The Rebirth of Han Yuxi

Chapter 0765 Confession Of Love (1)

After reporting to the prefectural office, Jiang Hongfu went to see Liu Biyuan.

With a face full of smiles, Liu Biyuan said to Jiang Hongfu, ”Jiang Xiandi, you truly are a man of outstanding appearance and bearing!” These words could not really be counted as flattery, as Jiang Hongfu was indeed very good-looking.

Jiang Hongfu smiled and said, ”Liu Daren, you praise me too much.”

Liu Biyuan responded with a gentle and pleasant expression： ”No need to call me Liu Daren. Jiang Xiandi, youʼre treating me like a stranger.” With that intimate manner, anyone who did not know better would think Jiang Hongfu was his own younger brother!

Without changing his expression, Jiang Hongfu asked, ”Daren, may I ask when I can take up my post?” Since he had come to assume office, he naturally had to take up the position quickly.

Liu Biyuan asked, ”I almost forgot. Jiang Xiandi, do you understand waterworks?”

Jiang Hongfu was relatively familiar with waterworks, but he did not want to appear too confident. He replied modestly, ”I know a little.”

Liu Biyuan laughed heartily. ”Xiandi, you are truly modest. This is just right. The governor has repeatedly said that he lacks capable personnel. Since you understand waterworks, Xiandi, this has perfectly solved the governorʼs urgent problem. Xiandi, rest for two days first, then go to Tongzhou to take up your post two days later.”

A Tongzhi was an official responsible for overseeing various local administrative matters, including salt and grain administration, river defence, river works, water conservancy, and military register management. Apart from river works and waterworks, Yuxi would not allow Jiang Hongfu to get involved in anything else. Jiang Hongfuʼs identity was special. If he were permitted to assist Liu Biyuan with matters such as salt and grain administration and the clearing of military household registers, he would learn a great deal.

Jiang Hongfu nodded. ”There is no need to rest for two days. I will go to Tongzhou tomorrow.” He wasnʼt stupid; he knew he was being watched. It was just that when a person was under someone elseʼs eaves, he had no choice but to lower his head. Moreover, at least they had given him an assignment, rather than stripping him of real authority or making things difficult for him.

On the way back, the adviser, Ye Guangqin, said, ”Eldest Master, what Han Shi is doing plainly shows that she does not want you to stay in Haocheng.” Building waterworks was a good thing, but the official responsible for it had to remain at the construction site, like Tan Tuo, who was often away from Haocheng because of this.

Jiang Hongfu said with a smile, ”A tongzhi is originally in charge of waterworks affairs. Having me assist Governor Tan is something no one can find fault with!”

Ye Guangqin frowned. ”This Han Shi is guarding against us so much that it will be very hard for us to act.” This time, the Emperor had sent him over to collect intelligence. But what information could he possibly find out by going to rural villages and mountain areas to repair dams and canals?

Jiang Hongfu swept a glance at Ye Guangqin and reminded him, ”I was sent by the Imperial Court. It is perfectly normal for Han Shi to be wary of me. There is one thing I must remind you of: do not act rashly here; otherwise, even I will not be able to save you.” Although Ye Guangqin was officially Jiang Hongfuʼs adviser, he was actually a man of the Imperial Court. Jiang Hongfuʼs weakness had been used against him as well, leaving him with no choice but to take Ye Guangqin along.

Since Ye Guangqin had been chosen to make inquiries, he must have had his own strengths. ”Rest assured, I will not take any risks.”

Yun Qing learned that Jiang Hongfu was going to Tongzhou and would be leaving the next day, so he asked him when they met again, ”Biaodi, why are you in such a hurry? You can rest for a couple of days before going. Thereʼs still time.”

However, Jiang Hongfu shook his head. ”I have already been delayed on the road for too long. I must take up my post as soon as possible. Besides, things are different now. Tongzhou is only two days away from Haocheng by carriage. If we want to meet in future, we can do so at any time.”

Yun Qing no longer forced him. Patting Jiang Hongfu on the shoulder, he replied with a smile, ”Since you have made up your mind, I will not force you. By the way, when will your wife come over? You have already met Zaozao and Liu-er, but I still havenʼt met your three children!”

Jiang Hongfu paused, then shook his head. ”My Zumu is already sixty-five this year. Min Shi has taken the children back to Jiangnan to fulfil filial duty on my behalf, so they cannot come to the northwest for now.”

Hearing this, Yun Qing asked, ”Yesterday, you said you had stayed in Jiangnan for several years. Everything was going well in your life, why did you go to Jiangnan?”

As the saying goes, family shame should not be aired outside, so Jiang Hongfu did not mention that Yu Shi had wanted to harm him, and that he had only gone to Jiangnan because he had no choice but to save his life.

Smiling, Jiang Hongfu answered, ”At that time, my Zumu was in poor health, and my Dad was busy with official duties and could not get away, so he sent me to visit my her. Jiangnan also has many famous teachers I could learn from, so I stayed there.”

Yun Qing was no fool. How could he not have known that Jiang Hongfu was hiding something from him? However, since Jiang Hongfu was unwilling to say what it was, he did not press him further. ”As the saying goes, above there is heaven, below there are Suzhou and Hangzhou. It is also quite good for your wife and my nephews and nieces to be in Jiangnan. If there is a chance in the future, I will definitely take your Saozi, Zaozao and the others to Jiangnan for a visit.”

Jiang Hongfuʼs heart gave a sudden lurch, but he kept a calm exterior as he smiled and replied, ”All right! When the time comes, I will show you around, Biaoge.”

That night, Yun Qing told Yuxi, ”My Dimei and her three children may have been detained by the Imperial Court as hostages.”

Yuxi was somewhat surprised and asked, ”How did you know about this?”

Yun Qing described Jiang Hongfuʼs behaviour at the time. ”If Min Shi had really taken the children back to Jiangnan to fulfil her filial duty, Biaodi would not have had that kind of expression.”

Yuxi wasnʼt surprised and commented, ”If they had not gained control of his weakness, how could they make him sell his life for them?” Yuxi also knew that Yun Qing and Jiang Hongfu had deep feelings for each other. However, no matter how deep those feelings were, they were still not as important as oneʼs wife, children, and clan.

Yun Qing smiled bitterly. ”That Biaodi of mine has been able to keep his composure since childhood. Todayʼs action must have been deliberate. Yuxi, he was forced by circumstances, too.” He did not blame Jiang Hongfu. Even though they were as close as brothers, he simply did not carry enough weight when compared to Jiang Hongfuʼs family and clan.

Yuxi did not deny Yun Qingʼs words. ”In this world, who can live exactly as their heart wishes? If we had not been forced until there was no way left to survive, we would not have taken this path.” Although they had occupied the northwest, they were still surrounded by many dangers.

Yun Qing was silent for a moment, then said, ”Letting him assist Tan Tuo in building dams is also quite good.” These dams and canals were all in mountainous and rural areas. Letting Jiang Hongfu do this work could also prevent brothers from turning against each other and becoming enemies.

Yuxi smiled faintly before giving Yun Qing a reminder. ”Herui, if he dares to tamper with the project, I will not spare him.” Waterworks were a major issue concerning peopleʼs livelihoods. If Jiang Hongfu dared to interfere with them, it would prove that he had no moral limits. She would not keep such a person.

Yun Qing immediately shook his head and assured her, ”Rest assured, Ah Fu definitely wouldnʼt do such a thing. The Jiang family has stood tall for a hundred years; naturally, they have their principles of conduct.”

Yuxi nodded. ”I hope he is worthy of your trust.” In fact, having Jiang Hongfu assist Tan Tuo was also part of her plan. As long as Tan Tuo was there to keep an eye on things, even if Jiang Hongjin really did have bad intentions, they did not have to fear trouble breaking out.

Yun Qingʼs mood was somewhat heavy.

Yuxi pointed out, ”Herui, I, Zaozao, Liu-er, Uncle Huo, Xu Wu, and the others are the people closest to you.” Ultimately, Yun Qing simply didnʼt matter enough to Jiang Hongfu. If it were Xu Wu, Yu Cong and the others, they would never betray Yun Qing, even if the enemy had captured their wives and children.

Hearing these words, Yun Qing held Yuxi tightly in his arms.

The next day, Han Ji came to report something to Yuxi. ”Wangfei, the potatoes planted in the tenth month were harvested yesterday. Two fen of land yielded three hundred and eighty-six jin of potatoes.” This meant that one fen of land had yielded one hundred and ninety-three jin of potatoes.

When Yuxi heard this, a smile appeared on her face. ”It is actually more than last yearʼs harvest.” This meant that potatoes could be planted at least twice a year, and this was the best possible news.

Han Ji said happily, ”Wangfei, once the common people plant these potatoes, they will no longer have to worry about food in the future.” Everyone knew that the northwest lacked grain.

Yuxi generously rewarded the farmers who had planted the potatoes.

After her afternoon nap, Yuxi went to the front courtyard and noticed that Xu Wuʼs expression was somewhat strange. So she asked him, ”If you have something to say, just say it!” Xu Wu was not someone who could hide what was on his mind; whatever he was thinking always showed on his face.

Xu Wu answered hesitantly, ”Wangfei, please donʼt get anxious when I tell you!” This matter could not be hidden anyway. If he didnʼt tell her now and waited until she found out about it herself in a few days, she would definitely punish him.

Before Xu Wu could speak, Yuxi had already become anxious. ”Did something happen to Wangye?” As soon as she asked, Yuxi knew she had overthought it. Looking at Xu Wuʼs calm demeanour, she knew that Yun Qing could not have been in an accident.

After hearing this, Xu Wu could not help but mutter inwardly. No wonder Wangye always said Wangfei liked to let her thoughts run wild; those words were certainly true. Thinking of this, Xu Wu became somewhat hesitant again. Originally, that matter was nothing much, but if Wangfei found out and started imagining things, that would indeed be bad.

Yuxi pressed, ”Say it. What matter has made things so difficult for you to tell me?” It was rare to see Xu Wu like this.

After weighing it up for quite some time, Xu Wu finally opened his mouth. ”This morning, when Wangye went to the military camp, he was stopped on the road by a woman.” Seeing that Yuxiʼs expression did not change, he continued, ”That woman told the General that her family was going to arrange a marriage for her, but her heart only had Wangye; if she were going to marry, it would be only to Wangye and no one else...” Xu Wu could not bring himself to say the rest.

After a long time without hearing a reply, Xu Wu could not help raising his head and saw that Yuxiʼs face was as cold as frost. He suddenly felt very cold and shivered unconsciously.

Yuxi laughed from extreme anger and asked, ”Which family raised such a shameless girl?” The folk customs of the northwest were fierce and bold, and women were relatively less restrained. However, no matter what, a daughter from any family would never run up to a married man and loudly declare her desire to marry him.

Xu Wu answered very cautiously, ”It was Sun Yulian of the Sun family, the one known as Haochengʼs number one beauty.” After saying this, he elaborated, ”She came to the residence when Liu-er turned one. I do not know whether Wangfei still remembers her?” Xu Wu actually did remember her. After all, that woman was indeed beautiful, like a crane standing among chickens, so it was hard not to notice her.

Yuxi sneered. ”Number one beauty? I think ʼnumber one foolʼ would be more like it.” This woman had either gone mad, or her brain was full of tofu dregs; otherwise, she would not have done such a thing. With this commotion, she had not only made the Sun family lose all face, but had also implicated the other girls in the clan, making it difficult for them to marry in the future.

Xu Wu also thought Sun Yulian was an idiot. Who didnʼt know about his Wangfeiʼs reputation? Under these circumstances, she still dared to covet Wangye. With his Wangfeiʼs temperament, Xu Wu already wanted to observe a moment of silence for this foolish woman. Mm, he also had to observe a moment of silence for the Sun family.