It's not that I can't Win This Day.

At this time of year, the wind over the sea blows northward.

The sea route can make up for all the time wasted in recent days, and because Dawu Country has banned the sea, no matter how powerful masters Song Yan has secretly, once they are at sea, even the best knights can hardly chase them on horseback.

Using the resources and fleets that Lu GaoSheng has accumulated over the years of maritime trade, this was the best and last idea Lu QingMing came up with.

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In the courtyard, dead bodies covered the ground.

Li Xing and Kill Wolf had left to deliver messages. Before leaving, Lu QingMing also ordered: "From now on, Zhang San will be in charge of all matters regarding grain provisions. Also, Li Xing, don't forget what I exhorted you to do last night."

There were many leaks in the roof, and much more snow had piled up inside the room.

And much more blood.

The corners of Lu QingMing's lips were gradually turning pale.

Zhang San wondered about Lu QingMing's final words to Li Xing and asked doubtfully: "You want Li Xing and Kill Wolf to follow all my orders? You trust me that much?"

"Why wouldn't I trust you?"

"You mentioned an exhortation earlier, do you have any other matters?"

Lu QingMing replied: "I asked Li Xing to liquidate my assets, both overt and covert, before those corrupt officials and deceitful clerks arrive, after my death. The commoners of Tian Ruo Prefecture have suffered for many years. If I can return a little...it would be a little, right."

Zhang San did not have much contact with Lu QingMing before.

But he had never imagined dissociative disorder could be such a terrifying illness.

It was as if Lu GaoSheng and Lu QingMing were two extremes, yet they strangely coexisted in one body.

Lu QingMing felt a bit "tired".

He walked to the desk, leaned against it and slowly sat down. This position happened to allow him to see the gray sky through the hole in the roof.

He still had one last letter in his hand.

Lu QingMing's voice was a little weak, but he jokingly said: "Unexpectedly, Zhang San, you are the one by my side in the end. Why don't I tell you a joke?"

"......"

"Do you know the saying 'a scholar is useless'? Scholars hate this saying, but how does one make them admit it?"

Zhang San frowned and shook his head, indicating he did not know.

Lu QingMing said, "It's simple - just ask them to earn money."

Zhang San: "......"

Clutching the letter, Lu QingMing said: "Back then, my hand was broken on the street. With no money or place to stay, I knew, I knew I absolutely could not go back, because we already had Xiao Yu back then, and her days must have been very bitter too. So I could not, I could not go back grey-faced and shameless only to become a burden to her!"

I must not.

Even if it kills me.

"But to survive, I needed money! Yet I had no skills. Only then did I realize that the sages in books teach everything, just not how to make money. Haha......"

"But I didn't want to go begging either. To beg is to lose all dignity. I thought, at least I should preserve my last shred of dignity."

"In the end I found work at a brothel, so...funny, isn't it?"

The way I preserved my dignity was by becoming an odd-jobs laborer at a brothel.

As for why the brothel needed a man with a broken hand who was useless as a chicken.

"I got that job because the madam said my face could give customers coming and going some comfort."

"Haha......"

Lu QingMing laughed while pointing at his own face, as if he was telling an absolutely hilarious joke.

"Oh...not funny? Sorry, I don't seem to be very good at telling jokes."

Zhang San did not laugh.

Looking at Lu GaoSheng, or rather, Lu QingMing's handsome face, his heart was filled only with faint sympathy.

Lu QingMing said: "No matter the reason, I never believed that suffering entitled me to vent on innocent others. But I cannot deny, I changed in the end."

"So I will not evade responsibility or push all the blame onto Lu GaoSheng, because Lu GaoSheng is me, Lu QingMing!"

I will pay the due price for what I have done.

However...

Raising that last letter...

"But I know someone, someone steadfast from beginning to end, someone I've known since I was little."

"We were both youths. That dream, was endless and grand."

"To this day, over twenty years have gone by. I changed, yet I'm grateful, he did not change. I know he will not change in the future either."

Looking at Zhang San, Lu QingMing said: "I don't know if you can do it, but Wu Qi must still be in Tian Ruo Prefecture. I believe he is the one who can change the realm, but he must...make some changes. I hope you can......"

"No need to look, he's just outside the city," Zhang San replied directly.

Lu QingMing was taken aback for a moment.

Zhang San said: "I met him on the road and promised to help find grain."

Going from surprised to smiling.

Lu QingMing truly and tangibly felt the interesting thing about this world - everything was coincidental, just like a book.

This is...very good.

"Since this is so, the grain is in Hei County. Take this token and it can mobilize the Bai Lu Army. With you two helping transport provisions, I can rest assured."

Lu QingMing said with a smile.

Zhang San took the letter and token that Lu QingMing took out from his sleeve, and realizing he had to hurry, immediately turned around...

"You can take the secret passage, it's faster," Lu QingMing reminded.

Zhang San nodded and headed for the secret passage.

Zhang San did not choose to save Lu QingMing.

Although if he wanted, given the current blood loss, plus his own medical skills, there was still a chance to save him.

But from beginning to end, Zhang San never had that idea.

Because what's the point of saving someone who doesn't want to live?

But before entering the passage, Zhang San still hesitated for a moment. He turned his head and asked: "Do you have...any last wishes?"

The color was disappearing from Lu QingMing's face little by little as he sat there. His white robes draped down both sides, the white magnolia he had painted this morning gradually stained red by his own blood.

He said: "Bai Fang does not have many days left, but Ming Qing is by her side and I feel assured - he...is much better than me. As for Xiao Yu, given Ming Qing's character, he will surely treat her like his own daughter in the future, so I'm not worried either. So no, no more......"

Which family's theater troupe doesn't perform a closing play?

Let it go.

Let it go.

If I must say, if there really is still some regret...

"I would so much like to see her again, even if just a glimpse......"

Lu QingMing's voice was particularly weak and low.

Zhang San was silent for a while. On his way here, he had also pulled the trick 'the most dangerous place is the safest'. Thus he hid Bai Fang back at the tofu shop. Given Lu QingMing’s current bleeding volume and distance, even if he were a grandmaster, it would be impossible to bring Bai Fang back before Lu QingMing died.

It couldn't be helped.

Perhaps life itself was hopeless, not even granting your last wish as you lay dying.

No - not so!

That hairpin!

Zhang San suddenly came to his senses. He took out the wooden hairpin he found on Bai Fang and hurriedly said: "I found this on Bai Fang, it seems to......"

Zhang San didn't finish, but Lu QingMing's eyes suddenly lit up.

It was a wooden hairpin carved with a magnolia. Due to the crude workmanship however, it looked rather plain.

Lines exchanged at their wedding years ago floated up in his mind.

“Can your wonderful writing still not compare to a bright red bridal costume?”

“What about jewelry then?”

“Whittle it yourself.”

Lu QingMing smiled......

Lu Qingming laughed with exceptional delight.

The clothes he wore now, painted with white musk, were no different than before, just like that year. Looking at that wooden hairpin, it was as if Lu Qingming saw the beautiful woman beyond compare on their wedding night.

That's enough.

Let's leave it at that.

Lu Qingming was content in his heart.

I can go now...

Just as Zhang San was about to hand the hairpin to Lu Qingming, unexpectedly...

Lu Qingming's face suddenly turned hideous and terrifying!

Zhang San was slightly startled, thinking how could a person made so extremely weak from slit wrists have such an expression?

In the next moment, Lu Qingming suddenly lowered his head.

At another glance, it was seen that the lowered-head Lu Qingming suddenly opened his mouth.

His condition was no longer weak, although his complexion was still pale, but his entire spirit and vigor had suddenly greatly changed.

His voice was heavy, his tone cold and cruel, even carrying some commanding tone: "Give me the wooden hairpin!"

He stretched out his hand and raised his head. His expression carried a kind of cruel indifference, his eyes flashing with violence.

That handsome man looked towards Zhang San.

With but one glance.

Zhang San already understood.

It was Lu Gaosheng!