At this moment, within the Qiao family residence, a sliver of morning light fell upon Madam Li's face, her usually pale complexion gradually regaining a touch of color.
Qiao Zheng thought he was dreaming.
Until... Da Qiao and Xiao Qiao hurried out.
And until they, the sisters, led Lu Yu back in.
Everyone tacitly cleared a path, allowing the "Medical Immortal" Lu Yu to approach Madam Li.
At present, Madam Li's face was somewhat sallow. She opened her eyes and, from the actions and words of those around her, she realized that the one who had brought her back from the brink of death was none other than this "Medical Immortal" named Lu Yu!
Ahem...
With a light cough, Lu Yu did not ask Madam Li directly. Instead, he scanned the surroundings, searching for his "nephews"!
The two nephews, with great foresight, stepped forward.
"Martial Uncle has already checked. Her forehead temperature has dropped, and the fever has subsided."
Upon hearing this, a spark of spirit flashed in Lu Yu's eyes, and he nodded slightly.
He inquired, "Madam Li, how are you feeling?"
Hearing this, Madam Li, with the support of several maids, sat up sideways. She said in a faint voice,
"I... I can't describe how I feel. It's as if I had a dream, dreaming that I was in water, and then... and then I was very thirsty, but no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't drink water. Now... my throat is also very dry, and I want to drink water."
It turned out that without Lu Yu's instructions, none of the people in the hall dared to offer Madam Li water, fearing that... a bowl of water might cause another accident.
Lu Yu looked around.
"Da Qiao? Xiao Qiao? Why are you still standing there? Your mother is thirsty and wants to drink water!"
This...
Da Qiao and Xiao Qiao were stunned.
"Hot water? Or... or cold water?"
Xiao Qiao quickly asked...
Hearing this, Lu Yu was bewildered.
He muttered to himself, no wonder in ancient times... even a viral fever could lead to such a state of unconsciousness.
Even ordering a drink of water caused hesitation and fear... If it were a physician of that era? Would they dare to prescribe medicine?
"Warm water!" Lu Yu instructed.
Qiao Zheng hastily asked, "Lu Si Nong, my humble wife... has my wife recovered from this illness?"
"She has recovered," Lu Yu replied without hesitation, but then felt the answer was not precise and shook his head. "But not completely recovered."
"Then... should she still continue to take medicine?" Qiao Zheng continued to ask.
"Of course, medicine must be taken, but..." Lu Yu stopped mid-sentence, swallowing the rest of his words. "Old Qiao, may I speak with Madam for a moment?"
In Lu Yu's view, Madam Li's illness, on the surface, was a fever and fainting caused by a viral fever.
But in reality, this illness stemmed from the heart, and if the knot in her heart was not untangled, she would eventually relapse.
This was also why Madam Li's illness had been recurrent and cyclical for so many years; the main reason was that no one could treat the ailment of the heart. As the saying goes, a heart ailment must be cured by heart medicine!
Here... Lu Yu's suggestion to speak alone was blurted out. Qiao Zheng turned to seek Madam Li's opinion. Seeing her nod gently, he then stood up and shouted, "Everyone, please accompany me outside. Let Physician Lu diagnose my wife thoroughly."
With that, he began to clear the room...
"Then... what about us?" Da Qiao hesitated and asked Lu Yu, "Do we need to stay and help?"
"No, you all need to go out too." Lu Yu's tone was stern. As if afraid Da Qiao and Xiao Qiao would worry, he added, "Don't worry, it will be done soon!"
At this...
Everyone slowly withdrew.
Madam Li, leaning on the soft cushion, lay on her side, her eyes open as wide as possible, gazing at the Medical Immortal before her, or perhaps... her benefactor.
"Benefactor, if you have anything you wish to ask, please speak directly... I... I will certainly tell you everything I know, without... *cough cough*..."
Madam Li asked weakly. Although her body felt much better now, she still coughed occasionally.
Seeing everyone exit...
Lu Yu then sat by the bedside. He did not face Madam Li but rather glanced towards the window, speaking:
"In the first year of Chuping, the tyrant Dong Zhuo rampaged in the city of Luoyang. The great fire that consumed the entire city most likely also wiped out Madam Li's family. And this incident has become an indelible nightmare for Madam Li, hasn't it?"
The reason for confidently believing that Madam Li's illness stemmed from this was that Lu Yu had spoken to Da Qiao and Xiao Qiao about this matter specifically, and had also obtained a lot of information from Qiao Zheng.
The death of her biological parents, the destruction of her family – such a tragedy imposed upon a woman undoubtedly greatly increased the probability of her developing depression.
One must know that Lin Daiyu, due to her mother's death, could remain melancholic and sickly her entire life!
With Madam Li facing an even more tragic situation, how could she overcome this knot in her heart, this nightmare?
As for the solution...
Those scholars obsessed with "Redology" had proposed one, and only one, solution – to become a nun, to live a life of contemplation with ancient Buddhist scriptures, and to sever all worldly thoughts.
To truly comprehend – "No self, no person, no sentient beings, no lifespan."!
Of course...
Actually, Lu Yu did not like Buddhism. Because in his opinion...
Buddhism would seal its temples in times of chaos but open its gates to welcome wealth in times of prosperity, which was rather shameless!
Furthermore, besides abstaining from meat and chanting Buddhist scriptures, following morning and evening routines, propagating Buddhism, and saving all sentient beings, what did ancient Buddhist monks do? They counted incense money at night!
Lu Yu truly did not believe they had made any positive contributions to this era.
Even Buddhist monks were exempt from taxes, corvée labor, and military service. They suppressed human nature and were not allowed to touch women. Great heavens... the population was already sparse in ancient times; without procreation between men and women, where would the family and national lineage come from?
It was for this reason that Lu Yu consistently held a negative impression of Buddhism.
However...
Buddhism had one merit.
That is, their Buddhist scriptures could often weave a "dreamscape" akin to "Plato's," drawing people into it, unable to extricate themselves...
At least, the Madam Li of today needed this dreamscape.
She needed an imagined paradise to console her wounded heart.
Speaking of which, Buddhism had only been introduced to the Han Dynasty in the last hundred years. Apart from the White Horse Temple, there were few Buddhist temples in the entire Han Dynasty.
Therefore...
For Madam Li's condition, asking her to shave her head and become a nun, distancing herself from the hustle and bustle of the mortal world, was not easy.
However...
If one cannot become a nun, one can still practice at home!
"Madam Li, I am not intentionally trying to bring up your tragic past, but... this happened many years ago. It is time to let many things go."
Lu Yu offered a casual word of comfort...
Of course, he also knew that such comfort was useless.
"Benefactor, how is it that I do not wish to forget?"
Madam Li lowered her head. As if the topic had touched a nerve, tears suddenly gushed from the corners of her eyes, falling to the ground like pearls from a broken string.
This proved that she wanted to forget...
But who could forget the feeling of the sky collapsing when the dreadful news arrived?
"I know forgetting is difficult, so..." Lu Yu stood up, took out two thick scrolls of bamboo slips from his懷, and handed them to Madam Li. "I heard from Da Qiao and Xiao Qiao that Madam Li is literate. Perhaps, when you have leisure, you can calm your heart and read this book properly. It might be beneficial for Madam Li's condition."
Having said this, Lu Yu had nothing else to say.
He was not a psychologist. How could he possibly untangle someone's heart?
However...
He might not be able to, but these two books could!
"Madam Li." As Lu Yu walked towards the door, he murmured something. "All things in the world come with緣; what should go, let it go with the wind. When misfortune passes, who knows if it is a blessing? Let everything take its course, and with緣, there will be much less unnecessary trouble."
"Think about it, Madam Li's parents perished in the great fire of the first year of Chuping. Madam Li suffered unbearable grief because of this. But if Madam Li had suffered any misfortune and perished here at the Qiao family residence in Wuzhou Mountain in the second year of Jian'an, would Da Qiao and Xiao Qiao not have been grief-stricken? Would they have contracted the same illness as Madam Li? What wrong had they committed that they should also bear Madam Li's nightmares and torment!"
After speaking this last sentence, Lu Yu slowly walked out of the chamber.
Only Madam Li, opening her eyes as wide as possible, seemed to be savoring, thinking, and pondering... the meaning of Lu Yu's words.
The benefactor spoke correctly...
The nightmare in her heart should not... should not be borne by Da Qiao and Xiao Qiao!
With a force in her wrist, Madam Li's fingers touched the bamboo slips before her.
Upon them, the names carved by the scribe leaped into view:
— *The Heart Sutra*
— *The Diamond Sutra*
This is?
With confusion, she murmured in her heart, can this... can this help her emerge from her nightmare?
Since the benefactor had instructed her to see it, then... then it must be able to, right!
...
...
Jiangdong, Wu Commandery, Lu Family Mansion.
In the study, before a desk, two people knelt.
On the left was Lu Ji, and on the right was Lu Xun, nominally Lu Ji's nephew, but actually the patriarch of the Lu family.
They each took a sip of tea...
This conversation had reached its climax!
"As expected of Boyan, you predicted everything." Lu Ji spoke first... "The situation in Lujiang is indeed not as simple as it appears on the surface. Just as Boyan predicted, Cao's army is also involved."
"And Lu Yu's strategy, uniting with Huang Zu of Jiangxia to lure the enemy deep and trap them like a turtle in a jar, is truly brilliant. No wonder he is called the Little Hegemon, and no wonder the 'Young Lord of the Yangtze' Zhou Yu returned in defeat..."
"I heard that the Sun family suffered a devastating defeat this time, with barely three thousand surviving soldiers out of more than twenty thousand! Lu Yu's great victory over the Sun family has truly avenged our Lu family."
As if agitated, Lu Ji spoke a torrent of words...
It should be mentioned that the Lu family and the Sun family had always harbored animosity. Sun Ce, under the command of Yuan Shu, had broken through Lujiang City defended by Lu Kang, indirectly leading to Lu Kang's death. As Lu Kang's son, Lu Ji had always harbored great hatred for Sun Ce.
This time, the cycle of retribution...
Sun Ce was routed by Lu Yu like a stray dog, which was incredibly satisfying, truly satisfying!
And more satisfying things were yet to come...
According to Lu Ji's investigations, many powerful families in Jiangdong were already restless, and Sun Ce's position as the overlord of Jiangdong was not solid.
"Gong Ji... Let's not talk about this for now!"
Compared to Lu Kang's excitement, Lu Xun appeared much more composed.
Of course, he was also very pleased with Sun Ce's defeat in Lujiang.
But what was more exhilarating than this was Lu Yu.
Now, after several investigations and detailed inquiries with clansmen who knew the matter, Lu Xun...
Basically, he was ninety percent sure...
Lu Yu was the son of his father's younger sister, Lu Ling. This Grand Han official, commander of the Dragon Cavalry Battalion, had a blood connection to the Lu family.
"I have inquired with many people recently, including the clansmen who went to Dunqiu to investigate Lu Ling's matter..."
"It can be confirmed that my aunt Lu Ling, after being separated from my father, did live in Dunqiu. And... eighteen years ago, Aunt Lu gave birth to a son. It is a pity that the father's identity was not investigated. However... there is one crucial piece of information that can prove Lu Yu's connection to our Lu family."
At this point, Lu Xun's tone became even more serious.
"Aunt Lu's son, at birth, had a distinct birthmark on the inner side of his thigh, resembling a spear, emerging vividly, powerful and dominant!"
"Many elderly people in Dunqiu County knew about this, and they also said that this spear-shaped birthmark foreshadowed this child's future – his spear would be like a dragon, standing tall and strong!"
Hiss... A birthmark!
And on the inner thigh, like a dragon emerging from a spear, standing tall and strong?
Upon hearing this, Lu Ji leaned closer to Lu Xun.
"What does Boyan mean?"
Before Lu Ji could speak, Lu Xun preempted him, "I heard that this Lu Si Nong of Cao's camp is currently at the Qiao family residence in Wuzhou Mountain, Lujiang. I plan to make a trip there... to verify this birthmark."
Although Lu Xun had already ascertained through various channels and multiple investigations...
Lu Yu was a male infant saved by Cai Yong and Cai Yan in Dunqiu County before the Yellow Turban Rebellion, and he followed his mother's surname.
In fact, this was sufficient to confirm Lu Yu's connection to the Lu family.
However, to ensure absolutely no mistakes, and to let Lu Yu know that he had an maternal clan, Lu Xun decided to risk going to the north of the Yangtze River, to Lujiang, he had to meet this elder brother!
"Is Boyan really going?" Lu Ji's brow furrowed.
The reason for asking this was that Sun Ce of Jiangdong had recently suffered a defeat. To prevent any scoundrels from taking advantage of the situation, Zhou Yu had ordered that no one be allowed to travel to the north of the Yangtze River!
And he had arranged for patrols by ships along the way.
Lu Xun's going to the north of the Yangtze River undoubtedly carried certain risks.
"We must go, even if there is risk."
Lu Xun's expression turned exceptionally serious. He let out a long sigh and exclaimed to Lu Ji.
"Gong Ji... Although our Lu family was once one of the four great families of Jiangdong, it has long since declined. Originally... surviving in the cracks, we only had one choice, and that was to defect to the Sun family, cast aside past grievances, and revitalize the family. But..."
At this point...
Lu Xun paused, and his tone rose significantly.
"But... now, because of Lu Yu's identity, we have another choice. We can not only defect to the Sun family, but we can also defect to Cao Cao, and be loyal to the Emperor... even, become Cao Cao's inside agent in Jiangdong!
"Lu Yu is highly valued by Cao Cao. As long as the Lu family can establish a connection with Lu Yu, perhaps... in Jiangdong, no... not just in Jiangdong, but throughout the entire Han Dynasty, our Lu family can forge a different path! We do not need the assistance of the Little Hegemon Sun Bofu, nor the assistance of the 'Young Lord of the Yangtze' Zhou Yu. Our Lu family should prosper, and can prosper on its own!"
At this point, Lu Xun's emotions were completely stirred.
He stood up abruptly.
"I have a premonition, a very strong premonition, that Lu Yu is... is the one who can make our Lu family prosperous again!"
"He must be that person!"
His tone was firm, his words resolute.
Lu Xun had not spoken so forcefully and resolutely for three years.
It was as if...
He had already looked into the future, seen the hope for the revival of the Lu family!
...
...
Lujiang, Wuzhou Mountain, Qiao Family Residence.
The improved Ephedra Decoction was remarkably effective in treating viral fever, especially since Lu Yu had also added a dose of honeysuckle. Although there were side effects such as nausea and drowsiness during the course of medication.
However, its greatest merit was "treating the root cause."
This is the essence of "traditional Chinese medicine treating the root cause"!
Of course, there was still a gap in efficacy between Ephedra Decoction and modern medicines like "Shuanghuanglian Oral Liquid," etc.
But the good thing was that people in this era did not have high drug resistance in their bodies due to their reliance on modern medicine, unlike people in later generations.
For example... Madam Li had almost no drug resistance.
Therefore... in less than seven days, she could already get out of bed, her body regained strength, and she could eat two large bowls of rice.
This feeling of recovering from a serious illness was like being reborn.
However...
While the viral fever was cured, if the depression was not alleviated, and Madam Li lived day and night under the nightmare of her family's destruction and her parents' deaths, she would eventually fall ill again!
This was a heart ailment!
But... what was strange was that during this period, Da Qiao and Xiao Qiao were surprised to find that their mother's mood seemed to have become much more peaceful.
There were no more tears of sorrow as before. Instead... their mother would spend a long time alone in her room, holding a bamboo scroll, reading silently!
Of course, this was not entirely accurate...
Because... she initially read silently, but as she read, she began to chant, to recite...
"Namo Amitabha Buddha..."
"Namo Amitabha Buddha..."
Da Qiao and Xiao Qiao did not understand and curiously asked their mother. But Madam Li's answers made them even more bewildered.
— "No self-nature, no person-nature, no sentient-being-nature, no life-span-nature."
— "All phenomena are illusory. If you see that phenomena are not phenomena, you will see the Tathagata!"
— "All conditioned dharmas are like dreams, illusions, bubbles, shadows, like dew, like lightning. They should be viewed in this way."
This...
What was all this?
Da Qiao and Xiao Qiao looked at each other... It seemed that every word their mother spoke, they recognized.
But collectively, they simply couldn't understand.
Of course.
How could they understand Madam Li's current state of mind?
Because of the *Heart Sutra* and the *Diamond Sutra*, Madam Li had completely let go...
The difference between ordinary people and the "Tathagata" lay in "forms" or "phenomena." By breaking through the illusory nature of "forms," and not being swayed by various illusory appearances, one could achieve spiritual liberation.
And through the comprehension of this Buddhist state, Madam Li had awakened!
The tragic deaths of her parents, the destruction of her family – were these not "forms"? Forms arise from the mind; why cling to them?
Having awakened, Madam Li had gained some insight into Buddhist principles within a few days...
She seemed to be able to achieve "not to be pleased by external things, nor saddened by oneself"!
Of course...
In the eyes of Da Qiao, Xiao Qiao, and Qiao Zheng, this appearance was somewhat strange and mystical.
However... as long as Madam Li no longer wept incessantly as before, and no longer woke up in the middle of the night from nightmares, that... was enough.
In the eyes of the entire Qiao family, Madam Li's physical health was more important than anything else.
And consequently...
It was also time for Da Qiao and Xiao Qiao to fulfill their past promises!
...
One day...
Countless plane trees stood like beautiful maidens in the fields.
Their branches held clusters of grayish-brown buds, looking forward to the longed-for lover who appeared only in dreams and rarely met.
On the Yangtze River, clear waves rippled...
Several "green boats," characteristic of Lujiang, appeared particularly eye-catching and dazzling in the sunlight.
On such a day, Lu Yu opened his door, about to go for breakfast...
When he saw a maid running in hastily.
"Young Master Lu, something bad has happened..."
"Second Miss... she... she..."
The maid, perhaps due to running too fast, was out of breath, and her sentence trailed off into silence.
"What happened to Second Miss?"
Lu Yu asked urgently...
"Second Miss is sick!" the maid said earnestly.
"Sick?"
Lu Yu was taken aback. He had just cured one person, and now another was sick?
"Then... what about your Eldest Miss?"
Lu Yu continued to ask...
"Also... also sick." The maid's tone was somewhat hesitant... but she still answered so, with a stiff tone.
At this, Lu Yu became a little confused...
These two sisters? What's going on? Do they have to get sick together?
"Where are they?" Lu Yu continued his inquiry.
"On the river! On the ship!" the maid replied...
This... this must be seasickness, right?
Lu Yu muttered to himself, his tone becoming hurried. He immediately instructed, "Quick, take me there!"
...
At the same time...
On the rippling river, two slightly larger green boats docked. Da Qiao and Xiao Qiao were slowly boarding them.
They looked up... looked up at... the lover who should have appeared in their dreams!
Not to mention, although they were close sisters, in such a matter, their hearts could not help but feel a little excited!
After all, would the lover board Da Qiao's boat first?
Or would he board Xiao Qiao's boat first?
...
...
ps:
(The first chapter tomorrow is an extra, you understand, it is unrelated to the main story! You can skip it.)
(If it passes, it will be published normally. If not, it will be published in the group for everyone's amusement.)