Wang Daxia didn't want to wear a high-collared robe. How could one wear brocade clothes for a night stroll? He simply had to show off the love bites on his neck for everyone to see.
Wang Daxia said, "Commander Lu wears high-collared clothes all year round. I don't want to follow his example—it looks hot just watching him. The collar chokes my neck and makes it hard to breathe."
Actually, it was already autumn, so wearing a high collar wouldn't be hot. Wang Daxia's excuse wasn't very convincing.
What a troublesome fellow. Wei Caiwei, considering he had just recovered from poisoning and was still physically weak, chose not to scold him and instead took a step back, saying, "Then stay in your room. You're not allowed to go out."
She then asked, "What was that dream of yours about? Earlier, you even pulled me onto the bed."
Don't think I'll forget to settle accounts with you just because I bit your neck until it bled! What kind of indecent thoughts are filling your young mind all day long!
Wang Daxia's face flushed red. The softness beneath him was still imprinted in his skin's memory. Though he hadn't kissed her, he had taken plenty of liberties. Stumbling over his words, he said:
"I... I thought it was still that dream. Dreams are wild and unfettered—I can't control them. Dreaming... no matter how absurd the dream, it can't be considered a crime. Even if I dreamt of a wedding night, or even of ascending the throne as emperor, you couldn't accuse me of rebellion, right? Isn't that reasonable?"
However, seeing Wei Caiwei's expression darken, Wang Daxia quickly changed his tone: "Of course, dreaming is no excuse for me to take liberties with you. If I've done wrong, I must admit it. I'm not the kind of person who shirks responsibility. In truth, my feelings for you have never changed. Since we've already been intimate, I will take full responsibility. When we return to the capital, I will speak openly with my father and arrange a proper betrothal with three matchmakers and six ceremonies to marry you."
Wang Daxia had actually mustered the courage to confess his feelings again less than two months after his first rejection, showing remarkable resilience in the face of setbacks.
You were born when I had not yet arrived; by the time you were born, I had already aged. I, who carry memories of a past life, having weathered the storms of time and deeply understand what love truly means, while you are still an innocent youth just beginning to understand romance.
Wei Caiwei's heart stirred with emotion, though her expression remained calm. "You had that dream because you were under the influence of a drug—it probably has aphrodisiac effects as well. When you're sick, you take medicine tailored to the illness. Don't treat marriage as a cure. Let's treat what just happened as a dream, as if it never truly occurred. Don't speak of it to anyone—this will be our secret."
With that, Wei Caiwei turned to leave. Unwilling to accept a second failed confession, Wang Daxia hurriedly strode over on his long legs to block the doorway. "Why do you always reject me? You clearly care about me so much—on the night the Red Sleeve Brothel exploded, you risked your life to search for me in the Pool of Accumulated Water. You do like me, and I like you too. Those who love each other should be together—why won't you agree?"
"I—" Even with two lifetimes of experience, Wei Caiwei's heart felt like a small boat tossed on stormy waves, lifted to the clouds by crests only to be crushed beneath the troughs. "I've already given you the reason last time—you're still too young—"Wang Daxia interrupted, "I'm no longer that lazy, good-for-nothing playboy waiting to inherit the family's Thousand-Household Title. I've been appointed as a Hundred-Household Commander—I'm building my career step by step through hard work. I'm diligently saving money, finding every excuse to have Commander Lu sign off on all my expenses, and haven't touched a single coin of my monthly salary—it's all saved up. I may be young, but I'm not naive. There are plenty of men in the capital who marry or even become fathers at fourteen—why can't I? Just tell me exactly what I need to do to get your approval, and I'll do it."
After his first confession was rejected, Wang Daxia reflected on himself and realized Wei Caiwei had good reasons to turn him down. Indeed, why should she agree to be with him? For his youth? For his meager earnings?
Since that was the case, he decided to change.
Wang Daxia transformed from a freeloader counting on inheriting a title to someone striving for promotion and wealth—even a blind person could see the difference.
Especially after being promoted to Hundred-Household Commander, Wang Daxia felt he had become a man capable of supporting a family.
As they say, with warmth and full stomachs come thoughts of a wife. Soon after his promotion, Wang Daxia launched his second confession, this time more "aggressive," leaving Wei Caiwei no room for refusal.
You can say no, but you have to tell me what it would take for you to say yes. One day, you will say yes. Wang Daxia was determined to succeed.
Men change greatly by fourteen; Wang Daxia had grown up too fast and turned passive into active, leaving Wei Caiwei struggling to respond.
"You're very good," Wei Caiwei said. "If you keep this up, you'll achieve great things in the future. My refusal isn't because you're lacking—it's my own issue, unrelated to you."
Wang Daxia pressed urgently, "What issue? I'm unmarried, you're unwed, we care for each other, and it would be a proper match. You're a widow in name only—that memorial tablet at home is just for show. There's no need to observe a three-year mourning period. Why can't you marry me?"
Wang Daxia firmly believed Wei Caiwei loved him. Even though she rejected his first confession, he was convinced she cared for him—she had even risked her life to save him. He thought she only refused because he was too young to marry yet.
Wang Daxia was that confident.
This pushed Wei Caiwei into a corner. Facing Wang Daxia's passionate, devoted gaze—now also innocent and clear, without a trace of shadow, like the bright blue sky of autumn—she saw what she had fought to protect and what captivated her.
She couldn't look into those eyes and utter lies like "I've never liked you."
She couldn't bear to hurt him in the slightest. She had been miraculously reborn to protect him from the suffering and torment of their previous life.
But Wang Daxia, completely unaware that he and his family had narrowly escaped a great calamity, was now tormented by love—he loved but couldn't have her, and the one causing this pain was none other than herself.
Torn, Wei Caiwei could only say, "I have unresolved feelings (you're still too young) that only I can gradually work through (wait for you to grow up). No one can help me with this (we can't force growth). You're fine as you are now—no need to change anything or blame yourself."
Wang Daxia replied, "But if you keep refusing me, what's the point of my changes? I might as well go back to being that carefree, lazy playboy—it was much easier."This was the honest truth. To marry Wei Caiwei, Wang Daxia willingly stepped out of his comfort zone as a spoiled dandy. He stopped idling his days away and began studying how to rise in rank, make a fortune, and advance his career. His climb was arduous, fraught with life-and-death struggles, and he was even forced to trade on his looks at times. Though exhausted, he was happy, for each day brought him closer to his goal—marrying Wei Caiwei.
Now, Wei Caiwei was left with no room to retreat. Despite her dismissive words and indifferent expression, she had been restraining herself all along. Wang Daxia was the treasure in her palm—too precious to blow on or touch, handled with utmost care. What if she rejected him again and he reverted to his old ways as one of the Four Pests of the North City, abandoning all hope and self-respect?
Moreover, he was at an age prone to extremes. In their previous life, he had castrated himself in a fit of grief and rage.
No matter what, she had to give him an answer today.
Wei Caiwei said, "Three years. Give me three years to resolve my issues. If your feelings haven’t changed after three years, no matter how others gossip or mock, I will marry you."
Just like in their previous life, when they became an Eunuch and Maid Pairing—she married a dead eunuch, and people laughed, sneered, and pointed fingers behind her back for life. But so what? They shared a lifetime of love and sweetness, paying no heed to outsiders’ opinions.
After three years of struggling in the Embroidered Uniform Guard, Wang Daxia should have grown into a man. In their past life, it wasn’t until he was seventeen that he began relying on her support.
Wang Daxia: "Three years?"
Wei Caiwei: "Three years."
Overjoyed, Wang Daxia eagerly flipped through the almanac. "Today is the twenty-third of August. Three years from today, can I bring a matchmaker to your door?"
Wei Caiwei nodded. "If your feelings haven’t changed by then. If you dare to marry me, I’ll dare to marry you."
Wang Daxia still couldn’t believe it. "In three years, if I propose, you’ll agree? What if I’m schemed against by political enemies like my father and stripped of my position? Or if I lose an arm or leg fighting the White Lotus Sect, or even die—"
Wei Caiwei covered his mouth. "Don’t talk nonsense and curse yourself. You’ll be fine. Since I’ve made this promise, I’ll keep it. No matter what happens to you, I’ll wait. Even in the worst-case scenario—the spirit tablet at my home can be wiped clean and used again."
Spirit tablet of the deceased husband Wang Erlang. It has always been you.
Could it be used that way? With his mouth covered, Wang Daxia could only nod.
Wei Caiwei had always been decisive and straightforward, never beating around the bush. But Wang Daxia never expected her to so resolutely set a three-year pact. Her words, "the spirit tablet at my home can be wiped clean and used again," might seem like a joke, but he understood they were more unwavering than any vow like "unless mountains crumble and heaven and earth merge."
Wei Caiwei released her hand. "Also, during these three years, you must treat me with respect. Let emotions arise but stop at propriety. No more dragging me to bed and getting handsy like you did this morning."
Wei Caiwei’s pledge came so abruptly that Wang Daxia thought he was still dreaming. He bit his arm—it hurt. Then, rubbing his hands like a fly, he paced restlessly around the room before stopping by the desk. He spread out paper and brush, added water to the inkstone, and began grinding ink, saying:"Words alone are unreliable. You must write a pledge, a marriage certificate. Three years from today, I'll bring this certificate to propose properly, and you can no longer refuse me."
To reassure Wang Daxia and prevent him from taking extreme measures during these three years while he focused on his career, Wei Caiwei picked up her brush and wrote the marriage certificate:
"Today, I make a vow with Wang Daxia to unite in marriage three years hence. Once this pledge is sealed, our bond shall be eternal. In years to come, may our descendants flourish and our household prosper. This serves as testimony. Wei Caiwei, the twentieth day of the eighth month, Jiajing thirty-ninth year." (Note 1)
Wei Caiwei gently blew on the ink to dry it before handing it to Wang Daxia. "Are you satisfied now?"
Wang Daxia, pushing his luck, said, "You need to press your fingerprint on it."
Wei Caiwei thought to herself, I've been spoiling you too much! Though slightly annoyed, she humored him and looked for red ink paste. This was a posthouse of the Baoding Prefecture government office, and the room had no ink paste. So Wei Caiwei took out red lip pigment, dabbed it on her finger, and was about to press her fingerprint onto the marriage certificate when she remembered something and paused mid-air.
Wang Daxia's heart, which had been floating on cloud nine, suddenly plummeted. "Why did you stop? Have you changed your mind?"
Wei Caiwei applied the rouge from her index finger to her lips, then made a soft "mwah" sound as she kissed the marriage certificate, leaving a perfect red lip print.
In their previous life, they had been an unashamed Eunuch and Maid Pairing, indulging in all seven emotions and six desires, reveling in sensual pleasures, and inventing various bedroom joys when natural tools were lacking. In this life, while engaging in pure love with the still-youthful Wang Daxia, Wei Caiwei's accumulated experience from two lifetimes meant her skills in romantic play had only enhanced.
Author's note: Sorry for being late today. Here's a sweet chapter and 100 red envelopes to comfort those who waited.
Note 1: Adapted from a Republic-era marriage certificate: "Two families unite in marriage, one hall seals the covenant. A blessed union is forever joined, a match made in heaven. See this day of blooming peach blossoms, fitting for home and family. Predict years to come with continuous generations, you prosperous and you glorious. Solemnly recording this vow of white hair, written on swan's paper. May the pledge of red leaves be inscribed on the mandarin duck register. This serves as testimony."
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