Wei Caiwei asked, "Where did I hurt you? I'm willing to make amends."
"I—" Wang Daxia was at a loss for words. He didn't even know exactly where he'd been hurt. If Wei Caiwei hadn't presented herself as a widow from the start, what would have become of their relationship?
He'd even harbored some small hopes. But Wei Caiwei had insisted she was a widow, and every time his youthful heart stirred, it was suppressed by the obstacle of her widowhood.
He'd always thought her interest in him was due to her late husband Wang Erlang's transferred affections—that she saw him as a substitute for her deceased spouse.
He had repeatedly rejected her, resisted her, yet still enjoyed the feeling of being secretly admired, needed, and assisted by a beautiful young widow. Those tangled emotions now seemed like the biggest joke.
Because there had never been any Wang Erlang.
The so-called Wang Erlang was just a name Wei Caiwei casually wrote down after renting the house—she chose the character "Er" (二) because it had the simplest stroke count.
So, when she denied having feelings and said I was "being presumptuous," she was telling the truth. I really was being presumptuous! Those times I thought she liked me, when I sensed her casting sometimes passionate, sometimes tender glances—it was all my misconception!
Isn't this exactly how you hurt me!
In front of everyone, Wang Daxia was too embarrassed to say it aloud. "You lied and deceived me—isn't that hurtful enough?"
Wei Caiwei said, "I'm sorry."
Wang Daxia turned his face away. "If apologies were effective, death row inmates in the Imperial prison would have been released long ago."
Wei Caiwei's gaze fell on the mosquito-repelling sachet at his waist. "I won't charge you for this sachet then."
"That's it?" Wang Daxia snorted disdainfully, irritably yanking off the sachet and throwing it back to Wei Caiwei. "Take it back. I don't want it."
He was adamant about not forgiving her.
Wei Caiwei had no other way to coax him around, so she simply fell silent.
Wang Daxia waited for Wei Caiwei to make further concessions, but there was no follow-up. Too embarrassed to turn around and ask, he maintained his aloof posture—back to Wei Caiwei, hands clasped behind his waist, gazing sorrowfully at the starry sky outside the window at a seventy-five-degree angle.
He tried to secretly observe Wei Caiwei from the corner of his eye, but unfortunately, his position was too awkward. Even when he strained his eyes to their limit, he still couldn't see her.
Wang Daxia wished he could grow a third eye on the back of his head.
The atmosphere in the bedroom shifted from tense to awkward. What should have been a serious "three-party interrogation" had completely changed flavor due to Wang Daxia's performance of being "deceived in body and heart."
Even Lu Bing hadn't anticipated this—how did a proper inquiry into her true identity take such a turn?
How should they conclude this?
Lu Ying, who had been quietly listening to Wei Caiwei's explanation for why she used widow's attire to practice medicine, finally spoke: "Whether Wang Daxia forgives you or not is none of my business—that's his own affair. But I can forgive your deception. You did what you had to do under the circumstances, not out of malicious intent. Moreover, you're not some charlatan quack. The methods you used to treat my father's stroke were even acknowledged by Imperial Physician Song, who asked me about your background just this morning."
These words immediately warmed Wei Caiwei toward him. She had always thought Lu Ying was an arrogant, self-important official's son, but after several interactions, she found his serious and rigorous personality had its own endearing qualities. He was meticulous, but not rigid.At the very least, Wei Caiwei could sense from Lu Ying's words a respect for her profession. Female physicians were often grouped among the lowly "three aunts and six grannies" of the marketplace, looked down upon by society. Yet Lu Ying disregarded her status, focusing solely on her medical skills.
Wei Caiwei bowed slightly. "Thank you for your understanding, Commander Lu."
Wang Daxia was bewildered by this: What's going on? How could someone as rigid as Lu Ying—even more old-fashioned than my father—forgive Wei Caiwei's deception?
What is he up to? Could it be... he's taken a fancy to the young widow... no, to Doctor Wei!
Wang Daxia finally turned around and said to Lu Ying, "If you want to forgive her, just forgive her. Why drag me into it? To show how broad-minded you are, how you can 'sail a boat in your belly,' while I'm just a petty, calculating villain?"
Lu Ying replied, "If you insist on thinking that way, there's nothing I can do. Whether you forgive her is your business; whether I forgive her is mine."
"You—" Wang Daxia was left speechless once again. After being wounded by Wei Caiwei, he now felt provoked by Lu Ying's "opportunistic" remarks.
Wang Daxia glared furiously at Lu Ying, who of course was not intimidated and met his gaze squarely.
Ever since meeting Wang Daxia, no matter what they discussed, Lu Ying had always been silenced by Wang Daxia's sharp tongue or driven to outbursts telling him to get lost. He had never gained the upper hand in their verbal spats.
Tonight, for the first time, Lu Ying had rendered Wang Daxia speechless, and it felt incredibly satisfying!
Wang Daxia, you finally got a taste of your own medicine!
Meanwhile, Wei Caiwei, who had just been the target of everyone's scrutiny, finally caught a breather. Her throat was dry from all the talking, so she seized the moment to pick up her teacup and take a few sips to moisten it.
The well-experienced Lu Bing never imagined that his late-night interrogation of the suspect Wei Caiwei—despite his illness—to force her to reveal her background would suddenly spiral out of control like a runaway horse.
The suspect had voluntarily admitted to disguising herself as a widow, which was a breakthrough. But instead of continuing the interrogation, the entire room of Embroidered Uniform Guards watched as Wang Daxia and Lu Ying started bickering among themselves.
Maybe I'm really getting old. I just don't understand how young people think these days.
Lu Bing cleared his throat, and Lu Ying quickly averted his gaze, asking his father with concern, "Are you feeling unwell? Is it fatigue? Perhaps you should rest and continue tomorrow—"
"I'm fine," Lu Bing said, steering the conversation back on track. He pointed at Wei Caiwei and stated, "Your background is too bizarre to be taken at face value. The Household Certificate is genuine, but it could have been stolen by you. As for the conversation you claimed to have had with Ding Rukui, if you had tortured the real Wei Caiwei for a confession, you could have extracted those private details known only between father and son."
Wei Caiwei hurriedly interjected, "I didn't—"
Lu Bing laboriously raised his right hand to stop her from defending herself. "You lied about being a widow, so we can't easily trust anything else you say. Don't blame us for being skeptical. There's only one way to prove you are Wei Caiwei: have someone from Tieling identify you. Portraits aren't reliable—what if you just look similar? Until your identity is confirmed, you are not to leave the Imperial Guard Office half a step."
Wei Caiwei responded, "Then how will I make a living? I depend on practicing medicine to eat. If I stop working, I stop eating. I can wait ten days or half a month, but if it takes too long, with Beijing's expensive rents, I'm afraid I won't be able to pay next year's rent."Lu Bing said, "The capital is a thousand miles away from Tieling, but I have already ordered a pigeon post to instruct the Tieling Garrison to bring Ding Wu to the capital day and night without rest, so he can personally identify you. Having grown up together, he won’t mistake you for someone else. At the earliest, he will arrive in the capital in ten days. During this waiting period, the Embroidered Uniform Guard will compensate you according to your usual income, so you won’t be left bankrupt."
Upon hearing that Ding Wu was coming to the capital, Wei Caiwei felt both joy and worry. She was delighted that Ding Wu could leave the place of exile that had confined him and come to the capital to see his father with his own eyes. But she was also concerned, for in her previous life, Ding Wu had remained in Tieling until the new emperor ascended the throne. Only then, with the help of Wei Caiwei and Wang Daxia in clearing Ding Rukui’s name, did Ding Wu regain his freedom and return to the capital.
Ding Wu was an unexpected variable, and even Wei Caiwei could not predict how the future would unfold. She could only silently pray: It should be a good thing, right?
Wang Daxia had been secretly observing Wei Caiwei and couldn’t help but say, "You seem quite happy that Ding Wu is coming to the capital."
Ever since learning that Wei Caiwei’s "late husband Wang Erlang" could not be verified, Wang Daxia felt a renewed sense of crisis at Ding Wu’s appearance. They were childhood sweethearts who had grown up together...
Believing he had been deeply hurt, Wang Daxia turned into Wang the Big Dog, snapping at Lu Ying one moment and growling at Ding Wu from a thousand miles away the next.
Wei Caiwei replied, "Of course I’m happy. This is an opportunity for him and his father to meet."
"You—" Wang Daxia clutched his chest. Tonight was the darkest night of his life. First, Caiwei confronted Lu Ying, then Lu Ying confronted Caiwei, and his self-esteem was trampled upon repeatedly.
"You’re all bullying me. I’m not talking to any of you anymore." With that, Wang Daxia actually stormed off in a huff, even forgetting to bid farewell to Lu Bing!
Seeing Wang Daxia’s furious and flustered state, Lu Bing felt he might suffer another stroke. Wang Daxia’s flaws and strengths were both evident—he was still young, too impulsive, and careless of the consequences.
But considering he was only fourteen, Lu Bing believed he could still be molded into a capable person. So, he let it pass and said, "It’s settled then. Doctor Wei will stay here and wait for Ding Wu to arrive in the capital. Before that, if you take even half a step beyond this courtyard—"
Lu Bing’s eyes gleamed coldly as he enunciated each word slowly and clearly, "You will be killed on the spot!"
Wei Caiwei couldn’t help but shiver. At that moment, Lu Bing was like a sick tiger—though his body was nearly destroyed by illness, his remaining authority was still formidable.
"This common woman will remember Lord Lu’s words and will not step beyond the courtyard," Wei Caiwei said with a bow. "Lord Lu, Commander Lu, it is late. If there is nothing else, I shall take my leave."
Lu Bing nodded.
As Wei Caiwei reached the door, Lu Bing suddenly called out to her, "Since you are a physician and have personally treated my illness, based on your experience, how much longer do you think I have to live?"
Wei Caiwei paused, leaning on her cane, and turned around. "Does Lord Lu wish to hear the truth or a lie?"
Lu Bing said, "If you speak another lie, you will die."
Lu Ying watched Wei Caiwei nervously.
Lu Bing’s gaze remained cold and detached, showing no emotion, as if he were inquiring about someone else’s life or death, utterly indifferent.
Wei Caiwei replied, "Forgive my bluntness, Lord Lu, but you will not live to see the end of this year."
Meaning: You will certainly die this year.Such certainty, without even adding "eighty percent" or "probably," leaving no room for maneuver!
Anxiety breeds confusion. Lu Ying sprang to her feet. "I trusted your medical skills so much, how could you say such a thing!"
"Let her speak." Lu Bing tugged at Lu Ying's sleeve and asked, "Why are you so certain?"
Because I am a reborn person. I know you died on the twenty-seventh day of the twelfth lunar month this year—just two days before New Year's Eve. That's why I remember it so clearly.
Because you died, the Jiajing Emperor, immersed in grief over the loss of his milk brother, grew increasingly irritable, whipping palace attendants. No one dared provoke the dragon's wrath, everyone trembling with fear. The palace New Year celebrations were hastily dealt with, not properly observed.
Back then, the future favored consort, Consort Shangshou, was still a young palace maid. She shared a room with me, chatting and cracking melon seeds, not yet in a position to comfort the irascible old emperor.
Wei Caiwei said, "Because Lord Lu has always prioritized duty over health. Lord Lu's first minor stroke occurred ten days ago, after consecutive days of heavy drinking and staying up late the night before. Imperial Physician Song warned you, but you paid no heed, concealing the news from outsiders and carrying on as usual—even your relative Commander Lu was unaware."
"Today's second stroke left you fully paralyzed, yet you still concealed it, handing affairs over to Commander Lu without even returning home. Stroke patients must rest thoroughly—no late nights, no emotional agitation, no overexertion. Even then, survival isn't guaranteed. But Lord Lu refuses to relinquish power, unwilling to lose the position of Embroidered Uniform Guard Commander. Past, present, and future, you'll keep pushing yourself, resuming official duties at the slightest improvement as if nothing happened. Continuing like this, not even divine intervention could save you."
Character determines fate.
In her previous life, Lu Bing died suddenly while in office. The night before his sudden death, he attended a drinking gathering—one he couldn't refuse. It was said to be hosted by his in-law Yan Shifan, son of the Grand Secretariat's chief minister.
Author's Note: Wang Daxia asked for vinegar and got vinegar. After all, as the male lead, Zhou had to satisfy him—giving him double the vinegar, enough to last.
Are there really readers who haven't noticed Lu Ying's little secret? Zhou felt she'd given everyone plenty of crazy hints before. From Lu Ying forgiving Wei Caiwei for pretending to be a widow and approving of her profession in this chapter, many readers should have figured out Lu Ying's secret.
OpenNovel