"Returning to Before Husband's Castration" 《回到老公自宫前》Chapter 37

 After Lu Ying regained her consciousness, she still felt weak, she gave an order for her subordinates to carry out to separately check out the guests who had given false names and addresses at the tavern and look for a new suspect, there could be no mistakes.

Lu Ying always made swift and decisive decisions, as soon as she gave the order, her subordinates turned out in full force, only Wang Da Xia who had just joined the embroidered uniform guards yesterday wasn’t given a task by Lu Ying, he was left at the yamen.

Normally Wang Da Xia would be very happy: other people could brave the scorching sun and intense heat to investigate, he could do nothing and get money. 

However Wei Cai Wei and Lu Ying were alone together, he had been chased away, Wang Da Xia felt very sad…even without anything to do, even the fact he could just lie there and get money couldn’t make him happy, it was clear how hurt he was!

Wang Da Xia had a lot on his mind, he had no appetite, he who could eat three bowls of rice at lunch could only eat two bowls, he was forbidden from entering Lu Ying’s courtyard, after he had eaten his intentions still remained, he paced along the courtyard wall, wanting to find a hole to sneak in and see if Lu Ying and Wei Cai Wei were doing anything in the room.

However it was no use, there wasn’t a tree near the courtyard, there was nothing to climb, and there were no three stories high sentry tower nearby, guards took turns on sentry duty, seeing Wang Da Xia sneakily approach the courtyard wall, they released an arrow without a spearhead at him as a warning: “Hey! Get lost!”

The arrow struck the ground next to Wang Da Xia’s shoe.

Wang Da Xia immediately raised both hands in the air, taking three steps away from the courtyard wall, “I’m Wang Da Xia, I want to see if leader Lu is feeling better after his heatstroke.”

The guard said: “Leave! Only when the leader gives an order can you enter.”

Wang Da Xia could only leave, he had just taken ten steps when another arrow landed by his foot, he turned and looked, the sentry guard waved his hand, “Leader Lu wants you to go in.”

It was Wei Cai Wei who heard the movements, she was worried Wang Da Xia didn’t understand the rules and would be blinded by his impulsiveness, what if he was wounded or beaten to death?

So she told Lu Ying who was resting what was happening, Lu Ying ordered the guard to let him in.

Wang Da Xia entered the courtyard, walking directly to Lu Ying’s room, the guard leading the way said: “You’re heading the wrong way, it’s over there.”

Unexpectedly he directly took him to Wei Cai Wei’s room!

He had to be treated in the morning so it was reasonable for him to stay in her room but it was now noon, why was he still in your room?

Wang Da Xia’s stomach felt sour like it was filled with the plum soup from the dining hall, he stood at the door, raising his hand he was about to knock but didn’t, what if he opened the door and saw the scene he didn’t want to see at all? 

He didn’t knock so Wei Cai Wei came to open the door, “Hurry up and come in, the cold air is about to escape.”

In order to help reduce the heat for Lu Ying, two large water jars were placed in the room, ice cubes were piled into a mountain, the room was refreshing.

Wang Da Xia came in and Wei Cai Wei closed the door instantly, Lu Ying was resting on a couch, carefully looking over a large map of all the streets in the city on the wall, like she wanted to imprint the map into her mind.

Wei Cai Wei returned to her desk, she picked up a medical book, the cover said <The various words of a female doctor>, author “Tan Yun Xian”, there was a leaf in the book as a bookmark, Wei Cai Wei turned to the bookmark, continuing her reading, occasionally writing notes in a small notebook.

So the two of them were busy with their own thing, there was nothing improper. This scene made the restless Wang Da Xia feel guilty: my mind is in the gutters, I thought badly of them.

Lu Ying was old-fashioned, doctor Wei likes someone as outstanding and elegant as me, a young man who is tactful and knowledgeable, nothing would happen between them!

As he thought of this, the haze at the bottom of Wang Da Xia’s heart disappeared, the clouds cleared.

The two were busy, they didn’t pay attention to him, Wang Da Xia recalled he had given the excuse of seeing how his superior was doing, so he went to the couch first, half squatting down, he raised two fists in flattery, massaging Lu Ying’s legs, “Is leader Lu feeling better, leader Lu is magnanimous, you won’t care about my mistake right?”

This kissing up, Wei Cai Wei couldn’t stand it, she continued to read with her head lowered.

Lu Ying naturally enjoyed Wang Da Xia massaging her legs, “This had nothing to do with you, I got heatstroke myself.”

With these words, Wang Da Xia immediately cupped his fist: “Leader Lu is magnanimous in not blaming me, I will offer my life in sacrifice for leader Lu in the future until I die!”

Lu Ying raised a hand, “Not for me but for the embroidered uniform guards, you take the court’s money and not from me. Also, now that you’ve already joined the embroidered uniform guards, you must call yourself subordinate in front of superiors.”

Wang Da Xia said: “This subordinate understands.”

Lu Ying said: “Stand up and speak, I don’t need you to massage my legs, you came to work not to work as a servant for me.”

Wang Da Xia continued to kiss up to her, “Leader Lu cherishes her subordinates and is sympathetic, this subordinate is very moved.”

Lu Ying thought: If this guy takes the wrong path, he would definitely be a treacherous court official.

Wang Da Xia looked at Wei Cai Wei out of the corner of his eye, she was still dressed as a widow, she really looked good reading seriously…

Lu Ying said: “You’ve seen I’m fine, you can leave.”

Wei Cai Wei was here, how could Wang Da Xia want to leave.

Besides on seeing Lu Ying and Wei Cai Wei were minding their own business and there were no ambiguous atmosphere, he immediately forgot his past pains once the wound had healed, he completely got rid of his wild imaginations, like a weed full of vitality, he was feeling good again!

Wang Da Xia bent over, rubbing his hands, “This subordinate has been paid for today so I should work for the embroidered uniform guards, everyone has gone out to look for suspects, there’s nothing for me to do, I feel very ashamed, I’ll stay by leader Lu’s side, just tell me to do anything.”

Lu Ying said: “Actually there’s something you need to do.”

Wang Da Xia leaned forward, “Please tell me leader Lu.”

Lu Ying said: “Shut up, stay quiet, don’t disturb me and doctor Wei.”

Wang Da Xia nodded, placing his index finger against his lips, making a shushing sound, then he took a step to the side, sitting on the couch under the window he sneakily glanced at Wei Cai Wei from time to time.

It might have been because they were husband and wife in the previous life, Wei Cai Wei who was reading felt Wang Da Xia’s gaze so she raised her head and looked over.

Their eyes met, Wang Da Xia quickly retracted his gaze like he had been caught in bed with a lover.

Wei Cai Wei recalled when she had urgently treated Lu Ying this morning, she had asked the guards to remove Wang Da Xia by force, at that moment Wang Da Xia looked both shocked and disappointed, now she felt a little guilty.

Wei Cai Wei wanted to make it up to him so she put down <The various words of a female doctor> and picked up a plate of purple jade like grapes, placing it on the table in front of Wang Da Xia, “Eat, these grapes are a tribute from the south, the emperor bestowed them on Lord Lu.”

Whenever emperor Jia Jing got something good, he would give some to his wetnurse brother.

Lu Bing left them for his beloved daughter Lu Ying, Lu Ying gave them to Wei Cai Wei in thanks for keeping her secret.

Wei Cai Wei took this to placate her damn husband, going around in a circle, it ended with Wang Da Xia.

The grapes in the city were not ripe yet, the purple grapes were obviously a rarity.

Wei Cai Wei wanted to give a slap, then offer a sweet date in order to placate Wang Da Xia.

Wang Da Xia tasted it in his mouth down to his heart, the so-called warm with satisfaction, the fireworks in Wang Da Xia which had died out were set off again.

The room was cool and comfortable, after Wang Da Xia finished eating the grapes, he covered his mouth and yawned, he even laid down on the couch and fell asleep.

At that exact moment, inside the imperial prison, Zhou xiaoqi had been tortured for a day and night, his left eye had already been blinded by oil, cuts and bruises all over, he only begged for a quick death.

The jailor of course wouldn’t let him die, he ordered someone to carry him to be treated and deliver the thick pile of confession to Lu Ying’s hands.

Lu Ying could now walk by herself, she was only a little weak, she was a disciplined person, Ding Wu had still yet to confirm Wei Cai Wei’s identity, so Wei Cai Wei was still a suspect, it wouldn’t be right to read them in front of her so she woke Wang Da Xia up, telling him to move the confession to her room.

Under repeated torture, Zhou xiaoqi had already broken down, he spoke without reservation, saying whatever he wanted, how he hated Lu Bing’s favourtism towards Lu Ying, how he had used force to take the case of Chen qianhu and his son, how he had tailed Lu Ying’s investigation, how he found out Wei Cai Wei was the biggest suspect, how he had climbed over the wall into her home, his intentions of using drugs and torture, waiting for Wei Cai Wei to return…

Lu Ying looked at each sheet of confession, her gaze fell on a line of words, according to Zhou xiaoqi, after Chen qianhu’s bizarre death, her second brother-in-law’s father, the cabinet grand secretary Yan Song’s only son, the left assistant minister of the ministry of works Yan Shi Bo had asked Zhou xiaoqi if Chen qianhu had recently mentioned his previous relatives by marriage He qianhu.

Zhou xiaoqi was Chen qianhu’s trusted aide who he had cultivated himself, his most loyal dog, they were almost inseparable, he naturally knew what Chen qianhu did most recently.

Lu Ying read it, using a red brush to circle the line of information, Wang Da Xia who stood to the side arranging the confessions said: “It’s really strange, we hadn’t gone to Huaqingchi to interrogate the study companion, and we hadn’t found out about the old woman at Xisanlihe before going to dig up the grave of the He family in the middle of the night, why does assistant minister Yan seem to know what would happen and asked Zhou xiaoqi about the He family?”

Wang Da Xia said quietly: “Could assistant minister Yan know about the time Chen dailang had raped the eldest young lady He?”

Actually Lu Ying thought of this too.

Yan Shi Bo wouldn’t have brought up the He family who had been dead for the last ten years for no reason.

Lu Ying said: “There are no walls which the wind cannot get through, maybe there are rumours of Chen qianhu and his son’s evil deeds, assistant minister Yan found out and Chen qianhu used money to bribe assistant minister Yan to hide this matter.”

Wang Da Xia was so shocked when he heard this he took a step back, “Leader Lu, assistant minister Yan is your relative, how can you have such speculations about your family?”

Who didn’t know Lu Bing and Yan Shi Bo were relatives by marriage.

Lu Ying however didn’t think there was anything wrong at all.

Lu Ying wrote Yan Song Bo’s name in a small notebook, “Relative is a relative, case is a case, there is no conflict, even doctor Wei is still a suspect, I will definitely continue to follow the clue of assistant minister Yan.”

Wang Da Xia was speechless, “Isn’t this failing to respect a familiar person, a family member not recognising another, Leader Lu wants to investigate assistant minister Yan, then what will happen to leader Lu’s second sister’s husband?”

Wang Da Xia thought Lu Ying was Lu Bing’s illegitimate child.

Lu Ying indifferently said: “My second sister is educated and well-balanced, second brother-in-law is a nobleman well versed in letters and military. They won’t stop me from finding out the truth. Besides assistant minister Yan isn’t a suspect, since he mentioned the He family, he must know something about what happened back then, maybe He qianhu still has friends and relatives somewhere, they killed Chen qianhu and his son to avenge the He family? This is a new clue, I’ll follow it myself.”

Wang Da Xia said: “Leader Lu had just suspected Chen qianhu of using money to bribe assistant minister Yan, this…you’re family, it wouldn’t be good to investigate.”

Lu Ying lightly laughed: “Don’t pretend in front of me, I’m much more aware of my second brother-in-law’s father’s actions than you, he loves money more than you, if someone offers him money asking him for help, as long as it’s not a rebellion, he would take the money and act. Let alone Chen qianhu, even my father has bribed assistant minister Yan a few times, assistant minister Yan wouldn’t turn it down just because my father is a relative, he accepted it all.”

Wang Da Xia was stunned, the world of influential officials was scary! 

I thought I was already shameless over money, it seems I’ve overestimated myself!