The Eunuch Has A Wife - Chapter 50

Bai Zhi, noticing the teasing expression on Wei Ziwan’s face, realized she had said something foolish.

She pursed her lips, withdrew her arm from Wei Ziwan’s grasp, and instead took her hand: “We should be more careful outside, let’s just hold hands for now.”

The two had just emerged from a narrow path and were passing through a sparse grove on their way to the main road.

Wei Ziwan’s gaze fell on their intertwined fingers, a slight smile playing on her lips without a word—truly a contradictory person.

Once inside the city, their pace slowed.

Firstly, Bai Zhi, having long resided in the deep palace, was unaccustomed to the bustling capital and couldn’t help but look around more.

Secondly, the streets were crowded, and walking too fast would easily distance them from the two guards following behind. Although they had left Lingjue Manor, it was still wise to be cautious while traveling.

With a letter of introduction from Manager Xi, they took note of the location of the Lou Shang Lou restaurant. Surprisingly, on the bustling Zhuque Street, there were branches at both the most prominent ends of the street.

Moreover, the scale was significantly larger than the Lou Shang Lou in Ninglin Prefecture, indicating that the restaurant held a notable position among the major merchants in the capital.

However, their visit today was merely to observe the so-called prosperity of the capital and to inquire about grain prices at various shops, with no immediate plans to visit Lou Shang Lou.

After purchasing some daily necessities, Bai Zhi and Wei Ziwan prepared to leave the city and return to Song Village.

The two guards dutifully followed behind. As they neared the city gate, a carriage swiftly passed by, narrowly missing them before coming to a halt.

Bai Zhi and Wei Ziwan were quickly pulled aside by the guards, still shaken by the close call.

The driver, a middle-aged man with an honest face, hurriedly jumped down and bowed: “My apologies, my apologies for startling you. The city gates are about to close, and our young master is still outside the city. I was in a hurry to fetch him, hence the rush. I truly apologize.”

He was about to kneel when Bai Zhi quickly waved her hand: “Please rise, go fetch your master, but do drive more carefully.”

Though they were nearly hit, they were unharmed. The carriage was clearly heading for the city gate, not directly towards them, so it seemed a mere coincidence, and they chose not to make an issue of it.

After more apologies, the driver leaped back onto the carriage and hurried out of the city.

Bai Zhi watched the departing carriage, then turned to ask something, but seeing the expressionless guards, she changed her question and said to Wei Ziwan: “Do you think we should buy a carriage? The journey from Song Village to the capital is quite long.”

Walking would take at least half an hour; having a carriage would save both time and effort.

Wei Ziwan glanced at her indifferently: “Husband, have you forgotten the path into the village? Not even an ox cart could pass, let alone a carriage.”

She unconsciously glanced in the direction the carriage had gone, feeling something was amiss but unable to pinpoint what.

Perhaps she was just being overly sensitive.

Bai Zhi was momentarily speechless, having forgotten the narrow path into the village. It seemed that transporting grain out would first require finding a way to navigate that path.

Suddenly, she had an idea: “Wanwan, what if we widened and leveled that path?”

That would solve the problem.

Wei Ziwan nodded with a smile: “That makes sense, but where would the funds for the road come from? I recall one of the five elders is in charge of the village’s finances. I wonder if Song Village has any surplus funds for road construction.”

Zhou had mentioned that each of the five elders had specific responsibilities, and the one managing finances was surnamed Hu.

The elder handled the villagers’ household registrations, land, and annual taxes.

Hu? Managing household registrations, land, and finances?

Wei Ziwan’s eyes lit up; she seemed to have stumbled upon something significant, though she needed to verify it first.

Bai Zhi nodded in agreement; it would be best if the village had funds for the road.

“Wanwan is right, let’s ask when we return to the village.”

“We can also visit the other three elders to understand their responsibilities.” Wei Ziwan added, eager to confirm her suspicions.

With their decision made, they quickened their pace back.

Unfortunately, Elder Hu was not in the village and would return only in the evening.

Apart from Elder Gong, whom they had already met, the other three elders were present.

After visiting each, Wei Ziwan’s eyes sparkled, and she quickly locked the door upon returning to their room.

Bai Zhi was puzzled: “Wanwan, what’s wrong?”

It wasn’t dark yet, and they hadn’t had dinner. Why the urgency to lock the door?

Wei Ziwan smiled slightly: “What does Elder Gong primarily handle?”

“Repairing farm tools, building houses, and other miscellaneous tasks.”

Wei Ziwan asked again: “And the other four elders?”

Bai Zhi thought for a moment and answered one by one: “Elder Xing is responsible for mediating village disputes, Elder Li teaches the village children, Elder Li oversees all the elders’ actions and reports directly to the old clan leader, and Elder Hu manages land and finances.”

Is there something wrong with these people?

Wei Ziwan glanced at her, extending her left hand with five fingers spread: “The five elders are Elder Gong, Elder Xing, Elder Li, Elder Li, and Elder Hu.”

She then clenched her right hand into a fist and slowly raised her index finger: “If I’m not mistaken, the sixth elder, who passed away from illness before a replacement could be found, was likely responsible for leading the village guards, perhaps surnamed Bing.”

Thus, the six elders, each with their own responsibilities, were complete.

Bai Zhi was momentarily stunned and instinctively said: “Who has the surname Bing?”

“Which ‘Bing’ are you referring to, husband?” Wei Ziwan’s eyes gleamed.

“Isn’t it the ‘Bing’ as in soldier?” Bai Zhi’s tone slowed, realizing something was off.

Why did she instinctively think of the ‘Bing’ as in soldier?

She opened her mouth slightly, staring blankly at Wei Ziwan.

Wei Ziwan nodded with a smile, seemingly aware of her thoughts, silently affirming.

Yes, that’s it.

Bai Zhi touched her chest, her heartbeat quickening. Her adoptive father and the grand consort, besides teaching her to read and write, would occasionally discuss court affairs.

She knew that apart from the left and right prime ministers, the six ministers in charge of the six ministries were important court officials.

The six ministries were the Ministry of Personnel, the Ministry of Revenue, the Ministry of Rites, the Ministry of War, the Ministry of Justice, and the Ministry of Works.

Their responsibilities bore a striking resemblance to those of the six elders in Song Village.

Wait, the Ministry of Revenue, Elder Hu? The Ministry of Rites, Elder Li? The Ministry of Works, Elder Gong? And…

Bai Zhi couldn’t help but blink at Wei Ziwan, as if seeking confirmation.

Wei Ziwan slowly said: “I guess husband and I are thinking the same thing. As for whether it’s correct, it depends on whether Elder Hu is willing to allocate funds for Elder Gong to repair the road.”

Song Village truly lived up to the saying, “small as a sparrow but complete in all its organs.” The responsibilities of the six elders replicated a miniature court.

At this point, she seemed to understand some of the peculiarities of Lingjue Manor.

Mr. Qiu, who always spoke of the world and the people.

The ill-intentioned Second Miss Bai Luo and Zhou from Song Village, both in competition with Bai Zhi.

The two exchanged glances, sensing they were close to the truth, or perhaps they had already guessed the astonishing truth.

Was it really so?

Bai Zhi sighed deeply: “If it involves something significant, should we still get involved?”

She suddenly felt an invisible burden on her shoulders, full of pressure and somewhat terrifying.

Wei Ziwan also sighed softly: “Things might not be as we think.”

Perhaps there were other possibilities.

Bai Zhi forced a smile: “If we’re right, we’ll leave immediately, find a place where no one knows us, and grow vegetables. If we’re wrong, we’ll save some capital and leave later.”

Wei Ziwan chuckled: “Yes, leave far away, grow vegetables, and raise a little dog. If husband quarrels with me, I’ll set the dog on you.”

That kind of life would surely be joyful.

Bai Zhi’s eyes brightened, her voice tightening: “Wanwan… you’re willing to spend your life with me, right?”

Wei Ziwan smiled gently, about to nod when they heard a ‘thud’ outside the window, followed by repeated knocking, as if something was hitting the window.

They exchanged glances without speaking. The knocking continued, and a shadow appeared on the window, faintly discernible as a bird flapping against it.

Bai Zhi breathed a sigh of relief: “I’ll take a look.” She walked towards the closed window.

Wei Ziwan stepped forward, taking her hand: “Together, let’s open the door first to see what it is.”

Bai Zhi nodded silently, opened the door, and looked towards the window. A grey pigeon hit the window a few more times before falling still, seemingly knocked out.

She approached cautiously and noticed something tied to the pigeon’s leg.

“Be careful.” Wei Ziwan softly reminded.

Bai Zhi nodded again, untied the object from the pigeon’s leg—a small rolled-up piece of paper. Unfolding it, she saw a few words written in bright red:

“Tonight at midnight, we will send you two on your way.”

Bai Zhi stepped back abruptly, looking around but finding no one in sight. The entire village seemed eerily quiet.

Wei Ziwan, seeing the words on the paper, checked the pigeon and said gravely: “It’s dead, seems to have been poisoned beforehand.”

Who could it be? Someone from Song Village? Who?

Bai Zhi’s face changed, she tightly grasped Wei Ziwan’s hand, quickly returned to the room, and firmly locked the door.

She spread out the paper in her hand, her voice tense: “These red words seem to be written in bl00d. Do you think this is real?”

Someone wanted to kill them and had sent a warning in advance.

At Lingjue Manor, the worst they faced was trouble or false accusations.

But in Song Village, after only two days, someone wanted their lives. It seemed they had come to the wrong place.