Wei Caiwei said, "Truly not. Besides coming to give you acupuncture, I'm here to give Princess Yu a definite answer that I cannot do it. Seeing the mansion's main gate freshly painted, the courtyard walls whitewashed, and Red Gauze Charcoal burning in the carriage, I was quite surprised."
Li Jiubao looked at Wei Caiwei's earnest expression and knew she wasn't being modest. Puzzled, she said, "But the timing is too coincidental. Her Highness just asked me to request your help, and on the fifth day, the Ministry of Revenue delivered all the salary silver and rice to the mansion. Her Highness had prepared generous gifts to thank you, but upon learning you had entered the palace, she set them aside to present after your return."
Wei Caiwei replied, "I'll explain to Her Highness that I cannot accept rewards without merit. Since it wasn't my doing, I dare not receive thanks."
On the way to the main courtyard, Wei Caiwei saw a temporarily erected wall enclosing a large compound. From within came clanging sounds and the chants of craftsmen carrying lumber.
Wei Caiwei asked, "Is the mansion undergoing renovations?"
Li Jiubao explained, "Her Highness said that since all nine of us selected attendants were sent to the mansion together, it seems unfair that I alone live in a separate courtyard in the main residence while the other eight are crowded together. Now with funds available, she's having a garden renovated into nine small courtyards so each may have their own quiet dwelling. The renovated complex has been renamed Pomegranate Garden. The craftsmen are working day and night so everyone can move in for the New Year, making it doubly festive."
Pomegranates, abundant with seeds, symbolized fertility and prosperous branching—an auspicious name. Princess Yu was deeply concerned about continuing the royal lineage.
After completing Li Jiubao's acupuncture session, Wei Caiwei was immediately summoned by the steward matron waiting outside to speak with Princess Yu in her main chambers.
Princess Yu's main residence was also completely renewed, with all curtains, table covers, chair drapes replaced, even the carpets were new.
With newfound wealth, Princess Yu's energy and spirit had transformed entirely. She wore a complete set of gold-inlaid ruby jewelry recently redeemed from the pawnshop, carrying an expression of triumphant pride.
Most imperial consorts in mid-to-late Ming Dynasty came from humble backgrounds with limited exposure. Having been Princess Yu for only two years, she hadn't yet mastered concealing her emotions. After two years of poverty, suddenly obtaining over twenty thousand taels of silver made Princess Yu happier than bedding Prince Yu—money truly being a woman's best friend.
Wei Caiwei bowed to Princess Yu while holding a gold-inlaid gemstone hand warmer.
Princess Yu's gaze fell on the hand warmer. That a female physician possessed a better hand warmer than hers confirmed the rumors: Doctor Wei was indeed a favorite of Consort Shang, the current imperial favorite.
The palace winds had shifted abruptly. After overseeing the rear palace for over a decade, Lu Jingfei had fallen from power, and the thirteen-year-old Consort Shang now appeared to be the most influential woman in the rear palace.
A matron brought an embroidered stool for Wei Caiwei to sit.
But after seeing the hand warmer, Princess Yu changed her mind, pulling Wei Caiwei to sit opposite her on the large kang by the window.
As a princess consort while Wei Caiwei remained a commoner, their sitting as equals represented extraordinary elevation for a mere commoner woman.
Understanding this was Princess Yu's gesture of gratitude, Wei Caiwei hastily declined, not daring to accept the seat.
"Oh, just sit down!" Princess Yu insisted. To the princess, Wei Caiwei was a miracle doctor who could cure poverty—not just worthy of equal seating, but even enshrinement as a wealth deity.
Caught between amusement and embarrassment, Wei Caiwei found the back-and-forth unseemly and finally sat down, saying, "This common woman wishes to speak with Your Highness in private."Princess Yu dismissed the attendants and said, "We owe our gratitude to Doctor Wei for helping with the Ministry of Revenue's delayed salary payments this time."
"It wasn't me," Wei Caiwei replied. "Truly, it wasn't. I've been in the inner palace all month treating Consort Shang and haven't met Vice Minister Yan from the Ministry of Revenue at all."
Princess Yu was momentarily taken aback, then resumed her usual smile. "I understand your predicament - not wanting to get involved in political struggles, doing good deeds without seeking recognition. I completely understand. Still, I shall remember your kindness. I've prepared a gift in advance. Don't worry, consider it your consultation fee for treating Li Xuanshi. Even if outsiders learn of it, they can't find any grounds for accusation. Paying for medical treatment is perfectly justified. Given your current status, a hundred taels per consultation isn't excessive at all."
Last time it was five taels of silver - this time it was twenty times that amount.
Wei Caiwei felt like even with a hundred mouths she couldn't clear herself. When she denied it, Princess Yu assumed she simply wanted to avoid involvement in the crown prince succession dispute. Yet she couldn't admit to something she hadn't done.
It really wasn't her doing!
After Wei Caiwei left, she found a red envelope containing a hundred taels of silver in her carriage, followed by two mule carts loaded with gifts from Prince Yu's residence - cured meats, dried fish, air-dried ducks, various northern and southern dried fruits, tiger-eye nest candies, and more. She wouldn't even need to prepare New Year's goods anymore - the prince's residence had sent the finest complete set of everything.
The food was one thing - she could consider it consultation fees. But the hundred taels of silver felt too hot to handle. Believing one shouldn't receive rewards without merit, Wei Caiwei deposited the silver at Three-Link Bank, exchanging it for a light banknote, intending to return it to Princess Yu when the true benefactor was revealed.
Anyway, no matter how she explained now, Princess Yu wouldn't listen.
Returning home, Wei Caiwei found a month's accumulation of dust - every step left a clear footprint. The backyard still contained several piles of gifts bestowed by the emperor and given by Prince Yu's residence.
Wei Caiwei hired several temporary cleaning women to tidy the house. They took out the curtains and bedding to wash and air, lit charcoal braziers indoors to dispel dampness, and fired up the heated kang bed.
By the time she returned from the flower market with several pots of wintersweet to decorate the house, the residence had been fully restored. It finally regained its lived-in feeling, with even the dust wiped clean from the mooncakes placed before the spirit tablet, making them look freshly baked - though they were hard as rocks.
Wei Caiwei took off her shoes and lay down on the heated kang, stretching her limbs comfortably. However nice the palace was, it couldn't compare to the comfort of home.
Watching the sky, she waited until dusk when Wang Daxia should have returned from his yamen duties. Seeing the cleaned windows and doors, he would know she was back. She had bought marinated meat from a restaurant - they could drink and barbecue in the courtyard tonight.
Filled with thoughts of Wang Daxia, Wei Caiwei fell asleep.
At dusk, Wei Caiwei was awakened by knocking. She quickly got up, wiped her face, applied some rouge to her lips, then went to open the door.
Wei Caiwei: "You... you're all here."
It was indeed Wang Daxia... and Lu Ying.
Though Wei Caiwei liked Lu Ying too, at this moment she only wanted to spend a beautiful evening alone with Wang Daxia.
Wei Caiwei's heart fluttered with spring feelings, but Wang Daxia wore an expression of urgency while Lu Ying maintained her usual impassive demeanor.
The two entered the house. Wang Daxia shut the door with a bang and dropped the bolt. "Lu Ying and I are here to protect you, to prevent that person from harming you again."
Wei Caiwei was baffled. "Didn't you identify him that day when you dressed as a woman? Has the culprit escaped?"How could it be that after just one month in the palace, the outside world has changed so drastically? Everything is different now—from Prince Yu's residence to the criminals.
Lu Ying explained why the Embroidered Uniform Guard was currently holding back. "Because this involves the struggle for the throne, we can't make a move without solid evidence. We're still monitoring the situation. So, you're not safe right now. We came to protect you."
So that's how it is!
Wang Daxia asked, "Did you go to Prince Yu's residence today?"
How did you know? Wei Caiwei nodded, "Yes, to treat Consort Li. We agreed I would go once a month."
"Don't go anymore." Wang Daxia quickly said, "Prince Yu's residence isn't clean right now."
Wei Caiwei frowned, "It's not good to speak of others like that."
Wang Daxia became so flustered he couldn't speak coherently.
Lu Ying explained, "Prince Yu's residence is currently undergoing extensive renovations, and Prince Jing's people have infiltrated the workforce. These include Taoist priests from White Deer Temple and some craftsmen whose backgrounds even we don't know. It's a mixed bag. We suspect Prince Jing intends to harm Prince Yu, but we have no evidence. Moreover, my father has forbidden us from getting involved in the conflict between the two princes—we can only observe."
"We've also infiltrated a few of our Embroidered Uniform Guard agents as craftsmen to facilitate surveillance. Some of them recognized you, which is how we knew you had left the palace and visited Prince Yu's residence."
"Exactly! That's what I meant." Wang Daxia said urgently, "Prince Yu's residence is now full of vulnerabilities, with people from all sides present. It's like a powder keg that could explode at any moment. Prince Yu's residence is more dangerous than your own home."
"We can't stay with you all the time." Wang Daxia pointed to his house next door, "Why don't you move into my house? We have guards watching the premises, Commander Mu is staying with us, and the Northern City Military Command personnel regularly patrol the area. Surely the criminals wouldn't dare break in. You'll be safe in my home."
Wei Caiwei hadn't expected the situation to spiral out of control. She said, "I can't move into your house. First, I'm a widow—there's no reason for me to move in with neighbors. It's not that I'm worried about my reputation—I'm already notorious anyway—but your father and Commander Mu are both bachelors with reputations in the Northern City. You know how vicious rumors can be. I can't tarnish their reputations."
Wang Daxia pointed at himself, "I'm single and unmarried too. Why didn't you mention me?"
Wei Caiwei asked, "Is there any difference between our reputations? One is a wastrel, the other a loose woman."
Wang Daxia immediately fell silent.
Wei Caiwei continued, "Second, if I stay at your house, those people are Prince Jing's followers. We saw how ruthless they were during the Qionghua Island incident. Who knows what desperate measures they might take? I don't want to put your family in danger. Your younger brother is only three years old—that won't do."
Before Wang Daxia could protest, Wei Caiwei asked Lu Ying, "I have a question. Yan Shifan, who loves money as much as his own life, suddenly paid back the two years of stipends he owed Prince Yu's residence. Was it to make it easier for Prince Jing's people to monitor Prince Yu's residence?"
For a miser to part with his money, there must be an ambition greater than wealth itself.
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