News of Yuxi's plan to travel to Haocheng spread after she consulted with Feng Dajun's and Yuan Ying's wives. The first per...
News of Yuxi's plan to travel to Haocheng spread after she consulted with Feng Dajun's and Yuan Ying's wives.
The first person to visit her was Er Nainai1 Zhao, Tu Shi. She asked, "Yuxi, I heard you're leaving for Haocheng in a day or two? Why the rush?" While everyone knew that Yuxi was planning to go, nobody expected it to be so soon.
Yuxi smiled as she explained, "Travelling now, in the third month of spring, is perfect. If we wait until the hot season, the child won't be able to cope." With little Liu-er coming along on the journey, they would undoubtedly have to travel slowly — there was no way they would reach Haocheng in less than two months.
Er Nainai1 Zhao said wistfully, "Once you leave this time, who knows when we'll meet again? When I have troubles in my heart later, I won't even have a place to pour them out."
Yuxi replied, "The Western Sea isn't all that far from Haocheng; we'll have chances to meet."
Er Nainai1 Zhao's eyes widened. "General Yun is sending my husband to the Western Sea? What's this all about? That place is even more dangerous than Yu City!"
Yuxi was surprised. "You really didn't know? It wasn't my husband who ordered Zhao Hao to the Western Sea; he volunteered himself. There are frequent battles there, although it lacks the heaven-made danger2 that Yu City has."
Er Nainai1 Zhao said sadly, "He didn't even say a word about something this big to me." Zhao Hao's silence made it clear that he had no intention of taking her with him.
Yuxi frowned. "Tu Jiejie3, although the Western Sea is often at war, I think you should still accompany Zhao Hao. Don't stay behind. It may be unsettled there, but you must go anyway. When a husband and wife are apart for too long, even the deepest feelings grow thin—let alone when the bond was never that deep to begin with."
Er Nainai1 Zhao looked bitter. "If Second Master doesn't want me to go, what use is it for me to want to?"Even if she begged her in-laws, it would be pointless for her to tag along with dead skin and a shameless face4.
Yuxi was silent for a moment, then said, "This is for you to decide. Outsiders can only help for a while; in the end, you have to rely on yourself."
Gancao tiptoed over and informed Yuxi, "Madam, Madam Feng has arrived."
Madam Feng — Chang Shi — had come to discuss the move to Haocheng. Since General Feng had no other family in Yu City and would be spending more time in Haocheng from now on, it was only natural that his wife and children would be following him there.
Er Nainai1 Zhao stood up and said, "Yuxi, I'll head back first." In the past, although Yun Qing was Yu City's top commander, General Zhao also held a position there, so the two families were similar in status. But now, the difference was so noticeable.
As Yuxi saw Er Nainai1 Zhao to the door, she whispered, "Tu Jiejie3, the inner lining matters more than the outer appearance5." There were some things that couldn't be spelt out, so she offered only this subtle hint.
Tu Shi now only had two daughters and was getting on in years. If she didn't accompany her husband to the Western Sea this time,
she would be past childbearing age in another four or five years. This meant that, in the future, all the family inheritance would eventually belong to a concubine-born son, which was like making a wedding dress for someone else6.
Er Nainai1 Zhao gratefully said, "Yuxi, although I am a few years older than you, it has always been you who guided and advised me. These past few years, I have truly owed you a lot."
Yuxi smiled. "It was fate that brought us together. Why bother with such polite words?" Of all the people in Yu City, she got along best with Er Nainai1 Zhao.
Chang Shi came to see Yuxi to confirm the date of departure. After learning they were leaving in two days, she asked, "Isn't that a bit too rushed?"
Yuxi explained, "We must reach Haocheng before the weather turns hot. But Liu-er is weak and cannot endure jolts and bumps, so the carriage cannot travel quickly. Therefore, we must start the journey as early as possible."
Chang Shi understood Yuxi's concerns. "Then, are you really not taking all your belongings, Madam?" With so many possessions, how could they possibly be packed in only two days?
Yuxi smiled and replied, "We'll only bring along the light and useful things. The rest can be sent to Haocheng later."
Chang Shi hesitated. She wanted to travel together with Yuxi, and being with her was not only safer but also more convenient. However, there was simply no way she could get her household in order in only two days.
Noticing Chang Shi's conflicted expression, Yuxi smiled and offered a suggestion. "If you feel the schedule is too tight, then just travel later with Madam Du and the others. The bandits and brigands in the northwest have all been eliminated, so the roads are safe now—you needn't worry."
However, by the time Chang Shi left, she still hadn't made up her mind.
On the day before leaving Haocheng, Yuxi went to see Han Jianye. By this time, Han Jianye could already speak again. Yuxi told him, "Er Ge7, tomorrow I will be going to Haocheng. From now on, I will not return to Yu City." Yun Qing would surely still come to Yu City, but the chance of her returning was practically zero.
Han Jianye's voice had become very hoarse as he spoke, "Take care on the road."
Yuxi hadn't come to pour out her feelings to Han Jianye this time—she had something to tell him. "Er Ge7, Dage8 arrived in Haocheng some days ago and entrusted He Rui to give you a letter." Having said this, she took out Han Jianming's letter and read it aloud.
After hearing the letter, Han Jianye said, "Tell Dage8 that I won't go to Shu—I'll just stay in Yu City." At this point, he didn't want to go anywhere at all, only to remain in Yu City.
Yuxi also hoped that Han Jianye would stay in Yu City, so she felt completely relieved upon hearing this. "Good. Once the situation in the northwest has stabilised, I'll send someone to deliver the message to Dage8."
The two siblings, who once had endless things to talk about, now sat in silence facing each other. Yuxi stood up and said, "Er Ge7, take good care of your injuries! Whatever you need, just tell Mama Liu directly." Since this residence was private property and not part of the official estate, even if they left, they would certainly have to leave people behind to guard it.
Han Jianye looked at Yuxi, whose expression remained as calm as still water. "Yuxi, I will protect Yu City well so that you won't have any worries. Yuxi, your Er Ge7 is not very capable. I cannot help you much; I can only do this." He did not wish to go to Sichuan to depend on his brother-in-law, for that felt like lowering himself. Yet he also knew that with the Han family members in the capital, he could not openly follow Yun Qing, so staying in Yu City was the best choice. In this way, he could also guard the rear for Yun Qing and Yuxi.
Yuxi was startled for a moment. After a while, a smile appeared on her face. "Er Ge7, once the situation in the northwest has stabilised, I'll find a way to have Er Sao9 bring Lil Boy Shun and the others to the northwest. By then, your whole family will be able to reunite."
Han Jianye felt deeply ashamed. "Once again, I have troubled you to exhaust your efforts."
Yuxi said, "Don't dwell too much on past matters. As long as you don't repeat the same mistakes in the future, that's enough." If one kept brooding over the past, one would only sink into pain and become unable to pull oneself out.
Han Jianye smiled bitterly. "Yuxi, I always have this strange illusion that you are my Jiejie3, not my Meimei10." Whenever he ran into trouble before, it was always Yuxi who solved it for him, rather than him, as the older brother, solving things for Yuxi.
Yuxi let out a long sigh. "It was my fault." She had been wrong, as had her Dage8. She only hoped that, after facing life and death, Er Ge7 would truly become mature.
In the evening, Yuxi carried Liu-er as she walked around the courtyard. This child was not noisy or fussy, but she did like being outside. Once Yuxi had discovered this, she or Mama Lan would take her for a little walk whenever the weather was good.
When Yuxi saw Yun Qing, she smiled and asked, "Why are you back so early today?" Yun Qing usually left early and returned late, except on days when he was ill.
Taking Liu-er from Yuxi's arms, Yun Qing smiled as he answered, "You're leaving Yu City tomorrow. Once we're separated, we won't see each other for half a month or more, so of course I had to come back early."
After only a few sentences, Liu-er began to cry. Her crying was very soft, just whimpering 'ying-ying'. Anyone who heard it couldn't help but feel a pang of heartache.
Seeing Liu-er cry, Yun Qing quickly checked and, finding her dry, asked, "Is this child hungry?" Having already helped to raise Zaozao, he had some experience after all.
Yuxi shook her head. "She just ate not long ago, so she shouldn't be hungry." After saying this, she took Liu-er back and soothed her. Soon enough, the child stopped crying.
Yun Qing was a little puzzled. "Why doesn't this little girl like me today?"
It wasn't the first time he had held Liu-er—she had never cried before.
Yuxi laughed. "Perhaps it's the stench all over you that your daughter disdains." She was only teasing Yun Qing with these words, but unexpectedly, he took it seriously and hurried off to bathe.
He washed himself thoroughly from head to toe until he was completely clean. When Yun Qing held Liu-er again, the little girl actually didn't cry. Yun Qing couldn't help but laugh. "This little one is already so particular at such a young age—what will we do when she grows up?"
Yuxi didn't see anything wrong with it, though. "For a young lady, it's actually better for her to be more particular." If Liu-er were as noisy as Zaozao, she, Yuxi, would be the one crying.
Yun Qing was also a little puzzled and wondered, "Liu-er and Zaozao are real sisters, so why is one so rowdy and the other so quiet?" Zaozao was excessively noisy, while Liu-er was completely quiet—the two sisters were complete opposites.
Yuxi felt that Yun Qing had spoken too soon. "The children are still young. How can we possibly predict their temperaments at this stage?" She thought Liu-er's quietness was due to her health condition.
Carrying Liu-er inside, Yun Qing looked at the now mostly empty bedroom. He decided that he would sleep in the study once Yuxi left with the children. "I've already spoken to Physician Bai. He'll accompany you to Haocheng tomorrow."
Yuxi shook her head. "With so many wounded soldiers in Yu City right now, it's not a good idea for Physician Bai to leave with me. You don't need to worry about Liu-er—she'll be fine with Momo and me around." Physician Bai's medical skills were among the very best in Yu City. If she took him away, it would practically be her sin to delay the treatment of other injured men.
Yun Qing shook his head and expressed, "Liu-er's condition is unusual. I can only feel reassured if a real physician accompanies you." Momo Quan knows medicine, but her knowledge was only half a bucket of water11. If something were to happen to Liu-er, and Momo Quan couldn't handle it, wouldn't that end up harming the child?
Yuxi thought momentarily and suggested, "Physician Zeng specialises in treating children's illnesses. If you're still uneasy, let him go with us instead."
Yun Qing considered it for a moment and then agreed.
Footnotes Full List
- 二 èr: two/second, 奶奶 nǎinai: (dialect) young mistress of the house
- 天险 (tiānxiǎn) means a natural barrier created by Heaven, such as mountains, rivers, cliffs, gorges, or deserts that are so steep or difficult that they serve as a dangerous, impassable defence line. In context, it often refers to natural fortifications (mountain passes, rivers, cliffs) that are extremely difficult for enemies to cross.
- 姐姐 jiějie: older sister
- The idiom 死皮赖脸 (sǐpí làiliǎn) is used to describe a person who is shameless, brazen, and persistently bothersome, especially when they are trying to get something or refuse to leave. They have no sense of dignity and will not be deterred by rejection or social norms.
- Figuratively, the phrase 里子比面子重要 (lǐzi bǐ miànzi zhòngyào) means substance is more important than appearances (or practical reality matters more than reputation/vanity).
- The idiom 为他人做了嫁衣裳 (wèi tārén zuò le jiàyīshang) means to work hard or make preparations, only to have another person reap the benefit or enjoyment.
- 二 èr = second, 哥 gē = Elder brother
- 大哥 dàgē: eldest brother
- 二 èr: second, 嫂 sǎo: sister-in-law
- 妹妹 mèimei: younger sister
- 半桶水 (bàntǒng shuǐ): An idiom meaning superficial, incompetent, or only knowing a little bit (i.e., someone who hasn't filled their 'bucket' of knowledge).
COMMENTS