Chapter 82: Stay strong, well done! (2/2)

Han Yunxi carried Han Yunyi into the house and took advantage of his unconsciousness to treat the wounds on his back. She applied the best medicine and studiously bandaged the injuries. After finishing her careful treatment, she tucked him in under the covers. At this point, a clamor rose outside the door as Han Yuqi shouted gleefully.

“Han Yunxi, Han Yunxi, you get out! Show yourself for this young master!”

Were the justice court’s people here? And he was still so arrogant?

Filled with doubts, Han Yunxi hastened out the door and saw nobody but little Chen Xiang gasping for breath by the door to the courtyard.

“Where are they?” Han Yunxi asked.

“Mistress…mistress…Ou…” little Chen Xiang panted, unable to speak clearly.

When she ran to report to the justice courts about Qin Wangfei’s situation, Official Ouyang was reverent and respectful. He’d immediately rode over in a carriage to the nearby Han Family. Little Chen Xiang thought the carriage was too slow and rushed right back, so tired that she couldn’t string together a single sentence.

Seeing this, Han Yuqi could only laugh. “Hahaha, you were frightened to death, right? Did the justice courts drive you out?”

But his words had hardly landed when a little pageboy announced in alarm, “Eldest young master, Official Ouyang from the justice courts has personally arrived! He says he wants to see you!”

The justice court’s Official Ouyang came in person?

He thought they’d just send some lackey, but the official had come himself. Han Yuqi didn’t expect this, but he felt more smug than anything else. Official Ouyang had been recommended to the post by his grandfather, so of course he’d make an appearance here. That was good. The justice courts could personally teach Han Yunxi a lesson. That’ll show the woman who didn’t know the height of the heavens or the depths of the earth[1] the power of the Han Family!

He gave Han Yunxi a mocking smile, forgetting how pathetic he looked, and strode boldly out the courtyard to greet the official. At this time, Official Ouyang had just arrived, his face flurried and flustered to match his quick steps. He’d been old friends with Magistrate Xu Xiangguang[2] for years and heard of his grandson’s temper.

He was really afraid that if he came too late and made Qin Wangfei suffer, he’d get more trouble than he bargained for. After all, the last justice court official had been punished by the Board of Civil Offices because they’d offended Qin Wangfei and angered His Highness Duke of Qin! Even though that fact had never been publicized, the magistrate and him were very clear that Qin Wangfei wasn’t someone to be trifled with.

Seeing Official Ouyang approach, Han Yuqi grinned and bowed with his hands cupped before him. “Official Ouyang, such a small matter has inconvenienced you to personally appear, it’s really…”

Han Yuqi didn’t finish before Official Ouyang walked right past him into the courtyard. He got ignored? Han Yuqi was dumbfounded, what was the meaning of this?

“This official greets esteemed wangfei. Many fortunes to esteemed wangfei! This official’s assistance came late, may esteemed wangfei forgive me!”

After hearing Official Ouyang’s respectful words, Han Yuqi was startled. He turned back to see the man kneeling on one leg before Han Yunxi, cupping one hand in the other before his chest with head lowered. He couldn’t look any more respectful–in fact, he even looked timid.

This…

Han Yuqi couldn’t help but rub his eyes. Heavens, this couldn’t be a dream, right? What happened to Official Ouyang?

“Official Ouyang, Han Yuqi offended his superiors and raved that he’d threaten this wangfei. Tell me, what is his punishment?” Han Yunxi asked coldly.

Of course she knew the relationship between the high official and this newly appointmented one. But this new official should also be very aware of her own temper.

“Of course…of course it’s…” Official Ouyang hesitated.

“What?” Han Yunxi pressed coldly.

“Offending the superior means fifty beatings, while threatening the wangfei is…a capital offence!” Official Ouyang replied honestly.

These words finally allowed Han Yuqi to recover his wits. “Official Ouyang, you’re really treating this slutty woman seriously? What are you afraid of? She’s just a…”

“Shut your mouth!” Official Ouyang roared. At the same time, Lady Xu started making a fuss.

Those present saw a woman in her thirties of uncommon bearing rush in from outside, dressed in luxurious clothes.

“I didn’t expect to be honored by esteemed wangfei’s presence, excuse me for not going out to meet you! I implore esteemed wangfei for forgiveness!” Lady Xu paid her respects as soon as she entered the doors.

Seeing this, Han Yuqi was dumbfounded once again. He remembered just yesterday how his mother had been cursing Han Yunxi as a good-for-nothing after hearing the rumors from outside. Today she’d gone to her father, the magistrate’s house, and returned a completely different person!

Lady Xu had been bustling about recently to figure out a way to visit the prisons. She’d tried again and again to visit the high official’s house to ask her father for help, but was refused each time. Today she’d gone again and just gotten news of the truth behind North Court Official He Ze’s affair. He also added that the only reason the Han Family members couldn’t visit the prisons was because Han Yunxi had specifically forbidden it.

Lady Xu knew things weren’t good as soon as she heard the news. She and her son had bullied Han Yunxi plenty in the past, so on the way back she was thinking of ways to make amends. Who knew that she’d run into disaster as soon as she returned?

-o-

[1] didn’t know the height of the heavens, or the depths of the earth (不知天高地厚) – buzhi tiangao dihou, refers to someone who has an exaggerated opinion of one’s abilities. (Oh, the irony…)

[2] Xu Xiangguang (徐向光) – the Ministry of Appointments/Board of Civil Office’s magistrate. Father of 2nd Consort Lady Xu and grandfather to Han Yuqi. Xiangguang can mean ‘towards the light.’