Chapter 359: Is there anything more tragic than this? (2/2)

Han Yunxi’s words were truly venomous. Her ‘give birth to a son soon’ was filled with hidden meaning as well. Judging by Long Tianmo’s personality and his performance today, it was unlikely that he’d ever touch Mu Liuyue. Even if he did and Mu Liuyue got pregnant, there were plenty of people in the imperial harem now who wouldn’t want her to have any male offspring. The empress dowager looked at Han Yunxi and had to rejoice that she was from the Duke of Qin’s estate, not the imperial harem.

Mu Liuyue had tit for brains and didn’t understand the meaning behind Han Yunxi’s words. She only felt like she’d had enough! Sobsob, I want to go home…

After serving the tea, the ceremony was over. The wedding nanny sent Mu Liuyue off to the nupital chambers, while Long Tianmo followed behind them. When he reached the door, he couldn’t resist glancing back to see Han Yunxi sitting beside that ancient revered god. Dressed in white, she looked both pure and sacred, her eyes filled with laughter even as they glimmered slyly.

The mountains have their trees, yet the trees have their branches.2 My heart yearns for Yun, yet Yun knows not. The falling flowers have already danced away on the winds, and the flowing waters stream ever onwards to the east…

Han Yunxi, how wonderful it would be if you were the one wearing the phoenix coronet today?

—

After the newlyweds left, everyone else remained seated.

“General Mu only has one daughter and the young general just this little sister. Zhen had long hoped to give her to the crown prince. Muhou, you must take care to guard Liuyue well after she’s entered the harem. She mustn’t be bullied,” Emperor Tianhui seemed to be chatting idly with the empress dowager, but his words were meant for Long Feiye.

What he meant to say was that General Mu wouldn’t dare to make a move while Mu Liuyue was in their hands. Even if the general wasn’t truly loyal to the throne, he wouldn’t favor Long Feiye, either. That truly was a worthy threat to Long Feiye, but all he did was drink his tea, his gaze unreadable. Han Yunxi kept silent as well, finding the whole thing laughable. Emperor Tianhui really was thick-skinned! Mu Liuyue had already been bullied by that paltry wedding before she even married into the family!

“Naturally. That child Liuyue was on good terms with Changping. If Changping was still alive, how great it would be!” the empress dowager said, before pulling sorrowfully at her handkerchief. She even cast a glance at Han Yunxi before she added, “None of that now. If Liuyue heard me, she would feel sad as well.”

Han Yunxi only pretended she hadn’t seen a thing, but the empress dowager then remarked, “Liuyue and Changping both hold equal places in my heart. I won’t forgive anyone who bullies her in the future!”

So were those words meant for me? Han Yunxi mused. But I’ve already bullied her! While she was secretly rejoicing over the fact, Emperor Tianhui took another swing at Long Feiye.

“Duke of Qin,” he said, “The Duke of Qin’s estate has made a great contribution with the charity auction. Such care for the famine victims is their fortune. Zhen had a discussion with a few officials yesterday and have decided to send you to the disaster areas to oversee relief efforts. How is it?”

Long Feiye’s hands stiffened minutely around his teacup, finding this rather unexpected. Still, he was quick to reply with a single, calm word. “Alright.”

Han Yunxi creased her brows. She hadn’t expected him to agree so fast. With those embezzling officials behind the scenes, it’d be useless to for anyone to oversee the relief efforts. Tianning’s famine situation was so severe this time that someone like Long Feiye wouldn’t be able to make a big difference even if he found and caught all the corrupt officials stealing grain. Famines in the past could be relieved with grain stores that lasted from six months to a year, but the problem was too widespread this time. Moreover, it was already approaching winter. There wasn’t enough grain to begin with, even with the stores from the capital, Long Feiye’s private supplies, and contributions from the surrounding prefectures, counties, consortiums. At most, they’d be able to feed the country for one month.

Grain in ancient times needed the right time, climate, and population to grow and thrive. Where were they supposed to get more grain with winter on the horizon?! If Long Feiye couldn’t resolve such a thorny issue, then Emperor Tianhui would have plenty of excuses to cause him difficulties. More importantly, it’d make the common people lose faith in the Duke of Qin.

Despicable! Han Yunxi cursed to herself. If Emperor Tianhui had paid attention to the crop failures earlier and relieved the disaster areas while digging out the corrupt officials, things wouldn’t look so bleak now. He actually pushed all the responsibility onto Long Feiye’s shoulders instead. If that was the case, why not give Long Feiye the crown, to boot?

It was obvious that Emperor Tianhui hadn’t expected Long Feiye to agree so readily, either. However, he would’ve found ways to make him accept regardless. After all, news of the charity auction had already pushed the Duke of Qin’s namesake to the summit. It would’ve been easy to make him accept.

“Duke of Qin, Zhen is handing the lives of our people into your hands,” Emperor Tianhui spoke with such a sincere and earnest tone that it made Han Yunxi feel sick.

She knew that Emperor Tianhui wouldn’t have missed this chance even if they didn’t hold a charity auction in the first place. In contrast, Long Feiye was quite serene. He didn’t even speak, merely nodded his head to accept. Han Yunxi began to grow suspicious.

Did he already plan for this ahead of time?

1. give birth to a son soon (早生贵子) – zaoshengguizi, a propitiatory compliment to a newlywed couple.

2. the mountains have their trees, yet the trees have their branches (山有木兮木有枝) – shanyoumu xi muyouzhi, not as nonsensical as it appears, this is a direct verse taken from a short song from 528 BC called “Song of the Yue Boatman.” Long Tianmo has adopted it to express his unrequited love for Han Yunxi. You can click on the link in this footnote to see the relevant wiki article, or go back to the link to the story to hear a music rendition of the melody.