Lu Ying was finally released.
She eagerly fled the place as if escaping a demon's den, feigning intimacy with Wang Daxia as they stepped out.
Li Yiren watched their retreating figures: What a perfect match, an ideal couple.
In truth, every word Wang Daxia spoke was genuine, except his interpretation of "not betraying" was entirely different from what Lu Ying and Li Yiren understood. Thus, even the ghost-fearing man dared swear to heaven.
Lu Ying whispered, "How did you know I was trapped at home?"
Wang Daxia replied, "Doctor Wei guessed it. She's been worried you might lose your position. Yesterday she told me if you didn't show up at the Imperial Guard Office all morning, you were likely confined at home learning needlework to forcibly reshape your temperament - preparing you to become a virtuous wife and mother in three years against your will. So she sent me to rescue you at all costs, even if it meant sacrificing my charm. So what if they're forcing you to marry? I can shield you for three years. Many things can happen during this time - there'll always be a turning point. Doctor Wei said never lose hope, there must be a way out."
So it was Wei Caiwei! Indeed, only women truly understand women's predicaments.
Lu Ying asked further, "How did you manage to trick your father and Commander Mu into coming to offer incense?"
Wang Daxia explained, "Not trickery, just gentle guidance. I told my father that without the Loyalty Count's help, his Thousand-Household Title would likely be lost. To Commander Mu, I said if the Loyalty Count hadn't put in a word with Minister of Personnel Wu Peng, he wouldn't have become Commander. With the Loyalty Count's passing, they should bring generous funeral gifts and pay respects at the Lu residence. Both expressed willingness but hesitated due to their low ranks. I claimed to have some influence at the Lu residence and offered to introduce them, so they followed me here."
Wang Daxia's silver tongue had convinced both parties. Anyway, marriage discussions were forbidden during mourning, leaving no room for exposure.
Seeing Lu Ying's tense expression, Wang Daxia tried lightening the mood with a tease: "Who would have thought the fearless Commander Lu is afraid of her mother."
Lu Ying retorted, "Weren't you chased and beaten all over the streets by your father? Did you dare fight back?" During Wang Daxia's days as one of the Four Pests of the North City, Wang Commander would administer minor beatings every three days and major thrashings every five.
Wang Daxia shook his head, "I didn't dare. I was even worried my father might strain his back. Though he was beating me, I'd still be accused of filial impiety."
Lu Ying sighed, "We're the same, then."
Lu Ying galloped ahead on horseback, leaving her unhappiness behind. Wang Daxia couldn't catch up despite urging his horse. Their steeds entered the Imperial Guard Office one after another. Lu Ying dismounted swiftly, tossing the reins to the groom. Seeing the Duty Room she hadn't visited for a month, she immediately felt refreshed and ordered, "Summon everyone to discuss upcoming assignments."
"Yes!" Wang Daxia grabbed a copper gong, beating it while shouting, "Commander Lu has returned!"
The gong's resonance combined with Wang Daxia's loud voice soon turned the quiet Duty Room as noisy as a bustling marketplace. Wu Xiaoqi and other subordinates came rushing at the sound.
Lu Ying wore a white Four-Cornered Tang Scarf and plain garments with Hemp Shoes. "To appear charming, wear mourning white" - Lu Ying's plain clothes gave her the transcendent elegance of a graceful young scholar. She had grown thinner, but her eyes remained steadfast.It's good that you're back. The restless crowd finally breathed a sigh of relief, for everyone except Wang Daxia believed Lu Ying to be Lu Bing's illegitimate child. Now that Lu Bing was dead, an illegitimate child would naturally not be welcomed by the family. Moreover, they had heard that Lu Bing's heir, Lu Yi, had been appointed as the Assistant Commander and would assume his duties after completing the mourning period. Once the legitimate heir arrived, where would there be a place for an illegitimate child in the Embroidered Uniform Guard?
Lu Ying was capable and protective of her subordinates, and they were all willing to follow her, not minding that she was an illegitimate child. But if Lu Ying were to leave the Embroidered Uniform Guard, whom could they pledge their loyalty to?
Lu Ying had returned, and everything was back to normal. The crowd was excited, and they all bowed in unison, saying, "We greet Commander Lu!"
That address of "Commander Lu" nearly brought tears to Lu Ying's eyes. She bit her lip and forced them back. Thank goodness I didn't give up!
"Please, everyone, take a seat," Lu Ying raised her hand slightly. "I took a month's leave for mourning, and I am grateful to all of you for sharing my duties during this time, ensuring that official matters were not delayed. You have all worked hard."
In unison, they replied, "It was no trouble at all!"
Lu Ying said, "The end of the month is approaching, and the accounts office needs to settle the books. If any of you have expenses to reimburse or documents to sign, bring them over. I'll take care of this first before we discuss official matters."
What a stroke of luck! Reimbursements as soon as she returned! It was right to serve under a commander who cared for her subordinates!
Wang Daxia was the first to raise his hand. "I do! I've accumulated quite a few."
Just as Lu Ying was signing until her hand grew sore, the newly appointed Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, Zhu Xixiao, was handling official business in the Duty Room. Hearing the commotion outside, he asked his guard, "What's going on out there?"
The guard went to inquire and reported, "Sir, the illegitimate child has returned."
Zhu Xixiao's brush paused. While others might not know Lu Ying's true identity, as the brother of Lu Bing's in-law, he was well aware that Lu Ying was a young lady of the Lu family. "How did she return so soon?"
The guard replied, "An illegitimate child is just an illegitimate child, without status. He is not entitled to mourn for the Loyalty Count, so he returned to resume his duties."
Zhu Xixiao set his brush down on the Pen Rest Mountain. "She is still flesh and blood of the Lu family and must not be looked down upon. From now on, treat her with the same respect as Lu Yi."
The guard quickly said, "Yes, sir. I was mistaken."
Zhu Xixiao initially wanted to summon Lu Ying for a chat, but she was a woman. Ah, what a hassle. He instructed, "Go see what she's doing."
The guard made a round and reported back, "Commander Lu started by signing a month's worth of reimbursement receipts as soon as she arrived. The pile on her desk is as high as a small mountain."
Half of that mountain was thanks to Wang Daxia's "efforts."
This girl has some skill. She knows how to stabilize morale as soon as she returns. It seems she has no intention of leaving the Embroidered Uniform Guard and plans to continue working.
Zhu Xixiao recalled the Jiajing Emperor's instructions to take care of Lu Ying. As long as it did not endanger her life or tarnish the Lu family's reputation, he was to let her be and not restrict her.
Ah, am I here to serve as Commander or to babysit?
Zhu Xixiao said, "If Commander Lu has any matters to discuss, report them directly to me. Do not hinder her."
Lu Ying finally finished signing the reimbursement documents and began to address official matters.Wang Daxia cleared his throat lightly. "Around the New Year, when the Loyal Earl was buried, we received a pigeon post from Ding Wu. We discovered that the sect leader Zhao Quan has been in contact with Japanese pirates. Some of the firearms stolen by the White Lotus Sect from Wang Gong Factory have already fallen into the hands of Japanese pirates. The White Lotus Sect and the Japanese pirates are working hand in glove, wreaking havoc on our Great Ming from both north and south."
"Ding Wu said that Iron Bull, one of the Four Great Disciples of the White Lotus Sect who specializes in raising and training death warriors, has been untraceable at the White Lotus Sect Main Altar in Fengcheng, and no traces of the stolen Wang Gong Factory firearms have been found in the north. This is because he has actually been hiding among the Japanese pirates. The White Lotus Sect disguises themselves as Japanese pirates, using the firearms stolen from Wang Gong Factory to plunder ships at sea and smuggle goods to amass wealth."
Wang Daxia produced a stack of cargo manifests. "These are the cargo manifests we seized from the White Lotus Sect's Myriad Goods Trading Company. They contain all sorts of exotic goods from the Eastern and Western oceans. The Myriad Goods Trading Company primarily sells foreign goods, but it actually serves as a outlet for stolen goods. By simply running the plundered items through the company's accounts, they are transformed into legitimate merchandise. This way, the sect leader incurs almost no cost—smuggling or plundering becomes their means of procurement, and selling through various trading companies becomes their method of amassing wealth."
Wang Daxia marked all the White Lotus Sect shops confiscated in the latter half of the previous year on a map. "Just the ones we've found amount to twenty-seven trading companies, all primarily selling foreign goods. Additionally, in the Songjiang area, there are also silk shops and porcelain stores."
Wang Daxia spread out a maritime chart. "Silk and porcelain are the main goods smuggled overseas by Japanese pirates, yielding profits tenfold, even a hundredfold. Then, they transport foreign goods back, selling them again for tenfold or hundredfold profits. What could be more profitable than smuggling? If I were in their position and had a batch of fine firearms, I certainly wouldn't let them gather dust at home. I'd make the most of them."
"I've tallied at least over nine hundred stolen firearms—enough to form a force capable of opposing the Great Ming army. Shaving their heads into a yin-yang style, wearing wooden clogs, going without trousers, and hanging a loincloth for decency, they disguise themselves as Japanese pirates to engage in smuggling. It's incredibly profitable."
Lu Ying stared fixedly at him. Wang Daxia shrank his neck slightly. "If—I mean, if. Who wouldn't like a quick way to make money? With money, they can recruit soldiers, buy horses, and raise an army to rebel. Without money, who would risk their lives for them? Everyone needs to eat."
Lu Ying pointed at the map. "Japanese pirates are active along the coastal areas of Fujian and in Yunjian County of Jiangsu and Zhejiang. Where are the White Lotus Sect's Iron Bull and his men disguised as Japanese pirates?"
Wang Daxia replied, "We don't know yet. But Ding Wu has already gained the trust of Sect Leader Zhao Quan in Fengcheng. He followed the Japanese pirates' messenger southward, sending covert signals multiple times along the way. Our Embroidered Uniform Guard's various hidden outposts have been tracking them with rotating personnel. According to the latest intelligence, Ding Wu and the messenger have reached Linqing and are staying at an inn. With the weather warming up these days, the ice on the canal around Linqing is about to melt. They will take a boat southward, and we'll see where they go. We just need to keep an eye on the bait, and we'll be able to locate the White Lotus Sect's disguised Japanese pirates' hideout, eliminate them, and recover the stolen firearms.""Wait." Lu Ying found it hard to believe. "Ding Wu is in Linqing? I thought the Four Great Disciples of the White Lotus Sect didn't know each other and only handled their own affairs. Since Ding Wu has already become the new strategist for one of the Branch Leaders, how could Zhao Quan easily let him learn the secrets of Iron Bull and the firearms? And his methods of amassing wealth? Could this be a trap set by Zhao Quan to test Ding Wu?"
Wang Daxia explained, "Sect Leader Zhao Quan does have this rule, but the White Lotus Sect is no longer under his sole control. The former White Lotus Sect Saintess, Jin Ying, has now become Anda Khan's Hatun. Anda Khan dotes on his young wife, indulging her and even allowing her to participate in political affairs. The Khanate Court now respectfully addresses her as Zhongjin Khatun."
"Zhongjin Khatun admires Ding Wu and has tasked him with traveling south to select rare overseas treasures for her. Zhao Quan dared not refuse. Last year, the White Lotus Sect suffered major setbacks in the Central Plains, with nearly eighty percent of their operations uncovered by us. Zhao Quan must rely on Anda Khan to preserve the sect. Meanwhile, Ding Wu has been urging Zhongjin Khatun to take control of the White Lotus Sect for herself, weakening Sect Leader Zhao Quan's influence."
Lu Ying was deeply moved: So in just half a year, Ding Wu has already accomplished so much. If an undercover agent is fighting this hard, what reason do I have to give up?
Author's Note: Due to space limitations, Ding Wu's experiences in the Khanate Court won't be described in detail—just enough to outline the general process. The focus remains on the Great Ming.
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