Though nothing was there, Chen Qianhu felt iron-like hands gripping his throat tighter and tighter.

Chen Qianhu desperately clawed at his neck with both hands, his fingernails tearing several bloody gashes in his throat.

His subordinates quickly restrained his hands from both sides, lifted him up, found the nearest medical clinic, kicked open the door, dragged the doctor from his bed, and demanded treatment for Chen Qianhu.

The doctor observed Chen Qianhu’s confused mental state, partial paralysis, and tight throat. Hearing that his five-generation single heir son had been murdered, he first diagnosed shock-induced stroke and used three-edged needles to bleed the Neiguan, Shuigou, and Twelve Well acupoints.

After bloodletting, the doctor noticed the blood color was wrong—it was black—and diagnosed poisoning.

Zhou Xiaoqi, who had been serving Chen Qianhu in the yamen, beat his chest and stamped his feet: “Since Young Master was killed, our lord hasn’t touched a grain of rice. No matter how I urged, he wouldn’t eat. He only drank a cup of tea in the Shuntian Prefecture courtroom! The poisoner must be one of those people in the courtroom!”

This sent the Embroidered Uniform Guards rushing back to Shuntian Prefecture yamen with weapons to find the real murderer.

In the confusion, the doctor couldn’t determine what poison it was. He first tried to induce vomiting with medicinal water, but Chen Qianhu had difficulty breathing and clenched teeth—the medicine couldn’t be poured in. The doctor used a bamboo strip to forcibly pry open his mouth, even breaking two teeth. The medicine went in, but Chen Qianhu also expired.

Chen Qianhu kicked his legs as the street watchmen struck the third watch drum. Chen Qianhu and Chen Dalang, father and son, both went to heaven on the same day.

The Chen mansion, holding funeral rites through the night, had been eagerly awaiting their master to bring back the murderer’s head to sacrifice to Chen Dalang. Instead, they received Chen Qianhu’s corpse.

Originally, the Chen family had single heirs for five generations. With Chen Dalang killed, given Chen Qianhu’s age, taking several fertile concubines might have produced a second child. Now with Chen Qianhu dead too, the Chen family bloodline was completely severed.

With both Chen Qianhu and his son dead, the Embroidered Uniform Guard thousand-household position remained vacant. Chen family relatives all pushed forward their sons as Chen Qianhu’s heirs, hoping to inherit through adoption.

On the day of the father and son’s funeral, over ten Chen family members competed to break the mourning pot and wail, even coming to blows. The funeral became a farce and the capital’s laughingstock—but that’s a story for later.

At Shuntian Prefecture yamen, after the disturbance settled, witnesses took the transit passes issued by Wang the Loach and went home.

Wang Qianhu tied up the wastrel Wang Yanei like a rice dumpling, gagged him, exchanged pleasantries with Wang the Loach, and returned to Sweet Water Lane in Wanping.

Shuntian Prefecture yamen finally returned to quiet. Outside, the third watch drum sounded. Wang the Loach told his two advisors: “Everyone worked hard today. Go rest—we’ll handle anything tomorrow.”

Wang the Loach boarded his sedan chair. As it swayed, he dozed with his head tilted, thinking the only benefit of being a capital official during Jiajing’s reign was sleeping in—no need to rise at the fourth watch for morning court.

During the Great Ming’s founding fifty-plus years, the previous emperors were all energetic. Daily morning court wasn’t enough—there was also noon court. Capital officials had to rise at the fourth watch, rushing to the palace to queue regardless of summer heat or winter cold.

Emperor Jiajing was better. Since the 15th year of Jiajing, he stopped holding court. For over twenty years, capital officials could sleep well—

“Sir!”

The military captain escorting Wang the Loach home rode up to report: “The Embroidered Uniform Guards have returned!”

“They’re back? Will this never end?” Wang the Loach jolted awake.

The furious Embroidered Uniform Guard Zhou Xiaoqi rode straight toward the official sedan without stopping, intending to kick the sedan door to vent his anger.

But Shuntian Prefecture yamen’s military captain wasn’t to be trifled with. He’d endured when the Embroidered Uniform Guard caused chaos at the yamen tonight to seize the body, but now even a minor flag dared assault the prefect—did they think everyone was dead?

“Protect Lord Wang!” The military captain maneuvered his horse and drew his sword to meet the attack.

Yamen clerks and Embroidered Uniform Guards fought in chaos while Wang the Loach, a civil official, huddled in his sedan with his head covered, not daring to emerge.

The Northern District Military Commission on night patrol heard the commotion and hurried over, seeing a familiar scene.

Had the Embroidered Uniform Guard contracted rabies today? Biting anyone they saw?

Originally, the Northern District Military Commission had already worked up anger from their street battle with the Embroidered Uniform Guard on Gulou West Slant Street. Now seeing the Embroidered Uniform Guard beating Shuntian Prefecture clerks, even good-tempered Mu Baihu couldn’t stand it and roared:

“You madmen dare beat a third-rank court official in the northern district! Is there no law? Brothers, attack!”

With the Northern District Military Commission joining—two against one—the situation instantly reversed.

Zhou Xiaoqi was dragged from his horse by the military captain and Mu Baihu together, pressed onto the street. With his face against the stone pavement, Zhou Xiaoqi shouted: “Our thousand-household commander was poisoned and died at Shuntian Prefecture yamen! Clearly you Shuntian Prefecture yamen and Northern District Military Commission are in cahoots! You killed the entire Chen household!”

Hearing that Chen Qianhu was dead, Wang the Loach, who had been playing dead in his sedan, finally spoke: “You’re talking nonsense—it wasn’t me, I didn’t do it. Murdering court officials is a grave matter. Our Shuntian Prefecture yamen can’t handle this. It requires joint trial by the Three Judicial Offices—the Ministry of Justice, Court of Judicial Review, and Censorate!”

Wang the Loach lived up to his reputation. Even with the Embroidered Uniform Guard stepping all over him, his first reaction was to shift blame and throw the matter away.

This made even Mu Baihu regret helping him.

The military captain couldn’t stand it and reminded Wang the Loach in the sedan: “Prefect, these madmen speak slanderously without evidence, falsely accusing our Shuntian Prefecture yamen of poisoning Chen Qianhu. They also assaulted your carriage in the middle of the night. Now the Northern District Military Commission has helped us capture these madmen—how should we deal with them?”

Wang the Loach initially wanted to say release them—better to avoid trouble. But thinking again, if a mad dog like Zhou Xiaoqi ran to Embroidered Uniform Guard Commander Lu Bing to make false accusations first, Shuntian Prefecture would be in deep trouble.

So he changed his words: “First bring them to the yamen to record statements. I must rush overnight to knock at Commander Lu’s residence and explain the situation clearly.”

At the inn, Wei Caiwei had long since extinguished her lamp to feign sleep. Through her window, she observed Shuntian Prefecture yamen. At the second point of the third watch, she saw the Northern District Military Commission and Shuntian Prefecture clerks escorting a group of Embroidered Uniform Guards inside. The group cursed loudly, with Zhou Xiaoqi, who had pursued Wang Daxia last night, cursing most enthusiastically.

In the quiet of deep night, the curses were particularly sharp. Wei Caiwei heard clearly:

“Our lord died from drinking tea at your yamen! Shuntian Prefecture and Northern District Military Commission—none of you can escape responsibility!”

“Don’t think because our thousand-household commander is dead, the Embroidered Uniform Guard has no one! We still have Commander Lu! He’ll make you pay dearly!”

Hearing the curses, Wei Caiwei was as excited as if hearing celestial music: I succeeded! On the third day of my rebirth, I’ve eliminated both enemies, Chen Qianhu and Chen Dalang!

Father, sister, I’ve avenged you!

Wei Caiwei lay in bed unable to sleep until the fifth watch drum sounded and dawn broke, finally falling asleep.

Wei Caiwei thought she’d wake after a brief nap—in her previous life at fifty, she slept little and lightly.

But when she woke, the sun was already overhead—it was noon.

She woke from hunger, her stomach protesting with rumbling sounds. If not for hunger, she might have slept until afternoon.

Wei Caiwei touched her flat belly. She was still unaccustomed to her seventeen-year-old body—at growing age, naturally she could eat and sleep well.

After oversleeping, Wei Caiwei washed while recalling her dead eunuch husband’s “brilliant” performance last night, when she’d wanted to personally castrate him.

But now, calming down, she realized this dead eunuch was only fourteen, like wild grass growing in fair weather, having experienced no storms. Wang Qianhu spoiled him beyond measure, letting him grow wild.

Fourteen-year-old Wang Daxia actually believed a courtesan, selling his mother’s dowry estate to rescue a fallen woman, thinking the courtesan would repay him someday!

But later, the powerful eunuch Wang Daxia who became Eastern Depot director had no flaws or weaknesses except fearing his wife. Naturally suspicious, he clearly looked like someone deeply ravaged and beaten by society.

This year the Wang family would face great changes. Wang Daxia would take the extreme step of self-castration to enter the palace. Wei Caiwei had never heard of this Miss Yingying repaying money or helping out, nor had she ever heard the dead eunuch mention his youthful romantic rescue in his remaining years.

Obviously, Wang Daxia’s innocence was betrayed by Miss Yingying.

Thinking this, Wei Caiwei’s anger subsided considerably, even feeling pity for the dead eunuch.

In this life, let me protect your spirited and bright smile. I know what disasters the Wang family will face—I’ll resolve them in advance.

However, everything required first establishing a relationship with Wang Daxia, starting with friendship.

Wei Caiwei went downstairs for lunch. Nearly all diners discussed the murder case of Embroidered Uniform Guard Chen Qianhu and his son overnight. Reportedly, court and country were shocked. Shuntian Prefect Wang the Loach had memorialized the emperor early this morning. Emperor Jiajing personally issued a vermillion edict ordering the Embroidered Uniform Guard to supervise the case.

Throughout the restaurant, “Don’t Discuss State Affairs” reminders were posted everywhere. But at the emperor’s feet, nearly everyone fancied themselves political experts, seeing grand conspiracies in everything, speaking with flying spittle and conviction:

“Court officials and his son murdered—by law should require joint trial by the Court of Judicial Review, Ministry of Justice, and Censorate. But His Majesty wants the Embroidered Uniform Guard to investigate, making it an imperial case. I don’t think it’s simply finding the murderer.”

“Probably His Majesty wants to move against certain court ministers. Lacking evidence, having a murder case in hand makes it convenient to fabricate charges…”

“I think not necessarily. His Majesty hasn’t held court for over twenty years—just finding excuses to intimidate subordinates, making ministers obedient. Not holding court doesn’t mean not governing—this realm will always be His Majesty’s.”

Wei Caiwei ate quietly, paid room and meal fees, put on her hat, lowered the light veil on the brim to ward off willow catkins, inserted two small flags reading “Miraculous Healing Hands” and “Gynecological Saint” into her silk bag, shouldered the silk strap, and placed a fist-sized tiger-support on her thumb, shaking it.

The jingling bell sounds rang through Shuntian Prefecture streets. The capital was prosperous with dense population. By the time Wei Caiwei reached Gulou East Street, people were already asking her to treat patients.

Wei Caiwei walked and stopped, no different from ordinary traveling doctors, completely without flaws.

That afternoon she treated two women married three years without pregnancy, one girl with irregular menstruation, one young woman with body ringworm, and even a pregnant woman asking if she delivered babies.

Wei Caiwei nodded: “I live at the T-shaped household in Sweet Water Lane, Gulou West Slant Street, Wanping County. But I’m moving these next few days. I’ll tell neighbors my new address to pass along—don’t worry, it should be near Sweet Water Lane, very easy to find.”

Wei Caiwei still needed to befriend her dead eunuch husband in his youth. The rabbit must eat grass by its burrow—living nearby made “eating” more convenient.

At dusk, Wei Caiwei returned to Sweet Water Lane. Near the sweet water well not far from the door, Chen Jingji sat on the well platform eating watermelon. Seeing her from afar, he quickly put down his half-eaten watermelon and ran over, holding a key:

“Doctor Wei! Finally waited for your return! I was worried you couldn’t get in.”

Chen Jingji presented the key with both hands to Wei Caiwei: “Second Young Master Wang asked me to give you the key. He said considering you spoke up last night to save his life from being shot by arrows, you can live in this house. He hopes you’ll cherish it—after all, the furniture inside is all his mother’s dowry.”

Money could make people change their tune.

Yesterday it was “Wang Yanei” with every breath, today it was “Second Young Master Wang.” Chen Jingji was a businessman—with the five-tael broker fee finally in hand, earning a large sum for his wife’s dowry, he immediately forgot how Wang Daxia had beaten him.

Unexpectedly, Wei Caiwei hadn’t expected another real surprise awaiting her. Taking the key, she asked: “Where is Wang Daxia? Tonight the three of us can eat dinner together—my treat this time.”

Chen Jingji pointed at the Wang mansion’s high walls: “Second Young Master Wang wanted to thank you personally, but Wang Qianhu confined him—he can’t come out. So he asked me to deliver the key. He also specifically told me to wait at the door for your return, so you wouldn’t be like yesterday—paying rent for a house but unable to go home. Really sorry about that.”

Hearing this, Wei Caiwei felt warmth in her heart, all fatigue vanishing.

It seemed her dead eunuch husband wasn’t completely unreasonable after all.

Wastrel though he was, could he still be saved?