The Rebirth of Han Yuxi

Chapter 0573 Sisterhood (1)

When only the couple remained in the room, Yun Qing looked at Yuxi with a puzzled expression and asked, ”How did you know that Old General Yanʼs courtesy name was Pingchuan?” This was truly surprising to him.

Yuxi naturally wouldnʼt hide such a trivial matter from Yun Qing. ”My Dage suspected that Yan Wushuang wasnʼt dead years ago and had someone investigate the Yan family thoroughly.” At that time, Yuxi had also reviewed the information they had gathered, and Old General Yanʼs courtesy name stood out as particularly unique, leaving a deep impression on her. Of course, this knowledge was simply bad luck for Meng Nian.

”When did this happen?” Yun Qing asked. When he heard that it happened twelve years ago, he exclaimed in genuine surprise, ”You were only seven years old then, yet your memory is that good?” He could hardly recall anything from that time.

It was just a coincidence. Yuxi explained, ”That person knows so much about you—it must be on Yan Wushuangʼs orders. Whatʼs unclear is his ultimate goal.” Previously, Yuxi had thought they would have no dealings with Yan Wushuang, but now she realised how naive that idea had been.

Yun Qing remarked, ”What he said likely reflects Yan Wushuangʼs intentions.” He wasnʼt surprised that Yan Wushuang was planning a rebellion, as he himself had entertained similar thoughts. Yan Wushuangʼs ambitions were even greater.

Yuxi nodded. ”If Iʼm not mistaken, this person is probably Yan Wushuangʼs stand-in. For Yan Wushuang to send his double to the northwest, his motives must be significant.” After a brief pause, she added, ”Herui, I think we should hand this person over to the Imperial Court.” Turning this impostor over would be a gesture of loyalty. As long as they hadnʼt completely severed ties with the Imperial Court, it was necessary to keep up appearances with them.

Yun Qing said, ”Thereʼs no rush. Letʼs wait until we get his confession.”

After discussing the impersonator Meng Nian, Yun Qing mentioned Duan Xinrong: ”That Duan woman canʼt stay in the residence.” She gave off the impression of being inappropriate, and leaving her in the mansion could lead to trouble.

Yuxi was surprised. Yun Qing usually didnʼt care about such things. She couldnʼt help but ask, ”Why?” Yun Qingʼs attitude was quite unusual.

Yun Qing didnʼt provide any reason; he simply said, ”After you talk to her, send her away.”

Yuxi shook her head. ”If she leaves, where will she go? The Duan family is gone; sheʼs the only one left. In her current situation, if I donʼt help her, sheʼll have no way to survive.”

Yun Qing wasnʼt a heartless man; he knew that Yuxi was soft-hearted. He finally compromised and said, ”If you want to take care of her, I wonʼt mind. But she canʼt stay in the residence.” A woman with questionable behaviour had no place in their home.

If Yuxi had known that Yun Qing had discovered Duan Xinrongʼs time in a brothel, she would have asked him how he knew such details. Unfortunately, Yuxi was unaware and assumed that Yun Qing was only worried that Duan Xinrong might harm her. ”All right, after I talk to her, Iʼll arrange for her to stay outside.”

Yun Qing said, ”Take Zijin, Hongqi, and Hongdou. Donʼt let her get close to you.” Given Yuxiʼs current state, extra caution was necessary.

Yuxi smiled, ”I know!”

From outside, Xu Daniu raised his voice and reported, ”General, Deputy General Fu is here.” Deputy General Fu was referring to Fu Tianlei. His arrival surely meant there was something important to discuss.

After Yun Qing left for the main hall, Yuxi came out soon after and said to Zijin, who was waiting outside, ”Letʼs go and see Duan Jiejie!”

When they arrived at the side courtyard, Yuxi turned to speak to Hongqi and Hongdou, ”You two can withdraw now.” With Zijin there, she felt sufficiently protected.

Hongqi and Hongdou walked out without any hesitation and didnʼt go far, just waiting outside the house. This way, they could rush back immediately if anything happened. Of course, their willingness to leave was also because they trusted Zijinʼs abilities.

Yuxi looked at Duan Xinrong, who seemed lost and confused, and asked, ”Duan Jiejie, the man pretending to be Yan Wushuang has been captured. What are your plans from here? If thereʼs anything I can do to help, I will do so without hesitation.” 

Yuxi refrained from prying into what had happened in Liaodong. She understood that it was a painful chapter in Duan Xinrongʼs life, so she pretended she didnʼt know. Her focus was on Duan Xinrongʼs future. If she wanted to stay, Yuxi would ensure her safety. If she wanted to leave, Yuxi would provide her with the necessary resources.

Hearing Yuxiʼs words, Duan Xinrong burst into tears. ”Yuxi, Iʼm sorry for lying to you. Iʼm not that manʼs wife. I was forced by him. My nephew Xiang-er is in his hands, and I had no choice but to obey.”

If Yuxi were truly angry with Duan Xinrong, she wouldnʼt have said these things to her. She said gently, ”I know you were forced to do it. But are you going to let Yan Wushuang keep threatening you forever?”

Duan Xinrong smiled bitterly. ”What else can I do? My nephew, Zhengxiang, is the only heir of the Duan family. If I donʼt follow his orders, Zhengxiang may lose his life.”

Hearing this, Yuxi frowned and said with displeasure, ”What do you mean Zhengxiang is the only heir of the Duan family? Arenʼt you also part of the Duan family?”

Duan Xinrong shook her head. ”Itʼs not the same. Zhengxiang can continue the family line while I... Iʼm already tainted. When I die, I wonʼt even have the face to meet my parents in the afterlife.”

Yuxi frowned deeply as she said, ”What do you mean by ʼtaintedʼ? The fact that youʼre still alive is already a blessing from the heavens. How can you wallow in self-pity like this?”

With red-rimmed eyes, Duan Xinrong said, ”Yuxi, you donʼt understand, I...”

Over the years, she had experienced the full range of human warmth and indifference. Only Yuxi had treated her with unwavering kindness. That was why she didnʼt want to tarnish their bond or deceive Yuxi. After making up her mind, Duan Xinrong bit her lip and confessed, ”Didnʼt you once ask Duke Han to search for me for two years, but he couldnʼt find me? Thatʼs because, during that time, I was rescued—by the man youʼve just captured. He saved me, but then he sent me to a brothel. Iʼve been living there ever since.”

Yuxi was surprised that Duan Xinrong would reveal such a painful part of her past. However, her honesty reassured Yuxi and showed that Xinrong hadnʼt changed at all. Yuxi said, ”So what if youʼve spent all these years in a brothel? You were forced into it; it wasnʼt your choice.” Based on her understanding of Xinrongʼs character, Yuxi believed that if not for her nephew, Xinrong probably wouldnʼt have survived.

With tears streaming down her face, Duan Xinrong cried, ”Yuxi, you donʼt understand...”

But Yuxi understood perfectly. ”Duan Jiejie, I know you think that falling into a brothel and not ending your life to prove your innocence has brought shame to the Duan family. You think that dying is the only way for you to face your ancestors. But this wasnʼt your choice—you were forced into it.” After a pause, she continued, ”Duan Jiejie, Iʼm a mother too. Parents only ever want their children to live a safe, healthy life. They would never willingly see them suffer. I believe that if Uncle and Aunt Duan were alive, they would feel nothing but pain for the hardships youʼve endured. They wouldnʼt have the heart to blame you.”

Seeing that Duan Xinrongʼs expression softened slightly, Yuxi pressed further, ”Duan Jiejie, donʼt you think Iʼm right?”

At the mention of her tragically deceased parents, Duan Xinrongʼs tears fell once more.

Yuxi called out for Hongqi and instructed her as she entered, ”Have someone bring water for Duan Jiejie to freshen up, and call Mama Qu here.”

After Hongqi left, Yuxi turned to Duan Xinrong. ”Duan Jiejie, thereʼs nothing more important than being alive. Living well from now on will be the best way to honour Uncle and Aunt Duan.” Ironically, death could sometimes be a form of liberation, while those left behind suffered the true agony.

Duan Xinrongʼs face was desolate as she said, ”Someone like me has no future. Iʼm just surviving from day to day.”

Yuxi frowned and said sharply, ”Donʼt say such nonsense. What do you mean by ʼjust survivingʼ? I may not have been able to before, but now, as long as Iʼm here, no one in Yu City will dare to harm you.” Since childhood, her relationship with Duan Xinrong had been the closest, and she didnʼt want to lose her best friend.

Duan Xinrong hesitated before saying, ”That man wonʼt let me go. Iʼll only bring you trouble if I stay by your side.” Knowing that Yuxi still cared for her after all these years, she didnʼt want to drag her into the mess.

”As long as you listen to me, not only will you be able to escape from Yan Wushuang, but your nephew Zhengxiang will also be safe,” Yuxi said. Yu City was their territory. As long as Duan Xinrong was willing to cooperate, there was nothing she couldnʼt do.

Duan Xinrong was, of course, willing to live freely without being threatened, but she was a little scared. She asked Yuxi, ”Will it cause you any trouble?”

Yuxi hesitated for a moment before answering, ”It wonʼt necessarily cause any trouble, but if you follow my plan, there will be no more Duan Xinrong in this world.” This wasnʼt just to deceive Yan Wushuang but also to ease Duan Xinrongʼs mind. By faking her death and assuming a new identity, she could cast off the chains of her past and start afresh.

Duan Xinrong didnʼt mind giving up her identity, but she was worried about her nephew. ”Yuxi, will Yan Wushuang really not harm Zhengxiang?”

Yuxi smiled as she assured her, ”Donʼt worry, I can guarantee that Yan Wushuang wonʼt harm your nephew.” The Duan familyʼs downfall was due to Yan Wushuang, and although he used Duan Zhengxiang to threaten Duan Xinrong, he wouldnʼt actually harm him. People were made of flesh and blood; if Yan Wushuang did such a thing, his followers would undoubtedly lose faith in him. Yan Wushuang was too clever to make such a mistake.

Duan Xinrong didnʼt know why, but when she heard Yuxiʼs firm words, she inexplicably believed her. Duan Xinrong stated, ”Yuxi, it is my greatest good fortune to meet you.” She didnʼt need to mention Yuxiʼs actions during the time when the Duan family was raided. Even now, Yuxi was still putting in so much effort for her. She would never be able to repay Yuxiʼs kindness for the rest of her life.

Yuxi smiled and said, ”As long as you live well, that will be the best reward for me. I believe your parents in heaven will also be pleased.”

Mama Qu came over and curtsied to Yuxi.

Yuxi turned to Duan Xinrong and introduced them, ”This is Duan Jiejie, my best friend from before.” In fact, she had already told Mama Qu about this, and this was just a re-introduction.

Duan Xinrong felt a little embarrassed as she said, ”Yuxi, thereʼs no need to be so polite.”

Mama Quʼs eyes were sharp, and as soon as Duan Xinrong spoke, she knew that Duan Xinrong had received special training. However, since Yuxi had spoken, she naturally would not go against Yuxiʼs wishes. She curtsied to Duan Xinrong and greeted her, ”Greetings to Miss Duan.”

Yuxi smiled. ”Mama Qu, please help Duan Jiejie with her make-up.”

Under Mama Quʼs skilled hands, Duan Xinrongʼs appearance changed completely after she was washed and dressed. Yuxi couldnʼt help but sigh in admiration—such craftsmanship must be passed down; otherwise, it would be a great waste.