"Returning to Before Husband's Castration" 《回到老公自宫前》Chapter 26

 When Wang Da Xia was knocking on the door, Wei Cai Wei’s body was powerless, like a lamb being taken advantage of, the man inblack firmly covered her mouth, only letting her nose to breath.

Wei Cai Wei became aware of Wang Da Xia’s voice, instinctively she struggled to move, making a wuwu sound.

However Wang Da Xia was separated by the door and didn’t hear Wei Cai Wei’s warning.

There was no noise after such a loud crash, this made Wang Da Xia very worried, he continued to knock: “Doctor Wei, what happened? Did you faint? Quickly tell me, if you don’t say anything, I’ll just take it as you’ve fainted, kicking down a widow’s door in the middle of the night, you can’t curse me for being immoral.”

Seeing that Wang Da Xia was about to break down the door and enter, the man inblack drew out a blade, holding it against the windpipe at Wei Cai Wei’s neck, whispering into her ear: “If you don’t want to die, get rid of him. If you dare cry for help, I’ll cut your throat. If you understand blink.”

A good woman didn’t lose out, Wei Cai Wei blinked viciously.

Outside the door Wang Da Xia: “You still won’t reply to me? I’ll count to three, one, two—”

The man inblack let go of his hand, Wei Cai Wei said: “I’m fine, go.”

Wang Da Xia stuck against the door continuing to say: “What happened just now? How come it took some time for you to reply.”

The sharp point of the blade nicked the skin on Wei Cai Wei’s neck, a red line of blood flowed down.

The man inblack was warning her, her life could be taken at any moment.

Wei Cai Wei shrunk her neck back, “It was too dark in the house, when I came in looking for a flint to light a lamp I accidentally knocked a table over and shattered the lamp.”

Wang Da Xia stuck his nose in the gap at the door like a dog, taking in a deep breath.

Candles were odorless, they were rather expensive, commoners usually couldn’t afford candles, most used oil lamps, most of the oil were coarsely refined soy bean oil, soy bean oil had a unique soy fishy smell.

Wang Da Xia smelt soy bean oil, he relaxed, asking: “Are you hurt?”

Wei Cai Wei said: “No, I just made a mess of the floor, I need to clean up the oil stain, otherwise I’ll slip over.”

Wang Da Xia asked: “Did you slip over just now?”

The blade once again pressed on her neck, the man inblack shook his head.

Wei Cai Wei said like a puppet being pulled by its string: “No.”

Wang Da Xia saw there was no light through the gaps of the door, asking: “Why haven’t you lit a lamp yet? Do you only have one oil lamp at home? How can you clean the floor in pitch-black? Do you want to wait until I get home, I’ll send a maid over with a few candles?”

The man inblack whispered in her ear: “Tell him to get lost!”

Wei Cai Wei said: “No need, I have a lamp upstairs in my bedroom and study, I’ll go up now to get it. It’s late, there’s a lot of gossip around widows, it’s not good for me to open the door at night to a man, please leave.”

Wang Da Xia felt he had been wronged, “You are a dog which bit Lu Dongbin, not recognising his kindness. I’ve helped you over and over, but you actually find me meddlesome. I don’t need you to chase me away, I’ll leave.”

Wei Cai Wei said: “The twenty bags refreshing pills Leader Lu wants, I’ll complete them tonight, I’ll trouble you to come early tomorrow to collect them. It’s hot, I need to leave earlier to practice medicine, I can’t wait for you too long at home.”

Wang Da Xia heard this, his heart immediately turned cold!

Leader Lu had clearly wanted Wei Cai Wei to produce a list of damages for the embroidered uniform guards to compensate, when did he mention the refreshing pill! Something had happened!

Wang Da Xia had played charades with Wei Cai Wei just now to deceive Lu Ying, their tacit understanding still remained, he said: “It’s so troublesome, I can’t even sleep in, fine, I’ll get the maid to wake me up earlier, I’m leaving.”

Wang Da Xia hit the horse’s backside, driving the two horses forward, the horse hooves echoed, from near to far, like he had actually left, in fact the horses had left but Wang Da Xia was still there.

There was a bar on the door, he couldn’t charge in.

Wang Da Xia quietly walked round to the back courtyard.

A small household’s courtyard walls were short, Wang Da Xia relied on the strengths of his long and nimble legs, like a monkey he climbed the wall, jumping over into the courtyard.

However the door leading to the house was shut, but, this wasn’t a problem for Wang Da Xia, he proficiently moved a ladder out from the bamboos, climbing up the ladder into the second floor, he jumped onto the balcony.

After all he was the landlord, he knew the structure of the house very well, when he was young he was used to climbing up and down.

The weather was damp and stuffy, before Wei Cai Wei left her home, she had left a gap in the south and north windows of her bedroom open to allow for ventilation, even if it rained it wouldn’t get in.

Wang Da Xia entered her bedroom through the window, quietly opening the door, he wanted to go down and rescue Wei Cai Wei, but the house had not been lived in for so long, the hinges on the door had not been oiled, with a light push, there was a squeak!

Downstairs, the man inblack heard the sound of horse hooves get further, he put down his blade, taking out a rope he had prepared, tying Wei Cai Wei’s hands and feet.

He had just tied a dead knot around Wei Cai Wei’s ankle when he heard movement of the door upstairs, the man in black immediately placed his blade against her neck, this time the blade cut through her skin, just a few strands of hair distance, her windpipe would have been cut!

Damn husband can you be quieter and quicker! 

Wei Cai Wei said: “I live alone as a widow, there’s no one else in the house, the weather is damp and stuffy, the windows in my bedroom are opened for ventilation, it’s only the wind blowing open the door, hero please don’t hurt me, I have a little money, willing to give it all to hero. If it’s not enough, I have a house and land in my hometown, I can sell them all to gift to hero, I only beg hero to let me live.”

The man in black pricked up his ears, there really was a draft, he put down his blade, taking out a candle he brought with him, he used the flint to light it, he had clearly come prepared.

When the candle shone, Wei Cai Wei’s eyes couldn’t stand it, she subconsciously closed her eyes, after a moment, she adjusted to the light and opened her eyes, “It’s you?”

It was the embroidered uniform guard’s Zhou xiaoqi, the late Chen Qianhu’s subordinate.

Also after Chen dalang had his throat slit, he had frantically captured Wang Da Xia, stepping over his boundaries, the two counties in Daxing led the embroidered uniform guards and northern city guards to beat up that young officer together in the streets.

Wei Cai Wei remembered him because when Wang Da Xia ran to the Shuntianfu yamen and beat the drum crying his innocence, it was Zhou Xiaoqi who released an arrow with the intention to shoot Wang Da Xia dead on the spot!

Fortunately Wei Cai Wei was worried about her damn husband’s safety, she didn’t watch the show like the other people, she kept her eyes and ears open, she noticed Zhou Xiaoqi was playing dirty tricks, so she cried out look out, helping Wang Da Xia avoid the cold arrow.

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

He didn’t think it was enough to try and secretly kill Wang Da Xia that night, later when Chen Qianhu violently died, he thought it was from drinking a cup of tea at Shutianfu yamen, once again he brought people to surround Shutianfu’s magistrate Wang, Mudfish Wang, and almost fought with the bailiffs.

That’s why Wei Cai Wei remembers his face.

“Since you recognise me, you ought to realise I snuck into your house not for money.” Zhou Xiaoqi laid out some elaborate torture equipments on the sofa, saying: “Chen Qianhu and his son’s case is as usual dealt with by the embroidered uniform guards, but Commander Lu won’t let me get involved, saying I’m too impulsive, so he gave the case to that brat Lu Ying, humph, I heard Lu Ying is his illegitimate child, using the title of a distance nephew to let him work in the embroidered uniform guards. Lord Lu using his position for personal gain, he wants to give his illegitimate son an opportunity to gain merit from solving a case.”

Zhou Xiaoqi looked like someone whose talents were not recognised and was aggrieved, “Because I fought with the northern city guards and Shuntianfu yamen’s men on the streets, Lord Lu even demoted me as a punishment!”

Wei Cai Wei trembled in fear, “Zhou…lord Zhou, I empathise with lord Zhou’s predicament, but what has this got to do with me? This common woman is innocent.”

“Before torture every suspect claims to be innocent.” Zhou Xiaoqi took out a tool which looked like a pair of scissors, but both sides were smooth, there was no shape edge, he swung it in front of Wei Cai Wei, he said: “Chen Qianhu was my patron, Lu Ying is using this case as an opportunity to make a name for himself, I only want to solve the case, find the culprit, revenge Chen Qianhu and his son, I’ve been following Lu Ying in his investigation, they went to Huaqingchi underground casino and beat a confession out of the study companion and went outside the city to Sanlihe to find old woman Wang, the study companion was struck to death by lightning, also they dug out and open the coffins this afternoon to carry out an autopsy, I know everything.”

Zhou Xiaoqi used the tool to casually pick up Wei Cai Wei’s chin, “You’re seventeen years old, the same age as second young lady He, it’s such a coincidence, the seven days you’ve been in the capital, old woman Wang, Chen dalang, Chen Qianhu all died. You know medicine, the night Chen Qianhu died from poisoning, you just happened to stay at the tavern near Shuntianfu yamen, your room directly faced the hitching post. You’re the biggest suspect.”

Wei Cai Wei’s chin trembled, “I’m not! I really am not! If I was, why did Leader Lu let me out to practice medicine? According to the embroidered uniform guards methods you would have already put me in the imperial prison and rigorously questioned me, I really am innocent.”

Zhou Xiaoqi picked up the candle, the transparent wax moved around in the core of the candle, he said: “Lu Ying is a hypocrite, he wants to get credit, but wants to maintain his reputation, he looks down on torture to obtain a confession, he didn’t use it against you, but I’m not the same, I was born to do this, I’m not inclined to go painstakingly investigate, if I didn’t do anything, how would you confess?”

Wei Cai Wei hands and feet were bound, she couldn’t even hit back, but she squirmed about on the floor with all her strength so she was leaning against the south wall—

Because this was opposite the stairs, Zhou Xiaoqi’s eyes were on her, he didn’t have eyes on the back of his head, he couldn’t see the movements on the stair so Wang Da Xia could quietly come down from the second floor to save her.

Wei Cai Wei was like an earthworm who had been forced out of her pit from the torrential rain, she struggled hard to wriggle to the south wall and continued to beg Zhou Xiaoqi, “I’m not the murderer, but I am mortal, of course I’m scared of pain, obtaining a confession under terrible pain and torture, what’s the point of it?”

“Lord Zhou clearly said just now you don’t want to be promoted or recognised, you only want to find the murderer to avenge Chen Qianhu and his son, repay him for his kindness, if I was forced to confess and mistakenly sentenced to death, taking the blame for the real culprit, wouldn’t you be the one to let them go? Letting them get away with their crimes?”

Zhou Xiaoqi enjoyed Wei Cai Wei in a difficult position, seeing the normally lofty and cold pretty young widow who was like a female buddha humble herself like dust in front of him, it really was delightful!

That’s why Zhou Xiaoqi didn’t stop Wei Cai Wei from wiggling with all her strength, he liked the feeling of a cat and mouse chase.

Zhou Xiaoqi smiled: “I’d rather wrongly kill a thousand than let one go. Tonight I’ll pry open your mouth, make you confess, I’ll steal the case in front of Lu Ying, take the honour, if I can’t open your mouth, you really are innocent, I’ll kill you and make it look like someone had broken in to rob and kill, then find the next suspect, one after another, I’ll definitely find the murderer.”

This Zhou Xiaoqi and Chen Qianhu were snakes and rats in one nest, deranged and ruthless!

At this moment Wang Da Xia had already taken his shoes off in the bedroom, he only wore his socks, like a quiet cat he crouched at the stairs slowly moving down.

Relying on the faint candlelight, Wei Cai Wei vaguely saw a round shadow go down the stairs, her heart calmed down, Wang Da Xia was coming to save her.

Just like in the previous life.

Wei Cai Wei tried her hardest to stall Zhou Xiaoqi, squeezing out a few tears, “I’m begging you, I really am not the murderer.”

“Whether you are or not, I’ll know after questioning.”

Zhou Xiaoqi’s pupils suddenly shrank, placing the scissors like tool in his hand at the eyesocket of her left eye!

When your eyes are irritated you would instinctively close your eyes, she closed her right eye but no matter how hard Wei Cai Wei tried she couldn’t close her left eye.

That was because the tool Zhou Xiaoqi used was prying open the top and bottom eyelids of her eye, exposing her eye.

Wei Cai Wei trembled all over like she had been thrown into a glacier, “You…what are you doing?”

Zhou Xiaoqi used his left hand to pry open her eyelids, right hand raised the candle, the transparent wax swayed, dripping onto her neck.

“Ah!” Wei Cai Wei cried out in alarm, the skin on her neck was especially tender and sensitive, instantly the boiling wax scalded it red.

Zhou Xiaoqi said proudly: “You only have the Wang residence as your neighbour, the Wang residence is so large, even if you scream until your voice breaks no one will hear you.”

“Do you feel it’s terribly scalding?” Zhou Xiaoqi held the candle up, slowly nearing Wei Cai Wei’s forced open left eyeball, saying: “Burning your neck is only the appetiser, the main course is still to come, doctor Wei has a pair of beautiful large eyes, such a pity.”

Zhou Xiaoqi’s moved the candle in his hand, like a viper who had swallowed a bird, it flickered, it was for a short moment, watching the fear in his prey, “A drop of wax, your left eye will be burnt.”

Wei Cai Wei cried: “I confess, they were all killed by me! I’m guilty! I’ll sign a confession now, I’ll admit anything.”

Zhou Xiaoqi clicked his tongue twice, “I haven’t even started and you’re this scared, don’t rush, let’s take our time, talk about how you killed the three of them, see if the details match up, in order to make you talk and not lie, I’ll burn your left eye then you’ll know pain and be obedient.”

Having spoken, Zhou Xiaoqi tilted the candle in his hand, a transparent wax drop gathered, falling in the direction of Wei Cai Wei’s eye!

A thousand pounds hangs by a thread, a hand reached out, blocking Wei Cai Wei’s left eye, the wax fell on the back of a hand, solidifying into a translucent white wax.

It was precisely Wang Da Xia’s hand, Wang Da Xia smashed a fist into Zhou Xiaoqi’s face, then picked up the table on the floor, smashing it at his head, in an instant a jam shop was opened on his head, two legs from the table had broken off.

Encountering such a strike, Zhou Xiaoqi at once fell on the floor and couldn’t get up.

Wang Da Xia picked the candle up from the floor and the blade, wanting to untie Wei Cai Wei, Wei Cai Wei hastily said: “Tie him up first, don’t pay attention to me.”

In case Zhou Xiaoqi was pretending to have fainted and attacked Wang Da Xia who came to rescue her then there’ll be no one to save the two of them.

“I need to use rope to tie him up.” Wang Da Xia used the blade to cut apart the rope around her wrist, then picked up several broken pieces of the table to throw at Zhou Xiaoqi.

Zhou Xiaoqi still laid sprawled on the floor without moving, it seems he really did faint.

Wang Da Xia took both of Zhou Xiaoqi’s arms, planning to tie his hands behind his back.

Wei Cai Wei saw Zhou Xiaoqi’s right hand tremble, it didn’t look good, she hurriedly reached out and pushed Wang Da Xia away!

With a whoosh, a small spring-loaded arrow flew out from Zhou Xiaoqi’s sleeve, with a duo, it was stuck in the beam of the room.

Zhou Xiaoqi could really bear it, he had been knocked about but could still pretend to faint, deceiving Wang Da Xia, almost hitting him.

Wang Da Xia was pushed to the ground by Wei Cai Wei, escaping this attack.

Zhou Xiaoqi pursued his attack, he flipped over once again aiming the hidden spring-loaded arrow at his wrist at Wang Da Xia.

Wei Cai Wei was too anxious, even though her hands were untied, her legs were still bound, she couldn’t walk to help, in a moment of desperation, she puffed up her cheeks and blew out the candle!

In a split second the room fell into darkness, Wang Da Xia took the opportunity to roll away, escaping another arrow.

Moonlight seeped through the paper window, originally you would be able to make out silhouettes but human eyes needed some time to adjust from light to dark before they could see properly, that’s why even though Zhou Xiaoqi had a spring-loaded arrow concealed in his sleeve, he also lost his target in a sudden “lost of vision”.

Zhou Xiaoqi flew into a rage, that crafty and treacherous young widow!

The young widow’s legs were tied together, she couldn’t walk, so Zhou Xiaoqi relied on his memory, pointing the arrow at the south wall where Wei Cai Wei was, he pushed the button.

There was another duo sound, the arrow hit the wooden floor, if it struck a person, the sound hitting flesh would be more dull.

Even though Wei Cai Wei couldn’t move, she could still roll, just now when she blew out the candle, she rolled to the incense burner table in the middle of the room.

In the dark, Wei Cai Wei didn’t dare breath loudly, quietly crouching under the incense burner table, she pricked up her ears to listen, judging where Zhou Xiaoqi was.

Before their eyes could recover, the three of them didn’t dare move, afraid of revealing where they were.

However once they could see in the dark again, Wang Da Xia was unarmed and defenseless, Wei Cai Wei couldn’t walk, Zhou Xiaoqi who had a weapon in his hand was still at an advantage.

They must subdue Zhou Xiaoqi before then.

Wang Da Xia took out the little copper buddha he had “expropriated” from Tianan temple from his sleeve, uttering silently in his mind: “Forgive me Buddha, saving a life is more meritorious than building a seven-floor pagoda, my hands are forced, blaspheme old Buddha.”

Wang Da Xia threw the copper buddha towards the stairs!

Dong!

The copper buddha hit the stairs, hearing the sound was like something walking on the stairs, Zhou Xiaoqi aimed the spring-loaded arrow at the stairs, with a ka he activated the mechanism, an arrow broke through the air!

At the same time, Wang Da Xia could make out the direction the mechanism sound came from, taking a broken piece of table he pounced over with a fierce swing!

This time Wang Da Xia used all his strength, he only heard a loud bang, a shadow was hit flying, meeting the south wall.

Wang Da Xia learned his lesson, he didn’t give Zhou Xiaoqi another opportunity to take a breather, his whack was so violent the board in his hand completely shattered.

Wang Da Xia and Wei Cai Wei’s eyes had adjusted, they could see a general outline, Wang Da Xia saw Wei Cai Wei hiding under the incense burner table.

Fall into the moat and you'll be wiser next time.

Wang Da Xia first took off the spring-loaded arrows from Zhou Xiaoqi’s wrist, after checking if he was breathing, he wasn’t dead, there was still a faint breathing.

Wang Da Xia simply took off the bar at the door, opening it, he let the moonlight shine in, under the moonlight, the blade used just now to cut Wei Cai Wei let out a cold light.

Wang Da Xia picked the blade up, freeing Wei Cai Wei’s legs, then he picked up the rope, first tying the hands then the legs, tightly bundling up the unconscious Zhou Xiaoqi like a zongzi on the eve of the Dragon Boat festival.

After doing this, Wang Da Xia turned his head, he saw Wei Cai Wei was still hidden under the incense burner table, motionless, he hurriedly asked, “Where are you hurt?”

Wei Cai Wei said: “I’m not hurt, just now when I entered the door Zhou Xiaoqi covered my mouth and nose, breathing in an anesthetic drug, my hands and feet are weak, I already used all my strength rolling, right now I can’t stand up.”

“That brute!” Wang Da Xia kicked the unconscious Zhou Xiaoqi to roll three times, then he crouched down, “Do you mind if I carried you to the sofa?”

Wei Cai Wei: In the previous lifetime you’ve carried me so many times!

Wei Cai Wei said: “Do you think I like crouching here with the cobwebs and dirt?”

Wang Da Xia said: “What I meant was, I am only acting out of kindness and heroically to carry you, there is no meaning between woman and man, carrying you, I won’t be responsible, I saved you, you also don’t need to devote yourself to me, our identities are widely different, I won’t marry a widow. Think about it.”

Wang Da Xia really was a mouthy guy, with these words, he had smashed the harmonious atmosphere of working together through life or death in less than a cup of tea’s time.

Wei Cai Wei said in her mind: You really are a gentleman, hehe.

Wei Cai Wei said: “Wang Ya Nei don’t imagine things, I am petty, I only think of my deceased husband.”

Wang Da Xia thought: The young widow is reluctant to admit, she had clearly treated me as her dead husband, that night you unsuccessfully tried to seduce me, now you’re hostile and won’t admit it, zeze, women.

Wang Da Xia was scared of ghosts, he first bowed at the incense burner table with Wang erlang’s memorial tablet on, “You saw just now and heard, I have no wicked thoughts towards your widow, I am carrying her only out of moral obligation, don’t come find me at night to take revenge.”

Wei Cai Wei said to herself: One bowing to one’s self, doing more than necessary.

Wang Da Xia coaxed the ghost then holding Wei Cai Wei by the waist he picked her up, “You look meager and delicate but you’re actually quite heavy.”

He actually called her fat and told her to lose weight!

Wei Cai Wei said: “I won’t trouble you again, even if I gain more weight it would have nothing to do with you.”

Wang Da Xia placed Wei Cai Wei on the sofa, “Just wait a minute, I’ll call the northern city guard’s night patrol over to take Zhou Xiaoqi to the prison.”

Wei Cai Wei said: “This case is under the embroidered uniform guard, what’s the point of taking him to the military prison?”

Wang Da Xia said: “Unexpectedly Zhou Xiaoqi doesn’t have an accomplice? I suspect he has a spy at Lu Ying’s side, otherwise how would know the inside and out of our investigation?”

Wang Da Xia walked to the door, Wei Cai Wei called him to stop, “Wait.”

Wang Da Xia turned around: “What now?”

Wei Cai Wei said: “If Zhou Xiaoqi has an accomplice, if you go to ask for help, the accomplice would come here, I completely lack the ability to resist, they would be a knife and me a fish.”

She was right.

The young widow thought carefully, she made sense.

Wang Da Xia returned to the sofa, half squatting, “I’ll carry you on my back out, let’s go look for help together.”

Wei Cai Wei nodded, leaning over, she held his neck.

Wang Da Xia piggybacked Wei Cai Wei, his back felt her soft chest, there was a little deer in his heart jumping against a wall.

Wei Cai Wei felt Wang Da Xia’s body stiffen, she wanted to raise her chest, not to stick so close in embarrassment, but she had no strength, she could only pretend not to notice, powerlessly sprawled on his back.

Wang Da Xia’s hands were wrapped around Wei Cai Wei legs as he stood up, he just happened to face the incense burner table at the north wall with the memorial tablet “Deceased husband Wang erlang”.

Forgive me, forgive me, I’m not doing it on purpose! I’m protecting your widow! 

Wang Da Xia was scared of ghosts, the thought he had when he stood up just now ceased, the bleating deer in his heart had also stopped hitting the wall, obediently eating the grass.

Wang Da Xia piggybacked Wei Cai Wei out of the door, walking into Tianshui lane, the young widow on his back moved with his step, his gaze was no longer restricted by the memorial tablet, for a split second Wang Da Xia felt his entire body apart from his back completely lacked feeling.

It was like suddenly all his nerves were on his back and didn’t feel the young widow was heavy, she was as light as a feather, like a cloud was on his back, even the limestone road of Tianshui lane became as soft as fluffy clouds, when his feet stepped on them, it was as comfortable as walking on air, his heart felt like there were thousands of deers racing, Wang Da Xia couldn’t control the flock of deers, they blindly ran about in all directions.

Before he had hated the Tianshui lane being too long, now he felt it was as short as his tongue, his long legs reached its destination in a stride.

At the end of Tianshui lane was one of the main roads of the northern city, Gulouxixie street.

In order to pretend he was leaving, Wang Da Xia had let the two horses go, the two horses without masters were wondering around the night curfew street, they immediately caught the attention of the patrolling northern city military, after seeing the symbol on the saddles, they turned out to be the embroidered uniform guards horses, they were suddenly on high alert, carefully searching.

Wang Da Xia had just walked out of Tianshui lane with Wei Cai Wei on his back when he came across the northern city military leading the two horses, what a coincidence, the person on duty tonight just happened to be his father Wang Qianhu.

Lu Bing kept his promise, he had paid his greetings to Wang Qianhu, telling him his family’s second young master was a heavenly genius, let him borrow him for a few days, don’t put him under surveillance.

Wang Qianhu didn’t think his wastrel of a son would be favoured by this important person, of course he agreed, thinking his son would walk the correct path, he didn’t think his son would be holding what appears to be a weak and powerless woman in the middle of the night!

Then seeing the attention grabbing mourning bun on the woman’s head, it was the young widow tenant!

Wang Qianhu was a stern father, at once he rained curses on him: “You brute! I haven’t seen you in two days and you dare to actually create such a tyrannical scandal!”

With such a bellow, the herd of deers in Wang Da Xia’s heart immediately vanished, he felt wronged and angry, “Father, that’s how you see me? Without asking, without distinguishing right and wrong you scold me! I’m a brute, then what are you?”

Wang Qianhu almost fell from his horse in anger, Wei Cai Wei who laid on Wang Da Xia’s back said: “Wang Qianhu is mistaken, an evildoer wanted to harm this common woman, fortunately second young master Wang helped, taking down the evildoer, this common woman was plotted against and was drugged, I can’t walk, second young master Wang is carrying this woman to seek help from the northern city military.”

Wang Da Xia said: “I’ve already subdued the evildoer, he’s tired in the house, quickly take men with you to arrest him.”

Wang Qianhu raised his lantern to take a closer look, he saw there were bloodstains on his son’s shoulder, there were also two wounds on the young widow’s neck, the gash close to her windpipe was still seeping blood, he then knew he had wronged his son.

But as a father, he needed to keep his dignity, he definitely could not admit in public he was wrong, Wang Qianhu said: “Why didn’t you say so earlier? Helping is helping, why do you need to argue with your father?”

Wang Da Xia heard this, if he wasn’t carrying someone on his back, he would have grimaced then walked away, he said: “Quickly arrest the person, the evildoer is the embroidered uniform guards Zhou Xiaoqi — that person who arrested me in the busy streets, embroidered uniform guards commander Lord Lu should also be informed of this matter.”

In Wei Cai Wei’s home, more than ten lanterns were illuminating it like daylight, the messy floor, broken glass lamp, soil bean oil over the floor, and the spring loaded arrows glistening on the floor and stairs, as well as Zhou Xiaoqi in the corner beaten to a pulp and tied up like a wrapped glutinous rice ball, it all showed the fierce and hair-raising scene from just now. 

Wei Cai Wei said: “There’s most likely poison on the arrows, everyone please don’t touch it with your hands, in the second draw on the left side of the incense table there’s a celadon bottle, there’s medicine inside, I’ll trouble you to pass it over, I’ll apply it to staunch the blood.”

Just now under the moonlight it was not clear, Wang Da Xia only noticed the injury on Wei Cai Wei’s neck, he immediately ran over to take the medicine to stop the bleeding, “Why didn’t you say earlier.”

Wei Cai Wei said: “It’s only a superficial wound, I was too nervous, I forgot there was an injury on my neck.”

In the end this was his former wife’s dowry, Wang Qianhu looked at the mess on the floor, he said: “Doctor Wei, you’re injured and have yet recovered your strength, it’s also unknown if the evildoer has other accomplices who would harm you, it’s not safe for you to stay here alone, a relative afar is less use than a close neighbour, if doctor Wei does not mind, you should stay at my humble abode for the night, there will be maids and old maids to take care of you, even if there are any more evildoers, they wouldn’t dare to trespass my humble abode to injure you.”

Wang Qianhu treated everyone but his second son courteously, towards Wei Cai Wei this common wondering doctor, a commoner, he was still courteous.

If the five generations of Wang family’s residence was “humble”, Wei Cai Wei’s home would be tiny.

Wei Cai Wei wanted to get closer to the Wang family, she took advantage of this on the spot, “Many thanks Wang Qianhu, this common woman cannot thank you enough.”

Wang Da Xia ordered someone to bring a sedan chair over to carry Wei Cai Wei home.

Wang Da Xia wanted to go home following the sedan but was stopped by his father, “What time is it now, you still want to sleep! You are someone who is at work, the embroidered uniform guards will come soon, you need to explain exactly what happened.”

Wei Cai Wei wasn’t here, Wang Da Xia didn’t have to hold back, he said: “Father, am I your enemy or your son? I saved someone today, I did a service, a service should be rewarded yet I am being punished. I never expect you to praise me, do you know I almost died under the arrows of the evildoer tonight!”

Wang Da Xia jumped on the table in extreme anger, he raised the lantern up to illuminate the beams of the pitch-black room, the arrows covered in blue poison glittered like frost and snow on the beams, “If doctor Wei didn’t use all her strength to push me away, I and doctor Wei would have been killed by the evildoer, I reckon when our corpses’ rotten smell reaches home will you discover something happened to me!”

“Shameless! You’ve only been working for two days but you dare to talk back to me! If you worked in the embroidered uniform guards for a year, would you rise to the heavens!”

Wang Qianhu scolded: “You dare to curse yourself to death in front of your father, disgraceful!”

“No matter what I do anyway, you can always find a reason to scold me, a picky mother-in-law wouldn’t even treat her daughter-in-law like this! Since this is so—”

Wang Da Xia simply laid out on the day bed, he said: “Scold me, do as you wish, I’ll treat you as a lullaby to help me sleep. If I talk back, I won’t be a Wang!”

Wang Qianhu was so angry he was about to teach his kid a lesson but was held back by the waist by Mu Baihu who had rushed over having heard the news, “There’s no need to be angry, tonight second young master escaped calamity, one is bound for good fortune after surviving a great disaster, this house belonged to the late Lady Wang, it might have been Lady Wang’s spirit protecting the second young master? Considering the deceased, my lord should forgive the second young master.”

Wang Da Xia heard this, a tear suddenly slid from the corner of his eye, even an outsider knew not to teach his own son inside the house of his deceased mother, apart from knowing how to hit and shout at him, his father didn’t care about him at all.

Wang Da Xia turned over, his back to his father, in case he cried, wouldn’t it be embarrassing?

Whatever the case, he couldn’t appear weak in front of his father.

Wei Cai Wei rented the house, Wang Qianhu couldn’t go upstairs into the bedroom and study of a widow, thus he went out to the courtyard and sat down, what the eye doesn’t see, the heart doesn’t grieve over.

They were going to work through the night, he couldn’t even doze off, Mu Baihu called for the subordinates to bring snacks, telling Wang Da Xia to get up and eat.

Wang Da Xia was going through puberty, he couldn’t go hungry, with speed he ate a bowl of wontons and a bowl of zhajiang noodles, he had a great appetite, he didn’t look like the kid who was receiving a scolding just now.

Mu Baihu poured him another bowl of zhajiang noodles, he nodded his chin towards the courtyard, lowering his voice: “Give this to your father.”

Wang Da Xia laid down on the day bed again, rubbing his full belly, “I’m not going, I need to hurriedly catch up on my sleep, when the embroidered uniform guards come I wouldn’t be able to sleep.”

Mu Baihu advised: “You’re going to succeed him in the future, if you have an unfilial reputation, when you succeed him you wouldn’t be able to pass the merit examination. Look at yourself, you’re not good at literature or in military, you also can’t handle hardship, if you don’t succeed the five generations of Qianhu, what can you do? Go cold and hungry in the future?”

At the beginning of the great Ming dynasty, succession were granted as a reward for military officials, so long as there’s a legitimate heir then they can succeed the nobility, living on a lifelong official's salary, but there was a change when the seventh emperor ascended, the Western Depot chief eunuch Wang with the full support of the favoured senior imperial concubine Wan, suggested a bold and decisive reform, for the nobility to succeed their title, they needed to have the approval of the court through the “merit examination”.

They tested the successor’s weaponry and horse riding skills, art of war, moral conduct and so on, called “merit examination”.

Those who don’t pass, had their nobility abolished, prohibited from succeeding, it didn’t matter how many successions and generations there had been, abolishment was abolishment.

Firstly it could economise the country’s expenses, secondly it could clear the sinecures from the army, troublemakers who take an official post and live on the official’s salary without doing anything, filial piety was crucial to moral conduct, if he was known to be unfilial, he would immediately be removed from succession.

Mu Baihu who had watched Wang Da Xia grow up knew him best, he knew he was all give and no take, he didn’t want to improve himself, he only wanted to succeed the nobility in the future and be an official, pass his days in peace until his “Achilles’ heel” is struck.

Sure enough, Wang Da Xia heard this and immediately got up, carrying the bowl, “I am doing this so I can succeed the title, not because I was too harsh and not to pacify him.”

Mu Baihu waved his hand, “I know, I know, hurry up and take it over, the noodles won’t taste nice if oversoaked.”

Wang Da Xia gave his father the snack, he heard a few bangs, Wang Qianhu sat in the courtyard swatting mosquitoes.

There was a heavy downpour yesterday night, the weather was humid and warm, mosquitoes were rampant, Wang Qianhu sat in the courtyard feeding mosquitoes, he felt unwell all over, but he didn’t want to go back and get angry at his son.

“Mu Baihu wanted me to give you a snack.” Wang Da Xia placed the bowl of noodles on the stone table in the courtyard, he returned to the living room, with a sense of familiarity he took out a mosquito-repellent incense from a drawer of the incense table and lit it, placing it in an incense burner, then he placed it under the stone table in the courtyard to drive away mosquitoes, letting his father have a peaceful meal.

Wang Da Xia once again laid back on the day bed, Mu Baihu nodded his head in satisfaction, but he felt there was something wrong, he thought about it then asked: “How did you know the mosquito-repellent incense was in that drawer?”

Because last night I slept here, the young widow took the mosquito-repellent incense from here for me to use.

Wang Da Xia was bad at doing anything, he ate everything down to the bones, but he was the best at lying, he yawned, turning to face the inside, “I’m lucky, poison arrows couldn’t even hit me twice, I can find the mosquito-repellent incense on a first try.”

In the Wang residence, in the middle of the night the master had delivered a beautiful woman home and warned the servants repeatedly to properly tend to her, this roused the mistress of the household Lady Wang!

Wang Qianhu had three sons in total, the eldest and second oldest were birthed by the original wife madam Zhang, the eldest Wang Da Chun had died prematurely at the age of five.

Because the eldest official son died early, the husband and wife especially spoiled and indulged the second son Wang Da Xia, he became a wastrel.

Three years ago madam Zhang passed away from illness, Wang Qianhu remarried a second wife madam Wu.

Madam Wu gave birth to the third son the following year, named Wang Da Qiu.

Wang Da Qiu had still not been weaned, he was sleeping with his wetnurse.

Lady Wang washed and tidied herself before putting on face powder, half asleep, half awake she waited for her husband to return, grasping the opportunity to produce another child, but on hearing a beautiful woman had entered the household gates on a sedan, her sleepiness disappeared.

Wang Qianhu was a dutiful person, he never took a concubine.

Apart from her stepson Wang Da Xia being extremely stubborn and obstreperous— madam Wu who was only four years older than Wang Da Xia, wasn’t good at disciplining her stepson, but the young lovable wife lady Wang was pleased with her married life.

Suddenly a woman being carried into the household in the middle of the night, and supposedly quite beautiful, lady Wang couldn’t help feel uneasy, she thought her husband had another woman outside. 

“Let’s go take a look.” Lady Wang got out of bed and dressed herself, not a strand of hair out of place, with a legal wife’s attitude she went to the guest room, however she only saw a widow with a mourning bun lying on the bed, reciting a prescription: “...half a qian of rhino horn, one qian of bezoar, three horn corners of an antelope, half a qian of ambergris, dwarf lilyturf, acorus calamus, white chinese peony, five realgar…two doses, three bowls of water reduced to one bowl, many thanks.”

The servant was recording the prescription being dictated, that very night he went out to knock on the medicine store to open up and make up the prescription.

The medicine store required a lot of money, Wei Cai Wei was only a common wondering doctor, she earned money from examinations and treatments, she bought ready-made pills.

As for unprocessed medicinal herbs which needed to be pan-fried, she had none at home, the patients needed to take her prescription and go to specialist medicine stores to make up the prescription.

Seeing lady Wang’s surprised gaze, Wei Cai Wei kowtowed: “Lady Wang, this common woman’s surname is Wei, I am a doctor, I work as a wondering doctor, I am the tenant renting the small house next door, because an evildoer plotted against me, I cannot walk, I can’t stand up to greet your lady. Wang Qianhu is benevolent, he didn’t look down on this woman’s lowly birth, he ordered someone to carry this woman to the residence to rest, I’m sorry for disturbing lady Wang in the middle of the night.”

Lady Wang saw she was not only a widow, she also worked in public, in the business of female doctor amongst the trades, she immediately let down her guard, her husband wouldn’t touch a widow and doctor.

Lady Wang spoke according to the situation: “A relative afar is less use than a close neighbour, we’re neighbours, of course we need to look out for each other. My lord gave instructions, you are our family’s distinguished guest, if you need anything, just say, if the servants aren’t looking after you properly, just tell me, I’ll give them a talking-to.”

Wei Cai Wei hurriedly said: “They’re all great, they’re helping me get medicine in the middle of the night, I’m beyond grateful.”

“That’s good.” Lady Wang said: “You seem very tired, I’ll let you rest, I’ll come see you tomorrow.”

Wei Cai Wei said: “Forgive this common woman for not seeing you off.”

Lady Wang had come in aggressively and left in disdain, Wei Cai Wei wasn’t surprised by her haughtiness.

In the last life Wang Qianhu was caught up in a dispute, losing his position of Qianhu which had been passed down for five generations, the Wang residence which had hosted five generations was also lost, the whole family was chased out.

Wang Qianhu died from anger, Wang Da Xia brandished a blade to castrate himself and entered the palace to walk the path of an eunuch, lady Wang took her young son Wang Da Qiu to remarry as soon as the mourning period was over.

She didn’t marry just anyone, it was Wang Qianhu’s most loyal subordinate Mu Baihu.