The Rebirth of Han Yuxi

Chapter 0806 Reconciliation (2)

Fu Tianlei looked Yang Duoming up and down. He was very handsome, but what stood out most was his understated and composed air. That alone was something you could not find in Yu City. It was no wonder that he had made his foolish younger sisterʼs head spin until she could no longer tell which way was which, making her willing to become a banditʼs wife.

Yang Duoming had been through a great deal and was not intimidated by Fu Tianleiʼs scrutiny. Still, being stuck like this was getting them nowhere. Yang Duoming took the initiative and said, ”Dage, the circumstances were unusual at the time. I was unable to send a matchmaker to your door to ask for her hand formally, and that was my fault.” Marrying her without informing her family was a serious taboo. However, given the circumstances at the time, if Qingluo had gone home first and he had subsequently sent a matchmaker to propose marriage, it was likely that their love would be beaten apart like a pair of mandarin ducks struck with a stick.

Fu Tianlei snapped, ”If you truly respected and cherished her, you should never have married her.” Had circumstances not changed so drastically, Qingluo would have spent the rest of her life as a bandit in the mountains and might eventually have been wiped out by the Imperial Court. Of course, if circumstances hadnʼt changed, he certainly would have severed ties with Fu Qingluo rather than forgive her so easily, much less agree to meet Yang Duoming.

Yang Duoming lowered his head. ”I know Qingluo has suffered because of me, but I will spend the rest of my life making it up to her.” Although he didnʼt like Fu Tianlei, he couldnʼt deny that Fu Tianlei genuinely treated Qingluo very well.

The child had already been born, so whether he liked it or not, Fu Tianlei had no choice but to acknowledge his new brother-in-law. ”Get up,” Fu Tianlei said. Since he had already allowed Yang Duoming through the door, beating or punishing him now would serve no purpose.

Fu Qingluo had brought a change of clothes. She went to the rear courtyard, found a room, and changed. After washing and tidying herself up again, she finally went to see Chen Shi. She disliked Chen Shi intensely now, but no matter how much she disliked her, Chen Shi was still her Dasao. Since coming home, she had naturally had to see her.

The moment Fu Qingluo entered the main courtyard, she caught the smell of medicine. Frowning slightly, she stepped into the room. Seeing Chen Shi lying on the bed, sick and drooping, Fu Qingluo called, ”Dasao.”

Fu Qingluo was not someone who knew how to put on a play. If she liked someone, she liked them; if she disliked them, she disliked them. She did not hide her feelings. Seeing Chen Shiʼs sallow face, she made no move to approach her. In the past, no matter how seriously ill Chen Shi had been, Qingluo would have gone to check on her without hesitation.

Chen Shi had long since heard that Fu Qingluo and Yang Duoming had knelt outside the door. Looking at Fu Qingluo standing before her now, Chen Shi knew that her stratagem of making herself suffer had worked.

Leaning against a dark teal satin cushion, Chen Shi smiled and said, ”Your elder brother has forgiven you, hasnʼt he? I told you long ago that everything would be fine once his anger has subsided. After all, what grudge between blood siblings ever lasts overnight?” Chen Shi was already in poor health, and after catching a chill, she still hadnʼt fully recovered even after two months.

Fu Qingluo said, ”It was my fault. I donʼt blame Dage anymore.” Her elder brother had always doted on her. He had only wanted to marry her off because circumstances had left him with no other choice.

Chen Shi coughed several times and wiped her mouth with a handkerchief. ”Where is the child? I heard Mama He say that he looks very much like the Master.” Ever since Mama He had told her that the child greatly resembled her husband, Chen Shi had wanted to see him. Unfortunately, Fu Qingluo was still in her postnatal confinement period and could not bring him over.

Fu Qingluo smiled. ”The child is with Dage!” Whenever she looked at her sonʼs smiling face, Qingluo could not help imagining that her elder brother must have looked just like that when he was little, and she found the thought rather amusing.

As they were talking, they heard a baby crying. An elderly servant woman carried the child in and said, ”Madam, the Young Master is hungry.” This elderly servant woman was quite a hand at caring for children. All three of her own children, as well as several grandchildren, had grown up strong and healthy under her care. For this reason, Fu Qingluo had paid a high price to hire her to help care for her son. At the same time, Qingluo was learning from her as well. No matter how well Mama Lan explained things, she couldnʼt stay by Qingluoʼs side to guide her personally. 

At the sight of the child, Chen Shi hurriedly sat up. ”Bring him over and let me have a look.”

Fu Qingluoʼs expression darkened slightly, but she could hardly refuse Chen Shi at a time like this, no matter how unwilling she was. She took the child from the elderly servant womanʼs arms, took two steps forward and bent down slightly so that Chen Shi could see the child.

The moment Chen Shi saw the child, she cried out involuntarily, ”Qi-er, my Qi-er! Qingluo, quickly, give me the child...”

Fu Qingluo immediately took two steps back, holding back her anger. ”Dasao, this is my son Maomao, not Lil Boy Qi.” Although she had never seen Lil Boy Qi, she knew that because he had been born prematurely, he had been extremely frail and had needed medicine from the moment he was born. Her own son had been born at full term and had been raised very well. How could he possibly resemble the sickly Lil Boy Qi?

Chen Shi tried to get up, but she was too weak and needed help to stand. All she could do was look pleadingly at Fu Qingluo. ”Qingluo, could you let me hold the child? Please, Iʼm begging you.”

Seeing Chen Shi in this state, the only way Fu Qingluo would hand her the child was if she had water in her brain. Fu Qingluo shook her head. ”Dasao, Maomao is hungry. I need to go and feed him.” With that, she left the room immediately.

Chen Shi stared at Fu Qingluoʼs retreating figure as she carried the child away, crying loudly, ”Qi-er, my Qi-er...” Then she fainted again.

Mama He hurriedly told a maid to fetch a physician. Chen Shi could not withstand emotional shocks. Whenever something upset her, she would faint. It had happened so many times that those around her had grown quite unfazed by it.

Looking at the unconscious Chen Shi, Mama He sighed. Others might not know, but she knew better than anyone that her mistress had been thinking obsessively about the late Eldest Young Master to the point of confusion.

After feeding her son until he was full, Fu Qingluo went to the study in the front courtyard to find Fu Tianlei. When she entered and saw Fu Tianlei and Yang Duoming having a warm, animated and highly agreeable conversation, disbelief covered her face.

Yang Duoming smiled. ”Why are you back already? I was just preparing to go and pay my respects to Dasao!” He might not like Chen Shi, but she was still his Dasao. As her brother-in-law, he naturally had to go and see her.

Fu Qingluo turned to Fu Tianlei. ”Brother, when Dasao saw Maomao, she started calling him Qi-er. I was terrified, so I quickly carried the child out of the room, but then Dasao fainted. Brother, I didnʼt do it on purpose.” With that, she lowered her head, looking deeply guilty.

Fu Tianleiʼs expression darkened. However, he was not angry with Fu Qingluo, but with Chen Shi. Ever since they arrived in Haocheng, there had been no peace at all. ”Donʼt worry about her. The food is ready as well, so come and eat.” Chen Shi had already exhausted Fu Tianleiʼs last shred of patience.

After dinner, Fu Tianlei asked, ”Why donʼt you stay here at the residence for the New Year?” No one else was in Yang Duomingʼs household anyway; it was only the three of them.

Yang Duoming wisely refrained from offering an opinion.

Fu Qingluo refused without a second thought. ”Brother, Maomao is still very young. Heʼll be frightened if heʼs suddenly brought into an unfamiliar environment. Besides, Iʼve already bought everything we need for the New Year, so we wonʼt be spending it here. Brother, Iʼll bring the child back on the second day of the New Year to pay you a New Year visit!” Even thinking about Chen Shi made her feel uncomfortable, as if something blocked her diaphragm. How could she possibly spend the New Year at her maiden home with Chen Shi there? Besides, celebrating in her own home would be far more comfortable.

Fu Tianlei was somewhat disappointed, but a married daughter is like water that has been poured out. Since Fu Qingluo was unwilling to stay, he could hardly force her. ”When you have time, bring the child back more often so I can see him.”

Fu Qingluo nodded. ”All right.” But she said it only with her mouth. Given Chen Shiʼs current state, she wouldnʼt dare bring the child here again. What would she do if Chen frightened him?

At that thought, Fu Qingluo could not help asking, ”Brother, Physician He in Haocheng is highly skilled. Why donʼt you ask him to examine Saozi.)?” It wasnʼt just Chen Shiʼs physical health that was affected; something was wrong with her mind, too.

Fu Tianlei shook his head. ”Your Dasao is suffering from a heart illness, and even calling the finest physician would be of no use.” He had already invited every well-known physician in Haocheng to examine Chen Shi. Physician He and all the others had given him the same answer: an illness of the heart still needs heart medicine to cure it. Ordinary medicine could not cure her.

On the way back, Yang Duoming said to Fu Qingluo, ”Even when you come back to the Fu residence in future, donʼt take the child to see your Dasao.”

Fu Qingluo nodded. ”I wonʼt take the child to see her.” She had had no choice this time. Otherwise, she would never have dared to take the child to see Chen Shi.

Yuxi had just lain down when she heard noises outside in the middle of the night. Soon afterwards, Yun Qing lifted the curtain and came into the room, bringing a cold draught with him.

Yuxi had been sleeping with Zaozao and Liu-er for the past few days. Seeing the three of them lying on the bed, Yun Qing did not dare go any closer.

When Yuxi began to sit up, Yun Qing hurriedly said, ”Stay lying down. Iʼll go and get something to eat.” His whole body was still chilled through, so he could not bathe yet. He had to wait until he had warmed up first.

Yuxi was both amused and exasperated. ”Change your clothes first, then go and eat.” Yun Qing couldnʼt even work out which thing should come first.

A quarter of an hour later, the food was ready. Mama Bai had made Yun Qingʼs favourite dish of minced meat and noodles, and had also prepared plates of braised beef and green vegetables. The vegetables had been grown in their heated greenhouse. There was not much produce, and it was only enough to supply the Yun and Han residences.

Only after eating his fill did Yun Qing go to bathe. Usually, he would just take a quick rinse, and Yuxi would never say anything about it. But he had been away for so long this time, and Yuxi certainly wasnʼt going to let him get away with just a cursory wash.

Soaking in the bath, Yun Qing smiled. ”Thereʼs still nowhere as comfortable as home!” Good food and drink, and his wife waiting on him. How could life not be wonderful?

Yuxi scrubbed his back with a loofah and smiled when she heard him. ”Since you know how good home is, donʼt run off so often in future.” If he had to go out on a military campaign or fight in a war, she would have nothing to say. But whenever something happened among the troops under his command, he insisted on going to see for himself. She had tried persuading him countless times, but it was no use. The whole matter was giving Yuxi a real headache.

Yun Qing laughed. ”Why does that tone sound so familiar?” It was exactly the same tone Yuxi used whenever she lectured Zaozao!

After exchanging a few teasing remarks, Yun Qing brought up the matter of the horse farm. ”Iʼve inspected the entire horse farm in Tong County. There arenʼt any problems.” He had personally gone into the stables to inspect them and returned only once he was sure everything was in order.

Yuxi continued scrubbing Yun Qingʼs back vigorously as she commented, ”I told you long ago that there wouldnʼt be any problems in Tong County, but you simply refused to believe me and insisted on going yourself.” When the horse farm in Tong County was being built, Yun Qing spent most of his time there, and he frequently went back afterwards to inspect it. Unless the people working at the horse farm had eaten an ambitious heart and a leopardʼs gall, none of them would dare neglect their duties.

Yun Qing said, ”I still have to see it for myself before I can feel at ease!” Nearly half the horses at the Tong County horse farm were fine horses that Yun Shan had obtained from beyond the frontier. Yun Qing intended to use all of these superior horses for breeding. Never mind losing more than a hundred of them; even losing a single horse would make his heart ache.