At the reflection mansion in the capital. General Guoqiang's failure reached very household. Everyone was talking about his failure. Wei seemed to be the only one with major concerns. She was worried that she did not provided enough for them to win the battle. She thought if only she had sold her gold jewellery, maybe more reinforcements could have helped. She was worried sick, if Gouqiang was injured. She heard that he was cornered by the enemy, as he made an escape. Looking at the concerned Wei, general's loyal servant, Chen Fei, suggested, "Madame, why don't you write a letter to general asking for his condition?"
Wei : "He hasn't replied to the previous ones, it would be burdening to him. While he is tirelessly battling and I am just leisurely sitting here." Lin was not happy about her lady's plight. She was of the opinion, that Wei and everyone representing general's manor was in grave danger. General attacked enemy stronghold, with a handful of soldiers. The royal court will hold him responsible for this suicidal mission. If he lives in the battle or not, Wei will also be part of the backlash and would degrade in status, maybe become a servant or worse beheaded. Lin feared for her lady's safety.
Lin : "Madame, why don't we take refugee?"
Wei : "What is it Lin? Why are you asking for it?"
Lin had shifty eyes, she did not want to reveal her thoughts in front of Fei, but he did not seem to leave Madame's presence, so she spoke her mind.
Lin : "Madame what if general fails at Yanmen pass too. Then wouldn't him and his family will be reprimanded? You would also be implicated in this. Isn't it better we run away?"
Wei : "Lin'er… I understand your concern, but nothing worse has happened yet. Have a little faith."
Fei : "Exactly how dare you question my master."
Lin : "I don't care if your master is the general, the dethroned crown prince or the god of war himself. All I care about is my Lady's safety. And currently it does not look very secure to me!"
Wei : "Both, take your leave, I wish to be alone."
Wei started to feel heavy, as if suffocating. This situation was beyond help. It was not in her power too. She wrote one more letter to general. Deciding, if there is no reply for this one, she will not bother sending anymore. As usual Fei went to deliver it.
The letter took two days to reach general at the enemy borders. General wasn't expecting a letter. He read the letter at the tower, while he was being vigilant for enemy's arrival. The letter read :
'General
Is everything at the borders alright? Are your injured?
Lu Wei.'
That's all Wei wrote in her letter. Guoqiang was surprised to see a letter of concern for him ever penned. He realised that he hasn't been replying to her letters, as things got busy in the camp. Fei's letter was more illustrated. He wrote about his wife's maid's concerns about her lady's safety, if the campaign was to failed. The capital was exploding of general's failure and that Wei was concerned that she could not be of much help to him. Wei was under the impression, due to the lack of reinforcements, was the cause for losing the battle.
Guoqaing decided to send a letter to Wei only after their victory to settle her mind. He was indebted to his wife, who has been supportive despite them never meeting. He wanted her to feel at ease in trusting him.
While general was patient with his reply, the failure of the battle, was a chance for her sister Mei to gloat about. Unexpectedly Mei comes to reflection mansion. "My sister, I've come to visit you." Wei was at the kitchen pickling some vegetables and meat to preserve. Since yesterday she had this feeling that soon will be heavy rains pouring and flooding. Fei thought it was just her feeling. Droughts have been paramount for two years at the Yangtze river, in the southern regions. Capital had mild showers but to have rains all of sudden and to began preserving food for the same, seemed farfetched. Still Fei went out to buy vegetables, grains and meat with Lin, on Wei's order. While Wei was in the kitchen, is when Mei came for visit at reflection mansion. Wei serverd her tea in the very cup set that Mei gave her on the day of the tea ceremony. Mei understood she was getting back at her for last time.
Mei : "My sister you don't have any servants and maids, in the mansion. You do your own cooking, as the Madame, how is this a house of an official? And your husband mayn't be able be general for long, given his failure. I heard he was terribly wounded and that he fled like a coward. (sigh) He is on a suicide mission, he thinks he can prove himself by attacking the enemy with only 70,000 men, against an army of 200,000. He will be killed in the battle. Sister I believe, you start preparing for living a life, as a widow. If you are good to me then I will probably try to put a good word among my husband's friends. You can remarry as a concubine or you can be my maidservant, whichever you prefer."
Wei replied with dignity : "You have this terrible habit of parading in front of an injured tiger. But will you be able to recover if it pounces on you? Leave my mansion. Your presence is soiling it."