ROHYX Chapter 711 : Good News

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The seventh month was when the wheat ripened and was ready for harvesting. A gust of wind blew across the fields, causing the golden wheat to rise and fall like rolling waves.

Tan Tuo pointed at the ripe ears of wheat. The grains were plump and swollen, as if about to burst. "Madam, this year's harvest is very good."

Yuxi nodded. "If only we could have such a harvest every year, that would be wonderful." Unfortunately, the northwest was dry for most of the year due to a lack of water sources; years like this one, with winds in harmony and rains in order¹, were very rare.

Liu Biyuan, who had followed along, seized the moment to pat a horse's buttocks². "Madam can look from a high vantage point and see far³. Even if there is a drought, the dams you've built will ensure abundant harvests year after year."

Yuxi smiled slightly and suggested, "Let's go take another look." The dam had already been constructed, and they were now inspecting the canals. As this was her first project, Yuxi naturally paid extra attention to it.

In such scorching heat, building irrigation canals was exhausting work. But in order to meet the construction schedule, there was no alternative.

Looking at a newly completed canal, Yuxi asked, "Once we have completed constructing the dam and canals, do you think we could grow mulberry trees and raise silkworms here?" To develop properly, everything had to be considered comprehensively. Food production was the foundation, but other industries also needed to grow.

Tan Tuo thought for a moment and replied, "Madam, it's worth trying." Failure wouldn't matter much, but success would have completely different implications for the northwest.

By the time they returned to the Governor-General's residence, it was well past noon. Looking at Yuxi, Momo Quan couldn't help asking, "Aren't you afraid of getting heatstroke going out in such heat?" As she spoke, she handed Yuxi a bowl of chilled .

Yuxi smiled and took a sip of the plum drink. "The common people still have to harvest wheat under the blazing sun, and the soldiers still have to build canals. What hardship am I really enduring?" Most of the labourers building the canals were drafted from the army. There was no other choice—forcing the civilians into corvée labour at this time would delay the harvest.

Momo Quan said helplessly, "If you're not afraid of heatstroke, aren't you at least afraid of getting tanned?" What woman didn't value her appearance more than her life? Yet Yuxi was the exception.

Yuxi set the bowl down, smiling brightly. "I'm not afraid. Even if I tan, I'll turn fair again soon." Her skin was very well cared for. Though she was already twenty, it was still supple and delicate—half the credit for this went to Momo Quan.

While they were talking, Xu Wu called from outside, "Madam, Yang Duoming requests an audience."

Yuxi was somewhat delighted. "Have him wait in the study. I'll be there shortly." She had planned to bathe, but now there was no time. After quickly wiping herself down and changing her clothes, she headed to the front courtyard. Yang Duoming had been investigating the gold mine, so his return probably meant that he had found something.

Yang Duoming's return indeed brought good news. "Madam, the gold mine has been found." After nearly three months of effort, he had finally located it.

The smile on Yuxi's face was impossible to hide. "Where was it found?" She had been worried that the high cost of canal construction would put a strain on their finances. Now that a gold mine had been discovered, she could finally breathe a little easier.

Yang Duoming said, "It's in the mountain forests more than twenty li⁴ away from Niujia Village in Long County." The gold mine was located in a highly remote area and had originally been discovered by pure accident. In order to prevent news from leaking out, Ji Xuan had k!lled everyone who approached that mountain forest. Over time, the area became known as a land of death. Once this rumour spread, people in the surrounding area all deliberately avoided the forest.

Yuxi had long suspected that the gold mine must be very remote; otherwise, it wouldn't have taken so long to find. "How large is the mine? How much gold do you estimate can still be extracted?"

Yang Duoming answered honestly, "Although the gold mine has already been mined for over two years, it's still quite large and should be able to yield a considerable amount of gold." He hadn't gone inside to inspect it personally, so he was only making an estimate. Yang Duoming knew very well that the job of mining such a gold mine would definitely not fall to him.

Yuxi smiled. "You've worked hard during this time." When Yang Duoming had stayed behind in Yongcheng, Yuxi had originally wanted Fu Qingluo to accompany her to Haocheng. However, Fu Qingluo absolutely refused, insisting on staying by Yang Duoming's side. Yuxi had meant well, and since Fu Qingluo was unwilling, she did not force the matter.

Yang Duoming was not at all modest as he responded, "It was indeed very hard, but finding a gold mine makes all the hardship worthwhile."

He was very clever—mining such a large gold deposit would certainly leave traces, so he focused on investigating places that showed unusual signs.

Yuxi smiled lightly and asked, "Did Qingluo return with you? How is her health now? Has she recovered?"

At the mention of this, Yang Duoming felt deeply grateful. "Thanks to Madam, Qingluo's health has almost fully recovered." The miscarriage had left Fu Qingluo relatively weak. Initially, Yuxi had instructed Momo Quan to prepare medicinal meals to help restore her health, but this treatment was discontinued because Fu Qingluo insisted on staying with Yang Duoming. Nevertheless, she still benefited greatly from it.

Yuxi shook her head and said, "I didn't really help much. You've been exhausted lately, so go back and rest for a couple of days. When the time comes, I'll have an even more important task for you."

Upon hearing that there was an important assignment, Yang Duoming immediately perked up. "Madam, I'm not tired. If there's any task, give it to me right now!" He didn't want to fall behind the others.

Looking at Yang Duoming's exhausted appearance, Yuxi shook her head. "Go back and rest properly first. No matter how urgent things are, they won't hinge on just these two days." Only after fully restoring one's energy could one work more effectively.

Sometimes, good news comes one after another. That very afternoon, Yuxi received word that Han Jianming had already arrived in Lüliang and entered the northwestern territory.

Xu Wu said, "Madam, Duke Han said he will wait for the Old Lady to arrive first, and then come to Haocheng together with her."

When Yuxi heard that Qiu Shi was being escorted by Shang Da, she felt reassured. "I hope Mom and the others can safely reach the northwest soon." That way, she would no longer be constantly worried about burdening her maternal family.

Xu Wu nodded firmly. "Madam, please rest assured. The Old Lady is such a kind and compassionate person—Old Lord Heaven will surely bless her with a safe journey." Over the past two years, Qiu Shi had donated all the income from her estates to the orphanage and Qingming Hall in Yucheng. Yuxi had never concealed this matter, so the people of Yucheng, both civilians and soldiers, were aware of it.

A smile appeared on Yuxi's face as she said, "Yes! The Bodhisattva will certainly protect Mom and ensure her safe arrival in the northwest."

Yuxi was delighted that Han Jianming had brought Qiu Shi to the northwest. However, the other members of the Han family were furious, especially Han Jingyan, who was the most enraged of all.

When Han Jingyan learned that Han Jianming had gone over to Yuxi, he flew into a rage. After all, Yuxi was a known traitor and rebel; if Han Jianming had defected to her, wouldn't that make him a traitor as well?

Han Jingyan gathered everyone in the clan and said, "Han Jianming and Han Jianye must be expelled from the clan—otherwise the Han family is finished." The situation with Han Jianming was different from that with Yuxi, though. Yuxi was merely a married-out daughter, but Han Jianming was the clan head. His actions would implicate the entire lineage. If the Emperor became enraged, the Han family would face total extermination.

More than half of the clan not only agreed with Han Jingyan's proposal but also recommended that he become the new clan head. The remaining members—those who had once benefited from Han Jianming—kept silent. Even setting aside Han Jianming's inappropriate actions, Han Jingyan was the Empress's biological father. No one dared oppose him—doing so would be like the God of Longevity hanging himself because he thought he had lived long enough⁵.

Unlike Han Jingyan, who was filled with fury and scheming, Yuchen was worried when she learned of the matter. She asked Momo Gui, "Could Dage⁶ truly think so highly of Yuxi?" Han Jianming was not someone who would act impulsively for the sake of family affection alone. The only reason he would do this was that he had the belief that going to the northwest would bring him greater benefits—benefits great enough to abandon his ancestral estate and sever ties with the clan. The mere thought of this unsettled Yuchen deeply.

Momo Gui disagreed. "Han Jianming has had lard smeared over his heart⁷. In the capital, he's a Duke of the highest order and of the Empress's natal family. In the northwest, he'd be nobody." Anyone with sense would choose to stay in the capital, but clearly, Han Jianming was not a normal person.

When the matter of the title came up, Momo Gui said, "Niangniang⁸, the Dukedom is a perpetual hereditary title that our ancestors gave their very lives to earn. It would be such a pity to lose it." After all, fertile water should not flow into outsiders' fields⁹, so naturally, the title ought to go to the Third Branch.

Yuchen neither agreed nor objected. "This matter depends on His Majesty's wishes." If the Emperor were willing to grant the title to her father, that would be ideal. However, she absolutely could not ask for such a favour at this moment. Who knew whether thorns had grown in the Emperor's heart¹⁰ for Han Jianming's act of leaving the capital for the northwest?

While they were talking, Shiqin came in and said, "Niangniang⁸, the Imperial Physician said that His Highness Xuan is not going to make it." After Jing Wang ascended the throne, it was no longer appropriate for those below to address Zhou Xuan as Crown Prince, so they cleverly settled on calling him His Highness Xuan instead.

This Zhou Xuan was a fake, and very few people knew the truth. Fearing that someone might notice something was amiss, Yu Xiyu opened the window one night, causing the child to catch a chill and develop a fever. Usually, a fever from catching a cold would not be serious, yet the child's condition worsened, and he fell unconscious two days later. Even Yuchen was deeply anxious—if anything happened to the child, outsiders would surely suspect that her husband was trying to cut the grass and remove the roots¹¹ to eliminate future trouble.

Even before Yuchen entered the Jinxiu Palace¹², she heard utterly heartbreaking wails. After Jing Wang ascended the throne, Yu Xiyu should have moved out of the palace. However, since Zhou Xuan was unwell, Yuchen allowed the mother and son to relocate to the Jinxiu Palace¹².

Upon entering the bedchamber, Yuchen saw Yu Xiyu clutching Zhou Xuan and wailing loudly, "Xuan-er! My Xuan-er! Wake up! Wake up and look at your mother…" The sound of her desolate crying made everyone present unable to hold back their tears.

Yuchen wiped away her tears and stepped forward to console her. "Huang Sao¹³, Xuan-er is gone. You must take good care of yourself."

To Yu Xiyu, seeing Yuchen was like seeing an enemy. She shoved Yuchen so hard that, had a maid not been there to support her, she would have fallen to the ground. Pointing at Yuchen, Yu Xiyu shouted, "Why? My Xuan-er couldn't even compete with you for the throne, so why did you have to be so ruthless?" Her grief and fury were so genuine that no one suspected she was acting.

After hearing this accusation, the other people in the room desperately wished they were invisible. Only that way would they not be forcefully silenced.

Footnotes Full List

风调雨顺 (fēng tiáo yǔ shùn): an idiom meaning favourable weather conditions, often implying agricultural prosperity.
拍马屁 (pāi mǎ pì): an idiom meaning to flatter or curry favour.)
高瞻远瞩 (gāo zhān yuǎn zhǔ): an idiom meaning to have foresight or strategic vision.
里 lǐ: a traditional unit of length, equal to 150 zhang (市丈), and equivalent to 0.5 kilometres or 0.311 miles
老寿星上吊，活够了 (lǎo shòuxīng shàngdiào, huó gòu le): courting death; doing something suicidally foolish
大哥 (dàgē): eldest brother
猪油蒙了心 (zhūyóu méng le xīn): blinded by greed or stupidity; unable to think clearly
娘娘 niángniang: addressing or referring to an empress or an imperial concubine
肥水不流外人田 (féishuǐ bù liú wàirén tián): keep benefits within the family or inner circle
心生芥蒂 (xīn shēng jièdì): to develop resentment or a grudge
斩草除根 (zhǎn cǎo chú gēn): an idiom meaning to eradicate a problem completely
锦绣宫 (Jǐnxiù Gōng): literally 'Palace of Brocade and Embroidery', but its true meaning is the 'Palace of Splendour' or 'Exquisitely Beautiful Palace'.
皇 huáng: imperial, 嫂 sǎo: elder brother's wife, elder sister-in-law