Chapter 46: I Want to Go Home
Night had just fallen. The lanterns of Yong’an City were just being lit, and Yiru Street, where the Tianxiang Pavilion was located, was especially bustling.
A simple carriage entered the street. No lanterns hung under its eaves, so it was impossible to tell whose carriage it was.
Fu Xun sat inside the carriage, holding a teacup, and said lightly, “My Little Uncle just returned from Mingshan, but I’ll trouble you to make a trip anyway.”
On the left sat Duke of Xin, Li Shu, still in his armor, having no time to change, weary from travel.
At the end of February, he had escorted the late emperor’s coffin to the Mingshan Mausoleum. Last night, he had stationed just ten miles outside Yong’an City, and today, returning to the city to report at the palace, Fu Xun invited him to take a walk. On the way, he had briefly explained the matter.
Li Shu bowed his head and said, “I am ashamed, Your Majesty.”
“After all, he is your nephew. He quarreled with Han Min, and if I personally handle it, it might attract more gossip.”
“I understand.”
Fu Xun glanced at him, as if reminding him: “Some relatives, when a decision must be made, must be decisive. Little Uncle, be careful not to be dragged down by him.”
Li Shu seemed a little conflicted. “I have only one elder sister, and she has only this one son. So… this time, when I return, I will strictly discipline him.”
Unable to persuade him further, Fu Xun remained silent, turning his head to lift the curtain and look outside.
Why haven’t we arrived yet?
Li Shu asked again: “Two years ago, Your Majesty asked me to purchase the old Han family residence. Now Han Min wants to buy a residence. Why didn’t Your Majesty simply give it to him?”
“I asked him if he wanted help buying it. He said he would buy it himself.”
Mentioning Han Min, a faint smile finally appeared in Fu Xun’s eyes.
“He’s strong-willed. Those two years, he never spoke to me so as not to implicate me. He thought, if he wants to buy it, he could just buy it from you. Who knew your nephew would interfere.”
Li Shu said, “I apologize on behalf of that bastard.”
Fu Xun sighed lightly: “He is who he is, and you are you. But perhaps he might drag you down.”
The carriage stopped, and the guarding attendant got down, cupping his fists: “Master, we’ve arrived.”
Fu Xun stepped down, catching the faint scent of cosmetics in the air, and frowned slightly.
Li Shu also dismounted, cupping his fists to Fu Xun: “I’ll go get that little brat and then bring out the contract.”
Fu Xun, however, gestured toward the main entrance of Tianxiang Pavilion, raising his chin: “Let’s go in together. Your nephew arranged to meet Han Min in a place like this—he’s never been to such a place even once.”
Inside Tianxiang Pavilion, the young women glanced at the two men, who looked distinguished, either rich or noble. They lifted their wine cups to approach but, seeing the men’s indifferent demeanor, sensed they were not here for leisure and dared not come closer, instead standing aside to watch.
The guards led them up the stairs to the second floor, stopping in front of a private room.
Before opening the door, they could hear Ji Heng speaking inside:
“…I am pleased with the service. I had you all stand together to buy the house.”
Fu Xun ground his teeth, just about to push the door open, when Li Shu beat him to it, swinging the door wide.
He shouted angrily: “You bastard!”
The scene inside was unpleasant.
The girls holding pipa and yueqin shrieked, squeezed into the corners.
A porcelain teapot lay shattered on the floor. Ji Heng, with wet tea leaves in his hair, was standing, reaching to grab Han Min by the collar.
Fortunately, Han Min seemed unharmed.
Mr. Ge, quick and sharp, pulled him back and shoved Ji Heng away: “What are you doing?”
Li Shu glanced at Fu Xun, who stood outside, expressionless, unreadable, perhaps unaware of what he saw.
Li Shu turned back, scolding Ji Heng: “You bastard, who do you expect to serve you?”
Hearing his uncle’s roar, Ji Heng wiped the dirt from his face, pouting, and walked toward Li Shu:
“Unc—”
Before he could finish, Li Shu kicked him to the ground.
“Kneel!”
With a glance, Li Shu made the girls in the corner wisely back away.
He extended his hand to Ji Heng: “The land deed and the house deed.”
Ji Heng, knowing full well that his uncle was the biggest authority allowing him to act recklessly in Yong’an City, obediently complied.
Kneeling, Ji Heng fumbled out two contracts from his sleeves and handed them over, trembling.
Pointing at Han Min, he still tried to argue: “Uncle, he first—”
Han Min looked at Li Shu and spoke warmly: “Little uncle, you’ve returned from Mingshan?”
“Yes,” Li Shu nodded at him and casually asked, “Is your elder brother well?”
“All well.”
“That’s good.”
Li Shu removed his still-worn sword. Ji Heng shrank like a quail, not daring even to look.
Before sheathing the sword, Li Shu struck him hard with the scabbard.
To Han Min: “This bastard, I’ll take him away to spare your eyes. I won’t let him off easily; in a few days, I’ll make him kowtow and apologize to you.”
“Good. Little uncle, don’t hurt your health in anger.”
“I know.”
After saying just a few words, Li Shu grabbed Ji Heng by the collar to leave.
Han Min asked: “Shall I visit in a few days and discuss the house then?”
Li Shu replied: “No need. I was entrusted to safeguard the contracts and occasionally check the property. When he comes, he will negotiate the price with you.”
Han Min was puzzled but didn’t get to ask; Li Shu had already left.
Li Shu took Ji Heng out of the room, handing the contracts to Fu Xun: “Your majesty.”
Fu Xun glared coldly at Ji Heng: “Earlier, who did you want to serve you?”
Even Ji Heng, dull as he was, realized when he heard Li Shu call him “Your majesty.”
He shivered all over and hid behind Li Shu.
Li Shu sighed, wary that Fu Xun might punish him severely, and hit his back hard with the scabbard as a demonstration.
Fu Xun, uninterested in other people’s family affairs, didn’t ask for apologies, turning instead to enter the room.
Inside, Mr. Ge whispered to Han Min: “Who was that? You know him? Just buying a house, why is it getting so confusing?”
“It’s complicated. I’ll explain later…”
Han Min raised his eyes and caught sight of Fu Xun at the door.
He nearly bit his tongue: “Y-Your… Majesty, what are you doing here?”
Mr. Ge seemed pleasantly surprised: “Oh, we’ve met in Tongzhou. You’re the first friend to visit Han Min in Tongzhou. Han Min brought you out; we met on the street.”
Fu Xun nodded: “Thank you for taking care of him, sir.”
“No need, no need. Since you’re buying his house, you handle the discussion.”
Fu Xun stepped aside: “Sir, please go.”
Before leaving, Mr. Ge patted Han Min’s shoulder: “Now I don’t need to help with bargaining.”
“Thank you for today. I’ll treat you to a meal next time.”
“Good.”
After Mr. Ge left, Han Min asked Fu Xun: “Why did you come?”
Outside, music and laughter drifted over. Han Min scratched his head: “Maybe we should talk somewhere else?”
Fu Xun stepped forward, kicking away the shattered teapot, gesturing for him to come.
Han Min lifted his robes, carefully avoiding the shards.
The lights of Tianxiang Pavilion were soft. Fu Xun saw the face of the young man with powdered makeup and said: “Enjoying yourself here?”
Han Min, confused, walked up: “No.”
Fu Xun grabbed his chin, rubbing off the powder. Han Min yelped: “Careful!”
“This powder isn’t as white as you. Why put it on?”
“I didn’t put it on. It rubbed off by accident.”
Fu Xun pinched his cheek but said nothing else, turning to leave.
Inside Tianxiang Pavilion, scenes like this were common. The attendants began tidying the room after Li Shu took Ji Heng away and Fu Xun was leaving with Han Min.
Han Min stopped, giving the attendant some silver: “For the teapot.”
Then he hurried after Fu Xun.
The girls, seeing Fu Xun’s imposing presence, dared not interfere. Han Min looked gentle, so approachable.
Fu Xun walked ahead, leaving a gap. No one assumed Han Min was with him.
As they left, Han Min felt like he was surrounded by floating clouds of powdered fragrance.
“Going already, young master? Leaving in such a hurry?”
“You look like a scholar. I’ve composed a couple of tunes in my spare time. Come to my room?”
“I can play the zither…”
Han Min crossed his arms, regretting letting Mr. Ge leave first. Now he couldn’t go.
“I’m not—”
He couldn’t speak or act, only shouting: “Fu Xun!”
Fu Xun, knowing Han Min hadn’t caught up, waited.
Turning back, he saw Han Min blocked by a group of girls, unable to move. His pitiful look under the lights made him seem tearful.
Fu Xun’s guards were about to disperse them, but he went forward himself.
The girls realized they were together and stepped back.
Fu Xun held Han Min’s hand, pulling him out.
Han Min, slightly traumatized by the noise, clung to Fu Xun’s sleeve with his other hand, walking quickly to escape.
Fu Xun led him downstairs. Before leaving, he whispered: “Was it fun here?”
Han Min shook his head vigorously: “No, never again. Let’s leave.”
He nudged Fu Xun’s hand, urging quietly: “Hurry.”
The carriage waited outside. Fu Xun nudged him forward.
Finally, as he climbed in, Han Min glimpsed Songzhu Pavilion across the street—more refined than Tianxiang Pavilion, with no girls soliciting outside, and a zither melody inside.
The bamboo blinds were rolled up. A young man in white at the window met Han Min’s gaze and smiled.
Fu Xun, displeased, pinched his waist: “Never seen a male-style pavilion? Stop looking, get in.”
Han Min blushed and climbed in.
The carriage moved smoothly. Han Min sat properly, holding his teacup.
Fu Xun sat in the center, expression cold.
Han Min glanced at him: “Thank you for today, Your Majesty.”
“No need.”
“Earlier, you said you would meet someone tonight—was it Duke of Xin?”
“Yes.”
“Sorry to trouble you.”
“No trouble.”
Silence followed. Han Min knew he had handled things poorly tonight.
From the start, meeting at Tianxiang Pavilion had felt off, but he had pressed on, wanting to save enough silver to buy the house.
Then Ji Heng appeared. Humiliated and unfamiliar with the surroundings, he should have left first instead of clashing with him and smashing the teapot.
If Fu Xun and Li Shu hadn’t come, he might have been doomed.
Lowering his eyes, Han Min cautiously glanced at Fu Xun, softly: “I was wrong.”
Fu Xun ignored him. Han Min, feeling the carriage slow, slid closer and touched his sleeve: “Fu Yixian?”
Fu Yixian was Fu Xun’s courtesy name. He had been told before but never called him that.
Fu Xun raised a brow, grabbed his chin, and wiped off the powder.
Soon the carriage stopped. Fu Xun let go, stepping down.
Han Min followed, realizing they hadn’t returned to the palace, but to the old Han family residence on Gouchen Street.
“I-It’s so late…”
“You wanted to buy the house, right? See how it’s done.”
Fu Xun steadied him, pushing him forward.
The wooden doors were unlocked, lanterns lit. Candlelight swayed in the evening breeze.
Han Min hesitated, realizing even opening the door wouldn’t restore the past.
Perhaps the house was dilapidated, needing repairs. Yet as he reached to push the door, he wondered if someone inside would ask: “You’re back?”
Fu Xun held his hand, guiding him inside.
The old house, though damaged, was not as bad as Han Min imagined.
Lanterns were lit under the eaves. The peach tree in the yard was dead from neglect.
Han Min sniffed hard, lowering his head as he walked in.
The Han family hadn’t been wealthy; the house wasn’t large.
Entering, a stone corridor ran straight. On the left, the yard had a peach tree, some asparagus ferns, and a well; on the right was the reception hall.
Further in were Grandpa Han’s room and study.
Young Han Min, frail as a child, had stayed inside reading with his grandfather.
Further back were his elder brother Han Shi’s room and the rear quarters.
The house was small. Han Min quietly surveyed, noting places needing repair. Few repairs were needed, suggesting frequent maintenance.
Back in the courtyard, they sat on the front steps.
Han Min folded his hands: “Thank you.”
Fu Xun beside him: “No need.”
“I’ve saved eight hundred taels. When you bought it…”
“I am afraid the late emperor will be suspicious so I couldn’t come myself. I entrusted to little uncle. I forget how much I gave him.”
“Then I’ll give it all to you.”
Han Min handed him silver notes, still warm from his hands. Fu Xun held them: “It’s late. We’ll register the deed with officials tomorrow.”
“Good.”
They sat quietly. Han Min asked: “Do you need to return to the palace urgently?”
“Why?”
“Last time you went to Tongzhou, Grandpa said under our peach tree there was a jar of Huadiao wine for you. Did you dig it out?”
“No.”
“I’ll dig it now—it’s yours.”
Han Min fetched a hoe from the storeroom, left from Grandpa Han’s gardening.
Moonlight fell on the tree; petals drifted, turning to silver light on him.
The soil was hard; Fu Xun rolled up his sleeves, taking the hoe: “I’ll dig.”
Luckily, the jar wasn’t buried deep. They dug it out, cleaned it, and found two cups.
Sitting back, they opened the jar; the aroma was rich.
Grandpa Han had buried it at Han Min’s birth, intending him to drink it upon becoming top scholar. But with the Han family’s downfall, he missed the exam. He now offered it to Fu Xun.
Han Min sniffed; the wine was sharp. He sipped carefully, holding back a cough, cheeks red.
Fu Xun patted his back. Han Min drank more, sighing softly: “I want to go home so badly.”
Not Tongzhou’s house, not the current one, but the home where his family once lived.
As if hiding with Fu Xun, the emperor and Grandpa might appear, saying children shouldn’t drink. But that was gone.
He set down the empty cup; Fu Xun handed his cup: “It’s fine, drink. I’ll take you back later.”
“Okay.”
It was Han Min’s second time drinking. After a few cups, his eyes blurred.
Leaning on the pillar, he mumbled nonsense. Fu Xun patiently chatted with him.
Eventually, Han Min closed his eyes, slumping against the pillar asleep.
Fu Xun pinched his face: “Han Min?”
Han Min grunted, not responding further.
Night deepened, wind cooled. As Fu Xun bent to lift him, he noticed the drunk, sleeping Han Min under the moonlight looked different.
Up close, he noticed details often overlooked: steady breathing, long lashes, lips glossy from the wine.
Fu Xun glanced around; the guards were outside, the door closed.
He pressed a quick kiss to Han Min’s lips.
Han Min didn’t wake; Fu Xun had no other thoughts, only noting the softness—sweeter than the wine.
He had drunk Han family wine in Han family property and even stolen a kiss from the young master.
Feeling guilty, Fu Xun scooped him up, fleeing the “scene of the crime.”
Pushing the door, he ordered the guards: “Bring the wine jar out and bring the carriage over.”
Looking down at Han Min, he smiled, unable to contain it.
He hugged him tightly, smiling like a dog raised in a monastery finally eating meat.
The next morning, Han Min awoke with a headache.
Rubbing his head, he sat up. Little Jizi came to hang the curtain and dampen a cloth to wipe his face.
Seeing the cloth, he remembered Fu Xun would take him back last night.
After washing, Han Min asked: “Where is the emperor?”
“Probably at the martial court or study.”
“Good.”
“The emperor said don’t rush. Rest if your head hurts; you can go tomorrow if needed.”
“No headache now. I’ll go see.”
Han Min didn’t wear official robes, not his duty day.
Outside the study, Chu Yu saw him. Fu Xun waved him off: “Go.”
Chu Yu bowed and left.
Fu Xun teased Han Min: “Where did you go last night? Didn’t tell me; how do I record it? So the emperor carried you back, you stayed at Funing Palace, and the minister-emperor relationship is very good?”
Han Min blushed, tugging his sleeve: “Stop writing, please.”
“Later, I have things to do.”
Han Min stepped aside as he entered the study.
Fu Xun couldn’t help but laugh thinking of last night.
Han Min was confused: what’s so funny?
Fu Xun cleared his throat: “Head okay?”
“Yes. When is Your Majesty free?”
“Let’s go now.”
Buying property required signing deeds at local officials, even for emperors and princes.
—
There was a commotion at the Duke of Xin’s mansion all night.
Last night, Duke of Xin, Li Shu, took Ji Heng back from Tianxiang Tower and locked him in the armory to be whipped. At first, his servants whipped him, but later, feeling that the whipping wasn’t severe enough, he took matters into his own hands.
Ji Heng’s mother, Madam Ji (Li Shu’s sister), soon heard the news, wailing outside.
Inside, she cried over Ji Heng: “Heng’er, Heng’er, your uncle is trying to kill you, he’s trying to kill your mother! He won’t tolerate us, let’s leave, let’s leave right now.”
Ji Heng lifted his eyes. He knew his mother wouldn’t leave.
Li Shu, unmarried and devoted to military affairs, wouldn’t marry. Staying at Duke of Xin’s residence guaranteed them some benefit.
Li Shu was used to being straightforward in the army and was not good at handling such matters. Annoyed by her, he said, “Help her pack her luggage.”
Madam Ji fell silent, tears streaming.
Madam Ji immediately fell silent and wept silently.
The commotion continued until dawn when a servant came to announce that someone from the palace had arrived.
They were definitely after Ji Heng. Li Shu grabbed him by the collar with one hand and dragged him out.
It was Chu Yu who arrived.
Despising Ji Heng, Chu Yu said: “His Majesty said that since Young Master Ji can’t distinguish between the characters ‘Ji’ and ‘Li,’ he specifically asked me to teach him. I brought several large characters with me, and I ask Young Master Ji to copy them ten thousand times every day.”
A small eunuch brought stacks of paper. Chu Yu introduced each one: “This is the calligraphy of the former dynasty’s king’s inscription, this is…”
As they were introduced one by one, it was a great favor that Chu Yu, the third-ranked scholar, was teaching Ji Heng to write.
He concluded by saying, “His Majesty also said that Duke of Xin is devoted to the army and loves his soldiers like his own children. His Majesty does not want to keep urging the duke to marry. If the duke really does not want to marry and will have no children in the future, it would be better to leave all the assets of the Duke Mansion to the soldiers. There are many more filial sons than Young Master Ji.”
Li Shu bowed: “I agree.”
Ji Heng, kneeling, gasped and couldn’t speak.
Chu Yu helped him up: “Duke of Xin, the emperor waits. Please accompany me.”
Ji Heng fainted. Madam Ji cried and called for a doctor. The steward returned: “Madam Ji, luggage packed.”
—
As Li Shu was leaving the Duke of Xin’s residence, the palace carriage arrived just then.
Because Li Shu was entrusted with the purchase of the house and his name was used, he also needs to be present to sign the documents now.
Han Min lifted the curtain and greeted him, “Little Uncle.”
Then he saw Chu Yu there: “Zhuoshi? What are you doing here?”
Chu Yu smiled and said, “I’ve come here to teach people how to write. I have something else to do, so I’ll be going now.” He bowed and turned to leave.
Li Shu boarded the carriage.
Passing Tianxiang Pavilion on Yiru Street, Han Min saw Chu Yu again in broad daylight, surrounded by girls. He raised his hands helplessly: “Ladies, don’t make noise! This isn’t my idea; it’s the emperor’s.”
He looked at Fu Xun: “What do you want them to do?”
Fu Xun: “Labor reform.”
Han Min gasped and peeked again.
Chu Yu was distributing embroidery baskets and fabric: “Sisters, listen to me. Summer is just around the corner, and the Northwest is extremely hot, but the soldiers guarding the Northwest don’t have summer clothes yet. I’ll have to trouble you all with these thousands of summer clothes.”
The girls’ expressions changed, ready to protest. Chu Yu lifted a large box: “Those who do well will receive a good household registration and a reward of some silver.”
Author’s note:
The male-style pavilion with music, the white-clad young man smiling at Han Min, and the labor reform warning.
Grandpa Han: “Fu dog, you drank my wine, in my house, kissed my grandson—you…” (raising his cane)
