Chapter 377 : Beauty (1)

After listening to Xu Wu’s explanation, Yuxi was baffled and asked, “How do you know Mr Chen’s details so well?” Southern Fujian was thousands of miles away from Yu City. It would take a lot of effort to find the particulars so clearly. There was something strange about this.

Xu Wu was a little depressed. “The General and Yifu wanted to recruit Mr Chen, but he refused.”

Yuxi’s expression was odd. “Did I hear it correctly? You mean, my husband and Uncle Huo tried to recruit Mr Chen, but Mr Chen refused?”

Xu Wu nodded. “That’s right!”

Yuxi frowned. Could it be that she misunderstood? Did Mr Chen not come to join them at all? But if he didn’t want to join them, what did this letter mean then? As Yuxi thought of this, she asked, “Did you just say that Mr Chen is from southern Fujian?”

Xu Wu nodded. “Yes, he was a native of Zhangzhou from southern Fujian.”

Hearing this, Yuxi smiled. “You should withdraw first.” Her Waigong was the Commander-in-chief of southern Fujian, who had been stationed there for almost twenty years, and now was the local Emperor there. It would not be difficult for her to clear Mr Chen of the charges. However, getting her to open her mouth and plead with her Waigong and Jiujiu would depend on whether Mr Chen was worth it.

After seeing Hao Dazhuang off, Mr Chen turned around and looked at the things on the table, lost in thought. He was wondering what Yuxi meant by this.

Wan Shi didn’t know how to talk in a roundabout way as she said, “Husband, you have taken the initiative to write her a letter, so how come this Madam Yun didn’t even say a word back?” At first, General Yun personally came to the door and begged his husband to be his assistant, but he didn’t even agree at that time. Now that her husband had done it on his own accord to go and seek refugee with them, it became irritating that they had treated his efforts with indifference.

Mr Chen replied, “Since Madam Yun did not immediately reply to me, she must still be considering it.”

Hearing this, Wan Shi questioned, “Husband, considering what? We have been so proactive. What else does she have to consider? I think she wants to put on airs because she saw you begging to be on their side. If that’s the case, we don’t have to insist on working with her.” As the old saying went, rushing the customers wouldn’t lead to a successful business.

Mr Chen said to Wan Shi at once, “The more Madam Yun has this attitude, the more it proves that she is acting cautiously, which is a good thing.”

Wan Shi felt that her husband was being humiliated. “What good thing? At that time, they even came to request your service. Now that you have agreed, they want to assume airs? It is clear that they are deliberately making things difficult for you.” The fact was that Wan Shi had no good feelings about Yuxi. Her husband originally could teach in the school. He could earn a salary of one to two silver a month. In addition, he wouldn’t have to worry about his three meals for a day. However, with just one word from Yuxi, he no longer had this job.

Mr Chen shook his head. “General Yun should not have told Madam Yun about his desire to recruit me as his aide, or else she would have given me a precise answer this time.” After a pause, he added, “Madam Yun’s waizufu is Qiu Daren, the Commander of southern Fujian.” The Qiu family in southern Fujian could make a household tremble when they stamped their foot.

Wan Shi was not a fool. When she listened to this statement, she immediately heard the meaning beyond the words. She asked excitedly, “Husband, do you mean that Madam Yun can overturn your case?”

Mr Chen nodded. “Yes. But only if I’m worth it.” From the time he was asked to leave the school, he knew that Yuxi was a person who valued his reputation. She would help him clear his stained name if she wanted to use him.

Wan Shi said at once, “Husband, then you must perform well.” If her husband could be cleared of the crime, then their son would be able to obtain a scholarly title in the future, and he would not have to be inferior all his life. While their daughter would be able to marry into a good family. This way, there was still hope for their family’s future.

Mr Chen nodded. “Don’t worry. I’ve been preparing for so many years, waiting for this kind of day!” How much suffering he had carried on his back over the years, he would return them all to those people responsible in the future.

Yun Qing did not come out of the Qin residence until it was almost dark, and together with him, there was Fu Tianlei. Fu Tianlei spoke with a smile, “You got such a gorgeous-looking woman today. I wonder if your wife will let you kneel and rub the washboard when you go back?” He had peeked at the woman a few times, and she was really beautiful, much prettier than his wife.

Yun Qing swept a glance at Fu Tianlei. “This is not something for you to worry about. Are you feeling regretful that you weren’t given a beauty?”

Fu Tianlei put his hand on his chest. “It is still my brother who understands me! You said there were three beauties, but they were only rewarded to you and Old Zhao. How come I did not have a share?” The Old Zhao that Fu Tianlei was talking about was Zhao Zhuo, the eldest son of General Zhao, who was also a brave and battle-wise, valiant general.

Yun Qing looked at the carriage where the beauty was sitting and said, “If you like her, And can give her to you.” If Fu Tianlei were willing to accept that woman, he would save him from a lot of trouble!

When Fu Tianlei heard this, he hurriedly said, “Don’t, don’t, don’t, don’t ever. If you give her to me, it will cost a human life.” If it was the Crown Prince who rewarded that woman to him, he had no other choice but to accept. But, if he had taken his own initiative asking to be gifted, then the meaning would be different. By then, his wife would make trouble with him daily, and his sister would do the same. He still wanted to live a few days of peace and quiet at home, okay?

Yun Qing swept Fu Tianlei a look with his eyes full of contempt.

Fu Tianlei felt hurt when he was being looked at with contempt by Yun Qing and uttered, “I’m not going to talk with you any longer. My father is probably still waiting for me to return home to discuss some matters with me!” After saying that, he immediately rode away on his horse.

Returning to the Yun residence, Yun Qing led the other person into the inner courtyard. At this time, Yuxi was reading a book in the study, and when she heard that Yun Qing had returned, she put down her book and came out.

As soon as Yuxi arrived at the parlour, she saw an additional woman in the room. While Zijin, standing aside, had an expression as dark as the bottom of a pot.

Yun Qing didn’t seem to notice Zijin’s annoyed look. He looked at Yuxi, who had just come out and chided, “Didn’t I advise you not to read books at night? Why are you still reading your book? You are not even afraid of hurting your eyes.”

However, Yuxi did not answer Yun Qing’s words but only smiled and asked, “He Rui, where did you find such a gorgeous-looking beauty?”

Yuxi saw the woman wearing a short pink jacket with a pearl white crepe skirt. She had a fair and clear jade-like oval face, and a few dimples slightly appeared on her cheeks. Her cluster of black curved long eyebrows didn’t seem like they had been drawn, and her pair of expectant, attractive eyes, with distinctive black and white, were swirling with intoxicating charm.

Short Jacket And Crepe Skirt

Image Credit | short jacket (to the rightful owner) and the crepe skirt (雙縐中長半身裙) via Prada

Yun Qing did not have any expressions on his face as he answered, “This was rewarded to me by His Highness the Crown Prince. Let’s just have someone put a place for her to live.”

After hearing Yun Qing’s introduction, the woman stepped forward and greeted Yuxi. “Yan Shi, Yiyi, greets Jiejie.” When Yuxi came out just now, she also looked at her. She initially thought that Han Shi’s look must not be as good as before her pregnancy, but she did not expect that this woman had not changed much in appearance except for her bulging belly.

When Zijin heard this greeting, a murderous aura came out of her eyes.

Yuxi did not respond to Yan Yiyi’s greeting but said to Mama Qu, “We don’t have enough room at home. Let’s put her in the side room first!” The side rooms were where the maids and old women servants currently lived.

Yan Yiyi didn’t expect Han Shi to be so fierce. Tears rolled down her face, and she called out to Yun Qing, “General, you have to do something for Yiyi!” That unspeakably lovable look would be overwhelming for ordinary men.

Unfortunately, Yun Qing was not an ordinary person. The beauty scheme wouldn’t work on him. Looking at the woman’s expression, Yun Qing said with a disgusted face, “Take her away.”

When Yan Yiyi heard this, she was so dumbfounded that she forgot to cry. Mama Qu walked over and dragged her out.

Yuxi didn’t feel at ease and did not want to pretend to be virtuous either. “General, how can you bear to let such a beauty live with the maids and the old women servants?” Of course, since this beauty was a reward from the Crown Prince, she certainly could not live with the servants and must be placed in her own separate room.

Even when Yun Qing looked at Yuxi acting like this, he did not get angry as he explained, “In the end, she was bestowed by the Crown Prince. It’s not easy for me to say no. You can temporarily make good arrangements for her. After a while, you will find a good family for her to marry into.”

It wasn’t easy for Yuxi to compromise. She coldly snorted. “You want me to continue to stare straight at such a great beauty? And are you even willing to let me marry her off?”

Yun Qing found Yuxi’s furious appearance to be very amusing. “If I were unwilling, I wouldn’t have let you marry her off.”

Hearing this statement, the rim of Yuxi’s eyes got red. “I knew you couldn’t bear to let her go. Since I became pregnant, I don’t look good anymore, so you dislike me now. I knew it; I knew you disliked me.” Yuxi deliberately pretended to be angry at the beginning, but after saying that, she somehow felt sad, causing her tears to fall. When Yan Yiyi was in tears, it was like raindrops on a pear blossom. Meanwhile, Yuxi would look unsightly when she cried.

Zijin stared at Yuxi in amazement. Madam was really too impressive. She could even cry whenever she wanted to. How could Zijin not admire this skill? But Zijin was not a foolish one. Seeing the situation, she immediately ducked out of the way.

Yun Qing took the handkerchief in Yuxi’s hand and wiped her tears. “Don’t overthink it. If you think that woman will be an eyesore in residence, you can just find a mansion outside and let her go live there.” Yun Qing was not good at coaxing other people.

Yuxi stared at Yun Qing and said, “What are you talking about? If I send her out, I don’t know what people will say about me. You, too, will have to carry a reputation of being a henpecked husband.” She did not want to be renowned as a shrewish woman.

Yun Qing was a bit depressed. “Then what do you say?” That woman couldn’t be put in the mansion or be sent out. This matter could put a person between a rock and a hard place (Chinese idiom: in a dilemma; in an awkward predicament).

Yuxi smiled through her tears as she replied, “I’ll treat it like a cold salad.”

Yun Qing couldn’t figure out what was wrong with Yuxi. Maybe it was true what Fu Tianlei said. When a pregnant woman said one thing, it could mean another. Even her face, just like the sky in the sixth lunar month, could change at the drop of a hat.

This moodiness came and went swiftly. Soon, Yuxi calmed down and asked, “Have you eaten enough at the Qin residence? If not, eat some more! The food is also ready and is currently being heated on the stove.”

Yun Qing nodded. “Just serve them up. I have to go to the military camp after I finish eating.” He didn’t drink much wine because he had business to attend to.