Thus, it could explain why Yan Shifan suddenly paid back two years of overdue payments. Even when his in-law Lu Bing came to ask for help with something, he had to bribe him with silver first, otherwise it was out of the question. Prince Yu, who was still grieving the loss of his wife and child, didn’t concern himself with the mansion’s mundane affairs at all and wouldn’t scrape together fifteen hundred taels of silver to bribe Yan Shifan to get his salary back like last time.
Yan Shifan never made losing deals. This time he returned money without requiring Prince Yu’s bribe—he was after Prince Yu’s life!
Lu Ying had also carefully considered this matter. “Given the relationship between the Yan father and son and Prince Jing, it’s probably about right. But that old fox Yan Shifan has always been very cautious. Even if something happened to Prince Yu’s mansion, it would have nothing to do with him. Even if Eunuch Wei and Prince Jing were exposed, they couldn’t trace it back to him. For him, making up the overdue salary is just routine business.”
Wang Daxia also agreed. “The Yan father and son have supported Prince Jing for a long time. To change course now, abandon Prince Jing, and switch to Prince Yu? Isn’t it too late!”
Lu Ying said, “In any case, you’re not safe at home, and you need to avoid impropriety, so you can’t live at your neighbor’s house. However, our family has a villa at Shichahai. Every year when the lake freezes, we sisters and brothers would stay at the villa for a while, playing ice sports on the frozen lake surface every day, and father would also come play with us.”
“Now we’ve all grown up, my sisters have all married, my brother is also engaged to the daughter of Minister Wu Peng of the Personnel Department and needs to learn to be steady, and father’s health isn’t good, so this year we won’t move there temporarily. The house is empty, with gatekeepers, guards, and servant girls all ready. No matter how rampant they are, they wouldn’t dare touch our family’s property. I’ve already spoken with father and Li Yiren. Until things settle down, you’ll move there temporarily. Tomorrow morning I’ll take you there to get settled. Tonight we’ll both stay here to protect you.”
Lu Ying was thoughtful and domineering, not allowing Wei Caiwei to decline.
Wei Caiwei hadn’t expected that after coming home to sleep one night, she’d have to move again to escape disaster. When would this life of hiding here and there end?
But if she didn’t move there, Lu Ying and Wang Daxia definitely wouldn’t feel at ease about her. They had to stay busy monitoring Prince Yu’s mansion, and she couldn’t help with anything—she couldn’t hold them back.
Wei Caiwei nodded. “Alright, I’ll go with you tomorrow.”
“Just how many properties does your family have?” Wang Daxia counted on his fingers. “The Lu mansion in the western district, the villa at Goldfish Pond—neighbors with the Kong family of the Duke of Yan Sheng, the villa at Shichahai—that’s already three large residences.”
Lu Ying said indifferently, “I’m not sure either. I’ve lived in probably over twenty places. My married sisters all have properties, farmland, and shops as dowries. But having many houses isn’t particularly interesting—they’re just places to sleep. I think Doctor Wei’s place here is quite good, quiet and comfortable, making your own decisions. Once the main gate is closed, no one bothers me with marriage talk every day.”
Wei Caiwei and Wang Daxia exchanged glances: We don’t really understand the troubles of high officials’ children.
Wei Caiwei said, “Let’s not talk about these unhappy things. No matter what, life must go on. I haven’t seen you… both for a month and missed you quite a bit. I’ve prepared meat and good wine. Since I have to move tomorrow, let’s eat and drink heartily. Whatever big matters there are can wait until tomorrow.”
Ever since Lu Ying and Wang Daxia caused a ruckus at Qionghua Island, Lu Bing was frightened and absolutely forbade the two from entering the palace, so they hadn’t seen Wei Caiwei this month.
Upon hearing there was meat to eat, Wang Daxia’s mouth began to water. “Right, no matter how big heaven and earth are, eating and drinking are most important.”
The three roasted meat in the courtyard kitchen. Marinated beef, mutton, ribs and such sizzled with oil on the wire rack. Outside, the north wind howled, but they ate until their nose tips sweated, drinking wine from large bowls, casting aside all worries and concerns.
All three were slightly tipsy in the end. After eating, Wei Caiwei arranged sleeping quarters. “The heated brick bed on the first floor is warmest—Lu Ying can sleep there. Wang Daxia can sleep in Ding Wu’s room.” Wang Daxia was vigorous and wasn’t afraid of cold anyway.
Upon hearing this, Lu Ying said, “I don’t like sleeping on heated brick beds. I’ll switch with him.”
Wang Daxia was also happy about this, because lying on the first floor heated brick bed, he could see the door to Wei Caiwei’s room on the second floor… and it would be convenient for him to knock on her door at night to say some private words.
If he slept in Ding Wu’s room, he’d definitely wake Lu Ying if he snuck out stealthily.
Wang Daxia immediately said, “If we’re switching, let’s switch. I like sleeping on heated brick beds.”
Lu Ying, holding a lamp, went to Ding Wu’s room. Everything was unchanged, except the summer mat had been put away and replaced with thick cotton bedding. Opening the wardrobe, Ding Wu’s clothes were neatly folded inside, with the bottom row of shoes—half-worn cloth shoes sitting there, waiting for their master’s return.
Only their master’s return date was uncertain. Lu Ying took off her calf-high boots, soaked her feet in hot water, and after washing them clean, her jade-white feet slipped into Ding Wu’s cloth shoes, with about a thumb’s width of space between her heel and the shoe back.
Lu Ying wore the cloth shoes like slippers, which was quite comfortable. Wearing the slippers, she carried the basin out to pour the foot-washing water. In the main hall, Wang Daxia was already lying on the heated brick bed. Seeing her snow-white heels, he quickly pulled the quilt over his face. “I didn’t see anything.”
Lu Ying said, “Don’t actually fall asleep. You guard the first half of the night, and after midnight, wake me up. I’ll be responsible for the second half.”
The second half of the night was the most drowsy time—Lu Ying always took the hardest tasks upon herself.
Wang Daxia remained covered by the quilt, speaking in muffled tones, “I know. I’m just lying down for a bit and won’t close my eyes. Doctor Wei is boiling water to brew a strong pot of tea. Once I drink it, I’ll be alert.”
Lu Ying said, “Don’t drink too much, or you’ll be too wired to sleep in the second half of the night.”
Lu Ying poured out the foot-washing water and returned to Ding Wu’s room, sleeping in Ding Wu’s bed. This place still seemed to carry his scent, making her inexplicably feel safe and relaxed. As soon as she closed her eyes, she quickly fell asleep.
Wei Caiwei returned after brewing tea, wrapping the teapot in a cotton cover to keep it warm, and grabbing handfuls of dried fruits, preserved sweets, and other New Year goods that Prince Yu’s consort had sent, placing them in an octagonal snack box for the night watch person to nibble on.
Wang Daxia saw Ding Wu’s room door tightly closed and grew bolder, grabbing her hand and whispering in her ear, “I missed you.”
Wei Caiwei felt a rush of hot air blown into her ear, and the tingling sensation shot through her like lightning, from her ear canal straight to her toes—indescribably pleasurable.
Though her body felt delightful, she said, “You’re sitting too close. Sit properly and talk.”
Wei Caiwei wasn’t afraid of Wang Daxia doing anything to her—she was worried she couldn’t control herself and might pounce on Wang Daxia on the heated brick bed to do improper things.
The current Wang Daxia was only fourteen years old, with clear eyes and a warm smile, beautiful like morning dew, spring plums, or winter plum buds. She couldn’t bear to touch or pluck him. Her three-year agreement with him was actually to restrain herself.
She had to wait for him to truly grow up.
Wang Daxia gestured with his chin toward Ding Wu’s room door. “Shh, I need to get close and speak quietly so Lu Ying doesn’t hear.”
Don’t keep pressing against me like this! If you keep pressing like this, I’m going to push you down!
Wei Caiwei’s throat moved slightly as she said, “In that case, follow me upstairs to my room to talk.”
“What?” Such good fortune existed! Wang Daxia thought he’d heard wrong. “Go… go to your room?”
Wang Daxia’s mind immediately filled with various indescribable scenarios.
Wei Caiwei said, “To my study upstairs.”
The study was also good! Wang Daxia quickly got up to put on shoes, but Wei Caiwei said, “Don’t wear shoes. Just wear socks—the stairs make too much noise.”
Wang Daxia, wearing woolen cotton socks, followed behind Wei Caiwei like a thief. When Wei Caiwei climbed the stairs, she deliberately made her steps heavier, stomping loudly to mask Wang Daxia’s footsteps.
Though this was unnecessary—Lu Ying had already entered dreamland, dreaming that Ding Wu’s undercover mission succeeded, that he broke up the White Lotus Sect, recovered the lost firearms, captured Sect Leader Zhao Quan, and returned home in glory…
The two reached the study and closed the door. Wang Daxia eagerly wanted to embrace her, but Wei Caiwei dodged to the side and pulled out a silk ribbon. “Cover your eyes—I want to give you a surprise.”
Wang Daxia suddenly recalled how, the last time, under Wei Caiwei’s guidance, he had step by step been robbed of his first kiss.
He was instantly overjoyed. They’d already had their first kiss—could the first night be far behind? What would she do this time? In any case, it would definitely be something more exciting than the first kiss!
Wang Daxia obediently tied on the ribbon, becoming blind, full of anticipation for the surprise. “Hurry up.”
He heard the rustling of fabric nearby. Wang Daxia fantasized about what she was doing. Was she undressing? Was this surprise too big?
“Done.” Wei Caiwei stood on tiptoe and personally untied the ribbon for him.
The Wei Caiwei before him was still wearing the same clothes as before—nothing had changed. Wang Daxia asked, “Where’s the surprise?”
Wei Caiwei stepped aside and pointed to the Western telescope on the desk. “This is it. It can also extend and retract, and you can see farther than Prince Jing’s. You always borrow Lu Ying’s and have always wanted one, right? Shang Zhaoyi got me one—it’s a tribute item presented by Western missionaries.”
That’s it? Though Wang Daxia liked this gift, this wasn’t the surprise he wanted right now—he was still disappointed.
Wei Caiwei said, “Tomorrow is your birthday—a birthday gift for you. Tomorrow you’ll be fifteen. I wish you good luck in times of trouble and happiness and peace throughout your life.”
In this lifetime, let me be the one to protect you. You must stay well. I don’t ask for the same great wealth and honor as in the past life—I hope you’ll always have such clear eyes, untainted by any shadow.
Fifteenth birthday? Wang Daxia had been so busy he was dizzy and had forgotten it himself, but Wei Caiwei remembered and carefully prepared a gift for him. So she left the palace a day early to rush back and celebrate his birthday.
Wang Daxia’s mood shifted from disappointment to being moved, speaking incoherently, “I really like you… Ever since you appeared, my life has been different. If it weren’t for you, I can’t imagine what I’d become in the future.”
That would be the appearance of wielding a knife for self-castration just over ten days later.
Little Wang Daxia would cease to exist—Little Wang Daxia who, when spirited, was as long as my foot. How could you bear to cut it off in the previous life?
Actually, the real birthday gift was Little Wang Daxia. The telescope happened to be cylindrical and could extend and retract—perfectly symbolizing Little Wang Daxia. This birthday gift was truly painstakingly thoughtful.
Wei Caiwei said with a choked voice, “Actually, I should thank you. If I hadn’t rented this room and met you, without your constant help, I can’t imagine what my life would be like—I might have taken a more difficult path. Actually, I…”
At this point, Wei Caiwei decided not to hide from him anymore and revealed her background. “I am the missing Second Miss He. I didn’t lose my memory. I came to the capital for revenge. I killed Captain Chen and his son, and Wang Pozi—I’ve been deceiving you all along.”
Though he had long guessed this result, hearing Wei Caiwei confess openly still deeply shocked Wang Daxia’s heart. He embraced Wei Caiwei tightly, without any lustful thoughts, just comfortingly patting her back. “I know, I’ve always known. You’re a kind person. I won’t mind that you’ve killed evil people. All the suffering you endured before will turn sweet in the future.”
Author’s Note: Following the previous pattern, some sweetness needs to be sprinkled before every major battle. The Double Xia CP’s relationship has progressed further tonight.