Yuxi's visit to Qiu Family Residence must be reported to the Old Lady. Otherwise, Yuxi would surely be scolded. Luckily, she didn't have to do it herself.
When the Old Lady got the news, she shook her head helplessly. Usually, Jianming should have taken Yuru and Yujing to visit Qiu Family Residence. After all, both were calling Qiu Shi 'mother', despite being born from concubines. Only Qiu Shi had a stubborn temper. She always treated concubines indifferently; no matter how the Old Lady persuaded her, it was useless. The Old Lady knew there were gains and losses in everything. When she chose Qiu Shi for her eldest son, she also looked at her family background and her financial management skills. However, the Qiu family had only three generations since they started to rise, so the family background was too shallow for her to check thoroughly. Also, Qiu Shi had no suitable role model for being an excellent noble family housewife, so she had many deficiencies when she became one.
As the Old Lady looked at Yuxi's bare neck, she remembered their last trip to the Zhou family. She turned around and ordered Feicui to fetch a pure gold pearl and jade necklace, and then she gave it to Yuxi. She said, "Tomorrow, wear this to visit relatives." It wasn't because Yuxi looked too shabby, but on the contrary, she wore too much like she had an outburst of wealth. So, the Old Lady gave the necklace, with a piece of suede in the middle, to make Yuxi much more elegant when she wore it.
Yuxi took the necklace and hung it around her neck. She courtesied to the Old Lady. "Thank you so much, Grandmother, for the gift." Not to mention the pattern carved next to it, the jade in the middle was worth several hundred taels[1] of silver. For a moment, she felt she should be a filial child in front of the Old Lady to get more than she had before. However, this idea just flashed by. It was better to learn more things when she had the time since that would truly belong to her.
Old Lady Han was unhappy to see the greedy expression on Yuxi's face. At her age, she did not need to avoid speaking about it in her residence. She said, "When you go to other people's homes next year, be alert. Don't lose the face of the residence."
Yuxi's complexion turned dark as she bowed her head.
The next day, after breakfast, Han Jianye came to pick up Yuxi. When they arrived at the main gate, they found that Master Shizi[2] was also there. Yuxi hurriedly cried, "Dage[3]." Master Shizi[2] and Han Jianye were brothers. Unfortunately, one was too calm, while the other was too jumpy. She had a good relationship with Han Jianye in her previous life, but she stayed away from Han Jianming because of his strict attitude.
Today, Yuxi wore deep red clothes, her hair combed into two tiny buns and a twine of delicate red coral beads wrapped around her head. She also wore a pure gold pearl and jade necklace around her neck. Added to her round face, she looked rich and lovely in her complete get-up.
Master Shizi[2] smiled at once. "Get on the carriage, okay." His mother treated Yuxi like her biological daughter. Otherwise, she would not have agreed with Jianye's idea to take Yuxi to their maternal grandparents' home. However, he was happy to see Yuxi's changes these days, compared to before, when she only obeyed what people asked her to do and didn't smile much.
Han Jianye was afraid Yuxi would be bored in the carriage by herself, so he accompanied her. On the way, he told Yuxi about his eldest maternal uncle's family, "My grandfather and my second uncle both are posted outside of the capital, and now, only my eldest uncle's family is staying here. Don't worry; my eldest aunt is kind, and my young female cousins are all very good-natured." Old Master Qiu had only two sons and a daughter, born from Old Madam Qiu. The feelings between the three Qiu family's siblings were affectionate, so the two families, the Qiu and the Han, were very close.
Yuxi knew that Xiao Shi, the Eldest Madam of the Qiu family, was kind. Otherwise, she would not have allowed her younger son to marry her in her previous life. As everyone knew, marrying her would not benefit her son, and she had no good part of herself that she could be proud of. She deliberately asked, "Is Eldest Cousin about my age?"
Han Jianye shook his head. "Eldest Cousin is already nine years old, but Fourth and Fifth Cousins are about the same age as you, so they should be able to play with you."
Yuxi felt that Han Jianye was really out of line and said helplessly, "Er Ge[4], I remember that eldest cousin is the only di[5] daughter." It was not that she despised shu[6] women, but the communication circle between a di[5] and a shu[6] was as clearly separated as rivers Jing and Wei[7]. The di[5] and the shu[6] were in two different crowds. If she befriended a shu[6] woman, she would be ostracised by other di[5] women when she went out to socialise, which would then be pretty embarrassing. She still remembered that she had made friends with Qiu Yanfu, a merchant woman, in her last life. As a result, she was despised and rejected by others.
Han Jianye's mind didn't turn, so he didn't understand what Yuxi meant. He only said, "Although Fourth and Fifth cousins are shu[6], it doesn't matter as long as they can play with you. My second senior brother is also a shu[6], but I still have a good relationship with him. "Han Jianye's second senior brother, Lin Fengyuan, was the shu[6] Shizi[2] of Duke Ding.
Yuxi was speechless. Lin Fengyuan was a man. Even if he were born with low status, as long as he could fight for his future, he would not have anything to worry about, but for a shu[6] woman, it wasn't the same. However, she would not argue with Han Jianye over this matter since she knew it would just be a meaningless act.
The Qiu family and Duke Han of the State's official residence belonged in two opposite directions. It took more than an hour for them to get there.
Yuxi had been to the Qiu family several times in her previous life, but this was the first time in her current life. She deliberately pretended to be very interested. "Er Ge[4], the layout here is not as exquisite as our house, but it is exquisite."
Han Jianye said smilingly, "My ancestors were all military commanders, so they were not as fastidious with the residence as ours." Han Jianye's temperament was more like the Qiu family than the Han.
Xiao Shi was quite surprised when she saw Yuxi, but since Yuxi was brought by her two nephews, she must also be appropriately entertained her. Not only did she give Yuxi a thick red envelope, but she also presented her with a string of red corals bracelet from her wrist as a gift for their first meeting.
Yuxi muttered in her heart that her trip was not in vain since she was given the valuable red coral bracelet. Xiao Shi suddenly discovered that she had to greet the other guests. Since Qiu Jingjing, the Eldest Miss of the Qiu family, had gone to pay New Year's visit to another family, she asked Qiu Huanhuan, the Fourth Qiu Miss, to talk to the Fifth Qiu Miss, Qiu Lele, to accompany Yuxi. Both girls were lovely and treated Yuxi well.
Although Yuxi had some misgivings, she treated it like everyday communication between relatives. Naturally, she had to be courteous and considerate. Otherwise, she would be rebuked for not being appropriately tutored, so the three got along quite well in the end.
When she left, the Fourth Qiu Miss invited Yuxi to the Qiu Residence on Lantern Festival to play. "The eighteenth day of the first month is my birthday. Can Cousin Xi come then?"
Yuxi diplomatically refused. "Sorry, Elder Cousin, I'll have to continue learning from my teacher when the Lantern Festival arrives. By then, I won't have time to come out again."
Fourth Qiu Miss felt regretful.
On the way back, Han Jianye rode his horse and said on the edge of the window, "Fourth Cousin was sincerely inviting you to attend her birthday feast. So, you should at least ask for a leave from your teacher."
Yuxi replied helplessly, "Teacher lectures awfully fast. If I delay for a day, I will surely be unable to keep up." She didn't know from where her Er Ge[4] could know his cousin's good feelings.
Looking at the situation, Han Jianming couldn't help but shake his head. A wise man could see at a glance that Yuxi was unwilling to make deep acquaintance with the two shu[6] Young Misses Qiu, and he didn't know if his didi[8] really had eyes. However, this incident made him more satisfied with Yuxi. Although young, she acted in a measured way worthy of being taught by Teacher Song.
When the carriage stopped halfway, Yuxi thought that something wrong had happened. She lifted the curtain and saw Han Jianming talking to two teenagers.
Chang pao
Source | aliexpress
Source | aliexpress
The conversation was headed by a tall youngster, half a head taller than her Er Ge[4]. He wore a brocade chang pao[9] in the colour of a clear sky after the rain and a bright-coloured silk waistband tied around his waist, with Flowing Clouds Baifu Yupei hung down from the side. On the outside, he draped his clothes with a black coloured fur overcoat. His skin was the colour of wheat. He was also sturdy, and his voice was particularly loud when he talked. However, when one heard him speak, one would know he had an honest temper.
The other youngster was delicate and pretty, with solid scholarly air and fair skin. He wore a robe of the crimson rounded embroidery design, azure silk trousers, and a pair of basic official boots. Yuxi looked at the youngster and felt that she had seen him somewhere before.
Yuxi pondered about the two youngsters. The tall one should have been the child of a military family, while the delicate and pretty one should have been the young master of a scholarly family. Strange, how could such two people come together?
Yuxi was so absorbed in her thoughts that she was unaware someone had already come forward and stood in front of her.
The tall boy cheerfully handed Yuxi a red envelope. Seeing Yuxi did not accept it, he smiled at Han Jianming nearby and said, "My little Biaomei[10] does not accept my red envelope. What should I do?"
Yuxi was not surprised by the way the youngster addressed her. The Duke Han of the State's official residence had been established for over two hundred years. It had relations with many families in the capital. Many of them were relatives tied by kinship or friendship. Just the sight of the two people in front of her should also be some of her relatives after a few turns of generations.
When Han Jianming saw that Yuxi did not take the gift, he looked puzzled and explained, "Yuxi, this is his maternal aunt's son." It meant 'he was a relative, so take your red envelope'.
Yuxi muttered in her heart that she did not know whose maternal aunt this person belonged to, but this occasion was not the time to ask questions. So, she took the red envelope with both hands and found it was heavy. Her smile got wider by two points. "Thank you, Biaoge[11]."
The tall teenager found Yuxi to be very interesting. He took the red envelope from the pretty teenager's hand and handed it to Yuxi. He teased her and said, "Biaomei[10], come on, say that again."
Yuxi's head was full of black lines, and she immediately turned away. She didn't know which family had been so unlucky by having this kind of kid. He even dared to flirt with little girls at such a young age.
The tall teenager laughed. "Jianming Biaoge[11], little Biaomei[10] is so interesting."
Yuxi wanted to scold this young man for being crazy, but she was a noble young miss who did not swear. She just bitterly put down the carriage curtain.
The delicate teenager disagreed with his action, as he could not help exclaiming, "Biaoge[11], we are on the street." Then, he turned around and apologised to Han Jianming.
Han Jianming laughed. "It's nothing, but my Meimei[12] is really angry." Yuxi was still young, but he knew that the other party was just having fun, so he didn't take it seriously.
Han Jianye, who had a big mouth, said, "Rest assured, my Meimei[12] won't be so narrow-minded. Yun Qing, when you have time, let's learn from each other. "He had made significant progress in martial arts recently. Even Master Yang praised him, and he urgently needed to show his improved skill.
Yun Qing promised, "You are welcome at any time."
Seeing that the time was almost up, the delicate and pretty youngster hastily said, "Biaoge[11], we should go now. If we delay again, Grandfather will swear and scold us."
When Yuxi heard the name Yun Qing, all her limbs became stiff. After a while, she finally recovered from her near horror. She held her chest and muttered, "I hope I got it wrong, or maybe he has a different name." She couldn't help but shudder, hoping he was not the one she thought he was.
Footnotes Full List
- unit of weight equal to 50 grams (modern) or 1⁄16 of a catty 斤 (old)
- an heir of a noble family
- eldest brother
- er=second, ge=elder brother, short form for Gege
- born from formal wife
- born from concubine
- Chinese idiom: to be entirely different
- younger brother
- traditional Chinese male robe
- younger female cousin from mother's side
- elder male cousin from mother's side
- younger sister
Noob Translator's Musing
- I don't know if I got the wrong source, but Han Jianye's second senior brother was written as 林风远 (Lin Fengyuan) in the first paragraph that mentioned him. Still, he was written as 林远风 (Lin Yuanfeng) in the following paragraph. So, I decided to use the first name 林风远 (Lin Fengyuan), which sounds much more suitable. 😓
- I started watching My Poseidon recently and had a crush on Leon Zhang. For a 31-year-old guy, he really looks like he is in his twenties. And Eleanor Lee, I love her act in My Big Boss, though I haven't finished watching the first season yet. 😅
Tags:
The Rebirth of Han Yuxi