Dangers lurking for General’s wife
Wei went to visit Madame Rong to give her completed work. She hasn't been visiting Madame for months, with regards to the turmoil at the borders. She had send Fei and Lin to buy grocery items, pigments; silk and paper for her painting and a temporary furniture. As they had sold some for money to aid reinforcements. During their absence she went to meet with Madame Rong alone.
Seeing Wei, Madame Rong rose and greeted her, "Jiangjun Furen." Wei did not expect to hear that come out of Madame Rong's mouth. It was her title ever since she married General. "Jiangjun Furen?" with a perplexed expression on her face Wei repeated those words.
"Yes, I should address you properly with your title. You have made a contribution to this victory." Said Madame Rong. She was surprised by her duagther, Fu Lin's sudden visit at the dark hours, to sell a painting. Wei did such an exquisite work on the hanging scroll painting, right during her hiatus. The painting sold higher than any other paintings of Master Wei's, because it was said that master will no longer continue. But suddenly a lonesome serene painting makes an appliance in the market. And the biding skyrocketed, under the assumption that it will be the last. Madame gave money for the painting in advance, but was rather shook when Lin asked for weaponry sold in black market. She could only fathom it was to assist general, and provided with the necessary information.
At the tea table the two sat to catch up. Madame asked about the new painting. "It is not a new painting but an old one. I made it long ago at the Lu residence, but never sold it. You can sell this or keep in reserve when you think its the right time to sell," suggested Wei. Indeed an older painting of master Wei will fetch heart but not at this moment when the last one was just sold.
Madame Rong : "Very well I shall keep it. Congratulations on the victory of your husband."
Wei : "I was of no help."
Madame Rong : "That is not true without your timely assistance it would have be difficult. Has he given you any presents of war victory? Any valuable trinkets?"
Wei : "He has even replied the letter I send."
Madame Rong : "Hmmm, it must be because he was busy with battle. However he has won now he should have at least replied if not send presents. How unromantic."
After all what can one except from a marriage that took place due to an imperial order. They do not even know what the other looks like, never became acquaintance either. What will this relation even amount to? Madame Rong could read Wei's expression. She has seen this countless times, whenever one of her courtesan has infatuation towards a client. "Weiwei?" "Hmm" muttered a lost in thought Wei. "Why don't you began socialising? Break from your mandate routine. You are a women of high status now." Madame Rong's suggestion was not wrong, Wei had lived far to long in isolation, away from the elite society etiquette. Xu residence also never expected her to do the formalities because of Wei's unsociable personality.
Wei pondered upon the thought for a while, she can no longer hold her comfort and need to reach out as a socialite. To withhold General's status. She agreed to Madame Rong's suggestion. "Excellent! I'll sen dover the most exquisite clothing and trending jewellery. You will be the talk of the town. I will also ask my girls to combine make and hairdo in a reference book, for Lin'er to follow." Madame could not hide her enthusiasm, she always hoped for Wei to be more outgoing and stylish, finally she agreed to play the role of General's wife appropriately. Madame Rong will do everything in her power to make Wei look the part and hold her place. Because high society is place where you get torn apart if you do not hold strong.
On their way back to the reflection mansion, Wei and Lin were taking a leisurely stroll with Fei lacking behind with several shopped items, he was their carrier. While the girls were merrily looking at some hair pins on the roadside shop, a huge rush of crowd came in that street, and Lin and Wei got separated. Fei ran to his Madame, "Where is Madame?" He asked Lin who was equally baffled. She was standing close to Madame, how could she slip away? They panicked and began searching for Madame on the streets, it was not fruitful. Fei took the lead. "takes these back to the mansion and wait there just incase Madame arrives home, I'll go look for her with police bureau. Lin obeyed believing his military skills. Fei rushed to a hawker on the street and showed his token. He ordered him to look for General's wife. He tipped another, and they tipped another. This network of spies that work for Guoqiang, now began searching for Madame in the capital city, in an organised trained manner. Fei and one another person came across madame's fallen hairpin, and began scanning the area. In a cow shed, through the creaks between the wood planes, they saw their Madame, hands tied up, hanging off the floor. Fei broke the hatched door, in one powerful kick and had untiled Madame. Wei was barely conscious, He rushed her back to the mansion, informing the imperial physician to make his rounds to the General's mansion for urgency. Imperial doctor Dong, arrived within half an hour of the call. Lin could not stop her tears, she used warm compress on her Madame's wrists swollen red with restrained marks. Wei was conscious now, she was surprised from the turn of events herself. Imperial doctor Dong gave an ointment to apply on the wrist, prescribed a concoction to calm the distressed nerves, due to trauma. He also diagnosed an impairment in the soldier. Wei before she was knocked unconscious she struggled to break free from her kidnappers in an alley. This lead to her staining her right shoulder blade. Fortunately it was not fractured or dislocated. But the the ligament was impaired in that strenuous activity, leading to difficulty in using her arm for the time being. Medicine and a balm to be massaged gently into her shoulder was given to Wei's maidservant, and several weeks rest was advised. This incident shook everyone in the reflection mansion, the brother-in-law in the palace and the General who was on his way to meet the emperor of Shenzhou.
Fei took the opportunity to send a bird messenger to inform General about the incident. And within the same day the bird returned to Fei when he was sweeping the front yard. The message from General read : 'Slit the throats of the offenders."