When Han Jingyan received the Imperial Edict, he was so joyful as if he had gone mad. He shouted, "Long live His Majesty! Long live, l...
When Han Jingyan received the Imperial Edict, he was so joyful as if he had gone mad. He shouted, "Long live His Majesty! Long live, long live forever!" After all, the Emperor had bestowed upon him the title of Duke Han—how could he not be delighted?
The Eunuch delivering the edict presented it to Han Jingyan with both hands and said, smiling broadly, "Congratulations, Lord Duke of the State." His daughter had become Empress, and he himself had obtained a hereditary, irrevocable noble title—no one could be luckier than Han Jingyan. Nevertheless, this was not something that others could envy; after all, who could blame him for having such an exceptional daughter?
Having received a generously stuffed red envelope, the Eunuch left, completely satisfied.
After respectfully enshrining the imperial edict, Han Jingyan instructed the people in his residence to pack up. He then led a group of attendants to the Duke's mansion.
After escorting Concubine Jia and the others to the residence on Shangyuan Street, Han Yong left the capital with his sons and nephews to seek out Han Jianming in the northwest. All the other servants had also departed, leaving the Duke Han's mansion completely deserted.
Stepping into the Duke's mansion and gazing at the familiar surroundings, Han Jingyan was overwhelmed with emotion. He had never imagined that he would become its master in his lifetime.
Fortunately, Han Jingyan had the sense to restrain himself. Although he was brimming with excitement, he did not host a grand banquet; he merely set up a few tables to entertain close relatives and friends.
It was also on this day that the Emperor went to the Kunning Palace and informed Yuchen something: "Han Jianming and Qiu Shi reached the northwest some days ago." There were too many urgent matters for the Emperor to attend to at the time, and he focused his attention on stabilising the situation in the capital. As Han Jianming was still in deep mourning, the Emperor paid him little heed, never imagining that he would flee to the northwest with his entire household.
Yuchen responded with displeasure: "Your Majesty, the Han family has already expelled that branch from the clan." Had Han Jianming stayed, his position as the Duke of the State would have been perfectly secure. His departure, however, was equivalent to delivering Yuchen a resounding slap in the face1.
The Emperor was naturally aware of this matter. With a slightly cold expression, he said, "Earlier, Yun Qing submitted a memorial stating that he wanted only the post of Governor-General of the Northwest. I intend to issue an edict appointing him to that position."
Having been husband and wife for several years, Yuchen knew the Emperor would not raise matters of state without reason. "Your Majesty, are you worried something might go wrong?"
The Emperor spoke gently. "I'm worried Han Yuxi may not agree." Han Yuxi was a person of immense ambition, and the position of Governor-General of the Northwest alone was unlikely to satisfy her. It was precisely because of this concern that the Emperor had not issued the edict immediately. If Han Shi refused to accept the edict once it had been issued, not only would the Imperial Court lose face, but the matter would also leave no room for manoeuvre.
Yuchen fell silent for a moment. Han Yuxi had long since been expelled from the Han clan, so legally, the two sides no longer had any connection whatsoever. However, since the Emperor had already spoken, refusal was not an option. "Then I'll write a letter shortly and send someone to deliver it to the northwest."
The Emperor gave a brief acknowledgement.
Yuchen was nonetheless uneasy. "Your Majesty, if the situation in the northwest is not resolved, the future consequences will be endless." Once one's status changed, so did one's mindset. With Yuxi controlling the northwest, she would effectively become their enemy.
The Emperor smiled bitterly. "The treasury cannot even produce a million taels of silver right now—how could we afford a campaign in the northwest? The Imperial Court is beset by internal and external troubles. For now, we can only placate Yun Qing and Han Shi." As long as the two were appeased and war avoided, he would have the breathing space needed to deal with internal affairs.
After some thought, Yuchen asked, "Your Majesty, what is the current situation in the northwest?" She wanted to know what the region had become under Yuxi's rule.
The Emperor's expression was dark and unreadable. After a long pause, he finally answered Yuchen's question, "Water conservancy projects are currently being built in the northwest, and the people are also being encouraged to plant trees." Reducing taxes, building water conservancy projects, and planting trees to improve the northwest's environment were things that the Imperial Court should have done in the first place. Unfortunately, the Imperial Court was powerless, so in the end, it was Han Yuxi who carried out these measures instead.
Yuchen opened her mouth as if to speak, but in the end said nothing.
The Emperor continued, "From now on, you should also familiarise yourself more with matters of the Imperial Court." As for what he truly meant by saying this, only he himself knew.
Hearing this, Yuchen felt no joy. "Your Majesty, why bring this up out of the blue?" Yuxi could gover the northwest as she pleased, but Yuchen could not—at least not openly. Otherwise, the officials below would spray her to death2.
The Emperor did not explain further. "Let us dine."
After the Emperor had left, Yuchen asked Momo Gui worriedly, "Why did His Majesty ask me to learn more about state affairs? Has something happened that I don't know about?" This action from the Emperor was certainly not a good sign.
After some thought, Momo Gui replied, "Your Majesty, we truly should learn more about matters outside the palace." They could no longer remain as before, immersed only in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting.
Yuchen nodded. "I recently obtained some high-quality snow swallow. Have Shiqin send it to the Marquis of Changping's residence." Marquis Chiang did not die, but his body was gravely injured and would likely be confined to bed for the rest of his life.
After four days of travelling, Han Jianming arrived in Haocheng. As he stood at the entrance, gazing at the characters, 'Governor-General's Residence', a smile appeared on his face.
Xu Daniu ushered him in. "Lord Jiu3, please."
Yuxi was in the study, listening to Tan Tuo report on the progress of the canal construction. Upon hearing Xu Wu announce that Han Jianming had arrived, she hurried out of the study.
Upon seeing Han Jianming, Yuxi cried out excitedly, "Dage4…" After four years apart, he seemed to have aged quite a bit.
Yuxi wore a stone-blue, ink-splashed, wide-sleeved robe that day, and her hair was arranged in a high chignon adorned with a gold filigree peacock hairpin set with rubies. She looked exceptionally commanding.
Tan Tuo bowed to Han Jianming and addressed him, "My Lord Duke…" If not for Han Jianming, he would never have made it to the northwest, much less climbed to his current position.
Han Jianming helped Tan Tuo up and said, "Don't call me 'Lord' anymore. Just call me by my name."
Tan Tuo shook his head. "Without you, my Lord, I would not be who I am today!" He did not care much for high office or a generous salary; being able to realise his ideals was something no amount of money could buy.
Han Jianming continued, "Times are no longer what they used to be. It is enough that you remember our past ties. If you are willing, our two families can visit each other more often in the future, as relatives do." After pausing for a moment, he added, "I have already severed ties with the Han family and no longer hold any title. Calling me 'Lord' would no longer be appropriate."
Tan Tuo nodded. "I'll do as the Duke says."
The smile faded from Yuxi's face as she said, "Dage4, if there's anything to discuss, let's talk inside." Her Dage4 had taken their mother to the northwest, giving up not only his noble title, but also the vast family estate and the clan itself. His journey to the northwest could truly be described as smashing the cooking pots and sinking the boats5.
Once inside, Yuxi asked, "Dage4, is Mom doing better? I really can't get away right now—otherwise I would have gone to Suide myself to escort her here." With Yun Qing gone to Xihai, everything had fallen on her shoulders alone, and she had been so busy that she was spinning round and round in circles6.
Han Jianming looked at Yuxi and answered, "Mom is fine. She had already recovered by the time I set out. You don't need to worry."
Yuxi sighed with emotion. "I never imagined that four years would have passed in the blink of an eye." So much had happened during those four years — far too much.
Han Jianming smiled. "Yes, before you know it, you're already the mother of two children." Yuxi's growth had far exceeded his expectations. When he married her to Yun Qing, he knew she would be a help to him, but he never imagined she would grow to this extent.
Smiling as well, Yuxi said, "You still haven't met Zaozao and Liu-er yet! The two girls are in the back courtyard."
Han Jianming uttered, "I'll clean up first, then go see my nieces." He was covered in dust and would hardly be presentable to meet the children like this.
Yuxi didn't stop him, saying, "Alright, go wash up first. We'll have a proper talk later." After all, the matter brought by Tan Tuo still hadn't been fully discussed.
After Han Jianming had left, Tan Tuo said to Yuxi, "Madam, I think it's a good thing that the Duke was able to leave the capital behind and travel to the northwest. At least he won't have to suffer so much anymore."
He still remembered the first time he had met Han Jianming, who was just a child then. Yet, in order to support the Duke's household, he had forced himself to act like an adult, a sight that made one's heart ache.
Yuxi could only shake her head, then returned to their previous discussion: "The well must be dug—no matter how high the cost, we can't cut corners." Once a drought struck, groundwater would be the only option.
Tan Tuo nodded. "I understand."
After the discussion ended, Yuxi returned to the back courtyard. Holding Zaozao in her arms, she pointed to Han Jianming as he entered and introduced him, "Zaozao, this is your Da Jiujiu7. Greet him."
Zaozao called out, "Hello, Da Jiujiu7."
Han Jianming smiled and lifted Zaozao into his arms. "Such a good girl. Here—this is from Da Jiujiu7." Even though he had arrived as a refugee, he had still prepared first-meeting gifts for his two nieces.
Han Jianming's gift to Zaozao was a red-gold twin-fish jade pendant made from Hetian jade. The fish's eyes, gills, belly fins, and tails were carved with exquisite delicacy, and a red-gold chain passed through holes at the fishes' mouths.
Yuxi didn't stop Han Jianming's action; she simply told Zaozao, "Thank your Da Jiujiu7."
Clutching the jade pendant hanging around her neck with both hands, Zaozao shouted, "Thank you, Da Jiujiu7!" Her voice was astonishingly loud.
Han Jianming smiled and commented, "Zaozao really looks like her father."
Yuxi nodded. "Yes—she looks as if she were cast from the same mould as her father." After that, she pointed to Liu-er in Mama Lan's arms. "This is Liu-er. She's already over nine months old."
After giving the gifts, Han Jianming asked, "Is Meifu8 not in Haocheng?"
Yuxi shook her head. "There's been a rebellion in Xihai. He's gone there to suppress it." As she said this, her expression remained perfectly calm and unflustered.
Han Jianming laughed despite himself. "Xihai is a fine place. If it could be taken, livestock such as cattle, sheep, and horses could be raised there." The grasslands were vast and perfectly suited for animal husbandry.
Yuxi nodded. "It truly is a good place for raising livestock. But the people there aren't Han, so it wouldn't be easy to govern." Conquering territory was easy; ruling it was hard.
At this point, Yuxi laughed at herself. "We haven't even taken it yet, and I'm already worrying about how hard it will be to govern. If Yun Qing knew, he'd surely laugh at me."
Footnotes Full List
- 煽了一个响亮的耳光 (shān le yí gè xiǎng liàng de ěr guāng): A metaphor for public humiliation or a severe affront. Actually, the author probably mistyped "耳光" (ěrguāng - a slap to the face) as "耳朵" (ěrduo - ear) because she used the latter characters, not the former.
- 喷死 (pēn sǐ): Literally 'to spray to death'. In a historical context, it refers to officials 'impeaching' or 'censuring' her with endless speeches. In a modern/internet context, it's like being flamed or cancelled online.
- 舅 (jiù): wife's brother; brother-in-law
- 大哥 (dàgē): eldest brother
- 破釜沉舟 (pò fǔ chén zhōu): Literally, it means cutting off all retreat; metaphorically, it means staking everything on a single, irreversible decision.
- 忙得团团转 (máng de tuán tuán zhuàn): meaning extremely busy and overwhelmed.
- 大舅 (dàjiùjiù): eldest mother's brother/maternal uncle
- 妹夫 (mèifu): younger sister's husband; brother-in-law
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