Chapter 6: The Three Han Brothers
Liuzhou and Tongzhou were not far apart.
Han Min did not travel with the supply convoy. Going alone and pushing himself hard, he arrived within two to three days.
After the Han family was confiscated and punished, they were demoted back to their ancestral home in Tongzhou.
Now their old family residence in the city had been mortgaged, so the whole family lived in a small, secluded courtyard dwelling on the outskirts of Tongzhou.
He returned at dawn.
Han Min dismounted, climbed the stone steps, and peeked through the crack in the door.
White walls and black tiles; blue stone paving.
The front courtyard was not big. There was a plum tree inside; beneath it stood a bronze vat with two red carp swimming inside.
No one was in the main hall. A portrait of one of the Han ancestors—an official who once served as Attendant Minister—hung on the wall.
Han Min pushed open the gate and quietly led his horse inside.
He tied the horse beneath the plum tree, then circled around the main hall, walking down the left corridor toward the side hall.
Inside was a square table. An elderly man sat at the main seat, with a young man sitting to his left.
There were simple dishes and porridge on the table—they were eating breakfast.
The elderly man was thin and sage-like, with a white goatee. When he saw Han Min enter, he pointed at him and tried to speak:
“Min boy—”
Han Min quickly shushed him. “Grandfather.”
Grandfather Han looked confused. The young man whispered softly, “Grandpa, Brother Min slipped out without telling Mother.”
Grandfather Han didn’t quite hear. “Ah?”
The young man repeated it.
Grandfather Han still didn’t hear. “Ah? What?”
The young man had no choice but to raise his voice, “He left, and my mother didn’t know!”
Grandfather Han finally understood and nodded: “Oh!”
This time, everyone in the house heard it clearly.
Han Min heard a loud crash from the kitchen.
He guessed it was either a skillet or a broom.
Moments later, someone shouted his name, “Han Min!”
Mother used his full name.
Han Min glanced at Grandfather. The old man was serenely blowing on his porridge to cool it.
He quietly stood behind the young man. “Brother.”
The young man’s name was Han Shi, half a zodiac cycle older than Han Min.
Looking closely now, he realized Han Shi sat in a wooden wheelchair—his legs likely injured.
Han Shi squeezed Han Min’s hand and patted the back of it, telling him not to worry.
Han Min’s mother’s maiden surname was Yuan, so everyone called her Lady Yuan.
She charged out of the kitchen without even taking off her apron, rolling up her sleeves.
She shouted again: “Han Min!”
Han Min instinctively straightened up, back rigid, hands to his sides. Obediently, he responded, “Your son Minmin is here.”
Lady Yuan snapped, “How dare you—”
She took a breath.
“—go to Liuzhou alone!”
Han Min retreated half a step. Han Shi held his hand, trying to plead, “Mother, A-Min—”
Lady Yuan glared. “And how dare YOU lend him your horse!”
Han Shi choked and slowly let go of Han Min’s hand.
He could no longer help.
Han Min shuffled forward. Before he could speak, Grandfather asked loudly, “Ah? What’s the matter?”
Lady Yuan inhaled deeply, trying to calm herself.
“Your eldest grandson lent his horse to your second grandson, who rode alone to Liuzhou to find the Duke of Ding.”
Han Min quietly corrected, “I didn’t go alone. And I went for disaster relief.”
Grandfather tilted his head. “What?”
Lady Yuan raised her voice, “Your precious, darling grandson rode to Liuzhou to find the Duke of Ding!”
“Oh.” Grandfather turned to Han Min and asked, “Min boy, is your brother’s horse easy to ride?”
A truly doted-upon grandson indeed.
Han Min’s eyes lit up, and he gave a thumbs-up, “I thought it was great.”
Lady Yuan immediately said, “I thought it was terrible.”
Han Min edged closer. “I asked you and Grandfather before I left—both of you said it was fine.”
“At the time, you asked whether we could mortgage the ancestral house, NOT whether you could go to Liuzhou to find the Duke of Ding.”
“Well, once we gathered supplies, we naturally had to deliver them.”
Unable to out-argue him, Lady Yuan could only look him over.
Han Min spread his arms. “Mother, I’m fine. I only mooched meals off the Duke of Ding for a few days.”
He was home. That was what mattered.
Lady Yuan’s face finally softened, though she still pretended to be angry.
“Go change your clothes and wash your hands. Come eat.”
Han Min responded and left through the left corridor.
Behind him, Lady Yuan said, “Tell Pei-ge to get up too. There’s no reason to make your grandfather wait to eat!” (TNote: -ge in the end of the name stands for nicknames adults usually give to children in the family. Not to be mistaken for ‘older brother’ since the pronunciation is the same.)
Grandfather chuckled kindly. “It’s fine. He’s a child—it’s normal he likes to sleep.”
Lady Yuan muttered, “Min boy grew spoiled under your indulgence. If this goes on, one day he’ll elope with the Duke of Ding.”
Han Shi burst into laughter. Lady Yuan shot him a glare, and he immediately lowered his head and resumed eating.
Han Min returned to his room, tossed his small bundle onto the table, and took a clean outfit from the trunk.
While tying his belt, he walked toward the bed.
The bed curtains were lowered; he hooked them up with a copper hook.
On the couch lay a five- or six-year-old boy, stretching and kicking in his sleep.
Grandfather Han had two sons.
The eldest was Han Min’s father, who passed away when Han Min was fourteen.
The younger was Han Min’s uncle, who died a few years ago, leaving behind a wife and child.
The little boy before him was that child—his younger cousin, Han Pei.
His mother, Lady Liu, was frail, so Han Shi and Han Min often took care of him. Sometimes Grandfather also kept him close to teach him reading.
Han Min set the curtain and lay beside him, slipping a hand under the blanket to tickle his palm.
“Pei-ge, wake up.”
Han Pei was drowsy at first, but upon hearing the familiar voice, his eyes snapped open. He shot out of the blankets and threw his arms around Han Min’s neck, tackling him.
“Second Brother, you’re back!”
Han Min nearly sprained his waist and could only lie flat, giving up resistance.
“I’m back, I’m back.”
“Second Brother, where did you go?”
“Liuzhou.”
“What place is Liuzhou? Why did you go?”
“To… find a friend.”
“Is that friend very close to Second Brother?”
Children’s questions were endless.
Han Min said, “Wash up first. I’ll tell you tonight.”
He lifted the little one off, bundled him in the blanket.
“It’s cold outside. Wait here, I’ll get your clothes.”
Han Pei yawned long and sleepy. “Thank you, Second Brother.”
After getting dressed and washing, he went to greet his mother and serve her tea and medicine.
Lady Liu had been ill through early winter but was gradually recovering. Lady Yuan stayed with her, afraid Pei would catch something, so she only kept him briefly.
Then Han Pei held Han Min’s hand as they walked to the side hall.
With a childish voice, he greeted, “Good morning, Grandfather. Good morning, Big Brother.”
Han Min imitated him: “Good morning, Grandfather. Big Brother.”
When they sat down, Han Pei wanted to cling to Han Min.
Han Shi beckoned. “Your second brother just returned this morning. Let him rest. Come here—I’ll get food for you.”
Han Pei glanced at Han Min, then hopped off the stool and ran to Han Shi.
Han Shi lifted him into his seat, spooned him porridge, and picked some dishes for him.
Grandfather turned to Han Min, picked up his chopsticks, and gave him food too.
“Don’t be jealous. Grandpa will serve you.”
Han Pei was five. Han Min… also basically five?
Han Min held his bowl and leaned closer to his grandfather.
While putting food in his bowl, Grandfather asked, “How is Liuzhou?”
At that, Han Shi looked over, expression serious.
Han Min put down his chopsticks and began to reply, but Grandfather waved.
“Eat, eat.”
Han Min continued, “Liuzhou isn’t doing well. the Duke of Gong is overseeing matters, and the Duke of Gong and the Duke of Ding have always held grudges, so…”
Grandfather stroked his goatee and sighed. “The common people suffer.”
Han Min quickly added, “The supplies I brought can help for a while. the Duke of Ding has handled everything—there shouldn’t be problems now.”
“That’s good.”
Grandfather looked at his grandson’s face with a pained expression.
“You were outside for days; your eyes are bruised from exhaustion. After breakfast, go sleep a bit.”
Han Min nodded.
After a pause, Grandfather suddenly asked, “That Young Master Wen Yan of Marquis Wenyuan’s household—is he also in Liuzhou?”
Han Min didn’t know why Grandpa asked, but replied:
“Yes, he’s there. Why?”
“Our family drags you down. Otherwise, you should be like Young Master Wen.”
Han Min froze, then smiled.
“You can forget that. You know perfectly well that Fu Xun and I don’t get along. Seeing each other once or twice is fine, but staying together? We’d fight. Wen Yan gets along with him. I really don’t.”
Grandfather chuckled. “Grandpa forgot.”
Han Min half-coquettishly said, “Fu Xun’s always in the northwest leading troops—sandstorms, wind, cold. I’m not going there. I’m quite happy staying home.”
“Yes, yes, the northwest is bad.”
Han Min quickly changed the subject.
“Grandpa, when I left, you were teaching Pei-ge the Cangjie Primer. How far has he learned?”
At the question, little Pei immediately scrunched up his face, almost in tears.
“Second Brother, I…”
Pitiful.
After breakfast, Grandfather and the brothers forced Han Min to go rest.
It was winter, and the three Han brothers often slept in the same room.
Behind the screen, Han Min removed his clothes while Han Shi and Han Pei remained outside.
Even while sitting in the wheelchair, Han Shi’s tall, broad figure was obvious.
He had sharp brows and eyes; on closer look, his features resembled Han Min’s, only more heroic.
Unlike the scholarly-looking Han Min, he looked more like a young general.
Han Shi asked, “When you were away, were you sleepless every night again?”
Han Min denied it. “No. I was so tired I fell asleep immediately.”
“What you said to Grandfather—was that sincere?”
“Very. Completely.”
Han Shi chuckled lightly, saying nothing.
Han Min finished undressing, climbed onto the couch, and curled under the blankets, only his head exposed.
Han Pei sat at his side, patting him and singing to lull him to sleep, though he soon slumped against him, nearly dozing off himself.
Han Shi watched from beside the bed.
“Sleep. I’ll be outside. When you wake up, I have something to interrogate you about.”
“Huh?” Half-asleep, Han Min muttered, “Then I’ll say… Look, Brother Shi has gone mad.”
“What nonsense? Sleep first. I’ll ask later.”
Author’s Note:
The lines referenced are from Dream of the Red Chamber. During a drinking game, Daiyu quotes Peony Pavilion and Romance of the Western Chamber. Afterwards, Baochai scolds her with two lines:
—“I’m going to interrogate you.”
—“Look, Bao-girl has gone mad.”
So the “thing” the older brother wants to ask is (BEEP—)
The three Han brothers are truly stunningly beautiful (slurp).
