Chapter 910: Guarding Against the Unexpected
Editor: Henyee Translations

Zeng Huo could not simply stand by and watch; he helped Lou Ze light the fire and fanned gently with a fan. However, seeing a cold-blooded assassin’s leader doing this task felt somewhat out of place.

Lou Ze added the herbs to the decoction at different times, sniffing the aroma before adding more, until he had incorporated all the ingredients into the pot, slowly simmering it.

The herbs brewed for half an hour, but Lou Ze was not satisfied with the result.

“Take this medicine to Old Master Lu for now. This prescription can only temporarily suppress the addiction, not cure it. I need to try other methods. If Young Master Lu asks, tell him the truth.”

Zeng Huo nodded, “Okay.”

After some time, Lou Ze went to the room to take Old Master Lu’s pulse to identify any problems and simultaneously refine the prescription based on the symptoms observed.

After taking the pulse, Lou Ze found multiple issues, mainly the severe damage the divine ointments had inflicted on the internal organs, which were beginning to fail.

He thought to himself, “Take it slow, solve them one by one.”

After the consultation, Lou Ze wrote down two more prescriptions for Lu Changyu, “Fetch these medicines for me; I need to conduct more experiments.”

Lu Changyu did not expect his father to be cured in one attempt; managing the symptoms was already a significant step, “Yes.”

He personally went to get the medicine.

Lu Changyu quickly purchased the herbs again, and Lou Ze returned to the kitchen to prepare the medicine himself.

At that time, Tang Jinghong arrived at the Lu Mansion.

Lu Changyu hurriedly went to the front gate to greet him, smiling, “General Tang’s visit brings light to my humble abode. Please, come inside.”

Tang Jinghong nodded at Lu Changyu, “How have you been lately?”

Lu Changyu’s uncle had once been under Tang Jinghong’s command. Back then, Lu Changyu was still a youth delivering supplies to the military camp, which is how the two became acquainted.

Lu Changyu sighed, a look of helplessness crossing his face, “Thanks to General Tang’s concern, I am fine. It’s just my father who has been afflicted by the divine ointments. He has taken the medicine and is much better now.”

Tang Jinghong immediately showed concern, asking, “Who can prescribe such medicine?”

Lu Changyu replied, “It’s a young man whom our servant saw saving someone on the street with a pill. I invited him to save my father. He is currently in the backyard preparing medicine, saying he needs to study it.”

Tang Jinghong thought for a moment, “Take me to see this person.”

“Alright.” Lu Changyu had no doubts; Tang Jinghong was known for his concern for the people, and having such a talented individual would surely be a boon to the military.

Lu Changyu instructed a servant to call Lou Ze.

Lou Ze had Zeng Huo keep an eye on the fire while he went to the hall to meet the visitor, not expecting to see Tang Jinghong, “I have seen General Tang.”

Upon seeing Lou Ze, a smile curled on Tang Jinghong’s lips, “At ease, please sit.”

Lou Ze declined, “I must return to the kitchen shortly to attend to the medicine.”

Tang Jinghong’s fingers, resting on his leg, gently came together as he observed Lou Ze, who although dressed as a man, still had those beautiful eyes, “May I see the process?”

Lou Ze nodded, “Of course.”

Lu Changyu, “…”

The two returned to the kitchen, where Lou Ze began to cook, “General Tang serves the country and the people; let me cook a meal for you to eat before you leave.”

Tang Jinghong smiled slightly, “I would not refuse such generosity.”

Zeng Huo, “…”

Lou Ze signaled Zeng Huo, “Bring some firewood in.”

“Right away.” Zeng Huo ran off as if escaping; the rumors of Chu Qingzhi and Tang Jinghong being close were well known, and he preferred not to be a third wheel.

Lou Ze closed all the windows and doors of the kitchen, then transformed back into Chu Qingzhi and kissed Tang Jinghong.

Tang Jinghong, with a languid smile in his eyes, drew Chu Qingzhi into his embrace, speaking softly, “It’s better seeing you like this.”

Chu Qingzhi laughed softly, then asked puzzledly, “What brings you to the Lu Mansion?”

Tang Jinghong whispered in her ear, “I came to see you.”

Chu Qingzhi looked up at Tang Jinghong, “You knew I was here?”

Tang Jinghong by her ear, “I knew. Shuang’er told me.”

“That little traitor,” Chu Qingzhi said worriedly, “Don’t run around recklessly. There are too many in the eastern border who want to kill you. It’s impossible to guard against them all.”

Tang Jinghong wasn’t overly confident, “I know, I will return to the military camp after seeing you.”

Chu Qingzhi quickly said, “Stay for a meal first.”

Tang Jinghong smiled, “Okay.”

After sharing some intimate moments, Chu Qingzhi transformed back into Lou Ze, opened the windows and doors again, and resumed normalcy.

A while later, Zeng Huo brought in the firewood, and Lou Ze prepared a meal, which he shared with Tang Jinghong. After the meal, Tang Jinghong left.

Shortly after, the second batch of medicine was ready. Lou Ze personally took it to Old Master Lu to administer, then took his pulse and observed the progression of the illness.

…

In Linzhang City.

A constable led the officials to the front of a smokehouse, gesturing, “Seal off the smoking den!”

“Yes, sir.” The officers rushed into the smokehouse, driving everyone out.

Next, they searched for the divine ointments, the priority task.

A constable hurriedly reported, “Captain, there’s no stock of the divine ointments in the smoking den; everyone smoked it all just now.”

The captain said, “Impossible, the owner must have hidden it somewhere. Go, torture him until he reveals the stash.”

“Yes.”

After torturing the owner nearly to death, “It’s really gone, it was stolen last night, I only found out this morning. If you don’t believe me, ask my staff; everyone in the den knows about it.”

The officers immediately brought over other people from the smoking den, all corroborating the story.

The captain speculated, “Could someone have known about the crackdown and moved the goods in advance? Go to the next smokehouse.”

If the next smokehouse was the same, the speculation would hold.

“Yes.”

The same situation occurred in ten consecutive smokehouses.

Realizing something was wrong, the captain immediately reported back to the magistrate.

The magistrate, upon hearing this, groaned with a headache, “Immediately ask the city gate guards if they saw any strange large boxes entering or leaving since last night. If not, the goods are probably still within Linzhang City. Also, tell the gate guards to inspect everyone entering or exiting the city gates. If they refuse inspection, arrest them.”

“Yes, sir.” The captain hurried to act.

The magistrate immediately reported the matter to Tang Jinghong, who had already returned to the military camp. After considering, he asked Chu Qingzhi via the Golden Phoenix if she knew about this.

Chu Qingzhi said, “I know what’s going on. Continue the crackdown; I’ll handle the rest.”

After cutting off contact, Chu Qingzhi went outside to find the little thief from the previous night.

She hadn’t expected this little rascal to steal so much in one night.

The little thief was still happily stealing when Lou Ze appeared before him, “You move fast!”

The little thief lifted his chin, clapping his hands proudly, “Not bad, right?”