The Rebirth of Han Yuxi

Chapter 0714 Kidnapped

🦊: Sorry for the delay. 🙏

A riot broke out in Xihai in the early eighth month.

Upon receiving the news, Yun Qing told Yuxi, ”The time has come.” Yuxi had previously opposed Yun Qingʼs plan to attack Xihai because she had been waiting for disorder to arise from within Xihai itself.

Yuxi shook her head. ”Why choose this particular time?” Travelling at this time of year makes it very easy for one to suffer from heatstroke.

Yun Qing already had a fairly clear grasp of the situation in Xihai. When he first saw Yuxi shaking her head, he thought she felt the timing was not right. However, he did not expect her to be simply complaining about the heat. He was instantly both amused and exasperated. ”Only when people are driven to desperation will the common folk rise in revolt.” In the past, when the government lent out grain, no interest was added—whatever amount was borrowed was returned as it was. This yearʼs harvest was bountiful, so the people of the northwest no longer fear going hungry. Yun Qing had already taken control of two prefectures in Xihai, where taxes were low. Given this, it was no surprise that those exploited by court officials and local chieftains naturally no longer wished to endure oppression.

Yuxi was simply distressed that Yun Qing would have to rush to Xihai in such scorching weather, which was why she muttered, ”When do you plan to leave?”

Yun Qing replied, ”Iʼll set off tomorrow.” Thirty thousand troops were already stationed there, so he did not need to bring additional forces.

From outside, Mama Bai called out, ”Madam, the red-bean shaved ice is ready. You can have it now.”

Yuxi picked up a small bowl. Seeing that Yun Qing did not move, she smiled and said, ”This tastes quite good—try some.” She would not have eaten it herself if it had not been good; Yuxi rarely ate cold food.

After taking a bite, Yun Qing nodded and asked Mama Bai, ”Mama Bai, how is this made? Itʼs surprisingly delicious.” The flavour was excellent, and eating it sent a cool sensation straight to the core.

Mama Bai answered with a smile, ”Madam made this herself. She spent nearly half the day preparing this red bean shaved ice!” The General had to know that his wife was capable of handling the householdʼs internal and external affairs.

Yuxi explained, smiling, ”This isnʼt difficult to make. First, cook the selected red beans, let them dry, then coat them with white sugar. Next, crush some ice and add it to the mix. Finally, pour in the milk, that had its gamey smell has been removed. If it feels too plain, you can add any fruits you like.” In the red-bean shaved ice Yuxi made, she added watermelon.

Mama Bai added from the side, ”General, even though Madam makes it sound simple, itʼs not that easy to prepare.”

Yun Qing smiled and took another bite, then asked, ”Has Zaozao eaten any?”

Yuxi shot Yun Qing a glance and responded, ”She already had some. That girl loved it to bits! If she werenʼt given any, sheʼd start crying.” It was also because Yuxi saw the watermelon that she suddenly remembered having eaten this kind of red-bean shaved ice before.

Yun Qing spoke indifferently, ”If she wants to eat it, then just let her.”

Yuxi was at a loss for words, but managed to say, ”Eating too much of something this cold will cause diarrhoea.” If Zaozao were not so strong and especially sensitive to heat, Yuxi would not even let her touch such things.

To conceal his inner embarrassment, Yun Qing hurriedly changed the subject. ”The Huangyu📹 from Xihai Lake is said to be very delicious. When the time comes, Iʼll send some back for you to try.” He said this because Yuxi was very fond of eating fish.

Yuxi did not respond to Yun Qingʼs words. Instead, she recited a poem: ”Looking back from Changʼan at the brocaded city. A thousand gates open one by one. A rider approaches, and the concubine laughs. No one knows that he is delivering lychees🔗.”

Yun Qing let out a surprised sound, unable to understand why Yuxi had suddenly begun reciting poetry. When it came to poetry, he knew absolutely nothing.

Yuxi explained, ”Yang Guifei📹 loved eating lychees, but they were a speciality of Lingnan. To satisfy her appetite, Emperor Xuanzong of Tang ordered people to rush lychees eight hundred li at top speed to Mount Li.” Such eight-hundred-li emergency dispatches were normally reserved for military or state affairs.

After a pause, Yuxi continued, ”From Xihai Lake to Haocheng is over two thousand li. Even riding hard day and night, it would still take several days to arrive. All that effort, just to eat a few fish—wasting enormous manpower and resources. Do you think thatʼs right?”

Yun Qing laughed helplessly. ”If you think itʼs inappropriate, then I wonʼt send them. Thereʼs no need for you to compare yourself to that demon consort!” Wouldnʼt that just be lowering your own status?

Yuxi had no intention of arguing with Yun Qing over whether or not Yang Yuhuan was a demon consort. ”Herui, Iʼm very happy that you thought of sending me fish from Qinghai Lake after taking Xihai. But times are different now. You must lead by example and set a good model for the officials and generals under you.”

Yun Qing wasnʼt angry. Stroking Yuxiʼs head, he said, ”You really do overthink things. Itʼs not like I send them often—I just wanted you to have a taste. Since you feel itʼs inappropriate, then I wonʼt send them.”

Holding Yun Qingʼs hand, Yuxi said, ”Xihai Lake is said to be as beautiful as a fairy realm. If you get the chance, take me there to see it.” Xihai Lake was also known as the Immortal Lake, and Yuxi truly wanted to visit it.

A smirk appeared on Yun Qingʼs face as he asked, ”And if you go, wonʼt that also be a waste of manpower and money?” If Yuxi were to travel far, she would need hundreds of guards for her safety. Feeding and accommodating so many people would cost a great deal.

Yuxiʼs eyes darted as she smiled and replied, ”Didnʼt you say you were going to build two large horse ranches at Xihai? Once the horses are raised there, Iʼll have to go and inspect them myself to feel at ease.”

Yun Qing responded with just these words: ”Using public duty to serve private interests.”

The next day, Yuxi didnʼt get up until nearly noon, her waist aching and her body sore. It was only after she had soaked in a medicinal bath that she felt somewhat better. Having a husband with too much stamina was also troublesome. Yun Qing would normally restrain himself, but since they were about to be separated for two or three months, he hadnʼt held back at all. By the end of last nightʼs exertions, she had lost all sensation.

After receiving the information and learning that Yuxi had finished lunch, Xu Wu sent in the message he had just received: ”Madam, the Old Lady has already arrived in Suide County🔗.”

Seeing Xu Wuʼs hesitant expression, Yuxi knew something was wrong. ”Has something happened to Er Sao?” Her mother and eldest brother had already reached Suide safely. And since Ye Shi had stayed behind in Quanzhou due to illness, the only one who could have encountered trouble was Lu Xiu.

Xu Wu nodded. ”Second Lady Han has been kidnapped by bandits from Menghu Mountain.”

Since bandits kidnapped people for money, Yuxi instructed, ”I recall that Hong Feihu is in Yanzhou. Send him to negotiate with them. As long as they release the hostages, everything else can be discussed.” The one guarding Yanzhou City was Liu Yongnan, who had followed Yun Qing for ten years, with Hong Feihu serving as his deputy.

Xu Wu said, ”If we bring it up first, theyʼll definitely demand an outrageous price.”

Yuxi waved her hand. ”Even if they demand a sky-high price, it still depends on whether we can actually afford it. Besides, I think Hong Feihu can handle this matter well.” After all, negotiations were easiest when bandits dealt with other bandits.

Only then did Xu Wu fall silent.

Yuxi continued in a low voice, ”I still havenʼt settled the score with them over what happened four years ago. If anything happens to my Er Sao, I will make them pay a devastating price…”

When the bandits captured Lu Xiu, Han Jianming initially kept it from Qiu Shi. But after so much time had passed, it was impossible to hide it any longer.

Qiu Shi had been travelling long distances and was already physically weak. Upon hearing that bandits had taken her daughter-in-law and grandsons, she fainted on the spot.

After she woke up, Qiu Shi clutched Han Jianmingʼs hand and said, ”Ming-er, you must save your Dimei and nephews!” At that moment, Qiu Shi felt deep regret. If she had known this would happen, she would never have separated from Lu Xiu, and then the bandits would never have taken her.

Han Jianming reassured her, ”Mom, donʼt worry. Iʼve already sent word to Yuxi via General Liu. As long as Yuxi gives the order, General Liu and the others will definitely find a way to rescue them.” These people didnʼt listen to him anyway; otherwise, he would have ordered the rescue long ago.

Qiu Shi wept endlessly. ”I just hope your Dimei and her two children can survive this ordeal.”

Han Jianming comforted her, ”Mom, donʼt worry—everything will be fine.” His own journey there had been extremely dangerous, but the men escorting him were highly skilled and familiar with the terrain, enabling them to avert danger.

Shang Daʼs original plans were actually made with his own interests in mind. Since Yu Zhi was the most skilled martial artist, he was sent to protect Han Jianming, while Shang Da himself stayed to guard Qiu Shi. He arranged it this way because he knew that Han Jianming and Qiu Shi occupied the most important place in Yuxiʼs heart.

The journey from Haocheng to Yanzhou City takes only one day and one night when travelling at full speed. When Hong Feihu heard that Yuxi had sent him to negotiate with the bandits, his eyes widened like bronze bells. ”Why should I be the one to negotiate with that bunch of bandits? Iʼm not going.” Whenever anything good came up, it was never his turn—yet for this kind of unlucky business, they suddenly remembered him.

Yuan Fuliang added from the side, ”Thatʼs right—donʼt go.” Risking oneʼs head to handle something like this was simply not worth it.

Liu Yongnan said, ”Madam specifically named you for this because she believes youʼre capable. If youʼre afraid of death and donʼt dare go, then forget it—Iʼll assign someone else. But donʼt blame me for not warning you: the General once said that anyone who dares disobey Madamʼs orders will be severely punished.”

Seeing Hong Feihuʼs face turn ashen, Liu Yongnan continued, ”On the contrary, if you manage to pull this off, Madam will definitely recognise your merit. In the future, you wonʼt be short of benefits.”

Hong Feihu muttered, ”If we want to get them out, someone is definitely going to have to bleed.”

Liu Yongnan nodded. ”Madam said that as long as the conditions they propose arenʼt excessive, they can be accepted.”

Hong Feihu also knew that this trip was unavoidable. ”When do we set off?”

Seeing this, Yuan Fuliang offered, ”Iʼll go with you, big brother.” True brothers naturally share both fortune and hardship.

Although Hong Feihu appreciated the sentiment, he did not want to take Yuan Fuliang along. ”I can manage on my own. You stay here and look after yourself.” After saying this, he added, ”If they end up killing me, you must avenge me.”

Liu Yongnan felt Hong Feihu was being overly pessimistic. ”Donʼt worry—those people wouldnʼt dare lay a hand on you. Otherwise, I would lead troops to raze Mount Menghu to the ground.” In a way, this promise gave Hong Feihu some confidence.