ROHYX Chapter 725 : Reunion (2)

The husband and wife were lying in bed. Yun Qing embraced her and said, "The Xihai region is rich in resources, yet the herdsmen live ...

The husband and wife were lying in bed. Yun Qing embraced her and said, "The Xihai region is rich in resources, yet the herdsmen live in poverty. Although they raise fat cattle, sheep, and horses, they themselves cannot afford to eat meat." Not being able to eat meat was actually a minor issue—the real problem was that even having three meals a day was difficult.

Yuxi was not surprised by this situation. "Wealth is concentrated in the hands of a small minority. It's like this inland, and Xihai is no exception."

This time, Yun Qing felt it very deeply. "In the past, when we sent people to the Xihai to buy horses, the price was several times higher than the local market price."

When money was mentioned, Yun Qing began to worry. "Even if we have a gold mine, the money still isn't enough." After interacting with his subordinates, Yun Qing finally realised the responsibilities he carried.

Yuxi already had an idea and was ready to put it into action. "He Rui, the fastest way to make money is nothing better than to sell salt and tea."

Without thinking, Yun Qing blurted out, "Selling illegal salt is a capital crime punishable by beheading!" Having said that, Yun Qing felt somewhat embarrassed—given his current status, wasn't saying something like that rather foolish?

However, Yuxi did not laugh at Yun Qing and instead said, "Even if we don't sell illegal salt, the money won't enter the national treasury anyway—it will just end up in the hands of those salt merchants and corrupt officials. If we earn that money, we can still use it on the heads of the common people¹." In fact, Yuxi was selling illegal salt and tea in order to accumulate wealth and expand her power. However, to reassure Yun Qing, she had to present what she intended to do as noble.

Yuxi nodded and added, "You should choose the candidate." Taking this on was extremely dangerous. As Yun Qing had pointed out, their lives were literally at stake, and none of her followers could handle such a mission.

After they had finished discussing the matter, Yun Qing asked about something else: "Why is Xu Wu's wedding set for the third month of next year?" In his opinion, it should have taken place this year.

Yuxi pressed a faint smile at the corner of her lips and replied, "Xu Wu and An Daren² discussed the wedding date themselves. I didn't interfere." In front of An Zike, Xu Wu could only listen; he had no opportunity to argue at all.

After talking for a while, Yun Qing felt sleepy and said, "Let's sleep." He had been working from morning until night these days to get home earlier, and it had exhausted him.

They had a good night's sleep.

Even after Yun Qing returned, Yuxi still had no free time. With so many issues for her to deal with, it would be a waste of time if Yun Qing were to stick his hand in halfway along the road³. Moreover, Yun Qing did not understand these matters very well and would not be able to manage them effectively.

That afternoon, Yuxi was discussing the matter of potatoes with Liu Biyuan when Xu Wu came over and informed her, "Madam, we've just received news that the Old Lady has already entered the city."

At that moment, Yuxi no longer had the mood to discuss official matters and said, "Let's talk about this tomorrow." After speaking, she hurried back to the rear courtyard.

The carriage sped to the gate of the Governor-General's residence. Han Jianming helped Qiu Shi down from the carriage, saying, "Mom, take it slowly!" At such an advanced age, she could not afford any accidents.

Holding Zaozao in her arms, Yuxi saw that Qiu Shi now had white hair and that her complexion was far worse than before. Her eyes instantly reddened. "Mom…"

This was a reunion, not a farewell. Seeing Yuxi's rosy complexion, Qiu Shi's face lit up with a smile. "This must be Zaozao, right? Come here, let Grandma hold you."

Yuxi said to Zaozao, "Zaozao, this is your Waizumu⁴. Come and greet her." Zaozao wasn't one to get stage fright, and she never hesitated to greet people when asked.

Zaozao called out loudly, "Hello, Waizumu⁴!"

Qiu Shi exclaimed, holding Zaozao in her arms. "This girl is quite heavy—she's been raised well." A child raised to be sturdy and strong would not easily fall ill or get injured.

Lu Xiu got down from the carriage with the children, while someone helped Ye Shi down.

Zaozao was too heavy, so after holding her for a short while, Qiu Shi returned her to Yuxi and picked up Liu'er instead. Looking at Liu'er's appearance, Qiu Shi smiled and praised her, "This girl is really pretty! When she grows up, your threshold will surely be worn down⁵."

Yuxi pointed out, "Mom, this child cannot stand too much praise⁶."

Qiu Shi responded indifferently, "What's the harm in that? I remember when Yuchen was little, she looked just like a jade doll⁷. Liu-er is no worse than Yuchen was at that age."

Han Jianming felt this comparison was inappropriate—of all people, she had to mention Yuchen. Supporting Qiu Shi, he pointed to the two characters 'Yun Residence' on the main gate and said with a smile, "Mom, these two big characters were written by Yuxi herself." Yuxi had originally wanted to invite a famous calligrapher to write them, but Yun Qing had insisted that she write them herself.

Qiu Shi glanced at the two characters on the plaque and replied, "If you hadn't told me, I wouldn't even know what characters they are!" They were written in dragons flying and phoenixes dancing⁸ style that she could hardly recognise them.

Yuxi's face reddened slightly, and she remarked, "I just scribbled them carelessly." Then she said to Ye Shi, Lu Xiu, and the others, "Mom, Dasao⁹, Er Sao¹⁰, let's go inside and talk."

After entering the rear courtyard, Yuxi apologised. "Mom, He Rui was originally waiting to welcome you, but something suddenly came up in the army. When he returns, I'll have him apologise to you." As Yuxi controlled the funds, the army had to obtain her approval for any expenditure. However, she did not interfere in the army's specific affairs. Quite a number of matters had accumulated over the past two months while Yun Qing was away. Since he had just returned, he was also extremely busy. It was not intentional neglect; he had planned to stay until noon, but an urgent matter arose in the army that required his attention, and Yuxi could not stop him.

Qiu Shi would hardly mind such a thing. She said, "Important matters come first. Besides, now that we've arrived in Haocheng, we can meet anytime in the future."

Lu Xiu walked out and thanked Yuxi. "Si Mei¹¹, if it hadn't been for you, Lil Boy Shun and I might already be dead." Had she not been carrying the child, she truly would have wanted to end her life back then.

Yuxi hurriedly responded, "Er Sao¹⁰, what kind of words are those? If I just watched you in trouble without helping, would I still be considered human? Besides, the reason you came to the Northwest was because of me. If not for me, you wouldn't have had to suffer like this."

Qiu Shi waved her hand. "We're family—why treat each other like strangers by saying such distant, polite things? Come, Qiqi, Lil Boy Chang, Lil Boy Shun. Come and greet your Gugu¹²."

Yuxi handed out first-meeting gifts to the four children. She then pulled Qiqi close, gestured to her height, and remarked, "When I left the capital, Qiqi was only this tiny. Now she's almost a grown young lady."

Qiu Shi sighed with emotion and said, "Children grow so quickly, changing day by day! Looking at them makes me feel that I've truly grown old."

After exchanging a few polite greetings, Yuxi led the group to the courtyard, which had been prepared in advance. After the fatigue of travelling by carriage and horse, both adults and children needed a good rest.

As she walked, Qiu Shi said, "I already said there's no need to go through so much trouble. We could just stay in the prepared house."

Yuxi pretended to look hurt and replied, "Mom, how is staying here with me considered troublesome? Am I not your daughter?"

Qiu Shi laughed. "What kind of talk is that? If you're not my daughter, whose daughter would you be? You're already so busy—I don't want to make you work even harder." Managing the Duke's residence alone was exhausting enough for her, and Yuxi was overseeing such a huge territory in the Northwest, which must be even more exhausting.

Yuxi pointed out, "I only give a few instructions—nothing else really. It's not that tiring." After entering the room, she whispered to her mother, "Mom, how is Dasao⁹'s health now?"

Qiu Shi replied, "Don't worry. The physician said that if she recuperates well over the next two years, she'll make a full recovery. At that time, we'll have to ask Momo Quan to help your sister-in-law with her recovery."

Naturally, Yuxi would not refuse this request.

Before dinner, Yun Qing hurried back. Since he was going to meet his mother-in-law, he deliberately changed into the new clothes that Yuxi had prepared for him in the front courtyard.

Everyone saw Yun Qing wearing a dark black brocade robe embroidered with silver cloud patterns, and the Qiushui Sword hung at his waist. His black hair was tied up with a tiger-shaped hairpin. The outfit made him look incredibly valiant and commanding.

Yun Qing knelt on the ground and kowtowed to Qiu Shi. It was said that 'beneath a man's knees lies gold¹³', so this gesture of his was a very formal and respectful salute.

Although he had never met her before, Yun Qing held Qiu Shi in great respect as an elder. Not only was his mother-in-law kind and loving, but she was also very benevolent. Most importantly, she had raised such a kindhearted daughter as Yuxi.

Yun Qing's actions startled both Qiu Shi and Han Jianming, and even Yuxi herself. Qiu Shi quickly stepped forward to help Yun Qing up. "What are you doing? Hurry and get up."

Glancing at Yuxi, Yun Qing said, "Since Yuxi married me, she has endured much hardship and grievance because of me. Mother-in-law, I feel ashamed of myself."

Qiu Shi was comforted by these words as she said, "With those words from you, Yuxi's suffering has not been in vain." Over the past few years, Yuxi had indeed gone through many hardships. Incidents kept happening, leaving Qiu Shi anxious and frightened all day long.

Yuxi smiled. "What grievance is there?" Then she introduced Lu Xiu and several of the children to Yun Qing. As for Ye Shi, she did not come out, as she was resting in her room.

Looking at Yuxi's radiant smile, Lu Xiu recalled how her mother-in-law had sighed constantly in worry when Yuxi had first been granted the marriage. After Yuxi left the capital, her mother-in-law was so anxious that she could neither eat nor sleep. Yet no one had expected that this marriage, for which nobody had held out much hope, would turn out to be so sweet and full of happiness. Seeing this scene made Lu Xiu feel a little envious.

Mama Qu walked in and whispered something into Yuxi's ear. Yuxi smiled, stood up and announced, "Mom, Dage, the food is ready! Let's all go and eat!"

The table was laid with an array of dishes — things that fly in the sky, run on the land and swim in the water. Everything imaginable was there; it was an extremely lavish feast.

Footnotes Full List

1. 用在老百姓的头上 (yòng zài lǎobǎixìng de tóu shàng): Spend the money for the benefit of the common people.
2. 大人 (dàren): title of respect toward superiors
3. 半路插手 (bàn lù chā shǒu): To intervene midway in something that others are already handling.
4. 外祖母 (wàizǔmǔ): maternal grandmother
5. 门槛都得被踏破了 (mén kǎn dōu děi bèi tà pò le): Many suitors will come to propose marriage; used to describe a very beautiful girl with many admirers.
6. 经不得夸 (jīng bù dé kuā): A modest or superstitious expression suggesting that excessive praise might bring bad luck or make the child spoiled.
7. 玉娃娃 (yù wá wa): A metaphor for a child who is very delicate, fair, and beautiful.)
8. 龙飞凤舞 (lóng fēi fèng wǔ): Describes vigorous, bold, and highly stylised calligraphy with sweeping strokes.
9. 大嫂 (dàsǎo): eldest brother's wife; sister-in-law
10. 二嫂 (èrsăo): second eldest brother's wife; sister-in-law
11. 四妹 (sì mèi): fourth younger sister
12. 姑姑 (gūgu): father's sister; (paternal) aunt
13. 男儿膝下有黄金” (nán ér xī xià yǒu huáng jīn): A man’s dignity and honour are extremely valuable, so he should not kneel easily or humiliate himself. Kneeling should only be done for very important reasons (for example, to parents, ancestors, or in truly unavoidable circumstances).

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