Zhong Shan fell silent for a moment before asking, "So, how did you become Uncle Tie's son?" Zhong Shan had met Tie Kui's...
Zhong Shan fell silent for a moment before asking, "So, how did you become Uncle Tie's son?" Zhong Shan had met Tie Kui's adoptive father, Tie Hu, who was a very honest and generous man.
Tie Kui replied, "After I buried my family, I went to a nearby town. Because I had nothing to eat, I had to beg." However, beggars also had their own territories, and Tie Kui had suddenly appeared and snatched those beggars' rice bowls1, so how could they be willing to let that happen? They beat Tie Kui half to death, but just then he ran into Tie Hu, a hunter who had come to town to sell game.
As it happened, Tie Hu's only son had died, and Ning Hai looked somewhat similar to him. When Tie Hu saw Ning Hai at that time, he felt it was fate, so he had Ning Hai assume his son's identity. After that, Ning Hai became Tie Kui.
Tie Hu's family lived on the mountain and rarely interacted with those living below, so those people below did not know that Tie Hu's son had died. Although Tie Hu was a skilled hunter, the taxes were too heavy, and his family often had to eat wild vegetables and fruit to stave off hunger.
Their lives only began to improve when Tie Kui followed Tie Hu into the mountains to hunt. In his fifth year on the mountain, Tie Hu killed a tiger.
Tie Kui came from an official family, so how could he not know the value of a tiger skin? If they took it to town, they could only sell it for around one or two hundred taels of silver, but in the prefectural capital, they could get double that.
Tie Hu was not rigidly old-fashioned, so after hearing Tie Kui's suggestion, he decided to go to the prefectural capital to see it for himself. Once they arrived, the father and son sold the tiger skin for three hundred and sixty taels, nearly twice as much as they would have received in town.
With this money, the Tie family bought land and built a house below the mountain. They also purchased some mu2 of poor-quality farmland. It was only then that Tie Kui truly revealed himself to everyone.
Zhong Shan asked, "I remember you told me before that you had nothing to do with Han Jianming. Then why did you contact him?"
Tie Kui whispered, "I wasn't contacting him; I was contacting Yuxi." As an elder, there was nothing wrong with addressing Yuxi by her first name.
However, when Zhong Shan heard Tie Kui call Han Shi by her first name, his heart was jolted. "What is your relationship with Han Shi?" For Tie Kui to call her by her first name, their relationship must be very close.
Tie Kui's expression was somewhat grief-stricken as he answered, "My Second Elder Sister ran about everywhere, which led to difficult labour. A month later, she passed away. The child she left behind was Yuxi." Tie Kui felt both gratitude and grief towards Ning Shi.
Zhong Shan was dazed for quite a while before saying, "No wonder you do not dare reveal your identity." Even disregarding the previous incident involving Han Jianming, the moment Yan Wushuang found out who Tie Kui really was, he would have exploited this relationship to deal with Han Yuxi.
Tie Kui remarked, "Even if we don't acknowledge each other as relatives, I would never go against Yuxi." His Second Elder Sister had lost her life because of him all those years ago, so how could he go against the only bloodline she had left behind?
Zhong Shan stated, "From now on, let me handle contact with the northwest!" If Tie Kui personally came forward every time, something could easily go wrong.
Tie Kui shook his head. "You don't need to worry about that. Yuxi has no intention of making me an inside agent." If Yuxi had wanted to manipulate him into helping her, Tie Kui would definitely have disagreed. However, Yuxi had said nothing of the sort and had even told him to pay attention to his safety, which put Tie Kui at ease.
Upon hearing this, Zhong Shan breathed a sigh of relief. "That's good." Being an inside agent was far too dangerous. However, at the time, he had not dared urge Tie Kui too strongly because he was unaware that Han Shi was Tie Kui's only blood relative.
While they were talking, a servant announced loudly from outside that the Eldest Master Yu had died of illness.
Upon hearing this news, Tie Kui asked very calmly, "Have you heard any rumours outside?" The Eldest Master Yu had been perfectly healthy just a few days ago, yet in less than ten days he was gone. Tie Kui did not believe that there was nothing fishy about it.
The servant said, "Everyone outside is now saying that the Emperor did it." As for what the truth really was, no one knew.
Tie Kui waved his hand, indicating that the servant should withdraw.
Zhong Shan's expression was somewhat grave as he wondered aloud, "Kuizi, this matter is very suspicious! Who do you think made the move?" Following Old Master Yu's death, the capital would certainly fall into chaos. The only unknown factor was who the fisherman3 would be.
Tie Kui shook his head. "I cannot guess. The waters of the capital are too deep4. Even Yan Wushuang hasn't figured them out, so there's no way I could."
After saying this, Tie Kui smiled and added, "But I don't think it's very likely that Old Master Yu really died of illness." The Yu family had many death warriors5, and as the pillar supporting the roof beam6 of the Yu family, the Eldest Master Yu and Yu Chunhao were also extremely careful with their food. Therefore, assassination and poisoning would not be of much use.
Zhong Shan could not figure it out either, so he simply stopped thinking about it. If anyone should have a headache over it, it should be the Emperor and Yan Wushuang; it had nothing to do with them. "The only troublesome thing is that three days from now is the day of your wedding. To run into something like this is truly…" He did not say the two words 'bad luck'.
Tie Kui said, "It doesn't matter. In any case, we're not expecting many guests." Aside from a few of his colleagues, the attendance of his other guests was irrelevant.
The death of Eldest Master Yu had little to do with Tie Kui. But for Yu Chunhao, the heavy burden of the entire Yu family was now pressing down on him. Unfortunately, he used to wear fine silk trousers7. Although he had improved over the past two years, the people of the Yu family did not trust him. See? The Eldest Master Yu family had only just swallowed his breath8 when the Second and Third Masters Yu suddenly seized the opportunity to cause trouble.
These two had long wanted to take charge of the family, but had always been suppressed in the past. Now that they only had to deal with Yu Chunhao, how hard could it be??
His own father had died, yet his uncles not only did not think of helping him, but instead wanted to fight with their nephew for power.🦊 If he were an ordinary person, he would definitely have flown into a thunderous rage. However, Yu Chunhao simply wiped the tears from the corners of his eyes and said, "Second Uncle, Third Uncle, let us discuss everything after my father's seven-seven period10 is over." Contrary to what people outside the family thought, Yu Chunhao knew very well that his father had truly died from a sudden illness.
Both the Second and Third Masters Yu were unwilling. If they waited until the seven-seven period10 had passed, by then even the daylilies would be cold11. Just as Yu Chunhao was being pestered to the point of anger, someone outside announced the Emperor's arrival.
As soon as everyone heard this, the women in the room immediately withdrew into the inner chamber.
The Emperor stayed at the Yu residence for two quarters of an hour before returning to the palace. His arrival also caused the Second and Third Masters Yu to lower their flags and silence their drums12.
After returning to the Imperial Palace, the Emperor went to Kunning Palace. Although there were now several more consorts in the palace, the Emperor rarely visited their palaces. Whenever he wanted to do anything, he always went to Kunning Palace. It wasn't that he wanted to discuss anything with Yuchen; he simply felt comfortable sitting there.
Yuchen attended to the Emperor as he sat down. Seeing the expression on his face, she gently comforted him. "Your Majesty, don't worry. Things will get better very soon." Yuchen knew very well that the Emperor was not responsible for this matter. This was because, once the Eldest Master Yu had died, there would certainly be turmoil in the Imperial Court.
The Emperor said, "Yu Chunhao knelt on the ground and informed Zhen13 that after the seven-seven period10, he will escort Beloved Minister Yu's coffin back to his hometown for burial." It was perfectly natural and right for a son to escort the coffin back to their hometown for burial. The Emperor could not refuse, and in fact, he had no intention of doing so. With the Eldest Master Yu dead and Yu Chunhao going to Jiangnan, only the Second and Third Masters Yu family would remain. Those two had small cleverness14, but no great ability.
Yuchen nodded. "That's good."
While the husband and wife were having lunch, Shiqin walked in from outside and announced, "Your Majesty, Your Highness the Empress, Tang Jieyi suddenly fainted in the Imperial Garden."
Hearing this, the Emperor looked at Shiqin.
Yuchen stood up immediately and asked, "Has anyone gone to invite the Imperial Physician?" When she heard from Shiqin that the Imperial Physician had already been summoned, Yuchen suggested to the Emperor, "Your Majesty, shall we go and see Tang Meimei together?"
The Emperor put down his chopsticks, stood up, and said, "Let's go!"
As soon as the couple arrived at Tang Jieyi's palace, they saw that everyone inside was smiling, and Yuchen knew there was good news.
Imperial Physician Le bowed to the Emperor and Yuchen, then announced, "Your Majesty, Jieyi is pregnant. It has been one month." Consorts all had to have their pulses taken for wellness checks every two days, so it was very difficult to hide a pregnancy unless they bribed the Imperial Physician.
The Emperor was clearly very happy and called out, "Reward them!"
However, before the Emperor could enter the bedchamber, Eunuch Cai rushed in and reported, "Your Majesty, Yunnan has sent an eight hundred li, extra urgent15 military report."
The Emperor was no longer in the mood to see Tang Jieyi at that moment, so he left the palace with Eunuch Cai. Yuchen, however, went into the bedchamber.
When Tang Jieyi saw Yuchen, she was about to stand up to pay her respects. However, Yuchen immediately pressed her back onto the bed and said with a smile, "Now that you are pregnant, you must take good care of your body."
A gentle expression appeared on Tang Jieyi's face. "Your Highness the Empress, I also did not realise that I would actually become pregnant." The Emperor rarely visited Tang Jieyi's bedchamber, only once or twice a month. Becoming pregnant under these circumstances was truly a stroke of luck.
Yuchen had always wanted a child but could never conceive, yet Jieyi Tang said such words. This was clearly a slap in the face for Yuchen.
Yuchen felt uncomfortable inside, but she did not show it on her face. Smiling, she said, "Now that you have a child, you mustn't run around anymore, and you certainly must not climb trees. Do you understand?" No matter how she felt inside, she still had to act in a way that gave others no cause for complaint.
Tang Jieyi touched her belly and nodded. "For the sake of the child in my belly, I will be careful." Not only could she not do dangerous things like climb onto trees, but she also had to be careful about what she ate and drank. The fact that she had conceived was a matter of luck; whether she could safely give birth to this child would depend on her ability.
After saying a few words, Yuchen returned to Kunning Palace.
Momo Gui sneered, "She really knows how to put on an act, doesn't she? She even deceived Niangniang16." She had long suspected that Jieyi Tang was treacherous, and events proved her right. The Empress simply would not listen to her, believing Tang Jieyi to be a good person.
Yuchen smiled faintly. If this Tang Jieyi were truly as innocent and guileless as she appeared, why had the Tang family sent her to the palace? Yuchen had never trusted Tang Jieyi in the first place, so naturally there was no question of her being deceived. "Pass down my order: promote Tang Jieyi17 to Jieyu18." Jieyi was of the principal fifth rank, while Jieyu was of the secondary fourth rank, so this was a one-level promotion. After the child was born, her rank would have to be raised again. Even if the child were a princess, she could be promoted by one level. Of course, this would only happen if her natal family was very powerful or if the Emperor favoured her. Otherwise, it was hard to say.
Momo Gui felt uncomfortable inside, but she also knew that what Yuchen said was the rule.
Footnotes Full List
- 抢饭碗 (qiǎng fàn wǎn) — means to steal someone's livelihood.
- 亩 (mǔ) — classifier for fields/unit of area equal to one-fifteenth of a hectare.
- 渔翁 (yú wēng) — refers to the person who benefits from others' conflict, from 渔翁得利 (yú wēng dé lì), 'the fisherman gains the profit'.
- 水太深 (shuǐ tài shēn) — the situation is too complicated and full of hidden dangers.
- 死士 (sǐ shì) — means loyal guards or agents willing to die for their master.
- 顶梁柱 (dǐng liáng zhù) — means the mainstay or backbone of a family/group.
- 纨绔 (wán kù) — a spoiled, idle son of a wealthy family.
- 咽气 (yàn qì) — to die or breathe one's last.
- The only thing I dislike about this author is that she keeps forgetting the names and titles she gave to her characters and places. In Chapter 685🔗, she introduces the Eldest Master Yu as Yu Chunhao's eldest uncle, but then she repeatedly writes that Yu Chunhao addresses him as 'Dad'. I ignored this because of the aforementioned chapter. But now, she has finally explained that the late Eldest Master Yu was actually Yu Chunhao's father! This means I have to fix everything in the previous chapters regarding the relationship between the Eldest Master Yu and Yu Chunhao. 😮💨
- 七七 (qī qī) — literally "seven sevens"; refers to the forty-nine-day mourning period after death.
- 黄花菜都凉了 (huáng huā cài dōu liáng le) — means it will be too late by then.
- 偃旗息鼓 (yǎn qí xī gǔ) — to stop fighting, stop making trouble, or quiet down.
- 朕 (zhèn) — (used by an emperor or king) I; me; we (royal 'we')
- 小聪明 (xiǎo cōng míng) — petty cleverness or minor cunning.
- 八百里加急 (bā bǎi lǐ jiā jí) — a highest-priority urgent dispatch in ancient courier terms.
- 娘娘 (niáng niáng): A respectful form of address used for empresses and imperial consorts in the palace.
- I can't find any information about the rank of Jieyi (婕仪 (jié yí) — meaning 'Beautiful Ceremony' or 'Graceful Protocol') on Google, other than that it is fictional. The only authentic rank is Jieyu (婕妤 (jié yú) — a title for a female court attendant/imperial concubine). The most famous concubine with this title was Ban Jieyu🔗. Now I need to correct all the references to Tang Jieyu in the previous chapters. 😮💨
- 婕妤 (jié yú) was a specific rank title for female court officials/imperial consorts in ancient Chinese palaces. It was not a name but a position with rank, salary, and privileges. Combined, 婕妤 simply means "beautiful and elegant woman" — it originated as a descriptive title before becoming a formal rank.
COMMENTS