Lu Bing pushed himself too hard. Outside, he had to present a strong image and couldn’t show the slightest weakness. The drinking parties of court officials often had ulterior motives—some people’s toasts he had to drink.
Self-preservation is human instinct, but Lu Bing always put responsibility before life. Emperor Jiajing hadn’t attended court for over thirty years, practicing immortality and alchemy in the Western Garden of the imperial palace. Lu Bing’s Embroidered Uniform Guard was his main means of controlling government affairs.
As the saying goes, “Good men don’t have good wives, lazy men are matched with virtuous wives.” From small families to great nations, if one is lazy, there must be one who’s diligent, or life can’t go on.
Emperor Jiajing had plenty of time each day to practice immortality only because he relied on Lu Bing to maintain his power and protect his throne. In over thirty years of service, Lu Bing never dared slacken for a moment. Emperor Jiajing often “summoned Lu Bing at midnight,” and regardless of “cold, heat, wind, or snow,” Lu Bing would “don clothes and ride swiftly, scaling the palace walls to enter” (Note 1).
Staying up late plus drinking—the coffin is ready.
Lu Bing was trapped by circumstances. Even with doctors’ warnings, he would repeatedly take risks with a lucky mindset, so Wei Caiwei was certain that in this life Lu Bing would still follow the old path and not survive this year.
Lu Bing always put Emperor Jiajing’s life before his own. In the eighteenth year of Jiajing’s reign, when the emperor was at the Weihui traveling palace, a fire broke out at night. People fled for their lives, but only Lu Bing went against the flow, risking being burned to death, running into the fire to carry Emperor Jiajing out on his back.
Lu Bing was this kind of loyal minister who valued the emperor’s life over his own—or perhaps, it could be called blind loyalty. Regardless of how others viewed this emperor who hadn’t attended court for over thirty years, Lu Bing remained steadfast.
Lu Bing also knew his own character. Wei Caiwei’s words weren’t alarmist, so he said: “You’re very bold, daring to predict my death to my face. Even Imperial Physician Song wouldn’t dare say such things.”
Wei Caiwei said: “Didn’t Lord Lu just say that if I told another lie, I would die?”
“You may go.”
After dismissing Wei Caiwei, Lu Ying had many things to say to his father, but Lu Bing waved his hand: “I’m tired. You should also go rest early. Tomorrow you’ll have to handle official business for me. Guards will take turns watching me without blinking tonight. If anything goes wrong, they’ll fetch Imperial Physician Song immediately. Don’t worry.”
Lu Ying had to withdraw, catching up with Wei Caiwei who was leaning on her walking stick: “Dr. Wei, please wait.”
Wei Caiwei knew what Lu Ying wanted to say: “I wasn’t being mysterious just now. Everything was a judgment made as a doctor. Lord Lu’s body is like a dam riddled with ant holes—it looks mighty, but when a torrent rushes through, it collapses.”
Lu Ying asked: “In your opinion, what treatment methods exist?”
Wei Caiwei said: “Acupuncture and medicine only reinforce the dam but are useless against the ant holes, unable to treat the root cause. The only way to extend life—”
Wei Caiwei pointed her walking stick toward Lu Bing’s bedroom: “Commander Lu knows in his heart that Lord Lu won’t accept it.”
Lu Bing would absolutely never request leave due to illness to go home and recuperate. As long as he had a breath left, he would guard the throne for Emperor Jiajing.
Truly dedicating himself completely until death.
Lu Ying lowered his head in silence, murmuring: “Are there any ancient remedies or miracle drugs that can treat stroke? Please tell me, Dr. Wei—even if it’s at the ends of the earth, I’ll find it for my father.”
Wei Caiwei had heard such words too often. When facing serious illness, many family members suffered more pain and anxiety than the patients themselves.
Wei Caiwei sighed: “There are no magic pills or miracle drugs. If there were, I’d be a big fraud. Commander Lu must accept this reality. When you have time, arrange future matters.”
As the two stood talking, fireflies flew from the grass, along with mosquitoes. Wei Caiwei handed Lu Ying the mosquito-repelling sachet that Wang Daxia had just returned to her: “Wear this and mosquitoes won’t come near.”
Lu Ying took the sachet. At that moment, someone suddenly jumped out from behind the artificial mountain. Lu Ying instinctively drew his sword, protecting Wei Caiwei behind him: “Who’s there?”
“It’s me.” Wang Daxia walked into the moonlight, his gaze falling on the sachet in Lu Ying’s hand.
Hmph, switching loyalties so quickly. Wang Daxia’s sourness could make a whole pot of pickled fish soup.
Lu Ying sheathed his sword: “What were you doing hiding behind the mountain?”
Wang Daxia had been waiting for Wei Caiwei. He had stormed out in rage earlier, swearing not to speak to Wei Caiwei and Lu Ying anymore, but halfway through, remembering that Wei Caiwei was still using a walking stick and it was dark with poor visibility, he worried she might fall.
So Wang Daxia turned back, but having just sworn not to pay attention to Wei Caiwei, approaching her directly would be too embarrassing. He secretly followed Wei Caiwei, but unexpectedly Lu Ying caught up, and Wei Caiwei gave away the mosquito-repelling sachet originally meant for him.
Wang Daxia was furious and popped out from behind the artificial mountain.
Wei Caiwei charged him fifty coins for it.
She gave it to Lu Ying for free, not even mentioning money.
Wei Caiwei’s differential treatment made Wang Daxia feel hurt again.
Wang Daxia lied: “Nature calls.”
Lu Ying instinctively covered his nose, pointing to the northeast corner: “The toilet is over there.”
Wang Daxia said: “Thank you, Commander Lu. Now I know.”
Lu Ying couldn’t be bothered with him and said to Wei Caiwei: “Dr. Wei, since you have difficulty walking, let me escort you back.”
Before Wei Caiwei could thank him or decline, Wang Daxia ran off like a wild dog.
He couldn’t bear to watch Lu Ying and Wei Caiwei “making eyes at each other” for another moment!
When brushing past Lu Ying, he deliberately bumped Lu Ying’s right arm holding the sachet, causing it to fall to the ground.
If I can’t have it, you can’t either! Hmph!
The collision hurt Lu Ying somewhat. He frowned, rubbing his shoulder: “That kid has no respect for superiors. I’ll deal with him tomorrow!”
That night, everyone had their own concerns.
Wei Caiwei calculated Ding Wu’s travel time.
Lu Ying worried about his father’s illness.
Wang Daxia lay on his bed, recalling every interaction with Wei Caiwei, asking himself countless times: Was it an illusion? Was I being narcissistic? No matter how I remember it, I feel like she really was interested in me!
The next day, at dawn, Wang Daxia was still entangled with Wei Caiwei in his dreams when Lu Ying kicked his door open, waking him: “Get up for training.”
Wang Daxia rubbed his eyes, feeling under his pillow for a Western pocket watch: “If I remember correctly, the Embroidered Uniform Guard reports for duty at the hour of the dragon. It’s still early.”
Lu Ying said: “My subordinates, whenever they have time, train at the drill ground an hour early every day.”
Wang Daxia buried his head under the pillow: “I’ve been practicing martial arts since I was three. My father hired five masters to teach me. I don’t need to practice.”
Lu Ying cracked his whip hard on the ground: “Get up!”
The loud crack was like setting off a firecracker in the bedroom, immediately jolting Wang Daxia out of bed.
Wang Daxia bounced up from the bed like a spring, the thin blanket covering him sliding to the floor, revealing his long legs clad only in shorts.
The skin above his knees was quite smooth, but the hair on his calves was so thick that mosquitoes flying in would probably get lost and encounter ghostly maze walls.
After all, he was an energetic teenager. When waking up in the morning, “Little Wang Xia” was spirited and quite noticeable.
Lu Ying turned around, back to Wang Daxia: “You have half an incense stick’s time to get ready. Meet at the drill ground.”
For the next hour, Lu Ying led his subordinates around the drill ground running, practicing archery, wielding swords and staffs, and even test-firing firearms.
Firearms were precious—each shot cost money. This opened Wang Daxia’s eyes. Compared to his father’s Northern District Military Commissioner’s office, the Embroidered Uniform Guard really was wealthy!
After training, Lu Ying also issued Wang Daxia Embroidered Uniform Guard equipment: an embroidered spring knife, flying fish robe, boots, hat, badge, two firearms, a box of gunpowder and bullets, and a bottle of gun oil: “These are yours. Take good care of your weapons. You must clean the gun barrel every day.”
Being a teenager after all, Wang Daxia immediately forgot about last night’s vow not to speak to Lu Ying and Wei Caiwei, excitedly fondling his new equipment like a boy with new toys: “What happens if I don’t clean it properly?”
“Come with me.” Lu Ying brought Wang Daxia to an Embroidered Uniform Guard warehouse specifically for issuing firearms.
The warehouse keeper approached them: “What can I do for Commander Lu?” This keeper wore a mask.
Lu Ying said: “Remove your mask and show the newcomer, so he’ll learn his lesson.”
The warehouse keeper removed his mask.
“Ghost!” Wang Daxia saw a ghost in broad daylight, hiding behind Lu Ying: “There’s a ghost!”
Wang Daxia was afraid of ghosts.
Lu Ying stepped two paces to the left, forcing Wang Daxia, who had been hiding behind him, to face the “ghost” directly.
Half this man’s face was gone, his left cheek covered with black scars like black mud smeared on one side. His one remaining eye smiled, accustomed to Wang Daxia’s reaction.
Lu Ying said: “He didn’t properly clean his gun. The barrel exploded, blowing off half his face and his left eye and ear. Let’s see if you’ll still be lazy.”
To deal with lazy wastrels like Wang Daxia, some methods were necessary. Lu Ying had been learning quite well in the art of managing people lately.
Wang Daxia covered his left face as if he’d been the one blown up: “I won’t dare anymore, never again. I’d rather forget to eat than forget to clean my gun.”
After roll call, Lu Ying found a shady spot to continue training. Wang Daxia was about to collapse from exhaustion and lay on the ground: “I can’t go on. I need to rest.”
Lu Ying cracked his whip: “Get up!”
Wang Daxia said: “What’s the use of practicing these same routines over and over? In real fighting, who would fight move by move like this?”
Lu Ying said coldly: “So you think you’re quite the fighter?”
Wang Daxia said: “Of course. I’m undefeated in the northern district.” This was bragging—with his father’s protection in the northern district, who would dare really hurt him?
Lu Ying said: “I’ll fight you. If you win, you don’t have to drill or learn formation coordination with us. But if I win, you follow my arrangements.”
Wang Daxia thought: You’re not as tall as me and look rather thin—how could you beat me?
I’ll definitely win. If I beat Lu Ying, I can live freely every day!
“Let’s compete then. I’m not afraid of you.” Wang Daxia accepted the challenge.
There was a fighting platform in the center of the drill ground. Under the blazing sun, Lu Ying and Wang Daxia sparred.
Wang Daxia, feeling hot, wore only a short-sleeved shirt and pants.
Lu Ying maintained his scholarly appearance with buttons fastened to his neck. Sweat had soaked his collar soft, but he still wouldn’t unbutton it.
Wang Daxia felt hot just looking at Lu Ying, thinking Lu Ying would faint from heat before they even started fighting.
“Best of three matches.” Wang Daxia said: “Commander Lu better not regret this.”
Lu Ying said: “Stop talking nonsense. Come on.”
They began fighting. First match: staff combat. Lu Ying won.
Second match: sword combat with wooden swords. Lu Ying won.
Wang Daxia’s wooden sword was kicked away by Lu Ying. He clutched his wrist in pain: “No need for the third match. I concede.”
Wang Daxia jumped down from the platform, admitting defeat. The crowd around the platform cheered thunderously for Commander Lu.
Lu Ying clasped his fists in acknowledgment, then… collapsed straight down.
“Commander Lu!”
Everyone quickly carried Lu Ying on a stretcher to the courtyard, where Wei Caiwei was practicing walking with her stick. Seeing Lu Ying’s paper-white face, nearly invisible lip color, and sweat-soaked body, she immediately diagnosed: “Probably heatstroke. Everyone step back, don’t block the wind.”
Wei Caiwei unbuttoned Lu Ying’s collar and pulled the sweat-soaked neckline apart from both sides to cool him down.
Then… Wei Caiwei saw circles of chest binding wrapped beneath the collar.
Not knowing Mulan was a lady. Fortunately, she had just sent everyone away to make space, and Wei Caiwei blocked others’ view with her body—only she saw this.
Wei Caiwei quickly pulled the collar back, covering the chest binding: “Quickly carry him to my room. I have ice to cool him down.”
Author’s Note: Someone loses their disguise every day~ Now everyone understands why Lu Ying reacted so strongly when Wang Daxia first clashed with him, hugged his leg to remove his boots.
Note 1: From “Records of Great Events of the Imperial Ming Dynasty, Volume 36”: “Bing served close to the palace for over twenty years. The emperor was perceptive and sometimes unpredictable. In his service, he never dared slack for a moment. When summoned at midnight, regardless of cold, heat, wind, or snow, he would don clothes, ride swiftly, and scale the palace walls to enter.”