Lu Ying had never questioned his father’s judgment, but this time was an exception.

Lu Ying angrily said, “You’ve completely ruined the reputation of the Embroidered Uniform Guard!”

Wang Daxia wasn’t afraid of people, only ghosts. Not caring that Lu Ying and Lu Bing were father and son, he directly retorted, “Don’t try to pin this on me. Does the Embroidered Uniform Guard even have a good reputation? It’s clearly a case of being corrupted by association—my pure and innocent body has been defiled by the Embroidered Uniform Guard.”

Lu Ying silently chanted “the bigger picture matters” in his mind and restrained himself from hitting Wang Daxia. “Both the large and small coffins have been opened. Second Miss He died pregnant, carrying two lives. The small one escaped—it’s an empty coffin. Go take a look.”

Wang Daxia cowered inside the carriage. “I won’t look at corpses, they’re too terrifying. Second Miss He died unjustly. I heard that pregnant female ghosts are the most vicious and fierce, and with the little ghost in her belly, it’s a buy-one-get-one-free deal—double the malevolent energy. Chen Qianhu and his son must have been killed by vengeful spirits seeking their lives!”

What a fucking genius at solving cases!

Lu Ying felt that asking Wang Daxia’s opinion was worse than asking a dog.

At least dogs weren’t afraid of ghosts and wouldn’t attribute everything to supernatural nonsense.

Wang Daxia became more animated as he spoke: “It’s definitely vengeful spirits seeking lives. Chen Dalang died after sunset, Chen Qianhu died at midnight—all at night. Vengeful spirits don’t dare come out during the day; they specifically come out at night to claim lives.”

“Wang Pozi was dragged into the water by vengeful spirits while washing clothes at night and drowned.”

“The book boy was struck dead by lightning summoned by vengeful spirits casting spells during a stormy night.”

Lu Ying couldn’t stand listening to Wang Daxia’s supernatural babbling disrupting morale any longer and angrily shouted, “Get lost! Stop spouting nonsense here.”

“Fine, I’ll leave.” Wang Daxia, covered head to toe in protective talismans and clutching a bronze Buddha, got down from the carriage and climbed onto his horse. “This place has vengeful spirits—I don’t want to stay here for even a moment. Farewell!”

Wang Daxia hastily spurred his horse and departed. Lu Ying didn’t stop him, thinking it was better for this plague god to go as far away as possible.

Lu Ying gave orders: “Clean up the remains and take them to the Embroidered Uniform Guard office. These are all evidence.”

Wang Daxia rode hard all the way, entering the city through Zhengyang Gate, his expression changing from fear to anxiety.

Running from the south to the north of the city, his horse was nearly foaming at the mouth from exhaustion. When he finally reached Drum Tower West Slanted Street, he went to a clothing shop to buy women’s clothing and changed into it, then led his horse to the Santong Inn.

Wang Daxia, now dressed as a woman, dismounted and tossed the reins to the servant at the entrance. “Feed my horse some food and water, and take good care of it.”

Wang Daxia rented a room and gave the inn servant half a string of coins as a running fee, suppressing his voice as he said, “I’m feeling unwell. Go to Tianshui Lane and bring a female doctor named Wei Caiwei here to treat me.”

The servant, having received the money, ran off quickly. Tianshui Lane wasn’t far from here, and there were only two households—one was Wang Qianhu’s residence, and the other was a small courtyard with a triangular flag hanging at the entrance reading “Gynecological Master.”

This must be it!

The servant knocked on the door. “Is Doctor Wei home?”

Wei Caiwei opened the door, and the servant explained that a guest had specifically requested her to come treat an illness.

Wei Caiwei didn’t want to go internally. She was pondering how to reconcile with Wang Daxia, but since she had already entered the Embroidered Uniform Guard’s suspect list, she had to act like a diligent traveling doctor new to the capital to avoid arousing suspicion.

A traveling doctor who hadn’t yet made a name for herself couldn’t possibly turn away business.

Wei Caiwei shouldered her silk bag, put on a hat to shield against willow catkins, and adjusted her parasol. “Let’s go.”

At Santong Inn, Heavenly Room Number Two.

The servant gently knocked on the door. “Guest, Doctor Wei has arrived.”

From inside came a woman’s soft, delicate voice that seemed somewhat tired: “Let her come in. The door isn’t locked.”

The servant smiled obsequiously. “The inn can help guests prepare and brew medicine—just give me a little tip.”

Wang Daxia suppressed his voice. “I know. You can go now.”

The servant left. Wei Caiwei pushed open the door and saw a graceful beauty standing by the window. She was greatly shocked: she looks so much like Wang Daxia! But I’ve never heard him mention any sisters?

“Quickly lock the door tight.” Wang Daxia returned to his normal tone.

Wang Daxia’s sudden transformation gave Wei Caiwei an ominous feeling: This dead ghost husband got a room and tricked me into coming here—what is he trying to do!

Could it be… an affair?

This bastard!

Wang Daxia said, “You are Second Miss He. To avenge your sister, you consecutively killed Wang Po, Chen Dalang, and Chen Qianhu—three people.”

Being suddenly exposed in her true identity was like a bolt from the blue. Fortunately, Wei Caiwei had the mental age of fifty, having experienced life’s vicissitudes with sufficient composure. Though her heart was churning like boiling porridge, she outwardly feigned surprise:

“What nonsense is Wang Yanei talking about? What’s with this women’s clothing?”

Wang Daxia’s first attempt at intimidation failed, but he believed in his judgment. “Don’t pretend in front of me. I’m here to save you.”

Wang Daxia recounted how yesterday the Embroidered Uniform Guard Commander Lu Bing had asked him to help assist in solving the case, how he went to the Huaqing Pool gambling house to interrogate Chen Dalang’s book boy, and how the book boy confessed to the scandal of his former master Chen Dalang violating his ex-fiancée Second Miss He.

“…We went overnight to West Sanli River to find the accomplice Wang Pozi, only to discover it was exactly Wang Pozi’s seventh day after death. Today the Embroidered Uniform Guard opened your He family’s tomb and examined the corpses, confirming your sister died pregnant with two lives, while your coffin was empty.”

I didn’t expect my dead ghost husband would help the Embroidered Uniform Guard track me down!

This really is a case of the great river washing away the Dragon King’s temple—family members not recognizing family members!

In this lifetime, before we husband and wife have even recognized each other, must we practice righteousness by eliminating relatives!

Wei Caiwei was nearly exploding with anger inside, but still had to feign composure: “I don’t know what you’re talking about. My name is Wei Caiwei, from Tieling. I have household registration papers as proof. If the Embroidered Uniform Guard doesn’t believe me, they can send a carrier pigeon to Tieling Guard to investigate my background. My family history is completely clean and can withstand scrutiny. Don’t make unfounded accusations against innocent people.”

“I saw the suspect list in Lu Ying’s carriage.” Wang Daxia stared intently at Wei Caiwei. “Among all the guests who stayed at Sijia Inn that night, only your age matches Second Miss He’s—both seventeen years old. Single women staying at inns are rare to begin with, mostly middle-aged women with servants accompanying them.”

“Moreover, from your first day entering the capital, three murder cases occurred in succession. Are all these just coincidences? If I can think of this, the Embroidered Uniform Guard certainly can too. You’re the prime suspect—you’re in great danger now.”

Wang Daxia pointed toward the window. “Although Lu Ying is rigid and old-fashioned, upright like an old scholar, he’s meticulous and highly suspicious. Yesterday he appeared to release you, but actually sent secret agents to follow you. Now your every move is under his control, so I didn’t dare visit you at home. I simply disguised myself as a woman and had the inn servant bring you to the inn to talk.”

Hearing all this, Wei Caiwei thought: This kid finally shows some of the wisdom he had when he was the Eastern Depot Director in his previous life.

Wei Caiwei said, “I’m not any Second Miss He—you’ve got the wrong person. Even if the Embroidered Uniform Guard interrogates me a second time, or even sends people to Tieling to investigate my background, I’m not afraid. Many people in my hometown will testify for me. Though I’m unknown in the capital, in Tieling I often have patients who seek me out at Ivory Mountain for treatment.”

Wang Daxia said urgently, “Even if you were the Living Immortal of Tieling, it wouldn’t help! When has the Embroidered Uniform Guard ever been reasonable with people? Lu Ying is eager to win and solve the case quickly to gain merit before Commander Lu. If he arrests you and takes you to the Embroidered Uniform Guard prison, that prison has a notorious reputation—after a full set of torture, no matter how tough the bones, they can’t withstand it, let alone a delicate pretty widow like you?”

“Whether you’re the real culprit or really Second Miss He, if the Embroidered Uniform Guard says you are, then you are.”

This left Wei Caiwei speechless.

She was confident she hadn’t left any evidence—no witnesses or physical proof.

But the Embroidered Uniform Guard not following evidence or reason wasn’t exactly rare.

The Embroidered Uniform Guard was fully capable of forcing confessions through torture, and even if she gritted her teeth and refused to confess, they could still force her to put her bloody handprint on a confession.

Wang Daxia took off the women’s clothing. “Let’s quickly exchange clothes. I’ll disguise myself as you, lower the hat veil, adjust the parasol, and lead away the surveillance. You disguise yourself as me, take the key to check out, and ride my horse to leave the capital.”

“Hurry up and undress. Once Lu Ying sends people to arrest you, you won’t be able to leave.” Wang Daxia urged, “You’ve helped me several times—consider this me repaying the favor… Besides, if I were Second Miss He, I’d also kill all those bastards.”

“You must leave right now—you can’t go back to pack your belongings.” Wang Daxia reached into his sleeve’s hidden layer and pulled out a banknote. “This is a five-hundred tael silver note I have deposited at Santong Bank. Use it sparingly—it’s enough to keep you comfortable for life.”

Author’s Note: Today Wang Yanei’s husband power is at MAX. Wei Caiwei comes from the big city Tieling. The founding emperor of the Ming Dynasty, Emperor Hongwu, established Tieling Guard here, which is how it got its name—just like how Tianjin is called Tianjin Guard. Caiwei lives at Ivory Mountain in Tieling, so at this moment, battle songs should be playing: “My hometown is right in this village~~~” Instantly down-to-earth.

As for Wei Caiwei’s opportunities during those ten years in the Northeast, I’ve actually been dropping crazy hints about who the benefactor she met was, but everyone missed it. No worries though, I’ll gradually reveal it. Actually, Tieling is already a very obvious clue…