The rent only increased by a kiss—truly a conscience price. When you encounter such a good landlord, just renew the lease.
Wang Daxia initially refused to accept the fifty taels of rent, but Wei Caiwei said, "When we get married in the future, I don’t want to live with your father and younger brother. Have you saved enough to buy a house and set up our own household?"
Far from enough. Wang Daxia fell silent and quietly accepted the rent money.
Wang Daxia returned home. Having been out of touch for over half a year, Wang Commander had almost assumed he’d died outside. Seeing his eldest son return, he was both angry and overjoyed. For once, he held back from scolding him about where he’d been all this time and told him to go to the ancestral hall to offer incense to his birth mother and ancestors.
Commander Mu was on duty at the Northern City Military Command that night. Upon hearing that Wang Daxia had returned, he immediately had a subordinate cover for him and rushed to the Wang residence. As soon as they met, he hugged Wang Daxia tightly. "It’s been half a year since I last saw you, and you’ve already grown taller than me."
Only after holding him long enough did Commander Mu let go, looking him up and down. "And you’ve become even more handsome than before. Wang Commander, I always said this child would turn out well and surely make a name for himself someday."
Wang Commander habitually replied modestly, "Not at all, not at all. It’s just that his face is somewhat passable."
Comparisons are odious. Judging by the reactions of Wang Commander and Commander Mu, it seemed as though Commander Mu were his real father, while Wang Commander was nothing but a wicked stepmother!
Wang Daxia was inwardly furious, but he spoke carelessly, "Father guessed correctly. This time, while I was away on business, I relied mainly on this face—using it to achieve merits and make a living."
All along the way, he had disguised himself as a woman and even seduced Ming Wang. The child in his belly had three fathers—if he were average-looking, he couldn’t have pulled off such things.
Now it was Wang Commander’s turn to be furious. "You—!"
"The child hasn’t been home for over half a year. Why are we still standing here talking? Let’s go have some tea." Commander Mu skillfully stepped in as peacemaker, pulling both father and son out of the ancestral hall, one on each side.
The three sat down to drink tea under the cool flower trellis. Wang Commander asked, "Where have you been all this time?"
"Well..." Wang Daxia hesitated. "Let’s just say it was official business. I wasn’t out there indulging in pleasure."
Wang Commander pointed to the neighboring house. "If you were on duty with the Embroidered Uniform Guard, why did Doctor Wei also leave for half a year?"
To be honest, Wang Commander had been hoping for his son’s return every day, even fantasizing that he had eloped with the young widow next door! Otherwise, why would both of them disappear at the same time?
Wang Daxia irritably set down his teacup. "Don’t drag Doctor Wei into everything. If I could say anything, I would have said it already. I’m not in the mood to play guessing games with you, Father. We really were away on official business. Commander Lu can vouch for that."
Commander Mu quickly interjected to show understanding: "Loose lips sink ships. If it’s better left unsaid, then don’t say it. Their Embroidered Uniform Guard isn’t like us street patrollers—they often have to keep things confidential. Wang Commander, don’t pressure the child."
Wang Commander said, "I’m not trying to get to the bottom of everything. It’s just that some time ago, the Five Armies Commandery suddenly decided to reinstate me. I’m currently waiting for an official appointment, and I’ve heard it will happen soon. I found it very strange. Since I was dismissed, I’ve been at home raising the children—I neither spent money nor pulled any strings. How could such a windfall come my way? I asked someone to inquire at the Five Armies Commandery, and they just said, 'Go back and ask your son; he’ll know.'"
"So it turns out my reinstatement is thanks to you. It must be related to your disappearance these past months. I just wanted to ask what you’ve been up to."They say a mother gains honor through her son, but now it was Wang Commander gaining honor through his.
Wang Daxia couldn’t speak plainly—neither the White Lotus Sect nor the false charges implicating Yan Shifan in collusion with the Japanese could be disclosed to his father. The more his father knew, the more complicated things would become. He explained:
"Last year, Father lost his official position because I offended Yan Shifan. Now that the Yan family has fallen, it’s only natural to purge a number of people to make room for wronged officials to be reinstated as compensation."
Wang Commander replied, "But it’s a fact that I failed to manage my household strictly last year and engaged in usurious loans. I wasn’t wronged. Countless people were ruined by Yan Shifan’s schemes—my fate was comparatively fortunate. Why single me out for reinstatement?"
Wang Commander was self-aware. He was a military officer nearing fifty, his physical strength and martial prowess were declining. Unlike civil officials who could serve into their seventies or eighties, he could no longer endure late nights. What use was he now?
Wang Daxia spoke evasively, "Isn’t it good to have an official post? Are you content to stay home and raise your younger brother from now on? I’m doing well in the Embroidered Uniform Guard now. I’ll earn my own promotions and titles in the future. I don’t want the family’s hereditary title—let Daqiu have it."
Wang Daxia believed that when he married Wei Caiwei in the future, his stubborn father might not consent. Regardless of his family’s approval, he was determined to marry her and live separately, free from the control of the extended family. The best way was to avoid financial entanglements. If he relied on the family, he would have to obey them.
Only by earning his own titles and wealth could he stand tall and have the freedom to act as he pleased.
Wang Commander grew angry, "Since when do I need you to teach me how to act? What’s yours is yours—your brother won’t fight you for it. Why test me with such sarcasm?"
Wang Daxia could no longer restrain himself, "I mean what I say—I don’t want it. If you don’t believe me, I’ll write a deed renouncing my inheritance and title right now."
Seeing father and son on the verge of another argument, Commander Mu quickly pulled Wang Daxia outside. "You must be tired from the journey. Go back, wash up, and get some rest."
Returning to his room, Wang Dxia took out his savings and land deeds, reviewing them. He couldn’t sell the farmland—it was needed for future livelihood. His silver was only enough to buy an ordinary residence, which would be too humble for Wei Caiwei.
Earning a fortune to marry a wife is truly difficult, he thought.
The next day, the Ministry of War’s transfer order arrived. Wang Commander was assigned to an external post as Deputy Commander of the Jiangxi Regional Military Commission.
This was two ranks higher than his previous position. Though it was an external assignment away from the capital, for Wang Commander, it was a tremendous opportunity. He hurriedly prepared his luggage and brought his younger son, Wang Daqiu, along to assume his post.
Having just returned home, Wang Daxia forgot his earlier disagreement with his father upon learning of the appointment. He specifically took a day off to escort his father and brother to Tongzhou Port to board the ship.
Zhu Xixiao, Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, stopped him and asked, "Do you know why your father was reinstated so quickly?"
Wang Daxia replied, "Because I performed meritorious service during this mission to Jiangnan."
Zhu Xixiao had not expected Wang Daxia to be so self-assured, embellishing his own achievements with excessive confidence. Choking back a retort, he said, "The benefits of risking your life and achieving great deeds are yours to enjoy. Next month, you’ll be promoted to commander. It was Li Yiren who told my elder brother that your father is a talented man, whose former wife caused his dismissal. As there happened to be several vacancies in the Five Armies Commandery, my elder brother transferred him to Jiangxi."
All guard units in the Great Ming were under the jurisdiction of the Five Armies Commandery.Only then did Wang Daxia understand what was really happening: it had nothing to do with his face! It was because Li Yiren regarded his father as a future in-law and made a casual remark to her relative Li Xizhong, which allowed his father to be reinstated so quickly!
Li Xizhong was the veteran noble Duke of Chengguo, who presided over the Five Armies Commandery and was Miss Lu's father-in-law. So his father's reinstatement relied on nepotism! Having power and influence truly made a difference—with just a casual conversation, the fate of an ordinary military officer was decided. Life or death hinged on a single word from others.
Wang Daxia sighed with deep emotion. Li Xixiao said, "Your father is straightforward by nature, so I won't beat around the bush. When you return, convey this to him: his most important task in Jiangxi is to ensure the Jiangxi Regional Military Commission follows the directives of the Five Armies Commandery. He must not let local factions sideline him and should focus on cultivating his own allies. Additionally, he must monitor the movements of Yan Song and his son Yan Shifan."
Wang Daxia replied, "Understood."
As the saying goes, a centipede dies but never falls down. Although the Yan faction had been overthrown, their residual influence remained, especially in their hometown where their power was deeply entrenched. The Jiajing Emperor had exiled both men back to their ancestral home but, fearing he might be releasing tigers into the mountains, did not leave them unsupervised.
To monitor Yan Song and Yan Shifan effectively, it was necessary to assign someone who held a grudge against them and couldn't be controlled by them. Wang Commander had lost his official position due to Yan Shifan, who had even threatened Wang Daxia's life. Thus, sending Wang Commander to Jiangxi was the most suitable choice.
Indeed, this old emperor, who hadn't attended court for over thirty years yet firmly held onto power, was no ordinary fool. He was an extremely shrewd man.
When Wang Daxia returned home, he was surprised to find Wei Caiwei there!
Wei Caiwei had come to see them off. She presented Wang Commander with a box of medicinal pills. "I heard about your promotion and that you're going to Jiangxi. Since I've heard the region is damp, plagued by miasma, and infested with insects, snakes, and rodents, I prepared some medicines. There are repellents for insects and snakes, topical ointments, pills to hold in the mouth against miasma, and balms to apply on the skin to prevent mosquito bites. Everything is labeled, and here are the prescriptions for all the medicines. You can gather the ingredients and prepare more if needed."
Wei Caiwei also hung a scented sachet around Wang Daqiu's neck. "Wear this and don't take it off carelessly, or insects and snakes might bite your nose."
Terrified, Wang Daqiu covered his entire face with his chubby little hands.
This was truly timely assistance. Wang Commander repeatedly expressed his gratitude.
Wei Caiwei said, "Jiangxi is an unfamiliar place. You must be cautious in everything, Wang Commander." Due to her past life experiences, she knew the suspicious Jiajing Emperor distrusted everyone, including the Yan Family who had returned to their hometown.
The difference was, in her previous life, the Jiajing Emperor had tasked the Eastern Depot, where Wang Daxia served, to send people to Jiangxi for covert surveillance. Now, it was Wang Commander, who had narrowly escaped disaster, shouldering this responsibility in Jiangxi. The Yan Family's influence in their hometown was not to be underestimated and would be difficult to deal with.
Therefore, Wei Caiwei would do everything in her power to assist Wang Commander.
Wang Daxia walked Wei Caiwei home—though they were just separated by a wall.
Once the courtyard gate was closed, Wang Daxia became mischievous. He held her hand and teased, "The medicine arrives before the bride even crosses the threshold. Could it be you're that eager? Also, I want a scented sachet like the one you gave Wang Daqiu. I'm afraid of mosquito bites too.""First give me fifty coins," Wei Caiwei said. "The court sending your father to Jiangxi isn't truly about the official assignment - it's targeting the Yan Family. Remind your father that the two old foxes of the Yan family are difficult to deal with. He mustn't let his guard down. At any sign of movement, he must secretly report to Zhu Xizhong, the Grand Commander of the Five Armies Commandery."
Wang Daxia was astonished: "How do you know this? I only learned the real reason from his younger brother Commander Zhu. I thought the Ministry of War was reinstating my father because of my influence."
"I..." Wei Caiwei scrambled for an excuse, "That day when we disembarked, we happened to encounter the Yan father and son boarding a ship back to their hometown in Jiangxi. I kept it in mind. When your father was assigned to Jiangxi, I connected the dots."
With beauty before him, Wang Daxia's judgment was clouded by desire. Without further suspicion, he embraced Wei Caiwei. "My wife is the smartest person in the world. You guessed it just like that."
Then he whispered in her ear: "Guess what I want to do now?"
With such limited skills, you want to tease me? Wei Caiwei said: "You want to strip off my clothes, leaving not even my socks, push me down on the bamboo couch under the grape arbor, use the socks to tie my legs to..."
Before she could finish a hundred words, Wang Daxia flushed bright red and fled in panic. Terrified, absolutely terrified!
Wei Caiwei lay on the bamboo bed under the grape arbor to cool off. Ah, things I was thoroughly familiar with in my previous life can't even be mentioned in this one. It seems I'll have to teach him from the beginning. How exhausting.
Author's note: Wang Daxia riding a bicycle with training wheels and Wei Caiwei operating a high-speed train - they're completely on different levels.
Next chapter will rapidly advance the timeline, everyone should mentally prepare for it.
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