Chapter 294 : Yun Qing

Yun Qing went back to the backyard and spoke to Huo Changqing about it. “Uncle Huo, the Emperor has given me a marriage to the Fourth Miss of the Duke Han’s Residence.” E

The Song family would not want to watch Yun Qing rise to power, so it was no surprise to Huo Changqing that the Emperor would give Yun Qing a marriage. He asked, “When did this happen?” Hearing that it was half a month ago, Changqing frowned. “The marriage had been given half a month, and the news comes through now?”

Yun Qing said, “It was the Han family who had someone send a letter to Han Jianye post haste. This matter will probably spread all over Yu City tomorrow.”

Huo Changqing asked, “What do you think?”

Yun Qing had long honed his skills over the years, and after hearing Huo Changqing’s question, he said, “It should be that Duke Han was afraid that I would get engaged with the Zhao family, which is why he had the news sent over as soon as the Imperial Decree was issued.” He had joined with the Zhao family in marriage for an alliance. Once they were betrothed, it was impossible to withdraw from the union, even with the Imperial Decree granting him marriage. Otherwise, it would create enmity between him and the Zhao family. And right now, the two families were only discussing possible marriage, not settling it down yet. Since the news of the bestowed marriage had come through, betrothal between him and the Zhao family could not happen. The fact that Duke Han reacted so quickly showed that he was also a competent man.

Huo Changqing shook his head and said, “Han Jianming is a man with a lot of ambition but limited ability. For him to react so quickly, he should have found a good helper.” By saying Han Jianming had a good helper, he meant that Han Jianming had found a good aide. Huo Changqing had always wanted to acquire some suitable aides for Yun Qing, but unfortunately, it was challenging. He had managed to find one two years ago, only to be assassinated. After that, there were no more good aides.

Yun Qing was only ten years old when he left the capital. Thus, he did not know much about the people of the capital. When he heard Huo Changqing’s words, he said, “Han Jianming has gotten such a powerful aide, so he has some merits. Uncle Huo, the marriage with the Zhao family, must be withdrawn.”

Huo Changqing pondered for a moment and said, “If you can’t marry their di girl, you can still marry their shu girl as your second room.” Since the Imperial Decree had granted a marriage for Yun Qing, the Zhao family would absolutely not let their di daughter marry over. Even if they discussed the marriage much earlier, with the Imperial Decree in front of them, they would unquestionably have to abide by Han Shi first. Therefore, Yun Qing could not marry the Zhou family di daughter, but their shu daughter was still possible.

Yun Qing shook his head as he reasoned out, “Obeying the Imperial Decree to marry Han Yuxi as the first wife and then marry the Zhao family as the second wife. Although on the surface it’s the best of both worlds, it’s literally the most precarious method.” How could Han Yuxi be of one mind with him when she had to face a noble concubine before she could even enter the house? On the other hand, on the Zhao family’s side, the second wife was different from the principal wife, and the position significantly reduced the effect of the marriage. Marriage was just the fastest and most effective way to make an alliance. But alliances did not necessarily have to be made through marriage. They could still be made when there are interests at stake.

Huo Changqing looked at Yun Qing and asked, “But what did Han Jianye say to you?” There must be a reason for Yun Qing’s sudden change of attitude.

Yun Qing relayed what Han Jianye had told him and commented, “That poisonous woman is so ruthless. For that girl to escape from her twice would not be by luck alone.” The first time she escaped could be considered luck, but to evade twice was not as simple as luck.

Huo Changqing asked in a deep voice, “You mean this girl is hiding something?”

After a moment of silence, Yun Qing said, “I have met the Fourth Miss Han. She was only five years old at the time.” After saying that, he told what had happened when he had met Yuxi on several occasions, and then said, “Han Yuxi is the girl from the Second House, yet she was able to receive that kind of love from the Han brothers. In this world, no one will be good to other people for nothing.” Yun Qing was no longer the naturally bright and cheerful teenager eleven years ago. After all these years of trials and tribulations, he would think about many things more deeply. T

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Huo Changqing looked at Yun Qing and said, “Are you that optimistic about this Han Shi?”

Yun Qing was silent for a moment and said, “She should be better than Miss Zhao.” He had met Miss Zhao, and it wasn’t that Miss Zhao was bad. She was raised too delicately. When she saw him, her face turned white before he could say anything. Could a couple get along well after marriage, with her acting like that? But since this was the condition of alliance proposed by the Zhao family, and there was nothing wrong with Miss Zhao except that she was a bit timid, he did not refuse. The main reason was that he had no reason to refuse.

Huo Changqing sighed slightly and said, “I hope that this girl is bold and physically fit as you said.” He did not know that Yun Qing was not satisfied with Miss Zhao, but this was a reasonable and sensible condition for the Zhao family to offer an alliance, and they could not refuse. Otherwise, if the Zhao family were to side with Qin Zhao, the situation would become even more unfavourable for Yun Qing. It was naturally good to have a justifiable reason to refuse now. Moreover, Huo Changqing knew in his heart that Yun Qing still wanted to marry a girl from a noble family. It was not that Yun Qing despised a girl from the border town, but Master Yun wanted his grandson to marry a noble girl. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have decided on a girl from the Marquis Taining Residence for Yun Qing in the first place. Although the Imperial Decree giving the marriage was diabolical, it was an indirect way to satisfy Yun Qing’s request.

After talking to Huo Changqing, Yun Qing went to the Zhao family and spoke to them about the Emperor’s bestowing him a marriage. The Zhao family was a prestigious clan in Ganzhou, so how could they allow a girl from their clan to become a concubine. Even if the Zhao family agreed, General Zhao would not agree. So, naturally, the marriage alliance would be impossible.

The Zhao family was also forced to form an alliance with Yun Qing by the Xu family. The eldest daughter of the Xu family’s head was Qin Zhao’s wife, and since the death of Marshal Qin, the Xu family had used Qin Zhao to suppress the Zhao family. As for why they must join in marriage, the reason was also very simple. They found Yun Qing to be quite good looking. This time there was an accident, and they should not proceed with this valueless marriage. But the Zhao family still needed Yun Qing as an ally. It was just that they couldn’t make it through marriage. Then, the terms of the alliance would have to be renegotiated.

Once he resolved the Zhao family’s problems, Yun Qing went to find Han Jianye for a drink. Even though Han Jianye was like thick stems and broad leaves, he knew that Yun Qing had come to fish out information on Yuxi.

Han Jianye did not like to go round the curves and skirt the corners. While he drank, he told Yun Qing all the good things about Yuxi. She was smart and lovely, pretty and capable, gentle and considerate, and all the words Han Jianye could think of to praise her. He praised Yuxi as if she were a fairy descended from heaven. Finally, he put his arm around Yun Qing’s back and said, “Yun Qing ah, it’s your blessing to marry my family Xi-er!”

Yun Qing threw Han Jianye’s handoff from his back and asked Han Yi to help the drunken Han Jianye back. And as he, himself, went back, his complexion eased up quite a bit. As long as Han Yuxi was half as good as Han Jianye said she was, he would be content.

If Yuxi had known that Han Jianye had sold her clean in one drink, she would have facepalm herself. Unfortunately, Yuxi didn’t know anything about this.

Zijin came back from the mountain and said to Yuxi, “Miss, this is a letter from Master Yang to you.” As for what was written in the letter, Zijin did not know since she did not open it.

Yuxi smiled a little after reading the letter and handed it to Zijin, saying, “Read it yourself!” Master Yang promised that he and Yu Zhi could send her to the Northwest, but on one condition. The condition was that Yuxi would let Zijin become his last disciple.

After reading it, Zijin was annoyed. “I’ve told him that I won’t be his disciple.” It wouldn’t have mattered if it was just to become an apprentice with Master Yang. The key was that he wanted her to disassociate herself from Miss. Who did he think he was to make such a ridiculous offer?

If Master Yang had just said he would take Zijin as his last disciple, Yuxi would definitely release Zijin from her slave status. However, since he even asked her to send Zijin away and not have anything to do with her in the future, she would not be that stupid. How could she agree to such a condition? She had not spent so much effort and money to train a disciple for others. Yuxi spoke unconcernedly, “Since he doesn’t want to, then just forget about it.”

Zijin nodded and said, “Yes, I won’t go to them anymore.”

On Yuxi’s journey to the northwest, many things needed to be prepared. Likewise, the people to be brought there had to be selected. The northwestern border town had been at war for years, and it was rumoured that the place was all windy and sandy. They would have a mouthful of sand when they left the house, so nine out of ten people were unwilling to follow them to the northwest. In addition to Zijin and Zisu, Yuxi also picked four maids, one was Tian Ju, and the other three were personally trained by Momo Quan, all of whom were loyal.

Yuxi told Qiu Shi, “Mother, six maids are already enough. The only thing we need now is a cook.” The maids could be bought directly from the border town, but a cook was essential. It would be difficult to find a cook in the border city who could cook the capital cuisine. Moreover, the cook bought outside the city would not be safe for Yuxi to use. If Guo Daniang had not been a child born from another servant in the family but hired from outside, she would not have confessed but would have poisoned her. Therefore, they had to be careful in choosing a cook.

Qiu Shi patted Yuxi’s hand and said softly, “Don’t worry, Mother will find a proper cook for you.” At first, Qiu Shi’s heart was a little hard to bear with this situation, but the feeling soon passed after Yuxi soothed her. She initially found the Third Young Master Fu to have a good prospect for his merit in leading a troop and fighting in a battle. Besides, there was not much difference between Liaodong and the northwest. Of course, the main thing was that Yuxi was very open and did not cry about it. Instead, she was busy thinking about what to bring with her every day. Yuxi was only asking, but Qiu Shi was the one who carried out the work. Hence Qiu Shi was also busy with it. Where would there be time for Qiu Shi to continue to grieve?

Yuxi smilingly expressed her gratitude, “Thank you, Mother.”

Qiu Shi asked, “Is Momo Quan not following you to the northwest?”

Yuxi nodded and replied, “Momo Quan is too old to withstand the long journey, so she can’t go with me to the northwest.” Momo Quan’s family were all in the capital, so how could she possibly go with her to the northwest?

Qiu Shi said, “You can’t go to the northwest without an experienced stewardess by your side!” Zisu was good, but she was too young and lacked experience.

Yuxi smiled and shook her head, rejecting the notion. “No, but thank you, Mother. It will take more than three months to travel from here to the northwest! Those who are old can’t stand such a torment.” She had chosen only these four maids, not that the other maids were not loyal, but these four maids were the best physically.

Qiu Shi shook her head and uttered adamantly, “No, I still have to choose a stewardess for you.” It didn’t matter that there was no stewardess in Yuxi’s house before since she was there to look after her and the servants anyway. Now that Yuxi was going to the northwest, she didn’t even have an experienced stewardess to help her. Where could Qiu Shi feel rest assured?

Yuxi didn’t refuse. “If Mother wants to find one, Mother must find one that suits me. If not, I’d rather not have one!” It would save her from having one more person whining in her ear.

Qiu Shi promised, “I will find you one that suits you.” There were so many servants in the house. She didn’t believe that she couldn’t find someone that suited Yuxi’s heart.