They say one should establish themselves by thirty, and Ding Wu, now thirty years old, had finally "established" himself.
Lu Ying was twenty-eight. Both were at an age where they could have been grandparents, yet this was their first time cooking. However, during their three years in Fengcheng, they had often listened through a door, a wall, or a floor as Wang Daxia and Wei Caiwei cooked.
As the saying goes, a skilled teacher produces excellent students. Lu Ying and Ding Wu quickly mastered the art of cooking and prepared several pots of food overnight.
The next morning, Lu Ying’s long-standing habits overpowered her fatigue, and she opened her eyes to find Ding Wu still sound asleep.
Except in winter, Lu Ying always bathed in cold water. After splashing herself with two buckets of cold water, her weariness vanished completely. She went to the courtyard to practice martial arts and swordplay—having just been expelled from her home with nothing but the clothes on her back, she was wearing Ding Wu’s attire and wielding the sword she had given him as a token of love.
After working up a sweat, she rinsed off with two more buckets of cold water and changed into clean clothes. By the time she emerged, Ding Wu had just woken up. "Why are you wearing my clothes?" he asked.
Lu Ying replied, "The maid took my dress to wash yesterday, and it hasn’t dried yet." She only had that one set of women’s clothing!
Ding Wu suddenly remembered that Lu Ying had brought nothing with her. He slapped his forehead and said, "There’s no time to tailor new clothes now. I’ll go to Sister Banxia and borrow some women’s clothing and accessories."
Without even eating breakfast, Ding Wu left and hurried to Wei Caiwei’s home. Wang Daxia had been busy running around for the Lu family’s affairs and had left at dawn. Wei Caiwei was still asleep when her maid woke her, saying, "Young Master Ding is here."
Has my elder brother returned from Yunnan? Why didn’t he go to Lu Ying and come to me so early in the morning? Wei Caiwei thought something had happened, but Ding Wu, beaming with joy, asked to borrow clothing and accessories for her. "...For your sister-in-law. She came home with me yesterday, but all her dowry was confiscated. It will take a few days to buy fabric and tailor new clothes."
"Wait," Wei Caiwei hadn’t fully processed the situation. "Elder Brother Ding returned yesterday? Lu Ying stayed at your residence last night? You two…"
Did you consummate your marriage? Of course, even with her thick skin, Wei Caiwei couldn’t bring herself to say it aloud.
Ding Wu was even more puzzled. "Didn’t your husband tell you yesterday?"
When Wang Daxia returned home yesterday, Feng Bao had presented him with a chest of "grand gifts," and Wang Daxia had been too engrossed in examining the treasures to say anything else…
Wei Caiwei: Wang Daxia!
At the Imperial Guard Office, Wang Daxia was deploying his next operation with his subordinates when he suddenly felt a chill down his spine, the hairs on the back of his neck standing on end for no reason.
Back at the Shichahai residence, Wei Caiwei suppressed the urge to summon Wang Daxia home and give him a stern lecture. Instead, she rummaged through her belongings, pulling out fine clothes and accessories she had never worn, and said:
"...I usually dress simply. These were all bestowed by Consort Li from the palace and have never been worn—they’re all new. Since Sister-in-law has joined the family, don’t mention the word 'borrow.' Consider these as my gifts to her, to help her maintain face in daily life. Most people in the capital are snobbish, and I don’t want those who fawn on the powerful and despise the humble to look down on her."
When Ding Wu saw Wei Caiwei even take out a precious black pearl pearl-embroidered jacket, he quickly stopped her. "Don’t give anything too valuable. It might attract envy."
Wei Caiwei filled a chest so full that the lid barely closed. She had to sit on it and press down with her body to barely lock it.
Ding Wu returned home laden with gifts and said, "We’re having a family dinner tonight. You and your husband should come early."Watching Ding Wu's beaming expression, Wei Caiwei guessed that the couple must have consummated their marriage. She tactfully asked, "Are you and sister-in-law planning to have children now?"
Ding Wu replied, "I haven't discussed this with your sister-in-law yet."
Wei Caiwei thought to herself: That means they've definitely consummated the marriage! Otherwise, Ding Wu would have put on his elder brother demeanor and sternly told her not to speak nonsense.
Looking at Ding Wu's retreating figure, Wei Caiwei felt overwhelmed with emotion: In their previous life, Lu Ying was forced to abandon her career for marriage, became a young widow, and eventually took religious vows; Ding Wu wandered the world, never staying in one place for more than a month, coming and going like the wind, remaining unmarried his entire life.
In this life, two lonely souls had found each other, and the destined lovers were finally united. How wonderful.
Ding Wu brought Wei Caiwei's gifts home and helped Lu Ying change into them. Since Lu Ying didn't know how to style her hair into a proper bun, Ding Wu assisted her.
The young couple went to pay respects to Ding Rukui. Seeing their affectionate demeanor, the last traces of resentment in Ding Rukui's heart faded away: Consider this repaying a debt of gratitude, Lu Bing. I've even given my own son to your family.
To formalize this marriage, Ding Wu took Lu Ying—dressed in women's attire—to visit relatives. Of course, these were all the families married to Lu Ying's sisters. They visited each household one by one, deliberately publicizing their "ten-year secret marriage," which immediately caused a sensation throughout the capital!
People marveled: How could the Lu family have an unmarried daughter? So she was actually married all along.
Ding Wu's character was truly exceptional—a genuine gentleman in every sense. For the sake of revenge, he was willing to endure humiliation, separated from his new bride for ten years. When he returned to find his wife's family in decline while the Ding family had risen to prominence, he voluntarily acknowledged the marriage, rescuing his wife from desperate circumstances.
Ding Wu's unwavering loyalty in love, remaining true to his initial feelings for ten years—this was how a real man should be. For a time, the legendary marriage between Ding Wu and the fourth daughter of the Lu family became a celebrated tale, completely overshadowing the incident of the Lu mansion being raided.
Gossip is human nature, and people's fascination with romantic affairs far surpasses their interest in politics.
Gao Gong had initially thought that given the Lu family's immense wealth, everyone from court officials to commoners would be discussing the extensive, forty-thousand-word inventory of confiscated items from the Lu mansion. Just as people still talk enthusiastically about Yan Shifan's family inventory "Tianshui Ice Mountain Record," he intended to use this to create public pressure against the Lu family and stir up popular resentment.
After all, resenting the wealthy is also human nature.
But ultimately, the appeal of romantic gossip overpowered all other topics. Almost no one discussed the Lu family's confiscation inventory—everyone was talking about Ding Wu and the Lu family's fourth daughter's ten-year secret marriage.
Gao Gong had expected to set off a massive firecracker, but it turned out to be a dud with no impact at all. This infuriated him so much his beard seemed to turn white. Ding Wu's disregard for the Chief Grand Secretary's dignity made Gao Gong quite uncomfortable. Since Ding Wu and Wei Caiwei were sworn siblings, and Wei Caiwei was close to Consort Li...
This suggested that Consort Li was leaning toward the Lu family's side, which meant she was opposing him. This wouldn't do—the Crown Prince was born to Consort Li. He couldn't allow Consort Li to be drawn into the Lu family's camp by Wei Caiwei.
He needed to find a way to bring Consort Li to his side. Gao Gong conceived a plan and said to the Longqing Emperor: "The Lu family's residence is quite splendidly built. Now that it has been legally confiscated and become government property, leaving it vacant would be a waste. If no one moves in, it will fall into disrepair within a few years. Why not bestow this grand mansion upon Consort Li's family, the Imperial Relatives Li?""Every time the Emperor intended to bestow titles and official positions upon Consort Li's relatives, she would dissuade him, saying it was enough to grant them wealth and silk, but official posts should be avoided to prevent maternal relatives from interfering in state affairs. Consort Li's family still resides in a modest three-courtyard house by Shichahai, which is unbefitting of her status—even considering the Crown Prince's face, it is too shabby. This humble subject suggests bestowing the seven-courtyard Lu residence to Consort Li's relatives to demonstrate the Emperor's boundless grace."
Li Jiubao had consistently prevented her father and brothers from holding office, strictly controlling her maternal family. Longqing Emperor wished to compensate them, and with Gao Gong mentioning the Crown Prince's dignity—after all, he was the Crown Prince's grandfather... After some thought, the Emperor approved Gao Gong's suggestion and with a wave of his hand, bestowed the Lu residence to Li Jiubao's father Li Wei, changing the plaque at the entrance to Li Residence.
Forbidden City, Palace of Celestial Favor.
"What? The Lu residence was given to my father?" Li Jiubao frowned deeply. "Gao Gong is too malicious, deliberately driving a wedge between me and the Lu family, as well as Doctor Wei and others. The Lu family's case is still under investigation, and the residence might eventually be returned to them. By granting it to my father before the outcome is clear, there will be absolutely no possibility of returning it later. Gao Gong is stirring conflict between the Lu family and my father."
Chen the Agent, who came to deliver the news, said: "Gao Gong also intends to win over the Consort, thinking to present a grand gift to her maternal family. This servant will go explain the matter to Madam Ding (that is, Lu Ying)—that this was not Consort's request but Gao Gong's behind-the-scenes scheming. Madam Ding is intelligent and surely won't fall for Gao Gong's provocation."
Chen the Agent went to the Ding residence to visit Lu Ying and informed her about the Lu residence becoming Li Residence. "...This was not Consort's intention but entirely Senior Grand Secretary Gao's attempt to sow discord."
Hearing that her family home was gone, Lu Ying felt momentarily melancholy. This was where she was born, filled with too many beautiful memories and moments with her father. Now even those mementos were gone.
Lu Ying said: "Our family assets have been confiscated, and the house has long been empty, leaving only a hollow shell. Our family has always been indifferent to wealth—if the house is gone, then so be it. However, the Lu family ancestral hall still contains the memorial tablets of my father and other ancestors. I hope Eunuch Chen can relay to Consort Li's relative to carefully collect the tablets and give them to me. I will continue worshiping them at the Sacrificial House in Sanlitun."
Chen the Agent replied: "Madam Ding, rest assured. This servant will go to Consort Li's relative's residence immediately to personally collect the tablets and deliver them to you."
When Consort Li's father Li Wei received the oral decree granting him the luxurious residence, he was overjoyed and hurriedly brought his sons and grandsons to see the property, exclaiming along the way:
"When the Lu residence was being built, my eldest son and I were still tile makers. Many of the roof tiles on the Lu residence were hung by us. Back then, under the scorching sun on the rooftop hanging tiles, I fantasized that if I could just spend one night in this house in my lifetime, it would be worth it. Never imagined that the roofs we hung with our own hands would become our Li family's new home."
Overwhelmed with the glee of a petty person succeeding, Li Wei was so excited he nearly rolled on the ground throughout the Lu residence.
When the family reached the Lu family ancestral hall during their tour, Li Wei saw someone else's memorial tablets enshrined in what was now his house and found it inauspicious. He immediately ordered the seals torn off and the tablets collected to be chopped for firewood to dispel the bad luck.
"Wait!" Chen the Agent rushed over breathlessly, rescuing the tablets from the sharp axes and flames.The Ministry of Justice Prison. Lu Yi, Lu Cai, and Yan Shaoting inevitably suffered some physical injuries, but thanks to the covert care of Lord Li, who had been warned by Wang Daxia’s scandal, the three were placed in a relatively well-ventilated cell and secretly provided with medicine and food prepared by Wei Caiwei. Though beaten until not a patch of their skin remained intact, none of their injuries were life-threatening.
This was part of the covert arrangement. Lord Li had to deliver results to Grand Secretary Gao; failing to administer punishment would arouse suspicion and risk Gao replacing him with another investigator. Thus, severe torture was unavoidable—so long as the three were not killed.
No matter how the Ministry of Justice interrogated them, all three clenched their teeth and refused to admit to concealing the Yan family’s illicit goods.
Gao Gong cared little for the details. He ordered the Ministry of Justice to conclude the case immediately. Pressured and left with no alternative, Lord Li issued the final verdict: “…Concealing and hoarding wealth, with annual income from manors and farmlands amounting to tens of thousands, and treasures of gold, jewels, and land valued in the thousands. Such acts are intolerable under royal law and provoke public outrage… Hiding Yan Shifan’s illicit gains and sheltering Yan Shaoting at home, they are cunning and unprincipled.”
“…After deliberation by the Three Judicial Offices, it is decided: exhume the corpse for public desecration, strip the offenders of their official titles and ranks, confiscate all properties, and recover illicit assets for the state. Lu Yi and Lu Cai are to be permanently exiled to the frontier. Yan Shaoting is to be caned and perpetually conscripted into the army.”
Lord Li’s intention was to exhume Lu Bing’s corpse for posthumous flogging, while Lu Yi, Lu Cai, and Yan Shaoting would be conscripted—Wang Daxia had demanded that the lives of the living be spared, and I have accomplished that! Moreover, I have spared all the women and children of the Lu family; they will not be punished and may remain in the Sacrificial House.
As for flogging Lu Bing’s corpse—Lu Bing was already dead. Wang Daxia had only mentioned the living, with no reference to the deceased.
This was an imperial case, and the Ministry of Justice’s ruling served merely as a reference for the emperor. Following procedure, the ministry’s memorial was first sent to the Grand Secretariat, where its members provided comments, before being forwarded to the Directorate of Ceremonial. There, the Directorate would issue its own remarks on the Grand Secretariat’s annotations.
In other words, when the emperor handled state affairs, opinions were submitted separately by the Grand Secretariat and the Directorate of Ceremonial for his reference, with the emperor making the final decision.
When the Ministry of Justice’s judgment reached the Grand Secretariat, Grand Secretary Gao was dissatisfied. He commented that, according to the law, Lu Yi, Lu Cai, and Yan Shaoting deserved execution.
Gao Gong’s remarks were then sent to the Directorate of Ceremonial, where the Supervising Eunuch was Meng Chong, a former chef. As it was Meng Chong’s turn to provide his comments, Wang Daxia paid him a visit.
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