"Returning to Before Husband's Castration" 《回到老公自宫前》Chapter 39

 Lu Bing’s stroke was a secret, even the emperor wasn’t aware, if his relative Yan Shi Bo found out, this matter would be like a sneeze not knowing where it would fly to.

However, Yan Shi Bo was a high official and was his relative, Lu Bing couldn’t actually avoid Yan Shi Bo and not see him, Yan Shi Bo would start to be suspicious.

Lu Ying said: “Just say you’re out and haven’t returned.”

Lu Bing said: “He went straight to the embroidered uniform guard’s yamen, he must have made sure I was here.”

Lu Ying reacted quickly, saying: “Father, you can just say you stayed up all night and had gone to practise at the drill ground today, you couldn’t stand the heat and had a heatstroke, it isn’t good for others to know in fear of the family and emperor worrying so you stayed at the yamen to recover, only when you’ve recovered you would appear in front of others.”

Lu Bing agreed, “This is a good idea, it would explain why I can’t walk around freely but this wheelchair must be hidden well, assistant manager Yan definitely can’t see it.”

Lu Ying said: “I’ll place it in doctor Wei’s room.”

His trusted aide hurriedly went to arrange everything, placing two jars of ice in the room to lower the temperature, cooling iced mung bean soups were even placed on top as well, the doors and windows were tightly shut, water of wrinkled giant hyssop specially used to cool down was sprinkled over the room like perfume, there was a distinct medicinal smell.

Lu Bing changed into thin clothes, the room therefore was nice and cool, Lu Ying were still ordering the guards: “Remove those lanterns, it’s too bright in the room.”

Lu Bing still had some facial paralysis, the dimmed light could conceal any problems he had with his expression.

Wang Da Xia pushed the wheelchair into Wei Cai Wei’s room and hid it, knowing Yan Shi Bo was coming, Wei Cai Wei was momentarily overwhelmed with emotions, if Yan Shi Bo had not given Chen qianhu the idea to frame and set someone up, smearing my father the dead man, us sisters would not have become official slaves, older sister would not have been dishonoured by that bastard…

Wei Cai Wei fist clenched into fists under her sleeves.

She had no plans to act against Yan Shi Bo at this moment, firstly because there was a huge difference between hers and Yan Shi Bo’s position, it was like distance between weeds and the mountain peak, she simply had no way to approach Yan Shi Bo let alone cause his death, she was too insignificant.

Secondly, Yan Song and Yan Shi Bo, the father and son had dominated the court for many years, they had caused the deaths of too many officials with many enemies, there were simply too many people who wanted to trip up or kill the father and son.

It wouldn’t be up to this unknown female doctor Wei Cai Wei.

Amongst these people were also Lu Bing’s other relatives— cabinet minister Xu Jie.

The third daughter of the Lu family had married Xu Jie’s son.

In the last life, it was Xu Jie who added fuel to the fire behind the scene, tripping up cabinet grand secretary Yan Song, leading to Yan Shi Bo’s decapitation,

The day of his decapitation, the whole town turned out, Wang Da Xia and her left the palace, standing around to watch Yan Shi Bo’s execution, those who had been persecuted by the Yan family, those officials who had been left destitute and homeless, the common people, all added up to no less than a thousand people, compared to their years of suffering, Wei Cai Wei’s hatred was a drop in the ocean.

In this life it wouldn’t happen so soon.

“Assistant minister Yan is coming, I heard when cabinet elder Yan can’t make a decision he would listen to assistant manager Yan’s opinion.”

Wang Da Xia was rubbing his hands in excitement like a fly, out of the corner of his eyes he saw her expression stiffen, he said: “Don’t be too excited, a high official is also human, he doesn’t have three heads and six arms, this is a rare opportunity, let’s take a peek through the window.”

When the time came the embroidered uniform guards lifted the doorstep, letting Yan Shi Bo’s extravagant carriage led by five horses, it was even grander than Lu Bing’s carriage, even the bridle were made of gold.

The carriage stopped outside Lu Bing’s door, Lu Ying met Yan Shi Bo at the doorway.

Yan Shi Bo descended the carriage under the support of two attendants, he was short and small, skin fair and clear, his neck was already short but with the fat, he had a triple chin which covered his short neck so it was like he didn’t have a neck at all, his whole body was like a round ball, a white dumpling.

Lu Ying thought: Fortunately my second brother-in-law doesn’t look like his father assistant minister Yan, he looks like his grandfather cabinet elder Yan.

When Yan Song young he was handsome, when he was old he was a somewhat handsome old man.

Yan Shi Bo descended the carriage, Lu Ying stepped forward to welcome him, giving a familial greeting, “Uncle Yan, you’ve come.”

It was already dark outside, Yan Shi Bo moved his left face towards her, using the light from the lantern to look at Lu Ying.

Of course looking at someone from the side was not polite but Yan Shi Bo’s right eye was weak, he was almost half blind, that’s why when he looks at someone he subconsciously closes his right eye, using his left to see.

Yan Shi Bo smiled: “Aiyo, I haven’t seen you in half a year, Ying Er has grown up into a…young man.” He had wanted to say a young woman, Lu Ying was dressing up as a man so it wasn’t good to make her gender known to others so it was tacitly agreed that she was Lu Ying’s illegitimate son Lu Ying.

Lu Ying smiled: “Yes, uncle Yan is getting younger and younger.”

Yan Shi Bo had recently gotten a beautiful concubine, he began acting like a virile young man in his old age, it was really rare, Lu Ying’s words made him feel very happy, however he didn’t come here today to hear a youngster flatter him, he said: “Your father is harder to see than the emperor, he’s been so busy recently that he doesn’t even return home.”

Yan Shi Bo was very bold and held a lot of respect.

It was usually Lu Bing who personally came to meet him, today it was a youngster, of course Yan Shi Bo would not be happy.

Lu Ying smiled at him, pretending to not hear the sarcasm, she made a welcoming gesture, “Father has prepared tea in anticipation of uncle Yan.”

Yan Shi Bo entered the main courtyard.

Inside the guest room, Wei Cai Wei and Wang Da Xia were sprawled against the window peeking through the gap, but they saw a plump fat person walking step by step with short legs, Lu Ying remained half a shoulder behind him from the start respectfully.

Wang Da Xia stared wide-eyed, he said softly: “Zeze, assistant minister Yan really is a character.”

Wei Cai Wei watched the “ball” roll across the ground, seriously doubting if Wang Da Xia had eaten too much last night so much so his eyes were blinded by meat, that was the only reason why he could say such things, “A character? Assistant minister Yan? Are you sure?”

Character was used to describe how beautiful someone was, her fourteen years old damn husband was a little too loose…in the saying of Tieling he was very despicable, she didn’t think apart from his “outstanding” qualities, he was also blind.

Wang Da Xia nodded seriously, “It’s true, assistant minister is a character, he really is Wu Da Lang straight out of <Water Margin>.”

<Water Margin> was published in the early Ming dynasty, it became popular in Great Ming, for a time it was a banned book, the officials couldn’t stop it and the commoners liked it, it was finally unbanned and became the best selling novel.

The stories of Wu Da Lang, Pan Jin Lian, Wu Song and Xi Men Qing were the most popular, they had natural deformities, the short and stubby Wu Da Lang was known as three inch man, everyone knew him.

On hearing this, Wei Cai Wei couldn’t help but laugh, leaning against the window sill she covered her mouth with her hand, Wang Da Xia’s humour lessened her sorrow.

Wang Da Xia watched as she became less nervous, he was very pleased with himself: I said she likes such an outstanding and elegant man as me, funny and interesting, charming and handsome young man.

That old-fashioned Lu Ying who can’t fart even if he’s beaten with a rod wouldn’t even enter her eyesight.

Wang Da Xia boasted he was better than anyone, his confidence returned to his usual state at once.

Yan Shi Bo entered the study, he was almost pushed back by the cold air inside.

That was too cold right, it wasn’t enough that the ice in the jars were piled into small mounds, there were even a few small ice basins in the corners of the room, glistening like an icy world.

However Yan Shi Bo was very fat, he was afraid of the heat, he actually liked this temperature a lot.

Lu Bing sat on a rose chair leaning on the table, forcing himself to stand up, “Dong Lou¹, you came to see me.”

Standing alone was all Lu Bing could do right now, he had to be supported to walk in order not to fall.

Yan Shi Bo, known as Dong Lou, saw Lu Bing’s sickly expression, Yan Shi Bo was startled, the fat on his cheeks bounced like grass jelly which had yet to set and take shape, “Dong Hu, what happened?”

Lu Bing, styled name Wen Ming, assumed name Dong Hu.

Because the name contained a “Dong” as well, Yan Shi Bo used it to show their closeness, often calling him by Dong Hu.

“Serve tea.” Lu Bing sat down, sighing: “I’m old, drinking and staying up all night, my body is very tired, today I stood under the cruel sun and forced myself to carry out drills, I ended up getting heat stroke, it’s not life threatening but my body is weak and lack strength. I was worried my family and the emperor would worry so I didn’t let this be known and hid in the yamen to rest, I’ll talk about it once I’m better.”

Yan Shi Bo smelt a faint smell of wrinkled giant hyssop in the air, it seems Lu Bing was telling the truth.

Lu Ying said: “Father planned to welcome uncle Yan at the door, it’s quite hot in the evening, it was I who stopped father, I hope uncle Yan will please forgive me.”

Yan Shi Bo waved his hand: “The reason has been given, health is important, there's no need for etiquette. You are a filial child, Dong Hu, its true that work is important but you can’t work yourself to the bone, you’re only in your early fifties, the emperor needs you, you have a long future ahead, you must take care, this body of mine, as soon as it’s summer I can’t easily go out, I’m afraid of getting a heatstroke. Heatstrokes can cause death.”

“Your sons Lu Yi and Lu Cai are still young, they can’t help you yet but this daughter…” Yan Shi Bo looked at Lu Ying, “She’s highly skilled in martial arts, a female hero, a man isn’t as good as her, leave drills and practices to the young.”

Lu Bing said: “I understand, I won’t show off in the future. Once a man turns fifty, you have to accept you’re old.”

Changing subjects he said, “It’s hard for Dong Lou to leave the house in the summer heat, why did you come find me today?”

Yan Shi Bo said: “Recently someone presented a memorial to the emperor wanting to seek justice for the wrongly accused Ding Ru Kui and asking for a retrial.”

Ding Ru Kui was the best scapegoat Yan Shi Bo had personally found for his father, if Ding Ru Kui is found innocent then it would be Yan Song who was guilty.

If Yan Song fell, with the skin gone, to what can the hair attach itself? The Yan family, all it’s vassals will fall, that’s why Yan Shi Bo who spent the summer at home would brave the heat and come to find Lu Bing.

Lu Bing said: “Ding Ru Kui was indeed the a high official of the ministry of war before, some people were promoted in court because of him, in memory of the good things he had done these memorials appear in front of the emperor every year, the emperor always leave them alone and not pay attention to them, it’ll be fine, don’t worry too much Dong Lou.”

Yan Shi Bo sighed: “He was sentenced to death ten years ago, he really is lucky, his name never appears on the review list every year, he always escapes from the emperor’s red brush, he still hasn’t died ten years after his sentence, I fear a long night fraught with dreams.”

I did it, I spend money every year to put his case at the bottom, the emperor never gets there.

Lu Bing said: “He’s locked up here, he has been reduced to a shadow with age— people die, it might not be from execution.” He hinted Ding Ru Kui would die from old age in prison.

Yan Shi Bo said softly, “Can it be a little earlier—”, he used his finger like a knife, making a throat cutting gesture, “People will die, apart from the death penalty, old age, there’s also illness.”

How was this illness, he clearly wanted Lu Bing to think of a way to kill Ding Ru Kui.

Lu Bing’s heart was as clear as a mirror, he said: “The emperor audits the criminals sentenced to the death penalty, he never used his red brush against him, what does that mean? The emperor doesn’t want him dead, I don’t dare to brush off the emperor’s desires.”

A relative and the emperor, of course the emperor was more important.

Yan Shi Bo said: “There are more memorials regarding Ding Ru Kui than usual this year, this danger seems to be increasing, I’m used to planning ahead to get rid of an obstacle for my father. Dong Hu, I want to personally see Ding Ru Kui, can I?”

Lu Bing was too anxious but his expression was as calm as ever, “We’re relatives, there’s no need to mention such a trivial matter, but the prisoners in the prison are extremely disorderly, if you saw them I’m afraid Dong Lou will be affected, Ying Er, go make arrangements.”

Lu Ying replied, “Yes father.”

Lu Ying hurried over to find Wei Cai Wei, “Can you make a healthy person appear to be half way to their death?”

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1 Courtesy or style name traditionally given to males aged twenty. A kind of nickname.^↩