Chapter 68: The Yu and Zhu Family Villages [Thank You for Your Support! Grateful]

Traveling in ancient times was far more troublesome than today.

Not only did one need to prepare dried rations, but also ample drinking water.

If the journey was long and no green grass or leaves were available, fodder for the draft animals had to be stocked as well.

Fortunately, Xu Zaijing’s master was accustomed to long journeys and had taught all these details to Qingyun and the other young servants and maids.

Zhu Qinghu looked at the goods on the Xu family’s carts and silently approved of their thoroughness.

For this mourning trip, Sun Shi and the Xu family’s sons rode horses, while the maids sat inside the carts, driven by the young servants.

Within the city, where crowds were dense, the convoy moved slowly; but after passing through Xincaomen, its pace quickened.

As the weather warmed, the number of travelers on the road increased greatly.

Passersby, seeing this procession of fine horses, riders clad in expensive cloaks, swords and powerful bows with arrows at their sides, and banners fluttering from the carts, quickly stepped aside.

The distance from Bianjing to Xiangzhou was roughly four hundred li; Sun Shi’s party did not overexert their horses, traveling only seventy to eighty li per day before stopping at an inn.

On the third afternoon, the group entered the courtyard of a roadside inn.

Inside the inn’s courtyard, another official family’s convoy was unloading bedding, tea sets, and other household items.

The inn’s clerks and attendants were eagerly helping to carry the goods.

Sunset approached, and the light dimmed considerably.

The official family, seeing so many horses arrive—armed with swords and bows—became alarmed, fearing they were bandits or rogue soldiers.

Someone faintly shouted for the inn’s clerks and attendants.

Only after the longtime head steward quietly reprimanded them did the maids gradually calm down.

The head steward gave a few instructions to the maids, then stepped forward with hands folded and bowed to the Xu family:

Greetings, everyone. My family is from the Yu Cabinet Minister’s household in Bianjing; the Prefect of Xiangzhou is my eldest son. May I ask who you are?

Ma Er snorted, and the Xu family dismounted.

Qingyun called out clearly: “Old steward, we are from the Yongyi Marquis’s Xu household. There’s no need to worry.”

“Oh? Then that’s good. If there’s anything we can assist with, please don’t hesitate.”

“Thank you, old steward.”

Hearing the exchange, the inn’s clerks grew even more eager and approached the Xu family.

After dismounting, Sun Shi’s face looked pale—she was accustomed to comfort, and though she played polo, long-distance horseback riding was different.

The servants on the cart brought out basins and foot-washing tubs and went to the inn’s kitchen to fetch water.

Xu Zaijing soothed his own dark stallion, but the horse showed no signs of fatigue; instead, it seemed excited, snorting repeatedly, as if it hadn’t run enough.

As Xu Zaijing entered the inn’s side rooms, his sharp eyes noticed the Yu family’s maids clutching expensive wooden boxes.

Whatever was inside must have been valuable; one maid with a wart on her lip even opened one to peek.

The head steward saw this and, as the Xu family passed by, muttered a few sharp reprimands.

The maid shot him a defiant glance, indifferent and glancing around as if she didn’t care a bit for the old steward.

But then she turned and saw Zhu Qinghu staring at her. Zhu Qinghu, having spent years in the military, despised such disrespect and insubordination.

His gaze—born from mountains of corpses and seas of blood—seemed to flay her alive, making the maid shudder in fear.

Having no ties to the Yu family, Xu Zaijing rose at midnight to add more fodder for his horses; seeing him, Zhu Qinghu smiled.

At dawn, the Xu family resumed their journey.

They bypassed the prefectural city of Xiangzhou and reached its northern outskirts.

Just before dusk on the fifth day, they entered Zhu Family Village, surrounded by earthen walls two men tall, with only one entrance.

Inside the village, several elder clan members sat in a room discussing:

“Zhu Qinghu has been gone many days now. I wonder who the Marquis’s household will send.” One elder said.

“Perhaps they’ll send Duan Ge. He’s the eldest legitimate son, married already—he’s sufficient.” Another elder said, gazing at his teacup.

“Fifth Grandfather, Sixth Grandfather—a mounted party has arrived outside the village!” A young villager rushed in.

“Have the able-bodied men take their swords and crossbows and go to the walls.”

The sound of galloping horses startled villagers who hadn’t yet slept—after all, the northern border was currently in standoff.

Zhu Qinghu called out at the village gate, and only then did they open it.

The group rode into the village.

As Xu Zaijing entered, he noticed not just his uncle’s household had hung white, but roughly six or seven other homes along the central path had done so as well.

Xu Zaijing’s heart tightened—he realized his uncle wouldn’t have gone alone to the Western Army; he must have taken his own brothers and nephews.

A bloody battle on the frontier had claimed how many fine young men from one village.

Xu Zaijing looked at his mother, Lady Sun; her face showed no surprise—she had heard such stories too often.

Upon hearing of Lady Sun’s arrival, the wives of the Zhu clan elders came out to greet her; Xu Zaijing also saw his less-familiar Auntie.

Her face bore some resemblance to Xu Minghua, strands of hair loose at her cheeks, her clothes unwashed for days, stained and grimy.

Seeing Lady Sun, she showed no grief—her expression was blank.

“Sister has come? Come inside.”

After settling everyone, Lady Sun ignored the odor clinging to her aunt and sat beside her on the bed.

“You’ve traveled so many days—go rest now,” Xu said.

“Sister, sleep with me.”

“I’m not tired.”

“For my sake, just close your eyes a little,” Lady Sun said, looking at her aunt’s swollen eyes, then glancing at Xiao Dan.

Xiao Dan understood and went out to fetch a basin, boiled some water in the kitchen, and brought it in.

Lady Sun wrung out the towel and, as her own family’s relatives had done, gently wiped her aunt’s face—meticulously.

Then she wiped her aunt’s dirty hands.

Next, she undid her aunt’s hairpin and re-braided her hair.

Finally, she added warm water to the basin; Xiao Dan moved to help, but Lady Sun waved her off.

Lady Sun knelt down, removed her aunt’s shoes and socks, and as Xu sat on the bed, she asked:

“How is home?”

Lady Sun understood—her aunt’s grief had blurred her sense of time. She paused, then said: “Fine. Everything is fine.”

“Oh.”

After cleaning her aunt’s feet, Lady Sun dressed them in fresh socks and shoes.

Zhu Qinghu stood outside the room, watching through the curtain. His eyes, once dull, now brimmed with glistening tears.

“Future, Qinghu must find a wife. You’ve met my daughter-in-law—what do you think of her?”

“A well-mannered, good girl.”

“I wonder what kind of girl Qinghu’s wife will be.”

Xu said nothing, her gaze distant, lost in thought.

Zhu Qinghu stepped out and saw his three cousins outside.

Xu Zaiduan patted his shoulder; normally boisterous Xu Zhaizhang wrapped his arms around his cousin.

Xu Zaijing looked up at the night sky and sniffed.

The next day, seeing Xu’s refreshed appearance, the Zhu clan elders knew—the Xu family hadn’t come to go through the motions.

Relatives from nearby villages came to the village, learning that the Marquis’s Lady from the capital had arrived.

Seven days later, the Zhu family’s mourning rites ended—all were symbolic graves with clothing and armor.

Xu Zaijing watched the grieving villagers and deeply understood the four words: “War is deadly.” If he ever took the battlefield, he could not afford caution—his own family might be the ones weeping.

Before leaving, Lady Sun conferred with the Zhu clan elders; Xu’s condition would only worsen if she stayed in the village, so the Xu family would take her back to Bianjing for medical treatment.

They also left five hundred taels of silver, saying plainly: “If you face hardship, come to the Marquis’s household in Bianjing.”

With Xu’s dazed state, the convoy could not travel as swiftly as before.

The group entered Xiangzhou city in the afternoon.

At the city gate, the guards naturally scrutinized this party closely.

With the standoff against Northern Liao ongoing, strict checks were mandatory.

But after verifying the Marquis’s seal and learning a fallen general’s widow was inside, the guards allowed passage.

News of the Yongyi Marquis’s family entering the city reached the Prefect’s residence.

Inside the Prefect’s residence, Yu Prefect—whose wife had died only two months prior—showed no grief, speaking with a woman dressed in lavish finery in his study.

“Husband, though the Xu family once declined, their third son now enjoys the Emperor’s favor and has married into the Ningyuan Marquis’s household. We should pay a visit.”

“Wife, you’re right. I’ll send a formal invitation immediately. These past years have been hard on you. When we return to Bianjing, you’ll be my rightful Lady.”

“I don’t mind, but our two children have suffered.”

That night, the Prefect’s invitation arrived at the Xu family’s inn.

The city’s inn naturally offered far better conditions than the roadside one.

Lady Sun studied the invitation, then decided to send her three sons.

After all, Zhu Family Village lay under the Prefect’s jurisdiction; cultivating a good relationship with him would show the Xu family’s connection to the Zhu family—both to deter any mistreatment and to secure future favors.

The next day, Xu Zaijing and his two brothers, along with Zhu Qinghu, arrived at Yu Prefect’s home.

After submitting their visiting cards, they entered the main hall.

The banquet table included sons of other officials from Xiangzhou, such as the Assistant Prefect.

Though the Zhou dynasty favored civil officials, even they did not dare ignore the nobility.

You look down on the nobility, but who knows which of his in-laws might trip you up on your official career path.

The Xu family’s Xu Zaijing and his brothers deliberately sought to secure a powerful ally for Zhu Family Fortress, so the banquet ended with mutual delight.

When Xu Zaijing and Zhu Qinghu went to freshen up and returned to the main hall, Zhu Qinghu’s eyes flickered, and he tilted his chin slightly toward Xu Zaijing as a signal.

Xu Zaijing looked over—it was the old woman with a wart on her lip at the roadside inn that afternoon.

Thank you all for your support! Once again, thank you!

Readers who wish to make a cameo may leave a comment—the author cannot guarantee roles (positive or negative) (chuckles).

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(End of Chapter)