The cool air of a morning in the sixth month permeated every corner of the courtyard. Sunlight streamed in through the windows, falling softly and leisurely on the person inside the house, stretching her muscles.
After stretching, Yuxi walked out of the house. At that moment, a gentle breeze blew past her as if it had blown directly into her heart, bringing an indescribable calm and peace.
Zijin smiled and said, "Madam, the way you look right now, you seem just like those grandmasters in the temples, exuding an inexplicable solemnity and reverence."
As Mama Qu approached, she happened to hear this and coughed lightly. When Yuxi went to freshen up, Mama Qu scolded Zijin: "What do you mean 'like the grandmasters in the temples'? It sounds as if Madam is a nun. Don't say things like that in the future; it's bad luck." The older generation paid particular attention to such things.
Watching Yuxi's demeanour, Zijin sometimes felt something. Looking back now, it was indeed bad luck. Zijin quickly and earnestly apologised, "I'll definitely watch what I say from now on, I won't talk nonsense anymore."
Mama Qu advised, "In the future before you say or do something, think about whether you should say it or do it. That way, you won't make mistakes or say the wrong thing again."
Zijin nodded eagerly and said, "I understand."
Mama Qu shook her head helplessly, knowing Zijin probably wouldn't be able to follow through. Well, nobody was perfect. Trying to make Zijin behave like her was impossible.
Every day, Yun Qing came to breakfast on time. However, on this day, he didn't return as expected. Yuxi instructed, "Go find out if the General has gone to the military camp."
Zijin went out and returned shortly, saying, "Madam, the General is in the study for a meeting." Yun Qing's study was the most heavily guarded place in the Yun residence, where ordinary people couldn't enter. Even the people in the backyard, except for Yuxi, had never been there, not even Zijin.
Yuxi instructed, "Set the breakfast, but keep the General's portion." If he was in a meeting in the study, it must be about something important.
Just after Yuxi finished breakfast, Yun Qing arrived from the front courtyard. He said, "Yuxi, there's been a flood in Jiangnan. This year's harvest in Jiangnan is not even half of last year's." Jiangnan was the land of fish and rice1, so a reduced harvest there would cause a significant rise in food prices.
Yuxi did not smile. Ordinary people suffered when there were floods. Having lived in a village before, Yuxi deeply understood their plight. Especially during natural disasters, many resorted to selling their children.
Yun Qing said, "Yuxi, it's not profitable to buy more food right now. We've bought enough food to last us until the end of the year, so let's not buy any more."
Yuxi shook her head. "Let's stick to the original plan." That meant they would continue to buy food as usual, including beans and seafood.
Yun Qing thought the expenses would be too high.
Yuxi suggested, "Let's use the money we confiscated from the Xu last year." Keeping the money hidden would bring no return, so it was better to use it now. They wouldn't lose anything by using it.
Seeing Yun Qing's hesitation, Yuxi added, "Everyone knows the money is in your hands. If you don't use it, others might think you intend to keep it for yourself!" They weren't worried about using it since the Imperial Court was already aware of this matter but couldn't find any evidence against them. However, if they didn't use the money and prices went up again, it would lose value.
After some thought, Yun Qing said, "Let's take out another two hundred thousand silver to buy food. We can't spend any more than that." They had already spent over four hundred thousand silver from the money confiscated from the Xu. At this rate, it would last until next year at the most.
Yuxi chuckled. "Why are you always thinking about saving money? Shouldn't you also be thinking about increasing your income?" Some money could be saved, but some couldn't. For example, you could have fewer clothes, but you absolutely couldn't skip a meal.
Yun Qing also wanted to increase his income, but it was easier said than done. Before Yuxi could speak, Yun Qing hurriedly said, "Except for trading goods outside the border, all other ideas are acceptable." Yun Shah had recently traded some salt, pots, and cloth to the border, but the amount was insignificant enough to affect the overall situation.
Yuxi said irritably, "Even if you asked me to trade more to the border, I wouldn't agree." Since Yun Shan was in an exclusive business, they suggested exchanging horses, which many herders agreed to.
Since last year, Yun Shan had exchanged more than three hundred horses. However, all these horses had been taken by Yun Qing, who didn't return the initial investment to Yuxi. Originally, Yuxi had planned to exchange the horses back to Yun Qing for his use. After all, who else would go into such a loss-making business? It wasn't a total loss, though, as it was lucrative, though not very profitable.
Yun Qing felt a little embarrassed. "Do you have any better ideas then?"
Yuxi replied, "There is, but I'm afraid you won't be willing." In fact, Yuxi felt that apart from selling goods across the border, there was no point in doing any other business.
Yun Qing responded, "Tell me, as long as it's useful, I'll agree." As long as it wasn't illegal or disruptive, he would definitely agree.
Yuxi explained, "I remember there's an escort agency in the capital called Xinglong Escort Agency, which is very profitable. We can follow their example. Anyway, we have a lot of retired soldiers on our hands. The Northwest is so chaotic now, I think it will definitely be profitable to set up an escort agency."
After two years of marriage, Yun Qing had a good idea of Yuxi's personality. "How much money can an escort agency make? Tell me, what actually do you want to do?"
A noob translator, きつね, translated this noob translation. Please read this chapter at xin-shou.site. If you read this in another location other than the site stated, it has been taken without the translator's permission. Please don't support this kind of act.
Ji Xuan had already started suppressing the bandits. And based on his personality, this bandit suppression would definitely cause trouble in the Northwest. At that time, it would be Yun Qing's chance.
Now that the time had come, Yuxi no longer hid it from Yun Qing. "I want them to familiarise themselves with the terrain first." It was definitely impossible to make money with an escort agency. Yuxi was just using it to lead into the following conversation.
Yun Qing was a general, very sensitive to topics like familiarising themselves with the terrain. His face immediately changed, and he asked, "Familiarise themselves with the terrain? Why are they familiarising themselves with the terrain?"
No one else was in the room then, so Yuxi spoke directly, "To familiarise themselves with the terrain so that it will be easier to suppress the bandits."
Yun Qing's expression became grave. He stared at Yuxi and said, "Yuxi, as long as there's an order, even if I'm unfamiliar with the area, I can still wipe out the bandits. There's no need to go to such lengths."
Yuxi chuckled softly, "He Rui, don't be silly. No matter how chaotic the Northwest becomes, the Emperor will never order you to lead troops to suppress the bandits. Compared to those bandits, you're the one who needs to be more careful." Those bandits were just a crowd of gathering crows2 and posed no threat to the Imperial Court. On the other hand, Yun Qing was a great general with an army of 100,000 men. If he had ulterior motives, the damage he could cause would be tens or even dozens of times greater than that of the bandits.
Yun Qing's face became very ugly. "Yuxi, do you know what you're talking about? Deploying troops without an order is tantamount to rebellion."
Yuxi touched her belly and said softly, "I don't know what rebellion is; I only know that if you don't seize this opportunity, I, Zaozao, and the child in my womb will surely die." Yuxi used the word 'surely die' because she was very sure that if Yun Qing continued to stick to his principles, their family would all die one day.
Yun Qing clenched his fist and swore, "I will protect you and the children." Despite all his words, Yuxi still didn't believe him.
Yuxi looked up at Yun Qing and said, "He Rui, no matter how capable you are, can you be compared to Marshal Yan? But what happened to Marshal Yan, who dedicated his life to the country? Not only did he meet a tragic end, but all the members of the Yan family were also killed. He Rui, if you don't seize this opportunity, our family will follow the same path as the Yan family sooner or later." After saying that, Yuxi looked at Yun Qing and said word by word, "Hey Rui, it's not that I don't trust you; it's just that I don't trust the one who sits on the Dragon Throne." She, too, longed for a peaceful married life, but she was born at the wrong time when the world was in chaos and ruled by incompetent rulers. Since she didn't want to die and wanted to live a good life, she had to rise up on her own.
Yun Qing fell silent for a while before he opened his mouth, "I remember you said that Yan Wushuang is still alive..."
Before Yun Qing could finish his sentence, Yuxi interrupted him, "Yes, Yan Wushuang may be still alive. But dozens of the Yan family have died tragically, leaving only him alive. Not only does he have to endure the pain of losing his loved ones, but he also has to hide from the endless pursuit. He Rui, how agonising do you think this suffering is? No one can understand Yan Wushuang's pain better than you." Yun Qing's and Yan Wushuang's experiences were very similar—both had lost their families and were hunted by the Song family. Moreover, both were lucky to survive amidst the pursuit.
Yun Qing could not argue with Yuxi, but he had his own principles. He said, "Regardless, I cannot do anything to dishonour our ancestors."
Yuxi knew Yun Qing's temperament well, which was why she had only brought up this matter now. This would put an end to Yun Qing's hope that the Imperial Court would issue a mobilisation order: "Do you think reputation is more important than our family's lives?"
Yuxi sighed and said, "He Rui, you know, you can only choose between your reputation and the lives of your family." She also wanted to have both, but the way of the current world wouldn't allow it!
Yun Qing hesitated, then walked out with long strides.
Yuxi touched her slightly bulging belly and said to Yun Qing's back, "He Rui, for me, the lives of our family are more important than reputation and power. As for what you think is most important, ask your own heart." If Yun Qing still believed that reputation was more important than the lives of his family, then she had nothing more to say.
After a short pause, Yun Qing walked out.
Yuxi sighed softly as she touched her belly and said, "Child, your Mom can only do so much. The rest is up to your Dad." Yuxi didn't blame Yun Qing; after all, he had been taught to be loyal and patriotic since childhood. To ask him to commit such a heinous act, which was tantamount to treason, was definitely not something he could agree to right away.
Zijin rushed in and saw Yuxi standing in the middle of the room, looking calm and relaxed. She breathed a sigh of relief and said, "The General walked out with a gloomy face just now. I thought you two had a fight?" She wasn't worried about the fight; she was just worried about Yun Qing getting violent towards Yuxi. He had a history of being violent.
Yuxi replied, "Yes, we had a fight." They had been married for two years and had never really argued before; this was the first time. Of course, it didn't really count as an actual argument.
Zijin exclaimed, "Madam, how come you're not angry at all after arguing with the General?" When she argued with Yu Zhi, she would be furious. Of course, they rarely argued.
Yuxi chuckled, "Anger doesn't always have to be explosive." Everyone expressed anger differently.
Zijin muttered, "Madam, don't lie to me. Who can argue and still smile so brightly afterwards?" She figured they must have had a disagreement, and the General must have been the only one upset; otherwise, how could Madam be so relaxed?
Footnotes Full List
- a well-watered place where fish and rice are abundant; fertile region
- Chinese idiom: disorderly group of people; mob; rabble
Tags:
The Rebirth of Han Yuxi