When Han Jingdong was laid to rest, only a few members of the Han clan came to see him off. Not only were friends and relatives absent, but...
When Han Jingdong was laid to rest, only a few members of the Han clan came to see him off. Not only were friends and relatives absent, but even his own younger brother, Han Jingyan, did not appear, citing his injuries, and merely sent his daughter-in-law to come by twice as a formality. Instead, the steward of Jing Wangfu1 set up a mourning tent by the roadside. Though the tent was relatively simple, this was still a gesture of goodwill.
When the clansmen and guests arrived at the funeral, they saw that Han Jianming's face was pale, indicating that he was unwell. Yet he resolutely endured and held on until the very end.
Lying in bed, Han Jianming asked Mr Zhao, "What's the situation outside now? Whom does the Yu family plan to push onto the throne?" The Emperor had already been forced to death by the Yu family's people; unless the Yu family were utterly brainless, there was no way they would allow the crown prince to ascend the throne.
Mr Zhao replied, "There are rumours that the Yu family wants to support Lu Wang's ascension." Lu Wang was the thirteenth son of Emperor Guangzong, and because he was somewhat slow-witted, he had been able to grow up safely within the inner palace until the age of thirteen.
Han Jianming shook his head and said, "Are the Yu family trying to hold the Son of Heaven hostage in their arms to command the feudal lords2? It may sound like a good idea, but it depends on whether others are willing to go along with it."
Mr Zhao continued, "My Lord, Jing Wang went to Linlu Pass a few days before the Yu family stormed the palace. I don't think this matter is so straightforward."
Han Jianming nodded. "My Dad has also been buried. Let's rest for a couple of days. Once my wife's illness improves, we'll leave the capital." They had originally planned to depart immediately after the funeral, but Ye Shi had fallen ill, and no matter what, he could not abandon his wife.
Mr Zhao could complain that Han Jingdong had died at the wrong time, but he could not criticise Ye Shi. After all, it was no easy task for a woman to hold an entire household together. "My Lord Duke, I will leave the capital first. Once I've made proper arrangements outside, it will be easier to receive you when you arrive." Many people were fleeing the capital, and desperados were forming gangs to rob them. Without proper preparation, encountering such people could only mean one thing: death.
Illness came like a collapsing mountain, but recovery was like pulling a silk thread from a cocoon3. Han Jianming had initially thought Ye Shi would recover quickly. Yet after three to five days, there was still no improvement in her condition. The physician was frank, stating that her current state required careful, prolonged recuperation.
Han Jianming wanted to send Qiu Shi ahead first. "Mom, take Qiqi and Lil Boy Chang to join Er Dimei4. Once Ye Shi has recovered, I'll bring her to meet you."
Qiu Shi was unwilling. "You take the children and go—I'll stay behind to care for my daughter-in-law." How could she possibly set her mind at ease with her son remaining in the capital?
Han Jianming explained, "Mom, I'm worried there may be trouble at Linlu Pass. If that happens, we may not be able to leave the capital at all. You should first take the children to Wang County. If I only have Ye Shi with me later, our chances of getting out will be much better."
Qiu Shi absolutely refused.
With no other option, Han Jianming knelt on the ground. "Mom, it's too dangerous for the whole family to leave together. I promise you—once Ye Shi recovers, I'll take her to Wang County to join you." Han Jianming had arranged for Lu Xiu to stay in a safe place long ago. If trouble arose in the capital, the Duke's residence would still have a place to take refuge.
In the end, Qiu Shi nodded helplessly. "What about you two, then? Will you and Ye Shi be staying in the capital?" The capital was far too dangerous for anyone to stay, and she could not put her mind at ease.
Han Jianming shook his head. "Don't worry, Mom. Once you and the children have left the capital, Ye Shi and I will go to the country estate outside the city. It only takes half a day by carriage. Ye Shi's body should still be able to endure that journey."
Qiu Shi was still feeling uneasy. "Everything outside is in total chaos right now. What if bandits break into the estate?" Those who stayed behind would be nothing more than obvious targets when that time came.
Han Jianming said, "We'll only take the clothes we can carry with us—nothing else." After finishing his discussion with Qiu Shi, Han Jianming went to visit Ye Shi.
Ye Shi deeply blamed herself for dragging the family down. With reddened eyes, she pleaded, "My Lord, you should just leave with Qiqi and the others. Don't worry about me."
Han Jianming sat by the edge of the bed and held Ye Shi's hand. "What nonsense are you talking about? How could I ever abandon you? Once you have recovered, we'll go to Wang County, pick up the children, and then head northwest together." The talk of going to the estate was meant only to comfort Qiu Shi. Given Ye Shi's current condition, how could she possibly endure such rough travel?
The next day, Qiu Shi disguised herself and left the capital with Qiqi and Lil Boy Chang. Thanks to careful planning, everything went smoothly, and she safely led the children out of the city. Having more guards did not necessarily mean greater safety, so this time Han Jianming sent only four men to escort them. All four were exceptionally skilled in martial arts. Han Jianming had mobilised the last remaining resources of the Duke's residence for this journey.
Three days later, Han Jianming received news that Qiu Shi had arrived safely in Wang County, and he immediately felt much more at ease. His mother and the children were temporarily safe there.
Upon hearing this, Ye Shi said, "My Lord, my health has improved a great deal. I can leave the capital now."
Knowing that Ye Shi was still very weak, Han Jianming replied, "Let's wait two more days." That brief delay ended up causing unexpected trouble.
That evening, Han Jianming received the news and asked in disbelief, "What did you say? The two hundred thousand troops led by Yan Wushuang are only twenty odd li5 from the capital?" Yan Wushuang had already passed Linlu Pass, so why had there been no news at all in the Imperial Court?
Han Yong nodded. "We haven't been able to find out the details yet, but this is absolutely true. My Lord, the city gates have already been closed. What should we do now?"
Han Jianming said, "We absolutely cannot stay in the Duke's residence." Following the events involving Duan Xinrong, he believed that Yan Wushuang was capable of acting despicably and without any moral boundaries. Under no circumstances could he allow himself to be captured by Yan Wushuang — he had to go into hiding.
Han Yong replied calmly, "The capital is so vast. If you hide, they won't be able to find you. But my Lord, what about the Fourth Young Master and the others?" Although Han Jianming was not a man obsessed with women, he now had three sons and two daughters.
Han Jianming said, "If they are willing to return to their natal families, let them take the children and go. If not, send them to the residence on Shangyuan Street. Han Yong, once things have settled down in the capital, you should hide in the countryside for a while. When things have calmed down outside, come to the northwest to find us." No matter how shameless Yan Wushuang was, he would never take out his anger on mere servants.
Han Yong nodded. "Alright." In these times, nowhere was truly peaceful. Fortunately, the Fourth Guye6 held military power and controlled the northwest, so there should be no immediate danger of warfare.
That very night, Han Jianming secretly left the Duke's residence with Ye Shi. As for where they went, even Han Yong, the Chief Steward, did not know.
Han Jianming and Ye Shi were hiding in the slums. No one would have imagined that a dignified Duke would take refuge in such a place.
Looking at the low, lightless house, Ye Shi felt momentarily dazed. However, she quickly pulled herself together—no matter how poor the house was, as long as her husband was by her side, she had nothing to fear. She stood up and said, "Husband, are you hungry? I'll cook some porridge for you."
Han Jianming shook his head. "Don't exert yourself. Get some proper rest and try to recover your strength over the next few days. Once the city gates open, we'll be leaving the city."
Ye Shi responded, "Don't worry, my husband. I won't drag your rear leg7."
Xiao Sanzi, the owner of this house and the person who had gone out to gather information, returned and reported to Han Jianming, "Master, Yan Wushuang has already led his troops into the capital." Xiao Sanzi was a Han family member specifically tasked with gathering intelligence.
Han Jianming found this information extremely strange. Given the capital's defences, even if Yan Wushuang's army were exceptionally strong, it should have been able to hold out for at least half a month. Yet in less than half a day, Yan Wushuang had already entered the capital. "How did Yan Wushuang get into the city?"
Xiao Sanzi answered, "Master, Jing Wang returned to the capital together with Yan Wushuang. It was also Jing Wang who persuaded the city's defending general to open the gates." There was only one reason the general would listen to Jing Wang: he had been Jing Wang's man all along.
At this point, Han Jianming finally understood. "I knew it—no wonder Jing Wang left the capital for Linlu Pass before everything went wrong. So that's how it was." He had never expected that the one who hid his intentions the deepest was Jing Wang.
Lowering his voice, Xiao Sanzi said, "Master, I heard that the first thing Yan Wushuang did after entering the capital was head straight for the Song family…" He did not finish his sentence.
Yan Wushuang was acting under the banner of avenging past wrongs. Now that he was rushing towards the Song family, it was evident that he had come for revenge.
Han Jianming lowered his voice and said, "Stay at home for the next couple of days. Don't go out anymore." With the outside world bound to be chaotic, it was safer to stay indoors.
Clad in full armour, Yan Wushuang stood at the gates of the Song residence. Raising his sword, he shouted to the group behind him, "Leave no one alive." He had sworn to slaughter the entire Song family, sparing neither chickens nor dogs.
Five hundred and ninety-three people in total, including servants, died at Yan Wushuang's hands. Not even infants were spared. The floors of the Song residence were stained red with blood that day.
Yan Wushuang severed the heads of the Song family members and arranged them neatly. Then he knelt facing the direction of Tong City, his eyes red, and murmured, "Dad, Mom, Elder Brother—I've avenged you." He had endured humiliation and borne heavy burdens for over ten years for this day. At last, he had fulfilled his great vengeance.
After completing the rites, Yan Wushuang personally set fire to the Song residence. As he watched the raging flames, he felt a great weight lift from his heart.
At that very moment, Jing Wang was receiving Grand Chancellor Yu. "Lord Grand Chancellor, you have always been the person I respect the most." If Grand Chancellor Yu stood on his side now, he would naturally remain someone worthy of respect. However, if he opposed him, he would become an enemy—and Jing Wang would show no mercy to enemies.
Although Grand Chancellor Yu had survived the great fire, his body was gravely damaged. He had only managed to hold on until now because he had taken extreme medical measures. Grand Chancellor Yu smiled and said, "Jing Wang, such impressive tactics. Even I never realised that you had managed to rope in Tang Zhan and Tang Min to your side."
The one guarding Linlu Pass was Tang Zhan, the son of Southern General Tang Lu, who had been Grand Chancellor Yu's man. As for Tang Min, he too had been carefully cultivated by Grand Chancellor Yu. To have drawn both of them over in one move—one had to admit, Jing Wang's methods were truly formidable.
Naturally, Jing Wang would not reveal such secrets to Grand Chancellor Yu. "Lord Grand Chancellor, I will never allow anyone to overturn the foundations of our Great Zhou dynasty."
Grand Chancellor Yu felt a trace of regret. If it had been Jing Wang rather than the Ninth Prince who ascended the throne back then, with his level of patience and restraint—enough to deceive even him—Jing Wang might truly have governed the realm well. "Jing Wang, you will not be able to control Yan Wushuang. One day, you will regret it."
Jing Wang responded calmly, "That won't be something Lord Grand Chancellor needs to worry about."
Footnotes Full List
- 王府 wángfǔ: king's residence
- 挟天子以令诸侯 (xié tiān zǐ yǐ lìng zhū hóu): A classical political idiom meaning to control the Emperor in order to issue commands in his name, thereby gaining de facto power.
- 病来如山倒,病去如抽丝 (bìng lái rú shān dǎo, bìng qù rú chōu sī): A paired metaphor describing how illness strikes suddenly but heals slowly.
- 二 èr: second, 弟妹 dìmèi: younger brother's wife; sister-in-law
- 里 lǐ: a traditional unit of length, equal to 150 zhang (市丈), and equivalent to 0.5 kilometre or 0.311 mile
- 姑爷 gūye: son-in-law (used by wife's family)
- "拖你的后腿" (tuō nǐ de hòu tuǐ) An idiom meaning to hinder someone, to be a burden, or to slow someone down.
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