Qiu Shi squatted down and said kindly to Lil Boy Shun, "Lil Boy Shun, this is your father. Grandmother often told you about him, don't you remember?"
Only then did Lil Boy Shun poke his head out and boldly call out, "Father."
Hearing his son call out to him, Han Jianye picked up Lil Boy Shun, threw him into the air, and then caught him securely. Lil Boy Shun did not cry in fear, but his face was pale. Han Jianye wanted to throw him up again, but Lil Boy Shun clung firmly to his neck.
Qui Shi scolded, "You have already become a father and still want to act mischievous like this. Quickly put the child down. What are you going to do if the child is frightened because of you?" After saying that, she stretched out her hand to carry her grandson over.
Strangely enough, Lil Boy Shun clung to Han Jianye, unwilling to go to Qiu Shi's embrace. Qiu Shi could only smile. In the end, these two were still father and son. Even if Lil Boy Shun was scared because of Han Jianye, he was still his father.
Han Jianye didn't take any offence from his mother's scolding as he said, "Where does it look like he was scared? I used to tease him like this every time he would laugh non-stop!"
Qiu Shi didn't know whether to laugh or cry. "That was then, and how old is he now?"
After asking Qiu Shi about trivial things happening in their family, Han Jianye inquired about the primary matter. "Mother, is grandmother's coffin still at the family temple?"
When this subject was brought up, the smile on Qiu Shi's face disappeared. "Well, it's still at the family temple, and your Dage is also there! Just in time for you to help your Dage carry the hearse to the clan's hometown, where the burial place will be."
Han Jianye had a belly full of questions. "Mother, Yuxi said that Grandmother left last words before she died, where she prohibited Yuxi from mourning for her. What is this all about?"
Qiu Shi's heart immediately became angry when this matter was mentioned, but obviously, now was not the time to talk about it. "You go back to the courtyard first to freshen yourself up, and I'll talk to you about this later."
Han Jianye shook his head. "No, I'll go to the family temple first." After coming back, it is definitely necessary to give a few kowtows to his grandmother without delay, and there was no urgency to freshen himself up.
Lu Xiu heard this as soon as she walked into the room. Lu Xiu was deeply grieved when she looked at the unshaven Han Jianye. "Second Master, you're back......" In her excitement, she even used the old way of calling Han Jianye.
Han Jianye looked at Lu Xiu, frowned and asked, "Why did you lose so much weight?" When he went to the northwest, his wife was very plump, and now there was no extra meat on her face.
"Second Master......" She couldn't finish saying the rest of her words since her tears began to fall. Ever since her husband had been away from the capital for more than a year, she had been anxious day and night, afraid that she would hear any bad news about him. As for her being thin, it was actually alright. She was on a vegetarian diet to lose some weight during this period.
Han Jianye was most afraid of seeing women crying. When he saw Lu Xiu in tears, he became flustered. "Why are you crying? Didn't I come back?"
After saying a few consoling words, Han Jianye took his entourage to the family temple.
Qiu Shi patted Lu Xiu's hand and comforted her. "Don't be sad. Ye-er will stay at home for a year this time. If you have anything to say, take your time to tell him."
Lu Xiu nodded his head.
It would be exhausting for an influential family to hold a huge funeral ceremony like this. Although Han Jianming did not collapse from exhaustion, he still felt terribly tired at this moment.
When Han Jianye arrived at the family temple, he saw the exhausted Han Jianming. He immediately called out, "Dage, I'm late......"
Seeing his younger brother, Han Jianming responded, "You're not late. Come and offer incense to Grandmother." Han Jianye was only a grandson and was so far away in the northwest. Since he could return home before seventh seven, it would not create any provocation from within the clan.
Han Jianye lit up some incense, kowtowed, burned paper money, and then looked at Han Jianming. He asked, "Dage, where are Father and San Shu? How come you're the only one here?"
Han Jianming replied, "Father and San Shu both fell ill and went back." He was young and strong, so he could resist the exhaustion.
Han Jianye was a bit puzzled and asked, "When I arrived, Mother didn't tell me about them!" Considering his father and San Shu were currently in residence, no matter what, he ought to visit and perform his greeting to them.
Han Jianming put his hand on Han Jianye's shoulder and said, "Father went back to the other residence. As for San Shu......" Han Jianming thought about how to tell Han Jianye about it.
Han Jianye looked puzzled. "Dage, I read your letter to Yuxi. What the hell is going on here? How could Grandmother really say something like that?" He still couldn't figure it out yet.
Han Jianming said a few words to his attendant, instructing him to watch, and then took Han Jianye to the back room. Seeing no one in the room, he finally spoke, "Since you read the letter, you should know that Grandmother was going to remove Yuxi from the clan, right?"
Han Jianye nodded his head. "This is too absurd. Not to mention that the one taken was only a double. Even if it was not, it should not be handled this way." It was too cold-blooded to try to get rid of the relationship after something had happened.
Han Jianming said helplessly, "Everyone knows this is absurd, but San Shu still supports Grandmother's decision. Otherwise, Grandmother would not have insisted on removing Yuxi from the clan."
Han Jianye froze. After he came to his senses, he asked, "Dage, do you mean that it was San Shu's intention to remove Yuxi from the clan? How could he do that? Yuxi is his own daughter. How could he be so cruel by scaring Grandmother's heart like that?"
Han Jianming's face showed disdain. "Whether he ever instigated Grandmother or not, I'm not sure. However, he is indeed disgusted with Yuxi. Didn't he almost force Yuxi to death because of Monk Liao Tong's words back then?" This act couldn't be considered biased anymore. It was more like how San Shu would treat his personal enemy. It was rare for a biological father to do this kind of thing.
Han Jianye didn't know what to say.
Nevertheless, Han Jianming asked, "How did Yuxi react when she found out about this?" Yuxi didn't have a deep affection for her grandmother. Even if she knew about this, it wouldn't have much impact on her. At most, her reputation wouldn't be very good, though. But Yuxi had experienced all the wind and rains, that even this little gossip could not hurt her.
Han Jianye laughed bitterly. "At that time, she cried a lot until she displayed a symptom of a near miscarriage. It was a good thing that Yuxi was originally healthy. Otherwise, the child's life might not have been saved."
Han Jianming's eyes lit up as he asked, "Yuxi is pregnant?" Then dissatisfaction flashed on his face. "Why didn't you write back home to inform us about such a big matter?"
Han Jianye answered, "It seems that there is a saying about not disclosing this matter to the public until the pregnancy reaches three months." He forgot to tell his mother about this just now, and he probably would get scolded for it later on. [+]
Han Jianming also knows such a custom. "It has been hard for her. Married to a place like that, and without family members caring for her, everything must rely on herself." If she had married in the capital, there would not have been so much turmoil.
When Han Jianye heard this, he said, "Dage do not need to worry about Yuxi. That girl is now pretty popular. Even Yun Qing is docile and obedient to her as if he has become a changed man. The people in the barracks often joked about this, saying that a high-grade, well-tempered steel Yun Qing has turned soft and been wrapped around his wife's fingers!" When he spoke about this, there was a smile on his face.
Han Jianming was also relieved to hear this and nodded his head. "That's good." If Yun Qing cared so much about Yuxi, then he definitely wouldn't care about the rumours. Not to mention that Yuxi was now pregnant, equivalent to her having an Imperial Sword.
After a pause, Han Jianming informed him, "After Grandmother's burial, San Shu will move out of the State Residence. Father has also agreed with this matter."
Hearing this, Han Jianye still couldn't help but ask, "Dage, why do you think that San Shu loves Yuchen and his other daughter so much but mistreats Yuxi?" Was that how a biological father should act? Those who didn't know their blood relationship would have thought they were enemies!
Even Han Jianming had no solution to this matter. "When you have more children in the future, ensure the water inside the bowl you're holding is levelled and never show any favouritism." They could not force Han Jingyan to change. They could only make sure they did a much better job than him by not mistreating their children.
Han Jianye let out a rare sigh. "It is fortunate that Yuxi has a strong nature. If her place is replaced by ordinary people, I do not know what things will be like for that person."
Looking at Han Jingyan, who was crying in front of the grave until he was about to faint, Han Jianming felt particularly ironic. He must be planning to make people think he was a filial son. Otherwise, why would he cry so sadly?
After the funeral, they stayed in the Han family's old home for a few more days. After getting in touch with the other members of the clan, their group of people went back to the capital. The first thing to do after returning would be to divide up the things left by Zhou Shi.
During the palace rebellion, Zhou Shi's courtyard had been ransacked by bandits. Many valuable things had been stolen, especially gold and silver jewellery, leaving only a few. But Zhou Shi had saved many good things over the years. In addition to several thousand acres of good land, she had several stores in her hand.
Under normal circumstances, these things must be divided equally between the brothers. Although Han Jianming had a knot in his heart when he had to deal with Han Jingyan, he was not such a cheapskate regarding money. Besides, if the elder didn't leave any last words regarding her dowry, they would be divided equally between her sons, which was the default arrangement. Please read this chapter at xinshou blogspot com.
When Wen Shi saw that Han Jingyan did not say anything, she stood out with her swollen belly and said to Han Jiangming. "My Mother-in-law left her last words before she died, saying she would leave her dowry to us. How could you not remember such a big thing?"
Because Zhou Shi's dowry was to be divided, all the masters of the Han family, old and young, without any exception, were all there. Thus, the whole house became dead silent when Wen Shi's words came out.
When Han Jianye heard this, his complexion changed. He asked, "San Shen, did Grandmother really say that?" He didn't pay much attention to the farm and shop, but the way Wen Shi spoke made him very angry.
When Han Jingyan heard this, his face also turned very ugly. His eyes fell on Wen Shi like a knife. "Do you have the right to speak here? Shut up!"
Although Wen Shi's heart was a little afraid, when she thought of losing such a large sum of money, it felt like a knife was cutting through her flesh. Moreover, this money would be her son's share in the future! At that moment, she boldly uttered, "This was what Mother-in-law said herself. I'm not the only one who heard her at that time. Even Yurong, Mother-in-law's maids and old women servants in the room also heard it. My Lord, I know you love your brother and cherish your nephew, but this is Mother-in-law's dying wish. You can't let her down."
When Han Jianye heard this, he was so angry that he laughed. "At first, I didn't understand how Grandmother could leave her last words of not allowing Yuxi to observe her mourning for her, but now I do! So that's how the so-called last words came about."
Han Jingyan asked with a cold face, "What do you mean by that?"
Han Jianye was not stupid. How could he go against Han Jingyan? No matter what, Han Jingyan was his elder, and he was just a junior. "What can I mean? My Grandmother's behaviour before she died was different from the past. In my understanding, Dage was my Grandmother's most beloved grandson, but she didn't even leave one thing aside for him, but left it all to San Shu." Han Jianye was close to saying that Zhou Shi was sick and confused before she died and acted differently than when she was sober. Of course, if one thought about this more, one would feel that this statement implied something as if someone was coveting Zhou Shi's dowry.
きつね's Musing
Dear Wen Shi, as a translator of this novel, I never translated any part that mentioned your Mother-in-law ever said that kind of thing.
Tags:
The Rebirth of Han Yuxi