Chapter 48 : Tragedy (1)

Yuxi went to greet the Old Madam first, then went to the main courtyard to greet Qiu Shi. Upon entering the main courtyard, she smelled an unusual smell.

Qiu Shi’s face was very ugly, and she did not even relax when she saw Yuxi. She only said, “Yuxi, aunt is currently busy right now. Please go back to your yard first.”

After paying her respects, Yuxi withdrew and went out of the main courtyard. When she arrived at Rose Courtyard, she immediately ordered Hongshan, “Go and find out what happened.” She didn’t know what kind of drama Concubine Rong did this time and no one could blamed her for having this thought. Aside from the state residence, only Concubine Rong could make Qiu Shi this agitated.

Since her heart could not calm down, Yuxi was unable to do any embroidery works. Furthermore, she was also at lose while mulling over her kifu (record of a game of go or shogi). So, she thought she might as well grind her ink and started to practice writing characters on the wall. She had been doing this for four months, and she still felt the extreme soreness on her shoulder every time she had done writing.

By the time she wrote the forty-fifth character, Hongshan finally came back.

Yuxi hastily asked, “What happened?” By looking at her Eldest Aunt, she knew it ought to be something major. She knew that she should not do anything, but she merely wanted to know the tendency inside the residence. By knowing the score (Chinese idiom : to be well aware of the situation), she won’t be deaf or even blind.

Hongshan shook her head and said, “It wasn’t the matter of the residence, but matter from the outside. Donghu barbarians had managed to breach the border town Liandong. While, both Marshal Yan and General Huaidong died in battle. The barbarians broke through Tong (bronze) City, burning, killing and robbing the common people. It is still unknown on how many people have been killed. Miss, since the border has been broken, do you think the capital will be in danger?”

Yuxi asked with a puzzling feeling, “General Huaidong?” The name sounded familiar to her, but she couldn’t remember where she heard it.

Hong Shan was somewhat worried. Why was her Miss’s concern not on the same line with her? “Miss, General Huaidong is the eldest son of Old General Yun, erm… also the father of Young Master Yun Qing.” Her Miss knew Yun Qing, so this should be more clear to her.

Yuxi was shocked. “You mean Yun Qing’s father died in the battle?”

Hongshan nodded and said, “Well, General Huaidong died along with Marshal Yan. Not only that, his wife and children were also killed by the Donghu barbarians.“ After a pause, her face also showed a heavy colour as she continued saying, “Old General Yun has only two sons and one daughter. His youngest son died ten years ago, while his daughter died in childbirth. Now he has lost his last remaining son and two grandchildren. I wonder if Old General Yun can stand it?” To see one’s child died before oneself, three in succession, even iron man couldn’t stand it.

Old General Yun was also a famous Liaodong general. However, he was seriously injured in a battle and could no longer go to the battlefield, so he stayed in the capital to enjoy his life in retirement. During his time as an active General, he had a brilliant military service. Even if he had not been on the battlefield for more than twenty years, everyone still respected him very much.

Yuxi’s hand shook. At that one time, she hd wondered why the present Yun Qing who was so bright and would take the initiative to save people would become a killer after a few years. No, if only because of General Huaidong’s death, it would be impossible for Yun Qing’s temperament to drastically change. Whether it was a soldier or a general, going to war was always a dangerous thing. There must be something else happened.

Remembering what Hongshan said just now, Yuxi shuddered and asked, “Did you just say Marshal Yan was also killed?” Marshal Yan was not only the grand marshal who controls two hundreds thousands troops, but also the eldest brother of the Empress. It could be said that the reason why the Empress and the Crown Prince could compete with Imperial Consort Song was because there was Marshal Yan supporting them. Now that he was dead, the Empress and the Crown Prince were going to be in danger.

Hongshan had some doubts. What was wrong with her Miss? She had already told her clearly, so, why she still asked such a stupid question. However, she did not dare to question Yuxi and hastily said, “Yes, Marshal Yan also died. I also heard that Yan Wushuang, the eldest son of Yan family, was also missing. It is said that he has disappeared, but everyone clearly understand that he should have already been dead.“ Seeing Yuxi’s puzzled face, she continued, “Yan Wushuang is actually like the younger version of Marshal Yan. It is said that Yan Wushuang has been gifted since childhood and will be the successor of Marshal Yan in the future. Therefore, the news of Yan Wushuang disappearance left many people holding their hands endlessly in excitement.“

Although Yuxi did not understand military affairs, she was sure it was not that simple. “What else?”

Yuxi was a little depressed. In her previous life, not only she didn’t know the great events happening inside the Imperial Court, she also didn’t even know what actually happened inside the state residence. Even when she grew up, she didn’t care much about the things happened outside, so she had no impression of such a big thing. Otherwise, she could also know what happened afterwards.

Hongshan didn’t know why Yuxi wanted to know all this, but she still said, “That’s all I heard. If Miss still wants to know more, I’ll ask my Third Brother to go outside and have a good look.”

Yuxi nodded and said, “Ask your Third Brother to pay attention and act accordingly base on the weight of his abilities. Don’t attract people’s eyes and trouble.” Such a big thing would definitely set off a big wave. She just wanted to know the whole story of these things and didn’t want to cause anyone trouble.

Hongshan smiled and said, “My Third brother knows how far he can go and when to stop.” She knew that Yuxi just wanted to know the situation outside, not what to do. What her Third Brother asked for was all well-known news, not conspicuous, and he was not doing any dangerous research of the situation. Of course, for Yuxi, who had always stayed in the deep boudoir, it was already very rare to get such news.

A Memorial to the Throne or zòu zhé

Source | Baidu

The Imperial Court was sighing with relieved when General Zhang, the deputy commander, managed to drive Donghu barbarians out of Tong City. However, this time a memorial to the throne regarding the incident was also handed over to the Emperor.

This memorial accused the Old Third Master of Yan family of colluding with Donghu. Not only did he leaked the city defence map of Tong City, but he also leaked the marching route of Marshal Yan, which led to the collapse of Tong City and the tragic death of countless people.

When Yuxi heard this, she opened her mouth and asked, “Has this man lost his mind?” Yan family people and Donghu were ancient enemies. So, the one who leaked the city defence map could not be from the Yan family people. How did the person behind the scenes did such a foolish thing?

Hongshan said, “My Third Brother said that the mother of Yan’s family Third Master was a Donghu woman and was incompatible as fire and water (Chinese idiom : be totally incompatible) with Marshal Yan. She also threatened to kill Marshal Yan. “

“There is no evidence, this is only slander,” said Yuxi.

Hongshan shook her head and said, “My brother said that there are all kinds of witness and material evidences.” The last sentence she said was the main point.

Hearing this words, Yuxi became cold. Since there was a complete evidence on the crime, it showed that the other party had made a meticulous planning. The Yan family might not be able to avoid doomed this time. Well, she sighed again. Why didn’t she know anything in her last life?

At the same time, Old Master Yun looked at Yun Qing, who was not in his proper appearance, and said, “You will leave tonight and follow Chang Qing to Yu (elm) City.”

Yun Qing was stunned for a moment. Yu City was a border city in the northwest, which was the territory of the Qin family. Everyone knew that the Qin family and their family had not been gotten along well with each other. Wasn’t by letting him go to Yu City would be like a lamb in a tiger’s den? No, the important question now was why he should go there. He asked, “Grandpa, are you hiding something from me?”

Old master Yun’s heart dripped blood as he said, “Yan family Old Third Master indeed colluded with the Donghu, but he is only a scapegoat, the real culprit is the Song family.”

Yun Qing was stunned. “Why did the Song family do this?”

Old Master Yun’s face filled with grief and he was choking as he said, “For the throne. As long as Marshal Yan is present, the Emperor cannot abolish the Empress or the Crown Prince. Only when the Yan family is gone can they have no future trouble and eradicate the Empress and the Crown Prince, paving way for Imperial Consort Song and the Ninth Prince. “

Yun Qing’s eyes flashed with hatred, “Grandpa, we can’t let the Song family get away with this. We must let them pay blood with blood. Let them pay for my parents’ and brother’s lives.”

Old Master Yun’s spine was going to collapse. He couldn’t stand up. He bowed his back and said, “The Emperor favours Imperial Consort Song and and dotes on the Ninth Prince. He has always wanted to let the Ninth Prince replaces the Crown Prince. This time, the matter has just gone according to the Emperor’s wishes.” Otherwise, the Song family would not have been acting so arrogant.

Yun Qing asked incredulously, “Grandpa, how can we let more than one hundred thousands of common people, tens of thousands of soldiers, my father and mother died in vain?”

Old Master Yun said, “For a nobleman to take revenge, ten years is not too long (Chinese idiom : revenge is more satisfying when one has had time to prepare vengeance that is well-planned, long-feared, or unexpected). If you fight with the Song family now, there is no benefit except to implicate you too. Qing-er, the Song family planned for years with all their hearts just for this day, and they will definitely exterminate the Yan family. We are close to the Yan family, so they will definitely not let us go. Qing-er, you are our only remaining blood, you can’t meet with accident. “

How could Yun Qing leave alone? He said, “Grandpa, let’s leave together.”

Old Master Yun’s eyes showed reluctance, but he could not help but send Yun Qing away, because he had no way to protect his only remaining grandson. “Grandpa is already an old man and can not walk anymore. As long as you are well, Grandpa will be at ease.”

If Yun Qing really went to Yu City, he would left his only relative, the Old Master Yun. He would flee and his Grandpa would be alone. However, after thinking hard, he still could not do it anyway, “Grandpa, if you don’t go, then I won’t go either.”

Old Master Yun said sternly, “You are the only one left in the Yun family. If anything happens to you, our Yun family will be ruined. How can you let Grandpa falls to the ground and meet our ancestors like this, ah … ”

Yun Qing knelt on the ground and said, “Grandpa, if you don’t go, I won’t go either.” After so many years of being together, he knew his Grandpa very well. If he was gone, Grandpa would have no worries, then he would certainly fight all out with the Song family.

Old Master Yun looked at his hard-raised child and his eyes were dry. He was old and only had a few days to live, but his grandson was still young and had a long time. More importantly, the future of Yun family will depend on him to restore its appearance and name.

After a long silence, Old Master Yun finally said, “Okay, you go back and tidy up. I’ll go with you in the evening.”

Yun Qing had some foreseen feelings. His grandfather was very accommodating this time. In case of fraud, he was unwilling to leave the Old Master Yun’s side. “Just let Guo Xun pack up the things and I will accompany you, Grandpa.” He was worried that Old Master Yun would act on his own in order to fend him off.

Old Master Yun also didn’t object. He nodded in agreement, and said, “I have sent someone to Tong City. They will bury your father and your family. When you finally have support in the future, go to Tong City and move their graves to our ancestral graves. “

Yun Qing held back his tears and nodded, “Okay.”

Ever since Old Master Yun knew about his eldest son’s death, it seemed like he had aged ten more years, but he had tried to stand up strong for the past few days. It was because, he knew that if he did not stay strong, his only grandchild would also be lost. “Qing-er, when you get to Yu City, you have to listen to Chang Qing.”

Yun Qing’s intuition suddenly was giving him a bad feeling, “Grandpa… ”

Old Master Yun waved his hand and said, “Grandpa is already old. I’m also not in good health and have a bad memory. While I still remember, I will tell you these first, so as to save time and before I forget to say them to you.”

On this day, Old Master Yun and Yun Qing talked about a lot of things, all of which were to explain some things to Yun Qing. As they spend time talking, Yun Qing started to panic, made him didn’t dare to leave Old Master Yun even for half a step.