At thirty years old, Lu Ying took Ding Wu’s hand, and from then on never let go.
Today Ding Wu had experienced quite a rollercoaster—from the satisfaction of having his great revenge fulfilled, to the shock of Lu Ying’s proactive confession, to the uneasy anxiety of tearing open his most shameful side and showing it bloody to his beloved, to the dejected sorrow of thinking he had no chance, and finally to the delightful surprise of Lu Ying taking his hand. One moment soaring to heaven, the next plunging to earth, one moment descending to hell, the next shooting straight to the clouds—truly experiencing many twists and turns.
Lu Ying held his hand. “Before I liked you, I greatly disliked the idea of marriage. I kept making excuses and avoiding it—just thinking about it gave me headaches. But after liking you, I discovered I don’t actually dislike marriage. I just hadn’t met someone I liked yet. Being able to spend the rest of my life with you—I very much look forward to it.”
Lu Ying was usually taciturn, preferring action over words when possible. Ding Wu, on the other hand, was eloquent and strategic, able to talk the dead back to life with his mouth. Yet at this crucial moment, it was Lu Ying who took the initiative to confess, while Ding Wu found himself speechless, only able to follow Lu Ying’s lead: “I also very much look forward to it.”
“Then…” Lu Ying said, “let’s sit down and settle our marriage plans.”
Lu Ying had dressed elaborately today and come fully prepared, while Ding Wu had never expected to become betrothed today and was completely unprepared. He felt around his person—besides his money pouch, he only had a folding fan.
Ding Wu opened the folding fan and took up his brush to write a love poem on the fan surface: “Deep mountains need not delay spring’s arrival, everywhere mountain cherry blossoms weigh down branches. Peaches and plums speak not but follow rain’s intention, knowing there will be clear skies in time.”
The cherry blossoms naturally referred to Lu Ying. At this moment, Ding Wu’s heart was like spring deep in the mountains, with mountain cherries weighing down branches everywhere. “Clear” (qing) was a homophone for “affection” (qing). The two finally had their time of affection.
Ding Wu carefully blew the ink dry on the fan surface and presented it to Lu Ying. “This is my betrothal token. When I bring father back from Yunnan, our two families will discuss marriage arrangements. We’ll definitely wed this year.”
Lu Ying unfastened her sword. “You’re traveling far—take my sword for protection and return quickly.”
Ding Wu accepted the sword, Lu Ying took the fan. They smiled at each other and settled their lifelong commitment.
In North Beijing, Tianshui Alley.
After their marriage, Wei Caiwei and Wang Daxia moved to Shichahai Lake to live independently, leaving the Tianshui Alley house for brother-in-law Ding Wu—the grand Ding family mansion that had been confiscated had become a haunted house from years of abandonment and disrepair. Ding Wu had hired craftsmen to restore the old house, but it would be some time before he could move back.
For now, Ding Wu was renovating his former courtyard into a bridal chamber, awaiting his bride. After finalizing the blueprints with the craftsmen, Ding Wu hurried back to Tianshui Alley, stopping at the market to buy a chicken—today he would make chicken stewed with mushrooms, Wei Caiwei’s favorite dish.
Since returning to the capital, Wei Caiwei came to Tianshui Alley almost daily to freeload meals, enjoying Ding Wu’s cooking. Today she came again, smelling the aroma through the door before her mouth began watering.
Ding Wu opened the door wearing an apron. “You’re here? Sit—it’ll be ready soon.”
Wei Caiwei sat under the grape arbor. It was early summer now, and the grapes were beginning to form clusters of green fruit, which reminded her of when she still lived here and she and Wang Daxia under the arbor… Bah! She’d only seen him this morning—how could she be thinking of him at midday?
Wei Caiwei didn’t dare look at the grapes anymore and wandered around the courtyard. There was a dented spot on the courtyard wall where the lime plaster had been broken, exposing the blue bricks underneath—this was where her hard-crusted mooncakes had smashed it, making Wang Daxia spit blood… How was she thinking of him again?
Fortunately, the meal was ready. Ding Wu carried the iron pot to the table under the grape arbor, and they began their simple and unpretentious lunch, just like countless meals in Tieling. Ding Wu picked up his chopsticks first and placed both chicken drumsticks in Wei Caiwei’s bowl.
Both siblings had secrets they couldn’t confide to the other, always showing each other their most virtuous sides. Wei Caiwei was like this, and so was Ding Wu.
Ding Wu didn’t know Wei Caiwei had initially sought revenge, and Wei Caiwei didn’t know that a bear had silently borne everything—she had nearly left this world forever after eating her favorite dish, never to meet Wang Daxia!
Her life had once hung on Ding Wu’s single thought, nearly becoming demonic in that instant.
Wei Caiwei looked down at the two drumsticks in her bowl. “Brother, one is enough. Have this one.” When their adoptive parents the Wei Nanshan couple were alive, whenever they stewed chicken, she and Caiwei each got one drumstick—they never mistreated her despite her being picked up from the roadside. After the adoptive parents died and the siblings depended on each other in Tieling, it remained the same.
Ding Wu kept his head down eating rice. “You eat both. I’m leaving for Yunnan tomorrow and won’t return until autumn—you’ll go at least three months without eating this.”
After they finished eating in silence, Wei Caiwei went to wash the dishes by the well. When she returned, Ding Wu had already brewed tea and said, “Sit down. I have something to tell you.”
Whenever Ding Wu used this tone and expression—exactly like a dean of students from five hundred years in the future in modern society—Wei Caiwei always felt guilty and began reflecting on what mistakes she’d made recently.
They had just returned to the capital, so Wei Caiwei hadn’t had time to make any mistakes. If there really was something wrong, it would be that she’d been too indulgent lately. She and Wang Daxia could finally be like a normal married couple, no longer living apart, behind closed doors in their own private courtyard, completely unrestrained.
How did Brother Ding know? He couldn’t possibly have been eavesdropping! It must be that Wang Daxia was too loud… Wei Caiwei sat down anxiously and took a sip of tea to calm her nerves.
Ding Wu said, “I became betrothed to Lu Ying today. We’ve decided to marry this year, so you must regard her as your sister-in-law from now on.”
Pff! Wei Caiwei spat out her tea on the spot. “Cough cough, what did you say? So fast? Uncle Ding hasn’t returned to the capital yet—with big brother’s personality, how could you possibly declare your feelings to Commander Lu so quickly?”
You really do understand me, Ding Wu thought. “She proposed to me first. Look—”
Ding Wu brought out Lu Ying’s sword. “This is the betrothal token she gave me.”
Although Ding Wu’s words were as calm as always, his obviously showing-off behavior and excited expression still let Wei Caiwei see through to his inner joy.
“Really!” Wei Caiwei hugged Lu Ying’s sword. “I knew she liked you. How did she bring it up? What did you both say? You two… um, just exchanged betrothal tokens? Nothing… else?”
Nothing else like embracing or kissing. But facing Ding Wu, Wei Caiwei couldn’t ask outright—after all, shameless people like Wang Daxia were extremely rare.
“Just looking is enough—give it back to me, don’t chip it.” Ding Wu took back the sword and carefully wrapped it in red silk.
Seeing how Ding Wu treasured it, clearly very much anticipating this marriage, Wei Caiwei was happy for her brother. “Congratulations to big brother and Commander Lu—no, future sister-in-law—on lovers finally becoming spouses.”
Ding Wu placed the silk-wrapped sword in a wooden box and locked it in the cabinet. “When is Wang Daxia leaving the Embroidered Uniform Guard? Where are you going?”
Wei Caiwei said, “Also this year. He still has some affairs to wrap up, and Commander Zhu wants to keep him. Currently we haven’t decided where to go, but we probably won’t leave the capital this year—we definitely want to attend your wedding before we leave.”
Wang Daxia had thoughts of retirement, wanting to leave endless strife and live peacefully. Wei Caiwei, having lost her husband in her previous life, deeply understood the principle that life is short—each day together means one less day remaining, so she supported his decision.
Besides, Li Jiubao in the palace now had two sons and three daughters, making her the most fertile consort in the palace with a secure position. In this lifetime she still had Chen Jingji in the Forbidden City to watch over each other, so Wei Caiwei felt there was nothing to worry about—it was time for the couple to withdraw completely while they were ahead.
Wei Caiwei said, “Big brother, go to Yunnan without worry. During these three months I’ll help you oversee the Ding mansion renovations. When you return, everything will definitely be finished and you can move back home. Also, I’ll keep sister-in-law company so she won’t miss you too much.”
Embroidered Uniform Guard Office.
After successfully confessing, Lu Ying got her man as desired, then changed out of her dress back into men’s clothing and plunged into the mountain of paperwork on her desk.
Wang Daxia had been watching the movements in Lu Ying’s duty room, more invested than if he were confessing himself. He invited himself in without asking: “How did it go? Did Ding Wu agree?”
Lu Ying brought out the fan Ding Wu had given her. Wang Daxia opened the fan and read aloud: “Deep mountains need not delay spring’s arrival, everywhere mountain cherry blossoms weigh down branches. Peaches and plums speak not but follow rain’s intention, knowing there will be clear skies in time. What does this mean? Is he saying your confession came too late? Did he reject you?”
Hearing this, Lu Ying glared coldly at her illiterate subordinate. “Don’t talk nonsense if you’re poorly read. This clearly expresses mutual affection. The fan is the betrothal token he gave me. When he goes to Yunnan to bring back Master Ding, we’ll marry this year.”
Wang Daxia came again to claim credit and seek praise: “I told you the makeup, that outfit, and jewelry suited you—the whole person was sparkling, and no man could resist.”
Lu Ying said, “Too bad you’re already married and can’t be my groomsman.”
Wang Daxia was silent for a moment, then said, “Commander Lu, even if I were unmarried, I’d be Ding Wu’s groomsman.”
Lu Ying was used to thinking of herself as a man—she’d even been Wang Daxia’s groomsman before—so she couldn’t adjust immediately. Realizing this made sense, she said, “Then on the wedding day, you can do my bridal makeup. My standards are low—just make it look good.”
Wang Daxia thumped his chest: “Leave it to me.”
That evening, as soon as office hours ended, Wang Daxia was the first to charge out on horseback to go home to his wife. Lu Ying remained steadfast in staying at the office to handle official business until all the lights in every household were extinguished before going home.
The next morning, after Wang Daxia finished his morning martial arts practice and returned to their room, he used his method to wake Wei Caiwei: “Get up, we’re going to Tianshui Alley today to see Ding Wu off.”
“I already toasted him with farewell wine last night.” Wei Caiwei rolled over wrapped in the quilt, sleepy-eyed. “The person he most wants to see this morning isn’t us—it’s Lu Ying. He should want to spend time alone with Lu Ying rather than have a group of people see him off.”
Hearing this, Wang Daxia realized it made perfect sense. “In that case, Lu Ying is seeing Ding Wu off this morning instead of being at the Embroidered Uniform Guard office. When the cat’s away, the mice will play—haha, I can go to the office late today since no one’s there to supervise.”
Wang Daxia took off his shoes and slipped into bed. Last night’s spring evening was too short and he hadn’t had his fill—this morning he definitely had to make up for it.