A Ming Dynasty Adventure

Night fell over Xinghua City.

Wang Daxia crouched by the medicinal brew, "Ming Wang, it's time for your medicine."

Ming Wang awoke from his stupor. This time, the pain seemed less intense. Looking down, he saw a circle of handkerchief-wrapped ice packed between his legs, chilling the two nearly-bursting purple eggplants and the central diamond pestle.

The ice compress hadn't reduced the swelling, but it numbed the pain.

Ming Wang said with difficulty, "My lady is truly clever to devise such a method."

Wang Daxia thought to himself: Actually, it was the physicians' suggestion. They said with the weather warming, if we didn't use ice to chill it, maggots might appear.

Wang Daxia fed Ming Wang with a spoon, "Both your servant and the child in my womb depend entirely on Ming Wang. Naturally, I share your urgency and feel your pain, which is why I thought of this method. Though it treats the symptoms rather than the root cause, it can alleviate Ming Wang's suffering."

Since Linqing County, the child in Wang Daxia's womb had successively acquired three fathers: Lu Ying, Wei Caiwei, and Ming Wang. Truly, one child with three fathers - available to all men.

Ming Wang didn't want to drink the medicine. Whenever he consumed liquids, he would urinate, and each urination brought pus and blood, causing excruciating pain that made him wish to chop off the troublesome root. But without the medicine, he would die faster. So, driven by the will to survive, he reluctantly drank the medicine.

Wang Daxia took out a handkerchief to wipe the medicine that had dripped to the corner of Ming Wang's mouth, "The pain is in your body, but the hurt is in my heart. Ming Wang must recover soon."

Ming Wang grasped his hand, "Only you consistently wish for my wellbeing. I wonder when Medicine-seeking Boss Ximen and He Daifu will return."

No matter how brilliant and heroic a person might be, when facing their own or their loved ones' impending death, their spirit becomes most fragile, inevitably falling for claims of curing all illnesses, placing hope in lies, even deceiving themselves.

Wang Daxia hoped for their return even more than Ming Wang, saying, "It should be soon. It's just that the roads are unsafe. I worry they might be captured by imperial troops or other pirates, so I took the liberty of sending some people out of the city to meet them."

Ming Wang asked, "Who did you send?"

Wang Daxia counted on his fingers with orchid gestures, "What were their names... Chiyo, Myōshin, Kozō under the tree—"

In short, all were truly fierce and combat-ready Japanese Pirates. Wang Daxia had deliberately sent them away and revealed their whereabouts to Luo Longwen. Luo Longwen dispatched escorts with the intelligence out of the city, informing Hu Zongxian, who ordered ambushes set up along their necessary routes. By now, they had all been annihilated outside the city, every one of them gone without return, gradually weakening Ming Wang's forces.

"It's Matsushita Jirō," Ming Wang corrected.

Wang Daxia wore a look of remorse, "Oh dear, your servant is too foolish, I can't even remember the names clearly."

Ming Wang comforted him, "Japanese names are inherently hard to remember. It's not your fault - you've done very well. Without you, how could I rest peacefully to recover?"

Wang Daxia said, "I sent them out last night, over a hundred people in total. Now that night has fallen, they still haven't returned. Worried they might miss He Daifu's group, I just sent another team to meet them. At this moment, nothing is more important than treating Ming Wang's illness."

Ming Wang praised greatly, "You are truly my virtuous helpmate, I—"

As he spoke, commotion arose outside. Ming Wang's face darkened, "What's happening?"

Wang Daxia popped a tiger-eye spiral candy into Ming Wang's mouth, "Your servant will go see."Wang Daxia stepped out of the room, his tender gaze abruptly turning cold and sharp. Clutching the talisman given by Ming Wang, he strode out of the courtyard with hands on his hips. At the gate, a group of bare-legged Japanese pirates was agitated, clamoring to see Ming Wang.

Ming Wang's guards had set up barricades at the entrance, preventing them from entering.

"What's all this shouting? Are you trying to rebel?" Wang Daxia scolded with hands on hips, instantly transforming from a beautiful woman into a shrew. Pointing at the Japanese pirates, he yelled, "You worthless bunch of fallen phoenix tree leaves—all bark and no bite! You think you can bully me just because I'm a woman?"

Having been in the Ming dynasty for some time, the pirates could understand the language and hurriedly explained, "We're not here to cause trouble. We just wish to see Ming Wang in person."

Wang Daxia rolled his eyes. "You think you can see him just because you say so? Who do you think you are? Oh, I remember now—you're that... what's-his-name, Chestnut—"

The pirate couldn't help but correct him, "I'm Mao Li Xiaowulang."

Wang Daxia clapped his hands. "Yes, it's you! I already ordered you to take your men out of the city to escort He Daifu and Boss Ximen. Why haven't you set off yet?"

The pirate replied, "The hundred-man squad sent out yesterday hasn't returned. I believe we shouldn't rush in and send another group until we know their whereabouts."

Wang Daxia raised the talisman. "What? Is Ming Wang's order no longer valid? Do every one of you want to rebel?"

The pirates had long despised this vicious, foolish, meddlesome show-off—a gaudy slut with nothing to offer but a pretty face and large breasts.

The pirates grew more agitated. "This is the lady's command, not Ming Wang's!" they shouted. "Ming Wang would never send us out to die for nothing!"

Wang Daxia's voice was immediately drowned out by the crowd. Yet, the more chaotic the scene, the more excited he became. He picked up a suona—an instrument used from weddings to funerals—puffed his cheeks, and blew hard. The suona screeched like a slaughtered chicken, instantly overpowering all dissent.

Setting down the suona, Wang Daxia declared, "Ming Wang entrusted this talisman to me. My orders are his orders. Whether you accept it or not, you must obey. If you refuse, it's rebellion—and rebellion means execution. I'll say this one last time: get out of the city immediately and follow the route I've assigned!"

Mao Li Xiaowulang insisted, "Before leaving the city, we must see Ming Wang. If he gives the order personally, we'll go through fire and water."

Wang Daxia's almond eyes rolled. "I suspect you're plotting a rebellion! Guards, seize them!"

The guards swarmed forward, and the pirates resisted. Both sides showed restraint, refraining from drawing weapons. Instantly, Wang Daxia changed his demeanor again, weeping as if drenched in pear blossoms and rain. Covering his face with a handkerchief, he dashed back into the courtyard, shrieking, "Murder! Rebellion!"

Hearing the commotion, Ming Wang could no longer remain lying down. Suppressing his pain, he sat on a palanquin with a hollowed-out base, resembling a commode, carried by eight burly men.

"Ming Wang!" Wang Daxia threw himself into Ming Wang's arms. "They're all bullying me! You must uphold justice for your humble servant!"

Seeing Ming Wang finally appear, the pirates ceased resisting and knelt. "My lady has sent two groups to escort the physician," they explained. "The first team hasn't been heard from, yet she wants to send us out. We found it unwise and came to discuss it with her, but she accused us of rebellion and bullying her. Ming Wang, please judge fairly—we have no treacherous intentions."Three thousand genuine Japanese Pirates formed the main force of Xinghua City. Ming Wang, not wishing to confront them while weakened, said, "I trust your loyalty. However, the first squad has yet to return, and I am deeply concerned about them. You shall now leave the city to seek news of them, join forces, and together escort the medicine-seeking physicians back to the city, ensuring everyone's safety."

Once Ming Wang spoke, the Japanese Pirates, though still reluctant, could not refuse. They armed themselves fully and departed the city to search for the missing squad.

Wang Daxia clasped her hands to her chest, gazing at Ming Wang with admiration. "Ming Wang is truly remarkable. The same words carry weight when spoken by you, whereas when I said them, they were ignored like passing wind."

Ming Wang replied, "You have been wronged, my lady. We still need them for now and cannot afford to turn against them."

Wang Daxia sighed in frustration, "I was too hasty."

But Ming Wang was already in too much pain to comfort the beauty. "Quick, carry me back for an ice compress! It hurts so much!"

The hundred-strong squad that left the city fell into an ambush once again—like meat buns thrown to dogs, none returned.

After taking his medicine, Ming Wang drifted back into a drowsy sleep. Wang Daxia received a secret message. Opening it, she recognized Wei Caiwei's handwriting: "At midnight tonight, kill Ming Wang and storm the city."

Overjoyed, Wang Daxia burned the message over a candle. Treating this feather as a command arrow, she assigned Ding Wu, the captain of the Favorable Wind, and other trusted allies to guard the city gates and watchtowers.

Midnight, when people are most drowsy, arrived. The rainy Jiangnan spring poured down, its patter even more hypnotic.

Outside Xinghua City, a contingent approached bearing white lotus flags. Leading them were Wei Caiwei and Lu Ying, who had gone to seek medicine, followed by over two hundred Japanese Pirates. All wore rain hats shielding them from the storm, their faces obscured, but their bare, pale legs revealed them as the pirates sent out yesterday and today to escort the medicine-seeking team.

They had, in fact, "merged forces."

Wei Caiwei and Lu Ying removed their hats, raised their tokens, and revealed their faces and identities. "We have returned with medicine for Ming Wang! Open the gates!"

Ding Wu promptly ordered the drawbridge over the moat lowered. "Quickly! Ming Wang is waiting for the medicine."

As the drawbridge descended, Wei Caiwei and Lu Ying led the "Japanese Pirates" into the city. Once all were inside, Lu Ying whistled sharply. In an instant, everyone drew their blades—some cutting down enemies, others severing ropes—swiftly seizing control of the city gates.

Wei Caiwei launched three fireworks into the sky. Red lotus blossoms exploded one after another in the rainy night.

Seeing the red lotus signal, Yu Dayou and Qi Jiguang, lying in ambush outside the city, charged through the drawbridge with their troops.

Wang Daxia had not slept. Sitting by the window, she listened to the cold rain tapping against the panes until three red lotus blossoms burst in the night sky—the anti-pirate army had entered the city!

The sounds of fireworks, gunfire, and battle cries stirred Ming Wang awake. He opened his eyes to see a radiant, beautiful face. "What is happening outside?"

Wang Daxia said, "I wish to borrow something from Ming Wang."

Ming Wang caressed her lovely face. "All that is mine is yours. I would even give you my life."

Wang Daxia asked, "Truly?"

Ming Wang nodded.

Wang Daxia replied, "Then I shall not stand on ceremony."

Wang Daxia swung her blade. In that moment, Ming Wang felt all his pain miraculously vanish. Then, he saw a headless corpse that seemed familiar. Even in death, the vajra pestle stood erect like a flagpole holding up a sheer veil.Author's Note: Ming Wang's illness was modeled after the death of Ximen Qing from The Plum in the Golden Vase. Like Ximen Qing, Ming Wang suffered from chronic prostatitis due to long-term indulgence in lust. Banxia's medicine damaged his liver and kidneys, causing physical depletion that aggravated the inflammation and led to a urinary tract infection. This progressed from incomplete urination to bloody urine, followed by swelling that turned as large and purple as an eggplant, with persistent priapism day and night. Without antibiotics, sepsis developed, ultimately resulting in death from multi-organ failure.