Li Zixin clung to Zhao Quan's leg, begging for mercy, "I beg the Sect Leader to grant this subordinate a chance to atone for my mistakes!"
Zhao Quan irritably kicked Li Zixin away, "What use is giving you a chance! All of Anda Khan's men are dead, and you return alone. You might as well take your own head to see Anda Khan!"
Li Zixin took a whip to the Khanate Court, submitting to the lashing, only hoping to spare his life.
Since clashing with the Ming army, Anda Khan had never encountered such a formidable opponent—one that annihilated his entire force!
Anda Khan did not whip Li Zixin immediately. Instead, he first ordered him to lead the way, sending men to follow him and retrieve the bodies of his subordinates. But it was too late. This year's severe drought had left not only humans and livestock starving, but also wolves, crows, and eagles.
After the battle, the area became a feast for the wolves.
By the time Li Zixin led people back along the same route, the field of corpses had turned into a field of white bones. Hardly a single intact skeleton remained—all had been torn apart. The finer bones had been chewed and swallowed, while the sturdy thigh bones and skulls still bore the marks of gnawing teeth.
What a scene of misery!
The enraged Anda Khan sentenced Li Zixin to fifty lashes. Had he not heavily bribed the executioner, he might not have survived.
When Li Zixin woke, his punished back felt cool and soothing. Ding Wu was applying medicine to him. Seeing him awake, Ding Wu handed him a bowl of dark, murky liquid. "Drink this. It's a remedy specially formulated by a renowned physician from the Central Plains to treat flogging wounds. It's just a bit bitter."
Li Zixin was as thirsty as if he had just swallowed a burning coal. He paid no heed to the bitterness and downed it in one gulp. Hoarsely, he said, "Thank you. I never expected you to be the one to save me."
Ding Wu poured him another cup of water. "You were too reckless this time. You led the men south to hunt without first understanding the background of Qi Jiguang, the Ming army's new commander. This time, you hit a hard wall, didn't you? With the entire force wiped out, even the Sect Leader couldn't cover for you. You had to bear the blame yourself. Don't resent the Sect Leader. If I were in his position, I wouldn't be able to protect you either."
Ding Wu and the Sect Leader had always been at odds. Li Zixin had thought Ding Wu would seize the chance to drive a wedge between him and the Sect Leader, but instead, the opposite happened—Ding Wu actually spoke well of the Sect Leader!
Feeling resentful, Li Zixin said, "The sect is short on food. The Sect Leader gave all forty thousand dan of grain to Anda Khan, leaving us with nothing to fill our bellies. It was the Sect Leader who ordered me to find a solution, so I acted as a hunting dog and went south to hunt. My heart was entirely for the sect, without any selfish motives, yet I nearly lost my life. This injury will take all winter to heal. If they ask me to lead the way again, I'm afraid I won't be able to. Let them starve if they must—I have enough food for myself and won't go hungry. I wash my hands of it. Let the Sect Leader perform his immortal spell, turn stones into gold, and feed the followers himself."
Ding Wu pretended not to detect the sarcasm in Li Zixin's words. "That year when I went to Xinghua City, Iron Bull declared himself Ming Wang and broke away from the White Lotus Sect, all because the Sect Leader always put himself first and couldn't tolerate others. I barely escaped with my life and returned to tell the Sect Leader, but he didn't believe me. He even suspected that I had used the Ming army's anti-pirate forces to seize his sources of wealth. I had no way to defend myself. From then on, I knew there was no future in following the Sect Leader, so I devoted myself entirely to serving Zhongjin Khatun."
Hearing this, Li Zixin quickly said, "I, too, wish to pledge loyalty to Zhongjin Khatun, but I have no way to approach her. I beg you to help recommend me."Ding Wu put on a troubled expression, "It won't work. I have no real influence in the sect, only the empty title of one of the Four Great Disciples. You own land in Bansheng Land and have over three hundred fellow villagers following you. The sect leader would never agree. Don't bring this up again, or he'll think I'm trying to poach his followers and despise me even more. Besides, your fellow villagers are all followers of the White Lotus Sect. If the sect leader accuses you of betraying the Sacred Sect, they would no longer trust you."
Li Zixin was left speechless. Back then, he had deceived the entire village into migrating to Bansheng Land under the pretense of "Join the sect to avoid disaster," and they had all revered Zhao Quan as a deity. If he were to break with Zhao Quan now, his previous words would come back to haunt him, leading to his own downfall.
It's easy to board a pirate ship but hard to get off. For the sake of his interests, he had to remain bound to the White Lotus Sect.
However, after this incident, Li Zixin and sect leader Zhao Quan maintained a facade of harmony while growing estranged, and he instead became closer to Ding Wu.
After his initial defeat, Anda Khan inquired with Ding Wu about his new opponent Qi Jiguang, as Ding Wu was the only one who had witnessed Qi Jiguang's battles against the Japanese Pirates in Xinghua City.
To placate Anda Khan, Ding Wu enthusiastically recounted how formidable Qi Jiguang was—drilling the Qi Family Army, inventing the Crouching Tiger Cannon, and annihilating the Japanese Pirates, ultimately ending the decades-long scourge of Japanese Pirates along the southeastern coast.
Anda Khan asked Ding Wu, "Who is more formidable, me or Qi Jiguang?"
This was a perilous question. After a moment's consideration, Ding Wu replied, "In terms of victories won, of course, the Great Khan is superior."
After seven years of acquaintance, Ding Wu knew that Anda Khan valued his reputation. If he had claimed Qi Jiguang was more formidable, Anda Khan would likely have mustered his troops on the spot to attack Datong and confront this general from Fujian.
Anda Khan was pleased with this answer. As Ding Wu took his leave, he was summoned by San Niangzi.
San Niangzi's pregnancy was now showing, her abdomen slightly rounded as she painted. Ding Wu approached and bowed. San Niangzi set down her brush and took a box of almond-scented powder from her dressing table. "The powder you sent this time smells different from the last."
Ding Wu explained, "I told the shopkeeper it was for a pregnant woman, so he prepared the powder on the spot. The formula is the same as before, but he omitted musk and other fragrances, saying such scents could easily cause fetal agitation if inhaled by a pregnant woman. Hence, the scent is milder than before."
San Niangzi remarked, "Oh, this shopkeeper is quite considerate. No wonder his business is so thriving. I've heard that Ding Yuanpan is on good terms with the female proprietor of Rouge and Beauty, and even played the hero to save the beauty."
Even San Niangzi, secluded in the Khanate Court, had heard the rumors about Ding Wu and Wang Daxia.
As for the situation where a brother-in-law had become a romantic interest, it was a first for Ding Wu. Usually composed, he now showed a hint of unease, which others interpreted as bashfulness!
"You still claim your relationship with the female proprietor is purely innocent!"
Ding Wu instinctively clasped his hands in front of his waist in a defensive gesture and said, "I merely visit that rouge and powder shop occasionally, finding their products exquisitely made. I bought some as gifts for the Hatun, and since she liked them very much, I frequently check the shop for new arrivals. Over time, we've become acquainted.""That day, some patrolling soldiers happened to come to the shop causing trouble, trying to extort money. This humble official stepped forward to speak a few fair words. The matter spread from ten to a hundred people, gradually distorting into tales of a hero saving a beauty. The beauty is indeed a beauty, but the hero is no hero. This humble official has a notorious reputation in the Ming court—how dare I tarnish the word 'hero'?"
San Niangzi found Ding Wu's nervous demeanor amusing. "Drawing a sword to uphold justice when seeing injustice on the road—in the eyes of the Rouge and Powder Shop's proprietress and passersby, Judge Ding's actions were heroic. This female proprietor is clever and skillful; the rouge and powder she blends greatly please me. Bring her to the Khanate Court another day so I may see her."
Ding Wu was already twenty-nine years old and still unmarried. Publicly, he claimed he would not marry until the Ming dynasty was overthrown, waiting to clear his parents' names before considering marriage. Under the pretext of filial piety, he had politely declined Anda Khan's offer to arrange a marriage with a Mongol noble maiden.
San Niangzi sensed that Ding Wu harbored some inexpressible feelings toward this rouge shop proprietress, strongly resembling love. Ding Wu had never been this nervous over a woman before.
Absolutely not!
A chill ran down Ding Wu's spine. "This... this woman comes from humble origins and speaks in a crude, vulgar manner. I fear she might behave improperly before the Hatun."
Upon hearing this, San Niangzi recalled that the Rouge Shop proprietress had seductive, silken eyes, always wore heavy makeup, dressed in bright reds and greens, and wore hair ornaments worth at least a grand mansion—hardly resembling a proper woman. She attracted many men eager to get close, but due to her extreme fierceness—cursing with every vulgar word imaginable—and fear of Ding Wu's Great Acquired Realm, no man had dared lay a finger on her to this day.
The more this was so, the more interested San Niangzi became. She said, "I heard she came from the world of pleasure quarters? I too have walked that path once, even serving as the Top Courtesan at the Red Sleeve Brothel. I deeply understand that women of the pleasure quarters can also include many outstanding individuals. If she weren't so fierce, she probably wouldn't have survived. I won't look down on her for being vulgar."
But I look down on her! I think she's not worthy of my sister!
Ding Wu silently complained about Wang Daxia: You're far too unrestrained—your flirtatious reputation has even reached the Khanate Court! If San Niangzi becomes curious and wants to meet you, what if the disguise is exposed? This San Niangzi was your confidante back in the capital!
At the Rouge and Powder Shop, Wang Daxia kicked off his large red peony-embroidered shoes—as big as small boats—and threw himself onto the bed. Today, Wei Caiwei had passed through the border to visit him. With one in Fengcheng and the other in Datong, they lived apart like the Cowherd and Weaver Girl stars. Finally reunited as husband and wife, every moment of this spring night was precious.
"Wait, stop first!" Wei Caiwei pushed her husband away. Wang Daxia grew impatient, having already loosened the waistband of her horse-face skirt. "At a time like this, how can a man stop?"
Wei Caiwei got up, lifted the copper kettle from the stove, and poured hot water. "First, remove your makeup and take off your hair ornaments. Change into men's clothes. Looking like this, I keep feeling like I'm sleeping with a woman—it's just too strange."
Wang Daxia couldn't wait even a moment during this precious night. He took out a red hair ribbon and blindfolded Wei Caiwei. "If you can't see, won't that solve it? If I remove the makeup, I'll have to reapply it and redo my hair bun after we finish our business, just to make appearances at a few shops. It's too troublesome. Please indulge me this once."
He carried his blindfolded wife away, never removing the blindfold throughout the entire encounter.Deprived of sight, Wei Caiwei found herself in a passive state, yet she sensed an unusual flavor in this experience. She was like a boat in turbulent waves—wherever the waves crashed, she was carried along, completely out of control. One surge lifted her to the peak, then harshly flung her down as if plunging into a bottomless abyss, only to be caught by another swell that propelled her upward again. The waves collided against the boat’s hull, lifting it sharply higher.
Just when she thought she had reached the apex and was about to descend, she felt herself still rising, as if soaring into the clouds.
In that moment, the deft skill of Eunuch Wang from her past life and the extraordinary vigor of Wang Xiaoxia in this life merged into one. Wei Caiwei had managed to enjoy both the fish and the bear’s paw in a single breath, feeling utterly satisfied.
Adults should never have to choose—they must rely on their ability to seize both. Who says you can’t have both the fish and the bear’s paw? I insist on having both!
Author’s Note: Finally not being disliked anymore. Grateful to the little angels who voted for me with special tickets or supported me with nutrient solutions between 2020-10-16 17:59:44 and 2020-10-17 03:12:07~
Special thanks to the little angels who cast landmines: Yun Sheng, Qing Qiu (1 each);
Thanks to the little angels who supported me with nutrient solutions: Jiu Jiu Jun Zi (50 bottles); duoduo11, An Quan Gan (10 bottles); Yi Lian Mei Yang (4 bottles); Mao Tou Ying (3 bottles); Jun Si Ye (2 bottles); Tian Yi You Lan, 36852301, Hua Shao, Jin Wan Da Lao Hu (1 bottle each);
I am deeply grateful for everyone’s support. I will continue to work hard!
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