Wei Caiwei asked: “How did I hurt you? I’m willing to compensate.”
“I—” Wang Daxia was speechless. He didn’t even know where he had been hurt. If Wei Caiwei hadn’t presented herself as a widow from the beginning, what would things between them have become?
He had even harbored some small hopes. But Wei Caiwei insisted she was a widow, and whenever his young man’s heart stirred, it would be suppressed by this obstacle of widowhood.
He had always thought she was attracted to him because of transference from her deceased husband Wang Erlang, that she saw him as a substitute for her dead husband.
He repeatedly rejected her, resisted her, yet also enjoyed the feeling of being secretly admired by a beautiful young widow, being needed, being helped. Those conflicted feelings now seemed like the biggest joke.
Because there was no Wang Erlang at all.
The so-called Wang Erlang was just a name Wei Caiwei casually wrote after renting the house. She wrote “Er” (second) because it had the simplest strokes.
So when she denied having feelings, saying I was “being narcissistic”—that was the truth. I really was being narcissistic. The feeling that she liked me, those glances she gave me that seemed sometimes passionate, sometimes tender—it was all my delusion!
Wasn’t that being hurt by you!
In front of everyone, Wang Daxia was too embarrassed to say this out loud: “You lied and deceived people—isn’t that harm?”
Wei Caiwei said: “I’m sorry.”
Wang Daxia turned his face away: “If apologies worked, the death row prisoners in the imperial prison would have been released long ago.”
Wei Caiwei’s gaze fell on the mosquito-repelling sachet at his waist: “I won’t charge you for this sachet.”
“That’s it?” Wang Daxia was quite disdainful. In irritation, he yanked the sachet hard and threw it to Wei Caiwei: “Take it back. I don’t want it.”
He absolutely refused to forgive her.
Wei Caiwei had no other way to coax him around, so she simply kept quiet.
Wang Daxia waited for Wei Caiwei to make more concessions, but there was no follow-up. He was too embarrassed to turn around and ask, so he maintained his cold posture, back to Wei Caiwei, hands clasped behind his waist, gazing sorrowfully at the starry sky outside the window at a seventy-five-degree angle.
He tried hard to secretly observe Wei Caiwei with his peripheral vision, but his position was too awkward—even when he rolled his eyes to their limit, he still couldn’t see her.
Wang Daxia wished he could grow a third eye on the back of his head.
The atmosphere in the bedroom changed from tense to awkward. The serious “three-court interrogation” instantly changed flavor under Wang Daxia’s performance of being deceived in body and heart with his “you hurt me” act.
Even Lu Bing hadn’t expected this—how did proper questioning about true identity change flavor?
How to end this?
Lu Ying, who had been silently listening to Wei Caiwei explain why she used widow’s attire to practice medicine, spoke up: “Whether Wang Daxia forgives you or not is none of my business—that’s his own affair. But I can forgive your lies. What you did was involuntary, not malicious deception. Besides, you’re not one of those charlatan wandering doctors. The methods you used to save my father from stroke were even acknowledged by Imperial Physician Song, who asked me about your background during the day.”
These words immediately generated goodwill in Wei Caiwei. She had always thought Lu Ying was an arrogant, self-righteous high official’s son, but through several interactions, Lu Ying’s serious and rigorous personality had its own charm. He was rigorous but not rigid.
At the very least, Wei Caiwei could hear respect for her profession in Lu Ying’s words. Female doctors were among the gossips and matchmakers of the marketplace, looked down upon by people, but Lu Ying didn’t care about her status—he only looked at her medical skills.
Wei Caiwei bowed: “Thank you, Commander Lu, for your understanding.”
Hearing this, Wang Daxia was somewhat confused: What’s going on? How could Lu Ying, someone even more rigid than my father, possibly forgive Wei Caiwei’s deception?
What does he want? Could it be… he’s taken a fancy to the little wid—no, to Dr. Wei!
Wang Daxia finally turned around and said to Lu Ying: “Commander Lu says forgive so he forgives—why drag me into it? Making Commander Lu appear magnanimous, the Commander’s belly can hold a boat, while I’m just a petty, calculating small person?”
Lu Ying said: “If you insist on thinking that way, I can’t help it. Whether you forgive or not is your business. Whether I forgive or not is my business.”
“You—” Wang Daxia was speechless again. After being hurt by Wei Caiwei, he was now angered by the “opportunistic” Lu Ying.
Wang Daxia glared angrily at Lu Ying, who naturally wasn’t afraid of him and stared back.
Since meeting Wang Daxia, no matter what Lu Ying said, he always ended up silenced by the sharp-tongued Wang Daxia or exploding and telling him to get lost. He had never gained the upper hand in verbal sparring.
Tonight Lu Ying rendered Wang Daxia speechless for the first time, and he immediately felt so refreshed!
Wang Daxia, you little brat finally got your comeuppance!
Instead, Wei Caiwei, who had just been targeted by everyone, got a breathing space. She had been talking until her mouth was dry, and finally had a chance to pick up her teacup for two sips to moisten her throat.
The experienced Lu Bing never expected that his interrogation of suspect Wei Caiwei despite his illness, trying to force her to confess her background, would suddenly become a runaway horse galloping in an uncontrollable direction.
The suspect had confessed to disguising as a widow, finally achieving some breakthrough. Instead of continuing the interrogation, why had Wang Daxia and Lu Ying started fighting among themselves?
Maybe I’m really old and can’t understand how young people today think.
Lu Bing coughed dryly. Lu Ying quickly looked away and asked his father with concern: “Are you uncomfortable somewhere? Are you too tired? Maybe you should rest first and continue tomorrow—”
“I’m fine.” Lu Bing said, redirecting the topic back, pointing at Wei Caiwei: “Your background is too bizarre. Without evidence, the household registration is real, but it could have been taken from you. What you said to Ding Rukui—if you tortured the real Wei Caiwei for information, you could also learn private matters only known between father and son.”
Wei Caiwei hurriedly said: “I’m not—”
Lu Bing raised his right hand with difficulty, stopping her self-defense: “You lied about being a widow, so we can’t easily believe anything you say. Don’t blame us for being suspicious. To prove you are Wei Caiwei, there’s only one way—have people from Tieling come identify you. Portraits aren’t reliable either—what if you look similar? So until your identity is confirmed, you cannot leave the Embroidered Uniform Guard office by even half a step.”
Wei Caiwei said: “What about this citizen girl’s livelihood? This citizen girl lives by practicing medicine, hand to mouth. I can wait ten days or half a month, but if it takes too long, with the capital’s expensive rent, this citizen girl might not even afford next year’s rent.”
Lu Bing said: “The capital and Tieling are a thousand li apart, but I’ve already sent carrier pigeons, ordering the Tieling Guard to bring Ding Wu to the capital day and night for personal identification. You grew up with Ding Wu—he won’t mistake you. At the fastest, he’ll be in the capital in ten days. While you wait, the Embroidered Uniform Guard will compensate your losses according to your usual income. We won’t let you go bankrupt.”
Hearing that Ding Wu was coming to the capital, Wei Caiwei felt mixed emotions. She was happy that Ding Wu could leave his place of exile and come to the capital to see his father with his own eyes. She was worried because in her previous life, Ding Wu stayed in Tieling until the new emperor ascended the throne, and only returned to the capital after she and Wang Daxia helped overturn Ding Rukui’s case and Ding Wu regained his freedom.
Ding Wu was an unexpected variable. Even Wei Caiwei didn’t know what the future held—she could only silently pray: it should be a good thing.
Wang Daxia had been secretly observing Wei Caiwei and couldn’t help saying: “Ding Wu is coming to the capital, and you seem very happy.”
Since learning that Wei Caiwei’s “deceased husband Wang Erlang” didn’t exist, Wang Daxia again felt threatened by Ding Wu’s appearance—childhood sweethearts who grew up together…
The self-proclaimed deeply wounded Wang Daxia became Wang Da-gou (Big Dog), biting at Lu Ying one moment and barking at the distant Ding Wu the next.
Wei Caiwei said: “Of course I’m happy—father and son can take this opportunity to meet.”
“You—” Wang Daxia clutched his chest. Tonight was the darkest night of his life, with Caiwei attacking Lu Ying then him, and Lu Ying attacking him after Caiwei. His self-esteem was trampled in turns.
“You’re all bullying me. I won’t talk to you anymore.” With that, Wang Daxia actually stormed off, even forgetting to bid farewell to Lu Bing!
Seeing Wang Daxia’s furious appearance, Lu Bing felt he might have another stroke. Wang Daxia’s flaws and merits were equally obvious—he was still young, too impetuous, not considering consequences.
But considering he was only fourteen, Lu Bing felt he could still be trained into talent, so he didn’t hold it against him. “It’s decided then. Dr. Wei will stay here until Ding Wu comes to the capital. Before then, if you step even half a step out of this courtyard—”
Lu Bing’s eyes flashed coldly as he slowly spoke word by word with clear articulation: “Kill on the spot!”
Wei Caiwei couldn’t help shivering. At this moment Lu Bing was like a sick tiger—though his body was nearly destroyed by illness, his remaining power still existed.
“This citizen girl remembers Lord Lu’s words and won’t step half a step out of the courtyard.” Wei Caiwei bowed: “Lord Lu, Commander Lu, it’s late. If there’s nothing else, this citizen girl takes her leave.”
Lu Bing nodded.
Wei Caiwei walked to the door when Lu Bing suddenly called her back: “You are a doctor and have personally treated my illness. From your experience, how much longer can I live?”
Wei Caiwei stopped leaning on her walking stick, turned around, and asked: “Does Lord Lu want to hear the truth or lies?”
Lu Bing said: “If you tell one more lie, you’ll die.”
Lu Ying looked at Wei Caiwei nervously.
Lu Bing’s gaze remained indifferent, showing no emotion, as if inquiring about someone else’s life and death with complete detachment.
Wei Caiwei said: “Forgive this citizen girl’s bluntness, but Lord Lu won’t survive this year’s New Year.”
Meaning: you will definitely die this year.
So certain—she didn’t even bother adding “probably” or “maybe,” leaving no room for maneuvering!
Concerned and confused, Lu Ying stood up abruptly: “After I trusted your medical skills so much, how can you say such things!”
“Let her speak.” Lu Bing grabbed Lu Ying’s sleeve and asked: “Why are you so certain?”
Because I’m a reborn person. I know you died on the twenty-seventh day of the twelfth lunar month this year—just two days before New Year’s Eve. That’s why I remember so clearly.
Because after you died, Emperor Jiajing was immersed in grief over his milk brother’s death, becoming increasingly irritable, whipping palace servants. Everyone was afraid to anger the dragon, trembling with fear. The palace didn’t even celebrate New Year properly that year, just getting through it perfunctorily.
At that time, the future favored consort Noble Consort Shang was still a little palace maid, cracking sunflower seeds and chatting with me in the same room, unable yet to comfort the irritable old emperor.
Wei Caiwei said: “Because Lord Lu always puts duties first, health second. Lord Lu’s first minor stroke was ten days ago, after continuous drinking and staying up the night before. Imperial Physician Song warned you, but you didn’t take it seriously. You concealed the news from outsiders, continuing as usual—even close family like Commander Lu didn’t know.”
“Today’s second stroke caused total paralysis. Lord Lu also concealed the news, handed affairs to Commander Lu, and didn’t even go home. Stroke requires good rest—no staying up late, no emotional excitement, no exhaustion. Even then, preserving life is difficult. But Lord Lu doesn’t want to let go of power, doesn’t want to lose the position of Embroidered Uniform Guard Commander. Past, present, and future, you’ll always force yourself to carry on. As soon as you improve slightly, you’ll handle official business as if nothing happened. Continuing this way, even immortals couldn’t save you.”
Character determines fate.
In her previous life, Lu Bing suddenly died on duty. The night before his sudden death, he was rushing to a banquet where he had been drinking.
This was a banquet Lu Bing couldn’t refuse. Reportedly, it was personally arranged by the son of the Grand Secretary of the Cabinet, his in-law Yan Shifan.
Author’s Note: Wang Daxia sought vinegar and got vinegar. After all, he’s the male lead—I can only satisfy him by giving him double the vinegar, enough to last.
Are there really readers who haven’t figured out Lu Ying’s little secret? I feel like I’ve given you all so many crazy hints before. From this chapter, with Lu Ying forgiving Wei Caiwei’s widow disguise and recognizing her profession, many readers should see Lu Ying’s secret.