The Rebirth of Han Yuxi

Chapter 0668 Warmth (2)

The sun gradually sank beyond the horizon. At the edge of the sky, fiery clouds filled the entire western sky. They glowed with a dazzling red light, resembling a blazing fireball partially obscured by the clouds. Bathed in the sunset glow, the houses and trees seemed as though draped in a crimson robe.

Yuxi cradled a book while leaning against the chair. After finishing a page, she turned it gently, as though afraid of waking the person sleeping soundly on the bed.

Xu Wu walked into the courtyard and found the main residence quieter than ever before. Even the maids tiptoed about, making not the slightest noise. As for the noisy little Zaozao, she had already been taken to her own room in the second courtyard, which was just right.

Mama Qu spoke in a voice like a mosquitoʼs buzz: ”Guard Xu, what brings you here?”

After the battle, matters piled up one after another, yet none were as urgent as if oneʼs eyebrows were on fire. Lowering his voice, Xu Wu asked, ”Has the General woken yet?” When Mama Qu shook her head, Xu Wu said anxiously, ”Heʼs been asleep for a whole day and night — why hasnʼt he woken up yet?” Back in the days of campaigning, their General would go several days without closing his eyes, but he had never slept this long before.

Mama Qu smiled. ”Guard Xu, donʼt worry. Madam is still inside. If the Generalʼs health were amiss, would Madam not know?”

As soon as Mama Qu spoke, Xu Wu realised he had been impolite; Madam was indeed a careful person. So he added, ”If the General wakes up, please have someone inform me.”

Mama Qu nodded. ”All right.”

Back in the front courtyard, Xu Wu told Huo Changqing, ”Yifu, the General still hasnʼt woken. I suppose heʼs worn himself out during this period, and is now catching up on his rest.”

Huo Changqing shook his head. ”With all these matters piling up, he dares to throw them aside and sleep like a log. Call Gao Song here; I have questions for him.” While Yun Qing slept soundly, Huo Changqing was busy to death. Yet he also knew that Yun Qing had not had it easy — he had probably not enjoyed a restful nightʼs sleep for months. Now that the Northern Barbarians had retreated, his heart had finally relaxed, allowing him to sleep so soundly.

Gao Song hid nothing from Huo Changqing. He answered all of Huo Changqingʼs questions. ”At present, General Feng is stationed in Haocheng, while General Yuan has temporarily taken charge of civil affairs.”

Huo Changqing nodded and asked, ”How many financial resources do we have now?” Hearing the amount that Gao Song reported, Huo Changqing nodded in satisfaction — that wealth would last for years.

Gao Song then brought up another matter: ”Old Master, Madamʼs eldest brother, Duke Han, arrived in Haocheng. The Emperor has sent him to negotiate a surrender. I donʼt know what he and the General discussed, but when the General returned to Yu City, Duke Han left Haocheng and travelled to Henan.” As the Emperor had sent Han Jianming to urge the General to surrender, it was only natural that those around Yun Qing disliked him. However, as he made no secret moves, sent no spies and only stayed quietly in the compound to recover from his injuries, they could not dislike him much.

Huo Changqing had a favourable impression of Han Jianming. Although he was not especially capable, he had a clear mind and could distinguish right from wrong. This was in stark contrast to Han Jianye, whose mind was terribly muddled.

Gao Song hesitated momentarily, then said to Huo Changqing, ”Old Master, quite a few colleagues have been saying these past two days that all of us who followed the General have struck it rich. If just one person were joking, that would be nothing. But when I heard it repeated, I began to grow suspicious.”

After a victory in battle, there would naturally be spoils to divide—only a matter of how much each person would get. This has already become an unwritten rule in the army, and every soldier knows it. There was no need to come and ask about it deliberately.

Seeing Huo Changqing stay silent, Xu Wu laughed and teased, ”Whatʼs the matter? Donʼt tell me you still havenʼt saved up enough for a marriage fund this time?” Anyone who went campaigning with Yun Qing managed to save a tidy sum as long as they survived.

Gao Song quickly responded, ”Itʼs enough to marry a wife and set up a household, but itʼs not enough to make a fortune.” He also wanted to marry a respectable girl from a good family, not a servant maid; otherwise, he would already be married.

Xu Wu laughed from the side. ”Youʼve already saved enough for a marriage, and yet you still want more before you call it ‘striking it richʼ?” There were so many bachelors in Yu City who were still without wives.

Gao Song scratched his head and gave a silly, sheepish grin.

After Gao Song left, Xu Wuʼs smile disappeared. He turned to Huo Changqing and said, ”Yifu, I already asked Cui Mo. He said that Xiang Weiguoʼs share hasnʼt yet been delivered to Yu City.” Even commanders who stayed behind in Yu City, such as Fu Tianlei and Xiang Weiguo, could receive a share of the spoils.

Huo Changqing knew what Xu Wu was about to say and waved his hand. ”Leave this matter to Yun Qing!” It wasnʼt that he couldnʼt take care of it; he just didnʼt want to step over the sacrificial platter and take the cookʼs place.

Yun Qing woke up from hunger. As he rose, he saw Yuxi sitting by the table reading. The candlelight illuminated her face, making her look both pure and beautiful.

Yuxi was so engrossed in her book that she didnʼt even notice Yun Qing walk up beside her. It was only when he placed his hand on the book that she became aware of him.

Yuxi smiled and asked, ”Awake? Hungry? Iʼll ask Mama Bai to bring you something to eat.” She knew from experience that food was the first thing one wanted after sleeping for so long.

Yun Qing nodded slightly. ”What time is it now?” When he heard that it was late xushi, he was surprised. ”So, Iʼve slept for a whole day and night?”

Yuxi put down the heavy ʼComprehensive Mirror to Aid in Government🔗ʼ, which she had been reading. Standing up, she said, ”Go and wash up first—once youʼve freshened up, you can have supper.”

Since Yun Qing hadnʼt eaten for a full day and night, Mama Bai had only prepared easily digestible food. Noodles were the staple instead of rice.

Yuxi thought Yun Qing would go out to deal with things after eating, but when she saw that he wasnʼt moving, she couldnʼt help asking, ”Youʼre not going out?”

Yun Qing nodded. ”However urgent it is, it can wait one more night.” With that, he took up a blade and began shaving his beard. At that, Yuxi could hardly fail to understand his intention and burst into laughter.

Zaozao hadnʼt gone to sleep yet. When she was carried in, she saw the freshly shaven Yun Qing and happily reached out to him, calling, ”Dad, dad...”

Yuxi hadnʼt expected her casual remark actually to come true.

When Yun Qing heard the word ʼDadʼ, his heart blossomed joyfully. ”My Zaozao has such a good memory!” After four months apart, she still remembered her father! At that moment, he had conveniently forgotten that she had previously called him a ʼbad manʼ.

Meanwhile, Yuxi took Liu-er from Mama Lanʼs arms and said, ”You may all withdraw. If I need anything, Iʼll call you.” Since it wasnʼt easy for the whole family to be together, they naturally needed time to talk properly.

After marvelling at her father for a while, Zaozao soon pointed at Liu-er in Yuxiʼs arms. ”Dad, Meimei, Meimei.” She was reminding him not to forget about her younger sister.

Yun Qingʼs smile grew even brighter. ”Mm, Dad hasnʼt forgotten about your Meimei either!” After saying that, he reached out and scooped Liu-er into his other arm.

Yuxi had struggled just to hold Zaozao, so carrying two was impossible. But Yun Qing, being so strong, could easily take one child in each arm.

Looking at Liu-er, Yun Qing smiled and told Yuxi, ”Liu-er looks like my mother.” Yuxi had written in her letters that Liu-er was pretty, but seeing her in person made it feel more real.

Puzzled, Yuxi replied, ”But Uncle Huo said she doesnʼt look like her at all!” Huo Changqing had said Liu-erʼs features didnʼt resemble anyone in the Yun family.

Yun Qing explained, ”Her face shape is like my motherʼs—my mother had a sharp, pointed melon-seed face. Unfortunately, none of us three brothers took after her. She longed for a daughter, one who would resemble her. If she were alive now, she would surely be delighted with Zaozao and Liu-er.” At this thought, Yun Qingʼs mood dimmed; he was the last remaining member of the Yun family.

Yuxi quickly changed the subject. ”Liu-er hasnʼt been sick these past few months, and sheʼs been eating more than before. Once sheʼs a bit older, we should nurse her properly to strengthen her body.”

Shaking off that trace of melancholy, Yun Qing said, ”That Taisuì is most strengthening—we could give some to Liu-er.” Zaozao was already healthy, so she didnʼt need any extra tonics.

Yuxi shook her head. ”Liu-er is too young. She shouldnʼt eat such strong tonics. At the very least, we should wait until after her first birthday.”

Since they had already skipped Liuʼerʼs third-day bath and her full month, and now things were too busy to celebrate her hundredth day🔗 either, Yun Qing suggested, ”Letʼs hold a big celebration for her first birthday instead.”

Yuxi used to think the same way, but her thoughts had changed. She said, ”There are so many places where money is needed—it would be wasteful. As long as we love her, whether or not we throw a first birthday banquet doesnʼt really matter. Those banquets are really just for outsiders to see.”

By now, it was pretty late, and Zaozao usually slept at this hour. Sure enough, she had already started nodding off.

After putting the two children to bed, Yun Qing finally asked Yuxi, ”Who bullied you some time ago?” He had meant to ask her yesterday, but was too tired and forgot.

After thinking for a moment, Yuxi briefly explained what had happened. ”Momo said I was weighed down by excessive worry, which made my emotions get out of control. Fortunately, my symptoms were mild, and we caught it early, so it didnʼt cause any real harm.”

Upon hearing this, Yun Qing couldnʼt help but recall his own past illness, prompting him to ask, ”What if it hadnʼt been discovered in time?”

Yuxi answered, ”When worry festers into illness, at its mildest, it can alter your temperament, making you irritable and quick to anger. At its most severe, it can lead to suicidal thoughts and endanger your life.” When Momo Quan had told her that, she was terrified. At that time, her emotions had truly spiralled out of control. She was so restless and agitated that she even quarrelled with Huo Changqing.

Yun Qing was startled. ”How could it be so serious?” Didnʼt that mean Yuxi had almost been in mortal danger, given that mental illness could be this life-threatening?

On hearing this, Yun Qing quickly asked, ”Why didnʼt you tell me something so serious? If anything had happened to you, if youʼd had some mishap or fatal accident, what would I have done with the children?”

Yuxi now also felt some lingering fear as she replied, ”At that time, I was in poor health, Liu-er was frail too, and you were away at war, causing me constant worry. All these things piled up, so I lost control of my emotions. When Uncle Huo mentioned that Zaozao might have to live with him in the future, it immediately detonated all the negative feelings inside me.” As for her suspicions that Yun Qing might one day take a concubine, Yuxi didnʼt say a single word about it. She knew that if such doubts reached his ears, it would only damage their marital bond.

Yun Qing stroked Yuxiʼs face. ”This was my fault. If I had been by your side, you wouldnʼt have been under such crushing pressure.”

Yuxi nestled into Yun Qingʼs arms and responded, ”Itʼs all behind us now.” The hardest days were over, and things could only get better for their family from now on.

Yun Qing kissed Yuxi on the forehead and said gently, ”Mm, itʼs all in the past. From now on, I will never let you or the children suffer again.”

Yuxi seized the opportunity to wrap her arms around Yun Qing in return. Yun Qing was bare-chested at that moment, while Yuxi was wearing only her thin undergarments. When they were pressed so close together, Yun Qing immediately felt his mouth go dry. However, thinking of Yuxiʼs fragile health, he suppressed his restlessness and asked, ”Can your body handle it?”

Yuxi buried her head in Yun Qingʼs chest and gave a faint hum, as soft as a mosquitoʼs buzz.

He had been ʼeating vegetarianʼ for over half a year; now that Yuxi had given her consent, how could he possibly hold back? Yet, remembering her frailty, he dared not be as rough as before. Instead, he was careful and gentle, allowing Yuxi to experience a different kind of tenderness.