Only when Wang Daxia and Wei Caiwei saw Lu Ying’s group disguised as Yuan She in their covered boat become a distant point of light did they return to the banquet table. Everyone at the table pretended they had been there all along. After sharing a final toast, the banquet dispersed and the pleasure boat docked.
Wang Daxia took out two name cards and handed them to the Red Sleeve Pavilion musicians and Zhao Quan respectively. “It’s already past curfew now. These are my father’s name cards. If you encounter the North City Military Commissioner’s night patrol, show them these cards and say I gave them to you – you’ll definitely get home without obstruction.”
Wang Daxia deliberately showed that his father’s protective umbrella could shelter them from wind and rain. Zhao Quan and Wu Dianyong became even more convinced they had found the right person, thanking him repeatedly.
Ding Wu said: “Thank you for Boss Wang and Manager Wu’s generous hospitality. When Boss Wang sets out on his journey, I’ll host a return banquet to see him off.”
Wang Daxia chimed in: “Count me in. We’ll co-host together – I know all the best places to eat, drink, and have fun in North City.”
Zhao Quan and his companion quickly agreed.
Wang Daxia said: “Your lawsuit is simple. Captain Wu is very familiar with my father, and that judicial officer also knows my father. When court convenes tomorrow, wrap my father’s name card together with twenty taels of silver in an envelope and have Captain Wu deliver it to the judicial officer. Of course, you’ll need to give Captain Wu something too – call it a service fee. This matter will be resolved. As for how this case is investigated and tried afterward, it will have nothing to do with your Ten Thousand Goods Trading Company.”
Zhao Quan had hosted tonight’s banquet specifically waiting for these words. He quickly said: “Twenty taels of silver is too little, isn’t it? I’ll send fifty taels.”
“Twenty taels is just right – not too much, not too little. Send too much and the judicial officer will find it heavy and awkward to accept.” Wang Daxia showed the slick manner of an old hand, instructing Boss Wang on official rules:
“This year is also the six-yearly capital assessment. Beijing officials are all very cautious. They’d rather refuse money of unknown origin than risk their positions by giving others ammunition against them. Honestly, without my father’s name card in that envelope, even if Boss Wang gave a thousand taels of silver, the judicial officer wouldn’t take it. Unfamiliar the first time, familiar the second – I’m opening this path for you. From now on, during holidays and festivals, send gifts to both the judicial officer and Captain Wu. Long-term relationships are what matter.”
Beijing officials didn’t accept money from just anyone – they judged whether to accept based on intricate webs of relationships. If they took money, they all took together, so if something went wrong, everyone would cover for each other – strength in numbers.
So merchants like Zhao Quan had no channels to send bribes even if they wanted to.
Zhao Quan instructed Wu Dianyong: “You must remember this. When I’m not in the capital, all relationship management is entrusted to you. With these connections, if we encounter similar fake banknote incidents in the future, you can handle them yourself.”
Soon they dispersed, each returning home.
On Sweet Water Alley, Wang Daxia wanted to escort Wei Caiwei home, but Ding Wu blocked his path. “It’s nearly the third watch. You still have to report for duty early tomorrow morning to discuss closing the net. Go back and rest early. Half-Summer and I will walk home together – it’s only fifty steps. What could you possibly be worried about?”
Wang Daxia was still immersed in the ambiguous atmosphere of cuddling together on the pleasure boat to admire the scenery. On the way back, he kept stealing glances at Caiwei from the corner of his eye. Even though it was acting, even though it was fake, he was intoxicated and deeply absorbed in the performance, unable to exit character.
But Ding Wu had reached his limit of endurance on the pleasure boat. He felt Half-Summer as a young woman was too disadvantaged and didn’t want to see Wang Daxia and Half-Summer together anymore. So after completing the mission, he drove Wang Daxia away.
Treating me like a rag – use me then throw me away?
Wang Daxia refused, saying: “Send Buddha to the west – since it’s only fifty steps, why can’t I escort her all the way? I’ve come this far, fifty steps doesn’t matter.”
Ding Wu insisted, pointing to the side gate of the Wang residence: “Please.”
Wang Daxia looked pitifully at Wei Caiwei: “See, Brother Ding is bullying me again.”
Wei Caiwei couldn’t stand her deceased husband acting coquettish – if he asked for stars or the moon, she’d want to pluck them down for him. She said: “Then just—”
“What time is it, and you’re still thinking about sleeping!” A person emerged from the darkness, startling everyone. Ding Wu and Wang Daxia simultaneously pulled Wei Caiwei behind them for protection.
“It’s me.” The person walked into the lantern’s light – it was Lu Ying.
Ding Wu immediately softened his expression: “So it’s Commander Lu.”
Wang Daxia yawned: “It’s the third watch – what are you doing instead of sleeping? I still have to get up early tomorrow to report for duty.”
Lu Ying said: “Starting tomorrow, none of you need to report for duty.”
Wang Daxia was overjoyed: “Really? I can finally sleep in!”
Lu Ying said: “Starting tonight, I’m staying in North City to focus on destroying the White Lotus Sect’s nest and capturing the leader Wu Dianyong alive. All of you must be on standby at all times. Come with me to the safe house now – we need to plan the capture operation overnight and uproot the White Lotus Sect completely.”
Wang Daxia immediately felt his life had darkened: “We have to pull an all-nighter?”
Lu Ying said: “Time is urgent. Get through this period, achieve great merit, and I’ll request rewards and leave for you all.”
Ding Wu said: “I’ll go too. I’m familiar with both Boss Wang and Wu Dianyong.”
Wang Daxia most detested the proactive Ding Wu. With things as they were and no way to resist, he could only say: “Fine, I’ll go with you all. But first I must escort Doctor Wei home. She sacrificed too much tonight to stabilize Boss Wang – we can’t drag her into this further.”
Wei Caiwei said: “No need to escort me. You all go handle your business. It’s only fifty steps, and I’m not a child.”
Wang Daxia said: “No way. Last time Zhou Xiaoqi picked locks and waited for you in your house. I’ll never dare let you go home alone again – just in case.”
Learning from that previous experience, Wei Caiwei had nearly been tortured for information by Zhou Xiaoqi and almost had her eyes burned blind with candle wax. Wang Daxia was now paranoid and would never let her be alone again.
Ding Wu said: “I’ll escort her.”
Wang Daxia waved his fist: “If something really happens, how many can Brother Ding fight? You go to the safe house first to discuss plans. I’ll go and return quickly.”
Ding Wu fell silent. Indeed, he was a weak scholar who only knew how to kill chickens and slaughter geese – he couldn’t fight even one person.
So the four split into two groups – Ding Wu and Lu Ying in one, Wang Daxia escorting Wei Caiwei home.
Lu Ying held the lantern, angling it toward Ding Wu’s side to light his path – she also considered Ding Wu a frail scholar who would stumble at the slightest bump and needed her protection.
Ding Wu said: “Let me hold the lantern.” Having a young woman hold it didn’t seem right – usually when he and Half-Summer walked at night, he held the lantern.
Lu Ying said: “No need – Wang Daxia’s words just now were somewhat hurtful. I’ll lecture him when we get back.”
Lu Ying felt that as Wang Daxia’s superior, when her subordinate spoke inappropriately, she was responsible.
But Ding Wu felt Lu Ying was being considerate of his feelings. His heart warmed momentarily as he quickly said: “He’s only fourteen, just a half-grown boy. Besides, he served as my double and saved me – I won’t take it to heart.”
Well, it did sting a bit, but it was also true – I really am too weak.
Lu Ying said: “He just has no filter sometimes and needs discipline. I’ll remind him, and if he doesn’t listen, docking his salary a few times will make him behave.”
Ding Wu: “That’s unnecessary. It’s just a small matter – nobody’s perfect. Wang Daxia is generally good.”
Lu Ying said: “You’re a magnanimous person. I hope he truly matures in the future.”
Ding Wu’s lack of dwelling on past grudges, not getting entangled in previous generation’s grievances, and prioritizing the bigger picture by helping the Embroidered Uniform Guard approach the White Lotus Sect’s nest made Lu Ying view him with new respect.
Lu Ying was someone who pursued her career – only those who shared her aspirations could catch her eye; good looks were useless.
Ding Wu said: “You are a very responsible superior officer…”
The two actually began “praising” each other – hard to imagine their previous generation had blood feuds.
On the other side of the alley, Wang Daxia was finally alone with Wei Caiwei. Excited, his steps were practically floating: “Ahem, that… on the pleasure boat, you acted so well. I didn’t know you could dance the branch dance – where did you learn it?”
In their previous life, she learned it in the imperial court. Back then, Consort Shang Shou wanted to please Emperor Jiajing and give the old emperor “surprises,” so she secretly had court dancers teach her. Learning alone was boring, so the consort pulled her trusted female official Wei Caiwei to learn together.
Wei Caiwei said: “I saw someone dancing it in Tieling and learned a bit. You can never have too many skills – didn’t expect it would come in handy.”
Wang Daxia pinched his fingers inside his sleeves: “Those rumors about you and me are somewhat excessive. Actually, we’re completely innocent – I just occasionally go to your house for dinner at night, and it got spread as us… Sigh, rumors are frightening.”
Wei Caiwei laughed: “Not occasionally – frequently. It doesn’t matter, I don’t care. Speaking of rumors, the ones about me and Commander Lu are even more terrifying – they even made up a miscarriage story with vivid details. If I weren’t involved myself, I’d almost believe it.”
“Besides, both the Lu family and your Wang family have status. Even though rumors fly everywhere, people only dare gossip behind backs – no one dares mock me to my face. My ears stay clean, and I live my life as usual.”
Wang Daxia said: “Brother Ding knows the truth, so your ears stay clean. But my father doesn’t know! He grumbles at home all day, scolding me for corrupting morals and disgracing the family, wanting me to cut ties with you.”
Wang Qianhu: I didn’t! This rebellious son is talking nonsense!
Wang Daxia observed Wei Caiwei’s expression while tentatively probing: “My father says these scandalous rumors have driven away all the matchmakers – they don’t dare come propose marriages. Good families don’t dare marry their daughters to me either. I’ll end up a bachelor, lonely for life.”
Wei Caiwei said: “Beijing’s rumors come wave after wave. By next year – no, by autumn – probably no one will be talking about it anymore.”
Wang Daxia said: “By autumn, when my father gets dismissed from office, even fewer good families will want to marry their daughters to me. I’ll still be lonely for life.”
Wei Caiwei said: “If you work hard in the Embroidered Uniform Guard, your future prospects might surpass your father’s. Why worry about not finding a wife?”
Soon they reached her door. Wei Caiwei took out her key to unlock it while Wang Daxia entered first, lit candles, and checked upstairs, downstairs, and even the courtyard to ensure safety.
Wang Daxia was about to leave. Before departing, reluctant to part, he gathered courage and said: “What if I never find a wife – shouldn’t you take responsibility for me?”
Wei Caiwei found it amusing: “How would I take responsibility for you? Marry myself off to you as your wife?”
Wang Daxia said: “That’s not impossible either.”
Author’s Note: Daxia is starting to catch on – we can look forward to the future combination of Daxia, Banxia, and Xiaoxia into Sanxia. Also, readers who didn’t understand the previous two chapters, please check the comment section.