When Wang Daxia knocked on the door, Wei Caiwei was weak and powerless, like a lamb awaiting slaughter. The black-clothed man firmly covered her mouth, leaving only her nose exposed for breathing.

Wei Caiwei’s consciousness remained clear. Hearing Wang Daxia’s voice, she instinctively struggled and writhed, making muffled sounds.

But Wang Daxia, separated by the door, didn’t hear Wei Caiwei’s warning.

After a series of clattering noises suddenly fell silent, Wang Daxia became very worried and continued knocking on the door: “Doctor Wei, what’s wrong? Did you fall and faint? Tell me quickly. If you don’t speak up, I’ll assume you’ve collapsed. It’s the middle of the night and I’m about to kick down a widow’s door—don’t blame me for being a rogue.”

Seeing that Wang Daxia was about to break down the door, the black-clothed man drew his blade, pointing the tip at the windpipe on Wei Caiwei’s neck, whispering: “If you don’t want to die, send him away. If you dare call for help, I’ll pierce your throat with one stab. Blink if you understand.”

A wise woman doesn’t court immediate disaster. Wei Caiwei blinked hard.

Outside the door, Wang Daxia called: “Still not answering me? I’ll count to three. One, two—”

The black-clothed man released his palm. Wei Caiwei said: “I’m fine. You should go.”

Wang Daxia pressed against the door crack and said: “What happened to you just now? Why did it take you so long to answer me?”

The blade tip pierced Wei Caiwei’s neck skin, and a thread-like line of blood trickled downward.

The black-clothed man was warning her that he could take her life at any moment.

Wei Caiwei shrank her neck backward. “The room was too dark. When I entered and was looking for a flint to light the lamp, I accidentally kicked over the table and broke the oil lamp.”

Wang Daxia sniffed at the door crack like a dog, using all his strength to smell.

Candlelight was bright and odorless but somewhat expensive. Common people generally couldn’t afford candles and mostly used oil lamps. The lamp oil they used was mostly crudely refined soybean oil, which had a distinctive beany smell.

Wang Daxia smelled the soybean oil and felt relieved. He asked: “Are you injured?”

Wei Caiwei said: “No, I just dirtied the floor. I need to scrub the oil stains properly, or I’ll slip when walking.”

Wang Daxia asked: “Did you slip just now?”

The blade tip approached her neck again, and the black-clothed man shook his head.

Wei Caiwei said like a marionette: “No.”

Wang Daxia saw that there was still no light from the door crack and asked: “Why haven’t you lit the lamp yet? Do you only have one oil lamp at home? How can you clean the floor in complete darkness? Should I go home and have a maid bring you some candles?”

The black-clothed man whispered: “Tell him to get lost!”

Wei Caiwei said: “No need. I have a lamp each in my upstairs bedroom and study. I’ll go get one now. It’s getting late, and there’s always gossip at a widow’s door. I can’t open the door for an outside man at night. Please leave.”

Wang Daxia felt very wronged. “You’re like a dog biting Lü Dongbin—not recognizing a good person’s heart. I’ve helped you repeatedly, yet you turn around and find me meddlesome. You don’t need to drive me away; I’ll leave on my own.”

Wei Caiwei said: “The twenty packets of cooling plums that Commander Lu wants, I’ll have them all ready tonight. Please trouble yourself to come early tomorrow to take them away. The weather is hot, and I need to go out early to practice medicine. I can’t wait for you at home too long.”

Hearing this, Wang Daxia’s heart immediately turned cold!

Commander Lu had clearly asked Wei Caiwei to make a list of today’s losses and send it to the Embroidered Uniform Guard office for compensation. Where had he mentioned any cooling plums!

This was trouble!

Wang Daxia had just deceived Lu Ying at the Embroidered Uniform Guard office through gestures and guessing. The understanding was still there, so he said: “What terrible luck—can’t even sleep in. Got it. I’ll have the maid wake me early. I’m leaving.”

Wang Daxia patted his horse’s belly, driving the two steeds forward. The sound of hoofbeats grew distant, as if he had really left, but actually the horses had gone while Wang Daxia remained.

The main gate had a door bolt; forcing it wouldn’t work. Wang Daxia quietly circled around to the back courtyard.

The courtyard walls of small households were low. With his long legs and agility, Wang Daxia climbed the courtyard wall like a monkey and flipped into the yard.

However, the door from the back courtyard to the small building was closed.

But this didn’t stump Wang Daxia. He skillfully retrieved a ladder from a bamboo grove in the courtyard, climbed up to the second floor of the building, and flipped onto the balcony.

After all, he was the landlord and knew this house’s structure too well. He had been climbing up and down since childhood.

The weather was humid and stuffy. Before leaving home, Wei Caiwei had opened both the north and south windows of the second-floor bedroom a crack for ventilation, which wouldn’t let rain in.

Wang Daxia climbed through the window into the bedroom, quietly opened the room door, and wanted to go downstairs to rescue Wei Caiwei.

But the house had been uninhabited for a long time, and the door hinges hadn’t been oiled. With just a light push, it made a creaking sound!

Downstairs, the black-clothed man heard the hoofbeats fade away, put down his knife, and took out prepared rope to tie up Wei Caiwei’s hands and feet.

He had just tied a tight knot around Wei Caiwei’s ankle when he heard the noise from the upstairs door. The black-clothed man immediately grabbed his knife and held it to her neck. This time the blade cut through skin and flesh—a few hair’s breadths deeper and even her windpipe would be severed!

Dead husband, can’t you move more quietly!

Wei Caiwei said: “I live alone as a widow; there’s no one else in the house. The weather is humid and stuffy, so the bedroom windows are open for ventilation. It’s just the sound of wind blowing the door. Please don’t harm me, sir. I have some modest wealth that I’m willing to offer entirely to you. If it’s not enough, I have houses and land in my hometown that I’m willing to sell and give to you. I only ask that you spare my life.”

The black-clothed man pricked up his ears to listen. It was indeed a cross-breeze, so he put down the knife and took out a candle he had brought, lighting it with a flint. He had clearly come prepared.

The candlelight suddenly blazed. Wei Caiwei’s eyes couldn’t take it and instinctively closed. After a while, she adjusted to the light and opened her eyes. “It’s you?”

It was actually Zhou Xiaoqi of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, a subordinate of the late Chen Qianhu.

He was also the minor military officer who, after Chen Dalang’s throat was cut, frantically pursued Wang Daxia across Wanping and Daxing counties, causing the Embroidered Uniform Guard and the Northern City Military Commissioner to brawl in the streets.

Wei Caiwei remembered him because when Wang Daxia ran to the Shuntian Prefecture office to beat the injustice drum, it was also Zhou Xiaoqi who shot a cold arrow, intending to kill Wang Daxia on the spot!

Fortunately, Wei Caiwei had been worried about her dead husband’s safety at the time and wasn’t just watching the excitement like other passersby. She observed in all directions and listened carefully, discovered Zhou Xiaoqi’s treachery, and shouted a warning, helping Wang Daxia dodge the arrow.

This Zhou Xiaoqi was a mad dog under Chen Qianhu, biting anyone he saw.

Not satisfied with nearly shooting Wang Daxia that night, after Chen Qianhu’s sudden death, thinking it was because of drinking a cup of tea at the Shuntian Prefecture office, he again led men to surround Prefect Wang the Mudfish, fighting with the martial head constable and other officers of the Shuntian Prefecture.

Therefore, Wei Caiwei remembered his face.

“Since you still recognize me, you should understand that I snuck into your house definitely not for money.” Zhou Xiaoqi laid out a set of delicate torture instruments on the arhat couch and said:

“Although the murder case of Chen Qianhu and his son falls under the Embroidered Uniform Guard’s jurisdiction, Commander Lu won’t let me touch this case, saying I’m too impulsive. He handed the case over to the wet-behind-the-ears Lu Ying. Hmph, I heard Lu Ying is his bastard son, using the name of distant nephew to make a living in the Embroidered Uniform Guard. Lord Lu is abusing his power for personal gain, wanting to give his bastard son a chance to solve a case and gain merit.”

Zhou Xiaoqi looked aggrieved and indignant. “Lord Lu even docked my pay and demoted me for brawling in the streets with the Northern City Military Commissioner and Shuntian Prefecture!”

Wei Caiwei looked terrified: “Zhou… Lord Zhou, I sympathize with Lord Zhou’s experience, but what does all this have to do with this common woman? I’m innocent.”

“Before applying torture instruments, every suspect claims innocence.” Zhou Xiaoqi picked out an iron tool resembling scissors from the torture instruments, but with smooth sides and no cutting edges. He waved it in front of Wei Caiwei’s eyes and said:

“Chen Qianhu was my benefactor. Lu Ying treats this case as an opportunity for fame and fortune, but only I am determined to solve the case, find the real murderer, and avenge Chen Qianhu and his son. I’ve been following Lu Ying’s investigation. When they went to the Huaqing Pool underground gambling den to drag out the book boy for interrogation, when they went to West Three-Li River outside the city to find Wang Pozi, the book boy’s death by lightning, and today’s noon grave-digging and coffin-opening autopsy—I know everything clearly.”

Zhou Xiaoqi used the iron tool to provocatively lift Wei Caiwei’s chin. “You’re seventeen, the same age as Second Miss He. What a coincidence that in the seven days since you entered the capital, Wang Pozi, Chen Dalang, and Chen Qianhu all died. You know medical arts, and on the night Chen Qianhu died of poisoning, you happened to be staying at the Sijia Inn at Shuntian Prefecture, with your room window facing the stable. You are the prime suspect.”

Wei Caiwei’s chin trembled. “I’m not! Really not! Otherwise, how could Commander Lu release me to practice medicine? With your Embroidered Uniform Guard’s methods, you would have already imprisoned me in the imperial prison for severe interrogation. I’m truly innocent.”

Zhou Xiaoqi picked up the candle, the transparent wax swaying in the center of the wick. “Lu Ying is hypocritical to the extreme. He wants to gain merit but is constrained by reputation, despising torture methods, so he didn’t torture you. But I’m different. I was born for this. I’m too lazy to investigate thread by thread. Without some methods, how would you admit it?”

Wei Caiwei’s hands and feet were bound, completely unable to fight back, but she struggled to wriggle on the ground, trying to position herself against the south wall—because this faced the staircase directly. Zhou Xiaoqi’s gaze was entirely on her, and he didn’t have eyes in the back of his head to see the staircase, so Wang Daxia could quietly come down from the second floor to rescue her.

Wei Caiwei writhed to the south wall like an earthworm washed out of its burrow after rain, continuing to plead with Zhou Xiaoqi: “I’m not the murderer, but I’m flesh and blood, naturally afraid of pain. Under extreme torture, I might confess under duress. What meaning would that have?”

“Lord Zhou just said clearly that you don’t seek promotion or merit, only to find the real murderer and avenge Chen Qianhu and his son to repay Chen Qianhu’s kindness. If I’m forced to confess and wrongly sentenced to death, taking the real murderer’s place, wouldn’t you be letting the real murderer go free?”

Zhou Xiaoqi enjoyed Wei Caiwei’s wretchedness, seeing the beautiful young widow who had been noble and cold like a female Bodhisattva during the day now humble as dust before him. How satisfying!

So Zhou Xiaoqi didn’t stop Wei Caiwei’s futile wriggling. He enjoyed this cat-and-mouse feeling.

Zhou Xiaoqi laughed: “Better to kill a thousand wrongly than let one escape. If I pry open your mouth tonight and make you confess, I’ll solve the case before Lu Ying and achieve great merit. If I can’t pry open your mouth and you’re indeed innocent, I’ll kill you, create the appearance of burglary and murder, then find the next suspect. One by one, I’ll always find the murderer.”

This Zhou Xiaoqi and Chen Qianhu were truly birds of a feather—utterly conscienceless and vicious!

At this moment, Wang Daxia hiding in the bedroom had already taken off his shoes, wearing only socks, silently crawling down the stairs like a cat.

By the faint candlelight, Wei Caiwei vaguely saw a black shadow moving down the staircase. Her heart settled slightly—Wang Daxia was coming to rescue her.

Just like in her previous life.

Wei Caiwei tried her best to stall Zhou Xiaoqi, squeezing out a few tears: “Please, I really am not the murderer.”

“Whether you are or not, we’ll know after interrogation.” Zhou Xiaoqi’s pupils suddenly contracted as he pressed the scissor-like tool against her left eye socket!

When the eye is suddenly stimulated, it instinctively closes. Her right eye closed, but no matter how hard Wei Caiwei tried, her left eye wouldn’t shut.

Because Zhou Xiaoqi’s tool was forcibly holding open her upper and lower eyelids, exposing her large eye.

Wei Caiwei trembled all over, as if thrown into an icy river: “What… what are you going to do?”

Zhou Xiaoqi used the tool with his left hand to hold open her eyelids, raised the candle with his right hand, and swayed the transparent wax, dripping it on her neck.

“Ah!”

Wei Caiwei let out a cry of alarm. Her neck skin was particularly tender and sensitive, instantly reddened by the scalding wax.

Zhou Xiaoqi said proudly: “You only have Wang Manor as a neighbor. In such a deep mansion with high walls, even if you scream your throat raw, no one will hear.”

“Does it feel burning hot?” Zhou Xiaoqi held the candle, slowly approaching Wei Caiwei’s forced-open left eyeball: “Burning your neck was just an appetizer. The main course comes next. Doctor Wei has a pair of beautiful big eyes—what a pity.”

Zhou Xiaoqi’s flickering candlelight was like a serpent’s forked tongue, flashing long and short, savoring the prey’s fear: “One drop of wax and your left eye will be burned blind.”

Wei Caiwei cried: “I confess! I killed them all! I’m guilty! I’ll sign and make my mark right now. I admit to everything.”

Zhou Xiaoqi clicked his tongue twice: “Getting scared before we even start. No rush, let’s take our time and chat about how you killed three people in succession. Let’s see if the details match up. To make you obedient and not talk nonsense, I’ll first blind your left eye so you know what pain is and will be obedient.”

With that, Zhou Xiaoqi tilted the candle in his hand. The transparent wax cheered as it rushed toward Wei Caiwei’s eyeball!

At the critical moment, a hand reached over, covering Wei Caiwei’s left eye. The wax dripped on the back of the hand, solidifying into semi-transparent white chunks.

It was Wang Daxia’s hand.

Wang Daxia threw a punch at Zhou Xiaoqi’s face, then lifted the fallen table and smashed it at his head, instantly opening a jam shop on his head. Two table legs broke off.

Suffering a heavy blow, Zhou Xiaoqi immediately collapsed.

Wang Daxia set up the fallen candle, picked up the small knife from the ground, and was about to untie Wei Caiwei when she urgently said: “Tie him up first, don’t worry about me.”

If Zhou Xiaoqi was feigning unconsciousness and counterattacked Wang Daxia who was rescuing her, there would be no one left to save them both.

“But I need rope to tie him up.” Wang Daxia used the knife to cut the rope binding her wrists, then lifted the broken table to smash Zhou Xiaoqi again.

Zhou Xiaoqi still lay on the ground motionless—he seemed truly unconscious.

Wang Daxia turned Zhou Xiaoqi’s arms behind his back, planning to bind his hands behind him.

Wei Caiwei saw Zhou Xiaoqi’s right hand twitch and thought something was wrong. She quickly reached out and forcefully pushed Wang Daxia away!

Whoosh! A sleeve arrow flew from Zhou Xiaoqi’s sleeve, thudding into the roof beam.

Zhou Xiaoqi could really endure—taking a beating while continuing to feign unconsciousness, fooling Wang Daxia and nearly hitting his target.

Wang Daxia was pushed to the ground by Wei Caiwei, escaping disaster.

Zhou Xiaoqi pressed his advantage, flipping over and aiming the sleeve arrow on his wrist at Wang Daxia again.

Wei Caiwei was frantic. Though her hands were untied, her legs were still bound and she couldn’t walk to help. In desperation, she puffed out her cheeks and blew out the candle!

The room instantly plunged into darkness. Wang Daxia also took the opportunity to roll away, escaping again.

Moonlight filtered through the Korean paper covering the windows. Originally, outlines could be vaguely seen, but human eyes need a brief time to adjust from dim light to darkness to recover night vision. So although Zhou Xiaoqi had sleeve arrows, he was momentarily “blind” and lost his target.

Zhou Xiaoqi was furious—this cunning, crafty little widow!

The little widow’s legs were bound and she couldn’t walk. So Zhou Xiaoqi, relying on his recent memory, aimed his sleeve arrow at the south wall where Wei Caiwei was and activated the mechanism.

Another thud—the sleeve arrow embedded in the wooden floor. If it had hit a person, it should have made a muffled sound penetrating flesh.

Though Wei Caiwei couldn’t walk, she could still roll. When she blew out the candle, she had rolled under the incense table in the main hall.

In the darkness, Wei Caiwei didn’t dare breathe loudly, quietly crouching under the incense table, ears pricked to listen for sounds and judge Zhou Xiaoqi’s position.

Before night vision returned, all three dared not move, fearing to expose their positions.

But once night vision recovered, Zhou Xiaoqi, armed with weapons, would still have the upper hand against the unarmed Wang Daxia and immobile Wei Caiwei.

They had to subdue Zhou Xiaoqi before then.

Wang Daxia fumbled in his sleeve pocket for the small bronze Buddha he had “requisitioned” from Tian’an Temple, silently praying: “Buddha, I apologize. As they say, saving one life is better than building a seven-story pagoda. I’m forced into this and have no choice but to offend you, old master.”

Wang Daxia threw the bronze Buddha toward the staircase!

Thud!

The bronze Buddha hit the stairs, sounding like someone heavily stepping on them.

Zhou Xiaoqi aimed his sleeve arrow at the staircase and activated the mechanism with a click. A sleeve arrow shot through the air!

At the same time, Wang Daxia identified the direction of the mechanism sound and lunged over with the broken table board, delivering a vicious strike!

This time Wang Daxia used full force. With a loud crack, a black shadow was sent flying and crashed into the south wall.

Wang Daxia learned his lesson and didn’t give Zhou Xiaoqi another chance to catch his breath. He pummeled him repeatedly until the wooden board in his hands was completely shattered.

Both Wang Daxia and Wei Caiwei’s eyes had adjusted to the night light and could see general outlines. Wang Daxia saw Wei Caiwei hiding under the incense table.

Learning from experience, Wang Daxia first removed the sleeve arrow from Zhou Xiaoqi’s wrist, then tested his breathing—not dead, still had weak breath.

Wang Daxia simply opened the door bolt and opened the door, letting moonlight shine in. Under the moonlight, the sharp knife that had cut Wei Caiwei glinted coldly.

Wang Daxia picked up the knife, untied Wei Caiwei’s legs, then took the rope and first bound hands, then legs, trussing up the unconscious Zhou Xiaoqi tight as a dumpling ready for the pot.

After finishing all this, Wang Daxia turned back to see Wei Caiwei still crouched under the incense table, motionless. He hurriedly asked: “Where are you injured?”

Wei Caiwei said: “I’m not injured. When I entered earlier, Zhou Xiaoqi covered my mouth and nose, and I inhaled a drug. My hands and feet are weak. Rolling around on the ground already exhausted all my strength. I can’t stand up now.”

“That beast!” Wang Daxia kicked the unconscious Zhou Xiaoqi, sending him rolling three times, then crouched down: “Do you mind if I carry you to the arhat couch?”

Wei Caiwei: We’ve embraced countless times in the previous life, okay!

Wei Caiwei: “Do you think I enjoy crouching here with spider webs and dust?”

Wang Daxia said: “I mean, I’m only carrying you out of goodwill and heroic intentions, with no romantic feelings between man and woman. I won’t take responsibility for this embrace. I saved you, but you don’t need to repay me with your body. Our social statuses are too different—I would never marry a widow. Think about it.”

Wang Daxia was truly a conversation killer. With one speech, he shattered the harmonious atmosphere of their recent cooperation, shared life-and-death struggle, and united effort. Reliable for less than a cup of tea’s time.

Wei Caiwei thought: You really are a gentleman, heh.

Wei Caiwei said: “Young Master Wang shouldn’t be so narcissistic. My heart is narrow and only has room for my late husband.”

Wang Daxia thought: The little widow’s stubborn—clearly treating me as her dead husband’s substitute. That night she failed to seduce me, then turned her back on me. Tsk, women.

Wang Daxia feared ghosts. He first bowed to Wang Erlang’s spirit tablet on the incense table: “You saw and heard everything just now. I have no improper thoughts toward your widow. I’m carrying her purely out of righteousness. Don’t come settle accounts with me tonight.”

Wei Caiwei thought: Bowing to yourself—how unnecessary.

Wang Daxia appeased the ghost, then lifted Wei Caiwei by the waist: “You look thin and delicate, but you’re quite heavy.”

Now he was being picky about weight!

Wei Caiwei said: “You won’t be troubled with this in the future. Whether I get fatter has nothing to do with you.”

Wang Daxia placed Wei Caiwei on the arhat couch: “Wait a moment. I’ll go call the night patrol from the Northern City Military Commissioner to take Zhou Xiaoqi to the Military Commissioner’s prison.”

Wei Caiwei said: “This case is under the Embroidered Uniform Guard’s jurisdiction. Why send him to the Military Commissioner’s prison?”

Wang Daxia replied: “Who knows if Zhou Xiaoqi has accomplices? I suspect Lu Ying also has his spies, otherwise how would he know our investigation process so clearly?”

Wang Daxia walked to the door. Wei Caiwei called out: “Wait.”

Wang Daxia turned: “What now?”

Wei Caiwei said: “What if Zhou Xiaoqi has accomplices who sneak in while you’re getting help? I have no ability to resist—I’d be meat on their chopping block.”

That made sense. The little widow was thoughtful and spoke reasonably.

Wang Daxia returned to the arhat couch and half-crouched: “I’ll carry you on my back. We’ll seek help together.”

Wei Caiwei nodded, moved close, and wrapped her arms around his neck.

Wang Daxia carried Wei Caiwei on his back. When his back touched her soft chest, a little deer in his heart began frantically hitting walls.

Wei Caiwei felt Wang Daxia’s body stiffen. She wanted to arch her back to avoid the awkward contact, but she had no strength and could only pretend ignorance, lying limply on his spine.

Wang Daxia hooked his hands under Wei Caiwei’s thighs and stood up, facing the spirit tablet of “late husband Wang Erlang” on the north wall’s incense table.

Forgive me, forgive me. I didn’t mean it! I’m protecting your widow’s safety!

Wang Daxia feared ghosts. The little romantic stirring that had just begun instantly disappeared. The deer in his heart stopped hitting walls and obediently grazed.

Wang Daxia carried Wei Caiwei out the door, walking in Sweet Water Lane. With the little widow on his back swaying with his steps, and no spirit tablet in sight to constrain him, Wang Daxia suddenly felt his entire body except his back had lost all sensation.

It seemed all his nerves had concentrated on his back. He no longer felt the little widow was heavy—light as a feather, like a cloud resting on his spine. Even the bluestone path of Sweet Water Lane became soft and cloud-like, making his steps feel like floating on air.

With ten thousand deer stampeding in his heart, Wang Daxia couldn’t control the herd as they crashed about in all directions.

Previously, he’d complained that Sweet Water Lane was too long. Now he felt the road was as short as a tongue—his long legs could cross it in one stride.

At the end of Sweet Water Lane was Drum Tower West Diagonal Street, one of the northern city’s main thoroughfares.

To create the illusion of departure, Wang Daxia had released the two horses. Two masterless steeds wandering the streets during curfew immediately attracted the attention of the night patrol from the Northern City Military Commissioner. Seeing the Embroidered Uniform Guard markings on the saddles, they became alert and searched carefully.

Wang Daxia, carrying Wei Caiwei, had just emerged from Sweet Water Lane when he encountered the Northern City Military Commissioner leading the two horses. What a coincidence—tonight’s duty officer was his own father, Wang Qianhu.

Lu Bing kept his promise and spoke with Wang Qianhu, saying your second son was extraordinarily talented, that he’d borrow him for a few days, and not to confine him anymore.

Wang Qianhu hadn’t expected the wastrel to gain this important person’s favor. Of course he agreed, thinking his son had finally found the right path. But he never expected his son to be carrying what appeared to be a weak woman in the middle of the night!

Looking at the woman’s conspicuous mourning hairdo—it was the tenant widow!

Wang Qianhu was a strict father and immediately scolded: “You beast! In just two days, you’ve committed the crime of bullying men and women!”

This angry roar immediately scattered Wang Daxia’s stampeding deer herd. He felt wronged and angry: “Father, is this how you see me? You scold me without even asking, without distinguishing right from wrong! If I’m a beast, then what are you?”

Wang Qianhu was nearly knocked off his horse by his son’s retort. Wei Caiwei, lying on Wang Daxia’s shoulder, said: “Wang Qianhu misunderstands. A villain tried to harm this common woman. Fortunately, Young Master Wang came to the rescue and defeated the villain. This woman was drugged and cannot walk. Young Master Wang is carrying me to seek help from the Northern City Military Commissioner.”

Wang Daxia said: “I’ve already subdued the criminal and tied him up in the house. You should quickly go capture this person.”

Wang Qianhu held up his lantern for a closer look, seeing blood on his son’s shoulder and two wounds on the little widow’s neck. The cut near her windpipe was still seeping blood. He realized he had misunderstood his son.

However, as a strict father maintaining his dignity, he would never admit his mistake publicly. Wang Qianhu said: “Why didn’t you say so earlier? You argue with me when seeking help.”

Hearing this, if not for the person on his back, Wang Daxia would have stormed off immediately. He said: “Go arrest the person quickly. The criminal is Zhou Xiaoqi from the Embroidered Uniform Guard—the one who was chasing me all over the streets. This matter must also be reported to Commander Lu of the Embroidered Uniform Guard.”

At Wei Caiwei’s house, over ten lanterns lit the place bright as day. Scattered wooden boards, broken glass lamp shades, greasy soybean oil on the floor, and the blue-glowing sleeve arrows in the floor and staircase, along with Zhou Xiaoqi beaten to a pulp and trussed like a dumpling in the corner, all recorded the thrilling battle that had just taken place.

Wei Caiwei said: “The arrows are likely poisoned. Please don’t touch them with your hands. In the incense table’s left second drawer is a celadon bottle containing wound medicine. Please bring it over to apply externally and stop the bleeding.”

Wang Daxia hadn’t seen clearly in the moonlight earlier. Only now did he notice Wei Caiwei’s neck injury and immediately ran to get medicine to stop the bleeding: “Why didn’t you say so earlier?”

Wei Caiwei said: “It’s just a surface wound. I was too tense earlier and forgot about the neck injury.”

After all, it was his late wife’s dowry. Wang Qianhu looked at the mess on the floor and said: “Doctor Wei, you’re injured and haven’t recovered your strength yet. We don’t know if the criminal has accomplices seeking revenge. You shouldn’t live alone here. Distant relatives are not as good as close neighbors. If Doctor Wei doesn’t mind, please stay at our humble abode tonight. We have maids and servants to care for you. Even if there are other criminals, they wouldn’t dare intrude on our residence to harm you.”

As long as he wasn’t speaking to his second son, Wang Qianhu was very polite to everyone. Even to Wei Caiwei, this street doctor and commoner, he was courteous.

If the Wang family mansion, passed down for five generations, was a “humble abode,” then Wei Caiwei’s room was a snail’s nest.

Wei Caiwei happened to want to get close to the Wang family and immediately accepted the invitation: “Thank you, Wang Qianhu. This common woman is extremely grateful.”

Wang Daxia ordered someone to bring a sedan chair to send Wei Caiwei home.

Wang Daxia wanted to follow the sedan chair home but was stopped by his father: “What time is it, and you still want to sleep! You’re a working man now. When the Embroidered Uniform Guard people come, you need to explain the whole process clearly.”

With Wei Caiwei not beside him, Wang Daxia didn’t need to hold back: “Father, am I your enemy or your son? I saved someone tonight and achieved merit. Not asking for rewards when there’s merit or punishment when there’s fault—I never expect you to praise me. Do you know I nearly died under the criminal’s sleeve arrow tonight!”

Wang Daxia angrily jumped onto the table, holding up a lantern to illuminate the dark roof beam where the blue-glowing poisoned arrow gleamed coldly: “If Doctor Wei hadn’t desperately pushed me away, I would have died with Doctor Wei, killed by the criminal. You probably wouldn’t have discovered my death until the corpse smell drifted home!”

“You scoundrel! After just two days of work, you dare argue with me! If you work in the Embroidered Uniform Guard for a year, will you want to ascend to heaven!” Wang Qianhu scolded: “Cursing yourself to death in front of your father—utterly unfilial!”

“Anyway, no matter what I do, you can find a reason to scold me. Even a harsh mother-in-law picking on her daughter-in-law isn’t this bad! Since that’s the case—” Wang Daxia simply lay flat on the arhat couch and said:

“Scold away, whatever. Just pretend you’re humming a lullaby to put me to sleep. If I talk back even once, I won’t be surnamed Wang!”

Wang Qianhu was so angry he was about to discipline his son on the spot. Mu Baihu, who had rushed over after hearing the news, grabbed his superior around the waist: “Don’t be angry. Tonight Second Young Master escaped disaster—surviving great danger brings great fortune. This house belonged to the late Madam Wang. Perhaps it was the late Madam Wang’s spirit in heaven protecting Second Young Master. For the sake of the departed, please forgive Second Young Master.”

Wang Daxia heard this and suddenly felt his eyes sting. Even an outsider knew not to discipline his son in his deceased mother’s former residence, yet his father shouted and threatened him here, showing no concern.

Wang Daxia turned over, facing away from his father. If he couldn’t help but shed tears, wouldn’t that be embarrassing?

No matter what, he couldn’t show weakness in front of his father.

Wei Caiwei had rented the house, so Wang Qianhu couldn’t very well go upstairs to the widow’s bedroom and study. So he went to sit in the courtyard, out of sight, out of mind.

Tonight required staying up all night—even dozing wasn’t allowed. Mu Baihu had his subordinates bring late-night snacks and called Wang Daxia to get up and eat.

Wang Daxia was at the age of growing and couldn’t go hungry. He wolfed down a bowl of wontons and a bowl of noodles with soybean paste, eating heartily, not at all like someone who had just been scolded.

Mu Baihu served another bowl of noodles with soybean paste, jerking his chin toward the courtyard and whispering: “Take this to your father.”

Wang Daxia lay flat on the arhat couch again, patting his full belly: “I’m not going. I need to catch some sleep quickly before the Embroidered Uniform Guard people arrive.”

Mu Baihu persuaded: “You’ll inherit the title in the future. If you get a reputation for being unfilial, you might not pass the merit examination when inheriting. Look at yourself—you’re neither scholarly nor martial, and you can’t endure hardship. If you can’t inherit your family’s five-generation hereditary thousand-household rank, what else can you do? Will you drink the northwest wind in the future?”

In the early Ming Dynasty, hereditary military officials and nobles only needed legitimate heirs to inherit titles and receive lifelong salaries.

But by the seventh emperor’s Chenghua reign, the powerful Western Depot director and grand eunuch Wang Zhi, backed by favored consort Wan Guifei, boldly proposed reforms. Nobles inheriting titles needed to first pass the court’s “merit examination.”

The examination tested the heir’s archery, horsemanship, military strategy, character, and so forth, called “merit examination.” Those who failed had their titles stripped and couldn’t inherit, regardless of how many generations the family had maintained their status.

First, this could save national expenditure. Second, it could eliminate the military’s deadweight—those who occupied positions and drew salaries but were incompetent.

Filial piety was key to character. If someone gained a reputation for unfilial behavior, their title would immediately be stripped.

Mu Baihu, who had watched him grow up, understood Wang Daxia. He knew the young man was lazy and unambitious, only wanting to inherit the title and muddle through as an official, living comfortably. He struck directly at his “weakness.”

Indeed, hearing this, Wang Daxia immediately got up and took the bowl: “I’m doing this to inherit the title in the future, not to submit or please him.”

Mu Baihu waved his hand: “I know, I know. Go quickly—the noodles will get soggy.”

Wang Daxia brought late-night snacks to his father, hearing several slapping sounds as Wang Qianhu sat in the courtyard swatting mosquitoes.

Last night’s heavy rain made the weather humid and hot, with mosquitoes rampant. Wang Qianhu sacrificed himself to feed mosquitoes in the courtyard, feeling miserable all over but too proud to go back and get angry with his son.

“Mu Baihu told me to bring you late-night snacks.” Wang Daxia placed the bowl on the stone table in the courtyard, returned to the hall, skillfully retrieved mosquito incense from a drawer in the incense table, lit it, placed it in a censer, then set the censer under the stone table to repel mosquitoes, letting his father eat in peace.

Wang Daxia returned to lie flat on the arhat couch. Mu Baihu nodded approvingly but felt something was off. After thinking, he asked: “How did you know the mosquito incense was in that drawer?”

Because I slept here two nights ago, and the little widow took mosquito incense from there for me.

Wang Daxia was terrible at everything except lying, which he excelled at. He yawned and turned to face the wall: “I’m just lucky. Poisoned arrows missed me twice, and I found the mosquito incense on the first try.”

Wang Manor

In the middle of the night, the master brought home a beautiful woman and instructed the servants to take good care of her. This woke up the household’s mistress, Madam Wang!

Wang Qianhu had three sons total. The eldest and second were born to his first wife, née Zhang. The eldest, Wang Dachun, died at age five. Because the legitimate eldest son died early, the couple doted especially on the second son, Wang Daxia, spoiling him into a wastrel.

Three years ago, Zhang died of illness. Wang Qianhu remarried, taking Wu as his second wife. Wu gave birth to the third son the following autumn, named Wang Daqiu.

Wang Daqiu was still nursing and slept with his wet nurse. Madam Wang had washed and powdered herself, half-awake waiting for her husband to return and work harder to have another child, when she heard a beautiful woman had arrived by sedan chair. She immediately lost all sleepiness.

Wang Qianhu was an upright man who had never taken concubines. Except for his stepson Wang Daxia being incorrigible—Wu was only four years older than Wang Daxia and couldn’t discipline her stepson—young Madam Wang was quite satisfied with her married life.

Suddenly a woman arrived by sedan chair in the middle of the night, reportedly quite beautiful. Madam Wang’s heart was suspended in worry, naturally assuming her husband had someone on the side.

“Come, let’s go see.” Madam Wang got up to dress her hair, not a strand out of place, going to the guest room with the bearing of a legitimate wife to see what was happening. But she saw a widow with a mourning hairdo lying in bed, dictating a prescription:

“…rhinoceros horn half qian, bezoar one qian, antelope horn three xing, musk and borneol each half qian, ophiopogon, acorus, white peony root, realgar each five xing… Two doses, three bowls of water boiled down to one bowl. Thank you.”

A family servant recorded the oral prescription and left overnight to wake up the pharmacy and get the medicine.

Opening a pharmacy required substantial capital. Wei Caiwei was just a street doctor earning consultation fees and selling ready-made pills. For raw medicines requiring decoction, she didn’t stock them at home—patients had to take her prescriptions to specialized raw medicine shops.

Seeing Madam Wang’s surprised expression, Wei Caiwei bowed her head: “Madam Wang, this commoner is surnamed Wei and is a doctor practicing street medicine. I’m the tenant who rented the small building next to your manor. Because I was attacked by villains and couldn’t walk, I cannot rise to greet Madam. Wang Qianhu is benevolent—not despising my humble origins, he had me carried to the manor to rest, with maids and servants caring for me. Disturbing Madam in the deep night, I sincerely apologize.”

Seeing she was a widow doing the unseemly work of a medicine woman—part of the lowest social classes—Madam Wang immediately relaxed her guard. Her husband wouldn’t touch a widow who practiced medicine.

Madam Wang spoke politely: “Distant relatives aren’t as good as close neighbors. We’re all neighbors and should look after each other. Since my husband arranged it, you’re our honored guest. If you need anything, just ask. If the servants don’t serve you well, tell me and I’ll discipline them.”

Wei Caiwei quickly replied: “They’re all very good, helping me get medicine and brew it overnight. I’m grateful.”

“That’s good then.” Madam Wang said: “I see you’re very tired, so I won’t disturb your rest. I’ll visit you again tomorrow.”

Wei Caiwei said: “I cannot see you off properly.”

Madam Wang came aggressively and left disdainfully. Wei Caiwei wasn’t surprised by her arrogant attitude.

In the previous life, Wang Qianhu was caught up in a controversy, lost his five-generation hereditary thousand-household position, was stripped of rank and became a commoner. Even the Wang manor, home to five generations, couldn’t be kept—the whole family was driven out.

Wang Qianhu died of grief and indignation. Wang Daxia castrated himself with a blade to enter the palace as a eunuch seeking advancement. After Wang Qianhu’s mourning period ended, Madam Wang remarried with young Wang Daqiu.

She married none other than Wang Qianhu’s most loyal subordinate, Mu Baihu.

Author’s Note: A ten-thousand-character update delivered in one go for your reading pleasure. Thank you for your subscription support. I’m giving away 20,000 Jinjiang coins to 1,000 randomly selected readers, with the drawing at 10 AM on the 16th.

There’s also a reader benefit today, the 12th—my historical novel “Mu Manor Chronicles” is free for a limited time. Download it completely free within 24 hours if you’re interested.

Wang Daxia’s name borrows the surname of Wang Zhi, the most famous eunuch of the Chenghua era and the rare factory director who died peacefully. The given name comes from his wife Wei Caiwei—”wei” means pea shoots, picked in spring, and after spring comes summer, so the male lead is called Wang Daxia.

Wang Daxia: I protest! I’m the male lead, yet even my name is borrowed from someone else. I want a name that screams “male lead” at first glance. How about “Ximen Shangguan Xiongba Tian·Aragorn·Louis·Montolovsk·Caesar·Jack·Su”?

Lan Zhou: Um, I’d rather change male leads.