After a moment, till all the sound of horses couldn't be heard, Yuxi finally dared to lift the carriage curtain up and asked Han Jianming, "Dage[1], was that person really Yun Qing, the grandson of Old General Yun?"
Without waiting for Han Jianming's answer, Han Jianye answered loudly, "I didn't expect this guy to be so famous that even Xi-er has heard about him."
Yuxi shivered. Yun Qing, the eldest grandson of Old General Yun. Yun Qing the famous murderous devil of the Zhou Dynasty. How could she not have heard of him?
Yun Qing had never lost a fight since he led the army. However, he was criticised for never leaving a living mouth in each battle he had, which meant that none of the enemies had ever become his captives. After each battle, he would leave behind corpses that pile up like a mountain[2]. Besides, he even dared to slaughter a city with tens of thousands of people. At his command, the world became hell on earth.
Yuxi remembered clearly that his fiancee was scared to death after the news of the massacre reached the capital. At that time, the incident spread fiercely in the capital city; even she in the boudoir, who was not well informed, heard of it.
Suddenly, Yuxi remembered something and asked, "Er Ge[3], is the other youngster the eldest son of Jiang Wenrui?" If she remembered correctly, Jiang Hongfu's mother should be a lady from the Yun family. From how the two people address each other, they should be maternal cousins.
Han Jianye was a relatively thick-lined[4] person, but Han Jianming was not. Han Jianming was particularly surprised when he heard this. "Where did Si Meimei[5] hear about Hongfu Biaodi[6]?"
Yuxi felt a thump in her heart. She didn't realise that the youngster was Jiang Hongfu. No wonder she always thought he looked familiar. His features had some similarities with Jiang Hongjin. Yuxi pressed down the stormy waves in her heart and said with a smile, "I heard from the old women in the residence that Master Jiang's eldest son is very good at studying and has been acknowledged by a famous teacher as his student. I also heard that his mother passed away too early. I don't know if it's true."
Han Jianming knew that the old women in their residence liked to gather and gossip about people of the capital city, which he also generally knew. So, he didn't suspect anything amiss in Yuxi's statement. "Well, Hongfu Biaodi[6] is very intelligent, he studied well since he was a child, and now he has Elder Shan of Baitan Academy as his teacher." Elder Shan of Baitan Academy was a famous scholar in the world. With his teaching, Jiang Hongfu's future would not have any boundaries.
Yuxi had only heard of Jiang Hongfu's intelligence, but she was unclear about the details. "It's great for him to be taught by such a famous teacher. Oh, that's right! Dage[1], Er Ge[3], is Yun Qing Biaoge[7] impressive too?"
Han Jianye didn't think much and said, "Yun Qing started training in martial arts when he was three. No one of his peers in the capital is his opponent, whether in martial arts, riding or even shooting."
Han Jianming couldn't help but cut in a sentence, "Yun Qing Biaodi[6] is also equally good in his study. Er Di[8], if you want to compare yourself with others, you can't compare yourself with him. He's good in both civil and military." Yun Qing and Han Jianye were the same age. When Han Jianming thought about both of them, he couldn't help but sigh. He would have been gleeful if his younger brother had only half of Yun Qing's accomplishments.
Yuxi's mind was a bit puzzled. It was rumoured that Yun Qing not only liked to kill people but also ate human flesh and drank human blood, making him an extremely abnormal guy. That was why she was scared when she heard his name. She couldn't think of why a boy who once had hearty laughter went through a leap of change in his temperament. There must be some major incidents around him; she was not clear about. In her previous life, she did not even understand her own affairs, so when would she have time to care about other people's affairs? Also, although Yun Qing was fierce, at least he lived a much better life than her.
Back at Rose Courtyard, Yuxi unwrapped the red envelopes she received from Yun Qing and Jiang Hongfu. Inside Jiang Hongfu's red envelope, she got a pair of golden bare ruyi, while Yun Qing gave her a couple of lovely simple little golden pigs.
Yuxi touched the two little golden pigs and muttered that it was no wonder the red envelope felt heavy in her hands. They were probably worth four or five taels[9] of silver each.
On this trip, Yuxi made many profits worth a whole pot. Having tasted the sweet end, she followed Han Jianming and his brother to the Marquis of Changping residence, also known as the Zhou family residence, on the second day of New Year. This time, Yuru followed along.
The tradition of visiting relatives would not end until the 6th day after Lunar New Year.
When Yuxi finally returned to her courtyard, she calculated that, in addition to the gifts from the first meeting and the red envelopes she received, they would be worth more than four hundred taels[9] of silver, which made her earn a lot of money. No wonder children liked to celebrate the New Year. There would always be money for them during New Year's Day.
Hongshan caught sight of Yuxi looking at those small golds and silvers with a big smile that turned her eyes into narrow slits. She muttered in her heart that her Miss already tended to be crazy about money.
On the 14th day of the first lunar month, Han Jianye suddenly asked Yuxi, "Xi-er, do you want to go to the Lantern Festival with me?"
Yuxi's eyes twinkled, exclaiming, "Oh, yes!" She had never seen lanterns in her previous life. How could she miss the chance to see them in this life?
Han Jianming shouted, "Nonsense! The night of the Lantern Festival is dangerous. You can not go."
Yuxi paid no attention to Han Jianming's worry as she said, "No fear, Dage[1]. Er Ge[3] will protect me." To see the lanterns, there would surely be a lot of family members following. So, there was nothing for her to worry about.
When Han Jianye heard her words, his mouth slit open into a smile.
Han Jianming had a headache when he looked at Yuxi's manner. Before, he thought Yuxi had a very calm temperament. However, when it came to playing, she showed her true colours. He tried to threaten her, "There are a lot of kidnappers in the evening of the Lantern Festival. These people have abducted many children, so you cannot go." There were not only kidnappers but also stampedes that usually happened during the Lantern Festival. It could be said that the festival was very dangerous. Unless a balcony were reserved, the girls would not be allowed to see the lanterns.
Han Jianye clapped his chest and said, "Don't worry, Dage[1], I will protect Xi-er."
Han Jianming would like to tug at his younger brother's ear to see if he even listened to his own words. Knowing that persuasion was useless, Han Jianming used his trump card, "It can only happen after Grandmother and Mother agree to it." Mother might agree, but Grandmother certainly wouldn't.
Yuxi tugged at Han Jianye's hand, blinked her big eyes and said pitifully, "Er Ge[3], it's all up to you." It was strange to say that the Old Lady was very strict with Master Shizi[10], but somehow she was especially fond of Han Jianye. Even if Han Jianye did not grow up beside her, she still loved Han Jianye very much.
Han Jianye readily promised, "Unable to see lanterns during the Lantern Festival? It's not a big matter. Grandmother will surely agree. Leave this matter to Er Ge[3]."
Yuxi thought it would take a while to wear out the Old Lady, but to her surprise, the Old Lady quickly agreed. Unfortunately, Qiu Shi refused to let her go.
Qiu Shi drew Yuxi to her and said, "There are too many people in the evening of the fifteenth day. It is too dangerous for you to go." Accidents happened every year on the 15th day during the Lantern Festival. She didn't dare to take any risks.
Yuxi really wanted to go. She had not seen lanterns for more than twenty years in her previous life. This time, she had been given a chance with such difficulty. So, she was unwilling to give it up that easily. "Eldest Aunt, I haven't seen lanterns for so long, so please let me go!"
Under Yuxi's repeated pleadings, Qiu Shi finally lost the battle. However, she reminded her, "When you go out, you can't leave your Dage[1] and Er Ge[3]'s sides, okay?"
Yuxi busily nodded her head.
The news of Yuxi going to see the lanterns during the Lanterns Festival was heard by Yuru and Yuchen. Both also wanted to see them but were denied by the Old Lady. The reason for her refusal was simple. It was unsafe for them.
Yuchen was somewhat depressed and asked, "Grandmother, since it is not safe, why did you still let Si Mei[11] go?" It couldn't be that her Grandmother was not worried about Si Meimei[5]'s safety.
It was hard for the Old Lady just to say that only Yuchen was disallowed when Yuru, who was also nearby, didn't even refute Yuchen's question. Something could be done, but it couldn't be said. She vaguely said, "It's not a problem for your Dage[1] and Er Ge[3] to protect Fourth Girl since she will be going alone, but they can't do so when there are three of you." In fact, with Yuchen's appearance, she would undoubtedly be the first choice for the kidnappers.
Yuchen was somewhat disappointed, but she quickly asked, "Grandmother, can we see them next year?"
The Old Lady thought for a moment before answering, "Yes, we can book a place in advance next year." There were many restaurants in the vicinity of the Lantern Festival area, and one could watch it from the balcony. Although the effect would be less effective, it was better than nothing.
Yuru, however, felt very uncomfortable and went back to her courtyard. She said to Qingxuan, "Now, not only is my mother leaning towards my Si Mei[11], but also are my Dage[1] and Er Ge[3]." They took Yuxi to their maternal ancestral home on the second day of the New Year. Yuxi was not from the Main House, so they didn't need to bring her along. Thinking till here, Yuru felt very upset.
Qingxuan sighed in her heart, "Miss, Fourth Miss can get much love from the Lady and the two Young Masters, is also a favour left by her biological mother. Why should you argue with her about this?" It was better to serve the Lady with all one's heart, let her remember Miss' goodness, and help her find a good family later on.
Yuru nevertheless asked, "Qingxuan, don't you think that Si Mei[11] has changed into another person after she got well from her illness?"
Qingxuan had a bad feeling in her heart. "What does Miss want to say?"
Yuru remembered that people inside the residence said that Bamboo Pavilion was not a clean place, and Yuxi acted strange after being cured of her illness. "Wasn't it you who said that Si Mei[11] was touched by something unclean?"
Qingxuan was scared till cold sweats appeared and whispered, "Miss, you mustn't say that. If you let the Lady and Master Shizi[10] know about it, nothing good will come to Miss. "When that time came, they would also suffer since they were her maids.
But Yuru felt her guess was correct. "Qingxuan, think carefully. Isn't Yuxi like a changed person after she has gotten well from her illness? She used to be muddle-headed and foolish, but now, she's good at anything. Besides, she said that she had a talent for embroidery. Still, no one, even those who are talented, can learn needlework in less than a month..."
Qingxuan immediately thought of Yuru's words and said, "Miss, Fourth Miss is only a little smarter than before, and nothing else is unusual with her."
Yuru looked at the Qingxuan, who suddenly had a pale face. "What's wrong?"
Qingxuan was about to cry. "Miss, we only guessed that the Fourth Miss was stained with dirty things, but we don't have any proof. This will only provoke the Lady's wrath. Miss, you are now old enough to be married. What will you do if the Lady hates you? "
Yuru gritted her teeth. "But I can't let this evil witch turns the household into a mess."
Qingxuan knew her Master's temper. If she blindly refuted her, it would backfire. "Miss, we need proof." She didn't think there was anything wrong with Yuxi. Except that she had become wiser after getting well. However, compared with the Third Miss, she was still far away. So, where could she be considered an evil witch?
Yuru had no reply.
Footnotes Full List
- eldest brother
- Chinese idiom: a large number of something, in this sentence it means a large number of corpses
- er=second, ge=elder brother, short form for Gege
- Chinese term : careless, haphazard, slapdash
- si=fourth, meimei=younger sister
- younger male cousin from mother's side
- elder male cousin from mother’s side
- er=second, di=younger brother, short form for Didi
- unit of weight equal to 50 grams (modern) or 1⁄16 of a catty 斤 (old)
- an heir of a noble family
- si=fourth, mei=younger sister, short form for Meimei
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The Rebirth of Han Yuxi