ROHYX Chapter 784 : Confession

Once the room was empty except for the two mother and daughter, Qiu Shi took Yuxi's hand and said, "Yuxi, your health has recovere...

Once the room was empty except for the two mother and daughter, Qiu Shi took Yuxi's hand and said, "Yuxi, your health has recovered as well. It is time to consider giving Zaozao and Liu-er a younger brother." Currently, Qiu Shi was the only person who could speak so plainly in front of Yuxi.

Yuxi shook her head. "I've discussed this with Momo Quan. She said that my body hasn't fully recovered yet and that I must recuperate for another year before I can have another child."

Qiu Shi sighed softly. "You are always so busy. How could you possibly recuperate properly? Yuxi, listen to me. Put all those matters aside and focus on restoring your health and having a son. That should be your main priority." She believed that Yuxi had not yet fully recovered because she was too busy and exhausted.

Yuxi smiled and said, "Mom, my work doesn't interfere with my health treatment. It was the difficult labour that damaged my body. At the time, the physician said that it would take me at least five years to recover. Now I only need one more year, which is already better than expected."

Qiu Shi patted Yuxi's hand and advised, "A woman must not force herself to appear strong¹, understand?" Although Yun Qing was very tolerant of Yuxi now, Qiu Shi worried that this might affect their marital relationship over time. If another woman were to take advantage of the situation, it would be too late to regret it.

Yuxi smiled and assured her, "Mom, I know my limits, and I know how far I should go."

Qiu Shi still had much that she wished to say, but seeing Yuxi like this, she said no more. "Yuxi, these past few nights, I have kept dreaming about Lil Boy Hua and the others. Back then, we were forced by the circumstances and could not take them with us when we left the capital. I now want to send someone to bring Lil Boy Hua and the others to the Northwest. What do you think?"

Yuxi's expression stiffened. Han Jianming had never dared to tell Qiu Shi what had happened to Lil Boy Hua and the others because he was afraid she wouldn't be able to cope.

After they had settled in the Northwest, Qiu Shi had repeatedly asked Han Jianming to send someone to the capital to bring Lil Boy Hua and the others back. However, Han Jianming kept saying that the timing was not right, which made Qiu Shi suspicious. When she saw Yuxi's expression, her heart suddenly tightened². Grabbing Yuxi by the arm, she asked, "Yuxi, has something happened to Lil Boy Hua and the others?"

Yuxi considered the matter in her mind and finally nodded. "The place where Lil Boy Hua, Concubine Jia and the others were hiding has been discovered. They are all gone."

The shock was too much for Qiu Shi, and she immediately fainted.

Yuxi was terrified. Holding Qiu Shi, she shouted, "Mama Li, Mom has fainted! Quickly send someone to bring Physician He here."

Han Jianming came immediately after receiving the news. Looking at the unconscious Qiu Shi, he asked, "Yuxi, what happened? Mom was perfectly fine just a moment ago, so why did she suddenly faint?"

Yuxi smiled bitterly and replied, "I told Mom everything about Lil Boy Hua and the others. She could not bear it and fainted." Thinking of those children, Yuxi also felt deeply distressed. The innocent young children had done nothing wrong. It was astonishing that Han Jingyan could bring himself to act so ruthlessly.

Han Jianming fell silent. He knew very well that the truth could be concealed for a time, but not forever. Perhaps it was better that Yuxi had revealed it now, as he would no longer have to make up excuses to deceive Qiu Shi. If the matter dragged on, she would eventually discover the truth anyway.

Physician He came and inserted several acupuncture needles into Qiu Shi, after which she regained consciousness. When she opened her eyes and saw Han Jianming, she hurriedly asked, "Ming-er, Yuxi said that something happened to Lil Boy Hua and the others. Ming-er, it is not true, is it? Yuxi made a mistake, didn't she?"

A man does not shed tears lightly; he simply has not yet reached the point of true heartbreak³. Thinking of his children, who had died innocent and miserable deaths, Han Jianming's eyes also reddened. "Mom, it is true. Lil Boy Hua and the others are all gone." When Han Jianming first received the news, he was overwhelmed with regret too. Had he known that something would happen to them, he would have brought them away no matter what. Even if he could not have taken them to the Northwest, he could have left them in Wang County. Unfortunately, no medicine could cure regret⁴.

Qiu Shi nearly fainted again. "Lil Boy Hua and the others were just children who didn't understand anything. What beast could commit such a ruthless act?" Compared with the other two children born to concubines, Lil Boy Hua had spent more time with Qiu Shi, so she was particularly fond of him.

Han Jianming stated bitterly, "It was Han Jingyan. He discovered the whereabouts of Lil Boy Hua and the others and then handed the children over to the authorities." Han Jianming now hated Han Jingyan to the very marrow of his bones⁵.

Upon hearing this, Qiu Shi's eyes widened as though their corners were about to split⁶. "That beast! That beast who deserves to be cut by a thousand blades and sliced into ten thousand pieces⁷. Lil Boy Hua still had to call him Grandpa. How could he bring himself to inflict such a vicious act?" Had Han Jingyan been there, Qiu Shi would certainly have strangled him to death.

Strictly speaking, Han Jingyan was also innocent in this matter. Outsiders all claimed he had betrayed his grandnieces and grandnephews, and even Yuchen believed it. In truth, however, he had not actually done it. The hiding place of Lil Boy Hua and the others was discovered by chance by one of Han Jingyan's personal attendants. At the time, Han Jingyan had no intention of reporting them or getting involved. Unfortunately, the Duke household doors were not strictly controlled⁸, and the information soon leaked to the authorities. Han Jianming had defected to the rebels and was therefore considered a rebel himself. Once the authorities learned where his children were, how could they possibly let them escape?

Yuxi comforted Qiu Shi, "Mom, one day he will receive his rightful retribution." A person like him would certainly come to a bad end.

Qiu Shi said through clenched teeth, "That beast must be made to descend into the eighteenth level of hell⁹." She had never hated anyone so much before.

After some time, Mama Li brought in the prepared medicinal decoction. It contained herbs that calmed the mind and nerves. After drinking it, Qiu Shi fell asleep.

Yuxi said to Han Jianming, "Dage, you should spend more time with Mom at home for the time being." She also wanted to stay at the residence longer to keep Qiu Shi company, but she was too busy to get away.

Han Jianming acknowledged her words and reminded her, "Yuxi, Mom can't take any more stress. Jianye did something wrong, but he already regrets it. Don't hold it against him any more." The previous year, Han Jianye had gone to Haocheng to celebrate the New Year, but he left after less than ten days to return to Yu City. Yuxi had met him then, but the two had behaved extremely formally towards each other. They looked less like siblings and more like superior and subordinate.

Yuxi shook her head. "Dage, the problem does not lie with me. It lies with Er Ge. That's something he has to get over on his own; I can't do it for him." Setting aside the fact that Han Jianye had almost caused the loss of two lives in one body¹⁰, his reaction after Yun Qing rebelled had already left a knot in Yuxi's heart¹¹.

Han Jianming actually knew that this matter had left a knot in Yuxi's heart¹¹, too. However, this was not what he wished to see. "Yuxi, even if only for Mom's sake, you cannot allow yourself and Jianye to become estranged. You do not know how distressed Mom felt during the New Year when she saw how formally you and Jianye treated each other." Qiu Shi knew that what had happened was Han Jianye's fault, so she had not spoken in his defence.

Yuxi was silent for a moment before responding, "Dage, this cannot be hurried, no matter how anxious we may be." These emotional knots would take time to untie and resolve.

By the time Yuxi returned to the Yun Residence, it was already past the midpoint of the Hai hour¹². When Yun Qing saw her, he went forward and asked, "How is Mom? Is she all right?"

Yuxi shook her head. "Mom fainted because she couldn't bear the news about what happened to Lil Boy Hua and the others. Physician He has already examined her and said that there is nothing seriously wrong with her. Dage and Dasao are watching over her now, so she should be all right." No matter what else had happened, at least Qiqi and Lil Boy Chang had been saved.

Upon hearing this, Yun Qing did not know how to comfort Yuxi. He had never expected Han Jingyan to be so shameless that he would not even spare such young children.

Yuxi put the matter aside for the moment and asked, "What did you discuss with Jiang Hongfu? Did the conversation go well?" If they could put Jiang Hongfu to use, it would be like gaining another strong arm¹³.

Yun Qing replied, "Although Min Shi and the children are in Jiangnan, they are being controlled by someone. My Biaodi also has no control over his own circumstances. However, he said that he would not submit to the threats of the person behind the curtain¹⁴. In a way, I am the one who implicated him." Had it not been for Yun Qing, Min Shi and the children would not have been placed in danger.

Yuxi couldn't help but laugh. "You're not the one who brought Jiang Hongfu to the Northwest, nor were you the one who secretly took control of Min Shi and their children. What have you got to feel guilty about?" If he even felt guilty about this, he would be consumed by it for the rest of his life.

Yun Qing looked at Yuxi and then fell silent.

Yuxi could guess what Yun Qing was thinking. "Herui, in a chaotic age, anyone without sufficient authority and power will become fish and meat lying on a chopping board¹⁵ and be slaughtered and carved at the pleasure of others¹⁶. My older brother was in that situation, and your Biaodi is the same." If Han Jianming possessed enough power to protect himself and his immediate family, he would not have needed to risk bringing his entire family, young and old, to the Northwest to seek refuge with her. Had they not come to the Northwest, Lil Boy Hua and the others might not have died.

Yun Qing sighed. "Hongfu told me that he wants to make some notable achievements in the Northwest." In his previous official post, although Jiang Hongfu had the advantage of his father's reputation, someone would pull his elbow¹⁷ no matter what he tried to do. It was different in the Northwest: as long as his suggestions were sound, they would be accepted, and no one would deliberately stumble him with a cord¹⁸. He would then be able to work calmly and conscientiously, accomplishing practical things for the common people.

Yuxi said, "As long as he has that intention, then naturally, nothing could be better."

Footnotes Full List

1. 逞强 (chěngqiáng) — to put on a brave front or push oneself beyond one's limits
2. 心头一紧 (xīntóu yì jǐn) — to feel a sudden rush of fear or alarm
3. 男儿有泪不轻弹,只是未到伤心处 (nán'ér yǒu lèi bù qīng tán, zhǐshì wèi dào shāngxīn chù) — a man does not lightly release his tears; it is only that he has not yet reached the place of sorrow; even a strong man will cry when his grief becomes deep enough
4. 没有后悔药吃 (méiyǒu hòuhuǐ yào chī) — there is no regret medicine to take; the past cannot be changed, no matter how much one regrets it
5. 恨之入骨 (hèn zhī rù gǔ) — to hate someone with the deepest intensity
6. 龇目欲裂 (likely 眦目欲裂, zì mù yù liè) — the corners of the eyes are about to split; to glare with extreme rage
7. 千刀万剐 (qiān dāo wàn guǎ) — a thousand cuts and ten thousand slices; an extremely severe curse wishing a brutal death upon someone
8. 门户不严 (ménhù bù yán) — the doors of the household were not strict; security or control over information within the household was lax
9. 下十八层地狱 (xià shíbā céng dìyù) — go down to the eighteen levels of hell; a traditional Buddhist and folk expression describing the most terrible possible punishment after death
10. 一尸两命 (yì shī liǎng mìng) — one corpse and two lives; the death of both a pregnant woman and her unborn child
11. 心里有疙瘩 (xīnlǐ yǒu gēda) — to have a lump in one's heart; to harbour resentment, discomfort or unresolved misgivings
12. 亥时 (hàishí) — 9-11 pm (in the system of two-hour subdivisions used in former times)
13. 一条臂膀 (yì tiáo bìbǎng) — *an arm; a metaphor for a capable and dependable helper
14. 幕后人 (mùhòu rén) — the hidden person directing events from behind the scenes
15. 案板上的魚肉 (ànbǎn shàng de yúròu) — a helpless victim who has no power to resist
16. 任人宰割 (rèn rén zǎigē) — allow others to slaughter and carve; to be completely at another person's mercy
17. 掣肘 (chèzhǒu) — pull someone by the elbow; to hinder or restrict someone's actions
18. 使絆子 (shǐ bànzi) — to set a stumbling cord; to secretly create obstacles or cause difficulties for someone

---

❮❮⚊⚋ ⌘ ⓉⓄⒸ ⌘ ⚋⚊❯❯