Li Zixin hugged Zhao Quan’s thigh and begged for mercy, “Please, Sect Leader, give your subordinate a chance to make up for his mistakes!”
Zhao Quan irritably kicked and beat Li Zixin, “What use is it if I give you a chance! All of Khan An Da’s men are dead, and you’re the only one who came back. You better take your own head to see Khan An Da!”
Li Zixin took the whip to the khan’s court, allowing himself to be beaten, only begging to keep his life.
Ever since Khan An Da had clashed with the Ming army, he had never encountered such a formidable opponent that could completely annihilate his entire army!
Khan An Da didn’t beat Li Zixin, but first had him lead the way, sending people to follow him to collect the bodies of his men. But it was already too late. This year brought severe drought, and those suffering from hunger weren’t just humans and livestock, but also wolf packs, crows, and eagles.
After the war, this place had become a feast for the wolves.
When Li Zixin led people back along the original route, what had been corpses scattered everywhere had already turned into bones scattered across the ground. There wasn’t a single complete skeleton – all had been torn apart. The smaller, more delicate bones had already been chewed up and eaten, while the harder bones like thighbones and skulls still bore tooth marks from gnawing.
It could only be described as tragic!
Li Zixin was sentenced to fifty lashes by the furious Khan An Da. Had he not spent a fortune bribing the executioner, he probably wouldn’t have kept his life.
When Li Zixin woke up, his punished back felt cool and refreshing. Ding Wu was applying medicine to him. Seeing him awake, he handed him a bowl of dark medicine, “Drink this. It’s specially formulated by a famous physician from the Central Plains to treat rod wounds. It’s just a bit bitter.”
Li Zixin was so thirsty it felt like he’d just swallowed a piece of charcoal. He didn’t care about the bitterness and drank it all in one gulp, then said in a hoarse voice, “Thank you. I really didn’t expect you to be the one to save me.”
Ding Wu poured him another cup of water, “You were too rash this time. You didn’t investigate the background of the Ming army’s new commander Qi Jiguang before leading people south to hunt. This time you kicked an iron plate. With the entire army annihilated, even the Sect Leader can’t shoulder the blame – you have to bear it yourself. Don’t blame the Sect Leader. If I were the Sect Leader, I couldn’t help you either.”
Ding Wu had always been at odds with the Sect Leader. Li Zixin had thought Ding Wu would take this opportunity to drive a wedge between him and the Sect Leader, but unexpectedly, it was quite the opposite – Ding Wu actually spoke well of the Sect Leader!
Li Zixin felt resentful and said, “The sect lacks food. The Sect Leader gave all forty thousand shi of grain to Khan An Da, and we have no food to fill our stomachs. It was the Sect Leader who told me to think of a way, so I acted as a hunting dog, going south to hunt. I wholeheartedly served the sect without selfish motives, yet I nearly lost my life. This injury will take a whole winter to heal. If you want me to lead the way again, I’m afraid I can’t. Let everyone starve then – anyway, I don’t lack food and won’t starve to death. I don’t care anymore. Let the Sect Leader display his immortal arts, turn stones to gold, and feed the sect members.”
Ding Wu pretended not to hear the sarcasm in Li Zixin’s words, “That year when I went to Xinghua City, Tie Niu proclaimed himself Ming King and broke away from the White Lotus Sect, also because the Sect Leader only cared about himself and couldn’t tolerate others. I narrowly escaped death and came back to tell the Sect Leader, but he still didn’t believe me and suspected I had used the Ming Dynasty’s anti-pirate army to swallow up his source of wealth. I was truly unable to defend myself with a hundred mouths. From then on, I knew there was no future following the Sect Leader, so I wholeheartedly pursued following Zhongjin Khatun.”
Upon hearing this, Li Zixin quickly said, “I also want to pledge loyalty to Zhongjin Khatun, but I have no connections. Please help me with an introduction.”
Ding Wu looked troubled, “That won’t work. I have no influence in the sect, only the empty title of one of the Four Great Leaders. You have land in Bansheng and more than three hundred fellow villagers following you. The Sect Leader won’t agree. Don’t mention this matter again. The Sect Leader will think I came to poach from his wall, won’t that make him detest me even more? Moreover, your fellow villagers are all believers of the White Lotus Sect. If the Sect Leader puts the hat of ‘betraying the sacred sect’ on you, your fellow villagers won’t believe you.”
Li Zixin was speechless. Years ago, he had deceived the entire village into migrating to Bansheng under the banner of joining the White Lotus Sect to avoid calamity. Each person regarded Zhao Quan as a deity. If he broke with Zhao Quan, all his previous words would slap his own face and lead to his own destruction.
It’s easy to board a pirate ship but hard to get off. For the sake of profit, he had to remain bound to the White Lotus Sect’s ship.
However, after this incident, Li Zixin and Sect Leader Zhao Quan appeared united but were actually divided, beginning to drift apart, while he became closer to Ding Wu.
Khan An Da, having lost his first battle, asked Ding Wu about his new opponent Qi Jiguang, because Ding Wu was the only person who had seen Qi Jiguang fight the pirates in Xinghua City.
To reassure Khan An Da, Ding Wu spoke with flying spittle about how formidable Qi Jiguang was – how he trained the Qi Family Army, invented the crouching tiger cannon, killed pirates thoroughly, and how the pirate troubles that had persisted for decades along the eastern coast finally ended at Qi Jiguang’s hands.
Khan An Da asked Ding Wu, “Who is more formidable, me or Qi Jiguang?”
This was a deadly question. After considering for a moment, Ding Wu said, “In terms of the number of victorious battles, of course the Khan is more formidable.”
Through seven years of understanding, Ding Wu knew Khan An Da loved face. If he said Qi Jiguang was more formidable, Khan An Da would probably immediately mobilize troops to attack Datong and meet this general from Fujian.
Khan An Da was very satisfied with this answer. Ding Wu took his leave but was summoned by Third Madam.
Third Madam’s belly was already showing her pregnancy, with her lower abdomen slightly protruding. She was painting when Ding Wu came forward to pay his respects. Third Madam set down her brush and took out a box of almond honey powder from her dressing table, “This honey powder you brought tastes different from last time.”
Ding Wu said, “Your subject told the boss it was for a pregnant woman, so the boss specially mixed the powder. The formula is the same as before, just without musk and similar fragrances, saying these fragrances could cause fetal movement in pregnant women after smelling them, so the taste is lighter than before.”
Third Madam said, “Oh, this boss is quite thoughtful. No wonder business is so good. I’ve heard that Judge Ding has a good relationship with the Hongzhuang boss, and even performed a heroic rescue.”
Even Third Madam, residing in the khan’s court, had heard about Ding Wu and Wang Daxia’s romantic rumors.
This was Ding Wu’s first time dealing with a brother-in-law becoming a lover. Usually composed, he also showed some discomfort, but to others, this discomfort looked like shyness!
You still say you and the female boss are innocent!
Ding Wu couldn’t help but clasp his hands defensively in front of his waist and said, “I just occasionally visit this cosmetics shop, found the products exquisitely made, and bought some as gifts for the Khatun. The Khatun liked them very much, so I often went to the shop to see if there were new goods. Through repeated visits, I became familiar with them.”
“That day I happened to encounter some patrolling soldiers making trouble at the shop, trying to extort money. I just spoke a few fair words. This matter spread from one to ten, ten to a hundred, and gradually changed its flavor, with talk of heroic rescues. The beauty is indeed a beauty, but the hero is not really a hero. Your subject has a notorious reputation in Daming, how dare I taint the word ‘hero’?”
Third Madam found Ding Wu’s nervous appearance amusing, “Seeing injustice on the road and drawing your sword to help – Judge Ding’s action was heroic in the eyes of the Hongzhuang female boss and passersby. This female boss is skillful and clever, and the rouge and powder she makes greatly pleases me. Bring her to the khan’s court someday for me to see.”
Ding Wu was twenty-nine years old and still had no wife, claiming publicly that he wouldn’t marry until he destroyed the Ming Dynasty and would only consider taking a wife after clearing his parents’ names. He had politely declined Khan An Da’s offer to match him with Mongol noble maidens using filial piety as his reason.
Third Madam felt that Ding Wu had some indescribable feelings for this rouge shop female boss – it was exactly like love. Ding Wu had never been so nervous over a woman before.
This absolutely cannot be!
Ding Wu’s spine went cold: “This… this woman comes from a lowly background and speaks crudely, I’m afraid she would be improper before the Khatun.”
Third Madam had heard that the Hongzhuang female boss had seductive eyes, always wore heavy makeup and bright red and green clothes, with hair ornaments worth at least a mansion. She didn’t seem like a proper woman. She attracted many men who wanted to get close to her, but because this woman was extremely fierce and could curse with any dirty word, and they feared Ding Wu as a powerful backer, no man had dared touch a single hair on her head.
The more it was like this, the more interested Third Madam became. She said, “I heard she comes from the pleasure quarters? I too walked through the pleasure quarters once and was even the top courtesan at Hongxiu Zhao. I know well that there are many outstanding people among women from the pleasure quarters. If she weren’t somewhat fierce, she probably wouldn’t survive. I won’t despise her for being crude.”
But I despise it! I think he doesn’t match my sister!
Ding Wu secretly complained about Wang Daxia: You’re too unrestrained! Your reputation for being coquettish has spread even to the khan’s court. Third Madam is curious to meet you – what if you’re exposed? This Third Madam was your close female friend when you were in the capital!
At the Hongzhuang Cosmetics Shop, Wang Daxia was just taking off her enormous red peony embroidered shoes, as big as small boats, and flopping onto the bed. Today, Wei Caiwei had come through the pass to visit him. The two lived apart like the Cowherd and Weaver Girl, one in Fengcheng and one in Datong. With the married couple finally reunited, a moment of spring passion was worth a thousand gold.
“Wait, stop first!” Wei Caiwei pushed her husband away. Wang Daxia was anxious and loosened the ties of her horse-face skirt, “At a time like this, how can a man stop?”
Wei Caiwei got up, picked up the copper kettle from the stove, and poured hot water, “First remove your makeup and take down all the jewelry from your head, change into men’s clothes. With you looking like this, I always feel like I’m sleeping with a woman. It’s really too strange.”
Wang Daxia couldn’t wait even a moment for passion and took out a red ribbon to cover Wei Caiwei’s eyes, “Isn’t it fine if you can’t see? If I remove my makeup, after we finish our business I still have to go walk around several shops to keep up appearances, then I’d have to put on makeup and arrange my hair when going out again – so troublesome. Just accommodate me this once.”
He carried away his blindfolded wife, never removing the eye covering throughout.
Having lost her sense of sight, Wei Caiwei fell into passivity, yet felt a different kind of flavor. She was like a boat in stormy waves – wherever the waves crashed, that’s where she went, completely out of control. One wave crashed her to the peak, then ruthlessly threw her down as if falling into a bottomless abyss, yet another wave caught her and surged upward again. The waves crashed against the boat’s bottom, lifting the vessel rapidly upward.
When she felt she had reached the peak and was about to fall, she felt she was still rising, about to rush into the clouds.
At that moment, the skillful hands and heart of Eunuch Wang from the previous life merged with the extraordinary prowess of Wang Xiaoxia from this life. Wei Caiwei managed to have both fish and bear’s paw in one breath, feeling very satisfied.
Adults don’t make choices – they must use their abilities to get everything. Who says you can’t have both fish and bear’s paw? I insist on having both!
Author’s Note: Finally not being despised anymore. Thanks to the little angels who voted for overlord tickets or irrigated nutrient solution for me during 2020-10-16 17:59:442020-10-17 03:12:07
Thanks to the little angels who threw landmines: Yun Sheng., Qing Qiu 1 each;
Thanks to the little angels who irrigated nutrient solution: Jiu Jiu Jun Zi 50 bottles; duoduo11, An Quan Gan 10 bottles each; Yi Lian Mei Yang 4 bottles; Mao Tou Ying 3 bottles; Jun Si Ye 2 bottles; Tian Yi You Lan, 36852301, Hua Shao, Jin Wan Da Lao Hu 1 bottle each;
Thank you very much for everyone’s support, I will continue to work hard!