The Rebirth of Han Yuxi

Chapter 0627 Progress

Yun Qingʼs reply arrived in Yuxiʼs hands on the ninth day.

She gave the letter a light squeeze — it was thin. When she opened it, she saw that it contained six pages. Yuxi read it carefully, not missing a single word.

When Mama Qu came in, she saw Yuxiʼs face light up. With Yuxiʼs improved mood, her health would surely recover faster. It was just a shame that Lanzhou and Yu City were a thousand miles apart—even if they spurred the fastest horse day and night, it would still take them four or five days to travel.

In a good mood, Yuxi requested with a smile, ”Go bring Zaozao over.”

It didnʼt take long for Old Woman Yu to bring Zaozao over. Yuxi took Zaozao in her arms and kissed her. ”Zaozao, your Dad has sent us a letter. Come, Mom will read it to you.” Of course, she didnʼt read the whole thing—just the part where Yun Qing mentioned that he missed Zaozao.

Zaozao wrapped her arms around Yuxiʼs neck and said softly, ”Mom, Dad, miss.” What she meant was that she missed her father very much.

Yuxi touched Zaozaoʼs forehead and wondered, ”Zaozao, when will you be able to speak in complete sentences?” Zaozao was a late talker; she probably wouldnʼt be able to express herself fluently until after the age of three.

Mama Qu smiled and said, ”Madam, thereʼs no need to rush these things.” As long as the child wasnʼt mute, whether she spoke early or late didnʼt matter.

A while later, Gancao came in to report, ”Madam, Madam Fuʼs personal mama is requesting an audience.”

Yuxi said, ”Let her in.” Hopefully, Chen Shi wasnʼt here to ask for another favour.

This time, Mama He had indeed come with a request. The physician who checked Chen Shiʼs pulse said her child showed signs of premature birth and advised her to be prepared.

Although Chen Shi hoped to carry her son to full term, since the physician had spoken, she had to make preparations. She thought about how Yuxi had given birth early, but despite the dangerous circumstances, Mama Lan had made sure both mother and child were safe. So, she wanted to ask if Mama Lan could help with her delivery.

If Chen Shi truly had a difficult labour, Yuxi might have considered sending Mama Lan to help. However, since it was just a warning from the physician and not a real complication, she would not agree. There was no one in Yu City who wasnʼt aware of how fragile Liu-erʼs health was and how unlikely her survival was. Under these circumstances, Chen Shi still dared to ask for Mama Lan, which was quite disheartening.

Yuxi said, ”Liu-er is too weak and cannot be without Mama Lan.” The last time Mama Lan was gone for just over a day, Zaozao fell ill. Zaozao had a strong constitution, and as long as her illness was treated in time, it wouldnʼt be serious, but Liu-er was different.

Mama He hadnʼt expected Yuxi to refuse and was stunned for a moment.

Yuxi said, ”If you donʼt trust the midwives in Yu City, you can hire one from Xinping City. Iʼm sure the midwives there are more skilled than Mama Lan.” Yun Qing and Fu Tianlei were like brothers, so it was hard for her to say no. But she had no such bond with Chen Shi.

Seeing Yuxiʼs dark expression, Mama He said nothing more.

Yuxi explained, ”Itʼs not that Iʼm being unkind — itʼs just that Liu-er is too weak. Without Mama Lan, sheʼs very likely to fall ill. Her health is just too poor — she canʼt afford to get sick.” If she got sick, even if it wasnʼt fatal, it would be like adding frost to snow. And once sick, sheʼd need medicine — when even regular food made her vomit, who knew how sheʼd react to bitter medicine? With such high risks, how could Yuxi possibly agree?

Mama He secretly grumbled — in fact, when her Madam had instructed her to ask Yuxi for help, she had advised against it. But her Madam wouldnʼt listen.

When Zijin found out, she couldnʼt help but say, ”Her child in her womb is precious, but is our Second Young Miss nothing more than grass?” The Second Young Miss might not have survived if it werenʼt for Mama Lanʼs meticulous care. Under such circumstances, how could they dare to let Mama Lan leave her side for even one step?

Yuxi responded flatly, ”In Chen Shiʼs eyes, my Liu-er isnʼt even worth a blade of grass.” As Momo Quan had said before, only in times of trouble would one see a personʼs true nature. Someone like Chen Shi had always had a good reputation. In fact, even now, her public image was still quite respectable.

In Zijinʼs mind, Liu-er was far more precious than the unborn child in Chen Shiʼs womb. ”She truly takes a foot after being given an inch. If only we hadnʼt agreed with her request back then, there wouldnʼt be so many issues now.”

Yuxi said, ”You donʼt have to worry about her affairs. What I want to know is — why are you back here?” Zijin had already returned to the military camp on the sixth. By all expectations, she wasnʼt supposed to return until the Lantern Festival.

Zijin replied, ”Nothing is going on in the camp, so I came back.”

After all these years, Yuxi knew Zijinʼs faults well. She was sure that something must have happened for Zijin to come back. ”Iʼve told you before — youʼre a woman. If you want to stand equal to men, youʼll have to face many more challenges. Youʼll have to work twice as hard, or even ten times harder. If you canʼt endure the hardship or swallow your pride, then you shouldnʼt go at all.” This world was harsh to women — for a woman to be equal to a man was as difficult as climbing up to heaven. The only reason Zijin could stay in the military was because she had Yuxiʼs support. Without that, she wouldnʼt even be allowed through the gates.

In fact, one major reason Zijin, as a woman, was allowed into the Vanguard Camp was because she had earned military merit — she had slain hundreds of Northern Barbarians. Without that merit, even Yuxiʼs influence wouldnʼt have been enough.

Zijin clenched her fists. ”I wonʼt give up halfway.”

Yuxi said, ”Then stop complaining and stay in the army honestly.” In the military, one must follow military discipline.

Then Yuxi looked at her and added, ”If you come back for no reason next time, you donʼt have to return to the Vanguard Camp.”

Zijin was so ashamed she couldnʼt even raise her head. After a long pause, she said, ”Madam, Iʼm going back to the camp now.” Seeing that Yuxi ignored her, she left with her head down.

Yuxi murmured to herself, ”Why is there not a single competent person around me?” Of all the people she had trained, not one had turned out to be truly useful. Take Zisu and Zijin, for example. Zisu was fine in other aspects, but unfortunately, deep down, she was someone who despised poverty, loved wealth, and was incapable of sharing hardship. As for Zijin, there was no need to even mention it—she was full of bad habits from head to toe. Sigh — the real issue was that she herself was not that good at training people.

Zijin returned to her own courtyard and began packing to head back to camp.

Master Yang saw her looking downcast and understood at once. ”Did Han girl just scold you?” Even when General Yun had beaten her, she hadnʼt looked this disheartened.

Zijin replied, ”Iʼm going back to the camp.”

Master Yang tapped his pipe on his shoe and said, ”Zijin, this is your last chance. If you canʼt do well in the army, donʼt expect to come back to the Yun residence.”

Zijin froze. After a moment, she said, ”No — Madam wonʼt kick me out.” In her heart, Yuxi was more important than even Yu Zhi or Master Yang.

Master Yang felt it was time to give Zijin a dose of tough love. Otherwise, sheʼd keep making mistakes. ”You canʼt protect Han girl, and you canʼt even make a name for yourself in the army. What other reason could there be for the Yun household to continue feeding you? Do they have too much grain to waste?”

Zijinʼs face went pale, but she quickly clenched her fists and firmly vowed, ”I will make a name for myself in the army.” At that moment, she inexplicably remembered what Fu Qingluo had once said to Yuxi: ”Master, I want to become a female general.”

Master Yang smiled slightly. ”A female general? Thatʼs a good goal. Then Master wishes you success upon the horseʼs arrival.” With Zijinʼs skills, as long as she didnʼt make any mistakes or suffer any accidents, becoming a general was only a matter of time.

Once Zijin finished packing, she left without another word.

Xu Wu came over and handed a letter to Master Yang. ”This is from the General.” He didnʼt even need to read it to know it was surely about requesting medicine from Master Yang.

Master Yang skimmed the contents, and then his lips twitched. In the letter, Yun Qing said he had acquired a good amount of medicinal herbs in Lanzhou and hoped Master Yang could come there to help prepare the medicine. ”Tell your General, I only agreed to prepare the medicine, not to follow him around everywhere. Besides, Iʼve promised the Han girl Iʼll be her guard and protector. I wonʼt eat my own words.”

Xu Wu replied, ”Understood.”

After returning to the Fu Residence, Mama He reported to Chen Shi, ”Madam, Madam Yun said Young Miss Liu-er is too weak and cannot be without Mama Lan.”

Chen-shiʼs expression darkened. ”Han Shi refused?” Her previous requests had all been granted so smoothly that she hadnʼt expected a refusal.

Mama He nodded. ”Yes.” She honestly didnʼt understand what her Madam was thinking — Liu-er was Madam Yunʼs youngest daughter and was in fragile health. How could anyone expect her to lend out her childʼs most trusted caregiver? It was no surprise that Han Shi refused. What mother would risk her own childʼs life to save anotherʼs?

Chen Shi snorted coldly. ”Just like Xu Shi said — Han Shi is nothing but a hypocrite who craves praise for false kindness.”

Mama He inwardly groaned. Before, her Madam would still listen to advice, but ever since she got pregnant, her temper had worsened, and she refused all counsel. Mama He asked softly, ”Madam, Iʼve heard that Midwife Yao from Xinping City is very skilled. Should we send someone to invite her?” Since Yuxi had rejected their original request, it was best to find another solution quickly.

Chen Shi didnʼt respond.

Mama He felt helpless. She also believed Mama Lanʼs skills surpassed Midwife Yaoʼs, but the problem was that Madam Yun had already refused.

Seeing how anxious Mama He looked, Chen Shi finally said, ”Go ahead and send someone to get Midwife Yao.” The physician had already hinted that her labour was likely to be difficult. For the sake of herself and her child, she had to get Mama Lan to help. But if Han Shi refused to budge, at least Midwife Yao was better than the midwives in Yu City.

Understanding what Chen Shi was up to, Mama He couldnʼt help but remind her, ”Madam, Madam Yun has already refused.” Given Second Young Miss Yunʼs condition, it wouldnʼt make any difference even if they begged again.

Chen Shi stroked her swollen belly and said, ”I have been praying for this child for almost ten years. Even if I have to risk everything, I canʼt let anything happen to him.”

Mama He opened her mouth, but the words stopped before they came out. In her ladyʼs current state, nothing she said would get through. It was better to save her breath.