But now, calming down, she realized this dead eunuch was only fourteen, like wild grass growing in fair weather, having experienced no storms. Wang Qianhu spoiled him beyond measure, letting him grow wild.
Fourteen-year-old Wang Daxia actually believed a courtesan, selling his mother’s dowry estate to rescue a fallen woman, thinking the courtesan would repay him someday!
But later, the powerful eunuch Wang Daxia who became Eastern Depot director had no flaws or weaknesses except fearing his wife. Naturally suspicious, he clearly looked like someone deeply ravaged and beaten by society.
This year the Wang family would face great changes. Wang Daxia would take the extreme step of self-castration to enter the palace. Wei Caiwei had never heard of this Miss Yingying repaying money or helping out, nor had she ever heard the dead eunuch mention his youthful romantic rescue in his remaining years.
Obviously, Wang Daxia’s innocence was betrayed by Miss Yingying.
Thinking this, Wei Caiwei’s anger subsided considerably, even feeling pity for the dead eunuch.
In this life, let me protect your spirited and bright smile. I know what disasters the Wang family will face—I’ll resolve them in advance.
However, everything required first establishing a relationship with Wang Daxia, starting with friendship.
Wei Caiwei went downstairs for lunch. Nearly all diners discussed the murder case of Embroidered Uniform Guard Chen Qianhu and his son overnight. Reportedly, court and country were shocked. Shuntian Prefect Wang the Loach had memorialized the emperor early this morning. Emperor Jiajing personally issued a vermillion edict ordering the Embroidered Uniform Guard to supervise the case.
Throughout the restaurant, “Don’t Discuss State Affairs” reminders were posted everywhere. But at the emperor’s feet, nearly everyone fancied themselves political experts, seeing grand conspiracies in everything, speaking with flying spittle and conviction:
“Court officials and his son murdered—by law should require joint trial by the Court of Judicial Review, Ministry of Justice, and Censorate. But His Majesty wants the Embroidered Uniform Guard to investigate, making it an imperial case. I don’t think it’s simply finding the murderer.”
“Probably His Majesty wants to move against certain court ministers. Lacking evidence, having a murder case in hand makes it convenient to fabricate charges…”
“I think not necessarily. His Majesty hasn’t held court for over twenty years—just finding excuses to intimidate subordinates, making ministers obedient. Not holding court doesn’t mean not governing—this realm will always be His Majesty’s.”
Wei Caiwei ate quietly, paid room and meal fees, put on her hat, lowered the light veil on the brim to ward off willow catkins, inserted two small flags reading “Miraculous Healing Hands” and “Gynecological Saint” into her silk bag, shouldered the silk strap, and placed a fist-sized tiger-support on her thumb, shaking it.
The jingling bell sounds rang through Shuntian Prefecture streets. The capital was prosperous with dense population. By the time Wei Caiwei reached Gulou East Street, people were already asking her to treat patients.
Wei Caiwei walked and stopped, no different from ordinary traveling doctors, completely without flaws.
That afternoon she treated two women married three years without pregnancy, one girl with irregular menstruation, one young woman with body ringworm, and even a pregnant woman asking if she delivered babies.
Wei Caiwei nodded: “I live at the T-shaped household in Sweet Water Lane, Gulou West Slant Street, Wanping County. But I’m moving these next few days. I’ll tell neighbors my new address to pass along—don’t worry, it should be near Sweet Water Lane, very easy to find.”
Wei Caiwei still needed to befriend her dead eunuch husband in his youth. The rabbit must eat grass by its burrow—living nearby made “eating” more convenient.
At dusk, Wei Caiwei returned to Sweet Water Lane. Near the sweet water well not far from the door, Chen Jingji sat on the well platform eating watermelon. Seeing her from afar, he quickly put down his half-eaten watermelon and ran over, holding a key:
“Doctor Wei! Finally waited for your return! I was worried you couldn’t get in.”
Chen Jingji presented the key with both hands to Wei Caiwei: “Second Young Master Wang asked me to give you the key. He said considering you spoke up last night to save his life from being shot by arrows, you can live in this house. He hopes you’ll cherish it—after all, the furniture inside is all his mother’s dowry.”
Money could make people change their tune.
Yesterday it was “Wang Yanei” with every breath, today it was “Second Young Master Wang.” Chen Jingji was a businessman—with the five-tael broker fee finally in hand, earning a large sum for his wife’s dowry, he immediately forgot how Wang Daxia had beaten him.
Unexpectedly, Wei Caiwei hadn’t expected another real surprise awaiting her. Taking the key, she asked: “Where is Wang Daxia? Tonight the three of us can eat dinner together—my treat this time.”
Chen Jingji pointed at the Wang mansion’s high walls: “Second Young Master Wang wanted to thank you personally, but Wang Qianhu confined him—he can’t come out. So he asked me to deliver the key. He also specifically told me to wait at the door for your return, so you wouldn’t be like yesterday—paying rent for a house but unable to go home. Really sorry about that.”
Hearing this, Wei Caiwei felt warmth in her heart, all fatigue vanishing.
It seemed her dead eunuch husband wasn’t completely unreasonable after all.
Wastrel though he was, could he still be saved?