Such a good deal?
Wang Daxia’s eyes didn’t dare look directly at Lu Ying. Feigning profundity, he held his embroidered spring sword and looked up at the bright moon—wait, there was no moon tonight, not even stars. The night sky was like being covered with black cloth.
Wang Daxia failed at pretending to be calm. Stubbornly staring at the night sky, treating himself as if he were blind, he said, “Commander Lu, please explain. I’ll consider it.”
Lu Ying said, “My family has been pressing for marriage, but I absolutely don’t want to marry. Now there’s a household that wants to arrange things first and ask forgiveness later, setting a match for me. I definitely won’t marry. When the time comes, I’ll just flee the wedding at worst and wander the jianghu from then on. But fleeing marriage is a last resort. I don’t want to leave the Embroidered Uniform Guard, because—”
Lu Ying paused, looking north as if she could pierce through the darkness to see someone, and said, “Because Ding Wu is still infiltrating the White Lotus Sect. He swore not to return until the White Lotus is destroyed. I’m his handler, maintaining secret contact with him and providing coordination and support. If I quit the Embroidered Uniform Guard to wander the world, what about Ding Wu? I don’t trust anyone else with him.”
Wang Daxia pointed at himself. “You don’t even trust me?”
Lu Ying said, “I don’t trust others, including you. Do you think you’re reliable? You almost died a hundred times today, living from day to day. Don’t you have any sense of your own abilities? You’re not up to it.”
Lu Ying was merciless. Her words left Wang Daxia deeply ashamed. He was capable at some things, but really not this one.
She was right—he could barely protect himself now and relied on Lu Bing and Lu Ying father and daughter for cover. He couldn’t protect Ding Wu at all.
However, Lu Ying’s consideration for Ding Wu and overall perspective suddenly ignited Wang Daxia’s passion. Unable to keep up his cool act, he patted his chest and said, “Commander Lu would go through fire and water for subordinates. This one admires you. Whatever Commander Lu orders, this one will do.”
Lu Ying said, “Starting tonight, your relationship with me should be like what mine was with Doctor Wei—appearing to be an ambiguous pair. We don’t need to openly acknowledge it. We just need to stay silent and let others guess in the direction of lovers. This way, my family won’t force me to marry into the Sun family, and you won’t be attacked and killed for offending Prince Jing. No one dares touch Lu Ying’s man.”
Lu Ying, Wei Caiwei, Wang Daxia—three people who could form three pairs of scandalous couples. Two were what ordinary people thought. One was the romantic relationship that nobles who knew Lu Ying was female assumed.
Wang Daxia froze again. Fortunately, the embroidered spring sword hung at his waist in the air, or this blow would have chopped off his foot.
What? Am I too lucky with romance?
I borrowed money to redeem an enemy princess and White Lotus saint. When Wei Caiwei first arrived in the capital disguised as a young widow, she sheltered me overnight—a man and woman alone in a room. Later I played with fireworks in the bridal chamber with the emperor’s new favorite Shang Shi. Now a beautiful female superior is forcing a scandal with me?
Being too handsome is also a mistake. An innocent man suffers for his jade.
It’s all because I’m too handsome. How troublesome.
Wang Daxia felt sorry for himself. Lu Ying urged, “Yes or no, give me a straight answer. I won’t force you.”
Wang Daxia scratched his head. “It’s not impossible, but…” But I have a three-year agreement with Wei Caiwei. The marriage certificate is written and hidden in the secret box hanging at my chest.
Lu Ying had saved him multiple times. Wang Daxia owed her too much. Moreover, Lu Ying was doing this for Ding Wu’s safety. Wang Daxia’s heart battled with itself. “I need to ask someone about this. If she agrees, I agree. Can I reply to you later?”
Lu Ying nodded. “Fine, but before you give me an answer, you must cooperate with me and act like you care about me very much. But don’t reveal it directly—leave room for interpretation. Understand?”
Wang Daxia said, “I understand. I actually just need to act normal, since whenever I have time I usually praise you, flatter you, and kiss up to you to get promoted and rich.” Thinking about it this way, sucking up to superiors was quite like love—blind and passionate.
“However…” Wang Daxia asked, “How long do we need to act?”
Lu Ying said, “First get through this current crisis. I have zero interest in that number one imperial examination scholarly family, the Sun household. If I married in as a youngest daughter-in-law, with the Sun family’s traditions, they definitely wouldn’t allow daughters-in-law to show their faces and work. They’d make me quit the Embroidered Uniform Guard. Who would support Ding Wu then?”
“Once Sun Xiang finds another woman, I’ll find an excuse to dump you.”
Wang Daxia asked, “What excuse?”
Lu Ying looked him over. “For someone like you covered in bad habits who loves causing trouble, finding an excuse isn’t simple?”
Wang Daxia thought: I’m not completely worthless! There are women who appreciate me!
So the two settled this matter, mutually covering for each other.
When parting, Lu Ying kicked the staff on the ground up with her foot, performed an opening stance, and said, “Since you came and brought weapons anyway, let’s spar a bit before you go.”
Woman, what kind of demon are you? Already pretending ambiguity and you still want to fight me?
Wang Daxia was about to refuse when Lu Ying’s staff was already swinging toward him. Wang Daxia had no choice but to draw his sword in defense.
One with staff, one with sword—they actually started fighting on Moon-Inviting Platform in the middle of the night.
Below the platform, Lu Ying’s maid and Wang Daxia’s servant were stunned.
After finishing their bout, the two walked down Moon-Inviting Platform shoulder to shoulder, then bid farewell. Lu Ying tossed the staff to Wang Daxia. “You’re injured—sleep early.”
You knew I was injured and still really fought! Wang Daxia caught the staff. “I will always remember tonight’s agreement with Commander Lu and won’t go back on it.”
Lu Ying said, “While you’re in my home, you don’t need to call me Commander Lu. You can call me… Lady Ying.”
Wang Daxia: “Good night, Lady Ying.” After saying this, he got goosebumps all over. Fortunately it was too dark and the lantern light was limited, so his reaction couldn’t be seen.
Lu Ying: “Good night, Daxia.”
The two went separate ways. Lu Ying walked a few steps, stopped, turned back to instruct the servant, “Young Master Wang doesn’t eat cilantro. Tell the kitchen that no dishes should have cilantro.”
That very night, this sentence reached Li Yiren’s ears. Li Yiren tossed and turned unable to sleep, wanting to shake Lu Bing awake and ask exactly what stage these two children had reached.
But Lu Bing looked like he was recovering from serious illness. Li Yiren couldn’t bear to wake him and forced herself to hold it in, suffering insomnia that night.
Meanwhile, another person who couldn’t sleep well was Chief Eunuch Huang Jin of the Directorate of Ceremonial at Guanghan Palace on Qionghua Island.
Huang Jin dozed in the side hall and asked his subordinates, “Has His Majesty ordered someone to carry away Lady Shang?”
Ever since the Renyin Palace Incident nineteen years ago, when Emperor Jiajing was nearly strangled to death with white silk by palace maids in his sleep, whenever the emperor summoned concubines to attend him, he never let women stay overnight by his side.
Every time he would callously dismiss them after intimacy, ordering the favored concubines to be wrapped in quilts and carried away. For nineteen years Emperor Jiajing had slept alone.
But tonight seemed to be an exception. After Lady Shang received favor in the bathroom, Emperor Jiajing was still unsatisfied and carried her to the dragon couch, never ordering his new favorite to be taken away.
This was too abnormal.
So Huang Jin didn’t dare be careless and kept asking after short naps.
His subordinate said, “No order to carry her away, but he did call for water once.”
The old candle actually lit twice!
Huang Jin yawned and said, “Tomorrow arrange more nourishing foods for meals. Listen for any sounds, in case His Majesty calls.” Your Majesty, please take it easy—after all, you’re getting on in years.
However, until dawn, Emperor Jiajing never ordered Lady Shang to be carried away. For the first time in nineteen years, he spent an entire night with a woman.
The next day he elevated Lady Shang to the rank of Beauty, gaining Emperor Jiajing’s exclusive favor. The six palaces’ rouge and powder lost their color. Among the three thousand beauties in the rear palace, three thousand favors were concentrated in one body.
**Days were short and he rose late, from then the emperor no longer… cough cough, anyway Emperor Jiajing hadn’t held court for over thirty years already.
But this is all getting ahead of ourselves.
Tonight there was someone else who couldn’t sleep—the unlucky Prince Jing who had just received orders to immediately go to his fiefdom in Anlu, Hubei.
At this moment, Prince Jing secretly ordered Eunuch Wei to carry chests of gold to the Yan Shifan residence.
Prince Jing was under Eastern Depot surveillance and couldn’t leave his mansion. The Eastern Depot had stationed themselves in the Prince’s mansion, urging the household to pack quickly and move to Anlu, Hubei as soon as possible.
Prince Jing naturally wasn’t willing to spend his life as just a prince, so he sent Eunuch Wei to bribe Yan Shifan, wanting Yan Shifan to help devise a plan to regain imperial favor.
The Yan Song and Yan Shifan father-son duo had always supported Prince Jing, but after Eunuch Wei recounted how Prince Jing had failed due to lust today, Yan Shifan was greatly disappointed. “There are so many beautiful women in the world. If you want pretty women, my mansion has plenty—pick any you want. Why spy on His Majesty’s women?”
Eunuch Wei opened all the chests of gold. “Now only Minister Yan can help our prince. Please enlighten us, Minister Yan.”
At least a thousand taels of gold.
Seeing the gold, even Yan Shifan’s blind eye nearly regained sight. First, for the sake of money; second, the Yan family had always supported Prince Jing. Prince Yu was supported by the Yan family’s political enemy Xu Jie and other ministers. If Prince Yu made a comeback and was established as heir, then the Yan family would fall.
The Yan family and Prince Jing were already bound together on the same boat, unable to stay out of it. They would prosper together or fall together, and Prince Jing had sent so much gold besides.
After pondering, Yan Shifan said, “It’s not without solutions. Better late than never to mend the fold after the sheep are lost. Prince Jing has lost imperial favor this time, but His Majesty has long been disgusted with Prince Yu too. With both sons successively spurned, they’re evenly matched. His Majesty only has two surviving sons, no grandsons. The future succession can only be chosen between Prince Jing and Prince Yu.”
“If, and I mean if, Prince Yu were gone, Prince Jing would be the only choice. Then if Prince Jing shows repentance, His Majesty would have to forgive him even if he doesn’t want to. After all, he’s the only son—His Majesty couldn’t choose distant relatives or unrelated princes to inherit the throne.”
Eunuch Wei’s eyes lit up. He made a throat-slitting gesture. “Minister Yan’s brilliant plan! This servant will report back immediately.”
“Wait.” Yan Shifan stopped him. “Are you stupid? If Prince Yu dies at this time, Prince Jing would be the biggest suspect. Don’t be hasty. His Majesty’s health is still fairly good, and he just selected concubines. What if a little prince is born? Can’t let His Majesty suspect Prince Jing. Tell Prince Jing to peacefully go to his Hubei fiefdom. When Prince Yu meets misfortune in the future, being thousands of li away, he can clear himself of suspicion.”
“Then find an opportunity to eliminate Prince Yu and frame the currently troublesome White Lotus Sect. With no evidence and Prince Yu dead, Prince Jing as the elder would secure his position. Even if the new favorite bears a little prince, it won’t threaten Prince Jing’s status…”
Author’s Note: Nessun dorma! Nessun dorma! Thanks everyone for your support. This chapter comes with 100 red packets.
Emperor Jiajing’s throne was also won by default. He was originally a branch prince, but the Ming orthodox imperial family was too good at self-destruction—two generations of emperors eliminated their own heirs, so it fell to Emperor Jiajing to take the throne.