In Datong, Wei Caiwei had mysteriously disappeared, and Lu Ying was nearly driven mad searching for her!
She had thought leaving her inside the pass would keep her safe, but she had vanished right under Lu Ying’s nose.
Lu Ying had recently been busy settling over twenty thousand White Lotus Sect believers who had fled back – managing their food, drink, shelter, and housing kept her run off her feet. When she learned that Wei Caiwei hadn’t returned by nightfall, Lu Ying borrowed troops from Qi Jiguang and combed through the entire city like a fine-tooth comb, finally learning that Wei Caiwei had been called to a pregnant woman’s home for delivery assistance.
When she found the place, it was already dawn the next day. Lu Ying hadn’t slept all night and dragged out the landlord, who said the house had just been rented out a few days ago. Yesterday the tenant said there was urgent business back home and hurriedly canceled the lease and left. When moving, they had loaded several cartloads of trunks and cases – clearly a wealthy household.
Upon hearing “trunks and cases,” Lu Ying’s heart sank – Wei Caiwei must have been stuffed into a trunk and kidnapped!
What to do? How could she face Ding Wu and Wang Daxia?
For a moment, Lu Ying even considered taking her own head to meet them.
At Hongzhuang Cosmetics Shop, Wang Daxia saw Lu Ying’s message sent by carrier pigeon. His heart instantly became colder than the ice and snow outside, plunging him into the same terror he’d felt four years ago when learning of his father’s disappearance on the Yangtze River before his wedding. He couldn’t bear the pain of losing a family member again.
Wang Daxia immediately left the shop with his manager, took up his sword, mounted his horse, and rushed toward Datong. In that moment, he disregarded everything else.
Leaving Fengcheng, with snow stretching endlessly before him, Wang Daxia’s heart was filled with grief: I want to live a peaceful life with my wife – why is it so difficult? The wife I waited seven years to marry has just disappeared like this. I must find her and never let go again.
Wife, you must wait for me.
Wang Daxia kept repeating this phrase in his mind, not daring to stop, because once he stopped, all sorts of terrible thoughts would take advantage and attack his confidence, devouring his soul.
In the first year after his father’s disappearance, he had gone alone to the southeastern coast to hunt down the culprits. Accompanied daily by killing and violence, he became more vicious than pirates, unable to remember how many people he’d killed.
The process of revenge didn’t heal the pain – the bloody wound in his heart couldn’t heal for a long time. Only love could cure suffering.
And now, the person who had healed him had also disappeared.
Wang Daxia cursed heaven as a bastard in his heart. An eagle flew overhead, following his trail. Wang Daxia drew his bow to shoot arrows, but the strong north wind blew them off course.
A pale golden, lightning-fast steed followed the hunting falcon’s direction and caught up. Wang Daxia drew his bow to shoot at the rider, but the person on the steed removed his wind-and-snow protection face covering and called out: “Brother-in-law! Stop!”
It was actually his brother-in-law Ding Wu. Ding Wu, riding a Ferghana horse similar to Lu Bing’s, had caught up with Wang Daxia. The hunting falcon flying overhead also landed on Ding Wu’s shoulder.
Ding Wu pulled out a cosmetics shopping list. “Found Banxia. She has a reputation as a gynecological expert in Datong and was kidnapped by Khan An Da’s people to the khan’s court to attend Third Madam’s confinement. Under the pretext of shopping, she sent word to the cosmetics shop. I’ve already inquired at the khan’s court – there is indeed a Doctor He from Datong. I’ll find a way to get her out – don’t worry.”
Wang Daxia grabbed the list, nearly tearing it in half. Sure enough, it bore the hidden seal of the character “He” engraved on Wei Caiwei’s ring.
A weight lifted from his heart. Wang Daxia turned his horse around to return to Fengcheng, asking: “Did they mistreat her? Have they discovered my wife’s true identity? Third Madam has met my wife – they can’t be allowed to meet.”
He glanced at Ding Wu’s mount. “When did you get such a valuable horse? A Ferghana horse is worth an entire city.”
Ding Wu said: “Of course I borrowed it from Third Madam – how else could I catch up with you? Now it’s widely rumored in the capital that you and I had a falling out and you left in a huff. Third Madam, playing matchmaker, lent me her beloved horse to chase after a beauty through the snow and ice. If I hadn’t brought you back this time, I really wouldn’t know how to explain myself.”
To prevent Wang Daxia from making a futile trip, Ding Wu had thrown away his reputation, tacitly acknowledging the romantic rumors with the Hongzhuang female boss.
Ding Wu rode the Ferghana horse back to the city with Wang Daxia following behind, covered in a large red face veil with only his eyes showing. The entire city saw Ding Wu bring back the flirtatious female boss who had left in anger, even escorting her home. Everyone was immediately satisfied – it seemed the lovers would finally become a couple.
Actually, they were already family – brother-in-law and brother-in-law’s relationship.
At Hongzhuang Cosmetics Shop.
Ding Wu and Wang Daxia discussed how to rescue Wei Caiwei. Ding Wu said: “Khan An Da extremely values Third Madam’s safety. This time, they’ve invited or captured over ten gynecological experts, including both tribal people and Han Chinese. All are treated as honored guests in the khan’s court, just not allowed to leave. The khan’s court is heavily guarded – a frontal assault won’t work, we must use strategy.”
Wang Daxia irritably removed the red face veil from his face. “Just tell me what to do. My mind is very confused right now – besides charging in to save her, I can’t think of any other solution.”
With the sudden crisis, Ding Wu’s mind raced quickly: “I have a plan that requires your cooperation. You’ll pretend to be unwell and spread this news. I’ll go to the khan’s court to beg Third Madam to lend us a gynecological expert to treat your illness. Once Caiwei is out of the khan’s court, we’ll create the illusion of an escape and provide a reason. With over ten doctors in the khan’s court, it won’t attract attention.”
Hearing this seamless plan, Wang Daxia excitedly hugged Ding Wu. “Brother-in-law! You’re truly Zhuge Liang reborn! What would I do without you? They say nephews resemble their uncles – if my and Caiwei’s future children are half as smart as you, we won’t need to worry about their future at all.”
Ding Wu’s “first embrace” was thus taken by his brother-in-law – I haven’t even hugged Lu Ying yet!
Ding Wu froze in place, motionless, not returning the embrace. “From now on, you’re sick. If you’re sick, don’t be so energetic.”
Wang Daxia immediately assumed the pose of Xi Shi holding her heart, collapsing onto the couch. “Oh my, my stomach hurts – quickly call a doctor!”
To put on a show, Wang Daxia deliberately called for a quack doctor.
He painted his face as white as a wall, with pale lips, looking sickly. Afraid of revealing his Adam’s apple, he never removed his fox fur stole, staying bedridden. The room reeked of medicine, overpowering even the scent of cosmetics.
The quack doctor took his pulse but couldn’t determine anything, so he asked: “Boss Ximen, where don’t you feel well?”
Wang Daxia rubbed his embroidered silk headband decorated with four-season brocade and casually pointed to his lower abdomen. “My stomach hurts.”
The quack asked: “How does it hurt?”
Wang Daxia recalled his wife’s uncomfortable days each month and described it accordingly: “It’s… a dragging pain, as if someone inside is constantly pulling at my intestines.”
The quack’s initial judgment was women’s pre-menstrual discomfort: “May I presumptuously ask when Boss Ximen last had her monthly cycle?”
“Ah?” Wang Daxia was startled and casually mentioned Wei Caiwei’s date: “The third day of the month before last.”
He remembered it clearly – that was the night before Wei Caiwei left Fengcheng. He had wanted to seize the opportunity to let his wife witness his improvement, to console their lovesickness from living apart. He had eaten a whole pot of yam and lamb rib stew for nourishment at dinner, then early that night, blew out the lamp and got on the kang. Just when it was Wang Xiaoxia’s turn to perform, Wei Caiwei suddenly pushed him away and went to the side room with an old mama’s cloth.
Unable to help it, Wang Daxia, after many years, once again favored his old lover Miss Right Hand, giving Wang Xiaoxia a perfunctory encounter.
Counting the days, we haven’t seen each other for nearly two months again. When will these Cowherd and Weaver Girl days end!
The quack asked: “What about last month?”
Wang Daxia said: “Last month? Nothing.” He hadn’t seen his wife last month.
Could she be pregnant? The quack took the pulse again but didn’t detect the rolling-pearl-like slippery pulse of pregnancy. His medical skills were poor – he couldn’t tell if the patient was pregnant or had irregular menstruation.
If pregnant, she should take fetal protection pills. If it was irregular menstruation, blood-activating medicines like safflower should be prescribed to regulate the cycle. The two medicines were completely opposite. Taking the wrong one would cause serious consequences and might result in angry customers storming the shop.
This female boss was reportedly unmarried but had a lover who was a high official with backing in the khan’s court. However, it was improper to directly ask if the patient had been intimate with anyone.
Being a doctor was truly difficult – being a gynecologist was even harder.
The quack could only prescribe a health tonic that wouldn’t cure any specific illness, collected his fee, and left.
Hongzhuang Cosmetics Shop reeked of medicine all day. In just a few days, several doctors had come to see patients, and the discarded medicine dregs at the door had piled into small mountains.
Privy Council Judge Ding came daily to visit the female boss, his brows deeply furrowed, looking quite troubled.
A few days ago, the female boss had suddenly left Fengcheng, covered in a red veil, riding away like dust in the wind. Then Ding Wu, riding a valuable Ferghana horse with a trained gyrfalcon, pursued her and brought the female boss back within half a day.
Rumors said this pair of lovers had somehow quarreled but then reconciled. Moreover, the female boss had fallen ill immediately upon returning and no longer received customers at the counter.
Fengcheng residents’ appetite for gossip rivaled that of Beijing’s northern district spectators. For a time, all sorts of rumors circulated – some said the female boss was secretly pregnant and had left in anger because Judge Ding disdained her low birth and flirtatious nature, refusing to give her status.
Others said the female boss had suffered a miscarriage due to horseback riding and cold invasion during her departure, forcing her to rest in bed.
Still others claimed the female boss hadn’t miscarried but was bedridden protecting her pregnancy. The medicine dregs at the door were all body-strengthening herbs.
Even Third Madam in the khan’s court heard about Ding Wu and the female boss’s tormented love story – their deep but abusive romance, with its many twists and turns, the momentary pleasure of mistreating one’s wife followed by the crematorium of chasing her back.
Just as Third Madam was about to find Ding Wu for clarification, Ding Wu proactively came to the khan’s court, saying: “Your subject wishes to ask the Khatun for help. Your subject has a friend… who is ill. Several good doctors have been consulted and over ten doses of medicine taken, all to no avail. She’s so sick she can’t get out of bed. I’ve heard the khan’s court has gathered the world’s most famous gynecological experts. Your subject would like to request one expert to examine this friend.”
Third Madam smiled: “This friend you speak of is Boss Ximen from Hongzhuang Cosmetics Shop, isn’t she? The person you borrowed my Ferghana horse to chase was also her.”
Ding Wu showed an awkward expression: “Indeed.”
Author’s Note: Wang Daxia – wherever he goes, he becomes the top celebrity there, a social media influencer who gains massive traffic through hype and shipping himself with others.
Thanks to the little angels who voted for overlord tickets or irrigated nutrient solution for me during 2020-10-18 03:22:442020-10-18 16:44:18
Thanks to the little angels who threw landmines: Wang Yan, Yun Sheng. 1 each;
Thanks to the little angels who irrigated nutrient solution: Qi 70 bottles; Crucian Carp Soup with Tofu 20 bottles; zjeva 10 bottles; Cat’s Wife 7 bottles; Hua Shao, Morning Dew Awaiting Sunrise, Dull Blade 1 bottle each;
Thank you very much for everyone’s support, I will continue to work hard!