Lu Bing pushed himself too hard. In public, he had to maintain an image of formidable strength, never showing the slightest weakness. Official banquets among men were often about more than just drinking—some toasts he simply had to accept.
Self-preservation is human instinct, yet Lu Bing always prioritized duty over his own life. The Jiajing Emperor had abstained from court sessions for over thirty years, devoting himself to Daoist cultivation and alchemy in the Western Park of the palace. Lu Bing's Embroidered Uniform Guard served as the emperor's primary means of controlling the government.
As the saying goes, "Good men seldom marry well, while lazy men often get virtuous wives." From households to nations, when there's idleness, there must be diligence—otherwise, life becomes unsustainable.
The Jiajing Emperor could spend his days pursuing immortality precisely because he relied on Lu Bing to maintain his authority and protect his throne. Throughout his thirty years of service, Lu Bing never dared relax for a moment. The emperor frequently "summoned Lu Bing at midnight," and regardless of "cold, heat, wind, or snow," Lu Bing would "throw on his clothes, gallop on horseback, and enter the palace by rope descent" (Note 1).
Late nights and alcohol—a recipe for the coffin.
Trapped by circumstances, even when physicians warned him, Lu Bing would repeatedly take risks with a gambler's mentality. Therefore, Wei Caiwei was certain that in this lifetime, Lu Bing would follow his old path and not survive the year.
Lu Bing always placed the Jiajing Emperor's life before his own. In the eighteenth year of Jiajing's reign, when fire broke out at the imperial temporary palace in Weihui, everyone fled for their lives—only Lu Bing rushed against the crowd into the flames, risking being burned alive to carry the emperor to safety.
Lu Bing was precisely this kind of loyal minister who valued his sovereign over his own life—or what some might call blind loyalty. Regardless of how others viewed this emperor who avoided court for over thirty years, Lu Bing remained unwavering.
Lu Bing understood his own character well. Wei Caiwei's words weren't mere alarmism. He said, "You're quite bold to pronounce my death sentence to my face. Even Imperial Physician Song wouldn't dare say such things."
Wei Caiwei replied, "Didn't Lord Lu just say that if I lied again, I would die?"
"Leave now."
After dismissing Wei Caiwei, Lu Ying had countless things she wanted to discuss with her father, but Lu Bing waved her off. "I'm tired. You should rest early too. Tomorrow you'll need to handle official duties for me. The guards will keep watch over me throughout the night, and if anything seems wrong, they'll summon Imperial Physician Song. Don't worry."
Lu Ying had no choice but to withdraw. She caught up with Wei Caiwei, who was leaning on her crutch. "Doctor Wei, please wait."
Wei Caiwei knew what Lu Ying wanted to ask. "I wasn't being mysterious earlier. Everything I said was my professional medical judgment. Lord Lu's body is like a dam full of ant nests—it appears mighty, but one strong current could cause it to collapse completely."
Lu Ying asked, "In your opinion, what treatment is possible?"
Wei Caiwei explained, "Acupuncture and medication only reinforce the dam—they don't address the ant nests and can't cure the root cause. The only way to prolong his life—" She pointed her crutch toward Lu Bing's bedroom, "Commander Lu knows perfectly well that Lord Lu would never accept it."
Lu Bing would absolutely never request leave due to illness to recuperate at home. As long as he had breath in him, he would continue guarding the Jiajing Emperor's throne.
Truly, he would "give his all till his heart stops beating."
Lu Ying bowed her head in silence, murmuring, "Are there any ancient miraculous remedies for stroke? Please tell me, Doctor Wei. I would search to the ends of the earth to find them for my father."
Wei Caiwei had heard such words too many times. When facing serious illness, family members often suffered more anxiety and pain than the patients themselves.Wei Caiwei sighed, "There is no miraculous cure. If there were, I would be a great fraud. Commander Lu must accept this reality and, if time permits, make arrangements for the future."
As the two stood talking, fireflies emerged from the grass, attracting mosquitoes as well. Wei Caiwei handed Lu Ying the mosquito repellent sachet that Wang Daxia had just returned to her. "Wear this, and mosquitoes won't come near."
Lu Ying took the sachet. Suddenly, a figure leaped out from behind the rockery. Lu Ying instinctively drew his sword, shielding Wei Caiwei behind him. "Who's there?"
"It's me." Wang Daxia stepped into the moonlight, his gaze fixed on the sachet in Lu Ying's hand.
Hmph, so quick to shift affections. Wang Daxia's jealousy was sour enough to make a whole pot of pickled fish.
Lu Ying sheathed his sword. "Why were you hiding behind the rockery?"
Wang Daxia glared at Wei Caiwei. He had stormed out earlier, vowing not to speak to her or Lu Ying again. But halfway down the path, he remembered Wei Caiwei was still on crutches and that the dim night might cause her to stumble.
So he turned back, though his pride prevented him from approaching her directly after his oath. He trailed her secretly, only to witness Lu Ying catching up and Wei Caiwei gifting the sachet—originally meant for him—to another.
Wang Daxia was livid, so incensed he burst from behind the rockery.
When Wei Caiwei gave it to him, she charged fifty coins.
For Lu Ying, it was free, no mention of payment at all.
Her blatant favoritism made Wang Daxia feel wounded once more.
He lied, "Nature calls."
Lu Ying instinctively covered his nose, pointing northeast. "The latrine is over there."
Wang Daxia said, "Thank you, Commander Lu. I know now."
Lu Ying ignored him, turning to Wei Caiwei. "Doctor Wei, with your leg being inconvenient, let me escort you back.""
Before Wei Caiwei could decline, Wang Daxia dashed off like a wild dog.
He couldn't bear another moment watching Lu Ying and Wei Caiwei's "exchanging glances"!
As he brushed past Lu Ying, he deliberately bumped his right arm—the one holding the sachet—sending it tumbling to the ground.
If I can't have it, neither can you! Hmph!
The impact left Lu Ying's shoulder sore. Frowning, he rubbed it. "That brat has no respect for superiors. Just wait till I deal with him tomorrow!"
That night, each was lost in thought.
Wei Caiwei calculated Ding Wu's journey.
Lu Ying worried over his father's illness.
Wang Daxia lay face down on his bed, replaying every interaction with Wei Caiwei, endlessly questioning himself: Was it all in my head? Did I imagine her interest? Every memory screams she genuinely cared!
At dawn, Wang Daxia was still tangled in dreams of Wei Caiwei when Lu Ying kicked the door open, jolting him awake. "Up! Training time."
Rubbing his eyes, Wang Daxia fished a Western pocket watch from under his pillow. "If I recall correctly, the Embroidered Uniform Guard muster at Chen hour. It's still early."
Lu Ying stated, "My subordinates train at the drill field an hour early whenever possible."
Wang Daxia buried his head under the pillow. "I've practiced martial arts since I was three. My father hired five masters to teach me. I don't need more training."
Lu Ying cracked his whip violently against the floor. "Get up!"
The loud crack echoed like a firecracker in the bedroom, yanking Wang Daxia upright instantly.Wang Daxia sprang up from the bed, the thin blanket covering him sliding to the floor and 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 would likely get lost in it, as if encountering a ghost wall.
After all, he was a vigorous young man, and in the morning, "Wang Xiaoxia" was full of energy, making its presence quite noticeable.
Lu Ying turned around, facing away from Wang Daxia. "You have half an incense stick's time to get ready and assemble at the training ground."
For the next two hours, Lu Ying led his subordinates in running around the training ground, practicing mounted archery, wielding blades and sticks, and even test-firing firearms.
Firearms were precious, and every shot burned money. Wang Daxia was wide-eyed with amazement—compared to his father's Northern City Military Command, the Imperial Guard Office was truly wealthy!
After training, Lu Ying issued Wang Daxia the Embroidered Uniform Guard's Embroidered Spring Blade, Flying Fish Uniform, boots, hat, waist token, and other items, along with two firearms, a case of gunpowder and bullets, and a bottle of gun-cleaning oil. "These are yours. Take good care of the firearms yourself. Clean the barrel every day."
Being just a youth, Wang Daxia immediately forgot his vow from the previous night not to associate with Lu Ying and Wei Caiwei. He excitedly fumbled with his new gear, like a boy with a new toy. "What happens if I don’t clean it properly?"
"Come with me." Lu Ying led Wang Daxia to a firearms storage warehouse in the Embroidered Uniform Guard.
The warehouse keeper approached. "What brings you here, Commander Lu?" The keeper wore a mask.
Lu Ying said, "Take off the mask and show the new recruit, so he remembers well."
The warehouse keeper removed the mask.
"A ghost!" Wang Daxia cried out as if he had seen a ghost in broad daylight, hiding behind Lu Ying. "There’s a ghost!"
Wang Daxia was afraid of ghosts.
Lu Ying took two steps to the left, forcing Wang Daxia, who was hiding behind him, to face the "ghost" directly.
Half of this man’s face was gone, the left side covered in black scars as if smeared with mud. A single eye smiled, accustomed to Wang Daxia’s reaction.
Lu Ying explained, "He didn’t clean his gun properly, and the barrel exploded, blowing off half his face. His left eye and ear are gone. See if you’ll still be lazy after this."
Dealing with a lazy playboy like Wang Daxia required some tactics, and Lu Ying had been learning the art of managing people quite well lately.
Wang Daxia covered his left cheek as if he himself had been blown up. "I won’t dare, I really won’t. I’d sooner forget to eat than forget to clean my gun."
After the morning roll call, Lu Ying found a shady spot to continue training. Wang Daxia was so exhausted he felt like a worn-out dog. His lazy bones took over, and he lay down on the ground. "I can’t go on. I need a break."
Lu Ying cracked his whip. "Get up!"
Wang Daxia retorted, "What’s the point of practicing these routines over and over? In a real fight, who would attack one move at a time like this?"
Lu Ying said coldly, "So you think you’re quite the fighter, huh?"
Wang Daxia boasted, "Of course! I’ve beaten everyone in the Northern City." Of course, this was an exaggeration—with his father’s protection in the Northern City, who would dare to fight him seriously?
Lu Ying declared, "I’ll fight you. If you win, you don’t have to train or learn these formation drills with us. But if I win, you’ll do as I say."When Wang Daxia heard this, he thought to himself: You're shorter than me and look rather frail—how could you possibly beat me?
I'm definitely going to win. Once I defeat Lu Ying, I can live a carefree and happy life every day!
"Bring it on, I'm not afraid of you," Wang Daxia accepted the challenge.
There was a dueling platform in the center of the training ground. Under the blazing sun, Lu Ying and Wang Daxia began their martial contest.
Wang Daxia, feeling the heat, wore only a short-sleeved shirt and trousers.
Lu Ying remained dressed in his usual scholarly attire, with buttons fastened all the way up to his neck. Sweat had soaked his stiff collar until it softened, yet he still refused to undo a single button.
Wang Daxia felt unbearably hot just looking at Lu Ying, thinking he would collapse from heatstroke before the fight even began.
"Best two out of three," Wang Daxia said. "Don't regret this, Commander Lu."
Lu Ying replied, "Enough talk. Let's begin."
They started the match. The first round was staff technique. Lu Ying won.
The second round was saber technique, fought with wooden sabers. Lu Ying won again.
Wang Daxia's wooden saber was kicked out of his hand by Lu Ying. Clutching his sore wrist, he said, "No need for a third round. I admit defeat."
Wang Daxia jumped off the platform to concede. The crowd around the platform erupted in cheers, applauding Commander Lu.
Lu Ying cupped his hands in acknowledgment, then... collapsed straight backward.
"Commander Lu!"
Everyone hastily carried Lu Ying on a stretcher to the courtyard. Wei Caiwei was practicing walking with a crutch when she saw Lu Ying's face pale as paper, his lips nearly colorless, and his body drenched in sweat. She immediately concluded, "It might be heatstroke. Everyone step back—don't block the breeze."
Wei Caiwei unfastened the button at Lu Ying's neck and pulled apart the sweat-softened collar to let in some cool air.
Then... Wei Caiwei saw the layers of chest binding wrapped tightly beneath the collar.
Mulan was a girl all along. Fortunately, she had just sent everyone away and cleared the area. Using her own body to shield Lu Ying from view, she was the only one who saw.
Wei Caiwei quickly pulled the collar back to cover the binding. "Carry him to my room quickly. I have ice there to cool him down."
Author's Note: Every day, someone's disguise is revealed~ Now everyone understands why Lu Ying reacted so strongly when Wang Daxia, during their first encounter, grabbed his leg to remove his boot.
Note 1: From Records of Major Events in the Imperial Ming, Volume 36: "Lu Bing served in the inner court for over twenty years. The emperor was astute, and there were often unpredictable events. Lu Bing never dared to slack even for a moment. Even if summoned deep at night, regardless of bitter cold or scorching heat, wind or snow, he would throw on his clothes, gallop on horseback, and enter the palace by scaling the walls."
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