Yuxi found out about Yun Qing's appointment as Pingxi Wang four days after the Imperial Edict was issued. Smiling, she wondered, ...
Yuxi found out about Yun Qing's appointment as Pingxi Wang four days after the Imperial Edict was issued. Smiling, she wondered, "The Emperor is being very generous this time—who knows what he's plotting?"
Han Jianming was also somewhat worried and asked, "Yuxi, when the time comes, should we accept the Imperial Edict or not?" There were advantages to accepting it, while there were drawbacks to refusing it.
Yuxi replied, "We must accept it. The northwest has been at war year after year, and now we must recuperate and restore our strength." Moreover, water conservancy projects were still under construction. Although they had used conscripted labour, Yuxi had requested that Yun Qing transfer some troops to speed things up. Each time, ten thousand soldiers were assigned for ten days, with the troops rotating in turns.
Upon hearing this, Han Jianming asked, "Yuxi, do you really plan just to stay tucked away in the northwest?" Although Mr Zhao said there was no need to rush, Han Jianming still couldn't feel at ease without a definitive answer.
Yuxi responded, "Dage, throughout history, those who are the first to raise the banner of rebellion always die the fastest." Although Yun Qing had rebelled, he did so under the banner of eliminating Ji Xuan, thus holding the moral high ground. If he were to rebel against the Imperial Court itself, he would lose that legitimacy.
Han Jianming's expression relaxed slightly as he probed, "You mean to wait for the right opportunity?" As long as Yuxi had this intention, waiting a few more years didn't matter. Besides, now is not a good time to rebel.
Yuxi did not respond directly, but instead asked, "Dage, of the four wang of a different surname who helped found the dynasty, which one do you see still alive?" All four were executed. Therefore, now that Yun Qing had been granted such a title, he would only face destruction if he didn't seek another path. Even if she and Yun Qing lived well, their descendants would not.
Finally feeling reassured, Han Jianming said, "As long as you have a plan." Given Yuxi's determination and Yun Qing's abilities, how could they fail to achieve great things?
Yuxi's lips twitched at Han Jianming's blind confidence. "It's only because you're my Dage that you're free of prejudice and think there's nothing wrong with a woman governing. But others may not think the same. It's already been half a year, and not a single talented person has come to join us." Yuxi was desperate for capable people at that moment. However, because she governed the northwest, and Yun Qing's past reputation wasn't very good, those learned scholars seemed unwilling to serve them. Up to now, they hadn't recruited any talent. Nevertheless, Yuxi had already sent Black Widow with Wu Kuo to Jiangnan, where talent was abundant, in the hope of finding some useful people.
Han Jianming said with a smile, "That's because they're short-sighted." The problem Yuxi mentioned did indeed exist, but he believed that as long as the schools were well-established and their reputations spread, learned scholars would surely come to join them.
Yuxi smiled slightly. "Hopefully." The world was too harsh on women, and those who could set aside gender bias were few and far between.
Han Jianming then brought up another matter: "Most of the people I left in the capital have disappeared. We need to find another group." Only a few deeply hidden informants remained; the rest had been captured by the Imperial Court.
Yuxi suggested, "If we can directly buy them off, that would be better." People from the northwest spoke with a distinct accent, so if they sent those people now, others would definitely notice something was amiss.
Han Jianming's idea was to fire two tubes at the same time1. "The people we train ourselves are more reliable. Those we buy over can only be trusted temporarily and are not completely dependable."
Yuxi said, "Sending people to the northwest now would attract too much attention. The current training group won't finish until next year anyway, so let's discuss this after the New Year."
Han Jianming nodded, then told Yuxi about Tie Kui. After listening, Yuxi frowned. "Dage, didn't you just say he grew up in Anshan? Then how would he know you?" This incident was indeed strange.
Han Jianming had also thought about this before, but no matter how he considered it, the two of them shouldn't have had any prior contact. However, the real issue now was whether they could win this man over. "How he knows me isn't important. What matters is that he is Qiu Dashan's trusted confidant. If we win him over, we can learn about Yan Wushuang's movements." Yan Wushuang was extremely guarded; trying to gather information from him was as difficult as ascending to heaven2. Now that they had finally found a small opening, they naturally could not afford to give it up.
After pondering for a moment, Yuxi said, "If we send someone else to approach him, he may not trust them. Since he has met Ah San, we can send Ah San to the capital to talk with him. Since we know that his weakness is his love of money, that makes things easier." What she feared most was someone without any weaknesses, like Yan Wushuang, whose weakness she had yet to discover.
After a moment's thought, Han Jianming commented, "Yan Wushuang is different from your husband. Your husband is open-minded and treats his subordinates like brothers. Yan Wushuang, on the other hand, is moody and extremely difficult to get along with. Apart from his die-hard loyalists, people like Tie Kui are only superficially loyal to him. Following someone like that, these types of subordinates will surely feel unsettled and want to leave themselves an escape route. I think that if you or your husband personally promise him something, it might produce unexpected results." Judging by his own experience, when he once felt the Imperial Court was on the verge of collapse, he too had been looking for a way out. He believed that people like Tie Kui would be the same.
Yuxi thought this was a good idea: offer Tie Kui substantial benefits and promise to help him secure a way out afterwards. If Tie Kui were truly not doing well under Yan Wushuang, he would certainly be tempted. "Write it up and give it to me." Once she had written the secret letter, she would only need to sign her name and affix her private seal.
Han Jianming brought up another matter. "Yuxi, the Emperor is selecting consorts. An Imperial Decree has already been issued—daughters of officials of the seventh rank and above who are at least fifteen years old must participate in the selection."
Speaking of the Imperial Palace, Yuxi asked about Empress Dowager Song: "How is that old hag doing now?"
Han Jianming's expression turned somewhat strange as he replied, "Empress Dowager Song has been recuperating in Cining Palace. Even when the late Emperor passed away, she did not appear." No matter how one looked at it, something felt off.
Yuxi said, "She belongs to the Song family as well—Yan Wushuang probably won't let her go." Since Yan Wushuang didn't even spare an innocent woman like Duan Xinrong, how could he possibly spare Empress Dowager Song, whose actions nearly resulted in the Yan family's extermination? His current inaction was merely a restraint; once he found an opportunity, he would surely k!ll all those involved, leaving not even a dog or chicken alive3. As the old saying goes, the person who understands you best is not your family, but your enemy.
Han Jianming actually hoped the capital would become more chaotic—the more disorderly it was, the safer they would be. Putting official matters aside, he raised a personal issue: "Your Dasao has improved quite a bit recently, thanks to Momo Quan."
Yuxi shook her head. "Momo Quan said her condition is still very poor. She'll need three to five years to recuperate, and she must avoid overwork and stress."
Han Jianming frowned. "Lu Shi is supposed to go to Yu City next spring! We can't have Mom managing all the household affairs, can we?" A few days earlier, Lu Xiu had planned to go to Yu City, but Yuxi had stopped her. The reason was simple: the family hadn't had a proper reunion meal in a long time, and Yuxi wanted them all to celebrate the New Year together. Han Jianming and Qiu Shi agreed with her, so Lu Xiu could not go to Yu City after all.
Yuxi felt that Han Jianming was worrying too much. "Just let the steward matrons handle it." The running of the Yun residence was placed in the hands of several trusted elders, including Momo Quan and Mama Qu.
By the end of the eleventh month, the weather had already turned somewhat cold. After finishing her tasks, Yuxi donned a sable fur cloak and returned to the rear courtyard.
The wind howled loudly, tossing Yuxi's hair into disarray. As she stepped into the courtyard, a few withered, yellow jujube leaves drifted down onto her head.
Although Liu-er was already eleven months old, she was not as active as Zaozao. Even though she had learned to crawl early, when placed on the kang, she would lie quietly on the bed instead of moving around.
Upon entering the room, Yuxi tried to pick up Liu-er, who was lying obediently. However, Momo Quan quickly stopped her and handed her a small gilt-silver cloisonné hand warmer, saying, "Warm your hands first before holding the child." The father was careless, and the mother was no better—truly a headache.
Yuxi smiled. "My hands are warm." As a mother of two, how could she not know such basic common sense?
Watching Yuxi dote on Liu-er, Momo Quan remarked, "Liu-er will have her first birthday ceremony next month. Shouldn't it be time to give her a formal name? Or will you just name her Yun Liu?"
Yuxi was momentarily stunned—she had been so busy lately that she had forgotten about this matter. They usually called the children by their nicknames and rarely even used Zaozao's formal name. On top of being so busy, she had neglected this issue.
Momo Quan couldn't help but scold Yuxi: "As a mother, you're far too careless. You even forgot something as important as naming your child! You always say you want to hold a bowl of water level4 when it comes to them —how can you possibly do that like this?"
Yuxi quickly promised, "I will definitely give Liu-er a good name."
Momo Quan replied, "Then I'll be waiting." It was impossible to count on Yun Qing to come up with a nice name, so this responsibility had to fall on Yuxi.
When Yun Qing returned in the evening, he saw Yuxi frowning as she held a book, looking especially troubled. He smiled and asked, "What are you doing? Having trouble?"
Yuxi responded, "Liu-er is about to turn one, and she still doesn't have a formal name. I'm thinking about what name would suit her."
Yun Qing laughed. "Time passes so quickly—before you know it, Liu-er will be one." This past year had been filled with far more thrilling and tumultuous events than the previous twenty-plus years combined.
But Yuxi had no time for reminiscing. She pulled Yun Qing over and made him sit down. "Let's think together about what name to give Liu-er." The name not only had to sound good, but also carry a good meaning.
In the end, not only was Yun Qing of no help, but he even caused trouble. No matter which name Yuxi suggested, he said it was good. When she glared at him angrily, Yun Qing spoke sincerely, "Yun Fei, Yun Xin, Yun Ying—no matter which one, they all sound nice!" They sounded good and had good meanings, too.
After speaking, Yun Qing added, "Just pick one! Keep the other two—we can use them in the future." The moment the words left his mouth, he realised he had said something wrong and hurried to correct himself. "Compared to sons, I prefer daughters."
Although Yuxi felt slightly annoyed, she knew Yun Qing didn't mean anything by it, so she didn't get angry over such a remark. "Go take a bath first; I'll think about it a bit more." These names weren't bad; it was just that too many people used these names. She wanted to give Liu-er a unique formal name.
Footnotes Full List
- 双管齐下 (shuāng guǎn qí xià): To use two methods simultaneously to achieve a goal (two-pronged strategy)
- 难如登天 (nán rú dēng tiān): Extremely difficult
- 鸡犬不留 (jī quǎn bù liú): Total extermination
- 一碗水端平 (yī wǎn shuǐ duān píng): To treat everyone fairly and equally, without favouritism.
きつね's Visual Note
@sandychengchinese Speak Chinese in 30 Seconds - Who's the Crow Mouth? Keywords: 你 nǐ - you 真是 zhēnshì - really / such a 乌鸦 wūyā - crow 嘴 zuǐ - mouth 你真是乌鸦嘴！/ 你真是个乌鸦嘴！ nǐ zhēnshì wūyā zuǐ!/ nǐ zhēnshì gè wūyā zuǐ! - You're such a jinx! #learnchinese #speakchinese #mandarin #chineseteacher ♬ original sound - Sandy Cheng Chinese
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