Wei Caiwei held the banknote that still retained the warmth of her dead husband.
She knew exactly where these five hundred taels came from. Wang Daxia had confessed at the Shuntian Prefecture Yamen that night that he sold his biological mother’s estate in Sanlitun for two thousand five hundred taels.
He lent two thousand taels to Miss Yingying, the Top Courtesan of the Red Sleeve Brothel, to buy her freedom, and deposited the remaining five hundred taels in the Three-Link Bank. He planned to retrieve the money once Miss Yingying repaid him and use it to buy back the land.
Now, these five hundred taels belonged to Wei Caiwei.
Her first reaction was not gratitude but jealousy.
You gave the Courtesan four times the amount you gave your wife!
Wang Daxia! You have no heart!
Don’t be angry. Never think of him as a husband, or I’ll surely die of rage in this lifetime.
Just consider him a reckless youth. The fact that he offered his last five hundred taels to help me settle down is already a rare act of generosity.
Wei Caiwei accepted the banknote and began to untie her silk skirt.
Wang Daxia’s eyes widened, and he hastily covered them, turning away. "Why didn’t you warn me before undressing? I almost saw your... Well, as a widow, it’s better to be more reserved."
Though he said this, Wang Daxia felt a hint of pride inwardly: Last night, this young widow mistook me for her dead husband’s substitute and tried to seduce me without success. Now, in this desperate situation, she’s undressing to tempt me again.
It can’t be helped—I’m just too handsome and irresistible.
Being good-looking isn’t my fault.
"You said Lu Ying would send someone to arrest me soon, so I need to hurry," Wei Caiwei said briskly as she put on Wang Daxia’s women’s clothing. "I’m not Miss He Er, and I didn’t kill anyone. I’m obeying you and changing clothes to escape only because I’m afraid the Embroidered Uniform Guard will torture me for a confession. I’m just lying low to avoid trouble."
Wei Caiwei slipped on the scallion green jacket, then took off her skirt and tied on Wang Daxia’s pomegranate skirt. "Didn’t you say your bundle was confiscated by Lu Bing?" Why do you still have five hundred taels in banknotes?"
Wang Daxia replied, "I don’t put all my eggs in one basket. These five hundred taels were hidden in the inner pocket of my undergarments."
A cunning rabbit has three burrows. This was a lesson Wang Daxia had learned from years of hiding his private savings while outsmarting his stepmother and father.
Wei Caiwei removed her mourning bun, let her hair down, and styled it into a double loop bun tied with red silk ribbons. She adorned it with a pair of peony flowers made of red gauze that Wang Daxia had bought.
While Wei Caiwei changed, Wang Daxia also dressed piece by piece in his wife’s simple blue dress and cotton skirt, tying a white silk mourning bun. Instantly, he transformed into a young widow.
Wei Caiwei’s clothes felt tight on Wang Daxia’s tall frame, clinging closely to his body. He could smell a faint, delicate fragrance and a subtle hint of medicinal herbs. In his heart, a small boat seemed to sway gently.
I must control myself. I can’t let lust override loyalty. I’m here to repay a debt of gratitude—how can I repay it with my body?
Wang Daxia warned himself, and the boat stopped swaying.
"I’m done," Wei Caiwei said. "You can turn around now."
Wang Daxia turned and saw Wei Caiwei dressed in a green jacket and red skirt, her hair styled in a maiden’s double loops. The small boat in his heart was instantly caught in a storm, tossing wildly on the waves.
There’s a folk saying: To be enchanting, wear mourning clothes. Wang Daxia had always thought the young widow looked beautiful because of her mourning attire—like a lotus emerging from clear water.But today, seeing Wei Caiwei dressed in youthful attire, Wang Daxia felt that vibrant colors would better suit her blooming youth. A peony-like beauty, she had to adopt the plain elegance of a white lotus due to widowhood.
What a pity.
Wei Caiwei looked at herself in the bronze mirror—such a striking contrast of lush green and fading red!
All these clothes were personally chosen by Wang Daxia at the tailor shop. His preferences remained exactly the same as in their previous life—he loved lively, rich color combinations. The fabrics he gifted her were either Kesi Silk or Shu Brocade, shimmering brilliantly as if he wanted to dress her in all the gold and jewels in the world!
He once gave her a pearl garment entirely strung with Eastern Pearls. She found it too extravagant but didn’t want to reject his heartfelt gesture, so she only wore it in front of him...
Recalling those sweet, warm memories, tears silently streamed down her cheeks.
That considerate husband who sheltered her from storms and even took a poisoned arrow for her was gone—all that remained was the universally disliked Young Master Wang...
"Don’t cry," Wang Daxia interrupted her reminiscence, thinking she was afraid. "I’ll help divert the pursuers. There might still be a chance for things to turn around."
"A widow... a young woman like you can’t go anywhere without a household certificate. You’d be arrested as a vagrant. If the Embroidered Uniform Guard issues a warrant for you, even your old household certificate would be useless if you carried it. Someone can help resolve your certificate issue and get you out of the capital." Wang Daxia handed her a letter.
Wei Caiwei wiped her tears and looked at the envelope, which read "To Miss Jin Ying."
Wei Caiwei couldn’t believe it: "You want me to seek help from the Courtesan, Miss Yingying?"
"She’s redeemed herself and is now a respectable woman. Don’t hold prejudices against her," Wang Daxia insisted. "With my letter, she will definitely help you obtain a new household certificate to escape."
"I refuse." Wei Caiwei placed the letter on the table. "I’ll find my own way."
"Return to Tieling? That’s walking right into a trap and implicating your friends and family there." Wang Daxia anxiously shoved the letter into her hands. "The capital isn’t like Tieling. Under the emperor’s watch, human lives are as insignificant as ants. If you fall into the hands of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, not even my father could save you, let alone me."
Who exactly was this Miss Yingying? Why did Wang Daxia trust her so much?
Wei Caiwei decided she wanted to meet her. Without further refusal, she accepted the letter. "Fine, I’ll go see her."
"I’ll stay in the Embroidered Uniform Guard as an informant. If there’s any movement, I’ll notify you." Wang Daxia slung a silk bag over his shoulder, put on his hat, lowered the veil, and left while spinning his Tiger Crutch.
Wei Caiwei peered through a crack in the window. After Wang Daxia left the inn, someone emerged from the teahouse across the street, following him at a distance of about ten steps.
Just as Wang Daxia had said—Lu Ying had sent someone to track her.
She never expected that in this life, despite her clean and flawless revenge, her dead husband would personally uncover her secrets and disrupt her plans.
Is this fate? Gains always come with losses.
For now, the only option was to lay low and wait for the right moment to act.
Wei Caiwei watched until the tracker was far away, then took the key downstairs to settle the bill and check out. The attendant at the door brought her horse out.The address on the envelope was not far from the Three Thoroughfares Inn, located east of Desheng Bridge in the middle section of Shichahai. As expected, Miss Jin Ying's residence was surrounded by personnel from the Northern City Military Command, stationed there to capture the second young master Wang Daxia and bring him home. Any man passing by would be stopped and questioned.
Fortunately, Wei Caiwei was a woman, dressed elegantly without being flashy, so the Northern City Military Command guards did not stop her and let her pass directly.
Wei Caiwei knocked on the door and, following Wang Daxia's instructions, slipped the envelope through the door crack.
At the same time, Wang Daxia, disguised as Wei Caiwei, entered a bathhouse exclusively for female patrons.
The tracker was male and could not follow into the women's bathhouse, so he had no choice but to wait outside.
Wang Daxia lowered his voice, making it sound tearful and delicate, like a white lotus after the rain. He handed the plump bathhouse matron half a string of coins and said, "A widow's doorstep is fraught with trouble. A rogue has been following me, harassing me with all sorts of words. I beg you, madam, to help me slip out through the back door."
The bathhouse owner, having received the money, led the seemingly vulnerable and helpless widow out through the back door.
By then, it was already dark. Wang Daxia quickly removed the mourning bun, took off the women's clothing, put on a men's round-collared robe, and restored his male appearance. He hired a carriage and headed toward the Imperial Guard Office in the southern part of the city.
How could he rescue the young widow without venturing into the tiger's den?
As soon as Wang Daxia entered the office, Lu Ying happened to return with the remains.
Meeting on a narrow path, Lu Ying wore a dark expression and said, "Didn't you claim the Imperial Guard had tarnished your purity and leave? Why are you back now?"
Author's Note: Ahem, these past two days are the college entrance exams. To set the mood, let's play a long-awaited prize quiz game! Don't worry, it's not difficult at all—all multiple-choice questions (if you have no clue, just remember: if three options are short and one is long, pick the longest; if three are long and one is short, pick the shortest; if you're completely stumped, choose C). There are seven questions in total. Wishing all examinees a triumphant start (pun intended—deduct points for that). Each question is worth 100 points, so seven questions total 700 points. As usual, the first reader to answer correctly will receive 100 points per question. You can answer multiple questions; if you get all seven right, you'll earn the full 700 points! The questions are based on the biography of Lu Bing, an important supporting character in this novel. Read "The History of Ming, Biography of Lu Bing" and answer the following seven questions.
Lu Bing's ancestors were from Pinghu. His grandfather, Zu Chi, served in the military registry under the Embroidered Uniform Guard as a company commander. His father, Lu Song, inherited the position and followed Prince Xingxian to the principality of Anlu, where he was selected as a ceremonial guard. When Emperor Shizong ascended the throne, Lu Song received favor for his loyalty and was promoted to vice-commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard. He later rose to the rank of assistant commissioner in the Chief Military Commission, assisting in the management of Embroidered Uniform Guard affairs.
When Emperor Shizong was born, Lu Song's wife served as his wet nurse. Lu Bing entered the palace as a child with his mother. As he grew older, he attended the emperor daily. Lu Bing was robust, resolute, and imposing, with a tall stature and a fiery complexion, his gait resembling that of a crane. He passed the military examinations in the eighth year of the Jiajing era and was appointed vice-commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard. After Lu Song's death, he inherited the position of assistant commissioner. Soon after, he was promoted to acting commissioner and put in charge of the Southern Branch Office. In the eighteenth year of Jiajing, he accompanied the emperor on a southern tour and stayed overnight in Weihui. At the fourth watch, a fire broke out in the temporary palace, and the attending officials panicked, not knowing the emperor's whereabouts. Lu Bing forced open the door, carried the emperor to safety, and from then on, the emperor held him in great favor. He was repeatedly promoted to vice commissioner and put in charge of Embroidered Uniform Guard affairs.When the emperor first ascended the throne, Zhu Chen was in charge of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, but was soon dismissed. His successor Luo An was followed by Wang Zuo and Chen Yin, all of whom managed the Embroidered Uniform Guard as former retainers from the imperial residence. Zuo had previously maintained justice in the case involving Zhang Heling and his brother, earning a reputation for virtue. Yin was also cautious and honest, never committing evil deeds. When Bing succeeded Yin, his power and influence far surpassed all others. Soon after, he was promoted to acting assistant commander-in-chief. Later, for his achievements in capturing criminals, he was further promoted to vice commander-in-chief. Bing rapidly rose to prominence; many of his colleagues were of his father's generation, and while he outwardly respected them, he gradually devised plans to remove those who looked down on him. He also managed to win the favor of grand secretaries Xia Yan and Yan Song, thus growing increasingly influential. Once, he flogged a military commander to death and was impeached by a censor, but the emperor issued an edict not to investigate. Yan had previously been close to Bing. One day, when a censor accused Bing of various unlawful acts, Yan immediately drafted an order to arrest and punish him. Bing, in desperation, offered three thousand taels of gold to seek a resolution but failed. He knelt and wept in apology until the matter was dropped. From then on, Bing harbored deep hatred for Yan. When Yan Song and Yan came into conflict, Bing assisted Song by exposing Yan's correspondence with frontier generals, leading to Yan being convicted and executed. Song was grateful to Bing and allowed him free rein, involving him in planning and facilitating bribery. Later, when Qiu Luan gained the emperor's favor and surpassed Song in influence, he alone feared Bing. Bing ingratiated himself with Luan, not daring to treat him as an equal, but secretly spent money to win over those close to Luan, thus learning his secrets. When Luan fell critically ill, Bing exposed all his seditious activities. The emperor was greatly alarmed, immediately confiscated Luan's credentials and seal, and Luan died of anxiety and fear, ultimately being disinterred and posthumously executed.
Bing was first promoted to left commander-in-chief, and for his achievement in capturing Hazhouer, he was further honored as grand guardian of the heir apparent. For exposing Luan's secret plots, he was added the titles of junior guardian and concurrently grand tutor of the heir apparent, with an annual stipend equivalent to that of a count. In the thirty-third year, he was ordered to serve in the Western Park, joining Yan Song, Zhu Xizhong, and others in attending to Daoist practices. In the thirty-fifth year, in March, he was granted the honor of attending the imperial banquet for new scholars. By precedent, the Embroidered Uniform Guard was seated in the west, but the emperor, because of Bing, specially commanded him to sit above, at the end of the second-rank officials. The following year, he impeached the director of ceremonial Li Bin for embezzling materials from imperial works, building a tomb that imitated an imperial mausoleum, leading to the execution of Li Bin and his accomplices Du Tai and two others, with their assets confiscated—over four hundred thousand taels of silver and countless gold, pearls, and treasures. Soon after, Bing was further honored as grand preceptor and concurrently junior mentor, while remaining in charge of the Embroidered Uniform Guard. It was unprecedented for one to hold the three highest titles while also holding three of the next highest, seen only in Bing's case.
Bing appointed ruthless clerks as his henchmen, who knew every minor offense among the common people. Wealthy individuals with even minor faults were arrested and their properties confiscated. He amassed millions in assets, built over ten additional residences, and owned estates throughout the land, his influence overwhelming the realm. At that time, Yan Song and his son monopolized the affairs of the six ministries, and there was no matter Bing did not intervene in. Civil and military officials competed to seek his favor, his annual income was incalculable, and he formed connections with powerful figures, dealing generously with virtuous individuals as well. The emperor frequently initiated major cases, and Bing often provided protection, treating scholars and officials with respect and never framing anyone, which earned him praise from many court officials.
He died in office in the thirty-ninth year. He was posthumously honored as Count of Loyalty, with the posthumous title "Martial and Benevolent," and was granted additional funeral rites. His son Yi was appointed as assistant commissioner of the same guard. Early in the Longqing era, following a censor's recommendation, Bing was posthumously accused of crimes, his ranks were stripped, his properties confiscated, and his sons Yi and Wei, a vice minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, were dismissed from office. They were held accountable for embezzling hundreds of thousands, and Yi and others were imprisoned to recover the debts, which were eventually exhausted after a long time. In the third year of the Wanli era, Yi submitted a petition for clemency. Zhang Juzheng and others argued that Bing had merit in rescuing the emperor, and according to law, unless for crimes of rebellion or treason, property should not be confiscated; moreover, confiscation and debt recovery constituted dual punishment, contrary to legal principles. The emperor took pity and granted exemption.
D. and Song and Yan (collude), Bing assists Song collude: collude The group where the words in parentheses have the same meaning and usage is:
A. 皆（以）兴邸旧人掌锦衣卫 敛赀财（以）送其行C. The officials in haste did not know where the emperor was; the clanging sounds of stones could be heard everywhere.
D. (He) privately used money to befriend those he favored. (One who) climbs high and waves, their arms are not lengthened.
① After successive promotions, he became Assistant Commissioner of the Rear Military Commission and co-administered the Embroidered Uniform Guard affairs;
② Lu Bing forced open the door and carried the emperor out, from then on the emperor favored him;
③ He amassed millions in assets, built over ten additional residences, owned estates across the realm, and his influence overshadowed the empire;
④ He curried favor with powerful officials and skillfully navigated among virtuous circles;
⑤ When a censor impeached Lu Bing for various unlawful acts, Xia Yan immediately drafted an edict for his arrest and punishment;
⑥ No one holding the Three Ducal Offices concurrently held the Three Solitaries titles—only Lu Bing achieved this.
A. ①③⑤
B. ②④⑥
C. ②③④
D. ①⑤⑥
A. Lu Bing came from a military family. His father Lu Song inherited his grandfather's position, gained imperial favor by accompanying Emperor Shizong, and was progressively promoted. Lu Bing obtained his military post through the military imperial examination.
B. While accompanying Emperor Shizong south to Weihui, Lu Bing encountered a fire in the temporary palace. He broke down the door and carried the emperor to safety, after which the emperor appointed him as Assistant Commander to oversee the Embroidered Uniform Guard.
C. Lu Bing knew how to please Grand Secretariat ministers Xia Yan and Yan Song. When Xia Yan and Yan Song accused each other, he aided Yan Song by exposing Xia Yan's collusion with border generals, thus settling a personal grudge.
D. Though corrupt and unlawful—amassing millions in assets and constructing over ten additional residences—Lu Bing treated scholars with humility and never framed anyone, earning widespread praise.
D. At the fourth watch of the night, the temporary palace caught fire. The officials in haste did not know where the emperor was. Lu Bing forced open the door and carried the emperor out. From then on, the emperor favored him.
B. Imperial Examination: The imperial examination was the central-level test in ancient China's civil service system, administered by the Ministry of Rites. Candidates were provincial graduates, and those who passed were called "tribute scholars," with the top scorer termed "provincial first."
D. No one holding the Three Ducal Offices concurrently held the Three Solitaries titles—only Lu Bing achieved this.
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