The sky was dim and overcast, and it was bitterly cold. Standing by the window and gazing into the distance, Yuxi felt as though an immense...
The sky was dim and overcast, and it was bitterly cold. Standing by the window and gazing into the distance, Yuxi felt as though an immense weight was pressing down on her, making it hard to breathe. She closed her eyes, trying not to think about anything. But when she opened them again, the world was still shrouded in a dull grey, devoid of any colour.
Momo Quan brought over a bowl of medicinal food and placed it on the table. "Yuxi, what's wrong with you these past two days?" Yuxi's complexion had been very poor lately, causing everyone in the residence to act with extreme caution. Even Zaozao, who was usually noisy and restless, had become much more well-behaved.
Yuxi sat by the table, picked up a spoon, and ate slowly, one bite at a time. After finishing, she said, "Two days ago, I had a very terrifying dream. I was tormented so badly in it that I felt it was worse than death." The life she had lived in her previous life had truly been worse than death.
Momo Quan was surprised and said, "It's just a dream." She hadn't expected a mere dream to cause such a strong reaction from Yuxi.
Yuxi shook her head and said nothing more.
After thinking for a moment, Momo Quan advised, "This can't go on. Why don't you discuss it properly with the General?" Although Yun Qing had been granted the title of Wang, the people in the residence still addressed him as General, and naturally, Yuxi's title had not changed either.
Yuxi still shook her head.
For two consecutive days, Yuxi remained depressed, unable to eat well or sleep well. No matter how hard Yun Qing tried to comfort her, it was useless. After some thought, he went to find Han Jianming. "Yuxi hasn't been in a good mood these past few days. I want to invite my mother-in-law over to talk to her and cheer her up." There was nothing else he could do.
Han Jianming found this a bit strange. From what he knew, Yuxi would usually try to solve problems rather than torment herself. Moreover, things had been calm lately, with nothing unusual happening. "What has Yuxi encountered?"
Yun Qing gave a brief explanation of Yuxi's nightmare. "She's worried the dream will come true." He couldn't fathom why such a thing would frighten her so much.
Han Jianming's expression changed. No wonder Yuxi couldn't eat or sleep. "Meifu1, did Yuxi tell you that her nightmares always come true?'
Yun Qing was astonished. "What?"
Han Jianming then briefly explained how all of Yuxi's past nightmares had all come true. After that, he said, "Jianye originally planned to go to Liaodong, but Yuxi dreamed that he would die there. Knowing how accurate her dreams were, I arranged for Jianye to go to the Northwest instead." Even in the Northwest, despite having Yuxi and Yun Qing to protect him, he nearly died. If he had gone to Liaodong, given his temperament, it would have been easy for others to take advantage of him—how could he possibly have survived? So, regarding Yuxi's current nightmare, he began to worry as well.
Thinking of this, Han Jianming suggested, "Meifu1, let me try to persuade Yuxi." This matter shouldn't be told to his mother; otherwise, she would worry as well.
Yun Qing felt that this matter was beyond his imagination. "No need. I'll have a proper talk with her." Yuxi had never mentioned this to him before.
After entering the rear courtyard, he was stopped by Momo Quan in the yard. "General, I have something to tell you." They couldn't allow Yuxi to keep overthinking like this.
After hearing Momo Quan say that Yuxi's nightmare might be more than just a dream, Yun Qing asked, "You know about her dream, too?"
Momo Quan shook her head. "I just feel that, given Madam's temperament, if it were only a nightmare, it wouldn't bother her this much. There must be something else." Yuxi had always kept her secrets close to her heart, which was why she had always been so guarded around others since childhood.
Entering the room and seeing Yuxi sitting blankly in a chair, Yun Qing crouched down, held her face, and looked into her eyes as he said, "Yuxi, we are husband and wife. Whatever happens, we'll share it together. Don't keep everything bottled up inside."
Yuxi's tears immediately surged out.
After Yuxi had cried herself tired, Yun Qing took a handkerchief and wiped the tear stains from her face. "Go on, tell me. With me here, the sky won't collapse2."
Yuxi's expression was conflicted. After quite a while, she finally spoke. "I've had several nightmares like this before. One was six years ago—I dreamed that bandits broke into the Han residence, k!lling and setting fires. On the very night of the Crown Prince's coup, the Han residence was indeed looted, with blood flowing like a river. The second time was on the way to the Northwest. I dreamed that I was tortured to death, and in the end…" Her substitute had been tormented by the Northern Barbarians and met a fate worse than death.🦊
Yun Qing looked utterly shocked and asked, "Do you really have the ability to foresee the future?" As for what Han Jianming had said, he had only half believed it.
Yuxi shook her head. "No, but every time I dream of something bad, it eventually turns into reality. That's why I'm so afraid—afraid that you and the children…" She couldn't continue.
Yun Qing had spoken impulsively just now. If Yuxi could really foresee the future, she wouldn't have come close to being killed so many times.
Holding the slightly trembling Yuxi, Yun Qing said softly, "Don't be afraid. Weren't all your previous nightmares resolved safely in the end? This time will be the same."
Seeing that Yuxi remained silent, Yun Qing held her tighter and added, "We'll start preparing now. If Yan Wushuang really leads troops to attack us, we'll make sure he never returns."
Yuxi asked softly, "Herui, do you know why my Dage came to the northwest to seek refuge with me?" Without waiting for Yun Qing to respond, she answered her own question, "Because he believed that with our abilities, we could seize this realm. He came to us to secure a great future for his descendants."
Yun Qing froze. The idea that Han Jianming would abandon his foundation in the capital and betray his own family just so that Yuxi could join them had always seemed unimaginable to him, and he had always had doubts, although he had never voiced them. Today, those doubts were finally answered.
Yuxi already knew that Yun Qing had no ambition to conquer the world. "At the time, I told my Dage that we had no intention of fighting for the throne—we only wanted to live a simple and peaceful life. But my Dage told me that if we had no such ambition, one day we would either die at the hands of the Imperial Court or at the hands of whoever would eventually take over the world."
Yun Qing stated softly, "With the northwest as our foundation, it won't be easy for anyone to take our lives." The Northwest was their stronghold—how could it be easily breached?
Yuxi spoke very softly, "Herui, back then, I thought the same as you. I believed that if we governed the Northwest well and united the soldiers and the people with us, we would have the means to stand firm in this world. But this nightmare made me realise that I was thinking too simply."
Yun Qing looked at Yuxi, waiting for her to continue.
Yuxi said, "If Yan Wushuang seizes the empire, they definitely won't spare us. He Rui, if Yan Wushuang mobilises the entire nation to attack the Northwest, do you think we can defend it?"
Yun Qing's expression changed. He knew the answer without even thinking. The Northwest was only safe because the Imperial Court had already become an empty frame4 after losing control over the regions. If Yan Wushuang seized the empire and attacked them with the full strength of the nation, and the Northern Barbarians lurking behind them, they would undoubtedly be defeated. When that time came, Yuxi's nightmare would become reality.
Yuxi knew how stubborn Yun Qing was. Talking until the sky broke wouldn't be able to persuade him, no matter how hard she tried to reason with him. So she could only strike with the sword edge5 by staging the act, making Yun Qing think things through on his own.
After quite a while, Yun Qing still didn't say a single word.
Gancao called out loudly from outside, "General, Madam, the meal is ready." The room was eerily silent, making even Gancao outside feel a bit uneasy.
Yun Qing pulled Yuxi up by the hand and urged, "Let's go eat first—no matter how big the matter is, it can wait until after the meal." Yun Qing had never harboured thoughts of seizing the empire, not only because he lacked ambition, but also because he didn't believe he had the ability to do so. However, Yuxi's words today forced him to think more deeply.
Yuxi also knew that persuading Yun Qing in such a short time was nothing but a dream. "Mm."
Yun Qing picked up a piece of fish and placed it into Yuxi's bowl. "Even if what you said comes true in the future, since we already know, we can prepare defences. It won't be so easy for him to succeed. But if you keep going like this, your body won't be able to take it. If you fall ill, who will take care of Zaozao and Liu-er?"
Zaozao was wearing a bib and sitting at a small table specially made for her, eating in a very proper manner. Hearing her name, she reflexively looked up and called, "Dad, Mom…" Her mouth was covered in rice grains, making her look terribly messy.
Yun Qing couldn't understand Yuxi's approach. Even if she didn't want the nanny to feed the child, surely wiping her mouth would be fine, but Yuxi stubbornly refused. Yun Qing said, "Mama Zeng, please wipe Zaozao's mouth."
Mama Zeng glanced at Yuxi. Only after seeing her nod slightly did she bend down to wipe Zaozao's face, then step back to the side.
Not long after lunch, Yun Qing held Zaozao's small hand and slowly walked around the yard. When he heard that Yang Duoming was asking to see Yuxi, he said to Yuxi, "Come back early!" Yun Qing felt that Yuxi shouldn't be left idle—if she stayed busy, she wouldn't keep dwelling on that nightmare.
Yuxi nodded.
After receiving Yuxi's summons, Yang Duoming hurried back overnight.
Yuxi wanted revenge, but she had no prior dealings with Jiang Hongjin in this life. If Yun Qing found out that she was targeting Jiang Hongjin, she wouldn't be able to explain. The only person she could use to keep it hidden from Yun Qing was Yang Duoming.
Upon hearing Yuxi's instructions, Yang Duoming's expression shifted slightly, but he quickly composed himself. "Finding this kind of secret medicine will take some time." He didn't know what deep hatred existed between Madam and Jiang Hongjin to make her want to render him impotent, but he didn't dare ask.
Yuxi said, "Just get it done before the New Year." With over a month until the New Year and only a two- or three-day journey from Luoyang to Haocheng, there was plenty of time for Yang Duoming to complete the task.
The time was sufficient, but Yang Duoming had other concerns. "Scholars value their reputation. If his name is ruined, he might even lose his official position."
Yuxi said expressionlessly, "Do not let a third person know about this."
Yang Duoming was no fool; he knew full well that such matters could not be shared with others, not even his own wife. After all, it was hardly something to be proud of.
Footnotes Full List
- 妹夫 (mèifu): younger sister's husband; brother-in-law
- 天塌不下来 (tiān tā bù xià lái): things are not as catastrophic as they seem; reassurance that everything will be okay.
- Wait... did she really dream about this? 🤔
- 空架子 (kōng jià zi): something that looks official or powerful but is actually powerless.
- 剑走偏锋 (jiàn zǒu piān fēng): using an unorthodox or risky method
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