Yun Qing woke up, got dressed and walked over to the window. It was pitch black outside. He asked Gancao, who had just come in carrying wat...
Yun Qing woke up, got dressed and walked over to the window. It was pitch black outside. He asked Gancao, who had just come in carrying water, "What time is it?"
Gancao placed the copper basin on the stand and replied, "It's the end of the Xu hour1."
Unexpectedly, he had slept for more than three shichen2. After washing his face, Yun Qing asked, "Where is Madam? Is she still in the front courtyard?"
Gancao nodded. "Madam is still in the front courtyard handling matters." There was one advantage to the couple managing official affairs together: nothing was delayed.
For dinner, Mama Bai had prepared millet porridge and two plates of vegetables for Yun Qing. There wasn't a trace of meat on the table.
Yun Qing didn't ask about it. Yuxi was very health-conscious and preferred light, vegetarian meals at night. However, she knew that Yun Qing expended a lot of energy, so she didn't insist that he follow her diet. But since he had been drinking today, she made him eat lightly.
After dinner, Yun Qing went to the front courtyard.
When Xu Wu saw Yun Qing, he told him something: "General, Yan Shi and Weiguo divorced at the end of last month." Cui Mo hadn't told Yun Qing about this earlier; he only mentioned it to Xu Wu today while they were having dinner together.
Yun Qing frowned slightly. "Let's talk in the side room!" He had been extremely busy recently. Despite Yuxi taking on most of the administrative duties, he still had no spare time and hadn't paid attention to Xiang Weiguo's situation.
Once in the side room, Yun Qing asked, "What happened?" Back then, Yuxi had said that Yan Shi wouldn't be able to endure hardship alongside Xiang Weiguo, and he had agreed with her. Nevertheless, he hadn't expected her to give up in just half a year.
Xu Wu forced out a bitter smile and said, "After Weiguo recovered, he sold off all his family property and took Yan Shi to Xinping City to do business. But he simply wasn't cut out for it—after just one attempt, he lost everything." They lost all their money and lived in great hardship. Yan Shi urged Xiang Weiguo to ask Cui Mo for help, but he refused outright. His brothers were all doing well, while he had fallen into such a miserable state—how could he still have the face to ask others for help?
When Yan Shi was still unmarried, she was beautiful, and her parents had indulged her in everything. She had never endured hardship, nor had she done much housework. After marrying Xiang Weiguo, she lived a life of luxury, adorned with gold and silver, attended by maids and servants. But when Xiang Weiguo fell into decline, they not only struggled for daily meals, but she also had to do housework. Unable to endure it, she ran back to her parents' home.
Xiang Weiguo went to the Yan family home to bring her back. At first, the Yan family treated him politely—after all, his sworn brothers were all prospering, so it didn't seem hard for him to rise again. However, after half a year had passed and he was still in the same poor, shabby state, the Yan family's two daughters-in-law had lost patience. Not only did they mock Yan Shi for frequently returning home, but they also treated Xiang Weiguo with open disdain.
Yan Shi was not someone who could endure hardship. After holding out for half a year and seeing that Cui Mo and the others showed no concern for Xiang Weiguo, she realised that he had no chance of making a comeback. She directly asked him for a divorce.
Upon hearing this, Yun Qing asked coldly, "She asked for a divorce, and he agreed?" Why bother with a mutual divorce for such a woman? Xiang Weiguo should simply have repudiated her.
Xu Wu shook his head. "Weiguo didn't agree at first, but Yan Shi hid herself so that he couldn't find her. Later, Yan Shi's mother found Weiguo. No one knows what she said, but he eventually agreed to the divorce." In Yu City and Xinping City, divorced women still had good prospects, especially beautiful women like Yan Shi, who would have no trouble remarrying.
Seeing that Yun Qing's expression did not change, Xu Wu continued, "What happened back then was indeed Weiguo's fault, but he has already been punished. General, please give him another chance!" Xu Wu was not particularly close to Weiguo, but he could not bear to see him reduced to this state.
Yun Qing asked, "What is he doing to make a living now?" Following Yun Qing's warning, Cui Mo did not dare to allow Xiang Weiguo to return to the military camp, not even as an ordinary soldier. The treatment of soldiers in Yucheng was no longer what it used to be: not only were wages never delayed, but the food had also improved significantly.
Xu Wu lowered his head and said, "He's doing odd jobs to get by. When Old Cui came to Haocheng, he went to see Weiguo. He said that once spring arrives, he'll go to the countryside to reclaim land and farm. Wei Guo said that in the northwest nowadays, you can survive just by farming." In the past, there were many harsh taxes and levies, and farmers could hardly survive. Now, aside from paying land tax and doing corvée labour during the farming off-season, there were no other burdens. As a grown man, Xiang Weiguo could definitely support himself.
Hearing this, Yun Qing's expression softened considerably. Fortunately, Xiang Weiguo had not given up on himself; otherwise, Yun Qing would have been utterly disappointed in him.
Xu Wu pleaded, "General, please let Wei Guo return to the camp! What the army lacks most right now are skilled fighters. If he comes back, he can also contribute." Although Han Jianming thought that Yun Qing had many strong generals under his command, the truth was that he was actually short-handed.
Yun Qing did not answer, merely responding, "Have Cui Mo speak to me personally tomorrow." Why should he relay things through Xu Wu?
As soon as Xu Wu heard this, he knew that Yun Qing's stance had softened. Happily, he responded, "Alright, I'll go get Old Cui now."
Hearing some movement from the study, Yun Qing waved his hand. "It's not too late to discuss this matter tomorrow." No matter how urgent it is, it was not urgent enough for this moment.
Yuxi was rubbing her eyes when she saw Yun Qing walk in. Smiling, she exclaimed, "I thought you'd sleep until tomorrow before waking up!"
Seeing how tired Yuxi looked, Yun Qing replied, "It's already late. Let's deal with the rest tomorrow!" In the middle of winter, nothing was particularly urgent anyway.
Yuxi smiled. "I was just about to head back!" Under normal circumstances, she would return to the rear courtyard after the midpoint of the Hai hour3. If there were urgent matters, however, there was no fixed time.
After returning to the rear courtyard, the first thing Yuxi did was to check on Zaozao and Liu-er. At this time of night, Zaozao was already asleep, while Liu-er had just finished being fed.
Yun Qing held Liu-er, kissed her, and asked Yuxi with a smile, "When do you think Liu-er will start talking?"
Feeling quite speechless, Yuxi answered, "I've already told you I don't know. When the child reaches the speaking stage, she will naturally start talking." Yun Qing had asked this question many times before, and Yuxi no longer wanted to answer it.
Looking at Liu-er babbling 'en-en, ah-ah', Yun Qing smiled and said, "I just want to hear Liu-er call me 'Dad' once." He wondered what it would be like when she finally called him that.
Yuxi didn't know whether to laugh or cry. "Someone who didn't know better would think this is your first time being a father." You're already a father, yet you're still eagerly waiting for your child to call you 'Dad'—how unusual.
Yun Qing retorted, "How can that be the same!" When Zaozao called him 'Dad', her voice was so loud it could practically pierce one's eardrums. Liu-er would definitely be different.
After understanding the reason, Yuxi jokingly scolded him, "So you actually dislike Zaozao? If she found out, who knows how upset she'd be!"
Yun Qing didn't dislike Zaozao at all. It was just that Liu-er made him feel the pride described by the saying, 'a daughter in one family was sought after by a hundred families4'.
Mama Qu walked into the room and said in a lowered voice, "Wangye, the medicinal bath is ready—you can soak now." Yun Qing smelled strongly of alcohol after drinking, so Yuxi requested that this medicinal bath be prepared.
While they were lying in bed, Yun Qing brought up Xiang Weiguo's matter with Yuxi. "I thought it would take at least a year or two! I didn't expect Yan Shi to be able to endure half a year." A woman who could share wealth but not hardship was better off divorced sooner rather than later. The only thing that displeased Yun Qing was that Weiguo and Yan Shi had separated by mutual agreement rather than Yan Shi being cast off.
After hearing this, Yuxi actually agreed with Xiang Weiguo's approach. "A single day of marriage deserves a hundred days of gratitude and affection5. Why make things so hostile towards each other? Wouldn't it be better to part on good terms?" If Yan Shi had caused Xiang Weiguo to wear a green hat6 or run off with another man, then if Xiang Weiguo wanted her dead, Yuxi would have nothing to say. But now, Yan Shi simply couldn't endure a poor life and wanted a separation—killing her over that would be too cruel.
Seeing Yun Qing's disapproval, Yuxi explained her view: "Yan Shi hasn't done anything immoral or outrageous; she just wants a life of wealth. Back then, Xiang Weiguo took bribes because of her, but the root problem lies with himself. He has no principles or bottom line in how he acts—that's very dangerous." The reason she had suggested removing Xiang Weiguo from his post was precisely that she believed he had no limits.
Yun Qing fell silent for a moment, then confessed, "I want him to return to the military camp." After all, he had followed him for so many years—he couldn't bear to just abandon him now.
Yuxi nodded. If Xiang Weiguo had fallen this far and Yun Qing still refused to relent, the other generals would surely feel uneasy. "He can return to the camp, but he must start as an ordinary soldier. Given his abilities, and with the help of Cui Mo and the others, I believe he'll quickly rise again. But He Rui, unless he changes his temperament, you'll need to be cautious in using him in the future." It wasn't that Weiguo couldn't be used—he was still very loyal to Yun Qing—but someone who acts on emotion so easily was very dangerous.
Yun Qing replied, "After such a lesson, he'll definitely change. Once he has improved himself, and he wants to remarry, you and Momo Quan can vet his bride." Even if Yuxi misjudged someone, Momo Quan wouldn't. With both of them screening, there would be no problem.
Yuxi said coquettishly, "I already have so much to do, and you still want me to act as a matchmaker—are you trying to exhaust me to death? I've never seen a husband be so inconsiderate of his wife."
Yun Qing's hand reached a sensitive spot on Yuxi and murmured softly, "I'll cherish you right now."
Yuxi scolded him, though it sounded more like playful teasing. She bit Yun Qing hard and asked, "Tell me, where did you learn these tricks?" The couple had become increasingly harmonious in this aspect.
Yun Qing kissed her cheek and whispered, "Then you tell me—where did you learn yours?" Yuxi, who was usually so proper, had suddenly become proactive in this matter—there had to be a reason. When he later found out, he realised it all traced back to Momo Quan.
Hearing this, how could Yuxi not understand? She immediately wished she could crawl into a hole. Since there wasn't one, she hid under the blanket instead.
Yun Qing finally pulled the blanket away and said with a smile, "You still have this much strength? Looks like I need to try harder."
Yuxi tried to resist, but she was no match for him. Soon, the room was once again filled with sounds that made one's face flush and heart race.
Footnotes Full List
- 戌时 (xūshí) — period of the day from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
- 时辰 (shíchen) — 2 hours. 3 shichen equals six hours
- 亥时 (hàishí) — period of the day from 9 p.m. to 11 p.m.
- 一家有女百家求 (yī jiā yǒu nǚ bǎi jiā qiú) — A cherished daughter is highly valued and sought after (often implying pride in having a daughter).
- 一日夫妻百日恩 (Yī rì fūqī bǎi rì ēn) — This is a traditional Chinese proverb about the enduring emotional tie between spouses. It argues that even a very short marriage creates a long-lasting bond of gratitude and affection.
- 戴绿帽子 (dài lǜ màozi) — means being cheated on (wife's infidelity).
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