The Rebirth of Han Yuxi

Chapter 0623 Implicate (1)

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 hadnʼt 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, ”Wangfei, the meal is ready. You may dine now.” Ever since Yun Qingʼs 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 oneʼs 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 didnʼt want to return to her bedroom. By then, the snow had stopped falling outside. She said, ”Bring me my white cloak. Iʼd like to go for a walk.” Staying all day indoors 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, ”Wangfei, itʼs too cold here. Letʼs go back.” Wangfei 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 Dukeʼs main household, not the separated Third Branch. So even if Wangfei wanted to plead for them, she couldnʼt bring herself to say anything.

Yuchen looked at the ducks swimming on the lake and commented, ”Releasing ducks into the lake has brought some life into it, hasnʼt it?” Although there were some flowers along the path, it still felt bleak compared to when it was spring and summer.

Momo Gui urged, ”Wangfei, letʼs go back. The wind is too strong here.” Ever since her miscarriage, Yuchenʼs health hadnʼt been what it used to be.

Yuchen didnʼt 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, ”Wangfei, the rebellion in the northwest likely wonʼt implicate the Third Branch. You donʼt have to worry.” As for whether the Dukeʼs main household would be implicated, that was beyond her concern.

Yuchen shook her head, ”Iʼm not worried about the Third Branch, and Iʼm not worried about the Dukeʼs household either.” As for the Dukeʼs matters, even if she wanted to worry, she couldnʼt.

Momo Gui whispered, ”Is Wangfei regretting not helping Si Gunainai back then?” In her opinion, it was fortunate they hadnʼt 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 were human instincts. There were many things she didnʼt want to do—not because she didnʼt care, but because she couldnʼt. Yuchen said, ”No regrets. I was just wondering, what are we living for? For fame, for power, or wealth?”

Momo Gui felt that Yuchenʼs questions were becoming more profound—so profound that she had to seriously consider her answers each time. ”Wangfei, everyone has different pursuits. Some live for fame, some for power, and some for wealth.”

Yuchen replied, ”But there are those who donʼt 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 oneʼs 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, weʼre back to talking about Si Gunainai again. Momo Gui replied, ”Even if he does take the northwest, it will only be temporary. Hasnʼt His Majesty already sent a large army to suppress the rebellion? It wonʼt 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 werenʼt put down soon, life there wouldnʼt be any better.

Momo Gui said, ”Wangfei, those vows of ʼa lifetime with one personʼ sound beautiful, but they only exist in storybooks.” If Yun Qing had remained the bloodthirsty man he was in Yu City, maybe he couldʼve stayed faithful to Si Gunainai. 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, ”Wangfei, Wangye has returned.” Jing Wang had been swamped with work lately. He had only come home twice since Yun Qingʼs rebellion.

When Yuchen returned to her residence, she immediately noticed that Jing Wang had lost a lot of weight. With a worried look, she asked, ”Why is Wangye so thin? Has Wangye not been resting well?”

Seeing the concern in Yuchenʼs eyes, Jing Wang felt a warmth in his heart. ”Donʼt worry. I can still manage.” Since their daughterʼs 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, ”Wangye, donʼt have to return to the palace today, right? Can Wangye rest here at home for a while?” When Jing Wang said he had to go back later, she suggested, ”Then lie down for a while. Iʼll wake Wangye when the Emperor summons Wangye.”

Touched by her concern, Jing Wang took Yuchenʼs 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 Wangʼs face, and he softly suggested, ”Once the mourning period is over, letʼs give Yan-er a little brother or sister.”

This time, Yuchen didnʼt object. She just nodded and replied, ”Okay.” She hadnʼt 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 Wang suddenly changed the subject. ”Someone has already submitted a memorial accusing Duke Han of being Yun Qingʼs 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. Heʼd barely had time to warm up the seat before it was taken away again.

Yuchenʼs 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 Wang shook his head. ”It wonʼt. 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 Yuxiʼs biological Father—he has severed their ties a long time ago. Besides, he was the first to denounce Yun Qing and Han Yuxi. So donʼt worry, your Father will be fine.” As soon as Han Jingyan learned of Yun Qingʼs rebellion, he penned an essay condemning Yun Qing as a ʼtreacherous usurperʼ and declaring that ʼsuch traitors deserve death by all righteous handsʼ. 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 wonʼt be dragged into it, thatʼs 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 Yuchenʼs 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 Fatherʼs favour. Yet now, to save himself, he had spun such vicious lies. How could such behaviour not chill one to the bone?

Jing Wang said, ”If Han Jianming is willing to write and persuade Yun Qing to surrender, Iʼm sure His Majesty will believe that he is innocent.” Han Jianmingʼs 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 Wang had suddenly returned. It wasnʼt really to see her or their child, but to have her deliver a message. Suppressing her discomfort, Yuchen offered, ”If itʼs inconvenient for Wangye to speak to him directly, I can try to persuade my Da Tangge myself. What does Wangye think?”

Jing Wang 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.