The Jiajing Emperor was critically ill. Although the Forbidden City had sealed off the news, preventing ordinary citizens from learning of the palace affairs, the tension preceding a regime shift still loomed over the capital. Zhu Xizhong, Grand Commander of the Five Armies Commandery, and Zhu Xixiao, Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, had already reinforced the city’s defenses, with even the Five Cities Patrol Battalion increasing their night patrols.
In a daze, Wei Caiwei found herself in the Yuxi Palace of the Forbidden City, serving as the chief palace maid. In her previous life, the Yunde Palace had been razed to the ground when Consort Shangshou and the Jiajing Emperor set off fireworks in bed. She had then moved to the Yuxi Palace alongside Consort Shangshou.
The Jiajing Emperor had fallen gravely ill on the anniversary of Lu Bing’s death and remained unconscious. Shang Qinglan was the first to discover the emperor’s state and immediately instructed Eunuch Wang, Chief of the Eastern Depot, to inform Yu Wang (Prince Yu) and Grand Secretariat Chief Xu Jie, so they could prepare for the succession.
Eunuch Wang sealed off the Western Garden, while Consort Shangshou feigned normalcy—maintaining her daily routines and even setting off fireworks at night as if the emperor were still amusing himself with her. Yet secrets are hard to keep. Lu Jingfei had bribed the Taoist priests in the Western Garden to plant informants. These priests noticed they never saw the emperor himself when presenting elixirs, uncovering the deception, and secretly reported it to Lu Jingfei.
Seizing the opportunity, Lu Jingfei feigned illness to summon Jing Wang (Prince Jing) into the palace under the pretext of a visit, while in truth, the mother and son conspired to seize the throne. According to imperial lineage, Yu Wang, as the eldest son and father of a son and daughter by Li Jiubao, held the rightful claim. Jing Wang, having no heirs, faced staunch opposition from Chief Grand Secretary Xu Jie, a steadfast supporter of Yu Wang, making the latter the expected successor.
In a desperate final attempt, Lu Jingfei and Jing Wang bribed a minor Eastern Depot officer. Using Eunuch Wang’s token, the officer went to the Yuxi Palace to summon Wei Caiwei, falsely claiming that Wang Daxia had urgent matters to discuss with her.
A voice in Wei Caiwei’s heart warned, "Don’t go! It’s a trap!" Yet her feet, as if bewitched, followed the officer.
She arrived at the Yuanming Pavilion, where Eunuch Wang was absent, but Lu Jingfei and Jing Wang awaited her. Jing Wang employed a mix of inducements and threats, persuading, "I’ve heard Palace Matron Wei is the apple of Eunuch Wang’s eye—where you point, he would never turn away; if you curse a chicken, he wouldn’t dare strike a dog. We wish to collaborate with Eunuch Wang to fabricate a scene of Yu Wang leading troops in a palace coup. Eunuch Wang and I would then ‘rescue’ the emperor, eliminate the rebels and Yu Wang. In return, your status and Eunuch Wang’s will remain unchanged, with endless riches and honors. As a eunuch and maid pairing, you’ll continue serving the court regardless—who sits on the throne makes no difference, as it’s all the Zhu family. Whatever Yu Wang can offer you, I, Jing Wang, will give tenfold! Consider it, Palace Matron Wei."
Feigning concern for her life, Wei Caiwei agreed to cooperate with Jing Wang. "...However," she added, "ours is but a fleeting union—how many eunuch and maid pairings in the palace last forever? Using me as leverage may not suffice. Instead, release me, and I will persuade Consort Shangshou to ally with you."
Jing Wang hesitated, but Lu Jingfei distrusted Wei Caiwei. "That vixen Shang Qinglan has already bewitched the emperor—the two of us combined are no match for her. Let’s not complicate matters; stick to the original plan."
Thus, Jing Wang used Wei Caiwei’s life to coerce Wang Daxia into compliance, feigning collaboration while in reality forcing his hand—or else Wei Caiwei would be killed.Wang Daxia played along with Jing Wang's scheme, pretending to agree to his demands before collaborating with Shang Qinglan. They used a double who resembled Yu Wang to stage a "palace coup" act, luring Jing Wang to bring troops for a "rescue mission."
Jing Wang fell for the trap and indeed led his soldiers to "save the emperor." Then the real Yu Wang appeared with the Embroidered Uniform Guard and imperial cavalry to rescue the throne, trapping Jing Wang and his rebels like turtles in a jar.
Ultimately, Jing Wang died in the "chaotic battle," while Lu Jingfei took poison and ended her own life.
This was a stratagem to lure the enemy away from their base. Wang Daxia led Eastern Depot agents to rescue Wei Caiwei from the lightly defended Yuanming Pavilion.
Wei Caiwei had been drugged and was completely weakened. Wang Daxia carried her onto a horse, seating her in front of him while using his own body as a shield as they galloped away.
Eunuch Wei from the Jin Prince's mansion desperately fired a poisoned crossbow bolt at Wang Daxia's back. Wang Daxia was hit by the arrow but endured the pain and continued riding forward...
The voice in Wei Caiwei's heart cried out again: "Make him stop now! He's been poisoned! Quickly suck out the poisoned blood, otherwise there will be endless consequences! He'll be tied to medicine jars for half his life, constantly suffering from illness, and his life will end at forty-seven!"
"Wake up! What kind of dream are you having? Your forehead is covered in sweat." Wei Caiwei woke from her nightmare to find Wang Daxia patting her face.
Wang Daxia was alive and well right before her, full of vitality. He had just returned from duty at the Forbidden City and came to see her without even removing his armor.
Wang Daxia pinched her nose, "You really can sleep - napping until dark. What will you do if you can't sleep tonight?"
Wei Caiwei embraced him tightly, her face pressed against the cold armor, yet feeling completely at peace.
In this lifetime, Lu Jingfei had fallen from power early and was confined to the cold palace, living like a walking corpse. Jing Wang had been sent to his fief in Anlu, Hubei, and had been dead for two years. Eunuch Wei, who had shot the poisoned arrow at Eunuch Wang, had already eaten dancing mushrooms and danced himself to death.
Yu Wang faced no obstacles or uncertainties in ascending the throne, needing only to wait for the Jiajing Emperor to breathe his last. Wang Daxia would not be hit by a poisoned arrow while protecting her again, his body slowly eroded by residual poison leading to an early death.
All potential threats had been resolved in advance. No one could harm Wang Daxia anymore.
"What's wrong? What did you dream about? My armor is cold as ice, don't let it freeze you." Wang Daxia cupped Wei Caiwei's face, covering her cheeks with his hands to shield her from the cold armor.
Leaning against his hand, Wei Caiwei said, "I don't remember clearly. It seemed like you were in some danger, and I was powerless to help."
Wang Daxia rarely saw this vulnerable, fearful side of Wei Caiwei and comforted her, "Dreams are always the opposite of reality. I've dreamed that I couldn't find a wife and would grow old alone, but in reality I have you - a wife so perfect she'd be hard to find even with a lantern."
Wei Caiwei shook her head, "It wasn't you searching for me with a lantern. It was me using all my wits to find you, befriend you, and make you love me. You are the biggest reason I came to this world."
Because of her obsession from her previous life, she could return to before he castrated himself.
Wang Daxia didn't understand her words and rather proudly said, "You were born for me, and I was born for you. We're a match made in heaven, no wonder I felt you looked familiar the first time I saw you, as if we'd met somewhere before."Wei Caiwei said, "I truly knew you before I even met you. On my very first day in the capital, before moving into this house, I... had a dream. I dreamed of entering the palace as a female official, forming a Eunuch and Maid Pairing with a self-castrated eunuch. We depended on each other for survival, but the eunuch was poisoned while saving me and died young. I followed him in death before his spirit tablet."
"The first time I saw you at the wonton stall, you looked familiar—you resemble the eunuch from my dream so much—"
"Impossible!" Wang Daxia felt a chill between his legs upon hearing this, as if Wang Xiaoxia had vanished. He couldn't help but reach down to check—thankfully, it was still there!
Wang Daxia pointed at Wang Xiaoxia and declared, "How could I ever bear to cut off such a magnificently grand treasure? No matter what challenges or difficulties I, Wang Daxia, face, I would never sever the tool that carries on my family line. If I were to cut it off, wouldn't you end up a living widow? Stop these wild thoughts and get up for dinner."
Seeing Wang Daxia's shocked expression, Wei Caiwei thought to herself: Indeed, one shouldn't speak of past lives and present incarnations to a man afraid of ghosts—he'd completely fall apart.
Someone from the neighboring Wang residence delivered a food box. Wang Daxia removed his heavy armor and ate with Wei Caiwei, bringing up the Jiajing Emperor's condition again. "...He still hasn't woken up today. The imperial physicians say the situation looks grim. The Ministry of Rites has secretly begun preparing funeral arrangements to counter the ill omens. I hope His Majesty survives until New Year's Eve, so we can get married."
Ever since the Jiajing Emperor fell critically ill, Wang Daxia had been in a state of anxiety. First, he feared turmoil during the imperial transition that would lead to bloodshed—he wasn't afraid of battle, but he detested having blood on his hands during his wedding, considering it inauspicious. Second, he worried the emperor might die before his wedding with Wei Caiwei, forcing yet another postponement of their marriage date.
Noticing Wang Daxia's tension, Wei Caiwei warmed a pot of wine for them to share a few drinks after dinner, hoping to help him relax.
Wang Daxia had no heart for drinking, feeling deeply melancholy. "What I regret most is sending out the wedding invitations too early in my excitement. Spilt water can't be gathered up, and now it's hard to change the date. If only we hadn't sent them out yet, we could have moved the wedding forward by a few days and gotten married already."
In her previous life, Wei Caiwei and Eunuch Wang had married early, forming their Eunuch and Maid Pairing without such anxieties. But that life had its own troubles and dangers—marriage came easily, but staying together for life was difficult.
This life happened to be the opposite: marriage was difficult, but perhaps staying together for life would be easier.
Wei Caiwei knew they would inevitably have to postpone for a hundred days. Since Wang Daxia had already completed his mourning period and was free from family filial obligations, they might not be able to marry during the three-month national mourning, but they could certainly engage in other activities beforehand.
Without a word, Wei Caiwei pushed Wang Daxia down on the couch and kissed him. She didn't know if Wang Daxia felt invigorated, but Wang Xiaoxia was certainly excited, eager to unsheathe the sharp sword and test its edge once more.
Half an hour later...
Wei Caiwei once again thought that, judging by the experience in bed, Wang Daxia might as well have castrated himself. After three years, the sword's appearance remained acceptable, but it wasn't very functional—always missing the mark, failing to strike the crucial point. It was like rubbing one hand against the other or scratching an itch through a boot—what was the point of prolonging it? It wasn't as if they relied on this for warmth!
Flavorless to eat, but not exactly a pity to discard. Wanting to end it, Wei Caiwei reached for the sheep intestine soaking in warm water on the bedside table."No!" Wang Daxia suddenly recalled a humiliating scene from the past, instantly growing wary as he caught Wei Caiwei's restless hand.
Wei Caiwei deeply missed the dexterous Eunuch Wang of old, realizing that gains always come with losses—just as the blind compensate with extraordinary hearing. Though Wang Daxia had all five limbs intact, his skills remained underdeveloped. He went through all thirty-six sword techniques one by one, but they were merely flashy moves without any "lethal force." If only Eunuch Wang and Wang Daxia could merge into one...
Of course, this was impossible. One cannot have both fish and bear's paw—greed has its limits. With no other choice, Wei Caiwei had to guide him hand in hand, "You step back first and watch how I do it myself."
Author's Note: Eunuch Wang, Wang Daxia: Which one do you really like?
Banxia: I like them both.
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