The rebellion led by Yun Qing in the northwest created a tense atmosphere in the Imperial Court. In the capital, every household kept a low profile during this time for fear of being caught in the crossfire. Yuchen was no exception—she hadn't dared touch a musical instrument lately, let alone write poetry or paint. She stayed quietly in the main courtyard.
Shiqin entered the room and said, "Wangfei1, the meal is ready. You may dine now." Ever since Yun Qing's rebellion came to light, her mistress had become extremely cautious.
Lunch was lavish—delicacies from land and sea, a few dishes of green vegetables, and pastries—all served on exquisite white-glazed plum-blossom porcelain plates, the sight of which was enough to make one's mouth water.
Unfortunately, sitting alone at such a large table, even with all these delicious, aromatic dishes, she had no appetite. After half a bowl of rice, Yuchen put down her chopsticks. "Put them away." Eating alone was tasteless and dull.
After the meal, Yuchen didn't want to return to her bedroom. By then, the snow had stopped falling outside. She said, "Bring me my white cloak. I'd like to go for a walk." Staying indoors all day was enough to make one sick.
Yuchen went out into the garden, not to admire the winter plum blossoms but to walk by the lake. Standing by the water in the middle of winter, a gust of wind blew past her, making her shiver.
Momo Gui urged, "Wangfei1, it's too cold here. Let's go back." Wangfei1 had been weighed down with worries lately. Momo Gui knew she was anxious about the Han family. But when it came to treason, no one dared interfere. Besides, the Emperor only targeted the Duke's main household, not the separated Third Branch. So even if Wangfei1 wanted to plead for them, she couldn't dare say anything.
Yuchen looked at the ducks swimming on the lake and commented, "Releasing ducks into the lake has brought some life into it, hasn't it?" Although there were some flowers along the path, it still felt bleak compared to when it was spring and summer.
Momo Gui urged, "Wangfei1, let's go back. The wind is too strong here." Ever since her miscarriage, Yuchen's health hadn't been what it used to be.
Yuchen didn't listen. Instead, she walked towards the pavilion in the middle of the lake. When she saw everyone following her, she instructed, "Only Momo Gui will come with me."
At her words, everyone else stopped in their tracks.
At the sight of strangers, the ten or so ducks began to quack, flap in panic and swim off in the opposite direction as if Yuchen and Momo Gui were ferocious beasts.
Watching the ducks swim off into the distance, Yuchen said, "Seeking benefit and avoiding harm is not just a human instinct—animals are also the same." Her words carried a deeper meaning.
Momo Gui said, "Wangfei1, the rebellion in the northwest likely won't implicate the Third Branch. You don't have to worry." As for whether the Duke's main household would be implicated, that was beyond her concern.
Yuchen shook her head, "I'm not worried about the Third Branch, and I'm not worried about the Duke's household either." As for the Duke's matters, even if she wanted to worry, she couldn't.
Momo Gui whispered, "Is Wangfei1 regretting not helping Si Gunainai2 back then?" In her opinion, it was fortunate they hadn't helped—if they had, they would surely have been implicated now.
Yuchen shook her head. As she had said earlier, seeking benefit and avoiding harm was a human instinct. There were many things she didn't want to do—not because she didn't care, but because she couldn't. Yuchen said, "No regrets. I was just wondering, what are we living for? For fame, for power, or wealth?"
Momo Gui felt that Yuchen's questions were becoming more profound—so profound that she had to seriously consider her answers each time. "Wangfei1, everyone has different pursuits. Some live for fame, some for power, and some for wealth."
Yuchen replied, "But there are those who don't seek fame, power, or wealth—they just want to live freely and unrestrained. But in this world, the hardest thing to get is this very word freely." Too many rules, too many constraints—it was difficult to throw off all the rituals and live freely.
Momo Gui thought for a moment before saying, "Whether one feels free or not depends on how one sees it." Some people with no money still lived freely, while others with plenty were constantly troubled. So, in the end, it all came down to one's mindset.
Suddenly, Yuchen asked, "Tell me... if Yun Qing takes the northwest, do you think Yuxi will finally be able to live freely and in peace?"
Ah, we're back to talking about Si Gunainai2 again. Momo Gui replied, "Even if he does take the northwest, it will only be temporary. Hasn't His Majesty already sent a large army to suppress the rebellion? It won't be long before it is crushed." That region, remote and desolate, bred an unruly people. The harsh environment made the people fierce—no wonder bandits and horse thieves always existed. Even if this rebellion weren't put down soon, life there wouldn't be any better.
Momo Gui said, "Wangfei1, those vows of 'a lifetime with one person' sound beautiful, but they only exist in storybooks." If Yun Qing had remained the bloodthirsty man he was in Yu City, maybe he could've stayed faithful to Si Gunainai2. But if this rebellion succeeded, there would be absolutely no chance. A man with great power who remained devoted to just one woman? In all her years, she had never seen it—never even heard of it.
Outside the pavilion, Shiqin called out, "Wangfei1, Wangye3 has returned." Jing Wang4 had been swamped with work lately. He had only come home twice since Yun Qing's rebellion.
When Yuchen returned to her residence, she immediately noticed that Jing Wang4 had lost a lot of weight. With a worried look, she asked, "Why is Wangye3 so thin? Has Wangye3 not been resting well?"
Seeing the concern in Yuchen's eyes, Jing Wang4 felt a warmth in his heart. "Don't worry. I can still manage." Since their daughter's death, Yuchen had grown distant from him. He knew she blamed him for failing to protect their daughter and for not taking revenge immediately. But he, too, had his own burdens to bear.
Yuchen asked, "Wangye3, don't have to return to the palace today, right? Can Wangye3 rest here at home for a while?" When Jing Wang4 said he had to go back later, she suggested, "Then lie down for a while. I'll wake Wangye3 when the Emperor summons Wangye3."
Touched by her concern, Jing Wang4 took Yuchen's hand and guided her to sit beside him. "No rush. Stay and talk with me." It had been so long since they had a real conversation.
Yuchen smiled and nodded. "All right." Then she began to tell him about the little things Zhou Yan had done recently—mundane things, but heartwarming to hear.
A gentle smile appeared on Jing Wang's face, and he softly suggested, "Once the mourning period is over, let's give Yan-er a little brother or sister."
This time, Yuchen didn't object. She just nodded and replied, "Okay." She hadn't wanted any more children before. But now that she thought about how Zhou Yan would be too alone otherwise, she realised that a sibling might be good for him as his support and companion.
Then Jing Wang4 suddenly changed the subject. "Someone has already submitted a memorial accusing Duke Han of being Yun Qing's accomplice. The Emperor has issued an edict to remove Han Jianming from his post as Minister of War." Han Jianming was truly out of luck. He'd barely had time to warm up the seat before it was taken away again.
Yuchen's face turned pale. "Will this implicate the entire Han clan? Will it affect my Father, too?" The Han family had over a thousand members, including those of the Third Branch.
Jing Wang4 shook his head. "It won't. Apart from Han Jianming and the Dowager Old Lady, no one else in the Han clan had any contact with Han Yuxi. As for your Father—though he is Yuxi's biological Father—he has severed their ties a long time ago. Besides, he was the first to denounce Yun Qing and Han Yuxi. So don't worry, your Father will be fine." As soon as Han Jingyan learned of Yun Qing's rebellion, he penned an essay condemning Yun Qing as a 'treacherous usurper' and declaring that 'such traitors deserve death by all righteous hands'. As for Yuxi, he cursed her as a femme fatale who had brought disaster upon the nation and its people.
Upon hearing this, Yuchen looked visibly relieved. "As long as the clan and my Father won't be dragged into it, that's the best news."
In his denunciation essay, Han Jingyan painted Yun Qing as a monstrous criminal beyond redemption. That was one thing, but what chilled Yuchen's heart was how he had portrayed Yuxi as an unfilial, disloyal, and utterly evil creature, worse than a beast. Others might not know, but Yuchen remembered clearly how, at the age of eleven years old, Yuxi had worked day and night to make a fox-fur cloak to please their Father. By the time Yuxi finished sewing it, her eyes were bloodshot, and her hands were covered with needle pricks. Before their falling out, Yuxi had always been respectful and eager to win their Father's favour. Yet now, to save himself, he had spun such vicious lies. How could such behaviour not chill one to the bone?
Jing Wang4 said, "If Han Jianming is willing to write and persuade Yun Qing to surrender, I'm sure His Majesty will believe that he is innocent." Han Jianming's parents, wife, and children were all in the capital, so there was no need to worry about him running away.
Now Yuchen understood why Jing Wang4 had suddenly returned. It wasn't really to see her or their child, but to have her deliver a message. Suppressing her discomfort, Yuchen offered, "If it's inconvenient for Wangye3 to speak to him directly, I can try to persuade my Da Tangge5 myself. What does Wangye3 think?"
Jing Wang4 responded, "There is no need for you to go personally." A maid or servant could deliver the message just as well. Having Yuchen go there herself would give Han Jianming far too much face.
Footnotes Full List
- 王 wáng = king, 妃 fēi = consort, wife of a king
- 四 sì = four/fourth, 姑奶奶 gūnǎinai = (a respectful form of address for a married woman used by members of her parents' family) married daughter
- 王 wáng = king, 爷 ye = lord
- 王 wáng = king
- 大 dà = eldest, 堂哥 tánggē = older male patrilineal cousin
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The Rebirth of Han Yuxi