Chapter 191: Reunion

Chapter 191: Reunion

On a June evening, thunderstorms raged, and dark clouds devoured the last trace of light in the sky. The vast imperial city seemed to echo only with the relentless sound of rain pounding the ground.

Jia Hongyuan peered into the distance through the veil of rain. The downpour had washed away the summer heat, and the air in the grand hall was filled with a cool, rain-scented breeze.

The new emperor did not have a close attendant like Wen Xing, who had served the abdicated emperor. Since moving into the palace, all daily matters were overseen by Nanny Wu.

Nanny Wu had originally served as the personal maid to the abdicated empress. She followed the empress into the imperial city and became the chief maid of the Kuning Palace. After the empress passed away, she followed her will to care for the young crown prince.

Later, when the crown prince frequently stayed at the imperial villa, she accompanied him there. Now, as the new emperor was about to ascend the throne, she returned to this majestic and awe-inspiring palace complex, which seemed to possess a heart-devouring power. Nanny Wu could no longer recall her feelings when she first entered the palace.

She walked softly to Jia Hongyuan's side, observing the figure standing by the door.

This was the true dragon emperor of Great Yu. In Nanny Wu's eyes, he was still the infant she had personally received from the midwife and presented to the abdicated empress at birth.

Time had flowed like water. The abdicated empress had passed away many years ago, and that frail infant had now become a ruler whose emotions were hard to discern.

Nanny Wu slightly lowered her graying head. "Your Majesty, it's not wise to stand by the door in the night rain. It's time for dinner."

She did not inquire why the emperor was troubled, as if she had not noticed the memorial that had been opened and then abandoned on the nearby desk.

Those in the inner palace had their own ways of survival, and Nanny Wu, having been immersed in it for many years, was well-versed in these ways.

"Have the kitchen prepare something light."

Jia Hongyuan had no appetite, but he could not skip the meal. Every word and action of the emperor affected the entire realm. If he skipped a meal today, rumors would spread tomorrow that his old illness had returned and that his time was running out.

Although he had secured the throne, there was still a long way to go before he could truly take control of the entire country.

Jia Hongyuan returned to his desk and stared at the memorial that had soured his mood, lost in thought for a long time.

Selecting concubines and establishing an empress were among the frequently mentioned topics in the recent memorials.

As the crown prince, he could delay such matters by citing his health and the advice of imperial physicians. But as the emperor, having an empty harem was no longer acceptable. On a larger scale, it could even be seen as a threat to the stability of the state.

Jia Hongyuan's slender fingers lightly tapped the desk, then released.

In the depths of the palace, where no one could see, he no longer hid his deepest, instinctive desires.

A dozen days ago, in this very place, he had completed the inevitable transaction with his father, whom he revered, resented, admired, and feared.

"You will also face your own retribution."

This was the curse of a father who had been dethroned by his own son, and the prophecy of an experienced emperor who had seen much of the world.

Retribution? Jia Hongyuan smiled silently, his eyes calm and unruffled.

He wrote his vermilion approval on the memorial regarding the selection of concubines, ordering the Ministry of Rites to prepare for the event.

After writing the last character, Jia Hongyuan tossed the brush aside. He no longer wished to deal with any political matters today.

"It is almost Xu hour. Let Minister Du return to rest. The rain is heavy today, so have him escorted out of the imperial city by carriage."

The young eunuch guarding outside the hall received the order and hurriedly ran to the front literary building with an umbrella to convey the emperor's decree of granting a carriage.

Unless granted by the emperor, no one in the imperial city was allowed to ride in a carriage or sedan chair; they had to rely on their own legs to travel.

Now, the Forbidden City was left with only him.

The rest were various unrelated individuals.

Before leaving Jinshen Hall, Jia Hongyuan hesitated briefly before finally picking up the memorial concerning the concubine selection, setting it aside for the time being.

...

The summer rainstorm arrived abruptly. One moment the sky was clear, and the next, dark clouds loomed overhead, giving no time to react before torrential rain poured down from the sky.

Qiu Huanian gazed anxiously at the downpour outside the window and directed Quan Yu to take a group and a carriage to Chang'an's east gate to await Du Yunse.

Before Du Yunse could return, another group arrived.

More than two months prior, Yun Cheng and others had dispatched a letter from Xiangping Prefecture, reporting that the old clan leader of Du Village was in poor health.

Though the old clan leader had his moments of befuddlement, he had indeed cared for Du Yunse and Qiu Huanian's family in earlier times. They were both close with the old clan leader's sons, Bao Ren and Bao Yi, so Qiu Huanian sent steward Wu Da back with provisions and medicine to visit on his behalf.

As Yun Cheng described in his letter, the old clan leader's health was deteriorating, but perhaps the capital-sent imperial physician's medicine, tailored to his symptoms, worked wonders, or perhaps the old clan leader's strong will kept him alive for two more months.

Qiu Huanian chose not to recall Wu Da immediately, allowing him to remain in Du Village to offer assistance as needed.

The titles of Du Yunse, the top scholar, and Qishu County Princess commanded great respect in Zhang County. With the astute Wu Da stationed there, no one dared stir trouble in Du Village during the clan leader's critical illness.

A month prior, the clan leader finally passed away, closing his eyes forever on the kang. It was rumored that many events occurred then, but Wu Da omitted details in his letter, intending to report fully upon his return.

Qiu Huanian directed him to manage the aftermath before his return. Wu Da hastened back, arriving at the mansion amidst a downpour that evening, with Ye Taohong, Cun Lan, and Yun Ying in tow.

Upon entering, Wu Da removed his raincoat, tidied up, and went to pay respects to Qiu Huanian.

En route, he learned that the old emperor had retired, the crown prince had ascended as the new emperor, and his master, a trusted confidant of the new emperor, had a promising future.

After months away, Wu Da was sure Quan Yu had undermined him in his absence and was resolved to reclaim his standing!

"Wu Da offers his respects to the County Princess. Two months have passed, and the County Princess appears even more radiant. During my return to the capital, all I encountered praised the County Princess for her benevolence and prowess, declaring her truly formidable!"

Qiu Huanian smiled, directing Xing Mi to assist Wu Da up promptly, then instructed him to take his father to change and enjoy some hot tea.

"Rest upon your return, and we shall discuss matters thereafter."

Lark and Agate peered from the inner courtyard's corner gate. Over two months had passed since the family's last reunion, and Qiu Huanian respected their need for privacy.

Ye Taohong and the others were also taken to change clothes and have hot tea. They had stayed at the mansion for several months before, so everything they needed was readily available with just a little searching.

Once everyone had gathered in the main hall of the inner courtyard, Qiu Huanian finally had the chance to ask the question on his mind.

"Aunt Taohong, why did you bring the children here yourself? Where is Uncle Baoyi?"

Several bright oil lamps were lit in the room, and to dispel the chill brought by the heavy rain, a brazier was placed in the corner. The warm yellow flames cast a rich glow over the solid wood furniture.

Ye Taohong instinctively glanced around, then remembered that this was Brother Hua's territory and relaxed.

"Baoyi had his own matters to attend to. He left alone over a month ago and should be arriving in the capital soon."

Qiu Huanian was momentarily stunned, a flash of insight crossing his mind.

Military strength was the prerequisite for any plan. Before the palace coup, the forces behind the retired emperor and the two princes who had been stripped of their titles must have been closely guarding against Wu Shen and Wu Dingshan, who were closely associated with the crown prince.

When had Wu Dingshan been quietly summoned to the border? And when had the Wu family army at the border been mobilized to swiftly capture the second prince?

There must have been someone operating outside everyone's sight, shuttling back and forth to deliver messages.

It now appears that Du Baoyi, who returned to his hometown with his family due to his father's critical illness, was that person.

An unnoticed low-ranking officer, perceived by outsiders as coming from a humble background, rose to the rank of centurion solely through his connections with Du Yunse and Wu Shen, and quietly accomplished a task significant enough to shape the future of the dynasty.

Qiu Huanian smiled and said, "Congratulations, Auntie, both Uncle Baoyi and you are on the brink of promotions and prosperity."

With such a great merit, Du Baoyi is sure to be on the list of meritorious officials to be rewarded after the new emperor's ascension.

From an ordinary farmhand forced into corvée labor (unpaid labor demanded by the state) by a biased father and a morally deficient brother, to a promising hero who backed the new emperor, Bao Yi's journey has been filled with much luck, but even more with countless dangers and hardships.

Ye Taohong recalled the over a month since Bao Yi left, during which she lay awake every night, fearing he might meet an untimely death far from home, with no remains to be found. During the day, she had to brace herself to cover up his true whereabouts.

Fortunately, as Brother Hua said, the crown prince successfully ascended the throne, and all their efforts have been rewarded.

"Thanks to Brother Hua's good wishes, after the period of mourning for his father, we will host a few banquets and invite everyone to gather together!"