ROHYX Chapter 696 : The Art Of Lovemaking (1)

There were many matters to deal with, all of which were intertwined with a thousand beginnings and ten thousand threads 1 . However, Yuxi a...

There were many matters to deal with, all of which were intertwined with a thousand beginnings and ten thousand threads¹. However, Yuxi also knew she couldn't rush it; a meal had to be eaten one bite at a time², and problems must be solved one by one.

Before night fell, Yuxi received Du Guoxing's proposal for constructing the waterworks. She read it very carefully—one might even say she examined it character by character.

Afterwards, Yuxi placed the document on the desk and said, "Your proposal is well-written, but still not comprehensive enough. For instance, when building a dam: where is the optimal location? How wide, long, and deep should it be? These all require precise calculations. In addition, every type of expense involved must be budgeted in advance. That way, you'll always have a clear grasp of everything."

Du Guoxing was utterly shocked. He had used a great deal of specialised terminology, yet Han Shi had actually understood it. Having been involved in officialdom for several years, Du Guoxing was accustomed to such matters, so although he was shocked, he did not lose his composure before Yuxi. "Madam is correct. It is just that we currently have no one skilled in hydraulic construction." Du Guoxing was once again presenting Yuxi with a complex problem.

Yuxi felt she had been too soft, which was why Du Guoxing dared to bully his superior. She immediately smiled and said, "If that's the case, hand everything you're working on over to An Zike!" She no longer intended to give him face, as he always dragged his feet with excuses. In comparison, An Zike was still relatively obedient. Removing Du Guoxing would conveniently free up the position for Tan Tuo.

Du Guoxing had not expected Han Shi to turn her face³ so abruptly.

News of Yuxi's dismissal of Du Guoxing spread instantly throughout the entire Haocheng. But because of this matter, the Administrative Commissioner, An Zike, and the Judicial Commissioner, Xiong Nanqi, no longer dared to show the slightest sign of defiance.

When Yuan Ying heard the news, he clapped with delight. "That old scoundrel should have been dismissed long ago! Did he really think he was the Wenquxing, descended from the heavens⁴, and that Haocheng would fall apart without him?" Back in Lanzhou, Yuan Ying had been quite annoyed by Tan Tuo's constant lecturing. However, after meeting Du Guoxing in Haocheng, he realised that Tan Tuo's behaviour amounted to nothing more than excessive fondness for teaching others. When Du Guoxing discussed matters with him, he would talk without explanation, leaving Yuan Ying confused. Nevertheless, there was a reason why Yun Qing favoured Yuan Ying. If he didn't understand, he simply didn't understand — he just did things his own way, paying no attention to Du Guoxing's methods.

Feng Dajun laughed. "I used to think Madam was gentle-tempered and easy to talk to. I never expected her to be so decisive." After Yun Qing left, all of Shaanxi was under Feng Dajun's command, and he had dealt with Du Guoxing many times. Du Guoxing was talented—Feng Dajun did not deny that—but he was somewhat overly proud.

A smile also appeared at the corners of Yuan Ying's mouth. "Madam may appear gentle, but she's firm inside. Luckily, he didn't know her true nature; otherwise, he wouldn't have dared to slack off. But he never expected to kick an iron plate…" Not to mention Du Guoxing, if they were disrespectful to Madam themselves, even the General would be displeased.

However, Yuan Ying still had his worries. "Madman, do you think it's good or bad that Madam is this formidable?" He had no objections to Yuxi governing in the General's stead, as this was something the General approved of. He was only concerned that Yuxi might become too powerful—so powerful that she would outshine the General, and that would not be ideal.

Feng Dajun understood Yuan Ying's concern and laughed. "No matter how formidable Madam is, without our General, she's nothing more than a paper tiger⁵." She could dismiss Du Guoxing only because the General backed her. Without him, she wouldn't be able to accomplish anything.

Yuan Ying chuckled. "You're right—I was overthinking it."

Feng Dajun said something very incisive: "Only weak, timid, and incompetent men are afraid that their women will outshine them." As for their General, he had no such worry.

Hearing this, Yuan Ying joked, "I heard that at the start of spring, your wife did quite a lot of things following Madam's lead. As the saying goes, 'One who nears vermilion becomes red; one who nears ink becomes black⁶'. If your wife starts learning from Madam too, let's see if you'll still speak so lightly then." Very few men could manage that—at least he didn't have that kind of boldness.

Feng Dajun laughed heartily. "It's a shame it won't happen even if I wish for it." Not every woman had Madam's abilities. His wife could manage the household and look after the children, but she couldn't do anything else.

After a busy day, Yuxi was utterly exhausted. Momo Quan came over and said, "The medicinal bath is ready, Madam. You may go and soak now." Seeing Yuxi tilt her head and look at her, Momo Quan explained, "This medicinal bath will relieve your fatigue."

Yuxi felt a little ashamed. "Momo, I should have let you enjoy your retirement. Yet here you still have to worry over everything for me." From helping her look after the children and preparing medicinal meals to decocting herbs for her bath, Momo Quan had truly worked hard.

Momo Quan smiled. "These are just light, easy tasks. I can't help with anything else." Although managing external affairs must have been tiring for Yuxi, she was still radiant and full of spirit every day, making it impossible for Momo Quan to offer any words of dissuasion.

After a moment's thought, Yuxi asked, "Momo, should we send someone to bring your nephew's family to the northwest?" They were in a ceasefire period now—perfect timing to bring people over.

Momo Quan had long wanted to bring her nephew's family over. Life in Henan was nowhere near as comfortable as in Haocheng. However, Yuxi had been so busy every day, and the staff were stretched thin, so she hadn't brought it up. Now that Yuxi had suggested it herself, Momo Quan naturally didn't refuse as she told her where her nephew lived.

Yuxi nodded. "Once they arrive, Momo, what are your plans? Do you want them to work in the Governor-General's residence, or find work outside?" She asked because she felt that, knowing Momo Quan's temper, she probably wouldn't allow Quan Danhan to work as a servant in the residence.

Momo Quan shook her head. "Danhan and his wife can't do anything except farm. Let them return to their hometown. As for my two grandchildren, one has quite a temper, and the other has studied for a few years. When the time comes, we'll see if there's any suitable work for them at the residence. If not, they can earn a living outside—at least they'll be able to support themselves." It wasn't that she hadn't tried to train them, but unfortunately, their aptitude was limited. They excelled in neither the civil nor the martial arts.

Yuxi smiled and said, "Momo, now you're being too polite." The Governor-General's Residence was large enough to accommodate two more people.

After soaking in the medicinal bath, Yuxi rinsed herself again and changed into a lotus-pink outfit. For matters in the front courtyard, she dressed more solemnly, almost old-fashioned. Once she returned to the inner courtyard, however, she changed into something loose and comfortable.

Momo Quan presented a booklet to Yuxi and said, "Madam, you must study what's in here carefully."

Yuxi's eyes lit up at the thought of something good. The last booklet Momo Quan had given her had also been excellent. She took it and opened it immediately, but the moment she glanced at it, her hand began to shake, and the booklet fell to the floor.

Momo Quan picked it up and muttered, "You've already given birth to two children, yet you're still so flustered and careless." Her words carried an unspoken meaning.

Blushing, Yuxi asked, "Momo, where did you get… this?" She had thought it was some kind of valuable manual, but it turned out to be drawings of a n@ked man and woman entwined together.

Yuxi's face flushed so red that she looked no different from a boiled shrimp. "Momo, please stop talking." Since water was needed after intercourse, Momo Quan naturally knew a lot about these things.

Momo Quan was well over fifty and had long since become open-minded about many things. "What's there to be shy about between husband and wife?" It was not a good sign for a woman who had already given birth to two children to be as bashful as an unmarried maiden. She had to 'straighten Yuxi out⁷'.

Yuxi forced herself to adjust her mindset and asked, "Momo, why are you suddenly giving this to me?" Momo Quan's behaviour left her completely bewildered.

Momo Quan replied bluntly, "If you want to remain the sole favourite, you can't rely only on a man's affection. You must also learn more bedroom arts." Because she knew Yuxi was thin-skinned, she spoke directly—no circling around.

Yuxi stumbled and almost fell. "Momo, what did you just say?" Learning bedroom arts—she hadn't misheard, had she?

Momo Quan asked, "Do you know why Song Guifei⁸ could remain exclusively favoured for over twenty years, rendering the rest of the other beauties in the harem as good as nonexistent?"

Yuxi understood what Momo Quan was implying. "Momo, please speak plainly." Although she wished she could kill Song Guifei⁸ for her vicious methods, Yuxi couldn't deny that the woman was indeed skilled in this area. The Emperor had seen countless beauties, yet favoured her alone for over twenty years — this wasn't something that could be achieved through looks alone.

Momo Quan responded, "According to rumour, before entering the palace, Song Huaijin hired someone to teach Song Guifei⁸ the bedroom arts."

Yuxi became quite interested in this so-called specialist. "What kind of person did Song Huaijin hire to teach that venomous woman?" She now always referred to Song Guifei⁸ simply as 'that venomous woman'.

Momo Quan answered without changing her expression. "Rumour has it that it was the madam of the Baihualou in the capital. Apparently, she was an expert in the art of love."

Yuxi laughed. "Momo, do you really believe that rumour?" Otherwise, she wouldn't have gone through the trouble of finding a picture book of spring palaces⁹ to show her.

Momo Quan shook her head. "I don't know whether it's true or not. But when Song Guifei⁸ first entered the palace, she bewitched the Emperor so thoroughly that he stayed in her quarters for three months straight."

If that were true, it would indeed explain why that venomous woman could remain exclusively favoured for so many years. The young women selected for the palace were all respectable daughters, even if not from official families—how could they compare to a woman who had been deliberately trained?

Yuxi chuckled. "How amusing. I wonder how the man sitting on the dragon throne would feel if he knew all this?" Women trained by brothel madams were still women of the pleasure houses; bluntly speaking, the Empress Dowager Song was no better than them. The only difference was that she served the most powerful man in the world.

Momo Quan felt the topic was drifting too far. She handed the booklet back to Yuxi and advised, "Madam, if you want to keep the General's devotion, you must hold both his body and his heart." Although Yun Qing felt deep affection for Yuxi, there were plenty of temptations outside, and guarding against them was useless. Relying solely on a man's self-discipline was asking for trouble. The safest way was to ensure that Yuxi occupied Yun Qing's eyes and heart exclusively.

Yuxi felt this booklet was burning hot in her hands, yet she still couldn't bring herself to throw it away.

Footnotes Full List

1. 千头万绪 (qiān tóu wàn xù) = literally "a thousand starting points and ten thousand threads," meaning the situation is highly complicated, with many intertwined details.
2. "饭得一口一口地吃 (fàn dé yì kǒu yi kǒu dì chī)" — literally "you must eat a meal one bite at a time." A metaphor meaning you must proceed step by step; don't rush.
3. "翻脸 (fān liǎn)" — literally 'turn (one's) face'. It means to suddenly turn hostile/fall out with someone.
4. "文曲星下凡 (wén qǔ xīng xià fán)" — Wenquxing is the deity of literature/examinations. It is used sarcastically to describe someone who thinks very highly of themselves.
5. "纸老虎 (zhǐ lǎo hǔ)" — "paper tiger." Someone who appears powerful but is actually powerless without support.
6. "近朱者赤，近墨者黑 (jìn zhū zhě chì， jìn mò zhě hēi)" — proverb meaning "One is influenced by the company one keeps."
7. "掰正过来 (bāi zhèng guò lái)": colloquial—set someone straight; correct someone's mindset.
8. 贵妃 guìfēi: noble consort
9. 春宫图 (chūn gōng tú): er*tic illustrations.

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