The Rebirth of Han Yuxi

Chapter 0747 Intoxicated

That evening, Yuxi returned to the rear courtyard, where she heard Gancao say that Momo Quan was sorting through some medicinal herbs.

Yuxi walked over to the pharmacy room, looked at the busy Momo Quan and asked, ” Momo, have you ever considered taking in a disciple?”

Momo Quan glanced at Yuxi and asked her back, ”Arenʼt you already my disciple?” She had never planned on accepting any more disciples. Yuxi was her first and last disciple.

Yuxi replied somewhat embarrassedly, ”Iʼm not a qualified disciple.” Back then, when she studied pharmacology with Momo Quan, it was really just to acquire another skill. At the time, she had thought that if she were ever reduced to having nothing again, at least she would have a means to make a living. In hindsight, her intentions were never pure, which is why she only learned it half-heartedly and never truly mastered it.

Momo Quan did not spare Yuxiʼs feelings as she responded, ”You truly are unqualified. But when I taught you back then, I never expected you to inherit my robe and bowl anyway.” Yuxi was a young lady of the Dukeʼs household and could never do servant work in the future. The reason Momo Quan had been willing to teach her was that she could see that Yuxi was sincere in her desire to learn.

Yuxi smiled and suggested, ”Then, Momo, you should choose someone who can inherit your legacy! It would be such a pity if you did not pass down all your skills.”

Momo Quan answered, ”Itʼs very hard to find someone satisfactory!” Studying pharmacology required not only talent, but also patience and perseverance. Someone like that was one in ten thousand.

Yuxi said, ”After the New Year, several children will be entering the residence. At that time, Momo can see if any of them meet Momoʼs requirements.” Huo Changqing had promised a long time ago to send several people for Yuxiʼs use, but Yun Qing later stopped it. His reason for refusing was very simple: he believed that the children should undergo more training first, so they would be easier and safer to use later.

Momo Quan asked, ”How many people are being selected to come in?” Speaking of it, the manpower in the wangfu rear household was seriously insufficient. She had mentioned this issue to Yuxi several times already, but Yuxi always said that it was better to have fewer people than to accept inferior ones. Fortunately, Yuxi was the only mistress in the household, so although there were fewer people, there was not much work to be done. Otherwise, there simply would not have been enough staff.

Yuxi replied, ”Six. Iʼll keep four by my side, and place one each with Zaozao and Liu-er. Next year, another group of people will also enter.” When Huo Changqing came to Hao City, he had selected over twenty more children from Qingming Academy. These children all came from very clear backgrounds, so there was no risk of spies infiltrating them.

Back at the Dukeʼs residence, each young lady had more than ten maidservants attending to her needs. When the older female servants responsible for cleaning were also added in, there were over twenty people in each courtyard. However, only one-third of this number was actually needed. Any more than that would be wasteful.

After a momentʼs thought, Momo Quan asked, ”How old are these children?” Upon hearing that the youngest was ten years old, she added, ”Select some five- or six-year-old children as well.”

Yuxi felt that five- or six-year-old children were too young. ”Theyʼre still so little that they themselves need others to take care of them. How could they possibly take care of Zaozao?”

Momo Quan glared at Yuxi and pointed out, ”If you bring them in now and teach them the rules for two years, wonʼt they be seven or eight years old by then? Not only can their loyalty to the wangfu be cultivated during that time, but they can also become playmates for Zaozao.” This was essentially her intention: to find companions for Zaozao.

Yuxi smiled. ” Momo really thinks things through thoroughly. After the New Year, Iʼll have people handle this matter.” Since they were to be Zaozaoʼs playmates, they had to be carefully and seriously selected.

Momo Quan stated unhappily, ”You should also pay more attention to your two children. If you carry on like this, be careful they donʼt end up resenting you when they grow up.” Once Zaozao turned three, she would start martial arts training. In the future, even if Yuxi wanted to spend time with the child, she would no longer have the opportunity. After the New Year, she really needed to spend more time accompanying the children.

Yuxi assured her, ”Once this busy period is over, Iʼll make sure I spend proper time with them.”

On Lunar New Yearʼs Eve, Yun Qing held a banquet at noon in the outer courtyard for military generals of the fourth rank and above who were stationed in Haocheng. This meal had been arranged by Yuxi, mainly so that Yun Qing could strengthen his relationships with his subordinates.

The New Yearʼs Eve dinner was eaten together as a family. Besides Yun Qing and Yuxi, there were also Huo Changqing, Master Yang, Xu Wu, Yu Zhi, and others, filling an entire large table. As for Zijin, she was still lying in bed nurturing her pregnancy.

Huo Changqing raised his wine cup and said to Yuxi, ”Zaozaoʼs mother, the Northwest has completely transformed in just one year, and your contribution has been the greatest. This cup is my toast to you.” The changes within the military were all initiated by Yun Qing, but the regionʼs prosperity was entirely due to Yuxiʼs efforts. Huo Changqing had witnessed all of Yuxiʼs hard work over the past year. Having said that, he downed the wine in his cup in one gulp.

Yuxi stood up, holding the fruit wine in her hand and protested, ”Uncle Huo praises me too much! The great changes in the Northwest were achieved through everyoneʼs efforts. What Iʼve done is nothing much.” After speaking, she drank a third of the fruit wine.

Master Yang interjected, ”Han Girl, youʼre being far too modest. Without you, how could the people of the Northwest enjoy the good life they have now? Come, Iʼll toast you too.”

Yuxi stood up and returned the compliment. ”Uncle Yang, I should be the one toasting you. The medicines you made have helped countless soldiers.” After speaking, she drank another third of her wine.

Xu Wu also stood up and said to Yuxi, ”Wangfei, if it werenʼt for you, the soldiers would not have the lives they have today. The same goes for those orphaned children. Thanks to you, Wangfei, they are able to eat their fill, dress warmly, and receive an education. Wangfei, I toast you.” After speaking, he drained his cup in one gulp.

Yuxi did the same with her wine, then poured herself another half a cup and said to everyone, ”If it werenʼt for Wangye, I wouldnʼt have been able to accomplish so much. The greatest contributor to the Northwest becoming what it is today is not me, but Wangye. Wangye, I toast you.” Without Yun Qingʼs support, she would merely have been a woman confined within the inner household. How could she possibly have helped the people of the Northwest?

Everyone agreed with Yuxi. Without Yun Qingʼs tolerance and support, Yuxi would never have been able to take charge of governing affairs. Therefore, everyone raised their cups in a toast to Yun Qing.

Feeling happy, Yuxi didnʼt restrain herself and simply acted as she pleased for once. Before she knew it, she had drunk three cups of fruit wine and was feeling slightly dizzy.

After the New Yearʼs Eve dinner, Yun Qing carried Yuxi back to their bedroom.

Looking at Yuxiʼs face, which was red like a monkeyʼs backside, Momo Quan shook her head. ”Honestly, did she actually get herself this drunk on New Yearʼs Eve? Gancao, hurry and bring over a cup of sobering tea.”

Yun Qing explained from the side, ”Yuxi was simply too happy, so she drank a couple more cups.” It was also because Yuxiʼs alcohol tolerance was too poor. Yun Qing could drink two jin of baijiu📹 without any problem at all.

Gancao brought over the sobering tea. Momo Quan was about to take it and feed it to Yuxi, but Yun Qing stopped her. Smiling, Yun Qing said, ”Let me do it!”

Momo Quan did not argue with Yun Qing, only saying with a smile, ”This sobering tea was originally prepared for Wangye, but now itʼs Wangfei who ended up using it.”

Yun Qing helped Yuxi sit up and fed her a sip of tea. ”Itʼs rare for Yuxi to be this happy. Drinking a couple more cups wonʼt do her any harm.” It was the first time he had ever seen Yuxi so happy; the joy she felt at that moment was indescribable.

Yuxi responded softly, muttering, ”Iʼm happy, Herui, Iʼm very happy...” There was nothing more joyful than seeing her efforts rewarded.

Looking at Yuxiʼs sweet, innocent drunk appearance, Momo Quan decided to leave. She told Yun Qing, ”After youʼve fed her the sobering tea, you should drink some too. After drinking it, you wonʼt have a headache tomorrow.” This was Momo Quanʼs exclusive recipe.

Yuxi behaved very well when drunk. She neither shouted nor dragged people into endless chatter after getting intoxicated. After finishing the sobering tea, she lay down on the bed and fell asleep.

Some time later, Momo Quan heard a series of heavy footsteps leaving the courtyard. She put the sleeping Liuʼer on the small bed and went to the bedroom.

Looking at Yuxiʼs clothes, Momo Quan asked, ”Did Wangye change Wangfeiʼs clothes?” Yuxi hadnʼt been wearing this outfit when she had just left earlier.

Gancao nodded. ”Yes! Wangye wiped Wangfeiʼs face and body, changed her clothes, and only then went out.” As she said this, Gancaoʼs little face turned red.

Momo Quan nodded in satisfaction. ” Wangfei has never drunk this much before. Sheʼll definitely feel unwell when she wakes up. Take good care of her.” Although Yun Qing had always treated Yuxi well, he had never been so attentive before. It seemed that Wangfei had indeed taken her advice.

Gancao nodded and said, ”All right.”

When Yu Zhi returned to the room, Zijin pushed him away as soon as he got close to her. Covering her chest, she said, ”Donʼt come near me. I feel awful.”

Confused, Yu Zhi asked, ”How could you feel uncomfortable?” Zijinʼs alcohol tolerance was even better than his. Back when they were in the army, the two of them would often drink alcohol to keep warm.

Seeing the situation, Mama Lan, who had been temporarily assigned to take care of Zijin, said, ”A pregnant woman canʼt stand the smell of alcohol. Quickly take a bath and change your clothes.” The two of them were both unreliable.

Upon hearing that it was because of the child, Yu Zhi hurried out to bathe. He even ate two pears to get rid of the smell of alcohol in his mouth.

Seeing that Zijin was no longer resisting Yu Zhiʼs approach, Mama Lan told them, ”If anything happens, just call for me!” By this time, Mama Lan had moved into the side room. Yuxi intended to let her return only once Zijinʼs pregnancy had stabilised.

Stroking her stomach, Zijin complained to Yu Zhi, ”This child really came at the wrong time. After the New Year, I wonʼt be able to go to Linzhou City.” She still wanted to go there and kill more enemies!

Yu Zhi hurriedly said, ”I think this child has arrived at exactly the right time!” Seeing Zijin glare at him, he explained, ”Didnʼt Wangfei say before that the Northwest needed to recuperate and rebuild over the next two years, and that there couldnʼt be any wars? By the time the child is one year old, youʼll be able to return to the battlefield and kill enemies.”

Zijin retorted gloomily, ”Then what about the child? Who will raise it?”

Without thinking twice, Yu Zhi replied, ”Let Master raise it. Heʼs pretty lonely living by himself anyway, so letting him raise the child will make his life more enjoyable.” Seeing Zijin hesitate, Yu Zhi continued, ”Look, doesnʼt Uncle Huo already like Zaozao very much? Iʼm sure Master will be willing to help us raise the child.” Elderly people all liked children anyway.

Zijin shook her head. ”Master has to make medicine, so how would he have time to help us raise a child?” Master Yang spent most of his time inside the room preparing medicine. If the child were handed over to him, Zijin truly would not feel at ease.

However, Yu Zhi felt that Zijin was overthinking things. ”Whatʼs there to worry about? Look, doesnʼt Wangfei also leave Zaozao and Liu-er in the care of her momo and Mama Lan instead of raising them herself? When the time comes, weʼll just find a good mama for the child.” It was impossible for Zijin to give up her dreams because of a child. Nevertheless, Yu Zhi would also not feel at ease letting Zijin go to the military camp alone either. Therefore, the best solution was for the child to stay with Master, while the two of them came back often to visit.

After a momentʼs thought, Zijin said to Yu Zhi, ”Yu Zhi, after this child is born, letʼs not have any more children, all right?” Regardless of whether this child was a boy or a girl, Zijin did not want to give birth again.

Without thinking twice, Yu Zhi replied, ”Having just one child is not enough. Think about it. What if something happens after the child grows up, and thereʼs no one to help him? How miserable would that be?” According to Yu Zhiʼs thinking, they should have at least three children.

Zijin thought for a moment before changing her mind. ”Then weʼll have two children. We absolutely canʼt have any more than that—just two.” She was only willing to compromise because she knew Yu Zhi liked children. Otherwise, she would have stopped at just one.

Yu Zhi nodded in agreement. ”Alright, then. Weʼll have only two.”