Yang Duoming arrives in Yu City, seeking refuge under Yuxi instead of Yun Qing
After seeing the guests off, Yuxi leaned back on the soft sofa, looking exhausted. Gancao climbed onto the bed and started massaging her. Having studied massage techniques for a while, Gancao's skills were only acceptable.
When she saw that Yuxi had fallen asleep, Gancao gently covered her with a blanket and tiptoed out. She said to Mama Qu, "Madam is pushing herself too hard."
But Mama Qu had a different opinion. "Madam's spirits are much better than before." Although Yuxi was only chatting and socialising, it was still mentally draining.
When Er Nainai1 Zhao returned home, she told Madam Zhao about today's gathering. "Mom, Xiang Weiguo hasn't led any troops into battle—how much could he possibly be earning?" Yan Shi's clothes and lifestyle require a lot of money, and Er Nainai1 Zhao suspected that Xiang Weiguo was involved in embezzlement or bribery.
Madam Zhao paused momentarily before asking, "What's Han Shi's attitude?"
Er Nainai1 Zhao shook her head as she replied, "I couldn't see anything unusual." The two women had known each other for a long time, so Er Nainai1 Zhao ought to understand Yuxi well. But she honestly couldn't see through Yuxi.
Madam Zhao put down her prayer beads and said, "It's good that you couldn't tell—perhaps Han Shi has grown suspicious of Xiang Weiguo as well. The question is whether she'll take action against him."
Er Nainai1 Zhao responded, "She won't. Xiang Weiguo is Yun Qing's man, so Yuxi wouldn't act against him directly. At most, she might quietly gather evidence." If there was enough proof, Yun Qing could be the one to handle Xiang Weiguo.
Yuxi slept for over half a shichen2 before waking up. When she went to the side room, she didn't see the two children. "Where are Zaozao and Liu-er?" Yuxi had put them both in the side room. She was reluctant at first, but Zaozao really liked Liu-er and insisted on staying with her sister. Yuxi eventually agreed, though she warned Zaozao that if she cried and scared Liu-er, she wouldn't be allowed in the side room anymore. Surprisingly, this little girl actually understood—with Liu-er around, she never cried again.
Gancao answered, "Madam, the Eldest and Second Young Misses have been taken to the vegetable garden." Since the weather was nice and there was no wind, Mama Lan had taken Liu-er outside.
Yuxi didn't go to the garden but headed into the study. Feeling a bit better physically, she asked Huo Changqing to give her the files on the shadow guards so she could familiarise herself with them without taking control of them yet.
At that moment, an uninvited guest arrived at the Yun residence.
Zhuzi, the guard, looked at the dishevelled young man before him and thought he had misheard. "Who did you say you are?" The man claimed to be Fu Qingluo's husband! He must have had the guts to come all the way to Yu City—was he tired of living?
Yang Duoming introduced himself: "I'm Yang Duoming, Qingluo's husband. I would like to request an audience with Madam—please show me some leniency."
Zhuzi snorted coldly. "Someone, tie him up and send him to General Fu." A man who abducts another person's daughter deserves to be beaten to death with sticks.
Yang Duoming's expression changed slightly. With a cold face, he said, "I didn't expect Madam Yun to turn her back on people like this. It was blindness on my part to believe she was truly kind and magnanimous." Given Zhuzi's attitude, Qingluo might genuinely be in danger. No wonder he hadn't been able to find any trace of her in Yu City. At this point, Yang Duoming bitterly regretted listening to Qingluo all those years ago when he had thought Han Shi was benevolent and just. Unfortunately, it was too late for regret.
Two guards tried to subdue Yang Duoming, but since he knew martial arts, he wouldn't let himself be captured without a fight. However, given that he had come alone, it would be a joke if the Yun household couldn't seize him.
The commotion outside startled Xu Wu. He hurried to the gate and saw Yang Duoming tightly bound, asking, "What's going on?"
Zhuzi touched his swollen face and said, "This brat claims to be Yang Duoming. I was about to take him to General Fu!" Once General Fu saw this pretty boy, he would surely tear him to pieces. Zhuzi had been rude to Yang Duoming because he couldn't believe that Fu Qingluo had been taken by a mere bandit, which he found truly infuriating.
Though restrained, Yang Duoming could still speak: "General Yun and Madam Yun promised to take us in as a couple once the task was done." It seemed his luck was bad—he had just happened to run into a blockhead.
Upon hearing 'once the task was done', it became clear Yang Duoming had helped the General and Madam with something. Xu Wu glared at Zhuzi and rebuked him coldly: "Why wasn't this reported to Madam or me? You had no authority to handle this."
Zhuzi inwardly cursed his bad luck—he hadn't expected there was more to the situation. "Boss, this was my fault." There was no excuse for the mistake he had made.
Xu Wu looked around and warned, "If a single word of this leaks, none of you will be spared." That was enough to make everyone clamp their mouths shut. If Fu Tianlei found out that Yang Duoming had come looking for Madam Yun, it would surely spark another conflict. This Zhuzi really caused more harm than help.
Zhuzi knew he had messed things up, so he silently lowered his head.
When Yuxi heard from Xu Wu that Yang Duoming had arrived, she frowned slightly and asked, "Is there any proof of his identity?" Having survived two assassination attempts, she would only have herself to blame if she were killed for meeting people without confirming their identity.
Xu Wu handed Yuxi two letters. "Yang Duoming said these letters can prove his identity." He had already checked them and found nothing wrong.
Yuxi gave the letters a quick glance and could tell they were genuine. "Have him rewrite the letter he sent us previously." This task seemed simple, but it was the best way to verify his identity. Firstly, handwriting could not be faked, and secondly, very few people knew what the letter said.
Xu Wu nodded. "Alright."
Yang Duoming wasn't impatient either. Madam Yun had never met him before, so it was perfectly normal for her to verify his identity. In fact, not verifying it would have been odd.
Yuxi didn't meet Yang Duoming in the back courtyard; she went to the front parlour instead. She found it strange—why had Yang Duoming come to her in Yu City instead of looking for Yun Qing?
Xu Wu brought Yang Duoming into the study and stood in the middle of the room. If Yang Duoming made any sudden moves, Xu Wu would be there to ensure the Madam's safety.
Yuxi glanced at Yang Duoming and asked, "Where's Qingluo?" She had assumed that he had sent Fu Qingluo elsewhere.
Yang Duoming's expression changed slightly—could something have happened to Qingluo? He quickly replied, "I sent Qingluo back to Yu City first. Didn't she come to see you?"
Yuxi was slightly surprised. "No, and if she had returned to Yu City, I would have known." Puzzled, she asked, "Why would you let Qingluo return to Yu City alone to find me?" Something about this didn't feel right. She sensed that there was more to the story.
Though anxious, Yang Duoming kept his composure and said with a bitter smile, "Qingluo was pregnant. I was worried that if we had to flee from Nancheng when it fell, her body wouldn't be able to handle it. So, early in the eleventh month, I quietly sent her away from Nancheng." As it turned out, his concern was justified. They had to hide in the icy, snow-covered mountains for nearly half a month—Qingluo's body wouldn't have been able to endure that. However, he hadn't expected her to never make it to Yu City.
Yuxi asked, "How far along was she?" Upon hearing that it hadn't been three months yet, Yuxi let out a breath of relief. "That explains it. The journey from Nancheng to Yu City is over a thousand li3, and the roads are terrible in winter. If she had followed your advice, the child wouldn't have survived." As a mother, her child's safety was her primary concern. Fu Qingluo wasn't stupid—how could she not have realised the danger of travelling back to Yu City?
Yang Duoming reacted quickly by asking, "Madam, are you saying Qingluo never returned to Yu City and is probably hiding in Maicheng?"
Yuxi thought for a moment before replying, "If it were me, I would hide in a more remote place." She definitely wouldn't be hiding inside Maicheng—cities were usually thoroughly searched. It would be safer to hide somewhere more secluded.
At the time, Yang Duoming thought that Nancheng was too dangerous and that nowhere else was secure either. Therefore, sending Fu Qingluo to Yu City seemed the safest option, especially as there would be people there to look after her. However, he had overlooked the hidden dangers. Since Fu Qingluo appeared in good health, he assumed she could endure the journey. Not wanting to worry him, she hadn't told him otherwise. Yang Duoming said, "Madam, I'm returning to Maicheng to look for Qingluo."
Yuxi, of course, wouldn't stop a man from looking for his wife. "Don't worry. Qingluo has two competent and skilled servant girls with her—they'll take good care of her." Life in a remote mountain ravine might be hard, but at least it would be safe.
Yang Duoming nodded. "Let's hope so."
Seeing that Yang Duoming didn't make a move to leave but was just staring at Xu Wu, Yuxi realised that he wanted to say something confidential to her. She turned to Xu Wu and instructed, "Guard Xu, please step outside for a moment."
Xu Wu didn't question it. Based on Yang Duoming's behaviour just now, he could tell this man wasn't pretending.
Once Xu Wu had left, Yang Duoming knelt on one knee, cupping his fists towards Yuxi. "If Madam does not find me unworthy, I wish to follow you."
Yuxi looked surprised—she hadn't expected Yang Duoming to wish to follow her. Though secretly pleased, she still said what needed to be said: "You should know that I'm just a woman of the inner courtyard. Following me would mean handling chicken feathers and garlic skins4 with no prospects." Following her would be entirely different from following Yun Qing.
Yang Duoming pleaded, "Madam, please take me in."
Seeing his determination, Yuxi couldn't help but ask, "Why do you want to follow me? If you chose to serve my husband instead, you would certainly have a future ahead of you."
Yang Duoming replied, "Even if I served the General, he wouldn't trust me with anything important." Fu Tianlei and Yun Qing's friendship were as close as one's hands and feet5—Yun Qing would never offend Fu Tianlei for Yang Duoming's sake. In fact, he might even hand him over to Fu Tianlei.
When Yuxi heard this, a smile appeared on her face. "Are you so sure that if General Fu came asking me for you, I wouldn't hand you over?"
Yang Duoming didn't answer the question. Instead, he made a vow: "Madam, if you are willing to take me in, I will serve you with unwavering loyalty and never betray you." In truth, Yang Duoming was gambling that, once Yuxi had accepted him, she wouldn't allow Fu Tianlei to kill him.
Yuxi's expression shifted slightly. What she lacked most at that moment were people loyal to her personally. Yun Qing's men were capable, but they were loyal to Yun Qing. If she and her husband ever had a falling out, those men would surely side with him. However, Yang Duoming was a capable man, and taking him in would provide her with additional strength.
Footnotes Full List
- 二 èr = two, 奶奶 nǎinai = (respectful) mistress of the house
- 时辰 shíchen: 2 hours
- 里 lǐ: a traditional unit of length, equal to 150 zhang (市丈), and equivalent to 0.5 kilometres or 0.311 miles
- 鸡毛蒜皮 (jīmáosuànpí) literally means 'chicken feathers and garlic skins', meaning trivial things
- 情同手足 (qíng tóng shǒu zú) – Literally means "feelings like hands and feet," an idiom describing a bond as close as siblings (since hands and feet are inseparable parts of the body).
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