"Returning to Before Husband's Castration" 《回到老公自宫前》Chapter 29

 Ding Ru Kui had been sentenced to death but it had not been carried out because over the last ten years Lu Bing had used the loophole of reviewing the death penalty, letting him live year after year.

The power to review those sentenced to the death penalty in the Ming dynasty was in the hand of the emperor, at the end of every year they were collated and delivered to the emperor for a review.

The emperor opened the file, confirmed there are no mistakes, with a tick of his red brush, the Ministry of Justice would make the arrangements, those who needed to be decapitated would be decapitated, hanged were hanged, dates were set and were announced to the public, letting the people know when to gather and watch the sentence be carried out, because the death penalty can have an enlightening effect on people, warning them to not break the law.

If the emperor felt there was a problem, he would send it back to be reviewed, the criminal would temporarily not be sentenced to death, but every year there were so many death penalties to review, the files on the emperor’s desk piled up into a small mountain, in order to appear benevolent and powerful, he would let a few slip to be reviewed again in the following year, similar to emperor Hong Wu who was terrifying and held a grudge but was also hardworking, he wouldn’t send all those in the files to death.

Many of those waiting for execution in the prisons died before waiting for the day the emperor’s red brush instructed their execution.

Besides emperor Jia Jing was busy making immortal pills, he had no patience to read them all, he didn’t even touch the last few files, he would wait to review them next year.

That’s why, according to the way death penalties are reviewed, the prisoners at the top of the pile were most certainly going to die, and those at the bottom were very likely to live for another year— if they didn’t die in prison.

Lu Bing used this loophole, every year he would bribe the eunuch carrying the prisoner files to help him move Ding Ru Kui’s file to the bottom of the pile.

Who didn’t give Lu Bing respect? Let alone he gave them money.

That’s how Ding Ru Kui was at the bottom every year, year after year, ten years passed, he was still alive and well.

Ding Ru Kui’s prison cell contained a bookshelf, desk, brush, paper and ink-stone were all available when he needed it.

A mosquito net hung over the small bed, there was even a cover over the chamber pot in the corner to shield him so he could have some dignity while imprisoned and waiting for his death sentence to be carried out.

His hair was combed neatly, the underground prison was damp, it was easy for insects and louse to breed, he didn’t grow out a beard, every three days a soldier would come to shave his beard— prisoners were not allowed to touch blades or ironware of any sort, even their bowls and spoons were made of wood to avoid the prisoners breaking them and using the broken pieces to commit suicide or hurt others.

Lu Bing made Ding Ru Kui’s wait for death as comfortable as possible, if it wasn’t for the iron barred windows around them, the iron fences and the iron door with the jailer standing guard, Ding Ru Kui’s situation was like a hermit living leisurely in seclusion after retirement in Nanshan and going about picking chrysanthemums.

In comparison Lu Bing who had been living in the spotlight for over twenty years was like a weapon covered in rust and marks.

If the two of them were put together, people would think Lu Bing was the one who was waiting for his death every year.

Ding Ru Kui invited Lu Bing to sit on a chair next to the table, he sat on the bed— because there was only one chair.

Ding Ru Kui couldn’t ask a guest to sit on his bed.

Ding Ru Kui waited for Lu Bing’s coughing to stop, he asked: “Lord Lu has time in his busy schedule to visit me, this person waiting for death, what’s wrong?”

Lu Bing this busy person only had time to see Ding Ru Kui once a year, when the death penalties were reviewed at the end of the year, to tell him “this year the emperor didn’t put a red tick on your name, congratulations, you can live for another year”.

This year was the tenth year and only half a year had passed, it was summer, another half a year needed to pass before the tenth death penalty review took place, Lu Bing suddenly came to see him, it surprised Ding Ru Kui, and it made him anxious because last time Lu Bing had broken the rules and came to see him in the prison, it was the second year he had been imprisoned, Lu Bing brought news: “...Your wife passed away from illness on her way to Yunnan, I’m sorry, please mourn for her.”

Ding Ru Kui used to be a high official in the Ministry of War, similar to the later defence minister, madam Ding lived the life of a princess, she was a passionate beauty, being sent away on the miserable roads as punishment, how could she stand it?

Like a flower falling into mud, the fragrance and beauty would disappear quickly.

Back then Ding Ru Kui fell silent, he didn’t say a word.

After a very long time, he spat out a mouthful of blood, crying out: “It was my fault!”

Ding Ru Kui was regretful! As a high official in the Ministry of War, he had asked the cabinet grand secretary Yan Song for his opinion, Yan Song had said to defend the capital to their death, they couldn’t engage in battle, if they lost and the city was captured, the emperor would be taken, then the Ming dynasty would be destroyed.

Yan Song even promised Ding Ru Kui, “As long as I’m here, nothing will happen to you.”

Ding Ru Kui felt Yan Song made sense, the Ming dynasty had limited military power, it was unclear when reinforcement would arrive, whether to protect the citizens outside the city or to protect the Ming dynasty, it was a difficult decision, he listened to Yan Song, ordering the army to defend the city to their death and mustn’t leave to fight.

In the end, An Da Khan withdrew his troops, Yan Song’s son Yan Shi Fan lobbied his in-law Lu Bing to push the blame on Ding Ru Kui’s head.

His wife was sent three thousand miles south, his son Ding Wu was sent north to Tieling prefecture, one south, one north, the day the mother and son parted became an eternal parting.

Now that Lu Bing suddenly came to see Ding Ru Kui in the middle of the year, Ding Ru Kui instantly recalled how his wife had tragically passed away, this time, could something have happened to his son who was sent to Tieling prefecture?

Lu Bing said: “I came to find you today regarding your son Ding Wu.”

Ding Ru Kui steadily sat on the bed, looking calm and collected, his fingers already digging into the bedding, he tightly gripped the cotton wadding, “He…how is he?”

Lu Bing was also a father, he was even a grandfather, he knew Ding Ru Kui wasn’t acting, he said: “Don’t worry, there are embroidered uniform guards in Tieling, no one dares to do anything to him, he’s very talented in literary, every new year, people travel from all around for him to write couplets. A few years ago he was recruited by the county deputy into the yamen to be a minor official in charge of making household registers, he is already self--sufficient.”

Ding Ru Kui was previously on two successful list of examinees in the highest imperial civil service examinations, he entered the Imperial Hanlin Academy as a meritorious candidate, he became a high official in the six ministries, if it wasn’t for that calamity, he would have definitely entered the cabinet as a chancellor, maybe even grand secretary, reaching the highest position.

Yet his son Ding Wu after he was convicted, was sent away without a choice and without the qualifications to participate in the imperial exams, it was useless even if he studied more, to be an external minor official in a county yamen was a decent standing.

His future was ruined.

This disparity was like the defence minister’s son in the modern times being a day labourer doing administration work for a remote rural local police station, falling from the clouds to the ground.

Lu Bing passed Wei Cai Wei’s household record to Ding Ru Kui, pointing at the name “minor official Ding Wu”, “This household record came from him.”

Ten years had passed, it was the first time Ding Ru Kui saw his son’s handwriting, before his son was a high-spirited youth, writing elegantly and leanly, now his son wrote in a upright and proper manner, completely lacking in personality in the form of guange (Fangsong font).

Life had smoothed out his edges.

Ding Ru Kui only glanced at it before returning the household record, “There’s nothing wrong in being a minor official, being able to make ends meet and support his family is fine.”

Lu Bing said: “Ding Wu is yet to marry, where does he have a family?”

How could a former son of nobility take a liking to a common woman from a village? And how could they bear to see their next generation also be trapped in the bitter cold of Tieling, things getting worse with each generation?

How much grieve.

His son chose not to marry, Ding Ru Kui wasn’t surprised at all, he said: “A man regards the four corners of the world all as home, my home is in the imperial prison, his home is Tieling.”

Lu Bing again asked: “Do you know Wei Nan Shan?” This question was the real reason why Lu Bing broke tradition and came to the imperial prison.

Nothing could be concealed from Lu Bing  the head of intelligence, Ding Ru Kui said candidly: “He was my former subordinate, he’s good at medicine, loyal and devoted, when the Ding family fell, everyone scattered, Ding Wu was sent to Tieling, Wei Nan Shan and his wife was worried he wouldn’t be able to make a living by himself in the bitter cold place as Tieling, so they voluntarily went to Tieling with Ding Wu.”

Lu Bing then asked: “Does Wei Nan Shan have any children?”

Ding Ru Kui said: “They had a daughter, exceptionally intelligent, unfortunately she passed away at the young age of seven. Lord Lu, are the couple well?”

“They’ve always been looking after Ding Wu in Tieling, until he became an adult and entered the county yamen as a minor official.”

Lu Bing said: “Five years ago, madam Wei fell seriously ill, Wei Nan Shan went to the depths of Xiangya mountain to pick medicine for his wife, he fell down a cliff by accident, supposedly his wife also passed away.”

Lu Bing was really a bearer of bad news, every time he came someone had died.

His subordinate and wife had passed away, Ding Ru Kui felt very upset, “Can you allow me to have an incense burner table in my cell today? I want to offer incense to them.”

Lu Bing had only sat in the underground prison for a short while but he felt his lung struggle to breath, his left hand clutched at his chest, he used his right hand to push himself up on the desk, “The ventilation is poor here, if you light incense there would just be smoke, wait until night time to go to the courtyard and make your offerings, I’ll get the jailor to set up an altar in the courtyard.”

“Go…go out?” Ding Ru Kui was very doubtful, ten years, he had never set half a foot out of his cell, the iron barred window above his head was the only way he saw the sunlight.

Lu Bing said: “Of course, if you don’t mind having leg-irons and chain bracelets on, a five catty iron chain, it won’t affect you from making the offering.”

Lu Bing left the underground prison, he took in a deep breath of fresh air, it was the first time he felt fresh air was sweet, he asked his subordinate: “Has doctor Wei woken up?”

His subordinate replied: “Leader Lu’s messenger pigeon arrived just now, she’s already awake. Zhou Xiaoqi used our embroidered uniform guards most aggressive drug on her, most people would probably not be able to leave their beds for three days, last night she had verbally given a prescription, today she could leave her bed and slowly walk around, it seems her medical skills are quite good.”

Lu Bing said: “Get Lu Ying to bring her over, I have something to ask her.”

The subordinate accepted the order and left, he took a messenger pigeon in preparation to send a message.

Ah! Ah! 

At this moment a sudden piercing and painful scream came from the eastern prison cells, the pigeon was scared away, scattering  a feather on Lu Bing’s face.

Lu Bing casually picked up the soft grey feather, blowing out a breath he asked: “Who is shouting? Why are they being so noisy.”

Immediately a jailor came to report: “In response to lord Lu, I was just questioning Zhou Xiaoqi, that guy has tight lips so I used some methods.”

Lu Bing asked: “What method?”

The jailor said: “The method he was about to use on the doctor’s eye, candle wax dripped onto his eyeball.” Just hearing it made the eyes hurt.

An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, it was…fair.

Lu Bing said: “Take it easy, it’s fine if he loses both eyes but he needs to live.”

The jailor said: “Don’t worry lord Lu, I am an old hand. Zhou Xiaoqi is living off the embroidered uniform guards but wants to ruin the embroidered uniform guard, Chen Qianhu had indeed died mysteriously but when did the embroidered uniform guards change surname to `Chen`, he dared to privately abuse the witness under leader Lu’s protection, he really is daring.”

On one side was Lu Bing’s supposed illegitimate son leader Lu Ying, the other was Chen Qianhu who was no longer in a position of power, the jailor wasn’t an idiot, Zhou Xiaoqi wanted drive Lu Ying into a corner because of Chen Qianhu, of course he would be dealt with painfully.

Zhou Xiaoqi’s actions had betrayed the embroidered uniform guards. Lu Bing hated those who helped others at the expense of his own people, he wouldn’t be let off.

Zhao Xiaoqi was being tortured inside his cell, the methods he previously used on criminals were all being biting him back.

Lu Bing returned to his room, the medicine had already been prepared for this morning, he drank it in one gulp, gargling his mouth he sat on the chamber pot and cleared his bowels, when he stood up, he suddenly saw stars, he felt dizzy almost falling over, fortunately his guard supported him by the arm.

The guard said: “I’ll go and call for the physician.”

“No need.” Lu Bing said: “I’ve been drinking medicine three times a day, I was woken up over Zhou Xiaoqi last night so I haven’t slept much, I don’t have the energy so help me to lie down, I’ll be fine after some sleep.”

Lu Bing laid on the bed.

Outside the window, in order to make sure he slept well, the guards held poles covered in cicadas, carrying the noisy cicadas away.

Lu Bing closed his eyes, forcing himself to sleep, but something was on his mind, he couldn’t sleep at all.

Ding Ru Kui said Wei Nan Shan and his wife’s daughter passed away at the young age of seven, but according to the embroidered uniform guard’s information, Wei Cai Wei was clearly Wei Nan Shan and his wife’s daughter, they had gone with the exiled Ding Wu to Tieling and settled down there.

Wei Cai Wei learned medicine from her mother and father, then Wei Nan Shan and his wife passed away together, Wei Cai Wei inherited the family property, becoming the head of the household at a young age and the head doctor in the clinic at Xiangya mountain, Ding Wu became a minor official in the county yamen, helping her set up a female household.

A female household was classified as a “solitary household”, there was no need to be placed in forced labour or military service, there was also a discount to taxes so it lightened Wei Cai Wei’s burden.

Wei Nan Shan and his wife were kind to Ding Wu, it was expected that Ding Wu would give their orphan daughter Wei Cai Wei assistance, it wasn’t considered using his position for personal gain, but according to the information, Wei Cai Wei and Ding Wu were the same, they never married, how did she become a widow on her way to the capital?

It really was strange, could the Wei Cai Wei in the capital have been replaced by someone? She was a fake?

Lu Bing tossed and turned restlessly, unable to sleep, even if the cicadas outside had been removed, he couldn’t sleep.

Lu Bing thought, since he couldn’t sleep anyway, why doesn’t he find the answer to these two questions.

Thus he tried to call out for his subordinate and the embroidered uniform guards composite artist to draw Wei Cai Wei’s face then deliver it on a fast horse to Tieling to find out if it was actually Wei Cai Wei.

However he thought it in his head but only a slight grunt came out of his mouth.

He couldn’t articulate.

The guard heard this on the other side of the door and thought it was only the usual grumbles when sleeping, the guard thought Lu Bing was deep asleep. That’s why he didn’t push the door open and come in to check.

Lu Bing wanted to get up, but it was like he had sleep paralysis, he wasn’t able to move at all lying on the bed, whether it was calling for someone or getting up, he couldn’t do anything, like the living dead he laid there.

Lu Bing immediately panicked! His illness had flared up again!

It was like ten days ago, as usual he was drinking at dinner, after the banquet ended, he remembered there was still work to do in the yamen so he went to the embroidered uniform guard yamen and worked until dawn.

In less than four hours it would have been morning roll call, Lu Bing was too lazy to return home, he just slept in his room at the embroidered uniform guard yamen.

The next morning when he got up to wash his face and rinse his mouth, he was going to grab his toothbrush and put on green salt to brush his teeth, but no matter what he couldn’t hold the ivory handle of the toothbrush.

His fingers were bent halfway but couldn’t go any further. Not only that, he looked at the mirror and realised the right side of his face had lost feeling, he tried to make an expression in the mirror, he could move the muscles on the left, his right side was like a mask, it didn’t move at all.

Back then he could still speak, he ordered his trusted aide to secretly invite his “tightlipped” reliable doctor over.

In order to make sure the embroidered uniform guards were stable and not alarmed, he even ordered them to not involve many people, he got the imperial physician to sneak in from the back door and not tell anyone.

When the physician had rushed over, his hand had basically recovered feeling, only the right side of his face was still numb.

The physician could tell from looking he had a “small stroke” and asked if he had drank alcohol recently?

Lu Bing nodded, “I’ve had dinner parties the last three nights in a row, I drank quite a bit.”

The physician hurriedly used needles to open up his meridians, warning him: “This is a stroke, but it’s not severe, but one time will very easily lead to a second time, from now on you can’t drink alcohol, strong-smelling vegetables, meat and women should not be touched. Have three meals a day on time, sleep earlier at night, if you don’t have enough sleep then rest, now that it’s summer, the days are long, it’s best to take a nap in the afternoon, you mustn’t stay up late.”

The physician used the needles to let his blood flow, he dissolved blood dilution pill in water for him and by the afternoon he had recovered, only he didn’t have too much power in his right hand.

The physician prescribed medicine for him, warning him to take it on time.

Lu Bing was the commander of the embroidered uniform guards, a very important position, any change would affect everything, he didn’t want people to know he had a stroke so he gave the physician some money wanting him to not tell anyone— even the emperor wasn’t allowed to know.

Lu Bing had been taking the stroke medication these last few days, but to others he claimed he was taking summer tonics, even Lu Ying didn’t know, only his confidant who brewed the medicine knew the truth.

After Lu Bing’s small stroke, he respected the physician’s advice, hoping he would get better soon, he also realised there was nothing more important than health and life.

If someone died, they would have nothing.

Seeing Lu Ying busying about every day, staying up late over a case, not eating three meals a day, he was worried this child would follow his path, so he personally plucked the fruit, urging him to go home and rest and so on, and he even used any means possible to recruit the sly Wang Da Xia into the embroidered uniform guards to find a reliable assistant for Lu Ying, sharing Lu Ying’s burden.

Lu Bing has seen a lot of people, he felt Wang Da Xia could work, he was naturally cut out for this.

Lu BIng had listened to the physician these last three days, taking medicine daily, watching what he ate three times a day and sleeping, however it was ruined, he was startled awake by Zhou Xiaoqi sneaking an attack on Wei Cai Wei last night, since he couldn’t sleep he just got up very early and came to the yamen to look over files, then he went to the stuffy underground prison in the morning for a visit and once again had a stroke.

Just as the physician had warned, each stroke will get more severe each time, last time he could still walk and talk, this time he laid on the bed like a living vegetable.

What could he do? Lu Bing couldn’t move his body, it was the first time he felt afraid and despair, like a drowning person, he could only look on as it got worse.

It was at this moment, Lu Ying and Wang Da Xia brought Wei Cai Wei to the embroidered uniform guard’s yamen.

Wei Cai Wei’s legs had not recovered completely, Lu YIng ordered someone to use a soft sedan chair to carry her once they entered.

Wang Da Xia asked Lu Ying: “Why did the lord ask for the young widow? She’s still not well, getting an unwell person to come on a hot summer day.”

Lu Bing was a crafty old fox, Wang Da Xia was worried since he had deceived the young and inexperienced Lu Ying, if the old fox saw through it then there’ll be trouble, so he tried to get Lu Ying to speak.

Lu Ying coldly said: “We’ll know when we’re there, the embroidered uniform guard’s yamen is just as safe as the Wang residence? I’ll be responsible for doctor Wei’s protection.”

It really was the emperor is not worried, but his eunuchs are, Wang Da Xia was confused, Wei Cai Wei was still as a gentle wind, based on her understanding of Lu Bing from her previous life, the more Lu Bing knew about her, the harder it was to make a move against her.

In the world of adults, there are rarely anyone who is black or white, apart from those like old woman Wang, Chen Qianhu and his son, these demented people, most people had two sides to them, seeing them at different times would reveal different appearance, just like Wang Da Xia’s malicious stepmother madam Wu, while going through torment, she saw clearly how ugly her maternal family were and suddenly realised, she should choose to be good.

Lu Bing had blood all over his hands, but he had an innate sense of right and wrong, he felt ashamed towards the Ding family, delaying Ding Wu’s death penalty for the past ten years, after he found out there was a connection between Ding Wu and Wei Cai Wei, he wouldn’t deal with her quickly.

The three of them reached the bedroom door, the guard quietly said: “Lord Lu didn’t sleep well last night, he’s currently catching up on sleep, please can leader Lu wait next door, when lord Lu wakes up I’ll bring you over.”

Wang Da Xia opened his mouth widely in a yawn, even his heart shaped tonsils could be seen, “I’m really tired, I also want to catch up on sleep, hurry up and bring me to the guest room.”

The three of them came to the room next door, Wang Da Xia noticed there was a day bed by the window, he hurried over and sat down before lying back.

“Get up.” Lu Ying said: “That’s where doctor Wei will rest, you’re fighting with a sick person, are you not ashamed.”

Wang Da Xia opened his eyes, glancing at Wei Cai Wei who had gotten off the soft sedan chair and weakly clutching at the door frame.

“Oh, I’m not thinking correctly from lack of sleep, doctor Wei please.” Wang Da Xia cooed, giving up the day bed he looked around, taking out a thick <Great Ming laws> from the bookshelf he placed it on the corner of the table, then he used <Great Ming laws> as a pillow, he slept on the table.

The table could only support his head to his knees, his long legs had nowhere to rest, so they just hung down from the table, swaying.

In such a difficult position, with the back of Wang Da Xia’s head supported by <Great Ming laws>, he fell asleep.

Wang Da Xia’s ability to be at home wherever he was made Lu Ying astonished.

Wei Cai Wei laid on her side on the day bed, turning her face towards the window— her husband before castration was sleeping in such a manner, she simply couldn’t bear to look at it.

Only Lu Ying sat upright and still on the chair at the side, he didn’t look like he hadn’t slept at all, the button around his neck was still as tight as before.

At this moment a few fearless cicadas came flying over outside, calling out with all their strength, they stopped on a branch, the guards waved the sticky poles but couldn’t catch them, Lu Ying was concerned the cicadas would wake his father, so he picked up a slingshot and went outside, aiming at the cicadas on the branch, he didn’t miss the targets.

“Leader Lu is nevertheless amazing.” The guard said softly.

Meanwhile, Lu Bing inside the bedroom heard the movements outside the window, he knew Lu Ying had come, he used all his strength to push over the bright jade sceptre by his pillow, it made a clang, falling on the bedside leg.

Lu Ying heard the sound, he looked in from the window, he saw the jade sceptre on the leg of the bed and half of his father’s hand sticking out of the mosquito net.

Father was rather old, he slept lightly, this noise would definitely have woken him up, but father didn’t move.

They were after all related, Lu Ying knew his way of thinking, he softly asked: “Lord Lu, I already brought doctor Wei over.”

Lu Bing didn’t even move his finger tip.

Lu Ying immediately felt something was wrong, he didn’t even walk through the door, jumping through the window he pushed aside the mosquito net, meeting the eyes of Lu Bing.

If he was awake why didn’t he respond?

Lu Ying asked: “Father, what’s wrong?”

Lu Bing blinked, his mouth produced guttural sounds, he simply couldn’t understand what he was saying.

Lu Ying saw something was wrong, he hurriedly called the guard over, “What did lord Lu eat this morning? He seems to be paralysed.”

The guard knew Lu Bing had a small stroke before, he hurriedly said: “Damn it, the lord had another stroke, I’ll call for the imperial physician.”

On hearing the word stroke, Lu Ying was greatly alarmed, he hurried over next door, half carrying half supporting, he brought Wei Cai Wei to the bedroom, in a moment of desperation, he forgot to use the title lord Lu, he directly said: “My father had a stroke, quickly take a look, the guard said this isn’t the first time.”

Wei Cai Wei saw Lu Bing was struggling to speak, his body was numb and not responding, his pupils changing and one side of his body was paralysed, she immediately took out a set of needles, picking out a three edged needle, she let blood out from the pericardium channel, philtrum, of the twelve acupuncture point on his fingers, letting blood out to treat him first, then placed needles in the acupuncture points of his main meridian.

Wei Cai Wei used salt to cover his belly button, then lit a moxa stick, through the salt moxibustion took place at the belly button, after all of this, Lu Bing finally could move his finger, he struggled to speak: “No…no…”

“Don’t tell anyone.” Lu Ying guessed what his father thought, seeing his father was responding, his mind settled down, “This is no small thing, father take care of yourself, I won’t tell anyone.”

Lu Bing pointed at Wei Cai Wei who was holding a moxa stick as thick as a finger moxibusting at his belly button, “She—”

Her identity was still suspicious, you need to be careful.

Lu Ying said: “That’s right, it’s doctor Wei who helped father.”

Lu Bing said: “Take…take—”

Take her away, let imperial physician Song see to me, this woman’s identify is still unclear, I’m not at ease with her.

Lu Ying said: “Don’t worry father, I’ll definitely reward her generously with money.”

Isn’t it just hush money, I understand.

Spending time with someone has an impact, under the influence of Wang Da Xia talking about money nonstop, I already learned the ways of the world.

Lu Bing felt helpless: this tacit understanding, if he hadn’t personally seen this child come out of the womb so many years ago, I would worry if we’re related.