"Returning to Before Husband's Castration" 《回到老公自宫前》Chapter 42

 The embroidered uniform guard’s yamen.

Dusk, Lu Bing personally called his daughter for dinner, “It’s time to eat, work piled up on the desk won’t fly away.”

Recently Lu Bing had been paying attention to health and wellbeing, he would remind his daughter to have three meals a day, nor would he let her stay up late to avoid messing up her health in the future like he did.

“I’ll go now.” Lu Ying placed the brush back into the rack.

There was an oar in the corner, it was clear to Lu Bing that it belonged to Wang Da Xia, “That guy is always leaving things around, he forgot to bring his oar this morning, I’m sure he’ll forget it again tomorrow, I don’t know when he’ll actually mature.”

After all he was her subordinate, Lu Ying was defensive of him, she often scolded Wang Da Xia so he could become a Sun Tzu, but hearing her father speak of him, she was protective, saying: “He saw Ding Wu and Ding Ru Kui’s reunion so he got homesick, after practising rowing he left his oar and went home to see his father.”

Lu Bing thought about Wang qianhu and Wang Da Xia, their “benevolent father and filial son” reunion, he smiled saying: “If he didn’t go home I’m sure Wang qianhu would live a few more years.”

Lu Ying again felt defensive, “How long a father can live has nothing to do with his children, the heavens makes the decision. I’m filial to you but you still suffered from a stroke.”

Lu Bing stopped smiling: it makes sense.

My daughters are considered worry-free and obedient, never the type to cause trouble, but I still suffered from a stroke.

Wang Da Xia had made a name for himself in the northern city as the “four pest”, Wang qinahu was in good health, he wasn’t unwell from anger and at this age he still led the night patrols, it really is fate.

Northern city, Tianshui lane.

Wang Da Xia rushed here burning with anxiety, the summer days were long, when he arrived it was still light.

Having been away from home for more than ten days, the windows at the Wei residence were all open to allow for ventilation, moxa sticks and black atractylodes rhizome were burning to chase away humidity and bad luck, two bundles of mugwort hung from the door, ready for the dragon boat festival.

Wang Da Xia had turned up uninvited, he didn’t even knock on the door, he got off the horse and ran directly inside the house, the couch in the living room had disappeared, it had been moved to the eastern side room, Wei Cai Wei was stood on a stool hanging a new white mosquito net over it.

A fresh summer sleeping mat was on the couch, there were still undried water spots on it, it ought to have been cleaned just now.

Apart from the summer sleeping mat, there was also a rattan cooling pillow, at a glance it had clearly been prepared for Ding Wu to stay, everything was new.

Wang Da Xia’s jealousy could turn seawater sour: when I stayed here that night I slept in the living room, I didn’t have a mosquito net, no summer sleeping mat, the pillow was also a spare from Wei Cai Wei, there wasn’t even bedding, I had to spend the night with just a mosquito repellent incense.

“It’s you, you scared me.” Wei Cai Wei jumped down from the stool, putting the mosquito net down, blocking all four directions to avoid mosquitoes from flying in.

Wang Da Xia asked: “Why hasn’t Ding Wu left yet? A man and woman alone, you still want him to stay?”

“Lord Lu said he can leave after the dragon boat festival the day after tomorrow. He’s travel-worn and at least those escorting him need to rest for two days.” Wei Cai Wei said: “He’s my close family, we lived together in Tieling, we grew up together, I spent so much money renting this house but haven’t lived in it for more than a few days. There are plenty of rooms upstairs and downstairs, why would I get him to stay in a tavern? Why would I waste my rent? You really don’t make sense.”

Wang Da Xia was stifled with anger, he sat on the new summer mat, “Haven’t we been good lately? Eating together, talking, we didn’t argue so how come as soon as Ding Wu came you pick on my shortcomings, eyes aren’t eyes, nose isn’t a nose.”

Wei Cai Wei was lost for words, indeed, ever since she had used that plate of grapes and a meal to coax Wang Da Xia, the two of them had been harmonious, sometimes the atmosphere would be similar to when they were meal partners in the last life, but it wasn’t entirely the same, the Wang Da Xia who hadn’t castrated himself was lively and optimistic, his smile as bright as the sun, the castrated Wang Da Xia rarely smiled, when he did it never reached his eyes.

In this life, she wanted to protect this ray of sunshine because it would be lost forever if not, she thought of every way, Wei Cai Wei didn’t chase Wang Da Xia up from the mat, she said: “It’s you who changed with Ding Wu’s arrival, sharp and unkind, you bullied him as someone in exile, his father is a prisoner awaiting execution, locked up in prison, he could die every year, it was hard for him to come to the capital yet you want to chase him away quickly. If he was your close family and I spoke to him in such a way, you would also get angry at me.”

Wang Da Xia shook his head like a rattle drum, “How can that be, no matter what you do I won’t get angry at you.”

Wei Cai Wei who knew better than anyone about quarrels between husbands and wives said: “Who said I hurt you that day and wouldn’t talk to me anymore? It’s only been a few days.”

Luckily Wang Da Xia was naturally brazen, he said: “That was only one time, there’ll definitely be no next time.”

Wang Da Xia was so honest, Wei Cai Wei didn’t want to carry on arguing, she said: “Fine, I’ll believe you (yeah right). We are close friends who have shared delights and common hardships, his father was a high official of the ministry of war, I’m embarrassed to take advantage and call him older brother and what not, our relationship is that of close relatives, but call each other friends, I’m not asking you to be friends with him, I only ask that you stop being mean to him.”

Wei Cai Wei had a straightforward personality, she could speak directly and clearly to him without caution.

She explained her relationship with Ding Wu to Wang Da Xia, they were family, friends, there were no feelings of male and female between them.

“He’ll really leave after the dragon boat festival?” Wang Da Xia asked.

“Of course, who doesn’t dare to listen to lord Lu?” Wei Cai Wei said: “Besides he has been sent to exile, if he refuses to return, he’ll be regarded as an escaped convict, he could be beheaded, for his family he doesn’t dare stay in the city either.”

It was the dragon boat festival the day after tomorrow, then the day after that Ding Wu would leave.

In other words, Ding Wu would only stay here for two days and three nights, he just had to endure it for two days and three nights then Ding Wu would be gone.

I just have to bear it. If I don’t bear such a small thing a huge argument would break out with doctor Wei.

Wang Da Xia said: “Am I the type to bully the weak. I wanted him to leave soon because…en.” Wang Da Xia struggled to find a reason, “It’s because his father Ding Ru Kui has a lot of enemies at court, his death sentence was given ten years ago but he’s still alive, I guess a lot of people want him dead— you also saw that night how much Yan Shi Bo wanted him dead, I was worried the news of Ding Wu’s arrival would make those people restless.”

“The embroidered uniform guards are lord Lu’s men, water won’t leak out, but Ding Wu is an outsider, if someone used Ding Wu to make a fuss, won’t it cause trouble for you, a fish in a pond? I’m afraid there’ll be many long nights and Ding Wu being in the city will implicate you, so I wanted him to return to Tieling as soon as possible.”

Perfect! 

Wang Da Xia praised his own quick-wittedness.

“You—” Wei Cai Wei didn’t know whether to laugh or cry, “You are a radish seller pulling the burden of salt, worrying about it being salty, letting your imagination run wild. Lord Lu brought him to the capital, who would dare to act against him?”

Wei Cai Wei hadn’t thought about this because in the last life Ding Wu and Ding Ru Kui had been fine, they outlived their enemies, in the end the dark clouds were pushed aside to reveal the moon.

“Because I…worry about you.” Wang Da Xia said: “Ding Wu is your friend, you are my friend, between us…we have also been through a life and death experience no? I worry about you so overthinking is quite normal.” Wang Da Xia continued: “I’m going to participate in the dragon boat race the day after tomorrow, you need to come and watch. Don’t leave afterwards, I’ll take you guys around the city, who else apart from me knows where best to play in the city? I’ll make sure you have fun, send Ding Wu away happy.”

Even though Wei Cai Wei had sworn her and Ding Wu were family and friends, Wang Da Xia was still not at ease: I also said I’m friends with you, but inside my heart…I can’t say it, I’ll scare you if I do.

Wang Da Xia wasn’t at ease with the two of them being alone, he had to be in the middle.

At this moment a breeze came through carrying the smell of smoke and food.

Wang Da Xia sniffed, catching the scent, “It’s so fragrant, which family is cooking?”

He followed the scent to the rear courtyard, there was a huge iron cooking pot on the small red clay stove, a chicken and mushrooms were stewing inside, Ding Wu wore an apron, rope held up his sleeves, he was kneading dough, he squished the dough flat, circles covered the edges of the pot before he covered it with a lid.

He really was great at housework and could hold his own in public!

When Ding Wu was putting in the pancakes, Wei Cai Wei held a fan sitting on a small stool helping to stoke the fire, keeping the heat high.

The two worked well together, they must have cooked at home in Tieling many times.

At this moment the burning jealousy inside Wang Da Xia was greater than the fire in the stove, he couldn’t hold back his tongue, tossing the promise he made just now to the back of his mind, he again began to berate Ding Wu, saying: “A nobleman stays clear of the kitchen, I see young master Ding Wu isn’t an ordinary person, you’re cooking skills are amazing.”

He meant Ding Wu wasn’t a nobleman, it wasn’t enough just to be good-looking, I reckon I’m just as good-looking as him, but I can’t cook.

Ding Wu placed the last pancake inside, patting the flour from his hands, “I’m just a commoner, I am not a nobleman, you can just call me by my name. This man has no cook, I make my three meals a day, i’m afraid I wouldn’t be able to call myself a nobleman.”

Wei Cai Wei gave a frantic look towards Wang Da Xia: What did you promise me just now? How can you say such unkind words?

Wang Da Xia pretended to be blind and didn’t understand her look.

Ding Wu untied the apron, politely saying: “The food is almost ready, if second young master Wang doesn’t think our food is too simple and crude you should stay and eat with us.”

Wang Da Xia reaped the consequences of his own words, Wei Cai Wei didn’t want him to stay to avoid listening him being hateful at the dinner table, she said: “Second young master Wang has just managed to visit his home of course he’ll go and pay his respects to his parents then stay for dinner.”

Wang Da Xia saw Wei Cai Wei was chasing him out, he felt upset, his rebellious self came out, I’m not going to leave!

Wang Da Xia also moved a small stool, sitting down next to Wei Cai Wei, taking the fan from her hand, “If I went home my dad will definitely say `Humph, you still recognise this as your home! You haven’t sent a letter home these last few days, do you think you’re amazing now that you’re an embroidered uniform guard? You’ve reached the heavens?”

Wang Da Xia waved the fan, copying his father’s manner, it was like a copy, “Then he’ll lecture me, so I can only have a peaceful meal here, keep my ears clean, I would ask you to add an extra pair of chopsticks tonight.”

It’s a banquet intended to murder a guest? I’ll still eat.