The Rebirth of Han Yuxi

The seventh month was when the wheat ripened and was ready for harvesting. A gust of wind blew across the fields, causing the golden wheat to rise and fall like rolling waves.

Tan Tuo pointed at the ripe ears of wheat. The grains were plump and swollen, as if about to burst. ”Madam, this yearʼs harvest is very good.”

Yuxi nodded. ”If only we could have such a harvest every year, that would be wonderful.” Unfortunately, the northwest was dry for most of the year due to a lack of water sources; years like this one, with winds in harmony and rains in order, were very rare.

Liu Biyuan, who had followed along, seized the moment to pat a horseʼs buttocks. ”Madam can look from a high vantage point and see far. Even if there is a drought, the dams youʼve built will ensure abundant harvests year after year.”

Yuxi smiled slightly and suggested, ”Letʼs go take another look.” The dam had already been constructed, and they were now inspecting the canals. As this was her first project, Yuxi naturally paid extra attention to it.

In such scorching heat, building irrigation canals was exhausting work. But in order to meet the construction schedule, there was no alternative.

Looking at a newly completed canal, Yuxi asked, ”Once we have completed constructing the dam and canals, do you think we could grow mulberry trees and raise silkworms here?” To develop properly, everything had to be considered comprehensively. Food production was the foundation, but other industries also needed to grow.

Tan Tuo thought for a moment and replied, ”Madam, itʼs worth trying.” Failure wouldnʼt matter much, but success would have completely different implications for the northwest.

By the time they returned to the Governor-Generalʼs residence, it was well past noon. Looking at Yuxi, Momo Quan couldnʼt help asking, ”Arenʼt you afraid of getting heatstroke going out in such heat?” As she spoke, she handed Yuxi a bowl of chilled sour plum drink🔗.

Yuxi smiled and took a sip of the plum drink. ”The common people still have to harvest wheat under the blazing sun, and the soldiers still have to build canals. What hardship am I really enduring?” Most of the labourers building the canals were drafted from the army. There was no other choice—forcing the civilians into corvée labour at this time would delay the harvest.

Momo Quan said helplessly, ”If youʼre not afraid of heatstroke, arenʼt you at least afraid of getting tanned?” What woman didnʼt value her appearance more than her life? Yet Yuxi was the exception.

Yuxi set the bowl down, smiling brightly. ”Iʼm not afraid. Even if I tan, Iʼll turn fair again soon.” Her skin was very well cared for. Though she was already twenty, it was still supple and delicate—half the credit for this went to Momo Quan.

While they were talking, Xu Wu called from outside, ”Madam, Yang Duoming requests an audience.”

Yuxi was somewhat delighted. ”Have him wait in the study. Iʼll be there shortly.” She had planned to bathe, but now there was no time. After quickly wiping herself down and changing her clothes, she headed to the front courtyard. Yang Duoming had been investigating the gold mine, so his return probably meant that he had found something.

Yang Duomingʼs return indeed brought good news. ”Madam, the gold mine has been found.” After nearly three months of effort, he had finally located it.

The smile on Yuxiʼs face was impossible to hide. ”Where was it found?” She had been worried that the high cost of canal construction would put a strain on their finances. Now that a gold mine had been discovered, she could finally breathe a little easier.

Yang Duoming said, ”Itʼs in the mountain forests more than twenty li away from Niujia Village in Long County.” The gold mine was located in a highly remote area and had originally been discovered by pure accident. In order to prevent news from leaking out, Ji Xuan had k!lled everyone who approached that mountain forest. Over time, the area became known as a land of death. Once this rumour spread, people in the surrounding area all deliberately avoided the forest.

Yuxi had long suspected that the gold mine must be very remote; otherwise, it wouldnʼt have taken so long to find. ”How large is the mine? How much gold do you estimate can still be extracted?”

Yang Duoming answered honestly, ”Although the gold mine has already been mined for over two years, itʼs still quite large and should be able to yield a considerable amount of gold.” He hadnʼt gone inside to inspect it personally, so he was only making an estimate. Yang Duoming knew very well that the job of mining such a gold mine would definitely not fall to him.

Yuxi smiled. ”Youʼve worked hard during this time.” When Yang Duoming had stayed behind in Yongcheng, Yuxi had originally wanted Fu Qingluo to accompany her to Haocheng. However, Fu Qingluo absolutely refused, insisting on staying by Yang Duomingʼs side. Yuxi had meant well, and since Fu Qingluo was unwilling, she did not force the matter.

Yang Duoming was not at all modest as he responded, ”It was indeed very hard, but finding a gold mine makes all the hardship worthwhile.”

He was very clever—mining such a large gold deposit would certainly leave traces, so he focused on investigating places that showed unusual signs.

Yuxi smiled lightly and asked, ”Did Qingluo return with you? How is her health now? Has she recovered?”

At the mention of this, Yang Duoming felt deeply grateful. ”Thanks to Madam, Qingluoʼs health has almost fully recovered.” The miscarriage had left Fu Qingluo relatively weak. Initially, Yuxi had instructed Momo Quan to prepare medicinal meals to help restore her health, but this treatment was discontinued because Fu Qingluo insisted on staying with Yang Duoming. Nevertheless, she still benefited greatly from it.

Yuxi shook her head and said, ”I didnʼt really help much. Youʼve been exhausted lately, so go back and rest for a couple of days. When the time comes, Iʼll have an even more important task for you.”

Upon hearing that there was an important assignment, Yang Duoming immediately perked up. ”Madam, Iʼm not tired. If thereʼs any task, give it to me right now!” He didnʼt want to fall behind the others.

Looking at Yang Duomingʼs exhausted appearance, Yuxi shook her head. ”Go back and rest properly first. No matter how urgent things are, they wonʼt hinge on just these two days.” Only after fully restoring oneʼs energy could one work more effectively.

Sometimes, good news comes one after another. That very afternoon, Yuxi received word that Han Jianming had already arrived in Lüliang and entered the northwestern territory.

Xu Wu said, ”Madam, Duke Han said he will wait for the Old Lady to arrive first, and then come to Haocheng together with her.”

When Yuxi heard that Qiu Shi was being escorted by Shang Da, she felt reassured. ”I hope Mom and the others can safely reach the northwest soon.” That way, she would no longer be constantly worried about burdening her maternal family.

Xu Wu nodded firmly. ”Madam, please rest assured. The Old Lady is such a kind and compassionate person—Old Lord Heaven will surely bless her with a safe journey.” Over the past two years, Qiu Shi had donated all the income from her estates to the orphanage and Qingming Hall in Yucheng. Yuxi had never concealed this matter, so the people of Yucheng, both civilians and soldiers, were aware of it.

A smile appeared on Yuxiʼs face as she said, ”Yes! The Bodhisattva will certainly protect Mom and ensure her safe arrival in the northwest.”

Yuxi was delighted that Han Jianming had brought Qiu Shi to the northwest. However, the other members of the Han family were furious, especially Han Jingyan, who was the most enraged of all.

When Han Jingyan learned that Han Jianming had gone over to Yuxi, he flew into a rage. After all, Yuxi was a known traitor and rebel; if Han Jianming had defected to her, wouldnʼt that make him a traitor as well?

Han Jingyan gathered everyone in the clan and said, ”Han Jianming and Han Jianye must be expelled from the clan—otherwise the Han family is finished.” The situation with Han Jianming was different from that with Yuxi, though. Yuxi was merely a married-out daughter, but Han Jianming was the clan head. His actions would implicate the entire lineage. If the Emperor became enraged, the Han family would face total extermination.

More than half of the clan not only agreed with Han Jingyanʼs proposal but also recommended that he become the new clan head. The remaining members—those who had once benefited from Han Jianming—kept silent. Even setting aside Han Jianmingʼs inappropriate actions, Han Jingyan was the Empressʼs biological father. No one dared oppose him—doing so would be like the God of Longevity hanging himself because he thought he had lived long enough.

Unlike Han Jingyan, who was filled with fury and scheming, Yuchen was worried when she learned of the matter. She asked Momo Gui, ”Could Dage truly think so highly of Yuxi?” Han Jianming was not someone who would act impulsively for the sake of family affection alone. The only reason he would do this was that he had the belief that going to the northwest would bring him greater benefits—benefits great enough to abandon his ancestral estate and sever ties with the clan. The mere thought of this unsettled Yuchen deeply.

Momo Gui disagreed. ”Han Jianming has had lard smeared over his heart. In the capital, heʼs a Duke of the highest order and of the Empressʼs natal family. In the northwest, heʼd be nobody.” Anyone with sense would choose to stay in the capital, but clearly, Han Jianming was not a normal person.

When the matter of the title came up, Momo Gui said, ”Niangniang, the Dukedom is a perpetual hereditary title that our ancestors gave their very lives to earn. It would be such a pity to lose it.” After all, fertile water should not flow into outsidersʼ fields, so naturally, the title ought to go to the Third Branch.

Yuchen neither agreed nor objected. ”This matter depends on His Majestyʼs wishes.” If the Emperor were willing to grant the title to her father, that would be ideal. However, she absolutely could not ask for such a favour at this moment. Who knew whether thorns had grown in the Emperorʼs heart for Han Jianmingʼs act of leaving the capital for the northwest?

While they were talking, Shiqin came in and said, ”Niangniang, the Imperial Physician said that His Highness Xuan is not going to make it.” After Jing Wang ascended the throne, it was no longer appropriate for those below to address Zhou Xuan as Crown Prince, so they cleverly settled on calling him His Highness Xuan instead.

This Zhou Xuan was a fake, and very few people knew the truth. Fearing that someone might notice something was amiss, Yu Xiyu opened the window one night, causing the child to catch a chill and develop a fever. Usually, a fever from catching a cold would not be serious, yet the childʼs condition worsened, and he fell unconscious two days later. Even Yuchen was deeply anxious—if anything happened to the child, outsiders would surely suspect that her husband was trying to cut the grass and remove the roots to eliminate future trouble.

Even before Yuchen entered the Jinxiu Palace, she heard utterly heartbreaking wails. After Jing Wang ascended the throne, Yu Xiyu should have moved out of the palace. However, since Zhou Xuan was unwell, Yuchen allowed the mother and son to relocate to the Jinxiu Palace.

Upon entering the bedchamber, Yuchen saw Yu Xiyu clutching Zhou Xuan and wailing loudly, ”Xuan-er! My Xuan-er! Wake up! Wake up and look at your mother…” The sound of her desolate crying made everyone present unable to hold back their tears.

Yuchen wiped away her tears and stepped forward to console her. ”Huang Sao, Xuan-er is gone. You must take good care of yourself.”

To Yu Xiyu, seeing Yuchen was like seeing an enemy. She shoved Yuchen so hard that, had a maid not been there to support her, she would have fallen to the ground. Pointing at Yuchen, Yu Xiyu shouted, ”Why? My Xuan-er couldnʼt even compete with you for the throne, so why did you have to be so ruthless?” Her grief and fury were so genuine that no one suspected she was acting.

After hearing this accusation, the other people in the room desperately wished they were invisible. Only that way would they not be forcefully silenced.

きつねʼs Musing

Had she been born in our time, Yu Xiyu would probably have entered the entertainment industry and won an Oscar.