Yuxi refuses Chen Shi’s request for Mama Lan; learns they’re ill; Xu Wu mediates Zaozao’s martial arts dispute, dispelling concubine talk.
In the afternoon, Mama He personally delivered an invitation from the Fu family.
Yuxi glanced at the signature—it was from Chen Shi—and said, "Liu-er hasn't been feeling well these past two days, and Mama Lan can't leave her. If your mistress has anything to say, please tell me directly."
Mama He said, "Madam, my Madam just wants to know how Mama Lan cared for your second daughter. Once we understand what needs to be avoided, the wet nurse can better care for our young master." The Yun family's second daughter was also born prematurely, but she received excellent care, and even the physicians said she would survive. Many people in Yu City knew this, which was why Chen Shi had an idea. Of course, what Chen Shi had in mind wasn't simply asking how to care for a premature child but asking Yuxi to let Mama Lan care for her son for a few days. However, Mama He knew Yuxi would never agree to such an unreasonable request.
Yuxi wasn't foolish; she knew precisely what Chen Shi meant by the invitation. This was why she didn't want to visit the Fu family. Chen Shi had a difficult labour. If Yuxi hadn't let Mama Lan assist with the delivery and either Chen Shi or the baby had died as a result, Fu Tianlei would certainly have held a grudge. Many people were like this: they didn't treasure it when they had it, but they realised how precious it was once they lost it. But now things were different. Everyone knew about Liu-er's condition, and Fu Tianlei certainly wouldn't dare make such a request now. Yuxi was only willing to tolerate and yield repeatedly because of Fu Tianlei, not Chen Shi. However, Yuxi was still fairly satisfied that Mama He was being so tactful. "Gancao, take her to see Mama Lan." She wasn't a cruel person; she would help when she could. But if she couldn't, there was nothing to be done.
Mama He wrote down everything Mama Lan said about the necessary precautions. Armed with this information, she could be considered to have fulfilled her duty.
Mama Lan told Yuxi, "Madam, from what I heard just now, it sounds like Chen Shi wants me to look after her son." Mama Lan had no wish to do that.
Yuxi assured her, "Don't worry, Liu-er can't be without you, so I won't let you go to the Fu family. Last time was a special case—I had no choice but to agree to Fu Tianlei."
Mama Lan felt relieved at these words. She made this trip precisely because she was worried Yuxi might agree with Chen Shi's request. "Madam, Chen Shi's constitution was never strong to begin with, and after a difficult childbirth, her body has been completely drained. From what I can see, she won't live for many more years."
Yuxi hadn't expected it to be this serious. "Can't she recover with proper care?"
Mama Lan replied, "Even with proper care, she might only live for two more years. Of course, if she found some miraculous elixir, that would be another story." Assuming Chen Shi didn't expend any more energy, she might only have three to five years left.
Yuxi thought of how she had also been injured during childbirth and wouldn't be able to conceive again for five years. She felt a sense of shared suffering. In her past life, Jiang Hongjin had never touched her. At the time, she thought having a daughter would have been enough for her. Unexpectedly, now that she had two daughters and had fulfilled her wish from her past life, her position was still awkward because she had no son.
Seeing that Yuxi remained silent, Mama Lan assumed she had evoked her sympathy and quickly continued: "Madam, the Fu family's young master is in terrible health. He won't live long unless a renowned physician can be found." Even if they do find such a physician, it would only keep him alive—he would be dependent on medicine for life.
Yuxi was startled but quickly composed herself, saying, "This child's poor health is probably not just due to being born prematurely — it likely has a lot to do with Chen Shi's own poor health."
Mama Lan nodded. "Madam is absolutely right. Although our Second Young Miss was also born prematurely, Madam was in good health and took great care of yourself during pregnancy." It was precisely because of this strong foundation that enabled Liu-er to thrive under her meticulous care. Had Liu-er been in the same condition as Young Master Fu, Mama Lan would have been powerless to help.
Yuxi uttered these words: "Too impatient." Chen Shi was too hasty. If she had taken proper care of herself for three to five years before trying to conceive again, she wouldn't be in this situation now.
Mama Lan strongly agreed with this. "Exactly! Having two pregnancies so close together is extremely damaging to the body. Madam, you must ensure your body is well-rested before having more children in the future!" Whatever you do, don't follow Chen Shi's path—otherwise, both mother and child will suffer for it.
Yuxi remained calm as she assured her, "Don't worry. I would never treat my own life as a joke. I know exactly what it's like to be a motherless child, and I won't let Zaozao and Liu-er experience that kind of misery." To be honest, she really had a wretched fate: first, her mother died, and then she was left with a heartless father. If not for her aunt, she wouldn't have lived long enough to get married.
Mama Lan finally felt at ease.
Gancao entered and announced, "Madam, Xu Wu Daren1 is here to see you." Xu Wu came so often to deliver messages that no one found his visits unusual anymore.
Mama Lan gave a deep curtsy and returned to the side room.
Xu Wu came because of something Huo Changqing had mentioned. "Madam, my Yifu2 has told me everything that happened this morning."
Yuxi put down her embroidery and asked, "Are you here as a peacemaker or to continue persuading?"
Xu Wu knew what Yuxi was capable of, so he didn't bother fooling her with flowery words. He asked directly: "Madam, my Yifu2's martial arts are not only equal to, but even better than Master Yang's. So I want to know why won't you let Zaozao train under him? If your reasons are justified enough, I will persuade him to give up the idea."
Yuxi looked sceptical. "You can persuade him?"
Xu Wu didn't want to boast. He answered sincerely, "I can't persuade my Yifu2, but there's still the General! But I think it's best to settle this before the General returns. Otherwise, if you and my Yifu2 are still in conflict when he returns, he'll be caught in the middle no matter which side he takes."
Yuxi gazed at the mandarin ducks on her embroidery in silence. Xu Wu was right—Huo Changqing was both a benefactor and a father figure to Yun Qing. If she came into conflict with him, she would be the one to suffer.
Xu Wu asked, "Madam doesn't agree with letting Zaozao train in martial arts with my Yifu2, probably because Madam can't bear to see Zaozao suffer. I wonder if my guess is right?" To become a martial arts master, one must endure immense hardship—this was a truth he knew all too well.
Yuxi glanced at Xu Wu, then slowly nodded. "Zaozao is a girl, not a boy. There's no need for her to endure such hardship."
Xu Wu quickly mentally drafted his response, then said: "Madam, the reason my Yifu2 wants to pass down his martial arts skills to Zaozao is because your two assassination attempts have deeply unsettled him. He's worried that if Zaozao grows up without the ability to defend herself as you did, her life could be in danger." What Xu Wu didn't say aloud was that Yuxi had been lucky—twice targeted, yet escaping both times with only injuries rather than death. However, Yuxi's good fortune didn't guarantee that Zaozao would share the same fate.
Yuxi spoke with a frozen expression. "I didn't expect all this to have been stirred up by me." She didn't doubt Xu Wu's words; the reason was simple: Huo Changqing's affection for Zaozao was no less than hers and Yun Qing's.
When expressed in different ways, the same matter could have completely different effects. Take now, for example—Xu Wu also wanted Yuxi to agree to Zaozao learning martial arts, but because of how he worded it, Yuxi didn't get angry but instead felt somewhat guilty. If she had the ability, the assassins wouldn't have succeeded, and Liu-er wouldn't have had to suffer like this.
Seeing that Yuxi had softened a little, Xu Wu seized his opportunity and said: "Madam, I dare say my Yifu2 loves the Eldest Miss no less than you do. He can't bear to see Zaozao suffer, but the future is too dangerous. For her safety, he had to make this painful decision." Seeing Yuxi remain silent, Xu Wu continued, "Even the best bodyguards can make mistakes. If Zaozao can protect herself at such a time, she'll be safe. But if she doesn't have the ability to protect herself…" He left the rest of the sentence to Yuxi's imagination.
Yuxi was deeply conflicted. After Huo Changqing left, she had thought about it a lot. She couldn't deny that Huo Changqing's willingness to teach Zaozao everything he knew was both a blessing and a rare opportunity. However, the thought of Zaozao having to endure such intense training made her reluctant. Having endured so much herself, she couldn't bear for her child to suffer hardship and pain, too.
Xu Wu paused before saying, "Madam, I know you're also worried that Zaozao won't be able to get married in the future if she practises martial arts. Forgive me for saying something unpleasant, but you're like the man from the state of Qi who worried that the sky would fall3. There are so many fine young men in the army—how could you not find a suitable match?"
Yuxi suddenly asked, "If I don't agree, would Uncle Huo really make the General take a concubine?" Being pressured like this felt absolutely terrible. She had endured it in the capital and thought she was now free, only to find herself under pressure again.
Xu Wu was puzzled by her words. "Madam, could there be some misunderstanding? My Yifu2 couldn't have said something like that."
Yuxi replied coldly, "Do you think I'm just making things up?"
Xu Wu shook his head. "Madam, I truly think there has been a misunderstanding. When my Yifu2 learned of your injury, he specifically discussed the matter of heirs with the General. He told the General that he must not take a concubine just because of your injury, as it would cause estrangement between husband and wife. He also said that having a firstborn son from a concubine is the root of family chaos. Madam, I was right there when he said these words."
This statement has been modified: Huo Changqing did not outright forbid Yun Qing from taking a concubine. He merely said that, even if Yun Qing did take a concubine, it would have to be handled carefully—he must not allow a concubine to cause a rift with his wife, as the loss would only outweigh the gain. Huo Changqing merely offered a reminder; he never intended to interfere in Yun Qing's household affairs. It was not like he had nothing better to do—how could he possibly manage such a broad scope4? As for why he didn't explain himself earlier, it was because Yuxi's attitude had really annoyed him.
Yuxi froze. On reflection, Huo Changqing had never actually mentioned Yun Qing taking a concubine—she had jumped to that conclusion herself. "Uncle Huo really said that?"
When Huo Changqing spoke to Xu Wu about Zaozao learning martial arts, he only gave a general idea, not the full details. At this point, Xu Wu was both amused and exasperated. "Madam, if you don't believe me, you can write to the General." The General knows best about this matter.
Yuxi shook her head. "The General is fighting at the front—how can I trouble him with this sort of thing?"
Xu Wu said, "Madam, if you don't agree to let Zaozao train in martial arts with Yifu2, I can believe that, in his anger, he might go and truly pressure the General. But to use the threat of taking a concubine to pressure you—I can swear on my head that he would never do that." Xu Wu added, "Madam, in my Yifu2's eyes, girls and boys are the same." In other words, Huo Changqing wasn't the type to value boys over girls.
Huo Changqing once said that if Yuxi never had a son, Zaozao could inherit Yun Qing's mantle, proving that he did not favour boys over girls. Otherwise, he wouldn't have said something like that.
Yuxi felt deeply ashamed. This entire conflict with Huo Changqing had stemmed from her tendency to overthink things. Then again, perhaps she had been misled by what Mama Qu had said. Of course, Huo Changqing wasn't blameless either. He had behaved strangely, and he had spoken rigidly and bluntly, showing no courtesy whatsoever. Otherwise, such a misunderstanding wouldn't have happened.
Footnotes Full List
- 大人 dàren: title of respect toward superiors
- 义父 yìfù: adoptive father
- This idiom, 杞人忧天 (qǐ rén yōu tiān), comes from a famous fable in the ancient Chinese text Liezi. The story describes a man from the state of Qi who was so consumed by the fear that the sky might collapse and the earth might sink that he couldn't sleep or eat. Others tried to reassure him, explaining that the sky is just accumulated gas and the earth is accumulated soil, and neither would collapse. Figuratively, 杞人忧天 is used to describe groundless, unnecessary, or excessive worries; to worry about imaginary troubles; or to be a worrywart. It's about being overly anxious about something that is highly unlikely or impossible to happen.
- This Chinese idiom, 管得了那么宽 (guǎn dé le nàme kuān), is a humorous way of saying someone has too much free time to meddle.
きつね's Musing
Yup, they are both at fault. They are both stubborn, and one of them is even insecure and tends to overthink things. Luckily, Xu Wu was around.
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