Just as Lu Ying revealed her plan, Wang Daxia vigorously chewed the sweet and sour fish tail in his mouth, washing it down with a gulp of tea. Without waiting for Wei Caiwei to respond, he cut in:
"No, it's too dangerous. She's a doctor—don't drag her into Embroidered Uniform Guard affairs."
"The anonymous letter may not be genuine, but this matter is of grave importance. If it turns out to be true, this den could threaten the capital's safety, with unimaginable consequences," Lu Ying argued. "Besides, we only need her to make an appearance, to let others know it's her pharmacy, so it won't arouse suspicion. The Embroidered Uniform Guard's undercover agents will handle the shop renovation and digging the underground tunnel. She just needs to check on the construction site every few days."
"Still not acceptable," Wang Daxia insisted. "If it's true, the White Lotus Sect has long betrayed the Great Ming. During the Gengxu Rebellion, they guided enemy troops and slaughtered our own people—they're utterly deranged and capable of any atrocity. If they later target Doctor Wei, and she doesn't know martial arts, what then?"
Lu Ying said sternly, "The White Lotus Sect is an enemy of all people, and everyone has the duty to eliminate them. Doctor Wei is a citizen of the Great Ming—assisting the Embroidered Uniform Guard in investigating the cult members is her obligation."
"Ah, truly 'need Zhong Wuyan in times of trouble, forget Xia Yingchun in peace,'" Wang Daxia retorted sharply, his sharp tongue never losing an argument. "When you need her, it's her duty, but does she get a share of the Embroidered Uniform Guard's monthly salary? Why should she take the risk?"
Lu Ying replied, "Though she hasn't received a salary, how did she obtain her position as a palace female physician?" It was through Lu Bing's recommendation that Wei Caiwei had the opportunity to enter the palace.
Wang Daxia, disregarding propriety, retorted, "Of course, she earned it through her own abilities! What? Is the mighty Embroidered Uniform Guard now coercing repayment for favors?"
Lu Ying, hot-tempered, stood up and slammed the table. "She's no ordinary female physician now—she's a palace female physician of the Great Ming. With greater ability comes greater responsibility, and she must take on more."
Wang Daxia, who usually flattered and smiled obsequiously before his superiors like a sycophant, was acting out of character tonight, daring to argue with Lu Ying. "Commander Lu, you do realize she's a physician, not an Embroidered Uniform Guard agent, right? Even if she has responsibilities, they're to save lives and heal the wounded. What does that have to do with destroying a cult den? If it's just about opening a shop, I'll do it."
Lu Ying said, "You're one of the Four Pests of the North City, notorious for your frivolity. If you open a shop in Toutiao Alley, you'll alert the enemy and only make things worse."
As Wang Daxia opened his mouth to rebut, Wei Caiwei grabbed his sleeve. "Sit down and let me speak."
Wang Daxia obediently sat. "Don't agree to this. Once you get involved with those mad dogs of the White Lotus Sect, it'll be like sticky plaster—impossible to shake off."
Wei Caiwei said, "Commander Lu, I'm willing."
Wang Daxia sprang up again like a coiled spring. "Don't be fooled by Commander Lu's empty promises. What 'greater ability, greater responsibility'—you're clearly getting no benefits and only inviting a heap of danger."
"Sit down," Wei Caiwei said. "This is my own affair, my own decision. It has nothing to do with you."
"How is it not related to me? I—" Wang Daxia scratched his head in frustration, both angry and aggrieved, his bangs tousled into a bird's nest.
Here I am worrying about you, and you're pushing me away.Wei Caiwei said to Lu Ying, "Though I don't remember my childhood, I know of the Gengxu Rebellion. My family likely perished in that disaster, and Ding Wu became an exile. Our fates were both altered by that catastrophe, so the White Lotus Sect is our common enemy. I'm willing to join. If this is true, I'll consider it vengeance for the family I can't remember."
Wang Daxia remarked, "Those rabid dogs of the White Lotus Sect attack indiscriminately—they don't care if you're with the Embroidered Uniform Guard."
Wei Caiwei responded, "You're Imperial Guards. I trust you and Commander Lu can destroy their lair, and perhaps one day eradicate the White Lotus Sect entirely. With your protection, I'm not afraid."
Hearing her say she trusted him, Wang Daxia immediately shed his resentment, though he still disapproved of her decision. "You may not fear, but I do. The court bungles more than it accomplishes. Everyone looks out for themselves—who'd care if you live or die?"
Wang Daxia had joined the Embroidered Uniform Guard merely for steady meals and merit points, hoping to pass future evaluations and inherit his family's rank of Battalion Commander before resigning to find a leisurely post—free from daily roll calls, living comfortably ever after.
Lazy and gluttonous, he believed most guards—no, most officials across yamens—just wanted to earn their keep and support their families. Few burned with passion like Lu Ying, who constantly spoke of duty, nation, and protecting the capital, even seeking extra tasks after hours.
Thus, Wang Daxia doubted the Guard could protect Wei Caiwei forever—he couldn't even guarantee his own safety.
Lu Ying retorted indignantly, "Don't judge others by yourself. I won't abandon Doctor Wei."
"I believe Commander Lu keeps her word." The silent Ding Wu stood and declared, "Assign the warehouse duty to someone else. I'll run the pharmacy. Everyone knows I'm Banxia's sworn brother—she treats patients, I sell medicine. Siblings earning dual incomes is perfectly natural. If the White Lotus Sect seeks revenge, they'll come for me."
"Moreover, my father was imprisoned due to the Gengxu Rebellion. I'm willing to contribute modestly to destroying the sect's lair."
Wang Daxia quickly raised his hand. "Excellent plan! Though Ding Wu lacks medical training, he has a sharp memory, can prepare prescriptions, and handle accounts—he's perfect as shopkeeper."
Plans change faster than they're made. As the only one aware that the Myriad Goods Trading Company concealed the White Lotus Sect's lair with an underground gunpowder store, Wei Caiwei recognized the danger. She had intended to take charge herself, never expecting Ding Wu to relinquish his post as Imperial Guard Office storekeeper to run the pharmacy.
Wei Caiwei insisted, "It should be me."
Ding Wu countered, "No arguments. I'll do it. Commander Lu, grant my request—I can serve you."
Lu Ying's gaze shifted between Wei Caiwei and Ding Wu before settling on the latter. "Very well, you it is."
Wang Daxia, relieved it wasn't Wei Caiwei, looked at Ding Wu with admiration. "Brother Ding truly exemplifies elder brother virtue, protecting his sister so devotedly. I deeply respect this."
Turning to Wei Caiwei, he added, "Don't worry, we Imperial Guards will protect Brother Ding."
Wei Caiwei asked pointedly, "Didn't you just say 'the court bungles more than it accomplishes' and everyone 'looks out for themselves, ignoring others' survival'?"So soon proven wrong, but luckily Wang Daxia had thick skin. "That's because I wasn't involved back then. Now that I've joined the Embroidered Uniform Guard, I'm a breath of fresh air cleansing the official circles. I'll protect Brother Ding—have you forgotten how I infiltrated Duke Yansheng's Goldfish Pond Villa, sacrificed myself to act as his decoy, and rescued him? What happened once can happen again. With me here, Brother Ding will be perfectly safe."
That time when he was nearly tortured to death by waterboarding, Ding Wu didn't want to recall it at all. Just hearing "Goldfish Pond" made him feel like he was choking on water, struggling to breathe. He quickly drank a cup of Huadiao wine to calm his nerves.
Seeing Ding Wu turn pale at the mention of Goldfish Pond, looking every bit the frail scholar, Lu Ying said, "Don't be afraid. I'll protect you."
Whether it was the Huadiao wine in his stomach or Lu Ying's words that did the trick, Ding Wu immediately felt a warmth spread through his body. "I'm not afraid. I trust you both."
Thus the matter was settled.
Lu Ying dipped her finger in water and sketched the general layout of Head Lane on the table. "The pharmacy is right next door, currently for rent. Judging by the faded color of the 'Prime Shop for Rent' red paper on the door—it's turned pink, and the paste at the corners has peeled—it hasn't been rented out for some time. When you negotiate the price tomorrow, Ding Wu, seize the chance to drive a harder bargain. Make everything look authentic, like a profit-driven merchant."
Ding Wu nodded. "Back in Tieling, Banxia's parents ran a pharmacy. I often helped out there—I know pharmacies even better than Banxia does. There won't be any slip-ups."
Lu Ying said, "Keep a close watch and monitor the goods going in and out of the Myriad Goods Trading Company. The Embroidered Uniform Guard has sharp-nosed Shandong Greyhounds that can detect the smell of gunpowder and saltpeter even through boxes. If it's confirmed, then that anonymous letter is likely genuine."
Ding Wu replied, "Alright, I'll bring the greyhounds over tomorrow and use them as guard dogs."
The two went back and forth, already immersed in official business, working together seamlessly.
Wei Caiwei thought to herself: They're both meticulous people. Perhaps this time, the tragedy of the previous life won't repeat itself.
Wang Daxia listened distractedly, occasionally clutching his throat, eyes wide, his Adam's apple bobbing erratically.
Both Ding Wu and Lu Ying were focused on the table and didn't notice Wang Daxia's odd behavior, but Wei Caiwei spotted it. "What's wrong with you?"
"Nothing." Wang Daxia scooped a bowl of cold rice and shoved a large lump into his mouth without chewing, attempting to swallow it whole.
"Stop!" Wei Caiwei moved swiftly, slapping the back of his head to force him to spit out the rice.
"Did you get a fishbone stuck?" Wei Caiwei asked.
Wang Daxia nodded, pointing at his throat. "Stuck right here. I ate the tail of the sweet and sour fish too hastily and it got lodged."
Earlier, when Lu Ying asked Wei Caiwei to run the pharmacy, Wang Daxia had been eager to interject but didn't want to let go of the meat in his mouth, so he swallowed it whole—and thus the tragedy occurred.
Wei Caiwei asked, "Why didn't you say anything earlier?"
Just moments ago, when Wang Daxia was arguing vehemently with Lu Ying, he hadn't seemed like someone with a fishbone stuck in his throat.
Wang Daxia said, "I was worried about you, so I ignored the fishbone."
Wei Caiwei felt a pang of guilt—she shouldn't have said it was none of his business earlier. "Open your mouth."Ah! Wang Daxia obediently opened his mouth. Wei Caiwei pressed down on his tongue with a chopstick while holding up a lantern for a closer look. The fishbone was lodged quite deep. Since she had come for a meal, she hadn't brought tools like tweezers with her, making it difficult to remove the fishbone.
Wei Caiwei glanced over the banquet table and noticed a dish of vinegar-marinated lotus root slices garnished with several raw green onions carved into lush decorative accents. She picked up one green onion, tied a fishing line from the decorated pleasure boat around its middle section, then stuffed the onion into Wang Daxia's mouth. "Chew it and swallow."
Wang Daxia obediently swallowed the onion. Holding the fishing line, Wei Caiwei waited until the chewed onion shreds reached his throat and hooked onto the broken fishbone. With a tug of the fishing line, she pulled out the onion strands entangled with the fishbone.
Author's note: You defy authority for me. I... remove fishbones for you.
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