Wei Caiwei fabricated a story: "Oh, this morning when I went to Machang Alley to find Chen the Agent, a passerby asked me about Li Wei's whereabouts. Firstly, I didn't know Li Wei was your father, and secondly, the man had shifty eyes and didn't seem trustworthy, so I said I didn't know and had never heard of him."
It was common knowledge that Li Jiubao's father, Li Wei, was a habitual gambler. Thus, Wei Caiwei invented this passerby to cover her lie.
Li Jiubao, hearing this, didn't doubt her and her expression changed. "It must be debt collectors from the gambling den."
Chen the Agent said, "Your father and brother are still in Sanlitun. I'm afraid the gambling den's people might come to block your door again to demand repayment. It's not safe for a young woman like you to live alone. Stay at my place tonight and sleep with my grandmother. I'll lodge at our neighbor Wang Er'gou's house."
Li Jiubao replied softly, "Troubling you again."
It seemed that the Li family being harassed by gambling den debt collectors was a frequent occurrence, and neighbors helping to cover for them wasn't a one-time thing.
Chen the Agent said, "We're all neighbors; it's only right to look out for each other."
While they were talking, Wei Caiwei deftly cut open the large watermelon Chen the Agent had brought the previous day, arranged some dried fruits on a plate, and invited them to sit and enjoy the refreshments. "I've troubled you both today. As a traveling doctor, I rushed home in a hurry and don't even have a cup of hot tea to offer. Fortunately, it's summer—please have some fruits to cool off."
This was the future Empress Li! Wei Caiwei brought out her best stored treats, hosting them warmly, afraid of showing any neglect.
With the watermelon already cut, Li Jiubao couldn't refuse. She thanked her and sat down to eat.
Wei Caiwei picked up a plump hazelnut, cracked its shell with iron nutcrackers, extracted the kernel, rubbed off the thin brown skin with her palm, and placed it on a plate for Li Jiubao. "Try this—it's a local product from my hometown."
Though Li Jiubao's family was poor, she carried herself with grace. She picked it up and ate it. "Crisp and fragrant—delicious."
Chen the Agent remarked, "There are hazelnuts in the dried fruit shops in the capital, but none this big. Where is Doctor Wei from?"
Wei Caiwei continued cracking hazelnuts as she replied, "I'm from Tieling. These are hazelnuts from Tieling's Xiangya Mountain. There are also various dried mushrooms, all unique flavors not found in the capital. Let me pack some for you to take back. Soak them in hot water and stew them with chicken—it's absolutely delicious."
Li Jiubao quickly said, "Doctor Wei, your generous hospitality is deeply appreciated, but we can hardly accept such kindness."
Wei Caiwei pointed toward the kitchen in the backyard and laughed. "The kitchen hasn't been used yet. When I return from practicing medicine, I just want to lie down and rest, too tired to move. I eat all three meals out and have no time to cook. With this hot, humid weather, the dried mushrooms might spoil if left here. Since I brought them all the way from home, it's better to give them to you to add to your meals."
Before Li Jiubao could refuse, Wei Caiwei rummaged through her chest, packed two bundles of dried goods, and gave one to each of them.
Chen the Agent chuckled awkwardly. "Eating and taking—this is rather embarrassing."
Wei Caiwei said, "I'm new here and know nothing, with no friends to speak of. They say a near neighbor is better than a distant relative, but my neighbor is an official. As a commoner, I can't easily mingle with such a high-ranking household. Though you and Miss Li live in the alley across the street, I feel a connection with you. From now on, you are my neighbors. Between neighbors, why stand on ceremony?"
With things put so plainly, they accepted the gifts.
When they said their goodbyes, Wei Caiwei saw them off to the end of the alley before returning.Returning home, Wei Caiwei let out a long sigh of relief: Today’s formalities were thorough, good connections were made, and she must have left a favorable first impression on the future Empress Dowager Li.
In her previous life, Wei Caiwei had met Consort Shangshou, who later became the emperor’s favored consort, during their humble beginnings.
Li Jiubao had originally been selected as a palace maid in the same batch as them, but on her very first day in the palace, she was sent by the supervising eunuch to serve in the residence of Prince Yu. Thus, Wei Caiwei had never known Li Jiubao.
Later, Consort Shang rose to prominence in the harem due to her innocent and artless nature, which amused the Jiajing Emperor when she mistakenly struck the wrong chime. She was elevated from a palace maid to the rank of Consort Shou, and Wei Caiwei, rising along with her, became a figure of real influence in the harem. Pursued by numerous eunuchs, Wei Caiwei chose Wang Daxia, and they formed a Eunuch and Maid Pairing. Consort Shangshou recommended Wang Daxia to the emperor, and from then on, his career soared.
When Consort Shang was enfeoffed, a lowly palace maid in Prince Yu’s residence gave birth to a royal grandson. As a stepmother, Consort Shangshou prepared gifts and sent Wei Caiwei to deliver them to Prince Yu’s residence.
This was Wei Caiwei’s first time meeting Li Jiubao.
Due to the Jiajing Emperor’s long-term practice of Daoist alchemy and consumption of elixirs, his ability to produce heirs was severely hampered. The imperial consorts had borne him eight sons and five daughters in total, but only two sons and two daughters survived to adulthood.
Of the two adult sons, Prince Yu and Prince Jing, Prince Yu had fathered two sons and two daughters, all of whom died young. Prince Jing’s residence had never even heard the cry of an infant—he had no children at all.
At a time when the Ming royal family faced a crisis of succession, the royal grandson born to Li Jiubao was exceptionally precious.
The Jiajing Emperor was already old, and to please Consort Shangshou, he frequently consumed aphrodisiacs. Wei Caiwei judged that the old emperor’s days were numbered. Although Prince Yu was not favored by the emperor, he was the elder son—especially since Prince Jing had never produced any heirs. Prince Yu’s four children had all died young, but at least he had fathered them, right? Moreover, Li Jiubao had just given birth to a royal grandson.
Wei Caiwei, residing in the inner palace, knew little of court politics, but she understood the importance of heirs. Thus, she placed her bets on Prince Yu, planning for her future prospects.
Wei Caiwei was skilled in medicine, particularly gynecology. She helped Li Jiubao recover postpartum and eliminated the pregnancy spots on Li Jiubao’s face, enabling her to quickly regain favor and bear another royal grandson!
Husband and wife worked in harmony—Wang Daxia also secretly aligned himself with Prince Yu. After a perilous and brutal struggle for the throne, Prince Jing died suddenly, the Jiajing Emperor passed away, and Prince Yu ascended the throne. Li Jiubao, as the birth mother of the crown prince, was enfeoffed as Consort Li.
During the succession struggle, Wei Caiwei found herself in danger, and it was Wang Daxia who took a poisoned arrow for her. Wei Caiwei devoted all her efforts to saving her husband, pulling him back from the brink, but he was left with chronic health issues and died of illness at the age of forty-seven…
Seeing the future Empress Dowager Li in her humble state today, Wei Caiwei couldn’t help but recall the virtues of her dearly departed husband.
Ah, deep affection seldom leads to a long life.
Reborn before his self-castration, she had seen another side of him. Every time she thought about it, she wanted to smash his stupid head, but he was only fourteen—young and ignorant…
She had to forgive him. Why bother holding a grudge against a half-grown child?
She would guide him onto the right path, help him turn over a new leaf, and avert the disasters that would befall the Wang family in the future.
In this life, I will protect him and never let him be forced down the path of self-castration again.
No grudges, no anger, no beating him—I’ll consider it repayment for the poisoned arrow he took for me in our previous life.
She could only think of it as repayment, because Wei Caiwei found it impossible to love the fourteen-year-old Young Master Wang. In fact, she had repeatedly felt the urge to castrate him herself!
Meanwhile, in a tomb at Xisanli River outside the city.Wang Daxia, who was watching the grave excavation from the sidelines, sneezed three times in a row. "Hmm, who's thinking of me?"
Lu Ying said coldly, "Who else could it be? It must be your beloved Miss Yingying."
As soon as the words left his mouth, the Embroidered Uniform Guard digging the grave shouted, "We've reached the coffin!"
Lu Ying ordered, "Coroner, hurry and open the coffin to examine the body before it rains."
Just as they were about to pry open the coffin, Wang Daxia yelled, "Wait!"
Everyone thought he had made some new discovery, but they saw him return from the carriage carrying a bundle of red-stringed amulets!
Wang Daxia said, "These are amulets I requested this morning from the Tian'an Temple where we're staying. Each of you take one—they'll protect you from all ghosts."
The incident last night where the bookboy was struck dead by lightning was too eerie. Adopting the mindset of "better safe than sorry," everyone accepted the amulets.
Only Lu Ying refused. "I don't want one. Lord Lu said that once you become an Embroidered Uniform Guard, you shouldn't believe in ghosts and gods."
Wang Daxia pointed at the others. "They're also Embroidered Uniform Guards. Why can they take amulets?"
Lu Ying replied, "Rules meant to restrain oneself shouldn't be used to restrain others."
Wang Daxia simply hung two amulets around his neck. "Fine, don't take one. I'll wear two for extra protection."
Lu Ying suddenly remembered something and asked, "Your private money is with Lord Lu. How did you afford these amulets?"
Wang Daxia looked blank. "Do you Embroidered Uniform Guards actually pay for things you requisition?"
Lu Ying was speechless. "The Embroidered Uniform Guard are imperial officials, not bandits! What you did was outright robbery!"
Wang Daxia looked innocent. "I didn't rob anyone. I told the head monk that the Embroidered Uniform Guard needed to requisition the temple's amulets, and he gave me a whole bunch—there are more in the carriage."
Lu Ying retorted, "You used the Embroidered Uniform Guard's name. How could the monk refuse you?"
Wang Daxia spread his hands. "I'm assisting the Embroidered Uniform Guard with the case, and I'm penniless. You want the horse to run but won't let it graze? That's completely unreasonable!"
"You—" Lu Ying raised his whip, wishing he could strike him a hundred times.
Wang Daxia jumped back and redirected the conflict by pointing at the grave. "The coffin is open. You should go take a look."
Lu Ying put away his whip and went to look.
After ten years, only bones remained. The coroner climbed down to examine the skeleton and fill out the death report, saying, "Commander Lu, there is indeed a set of infant bones in the deceased's abdomen."
The coroner carefully removed each bone from the coffin, arranging them into shape—one large and one small, two complete skeletons.
The Embroidered Uniform Guard lit a fire around the bones, and the coroner opened a red umbrella to shade the skeletons while inspecting them from above.
This was a method recorded by the famous Song Dynasty coroner Song Ci in The Washing Away of Wrongs. It allowed them to see if there were any fractures in the bones, which would indicate violent trauma before death.
After examining both sets of bones, the coroner said, "There are no signs of injury."
Lu Ying gradually clenched his fists. "The bookboy wasn't lying. Miss He died from difficult childbirth caused by Old Woman Wang—two lives lost, the fetus dead in the womb."
Just then, the Embroidered Uniform Guard uncovered another coffin. This one was small, only half the size of Miss He's. When opened, it was indeed empty!
Lu Ying rested his chin on his hand, deep in thought before the empty coffin. "Miss He Er fled that year when she was seven years old. If she's still alive, she'd be seventeen now. Thousand Household Chen and his son, along with Old Woman Wang, were likely killed by her."The coroner reported, "This subordinate examined Granny Wang's corpse this morning. Her abdomen was swollen with water, and there was mud in her fingernails. The cause of death was indeed drowning, but we cannot rule out the possibility that someone held her underwater to drown her."
Lu Ying asked, "Wang Daxia, what do you think?"
There was no response. Lu Ying turned to look: Where was he!
His subordinate pointed at the carriage and said, "Commander Lu, Young Master Wang had already hidden in the carriage when you went to examine the coffin."
Truly afraid of death and ghosts. Lu Ying walked to the carriage and opened the door. Wang Daxia was curled up in the corner, eyes tightly shut, holding a Bronze Buddha in both hands, murmuring: "Buddha protect me, all ghosts disperse quickly by divine decree!"
Well now! Mixing Buddhism and Taoism together.
Lu Ying didn't know whether to laugh or cry. His gaze fell on the Bronze Buddha and he asked, "You rascal stole the Bronze Buddha from Tian'an Temple!"
"Requisition! It's requisition!" Hearing Lu Ying's voice and confirming it wasn't a ghost, Wang Daxia finally opened his eyes and said: "Requisition can't be called stealing...requisition!...Embroidered Uniform Guard business, can that be considered stealing?" (Note 1)
Author's note: Note 1: This pays homage to the scene from "Kong Yiji" where Kong Yiji's face would flush, the veins on his forehead bulging as he protested, "Taking books can't be considered stealing...taking books!...A scholar's affairs, can that be considered stealing?"
Fourteen-year-old Wang Daxia - flamboyant, unrestrained, shameless, unreasonable, and utterly terrified of ghosts! But after meeting Wei Caiwei, he would undergo what seemed like a transformation journey.
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