“Absolutely impossible!” The steward pointed at the shop’s “Honest Dealing with Young and Old” signboard. “Our Wanhuo Trading Company has been open in the capital for eight years. We’ve never deceived merchants with fake bank notes. There must be a mistake—we’re being wronged!”
Wu the Constable said: “I’m just a constable. The plaintiff hired a lawyer to write a complaint against you, the prefect’s magistrate accepted it and ordered me to summon people. If you want to clear your name, go to the magistrate. I’m just following orders. Where’s your boss?”
“How can we let Constable Wu stand and talk? Go prepare tea!” Big-bearded Wu Dianyong hurried over upon hearing the news, signaled the steward with his eyes, then secretly slipped a silver ingot to Wu the Constable under cover of his sleeve. “Please sit down and speak slowly.”
He also ordered clerks to cut some Western Region honeydew melons and bring out the shop’s finest pastries to entertain the officers. “Everyone’s worked hard. It’s hot weather—have some melon and rest, sit a while before leaving.”
Wu Dianyong knew how to handle people. Wu the Constable secretly pocketed the silver and sat down to drink tea. “Are you Boss Wang?”
Wu Dianyong said: “This commoner isn’t the boss, just the shop’s steward. I manage all accounts and money transactions. Those four fifty-tael Santong Bank notes were personally given by me to the plaintiff.”
Wu the Constable took a sip of tea. “Your boss isn’t in the capital?”
Wu Dianyong dared not lie. “Boss Wang is here, but he’s leaving tomorrow to inspect other shops. Our Boss Wang isn’t usually here—besides this shop, he has properties and stores everywhere. This matter has nothing to do with him. Please, Constable Wu, be accommodating. I’ll go with you to the office.”
Wu the Constable frowned. “But the magistrate ordered me to bring Boss Wang. If I bring you—what’s your surname?”
Wu Dianyong: “No need for courtesy. Surname Wu, humble name Dianyong.”
Wu the Constable said: “Manager Wu, your Wanhuo Trading Company is a well-known establishment in the capital. In these eight years, you’ve never had lawsuits at Shuntian Prefecture, right?”
Wu Dianyong quickly shook his head. “Never. We conduct business harmoniously and honestly, never deceiving customers or substituting inferior goods. Our Boss Wang wants to make this a century-old shop—we’ve never had lawsuits.”
Wu the Constable said: “Since your reputation is so good and you’re locals, the magistrate definitely won’t make things difficult. That foreign perfume merchant is probably making false accusations for extortion. Boss Wang just needs to confront him before the magistrate.”
Wu the Constable advised Wu Dianyong: “Money and goods were settled, the foreign merchant inspected everything before leaving. He received the bank note in the morning, went to Santong Bank in the afternoon—where did he go in between? Who did he meet? Did the bank note leave his sight? Was it switched? Very suspicious. Boss Wang just needs to explain clearly—it’s the foreign merchant’s own carelessness, not that you gave fake notes.”
Wu Dianyong smiled obsequiously. “Constable Wu speaks timely—this commoner is enlightened. I’ll make this trip for Boss Wang and surely refute that foreign merchant speechless before the magistrate!”
Wu the Constable took out documents, pointing to the name. “The magistrate specifically wants Boss Wang. If he truly weren’t here, that would be one thing, but if he’s clearly in the shop yet insists on not going—the magistrate might think Boss Wang has a guilty conscience or looks down on him.”
“Impossible!” Wu Dianyong shook his head repeatedly. “How would we merchants dare offend officials? Even with a thousand times the courage—”
“Manager Wu, I heard Boss Wang is leaving, so I came to bring some travel gifts to show my regards. These are secret cooling plums from our medicine shop—perfect for the road to beat the heat.” Ding Wu entered carrying a package of heat-relieving cooling plums. Seeing Wu the Constable sitting in the place of honor, he looked surprised. “Oh my, isn’t this Constable Wu?”
Wu the Constable stood up. “So it’s Boss Ding. I’m here on the magistrate’s orders to arrest someone.”
Ding Wu set down the cooling plums. “That’s impossible. Our Toutiao Alley location isn’t good, but Wanhuo Trading Company built its reputation on trust—good wine needs no advertising. How could they get into a lawsuit? Someone must be jealous of the company’s daily profits and making malicious accusations.”
Having someone speak up for them, Wu Dianyong’s impression of Ding Wu greatly improved. “Exactly so—Boss Ding, you know Constable Wu?”
“We’ve dined together.” Ding Wu smiled. “I’m opening a medicine shop, right? Of all the capital’s 360 trades, medicine shops have the most lawsuits. Every year, patients’ families come making trouble, saying people died from our medicine and demanding compensation. Opening a medicine shop, I naturally need good relations with the authorities. When troublemakers come, we’ll need the authorities to uphold justice. A friend introduced me to Constable Wu, we had a meal—I’ll need his care in the future.”
Wu the Constable humbly replied: “Not at all—Boss Ding is upright and need not fear a crooked shadow.”
Wu Dianyong thought: The friend Ding Wu mentioned must be his flirtatious widow sworn sister’s new lover—Wang Yanei, one of the North City Four Scourges!
Wang Yanei’s real father is the North City Military Commissioner, and the North City Military Commission has always had good relations with Shuntian Prefecture.
This guy really knows how to network—his shop isn’t even open yet, but he’s already secured protection.
Wu Dianyong wanted to use Ding Wu’s influence and immediately changed his attitude, explaining the trading company’s current troubles. “…Boss Ding, now that our two shops are neighbors, we must look out for each other.”
Ding Wu patted his chest, making grand promises. “Naturally! It’s just a small matter. I’ll accompany Boss Wang to Shuntian Prefecture right now and ensure Boss Wang suffers not the slightest grievance.”
After all that talk, the sect leader still had to make the trip.
Wu Dianyong was at a loss for words and had to go upstairs to tell Sect Leader Zhao Quan about the current situation. Zhao Quan used the alias of splitting his name “Quan” into Wang Ren (homophone of “person”) when dealing with outsiders.
Since leading An Da Khan’s army to attack the capital ten years ago, Zhao Quan had received rich rewards—when the master eats meat, the dog gets a bone too.
Zhao Quan used that “bone” as capital, opening shops everywhere to gather wealth while collecting Ming intelligence to send to An Da Khan for merit and rewards, maintaining his backing. All White Lotus sect “salvation” doctrine was just lip service to fool followers.
Since ancient times, heretical sects ultimately only cared about business—all their high-sounding doctrines, when examined closely, amounted to nothing more than “gathering wealth.”
Zhao Quan looked through the window crack at Ding Wu and Wu the Constable chatting happily downstairs, seemingly on good terms. “This Ding Wu really wants money over face—fraternizing with Wu the Constable, a mere warrior, getting so close. He can bend and stretch—I quite admire him. He’s getting interesting.”
Wu Dianyong asked: “Sect Leader, what should we do now?”
Zhao Quan said: “Our bank notes are definitely fine. Either the foreign perfume merchant is deliberately extorting, or the notes were really switched. If I keep dodging, I’ll look guilty. I’ll go with Wu the Constable to Shuntian Prefecture. With Ding Wu accompanying us, the magistrate won’t make things difficult.”
Shuntian Prefecture was in Daxing County, a long journey. Wu the Constable rode horseback while Ding Wu took Zhao Quan’s carriage, which had ice inside—cool and comfortable.
Wu Dianyong probed: “The friend Boss Ding mentioned earlier—is it Young Master Wang Er?”
Ding Wu knew about the street gossip claiming the flirtatious pretty widow had bloomed again and North City Four Scourges Wang Yanei had become her devoted follower.
Ding Wu nodded. “Exactly. We’re neighbors. Young Master Wang often comes to my home… to visit.” Actually to mooch food and drink.
Zhao Quan and Wu Dianyong: He comes to see your sister!
Of course, they understood but didn’t say so. Being able to come from exile to the capital and establish a medicine shop business through his sister’s connections—living off his sister was also a skill they had to respect.
Zhao Quan said: “After court today, I’ll host a dinner, hoping to invite Boss Ding and his sworn sister Dr. Wei. If possible, could Boss Ding also call Young Master Wang? At Lakeside Restaurant, we’ll rent a large pleasure boat, invite Hongxiu Zhao’s most popular girls for song and dance entertainment, eating while chatting. Would you honor us with your presence?”
Zhao Quan felt that since Wei Caiwei had captivated two high officials’ sons in succession, she must love romance and understand it—not one of those timid, restrained women.
Since Wang Yanei didn’t mind that Wei Caiwei had been with his superior Commander Lu, Dr. Wei had experienced men—including her dead husband, at least three men total. This showed Wang Yanei simply liked experienced women, not caring about chastity or virtue.
So besides Hongxiu Zhao’s song and dance, they’d also need some handsome male prostitutes to serve Dr. Wei.
Zhao Quan wanted to escape quickly and was willing to spend money, borrowing Ding Wu’s protection to lay low.
Ding Wu relied on his sworn sister and Wang Yanei, right? Just serve these two well.
Ding Wu readily agreed, laughing: “Since you’ve graciously invited us, how could I refuse? I’ve been wanting to know Boss Wang, such a wealthy merchant with properties everywhere, to learn from you. Even picking up a scale or claw would benefit me for life.”
Zhao Quan humbly replied: “Not at all—the young generation is to be feared.”
The two men praised each other, and by the time they reached the Jinyiwei office, they seemed like old friends despite the age gap.
At the magistrate’s court, Zhao Quan followed Ding Wu’s coaching, describing his shop’s eight-year reputation without lawsuits, repeatedly questioning the perfume merchant about whether the bank notes had left his sight and why he’d waited from morning until afternoon to exchange them.
The perfume merchant stammered: “I met an acquaintance and went to a restaurant for drinks. I drank too much, felt dizzy, went to an inn for an afternoon nap before going to Santong Bank.”
Before Zhao Quan could speak, Ding Wu said: “You met a stranger, drank alcohol, even took an afternoon nap—giving thieves opportunity to switch the notes while you remained oblivious. I think that acquaintance you met is very suspicious. Bring him before the magistrate for questioning—you might recover your losses instead of always targeting our Boss Wang.”
The magistrate checked the time. “It’s already evening. Court dismissed—we’ll continue tomorrow. Constable Wu, tonight bring the perfume merchant’s acquaintance to the office and detain him to prevent escape.”
Boss Wang quickly said: “Your Honor, tomorrow I must depart… Could you see—”
The magistrate said: “Wait two days. Leave cleanly without complications—much better. This case isn’t complex. The capital has specialized thieves targeting foreign merchants. I’ve seen plenty of switched bank notes, even copper-plated gold replacing gold ingots. Tomorrow we’ll first question the acquaintance. If he didn’t do it, then it’s thieves. Once confirmed as thieves’ work, you can leave.”
Zhao Quan heard it was only a day or two and could wait, quickly agreeing.
Ding Wu said: “As soon as there’s news, Constable Wu will come tell Boss Wang at the trading company—won’t delay the journey much.”
That night, Zhao Quan hosted on a pleasure boat at Jishui Pond Lake, inviting three honored guests.
At Sweet Water Lane, Wang Daxia strongly objected: “No way! Dr. Wei can’t go. We agreed—don’t involve her in Jinyiwei business. Too dangerous.”
Ding Wu said: “Boss Wang and Wu Dianyong both believe those unseemly rumors. My image as a mercenary businessman is also based on these rumors. If Banxia doesn’t attend this dinner, they might become suspicious. This is my best chance to get close to the White Lotus sect—all my disguises must be flawless. Otherwise, all our previous acting was wasted.”
As Wang Daxia was about to object, Wei Caiwei said: “Stop arguing. I must go. It’s just acting, right? I acted on Dragon Boat Festival too—we even fooled that cunning Yan Shifan. Are we afraid of the White Lotus sect?”
Wang Daxia: “But—”
Wei Caiwei asked: “Are you afraid to act as my lover?”
“I—” Wang Daxia was caught at his weak point by Wei Caiwei, completely controlled. He lowered his head and muttered: “What’s there to fear? I’ll definitely act better than Commander Lu!”
Actually, Wang Daxia still brooded over Lu Ying carrying Wei Caiwei in front of everyone on Dragon Boat Festival. Though he knew it was acting to save Ding Wu, thinking about it now, that vinegar still churned like stormy seas.
Old vinegar is the sourest.
Wei Caiwei said: “Since that’s settled, we three will go together and must act seamlessly. Make them trust Brother Ding and keep Boss Wang steady.”
“You’re right, aren’t you?” Wei Caiwei suddenly grabbed Wang Daxia’s hand, eyes full of affection, intimately calling him: “Darling.”
“Darling” was a private nickname between lovers.
In her previous life, Wei Caiwei had called him darling this way. Practice makes perfect—she could change expressions like flipping pages, calling him instantly, entering character in one second.
Wang Daxia felt struck by lightning, trembling all over, stammering: “Yes, dar… darling.”
Author’s Note: Daxia is completely charmed by Caiwei~ The next chapter will begin the male and female leads’ acting showcase. I’m asking for readers’ comments to add fuel to my enthusiasm—the more I burn, the more energetic my writing becomes.