Great Song Dynasty Writer

Chapter 338 Ambiguity
That afternoon, inside Chengmingzhai.

The Tangut warrior at the very back of the line wore a Fanyang hat with the brim pulled down so low that the shadow covered most of his face, revealing only his bearded chin.

At this moment, he had to squint slightly to adjust to the dim light in the store, and then stare intently at Lu Beigu, who was talking quietly with the customer in front of him.

He sized up Lu Beigu and saw that the other was focused on his work and completely unaware of the approaching danger. He couldn't help but sneer inwardly. Dealing with this kind of Song Dynasty scholar was a piece of cake.

After all, in his eyes, although the scholar was tall, he did not look strong. He only needed a moment to crush the man's hand that had written the magnificent text that humiliated the Xia envoy and complete the task assigned to him by Xu Shunqing.

The procession moved slowly forward, and when only one person remained in front, the Tangut warrior's muscles subtly tensed, like a cheetah poised to pounce.

Finally, there were no other customers left in the store.

Just as the Tangut warriors were about to approach and make their move, suddenly, a clear sound of clashing armor and orderly footsteps came from outside the shop, growing louder and more intense as it approached.

The Tangut warrior's ears twitched slightly, and his heart skipped a beat.

This was no ordinary street patrol, but rather the rhythm and pace of an elite imperial guard.

He forcefully suppressed the urge to act immediately, maintaining a seemingly relaxed yet potentially explosive posture, his gaze fixed on Lu Beigu through the gap in the brim of his hat. He had to wait for this troublesome group to pass before making his move; otherwise, if Lu Beigu shouted, even if he succeeded, he would likely find it difficult to escape.

However, the footsteps stopped right in front of Chengmingzhai!
Immediately, a middle-aged man dressed as a palace attendant entered, his voice high-pitched: "Princess Fukang's entourage has arrived. All unauthorized persons shall immediately make way!"

As is customary, the next step would be for the imperial guards to go in and clear the area.

Unexpectedly, a gentle voice came from outside the door, like a spring breeze caressing the strings of a zither: "No need to search, don't disturb the shopkeeper."

It turned out that the princess herself had asked to waive the search procedure.

Immediately, the soft tinkling of jade pendants and the gentle breeze carrying fragrance accompanied a graceful young woman, dressed in luxurious attire, escorted by several eunuchs and palace maids into the shop. Meanwhile, imperial guards in full armor stood watch at the shop entrance.

The Tangut warrior glanced up instinctively and saw the young woman with her hair in a cloud-like style, her face partially obscured by jewels. Although he couldn't see her clearly, her noble bearing and the respectful attitude of those around her indicated that she was an extraordinary woman from the Song Kingdom.

His agitation intensified, and his target, Lu Beigu, had already bypassed him and strode forward to greet him.

The etiquette system in the Song Dynasty differed from that in the Ming and Qing Dynasties. Ordinary scholars did not need to kneel when they met officials. When a princess came, she only needed to perform the "Qu Ting Yi Li" (趋庭揖礼). This etiquette originated from the story of Kong Li "Qu Er Guo Ting" (趋而过庭) in the Analects of Confucius. It means to walk a little faster, put your hands together in front of your chest, and bow your head slightly to show respect.

"Provincial Gentleman, there's no need for such formalities."

Princess Fukang, Zhao Huirou, slightly raised her hand to stop the other party from bowing.

Her voice remained gentle, but her gaze involuntarily fell on the scholar in the blue robe before her.

—Is this the famous Lu Beigu who is renowned in Tokyo?

Contrary to the imagined arrogant or dissolute scholar, Lu Beigu was dressed in an elegant blue robe, his figure as upright as bamboo, his face handsome, and although his brows carried a scholarly calmness, he did not have a sense of pedantry, but rather a natural air of composure.

A tiny ripple, so subtle that even Zhao Huirou herself hadn't delved into it, gently spread across the depths of her heart.

She came here today ostensibly out of curiosity about the strange "glasses," but deep down, wasn't she also hoping to take this opportunity to see with her own eyes the person who wrote poems like "Partridge Sky" and "On Heroes"?
Just as the princess was feeling slightly distracted, her maidservant noticed that the man wearing the Fanyang hat was still standing there without moving. She frowned, stepped forward, and scolded, "Your Majesty, get out of my sight!"

The rebuke was delivered in Mandarin, and the Tangut warrior, whose Chinese was already only partially understood, was also completely focused on his target, Lu Beigu, and his surroundings, so his reaction was a beat slower.

His momentary hesitation was immediately glaringly obvious to the highly vigilant guards at the shop entrance. The two guards, who were standing with their hands on their swords, exchanged a sharp look and stepped forward to question him.

The Tangut warrior instantly sensed the danger. In a flash, he realized that if he were captured, his identity would be exposed, and he would likely suffer torture and die. Either way, he was going to die, so he might as well fight like a cornered beast.

He suddenly looked up, his fierce glint in his eyes beneath the brim of his hat. His target was not Lu Beigu, but the noblewoman from the Song Kingdom who was closest to him and seemed the easiest to get his hands on.

Only by taking the most valuable hostage can we have a chance to survive!
He suddenly lunged forward like a ghost, his five fingers forming claws, aiming straight for Princess Fukang!
The incident happened so suddenly that not only was Princess Fukang caught off guard, but her maid was so frightened that she couldn't even scream.

However, one person realized what was happening!
Just as the warrior was about to act, Lu Beigu, who was originally standing to the side in front of the princess, took a step diagonally with extremely agile speed, and stood right between the princess and the assassin.

Lu Bei didn't have time to think carefully. Almost instinctively, he raised his hand and stretched his arm, twisted his waist and turned his hips, and used the clever technique of using the opponent's force to strike back, which he had been practicing recently in the "Ape Strike Play".

The two figures crossed paths.

The Tangut warrior never expected that this seemingly weak scholar would have such a swift reaction and skillful moves. He was suddenly thrown off balance by a supple force, and unable to regain his footing, he staggered and crashed hard into the shelf next to him that displayed many crystal products.

"Crash-!"

A heart-stopping cracking sound rang out, the wooden shelf toppled over, and the crystal artifacts displayed on it instantly fell to the ground.

"what!"

Princess Fukang, Zhao Huirou, finally realized what was happening, covered her mouth and gasped softly. Then, her maid hurriedly helped her back two steps, her heart pounding like a drum.

Although she was still in shock, her gaze involuntarily followed the figure blocking her way.

The Tangut warrior was indeed fierce and brave. Although he fell in a sorry state and his arm had been injured by Lu Beigu's forceful attack, he immediately struggled to leap up and pounce again.

But the Imperial Guards were no ordinary men. The moment he fell to the ground, the armored soldiers rushed into the shop, drawing four or five gleaming steel swords with menacing tips, and surrounded him.

At that moment, Huang Shi, dressed as a waiter, quickly appeared at the back door of the front shop after hearing the sound of the items breaking.

Seeing that the situation was under control, Lu Beigu shook his head slightly at Huang Shi, and Huang Shi disappeared back into the shadows.

After the opponent dared not move, the imperial guards swarmed forward, pinned the Tangut warrior to the ground, then swiftly dislocated his jaw and searched his entire body to prevent any possibility of suicide or further aggression.

Only at this moment did the palace servants accompanying the emperor seem to awaken from their daze, eliciting gasps and low exclamations.

Lu Beigu slowly exhaled a breath of stale air, his tense nerves relaxing slightly.

"Is your Highness all right?"

Before he could finish speaking, he couldn't help but hiss softly and subconsciously raised his right hand.

A thin, two-inch-long wound stretched across the back of his hand, blood seeping out rapidly and dripping down his wrist, clearly caused by the sharp crystal shards that had just been thrown.

Zhao Huirou, still shaken, immediately looked at Lu Beigu upon hearing this and spotted the glaring bloodstain on the back of his hand.

Her heart clenched; those were injuries sustained while protecting her!
"He's just a scholar, yet he dared to confront such a vicious thug."

Princess Fukang's initial shock and confusion were instantly overwhelmed by an even stronger sense of concern.

She forgot her manners, took half a step forward, her brows furrowed, and her voice carried an anxiety she herself was unaware of.

"Quick! Call the medical officer!"

The maidservant couldn't help but remind her, "Your Highness, this is not the Forbidden City."

"Then let's bandage it first."

Then, the maid took out a clean silk handkerchief she carried with her, and a eunuch brought clean water to rinse the wound. The maid then carefully bandaged it with fine silk.

Throughout the entire process, Princess Fukang stood by and watched intently, her clear eyes filled with genuine worry.

After the bandage was finished, Lu Beigu spoke up. "Thank you for your concern, Your Highness. I am fine; it's just a minor injury."

He was also terrified afterward; the situation had been so dangerous that if anything had happened to the princess, it would have been a catastrophe.

"It was thanks to Young Master Lu's swift reaction and superb skills that I was able to avoid disaster today."

Princess Fukang's voice trembled slightly, as if she was still shaken, but her gaze toward Lu Beigu was increasingly different.

She had only known him as a man of great literary talent, but today she witnessed his courage and fortitude in the face of danger. When she thought of how he had risked his own safety to shield her and even got injured in the process, a complex mix of gratitude, admiration, and indescribable emotions quietly grew and spread in her heart, making her fair cheeks slightly flushed.

At this moment, the Tangut warrior had been tightly bound by the guards, Fan Yangli's hat had been removed, and his mouth, which had been dislocated, was stuffed with rags.

"Your Highness, he appears to be a Tangut, and it's likely he's here to assassinate you."

"Take him away and hand him over to the Imperial City Guard for disposal."

The guards, having received their orders, bound the Tangut warriors tightly and dragged them out like dead dogs.

The store was in a mess, with crystal shards scattered all over the floor, shimmering in the sunlight.

Zhao Huirou said softly, "These losses will be compensated by the Inner Palace Affairs Bureau later."

Her gaze then swept across the store's furnishings, finally settling on the optometry equipment.

"I came here today to see those glasses that can restore one's sight. Although you are injured, I wonder if you can still take my measurements?"

She paused, then added, as if explaining, or perhaps emphasizing: "Follow your store's rules."

Since the princess had given the order, Lu Beigu naturally had no choice but to comply. Besides, after this incident, no other customers had entered the shop for the time being.

He composed himself and led the princess to the optometry area.

The area separated by the screen is small and simply furnished, with only a table and two chairs. On the table are various measuring tools, an eye chart, and several pairs of glasses as examples.

The two entered, and the palace servants waited quietly behind the screen.

The shop fell silent for a moment, the thrill of the previous moment seeming like a distant memory, with only the faint sounds outside the window and the dust motes floating in the sunlight remaining.

"Please sit, Princess."

Princess Fukang sat upright in the chair as instructed, tilting her head slightly upwards.

Now that they were face to face, Lu Beigu was able to see her face clearly.

Her skin was as smooth as jade, her eyes were clear and bright with long, thick eyelashes that trembled slightly like butterfly wings, her nose was straight and delicate, and her lips were naturally red with a tender and soft blush.

She wore little makeup, yet her natural beauty and refined elegance were undeniable.

At this moment, Zhao Huirou seemed a little nervous, her cheeks flushed a light pink, like the first bloom of peach blossoms. Her gaze occasionally met Lu Beigu's, and she would quickly look down like a startled deer, adding to her charming shyness.

Lu Beigu composed himself and took out the measuring tape for measuring interpupillary distance.

As he drew near, a delicate fragrance, neither quite orchid nor quite musk, gently wafted into his nostrils, causing his heart to race involuntarily.

Lu Beigu held his breath and carefully held the soft ruler above her eyes.

So close, he could almost count the long eyelashes that were lightly covering her eyelids, and feel her warm, gentle breath brushing against his palm, like a feather stirring his heartstrings.

Zhao Huirou felt her heart pounding.

She had never been so close to a young man before, even if it was for business, which was still business, right?

Zhao Huirou tried her best to maintain the demeanor of a princess, sitting dignifiedly, but her fingertips were secretly clenched in her sleeves.

Next, the distance from the ear to the bridge of the nose is measured to order the temples of the glasses.

This step required him to lean closer, so Lu Beigu leaned slightly forward, his arm almost encircling her ear, in order to measure with a soft ruler.

This position was even more ambiguous. His sleeve gently brushed against her hair, and his slender fingers moved lightly along her temples. His movements were very restrained, but the occasional, unavoidable, and extremely slight touches still made her feel a slight heat from her ears to her neck.

When Lu Beigu's fingers accidentally touched her earlobe.

Zhao Huirou felt a wave of heat surge up her cheeks, and even her small earlobes turned bright red. She subconsciously wanted to back away, but she forced herself to, and her body stiffened slightly.

The store was so quiet you could hear each other's heartbeats; time seemed to slow down and stretch out.

At that moment, Zhao Huirou could clearly see the fine beads of sweat dripping from Lu Beigu's forehead and the barely perceptible tension in his focused gaze. This gave her a strange sense of balance and even a little bit of secret joy.

—It turns out, she wasn't the only one who was feeling uneasy.

A mixture of shyness, nervousness, and a strange, sweet feeling spread through her heart.

Finally, the most "difficult" step was over, and Lu Beigu stepped back a little to begin the vision test.

"Please look straight ahead, Your Highness."

Lu Beigu held the eye chart and moved it at different distances, asking her if she could see it clearly.

Zhao Huirou looked as instructed. Although her eyesight was excellent, she was somewhat absent-minded at the moment. Her gaze involuntarily fell on his focused eyes and brows, and she was a beat late in answering his questions several times.

After an unknown amount of time, all the data was finally measured.

Lu Beigu put down his tools and said softly, "Your Highness, it's done."

Zhao Huirou seemed to wake from a dream, and softly hummed in agreement, almost too afraid to look up at him.

At the same time, a faint sense of loss arose deep in my heart, as if I wished the process could have lasted longer.
She slowly stood up, nodded slightly, and her voice was softer and sweeter than usual.

"Thank you for your trouble, Young Master Lu."

"In the next few days, we will carefully craft a pair of glasses for Your Highness, and once they are completed, they will be sent to the palace."

"it is good."

Zhao Huirou responded and walked out of the inner room separated by the screen. Surrounded by maids, she turned and left.

As she stepped out of the store and got into her car, she couldn't help but look back one last time.

The sunlight shone on Lu Beigu, who was standing outside the store, as if coating him with a soft glow.

The carriage slowly began to move. Zhao Huirou leaned against the soft cushion and gently stroked the earlobe that he had just touched. There seemed to be a trace of warmth still lingering there. The strange feelings in her heart, like spring grass, quietly grew and were hard to shake off.

(End of this chapter)