Yuxi faces immense pressure as Uncle Huo urges her to let Zaozao train as a martial heir, using her infertility & Yun Qing’s legacy to force the issue
Despite Yuxi not spending much time in the study recently, the room was kept clean and tidy.
After bringing in tea and pastries, the maid quietly left.
Yuxi sat on the chair and waited for a long time, but Huo Changqing remained silent, forcing her to speak first. "Uncle Huo, may I ask what you wanted to talk to me about?"
Huo Changqing replied quickly: "I heard from Xu Wu that you're planning to start Zaozao's education when she turns three and then teach her the four arts?"
Yuxi nodded. "Yes. Even though Zaozao is a girl, only by learning to read and write can she truly understand the world and think for herself. As for the arts, they're just pastimes. If she wants to learn them, that's fine. If not, I won't force her." However, Zaozao must learn needlework and embroidery – those were essential skills for a girl.
Huo Changqing looked at Yuxi and stated, "I plan to teach Zaozao martial arts when she's older. Master Yang had examined her bones1. He said that she has an excellent physical foundation and is well-suited to learning."
Yuxi was momentarily stunned. She didn't object to Zaozao practising martial arts in the future—learning martial arts could not only strengthen the body but also provide a means of self-protection. But hearing these words come from Huo Changqing's mouth just didn't feel right. "You want to teach Zaozao martial arts? Like you train Xu Wu and the others?"
Huo Changqing shook his head. "I will teach Zaozao everything I've learned in my lifetime." This meant he would be even stricter with Zaozao than with Xu Wu and the others. Essentially, he was treating Zaozao as his final disciple. The only reason she didn't need to formally become his disciple was because of her connection with Yun Qing, but in essence, it was pretty much the same.
Upon hearing this statement, Yuxi refused. "Uncle Huo, I can't agree to this." If it had just been about teaching Zaozao martial arts, she might have agreed. However, it was clear that Huo Changqing wanted Zaozao to be his successor, and she couldn't accept that. Take Zijin and Fu Qingluo, for example. They had learnt excellent martial arts and could protect themselves, but they no longer behaved like proper young ladies. If Zaozao became like them after training under Huo Changqing, she wouldn't know what to do.
Huo Changqing wasn't surprised by Yuxi's refusal – it was just as he had expected. "The physician said you can't have another child for five years – are you aware of that?"
Yuxi's face turned pale. "What does that have to do with Zaozao learning martial arts from you?"
Huo Changqing wasn't someone who liked to go around the curves and skirt the corners2, and he didn't bother to wind around bends3 when speaking to Yuxi. "Once Yun Qing takes control of the Northwest, the situation will be completely different. If he doesn't have an heir by then, his subordinates will surely become uneasy." Even if Han Shi gave birth to a son in five years, that child wouldn't be able to take on responsibilities for another twenty years—by then, Yun Qing would already be over fifty. Who knew what unexpected things might happen over the next two decades? Moreover, even if Han Shi conceived five years from now, there was no guarantee that the child would be a boy. If things keep getting delayed like this, the prospect of having an heir will become increasingly unlikely.
Yuxi clenched her hands tightly but kept calm as she asked, "Uncle Huo, if I don't agree, will you have Yun Qing take a concubine?" Clearly, this was a form of pressure, using the fact that she had no heir to force her to agree to let Zaozao learn martial arts from him.
Huo Changqing replied, "If you agree to let Zaozao train with me, then even if Yun Qing has such thoughts, I will stop him for you."
Even after hearing this, Yuxi couldn't figure out what Huo Changqing was thinking. "Uncle Huo, may I ask why you're so determined to teach Zaozao martial arts?"
Huo Changqing was blunt. "It's because you have no heir."
When Yuxi heard this, her face first turned green, then pale, and lastly purple. It would be a lie to say she wasn't anxious after being told that she wouldn't be able to bear children for five years. But now that things had come to this, regret and sorrow were useless. Having it said so openly and bluntly by Huo Changqing made Yuxi feel deeply humiliated. "I'm only injured..." She left out the part about still being able to have children.
Ignoring Yuxi's discomfort, Huo Changqing added, "There are only a hundred benefits and not one harm4 to Zaozao training in martial arts with me – why won't you agree?"
Yuxi no longer tried to maintain outward civility and replied coldly, "I'd like to hear how exactly it has a hundred benefits and not one harm4."
Huo Changqing explained, "If Zaozao learns all my skills, first, she'll be able to protect herself and not worry about assassination; second, if you have a son later, she can be his right hand." He paused deliberately and added, "If you can't have a son in the future, Zaozao can inherit Yun Qing's mantle."
From the way he laid everything out, Yuxi could tell that Huo Changqing had been considering this for a long time. No wonder he'd been acting strangely lately —he had all this on his mind.
Yuxi said, "Uncle Huo, I'm grateful for your kind intentions. But Zaozao is a girl—if she always follows you in martial training, how can she ever marry well?" Zaozao already had a bold and heroic appearance. If she mastered Huo Changqing's skills, she'd probably end up acting like a man—how could she ever get married then? Of course, as long as she and Yun Qing were still around, Zaozao wouldn't need to worry about her marriage. However, not worrying about marriage and marrying well were two different things.
Huo Changqing thought Yuxi was narrow-minded. "If Zaozao inherits Yun Qing's mantle, do you really think she still needs to marry well?" If Zaozao were to inherit Yun Qing's mantle, she wouldn't need to marry out—instead, she would bring a husband into the family.
Yuxi's face froze as she said, "You're that sure I won't have a son in the future?" Being told this really left a bitter taste in her heart.
Huo Changqing also realised that his earlier words had been ambiguous and said, "As long as Zaozao has real ability, who could ever bully her?" He didn't agree at all with Yuxi's view that Zaozao should marry into a good family. Even if Zaozao couldn't inherit Yun Qing's mantle, as long as she had real ability, she could still live a free and comfortable life, no matter who she married.
Yuxi still shook her head. "If you start raising Zaozao as an heir, but later she can't be one because of her younger brother, she'll already be old enough to understand by then. If she thinks she was only ever a backup, she may grow resentful. That kind of resentment would surely cause discord between siblings, and I won't allow that to happen." This wasn't just an excuse for refusing—it was something that could very well happen. Even if Zaozao wouldn't feel resentful in the future, Yuxi still wouldn't allow her to be a substitute. Sons were important, but daughters were just as important. She wouldn't sacrifice her daughter for the sake of a son—if she did, she would never have peace of mind for the rest of her life.
Huo Changqing hadn't thought that far ahead, but he didn't see it as a real problem: "Don't worry, I'll teach Zaozao well—I won't let anything like that happen."
Yuxi argued, "It's not that I don't trust you; it's just that nobody can predict how things like this will turn out." Given Zaozao's temperament, it probably wouldn't happen. However, nothing in this world was foolproof, and if such a thing were to occur, there would be no cure for regret5. And as her mother, she couldn't bear to sacrifice her daughter for personal gain.
Huo Changqing hadn't expected that Han Shi would still reject him even after she had thought things through so thoroughly. He asked, "Then what conditions would make you agree?"
Yuxi shook her head. "No matter the conditions, I won't agree. I carried Zaozao in my womb for ten months—I can't let her suffer like that." How could it be that easy for Huo Changqing to teach Zaozao everything he had learned in his life? Zaozao would certainly have to endure great hardship.
After talking for so long and the oil and salt still not going in6, Huo Changqing finally lost his patience. "So, you're saying you won't agree?"
Yuxi remained silent. Her silence was equivalent to a tacit agreement.
Huo Changqing said, "If you disagree, I won't force you. But I just hope you won't resent me in the future."
Yuxi wasn't afraid of Huo Changqing's threats. She replied, "As long as Yun Qing doesn't want to take a concubine, how can you force him?" In truth, the decision to take a concubine rested with the man. One couldn't force a cow to drink by pressing its head into water7. If Yun Qing refused, all of Huo Changqing's efforts would be in vain.
Huo Changqing didn't respond to Yuxi's words. He only said, "If you change your mind before Zaozao turns three, let me know." This clearly meant he planned to teach martial arts once Zaozao turned three.
After Huo Changqing left, Yuxi stayed in the study. She didn't come out until Zaozao cried for her.
Zaozao threw herself into Yuxi's arms, crying, "Mom!" The little girl's cheeks were streaked with tears, making her look pitiful beyond words.
Yuxi took out a handkerchief and wiped Zaozao's tears away. "Don't cry, Zaozao, Mom's here!" Remembering what Huo Changqing had said earlier, her heart throbbed with pain.
While on patrol, Xu Wu noticed Huo Changqing looking very cold and stern. "Yifu8, what happened?" It was apparent that his Yifu8 was in a bad mood. Xu Wu knew that Huo Changqing had gone to the back courtyard, but he didn't know what had been said between him and Yuxi.
Huo Changqing said, "Come with me to the courtyard." Having already made up his mind to teach Zaozao martial arts, Huo Changqing was not about to give up halfway through. However, given the current tension with Han Shi, he needed a mediator, and Xu Wu was the best candidate.
Once Xu Wu understood the situation, he said, "Yifu8, don't be upset. Daughters from noble families are raised delicately. Martial arts are exhausting and painful—it's understandable that Madam disagrees."
Huo Changqing responded, "I only want what's best for Zaozao. Why else would I risk her resentment? Now that Yun Qing has taken control of the northwest, the danger will only grow. If Zaozao can't protect herself, she could get seriously hurt." If it got serious, she could even lose her life. Han Shi had been injured twice, not just because she was careless but also because she was too weak to defend herself. Once Yun Qing held the northwest, assassinations and poisonings would certainly become more frequent. Eight or nine out of ten of these would probably target Zaozao.
Xu Wu said, "Yifu8, I know you're doing this for Zaozao. But it's only natural that Madam can't bear to see her suffer. If she agreed right away for selfish reasons, that would be truly disheartening, wouldn't it?"
Hearing this, Huo Changqing's expression softened.
Xu Wu continued, smiling, "Yifu8, Madam just hasn't come around yet. Once she realises that you're doing it for Zaozao's own good, she'll surely agree."
Huo Changqing said, "Let's hope so."
Footnotes Full List
- 摸过骨 (mō guò gǔ) – literally 'felt her bones', a martial arts metaphor meaning to assess someone's physical potential.
- 拐弯抹角 (guǎi wān mò jiǎo): avoiding the main point, speaking indirectly.
- This phrase 绕弯子 (rào wānzi) metaphorically means 'to speak in a roundabout way' or 'to avoid getting to the point'. It implies that someone is taking an indirect path in communication, much like winding along a curved road instead of going straight.
- The idiom 百利而无一害 (bǎi lì ér wú yī hài) describes a situation or decision that is entirely advantageous, with absolutely no downside.
- 后悔药吃 (hòu huǐ yào chī) – "medicine for regret"; idiom meaning irreversible consequences.
- The phrase 油盐不进 (yóu yán bù jìn) describes someone who is stubborn, unyielding, or completely unwilling to listen to reason or persuasion.
- The Chinese saying 牛不喝水强按头也没用 (niú bù hē shuǐ qiáng àn tóu yě méi yòng) means that you can't force someone to do something they're unwilling to do. Even with pressure or coercion, the effort will be in vain if the person isn't willing.
- 义父 yìfù: adoptive father
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