again.
Wang Da Xia lied: “I needed to answer the call of nature.”
Lu Ying subconsciously pinched his nose, pointing at the northeastern corner, “The toilets are over there.”
Wang Da Xia said: “Many thanks to leader Lu, now I know.”
Lu Ying couldn’t be bothered with him, he said to Wei Cai Wei: “Doctor Wei’s ability to walk has been inhibited, I’ll send you back.”
Without waiting for Wei Cai Wei to gratefully decline, Wang Da Xia ran over like a feral dog. He didn’t want to spend another second watching Lu Ying and Wei Cai Wei “flirt with each other”! When he brushed past Lu Ying, he even deliberately knocked against Lu Ying’s right arm holding the pouch, the pouch in his right hand fell immediately onto the ground.
What I don’t want you can’t even think of having! Humph!
He had hurt Lu Ying a little with his knock, he frowned holding his shoulder, “This kid doesn’t know seniority, let’s see how I’ll deal with him tomorrow!”
That night, everyone had a lot of thoughts in their mind.
Wei Cai Wei thought about Ding Wu’s route. Lu Ying thought about his father’s illness. Wang Da Xia was sprawled over his bed, recalling each interaction between him and Wei Cai Wei, asking himself repeatedly: Did he make a mistake? Did I imagine it? Why does it feel like she really did have feelings for me in my memory!
The next day, when the sun rose, Wang Da Xia was still tangled up with Wei Cai Wei in his dream and was startled awake by Lu Ying kicking his door open, “Get up, there’s training.”
Wang Da Xia rubbed his eyes, from under his pillow he took out a Western pocket watch, “If I am not wrong, morning roll call for the embroidered uniform guards is at chenshi, it’s still early.”
Lu Ying said: “As long as my subordinates have nothing to do, they have to go train at the drill ground two hours earlier.”
Wang Da Xia buried his head into his pillow, “I’ve been practising martial arts since I was three years old, father hired a master to teach me, I don’t need to train.”
Lu Ying suddenly brandished his whip at him, “Get up!” There was a loud bang like a firecracker had gone off in the room, Wang Da Xia was thrashed out of bed instantly.
Wang Da Xia soared up from his bed and sat up, the thin blanket covering his body fell to the floor, revealing his two long legs covered by a pair of shorts.
The skin on his knees were still smooth and pale but there was an excessive amount of hair covering his calves, most likely a mosquito would get lost if it flew in and be trapped.
He was after all an energetic and healthy young man, when he woke up in the morning, “Little Wang” was very spirited, it made its presence very well known.
Lu Ying turned around, his back to Wang Da Xia, “I’ll give you half an incense’s time to tidy yourself up and meet at the drill ground.”
Over the next two hours, Lu Ying took his subordinates on a run around the drill ground, trained in equestrian archery, brandished a sword and truncheon, they even tested firearms. Firearms were expensive, each shot was burning money, it was only then that Wang Da Xia was impressed, compared to his father’s northern city military, the embroidered uniform guards were really wealthy!
After training, Lu Ying even gave Wang Da Xia an embroidered uniform guard’s embroidered sword, the uniform, boots, hat, waist identification and other things, as well as two guns, a small box of gunpowder and bullets, and a jar of oil for cleaning the guns, “This is yours, you have to take care of it properly, you have to clean the barrel everyday.”
He was a young man after all, Wang Da Xia suddenly forgot about his vow to not speak to Lu Ying or Wei Cai Wei, he excitedly touched his new equipment, like a boy with a new toy, “What will happen if it’s not cleaned?”
“Come with me.” Lu Ying took him to a specialised storeroom for firearms.
The guard watching over the storeroom welcomed him, “Leader Lu needs something?” This guard wore a mask.
Lu Ying said: “Take off your mask, let the new person see and learn from it.”
The guard at the storeroom took off his mask.
“Ghost!” Wang Da Xia acted like he had seen a ghost in broad daylight, he hid behind Lu Ying, “There’s a ghost!” Wang Da Xia was scared of ghosts.
Lu Ying took two steps to the right, Wang Da Xia who had been hiding behind him had to face the “ghost”, that person had half of his face missing, the left side of his face was covered with a black scar like it was covered in black mud, only one eye looked at Wang Da Xia with a smile, used to the reaction.
Lu Ying said: “He didn’t clean his barrel properly, the barrel blew up, half his face was blown away, his left eye and ear are gone, see if you’ll be lazy from now on.” Facing such a lazy dandy as Wang Da Xia, tricking him had to be done, Lu Ying had gotten better at managing people recently.
Wang Da Xia covered the left side of his face like he was the one with his face blown off, “I don’t dare, not anymore, I’ll forget to eat before forgetting to clean my barrel.”
After the morning roll call, Lu Ying found a shady spot under the trees to continue training, Wang Da Xia was so tired he was about to become Wang Da Gou, the lazybone laid down on the ground, “I can’t do it anymore, I need to rest.”
Lu Ying brandished his whip, “Get up!”
Wang Da Xia said: “What’s the use of repeating these moves? In a real fight, who would fight in a pattern like this?”
Lu Ying coldly said: “It seems you’re showing off you’re very good at fighting?”
Wang Da Xia said: “Of course, I’m unrivalled in the northern city.” He was obviously bluffing, Wang Da Xia had his father as a shield in the northern city, who dared to actually beat him up.
Lu Ying said: “I’ll fight with you, if you win, then you don’t have to train, you won’t have to train with us in these movements. But if I win, you have to do as I say.”
Wang Da Xia heard this and thought in his mind, you’re shorter than me and seem quite weak, you think you can beat me? I’ll definitely win. If I beat Lu Ying I can live freely and happily everyday!
“Let’s fight, who’s scared of you.” Wang Da Xia took up the challenge.
There was a stage at the centre of the drill ground, the sun was shining brightly, Lu Ying and Wang Da Xia began fighting.
Wang Da Xia hated the heat, he wore a short sleeve top and trousers.
Lu Ying still had his buttons buttoned up to the neck in an old fashioned manner, his stiff collar had softened from his sweat, but he still didn’t undo the button.
Wang Da Xia felt unbearably hot for Lu Ying, he thought Lu Ying would faint before they even began.
“Best two out of three.”
Wang Da Xia said: “Leader Lu shouldn’t regret this.”
Lu Ying said: “Stop talking rubbish, come.”
The two began to fight, the first round was using rods. Lu Ying won.
The second round was using swords, fighting with wooden swords. Lu Ying won.
The wooden sword in Wang Da Xia’s hand was kicked flying by Lu Ying, his hand hurt so much he clutched his wrist, “There’s no need for the third round, I concede.” Wang Da Xia jumped down from the stage, indicating his defeat, cheers erupted from around the stage for leader Lu.
Lu Ying cupped his hands in thanks, then…he directly fainted.
“Leader Lu!” Everyone hurriedly carried Lu Ying inside on a stretcher, Wei Cai Wei was just practising walking with the crutch, seeing Lu Ying’s face was as white as a sheet, lips so pale that they were almost invisible, his body soaked in sweat, she determined immediately, “He’s had a heatstroke, move away, don’t block the wind.”
Wei Cai Wei loosened the button around Lu Ying’s neck, pushing apart the sweat soaked collar, letting him cool down.
Then…Wei Cai Wei saw under his collar a binding was around his chest. Not knowing Mulan was a woman.
Fortunately she had driven everyone back just now, there was enough space for Wei Cai Wei to use her body to block everyone’s gaze, only she saw.
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