Lu Chao couldn't do much about the border situation, but since Yingge brought it up, he responded with his own thoughts. The Tartars were a nomadic people, skilled in horse breeding. Now, while the border was still peaceful, he advised Yingge to raise more fine horses for unforeseen needs and to learn the Tartar language—knowing the enemy was half the battle. Even if captured, this knowledge might offer a slim chance of survival.
He wrote several long pages in one go and immediately had Qingshan deliver them to the merchant caravan. Along with the letter, he sent a large package containing a five-in-a-row game he had recently designed, a bamboo-woven kickball, and some medicinal herbs only available in Yingchuan City. The borderlands were harsh, and medicine was scarce—he hoped these would be of some help to Yingge.
At this thought, Lu Chao touched the armguard on his right wrist.
It was a custom-made piece Yingge had specially commissioned for him, capable of holding dozens of poison needles. With his imagination steeped in martial arts fantasies, Lu Chao had named it the "Storm of Pear Blossoms Needles."
For someone as physically weak as Lu Chao, the Storm of Pear Blossoms Needles was like a cheat code. And as if that weren’t enough, Yingge had even soaked the needles in a special toxin—not fatal, but difficult to cure, designed to leave its victims either dead or crippled.
Lu Yuanzhao found Xu Wei’s recent behavior odd. The way he looked at him carried a hint of provocation, as if gloating over something.
Xu Wei watched as Lu Yuanzhao rolled his eyes and walked away without so much as a glance. He raised an eyebrow and let out a cold snort.
He hoped Lu Yuanzhao would remain this composed the next time they met.
"Brother Xu, that Lu Yuanzhao is so petty. Could it be because he wasn’t invited to the poetry gathering that he’s acting this way?" Liu Yan, the young master of the Liu family who followed Xu Wei, said indignantly.
"He’ll come begging to me sooner or later. Forget about him for now. Did you prepare what I asked for?"
"It’s ready. Hehe, Brother Xu, found a new toy to play with?" Liu Yan waggled his eyebrows suggestively.
Having followed Xu Wei for years, he and the others had always covered for him. Xu Wei was generous in return, showering the Liu family with favors that elevated Liu Yan’s status and secured his unwavering loyalty.
Xu Wei licked his lips.
"This time, it’s something different. I won’t tell you yet—wait until I’ve had my fill of fun."
"Hahaha, Brother Xu always knows how to enjoy himself."
"Since Brother Xu has a new plaything, what about Huang Li? Could you, uh, let me have a turn?"
Lewd laughter filled the courtyard, making Huang Li, who stood guard outside the door, tremble.
He stared blankly at the ants crawling on the stone bricks, lost in thought.
Lu Chao lounged in a rocking chair, swaying gently as he took a note from Sixteen’s hand and burned it piece by piece over the candle flame.
Fortune truly favored him—just as he needed a pillow, someone handed him one.
The Xu Residence.
"Well? What did Lu Chao say?"
Xu Wei looked down at Huang Li, who knelt obediently before him.
"Master Lu said he’s caught a chill and isn’t well enough to leave the estate. He’ll play kickball with you once he’s recovered."
Xu Wei’s irritation flared. A chill? Now of all times!
"Are you sure it’s just a chill?"
Huang Li lowered his head. "Yes. He already requested leave from the academy’s teacher yesterday. The apothecary also confirmed a physician visited the Lu household."
How unlucky. Xu Wei gulped down half a cup of tea in frustration, only to choke on it. Coughing violently, he hurled the cup at Huang Li in a rage.
"Useless trash!"
The shattered porcelain grazed Huang Li’s forehead, drawing a thin line of blood. Huang Li didn’t make a sound, pressing himself to the ground in silence.
"Take this to Master Lu. Tell him I’ll wait until he’s better to play."
A suffocating fury lodged in Xu Wei’s chest, neither rising nor dissipating. Remembering Liu Yan’s mention of a new courtesan, he strode out without another glance.
