"Returning to Before Husband's Castration" 《回到老公自宫前》Chapter 54

 Wang Da Xia was like an ill child looking for attention and wanting to eat sweets, a child who threw tantrums would get sweets, Wei Cai Wei fulfilled his wishes considering that he was injured.

Wang Da Xia’s days as a patient could be said were perfect, he was happy as an immortal— if only Wei Cai Wei did not split her time to take care of Ding Wu too.

Ding Wu woke up the next afternoon, his throat was swollen and painful, he couldn’t speak, but as Wei Cai Wei and him had lived together for over ten years, she knew what he meant by his expression and gestures, she said: “Your father is fine, he did indeed hear of your kidnapping but he was suspicious and didn’t believe it.”

It was good to be suspicious, suspicion can save lives.

On hearing his father was fine, Ding Wu relaxed then passed out again.

Apart from dealing with the spoilt Wang Da Xia, Wei Cai Wei treated Ding Wu, by the fifth day Ding Wu could speak, his voice however was coarse and could only walk around slowly using the can Wang Da Xia gave Wei Cai Wei.

He was a minor government official who bent over his desk to work, he didn’t know martial arts, at most he only killed a chicken in the kitchen, after being tortured on the water wheel, his originally healthy body became thin and weak, wearing a light green long gown and holding a cane, when he walked he looked like the weak and ill Xishi.

When Wang Da Xia saw the cane he made himself in DIng Wu’s hand, he was both proud and jealous, he said: “I made that.”

Ding Wu said with his hoarse voice: “It’s very good.”

Wang Da Xia reminded him: “I gave it to doctor Wei.” It’s not for you.

Ding Wu said: “It must be something she cherishes, otherwise she wouldn’t give it to me to use.”

Wang Da Xia was uncertain whether he should be happy or sad over these words.

Ding Wu said: “Thank you for saving me.”

Wang Da Xia scratched his head out of embarrassment, “I only carried out my orders, it was leader Lu’s attentiveness who saw through the plan and followed the clues to find you, I only gave some foolish strength.”

Ding Wu looked at his arm, “You’re also injured.”

Wang Da Xia couldn’t act weak in front of Ding Wu, he said: “It’s only a scald, doctor Wei is extremely talented, it’s already started to scab, actually I can go out to work but it gets too hot, I don’t want to get up early every day for morning roll call so I pretended it’s very serious so I can rest a few more days— it would be best if this summer can pass, I don’t want to go anywhere when it’s hot, I only want to stay cool inside, sleep and eat watermelons.”

Ding Wu became quiet over Wang Da Xia’s “grand aims”, he had wanted to compliment him, Wang Da Xia was all about participating but not doing any work and he was afraid of the heat, he was wondering what he could praise him about, he could only say: “You’re young yet want to live a simple life of fame and profit, tranquillity is far from your reach.”

Wang Da Xia laughed: “Whether I work or not I’ll get a salary.”

At this point Lu Ying had quietly come over, hearing Wang Da Xia’s words, the atmosphere turned cold immediately, Ding Wu frantically gave Wang Da Xia a look, “You’re still injured, you ought to rest properly and look after your health, it’s nothing to do with not wanting to work.”

Wang Da Xia shook his arm, he said: “I’m fine, my skin is tough and flesh thick, I’m actually almost healed, I just want to rest for a few more days, get more compensation or what not, the food while I’m healing is not the same, they come from the mess hall for high-ranks, it’s tasty and large portions, I don’t have to go to the canteen to eat from the large pot, see, I’ve gained an inch around my waist.”

Ding Wu watched as Lu Ying’s expression became worse and worse, he looked at Wang Da Xia with pity towards someone with learning difficulties.

Lu Ying said: “Is that so? Since you’re better, you can start working tomorrow.”

On hearing this from behind him, Wang Da Xia’s head began to buzz, only then did he realise what Ding Wu meant just now, he slowly turned his head, with a smile he said: “How can it be so soon, doctor Wei said a scald is the hardest to heal and it’s summer, if sweat gets on it, the wound can be contaminated, then it’ll flare up again. Wait until the scab naturally falls off then it’ll be completely healed.”

Wei Cai Wei came out carrying Ding Wu’s medicine, “Drink it.”

Ding Wu drank the medicine and placed the honey sweet on the tray in his mouth, Wei Cai Wei was about to bring the tray back in when Wang Da Xia placed a piece of honey sweet in his mouth—he was on a walk after having lunch, he strolled under the cool grapevines, he didn’t actually want to have the honey sweets but he just didn’t want Wei Cai Wei to only give Ding Wu medicine.

Wang Da Xia asked: “Where’s my medicine?”

Wei Cai Wei reminded him: “You’ve already not taken any oral medication over the last three days, you only need to apply medicine externally.”

Wang Da Xia tapped his head, “Oh, I remember.”

Lu Ying was already so angered by this subordinate of her she couldn’t get any angrier, she said: “Your father sent Mu baihu over to ask why you haven’t returned home at all and won’t write, I told them you were away on a job and won’t return for another half a month, but seeing you’ve gained an inch on your waist, you’ll be fine by tomorrow.”

“I won’t be fine by tomorrow, let me rest for another half a month.” Wang Da Xia looked at Wei Cai Wei like he was clutching at straws, “Let’s listen to the doctor, when doctor Wei says I can work I’ll start going to morning roll call.”

Recently Wang Da Xia was acting spoiled and pampered like an annoying hussy, Wei Cai Wei would sometimes pamper him, sometimes shun him, her mood was very complicated, she wanted to kick him out to work and get a bit of peace but seeing Wang Da Xia begging her, she didn’t uphold her medical principles, she said: “It’ll take another ten days.”

Wang Da Xia was overjoyed: “Leader Lu, look I didn’t lie to you, even the doctor has said it.”

Wei Cai Wei didn’t imagine she had to spoil him, pamper him and still had to fake sick leave for him. 

If she knew this before, she— would have made the same choices.

Wei Cai Wei was very upset: when will he grow up and stop causing trouble!

Lu Ying didn’t feel like dealing with him, she asked Ding Wu, “Are you feeling better today?”

Ding Wu couldn’t stand for long, using the cane he sat down on a chair under the grape vines, “I’m much better than yesterday, I should be fine in a month, I’ll return to Tieling then. The journey is long, by the time I arrive I fear Tieling will probably be snowing, if I return even later the snow will block the roads and I won’t be able to go.”

Ding Wu was supposed to leave a few days ago, his plan was ruined by his kidnapping, he couldn’t leave.

Lu Ying said: “Get better first, don’t worry about leaving, my father is still concerned about vice-minister Yang, the embroidered uniform guards is the safest place for you, Tieling is far, if something happens we won’t be able to help.”

Ding Wu stood up using the cane, “This commoner will listen to leader Lu’s advice.”

Wang Da Xia hurriedly asked: “Vice-minister Yang really will let this go? I don’t believe it, it’s fine because I’m recuperating with the embroidered uniform guards but my father doesn’t know I offended vice-minister Yang, what will happen if vice-minister Yang wants to deal with my father?”

If vice-minister Yang started a brutal attack, his entire family would be destroyed.

Lu Ying said: “I don’t know right now but my father has sent people to keep an eye out.”

With Lu Bing as a backer, Wang Da Xia felt relieved— he’s always been thoughtful.

Lu Ying’s words made his apprehensions disappear like smoke.

The four of them talked for a bit then each went their own way, Lu Ying continued with her work, Wang Da Xia returned to his room to take an afternoon nap— he slept until it was almost dinner, Wei Cai Wei sent Ding Wu back to his room with his cane.

Ding Wu laid on the couch, Wei Cai Wei gave him an acupuncture treatment to unblock his veins, Ding Wu wanted to say something but hesitated, in the end he still asked softly: “That leader Lu…she’s a woman right?”

Wei Cai Wei was so surprised she nearly stuck a needle in the wrong place, “You…how do you know?”

Hearing Wei Cai Wei’s response, Ding Wu confirmed his suspicions, he said: “That night at the goldfish pond when she saved me I had no strength at all and couldn’t breath, she gave me…a mouthful of air, also when I couldn’t move after, she basically carried me, my upper body was leaning on her, I touched her…chest. That wasn’t the chest of a man.”

“I was in and out of consciousness so I thought it was my imagination but these last few days she’s been coming to see me, even in the height of summer she’s wearing a stiff collar, I couldn’t see her throat clearly but her voice…based on her age, it ought to have changed but it hasn’t, it still sounds like a young boy, that’s why I felt she was a woman dressed as a man.”

Wei Cai Wei said: “She’s the fourth young lady of the Lu family, she’s not an illegitimate child, even Wang Da Xia doesn’t know this, just pretend you don’t know.”

Ding Wu recalled Wang Da Xia’s “wonderful” performance under the grapevines, he said: “It’ll be strange if Wang Da Xia knew, I can imagine him being the last person in the embroidered uniform guards who would know.”

Wei Cai Wei silently agreed with Ding Wu’s judgement, it really was a possibility.

Fortunately Ding Wu didn’t take Wang Da Xia to heart, he said: “It seems like I acted out of turn.” There was a kiss and an embrace, Ding Wu had never been so close with a woman.

Wei Cai Wei said: “You didn’t do it intentionally, besides leader Lu doesn’t seem to take it to heart, she only wanted to save you. You mustn’t make it known to her that you know she’s a woman, just treat her like a man, this is a secret.”

Ding Wu gave an oh, “Is that so. But, we have been physically close, I can’t ignore the fact that she’s a girl, I have to give regard to the rule that there should be no touching between men and women, I’m afraid it’ll be hard for me to ignore.”

“Then what can be done?” Wei Cai Wei said: “Do you want to devote your life to her?”

Ding Wu immediately said: “How can that be, I am an exiled commoner, she is a beautiful young lady of an influential family in the capital.”

How could this be all? There was also his mother’s tragic death, he now had to also deal with the threat of Yan Shi Bo, his father and him have no choice but to put down their former upright and outstanding, and form a weak alliance with Lu Bing, but that didn’t mean the Ding family and Lu family had an agreement. 

Thinking up to here, Ding Wu said: “I will try to ignore that she’s a woman as much as possible and treat her like a man.”

But why did his heart feel empty?

Ding Wu forced himself to stop thinking about Lu Ying, deliberately changing the subject to Wang Da Xia, “That Wang Da Xia is very interesting, he’s righteous but also sneaky, usually he’s not manageable but at the critical moment he’s reliable.”

Wei Cai Wei continued to give Ding Wu his acupuncture, she said: “Nobody is perfect.”

Ding Wu said: “You really care about him.”

Wei Cai Wei felt guilty, she was worried Ding Wu would see the way she looked at Wang Da Xia wasn’t completely pure, she said: “He’s a young man who can’t take care of himself so I’m a little nicer to him.”

After treating Ding Wu, Lu Bing’s trusted aide came to invite Wei Cai Wei saying lord Lu needed something from her.

Wei Cai Wei went to see Lu Bing, Lu Bing gave her a blank form, on it there was full name, age, birthplace and various medical expertise in the profession.”

“This…” Wei Cai Wei was baffled.

Lu Bing said: “The female imperial physician is appointed from the people, first each government yamen nominates a female physician who is proficient in prescriptions and feeling pulse, a form is filled in which is then processed by the imperial ceremony office, if the imperial physician exam is passed, then whoever passes will have their name added to the ministry and will be appointed a position in the imperial court.”

“A female doctor appointed in the imperial palace didn’t need to live in the palace, only when they’re needed they’re summoned. So you only need to pass the imperial physician exam, be appointed a position and get the acceptance of the imperial physicians, you’ll be very successful outside the palace as a physician, you don’t need to be so tired as a travelling doctor, when the time comes high officials and noble people will find you to visit them with large sums of money.”

Lu Bing pointed at the blank form, “This is the nomination form I got from Shuntianfu, fill it in, give it to me with your household record, once the imperial ceremony office has gone through it, it will be arranged for you to go to the imperial ceremony office  to take the imperial physician exam, it’ll be up to you if you pass.”