Third Madam had a heart for matchmaking and readily agreed: “I have plenty of gynecological experts here. Pick whichever you want. Saving lives is urgent – if one doesn’t work, switch to another.” Third Madam also thought the female boss was probably pregnant.
Ding Wu expressed his gratitude and went to where the doctors were under house arrest, specifically requesting Doctor He from Datong, Shanxi.
When the siblings reunited, they both struggled to suppress their excitement, pretending indifference until Wei Caiwei boarded Ding Wu’s carriage. Only then did they drop their pretense. Ding Wu grasped Wei Caiwei’s hands and examined her from head to toe. “Are you injured? Were you afraid?”
Wei Caiwei shook her head. “No, I’m fine. I’ve caused you trouble this time – I didn’t expect it to be unsafe even inside the pass.”
Ding Wu said: “Don’t say such things. I know you came to the northwest for my sake.” And of course, for Wang Daxia too.
He explained the escape plan to her: “Everything is arranged. When you reach Hongzhuang Cosmetics Shop, pretend to treat Wang Daxia, then excuse yourself to personally select herbs at the pharmacy. Knock out the pharmacy manager who follows you to get medicine, steal her money pouch, then actually take a Brocade Guard carriage back to Datong.”
Wei Caiwei asked: “But if a doctor from the khan’s court escapes because of you, won’t Third Madam hold you accountable?”
Ding Wu said: “The khan’s court has over ten gynecological experts – one less won’t matter. Besides, Third Madam has a gentle nature and isn’t the type to call for violence at every turn. She won’t blame me for this.”
Ding Wu spread out a hand-drawn map of Fengcheng. “…At that time, neither Wang Daxia nor I can be by your side – only you and the manager. You must remember the route. Knock her out in this alley – she’s one of our own people, pretending to be drugged by you. Take the money pouch and come out from the alley entrance, walk toward South Street where there are many people who will serve as witnesses, seeing you come out alone.”
“Go north to the livestock market, buy a horse, and ride straight out of Fengcheng along East Long Street. One li outside Fengcheng, there’s a hill area where the carriage waiting for you will be – Lu Ying will be in the carriage to escort you back to Datong.”
Wei Caiwei nodded: “I’ve memorized it. After returning this time, I’ll only treat military households’ families and farmers who’ve escaped the White Lotus Sect in the army camps. I’ll refuse all patients whose backgrounds I don’t know.”
When they reached Hongzhuang Cosmetics Shop, the couple reunited and Wang Daxia was miraculously cured, jumping up from bed without even putting on shoes, embracing Wei Caiwei tightly with bare feet.
He couldn’t bear losing another family member. Ding Wu tactfully withdrew from the room and thoughtfully closed the door. After thinking, he still reminded the couple enjoying their reunion: “You only have a quarter hour.”
Time was urgent – they couldn’t repeat last time when Lu Ying and he had drunk tea and eaten walnuts upstairs until they were stuffed, while those two still hadn’t “finished”!
Hurry up!
They hadn’t seen each other for two months. Wang Daxia raced against time, and Wei Caiwei had no time to cover her eyes either, accepting Wang Daxia in women’s clothing as he firmly pressed her waist against the table edge.
Half her body was suspended in air, completely supported by Wang Daxia, as if she might fall at any moment with a cliff behind her. She could only grasp tightly onto a lone pine tree at the cliff’s edge.
This pine tree swayed violently in the strong wind, its roots seeming ready to break free from the rock crevices at any moment and plummet down the cliff. She was terrified yet extremely addicted to this loss of control.
Knock knock! Outside, Ding Wu mustered courage to knock on the door: “That’s enough, time’s up. Come out quickly, we need to leave.”
Through the door, Ding Wu heard the scraping sound of table legs against the floor, like moving furniture, going on endlessly. Last time was embarrassing, this time was shameful. Ding Wu simply stuffed cotton in his ears, staring at his Western pocket watch, almost pouring his soul into the timepiece, trying hard not to think of anything else.
The only consolation now was that Lu Ying wasn’t here – she was waiting one li outside the city to meet Wei Caiwei. My embarrassment alone is enough.
Wang Xiaoxia was no longer the naive boy he once was and could basically control himself now. The commotion before the knock was like home renovation, but it quickly quieted after the knock. When Wei Caiwei emerged, the room reeked of strong Western perfume, meant to cover the scent of photinia flowers.
Only when Wei Caiwei came out did Ding Wu remove the cotton balls from his ears.
Wei Caiwei felt guilty and didn’t dare meet her sworn brother’s eyes. Ding Wu was the same, silently escorting her downstairs, only saying: “Take care.”
Wang Daxia lay by the window, watching through the gap as Wei Caiwei and the manager’s figures disappeared at the street corner. With this parting, who knew when they’d meet again? After this incident, Wei Caiwei would probably visit even less frequently.
I hate living apart!
Let’s quickly destroy the White Lotus Sect. After finishing this, I’m done.
The plan went smoothly. Wei Caiwei remained calm and composed, following the escape route meticulously and riding out of the city.
At dusk, at Hongzhuang Cosmetics Shop.
Wang Daxia looked at his pocket watch while studying the map, as if there were an ant-like figure moving through the streets and alleys in the map, imagining where Wei Caiwei had reached by now.
Ding Wu looked at the sky: “She and Lu Ying should have met by now.”
Wang Daxia, traumatized by his father’s previous disappearance and death, remained tense and didn’t dare let his guard down: “I hope so. But according to plan, once Lu Ying picks up Caiwei, she’ll send an agent to report. That person hasn’t come yet.”
Ding Wu checked his watch: “It’s not that fast – the distance is quite far.”
By nightfall, when the cosmetics shop closed, the messenger still hadn’t arrived.
Wang Daxia nervously paced around the room: “Why haven’t they come? Fengcheng is about to close the city gates for curfew.”
Now even the usually calm Ding Wu couldn’t sit still: “I’ll go out of the city to look. I have a travel pass.”
Ding Wu put on his fox fur cloak, donned his hood, and mounted his horse to leave. Several people suddenly appeared, blocking his path – Third Madam’s personal guards, saying: “Judge Ding, Zhongjin Khatun summons you.”
Ding Wu was anxious to find Wei Caiwei: “It’s already late. The Khatun should rest early. If it’s not urgent, I’ll go to the khan’s court first thing tomorrow morning.”
The guard said: “Zhongjin Khatun wants to see you – now, immediately, at once.”
Sitting on his horse, Ding Wu looked up and saw a graceful figure in the second-floor window of Hongzhuang Cosmetics Shop. He knew Wang Daxia was watching the street activity and saw him being summoned away by Zhongjin Khatun.
Ding Wu had no choice but to follow the guards to the khan’s court, planning to return immediately after resolving Third Madam’s matter.
At the khan’s court.
Ding Wu heard music from inside – the piece “Gyrfalcon Catches Swan,” about how the hunting falcon gyrfalcon pierced through clouds and mist, searched for its prey swan by the lake, and after a fierce struggle, caught the swan and returned triumphantly.
Ding Wu didn’t dare disturb Third Madam’s refined mood. Only when the music stopped and he heard Third Madam’s summons did he enter to see her.
Third Madam had held a grand banquet tonight with musicians from twelve tribes, plus dancers who had just performed with the musicians – one playing the gyrfalcon, one dancing as the swan.
Third Madam’s banquet was to entertain just one person. Ding Wu was shocked to see Wei Caiwei, who should have escaped, sitting in the guest seat!
Third Madam richly rewarded the musicians and dancers, commanding them all to withdraw. Only she, Ding Wu, and Wei Caiwei remained at the banquet.
“Sit.” Third Madam pointed to the seat across from Wei Caiwei.
A storm raged in Ding Wu’s mind as a small boat struggled at the crest of wind and waves, adjusting its rudder to find a response.
What happened? How did Banxia fail to escape? Did Third Madam not trust doctors leaving the palace and secretly have them followed? How much does Third Madam know now? Has she seen through my identity as a Brocade Guard?
Ding Wu guessed correctly. Wei Caiwei had been kidnapped to the khan’s court by Khan An Da’s people and was the Khan’s “guest.” Third Madam didn’t want to see Khan An Da’s guest get into trouble under her nose, which would damage her image as a virtuous wife. So after Ding Wu borrowed the doctor, she sent personal soldiers to monitor from afar to prevent accidents.
And indeed, something happened.
The soldiers intercepted Wei Caiwei as she tried to escape at Fengcheng’s gates and brought her to the khan’s court seeking merit and reward. When Third Madam saw “Doctor He’s” face, she was shocked: wasn’t this Wang Daxia’s former neighbor and current newlywed wife, Doctor Wei?
At the banquet, Third Madam asked knowingly: “Do you two know each other?”
Ding Wu said: “She is Banxia, your subject’s sworn sister, using the alias Doctor He in Datong, Shanxi.”
Third Madam asked: “Why is she in Datong?”
Ding Wu observed Wei Caiwei’s expression and, relying on years of sibling understanding, answered: “Because she has never given up on your subject, always fantasizing about convincing me to abandon darkness for light. The new Ming Emperor is magnanimous toward old officials – many previously suppressed officials from the former dynasty have been vindicated. If your subject returned and showed repentance, the Ding family could be cleared and restored to glory.”
Wei Caiwei showed affirming eyes – apparently she had answered Third Madam the same way. This hurdle was passed.
Third Madam asked again: “She abandoned her newlywed husband and traveled thousands of li to the northwest to find you – it’s probably not that simple.”
Third Madam even knew that Banxia had married Wang Daxia! Ding Wu glanced at Wei Caiwei: “Yes, it’s not that simple. She wants to convince your subject to use my position as Privy Council Judge to send intelligence to the Ming court, offsetting my crime of treason through meritorious service. Your subject refused her, but she never gave up and kept pestering me. I found her tiresome.”
“However, she is after all your subject’s sworn sister. We shared hardships from childhood and depended on each other in the bitter cold of Tieling. Your subject cannot ignore her life and death. Hearing she was kidnapped to the khan’s court as a doctor, and knowing the Khatun recognized her from Beijing, your subject feared the Khatun would recognize her identity. So I used the excuse that the Hongzhuang female boss was ill to borrow her from the palace and let her go.”
“Your subject deceived the Khatun and is guilty – I accept punishment. But your subject has never betrayed the khan’s court or the Khatun. My loyalty is pure as the sun and moon can attest.”
I’m single-mindedly focused on destroying the White Lotus Sect.
Third Madam pointed at Wei Caiwei: “In your opinion, how should I punish your sworn sister?”
Ding Wu knelt in plea: “Everything started because of your subject. I’m willing to take my foolish sister’s punishment and bear the penalty for both.”
But Third Madam said: “When a woman marries, she follows her husband. Since she married Wang Daxia, she’s a woman of the Wang family. In terms of responsibility, you as sworn brother must step back – her husband should be responsible for her words and actions. Call Wang Daxia here to personally collect his wife.”
Author’s Note: A male protagonist with a Jinjiang Mary Sue female lead script but Qidian Jack Sue harem protagonist configuration.
Thanks to the little angels who voted for overlord tickets or irrigated nutrient solution for me during 2020-10-18 16:44:182020-10-19 02:32:51
Thanks to the little angels who threw landmines: akuita 1;
Thanks to the little angels who irrigated nutrient solution: 46663525 30 bottles; Man Man Zi Xi 20 bottles; Little Time, Arctic North, Older Single Woman 10 bottles each; EVA 6 bottles; Rice Ball, I Choose Death 5 bottles each; suzuran, Mo 2 bottles each; Nameless Star Person, Tranquil Orchid 1 bottle each;
Thank you very much for everyone’s support, I will continue to work hard!