A bright moon hung in the sky as night fell, casting its radiant light on the earth.
Yuxi stood still in the courtyard, just like a statue! Although she had expected Yun Qing to be very reluctant, the fact that he did not even return to the backyard to eat made her so upset. Whom was she putting in so much effort for? Her heart hurt so much that tears unknowingly filled her eyes.
Mama Qu couldn't bear to see this situation any longer, so she urged, "Madam, it's already late at night, and it's chilly outside. You'll catch a cold if you stay out for too long. It's better for Madam to go inside!" This General, really! He was still sulking with Madam and wouldn't even consider making concessions, even though he knew Madam was pregnant.
Even if Yuxi felt miserable, she couldn't neglect her health. Moreover, she was pregnant, and if she caught a cold, both she and her child would suffer since she couldn't take any medicine. Yuxi listened to the advice and turned to go into the house.
Once inside, she couldn't concentrate on reading, didn't feel like talking, had no energy for anything, and couldn't calm her mind. Yuxi thought for a moment and decided to go into the study. She picked up a writing brush and started practising calligraphy.
Mama Qu quietly asked Zijin outside, "Why are the General and Madam quarrelling?" The General was fine when he came back, and nothing special had happened that day, so she didn't understand why they were fighting.
Zijin shook her head. "I don't know either. But the General is too petty. Even if they are fighting, he shouldn't skip dinner!" He was too petty. She used to think he was a broad-minded man.
Mama Qu thought the quarrel might not be over a trivial matter.
After practising calligraphy for almost half a shichen1, Yuxi's heart finally calmed down. She put down the brush, left the study, and told Mama Qu, "Prepare the water, I want to bathe."
After bathing, Yuxi lay in bed but couldn't fall asleep. She instructed Zijin, "Go tell Mama Lan to bring Zaozao over."
At this hour, Zaozao had already fallen asleep. However, Mama Lan knew Yuxi's current situation was special and did not object. She wrapped the sleeping Zaozao in a big red blanket and brought her into the main room.
Yuxi had already anticipated Zaozao would be asleep by now, but she just wanted to see her. Only by seeing her daughter could she strengthen her resolve.
Mama Lan spoke in a mosquito-like voice, "Madam, it is easy to break everything if you are being too forceful. It's better to be gentle."
In fact, Mama Lan always felt that Yuxi was too capable. A woman who was too capable might not necessarily be a good thing.
Yuxi smiled bitterly. "This time, it's not about trivial matters in the inner courtyard; it's about life and death." It wasn't just the life and death of one person; it was the life and death of an entire family. However, there was no need for Yuxi to be so explicit about it.
Mama Lan had a lot to say to Yuxi, but when she heard the mention of life and death, she dared not say another word: "Then, Madam, please rest early."
Yuxi could not sleep at that moment either and said, "Mama Lan, you have been in the Han family for so many years; you must have seen my mother." She was referring to her biological mother, Ning Shi. In fact, across two lifetimes, Yuxi had little impression of her. It was only when she became a mother herself that she began to think about her birth mother.
After so many years, coupled with Ning Shi's relatively weak presence in the Han family, many things were blurry for Mama Lan. After thinking for a while, she finally spoke, "The late Third Old Lady was a very gentle person." Speaking of this, Mama Lan felt somewhat emotional. The late Third Old Lady, Ning Shi, was too gentle, while Madam was overly strong.
Yuxi murmured, "Gentle?" A woman who was too gentle was actually weak. In her previous life, Yuxi herself was too weak and ended up being rubbed round and flattened2 by the Jiang family, who did not even treat her like a human being. In the end, she died without a place to be buried.
When Mama Lan saw that Yuxi was still awake, she shared some exciting stories she had heard to try to cheer her up. Her voice was warm and pleasant, almost like a lullaby. After listening for a while, Yuxi began to feel sleepy and soon fell asleep.
When Mama Lan left the house, she saw Zijin waiting in the yard.
Zijin walked up to her and whispered, "How is Madam?" It was the first time she had seen her Mistress so worried that she could not sleep.
Mama Lan replied, "She has already fallen asleep."
On the other hand, Yun Qing hadn't rested either and had been in the study the whole time. By midnight, he still did not feel sleepy and started to practise his swordsmanship in the yard.
The couple's argument had already reached Xu Wu's ears. After Yun Qing had finished practising a series of sword techniques, Xu Wu deliberately said, "General, I heard from Zijin that Madam only drank a bowl of goat's milk tonight and didn't eat anything else."
How can she bear not eating anything when she has a child in her belly? Yun Qing said coldly, "Nonsense, don't the people around her advise against it?" After saying this, Yun Qing stood up, preparing to leave. However, when he reached the door, he stopped.
Xu Wu asked, "General, what are you and Madam arguing about?" Madam was very reasonable, and the General was fond of his wife. A quarrel between them was definitely not a trivial matter.
Seeing that Yun Qing remained silent for a while, Xu Wu continued, "General, if it's a domestic matter, just let Madam handle it, especially when she's pregnant." In fact, Xu Wu thought Yuxi was very reasonable and not someone who would cause trouble for no reason. This time, it definitely couldn't be a domestic matter.
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Yun Qing was also troubled at the moment, and Xu Wu happened to be someone he trusted. He explained, "It's not a domestic matter. Ji Xuan is currently suppressing the bandits. There's a natural disaster causing a decrease in food production in the south, and there may be chaos in the Northwest. Madam said that if chaos breaks out in the Northwest, I can take the opportunity to send troops to control the provinces of Shaanxi and Gansu. Sending troops without orders and wanting to control Shaanxi and Gansu is tantamount to rebellion!" In essence, this was no different to being a bandit chief, except that bandits ruled the mountains, whereas if he did this, he'd be ruling the provinces of Shaanxi and Gansu.
After listening, Xu Wu's eyes widened. He had suspected that the dispute between the couple was not about trivial matters, but he had never expected it to be such a big deal. However, after interacting with Yuxi more, Xu Wu knew she wouldn't say such things without a reason. "General, why does Madam want you to take the opportunity to send troops and control Shaanxi and Gansu?" Madam must have had her reasons for saying such things.
It was not something that could be explained in a few sentences. Yunqing felt exhausted at the moment and didn't feel like talking much. He knew what Yuxi said was right but couldn't go along with her plan. He didn't want to be a traitor or a rebel, and he didn't want to bear the shame forever. "I'll talk to you about this another day."
Xu Wu was about to spit blood. How can you leave half the story untold? However, when he saw Yun Qing's expression, he tactfully asked no further. Xu Wu urged, "General, it's getting late. You should rest. There's a lot of work to be done tomorrow."
Yun Qing said, "Go and see if Madam has rested." He still couldn't shake off his worries. In his ability, Yun Qing knew that Yuxi was right, but he couldn't overcome his personal obstacles.
Upon hearing this, Xu Wu realised something was wrong. After being by Yun Qing's side for over ten years, he understood Yun Qing's temperament. If Madam hadn't had a good reason for the General to send troops and control the Northwest, the General wouldn't have been in such a dilemma and would have confronted Madam directly. Xu Wu hurriedly replied, "Alright, I'll go ask."
After a while, Xu Wu returned and said, "Mama Lan talked to Madam for a long time before she finally lay down." Whether she had fallen asleep or not was unclear.
Yun Qing thought momentarily but decided not to return to the backyard. If Yuxi had fallen asleep, he would only disturb her by going there. Originally, he had planned to discuss this matter with Yuxi the next morning and see if they could find a mutually acceptable solution. However, there was an urgent matter at the military camp, so he went there instead.
Yuxi had little appetite, but now she was eating for two. Thus, she ate a bowl of rice porridge, a boiled egg, and a plain steamed bun with no taste.
Shortly after breakfast, Shiliu walked in and reported, "Madam, Guard Xu wishes to see you." She paused for a moment before continuing, "Madam, Guard Xu seems troubled."
Yuxi nodded. "Let him in."
Xu Wu entered, glanced at the several maids and old women servants in the main hall, bowed to Yuxi, and said, "Madam, I have something to discuss with you."
Yuxi turned to Mama Qu and instructed, "All of you, please withdraw." After everyone had exited, she asked Zijin to stand guard at the door and enter the study. Once inside, Yuxi spoke to Xu Wu, "What is it that you wanted to discuss? You can speak freely now."
Xu Wu lowered his voice and said, "The General told me yesterday that you wish him to lead the troops to control the provinces of Shaanxi and Gansu. Madam, may I know the reason behind this thought?"
Yuxi repeated what she had previously discussed with Yun Qing. "If the situation were not so dangerous, why would I be willing to have him do such a despised task? Reputation is important, but the lives of our family will always come first." If Yun Qing had already borne the stigma, could she maintain a good reputation?
Xu Wu was greatly shocked. The tragic incident in Tong City years ago, caused by collusion between the Song family and the Donghu people, came as no surprise to him, as rumours had been circulating for a long time. But the Emperor's involvement was beyond belief: "Even the current Emperor was involved?"
Yuxi nodded. "Yes, the current Emperor was also involved. How can such an Emperor be trusted if he was even willing to commit treason? Instead of being in danger in the future, it would be better to take the initiative earlier so that the Emperor and the Song family will not dare to act rashly against us." If the Emperor were to seize power, both the Yu and Song families would be wiped out. Of course, this was assuming that he could seize power. Yuxi believed that with the Emperor's impatience, he would be unable to outwit someone as cunning as Grand Chancellor Yu.
Xu Wu stated, "Such a person is not worthy of ruling a country, nor is he worthy of our loyalty." More than a hundred thousand people in Tong City had died because of these people's power struggles, which was truly despicable.
Yuxi strongly agreed with this sentiment. Just like in her past life, when Jing Wang3 became Emperor, he understood the importance of patience and acted cautiously because there were no significant upheavals at that time. However, judging by the current situation, it was likely that the Imperial Court was in turmoil back then as well. After the catastrophic floods in the south, it was highly probable that chaos would follow.
After a moment of thought, Xu Wu said, "Madam, the General is quite stubborn. I believe it would be best for Madam to ask Yifu4 to persuade him. If Yifu4's reasoning is sound, the General will listen."
Yuxi found this an excellent suggestion and replied, "I have already discussed these matters with Uncle Huo, and he agrees with me. We just didn't dare bring it up to the General as the timing wasn't right back then." Now, the time was right.
Upon hearing this, Xu Wu visibly relaxed. With such an approach, things would be easier to handle. In reality, Xu Wu also agreed with Yuxi's perspective: taking the initiative sooner rather than later would prevent being manipulated by others.
Footnotes Full List
- 2 hours. Half a shichen = 1 hour
- It refers to someone being completely controlled and manipulated by others, like a piece of clay being moulded into different shapes.
- king
- foster father
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The Rebirth of Han Yuxi