Lu Zhi stared at the innocent-faced Huangfu Song, a cold sneer on his lips. "Is that how you intend to proceed, General? Do you truly believe Ye Feng will allow you a free hand? You might be mistaken."
Huangfu Song plastered a smile on his face. "It is precisely because we are undecided that we have come to seek your counsel, sir."
"Counsel?" Lu Zhi scoffed. "What kind of counsel do you seek, General? A plan to hasten the demise of the Great Han?"
"Sir!" Huangfu Song's face contorted in disbelief. He remembered the spirited Lu Zhi of old; when had he ever acted like this? It seemed he had truly lost all hope. But if Lu Zhi would not act, who else could stand against Ye Feng? Realizing this, Huangfu Song composed himself. "Sir, are you truly indifferent to the lives of the common people?"
"Whether it is the lives of the people or the General's glorious future, you know in your heart, and I know in mine. Under whose rule do the common people fare better? You understand, and I understand!"
Despite the circuitous pleas, Lu Zhi remained unmoved. He hastily picked up his hoe to tend to the flowerbed. An anxious Huangfu Song called out, "Sir, sir."
Lu Zhi paid no heed. Instead, the housekeeper stepped forward, gently extending a hand. "General, the master does not wish to discuss these matters. Please leave, lest you make it difficult for me."
Huangfu Song produced some silver and slipped it into the housekeeper's hand. To learn everything about Lu Zhi, he could only start with the housekeeper. Seeing the housekeeper's hesitant expression, he pulled him aside urgently. "What has happened to your master? Why is he so dispirited today? In the past, he would have been railing against Ye Feng, leading the noble families' forces to charge."
The housekeeper looked around cautiously before speaking in a low voice. "My master has been like this since he left the imperial court. He listens to no one, sees no one. Please, General, try to persuade him!"
Huangfu Song pondered for a long time. Lu Zhi's hasty departure that day was likely the cause, but without understanding the root of the problem, all efforts would be in vain.
"Did your master say or do anything after he returned?" Huangfu Song paused briefly. "Did he read any books, or pick up anything?"
"He says nothing. Every day he just sunbathes and feeds the fish. As for books, he reads 'The Book of Odes' often, constantly muttering about the Duke of Zhou and such!" The housekeeper spoke with great worry, detailing the situation thoroughly.
Huangfu Song sighed heavily after hearing this. "The master laments the absence of a wise ruler. But what can we do now?"
He then waved his hand gently. "You may go now. Do not let anyone in. Leave this matter to me."
"General, you must help our master!" The housekeeper quickly withdrew, not forgetting to return the silver to Huangfu Song as he left. "If my master can return to normal, I will be most grateful. I dare not take anything from you."
Huangfu Song shook his head. The problem was identified, but solving it would not be simple. Emperor Ling had once been a good ruler, but since Ye Feng's rise, his behavior had become increasingly erratic.
Ah, Ye Feng! Huangfu Song seemed to have found a breakthrough and slowly approached Lu Zhi. Lu Zhi remained silent. Seeing Huangfu Song about to step on his newly planted flowers, Lu Zhi quickly pushed him away and then looked up.
"General, I thought you had left. I didn't expect you to still be here!" Lu Zhi said without ceremony. "Housekeeper, show the guest out."
The housekeeper, wanting Huangfu Song to help Lu Zhi, was deliberately slow to act. Seeing that his calls went unanswered even after three or four attempts, Lu Zhi simply threw down his tools and sat back down.
"Look at these seedlings. Without the heavens' blessing of rain, how could they survive?" Lu Zhi sighed heavily. "If heaven were not gracious, perhaps they would all perish here. Now, with this old man watering and fertilizing them, they grow strong and fast. Do they still want to live according to the whims of the sky?"
"Master Lu's words seem plausible, but upon reflection, they lack a certain logic. You said they are unwilling to let heaven protect them, but how do they know how long Master Lu will care for them?" Huangfu Song retorted directly. "This is not a joke. Instead of letting nature take its course, you think of forcing growth."
"Heaven and earth are not benevolent, treating all things as straw dogs. If even humans cannot survive, what hope do these have?" Lu Zhi said dejectedly, his shoulders slumped. "Do you believe, General, that man can conquer heaven and wish to try again?"
"This General merely wishes not to be judged by others. After all, I have served with you for many years. If one day I can no longer see you, I will truly be reluctant to part!" Huangfu Song's expression was sincere. "I implore you, sir, to come out of seclusion and take charge of affairs once more, lest villains change the world and the people suffer immensely."
"The people suffer when the rulers rise, and the people suffer when they fall!" Lu Zhi murmured, his shoulders appearing even more stooped under the setting sun. "If there were someone willing to protect the people, what value do these empty accolades hold?"
Huangfu Song stared at Lu Zhi in a daze. He knew he could not persuade him. He stood up and cupped his hands in a salute. "Since your mind is made up, General, I shall not intrude further. I shall take my leave now. Please take care of yourself!"
After walking a few steps, Huangfu Song suddenly turned back and said, "If one day I die outside, I beg you, sir, in remembrance of our past camaraderie, to let me return home!"
"Alas!" Lu Zhi sighed heavily, and then heard several shouts of laughter. "I, Lu Zhi..."
Before he could finish speaking, three arrows flew directly towards Lu Zhi's face. Having seen real combat, Lu Zhi instinctively swung his hoe, deflecting one arrow. In the same instant, he retreated a step, his gaze fixed on the incoming projectiles.
"I will help you!" Huangfu Song shouted, leaping to Lu Zhi's side. His long spear spun, and an arrow clattered to the ground. In a flash, the last arrow sped towards Lu Zhi's chest. Lu Zhi was unable to react.
"Sir!" Huangfu Song cried out, "I am coming to save you!" He rushed towards Lu Zhi, but the distance was too great to cover instantly. The arrows were getting closer. The previous arrow had already struck the hoe with considerable force.
Lu Zhi gritted his teeth, subtly shifting the handle of his hoe, awaiting the arrow's impact. At that critical moment, the housekeeper suddenly burst from behind a rock, spreading his arms to shield Lu Zhi.
The crisis averted, Huangfu Song's face darkened, and he cursed, "You court death!"
The black-clad figures on the wall hastily attempted to flee but were grabbed by Huangfu Song and thrown down. "Get down here!"
The black-clad man was skilled with arrows, but in combat, he was utterly outmatched. Huangfu Song subdued him instantly, shouting, "Tell me, who sent you!"
The black-clad man stared at Huangfu Song, his voice trembling. "Even if you kill me, old man, I won't say. Kill me if you can."
Lu Zhi immediately embraced the housekeeper who had served him for so many years, his voice filled with urgency. "You, you..."
The housekeeper reached out his blood-soaked hand and gently caressed Lu Zhi's face. "Master, master, I have been with you for so long. I know your character best. You were diligent in your studies since you were five. You have worked so hard to reach this point. Please, please do not do anything for my sake."
Lu Zhi's teeth clenched in fury. This was his only family, now dead.
"Don't worry, I can save you!" Lu Zhi said urgently, tearing off his robe and hastily tying it around the housekeeper's wound. "I will go find a doctor immediately."
"The best doctor is likely with Ye Feng?" Huangfu Song asked worriedly. After all, they were political rivals, and he feared Ye Feng might refuse to treat the housekeeper out of personal malice.
Seeing Lu Zhi's distress, if the housekeeper were to die, who knew what might happen.
"I will go to him. Ye Feng owes me a favor!" Lu Zhi rushed to get up, but the housekeeper's blood seeped through his clothes and bandages, his voice growing weaker.
Huangfu Song gently placed a hand on the housekeeper's nose. He was no longer breathing, his face pale. He shook his head. Lu Zhi saw this and sank to the ground.
"My condolences!" Huangfu Song said solemnly. "Even a celestial being could not save him now."
It was not merely the death of a housekeeper that caused Lu Zhi such grief. Lu Zhi's parents had died when he was young, and the housekeeper had raised him single-handedly, asking for nothing in return, staying by Lu Zhi's side for so many years.
Lu Zhi's expression changed. He picked up his sword and slowly moved forward. "Was it you who did this?"
"It was your grandfather! Kill me if you can. If I say a single word, it will be on your birth!" the black-clad man taunted.
Seeing Lu Zhi's unstable emotions, Huangfu Song reached out to stop him, but Lu Zhi raised his hand and said calmly, "I am fine."
"Ah!" Following a scream, one of the black-clad man's fingers fell to the ground. Beads of sweat rolled down his face.
"Tell me, who sent you to kill me!" Lu Zhi's voice was icy.
The black-clad man managed a faint smile and was about to provoke further when another finger dropped. Lu Zhi's voice, like a phantom's, sounded again. "If you refuse to speak, I will cut off your fingers one by one until you are willing. It's fine; if you lose your fingers, you still have your flesh and blood."
"Brother, wait a moment." Huangfu Song grinned ferociously. "I heard in the military camp that salt in wounds is incredibly painful, but I've never tried it. Perhaps today is the day!"
"Good, come!" Lu Zhi readily agreed. The next moment, the black-clad man's injured hand was plunged into a salt container, and then instantly pulled out and pressed against a glowing hot iron.
The black-clad man's body convulsed, and he coughed up a mouthful of blood, tears streaming down his face. "I'll talk, I'll talk! I'll say anything you want. Kill me, kill me."
"Good. Who sent you to attack me!"
The black-clad man's expression turned difficult. Huangfu Song said slowly, "It seems that's not enough."
"It was Prince Chu. He said if you were killed, Emperor Ling would have no power to resist!"