Chapter 61: Ready
It was already the end of May.
Han Min’s trip back to Tongzhou had taken up more than half a month.
That meant Fu Xun hadn’t seen him for over half a month.
Looking at him now, Fu Xun thought he seemed even thinner. The flesh he had gained in Yong’an City over the past few months had all disappeared.
Fu Xun asked, “Was everything going smoothly?”
Before Han Min could answer, the steed Fu Xun was riding pressed forward toward Han Min’s horse, snorting, rubbing its neck against the other horse’s neck.
The horse looked very much like its owner. It seemed to understand Fu Xun’s thoughts and was very fond of Han Min’s horse.
Han Min was a little afraid of it and pulled on the reins, stepping back several paces, saying to Fu Xun, “Make it stop.”
Fu Xun cleared his throat and muttered uncomfortably, “Stop.”
But the horse ignored him, pushing harder toward Han Min. Han Min tried to scare it off: “Hey, no! Back! Go—”
Fu Xun tugged back on the reins, pulling the restless horse to a halt. Meeting Han Min’s annoyed gaze, he touched his own nose and explained, “It wanted to go there itself. It’s not my fault.”
Han Min snorted. Just then, in the carriage behind, Han Shi noticed the carriage hadn’t moved for a while and lifted the curtain with his cane. “Min’er, what’s going on?”
Sitting in his wheelchair, he peeked through the curtain and saw Fu Xun on horseback.
So it was him.
Fu Xun smiled kindly at him.
—Hello, big brother.
Han Shi’s expression darkened slightly, and he returned the gesture with a fist salute.
At the same time, Wei Gui arrived with his small squad, each riding fine horses and carrying bows and arrows.
Fu Xun said to Han Min, “See? They really came for hunting.”
Han Min nodded. “Does Your Majesty still intend to hunt?”
Fu Xun cleared his throat twice and casually said, “Since we’ve met, let’s return together.”
“Mm.”
He turned to have Wei Huan and the others resume their journey but saw that they had all dismounted and stood on the ground.
Ah, right. One must salute the emperor.
He had originally intended to dismount as well, but Fu Xun’s horse had fidgeted, and he had forgotten, thinking it was like before.
Just as he thought about getting down, Fu Xun said, “No need to bother. Let’s go.”
So he remained firmly on horseback as Fu Xun turned his horse and rode alongside him.
The small squad that had come with the emperor merged into the procession, assuming protective stances beside the carriage.
Fu Xun turned to Han Min. “Why haven’t you written to me?”
Han Min said, “I did.”
“How many letters?”
“How could I write every day? Even if I wrote, I wouldn’t have time to deliver them.”
Just then, Luobotou flew overhead. Han Min looked up. “Luobotou, right?”
Fu Xun glanced at it and said slowly, “You pampered it like a fat chicken. It’s so heavy that you naturally didn’t have time to deliver it.”
Han Min retorted lightly, “It’s an imperial gift. How could I neglect it?”
Seeing him like this, Fu Xun found it amusing.
He liked teasing Han Min because when Han Min was angry and puffed up, he looked especially adorable.
Fu Xun added, “You dare not neglect it, yet you dare talk back to me.”
“I dare not.”
Han Min naturally got a little annoyed and flicked the horse’s rump in irritation, intending to go ahead.
Suddenly realizing this man was the emperor, he couldn’t pass in front, so he slowed down and turned to speak with Liu Ting.
“Senior Brother, it’s almost noon. You can have lunch at our place, and I’ll take you back afterward.”
“Grandpa will probably come to your house too. Do you want to go home? I still need to check.”
“Alright.”
Grandpa Han’s old friends, upon meeting, wouldn’t wait for the house to be fully ready. They might already be on the way.
Han Min nodded thoughtfully, and catching sight of Fu Xun approaching, he turned and rode off, leaving only his back in view.
Fu Xun wasn’t annoyed. He touched his cheek softly, smiling.
Han Min went to talk with the Wei brothers, the three riding side by side.
Wei Gui looked at him: “You finally returned. Black Pig didn’t cause you trouble, did he?”
Wei Huan gave Han Min a look, and Han Min understood. “No, he’s fine. Now that he’s grown, he’s more steady.”
“Don’t kid yourself.” Wei Gui laughed loudly. “I know him well enough—‘steady’ has never been part of his life.”
Wei Huan complained, “Brother!”
Wei Gui laughed even harder. Han Min thought and asked, “Didn’t Your Majesty say you came for hunting? What game is here?”
“I don’t know either. After breakfast, Your Majesty said we should come, probably just to relax.”
“Oh.”
Wei Huan added, “Or maybe to avoid Princess Song.”
“The Song envoy hasn’t left?”
“Not that soon. They’ll stay a few more months. A Guangning Prince and a Rongning Princess came. The Guangning Prince seems intent on marrying off the princess, constantly inviting Your Majesty to feasts or visits.”
Wei Gui thought for a moment: “But the princess is strange, seems unwilling, always with a cold face.”
Han Min asked, “And Your Majesty?”
“Of course, he doesn’t want to either. A few times he couldn’t refuse, so he went—but coldly, very boring. I stayed by his side, and it was so dull.”
“Why wouldn’t the princess want to?”
“I don’t know. At audiences, she looked surprised seeing Your Majesty.”
Han Min was puzzled and looked at Fu Xun, who turned and smirked at him.
He thought: he is tall and heroic, yet managed to scare the princess?
Wei Huan continued: “Recently, Guangning Prince sent invitations again. Your Majesty refused all. This morning, they came once more, so he came out.”
“I see.”
Han Min remembered jokingly telling Fu Xun about the Song envoy before leaving Tongzhou: “A boy alone at home must protect himself.”
He hadn’t expected Fu Xun to be so bad at handling such matters, forced to hide and make up a poor excuse for hunting.
Poor fellow.
Thinking this, Han Min’s gaze softened with sympathy.
Just as he moved forward, a man on horseback approached Fu Xun from behind. Han Min didn’t advance.
Seeing this, Fu Xun frowned, unwilling to intervene, when someone said, “Your servant Han Li pays respects to Your Majesty.”
Fu Xun turned to look, composed himself.
Today Han Li wore a silk outfit, neat white jade crown, fan at his waist—handsome, refined, scholarly in demeanor.
He hadn’t known who this man appearing midway was. Hearing Han Min speak with Wei Gui, he realized.
Listening to them, Han Li couldn’t help but smile.
Hunting? Your Majesty came personally to meet Han Min, yet Han Min and his silly friends didn’t see it.
Like Han Min, Han Li had been talented since childhood. Growing up, he didn’t need the imperial exams, nor local office, and started in the court as a sixth-rank attendant.
Han Li envied him and felt some jealousy.
Now with a chance to appear before the emperor, Han Min avoided it repeatedly.
Makes sense; Han Min met the emperor often and didn’t care.
Han Li didn’t have the same privileges. No official grandfather, no famous teacher—he had to seize the opportunity.
He tidied his clothes, spurred his horse, and approached.
Fu Xun didn’t know Han Li, only hearing that he was surnamed Han, likely a relative of Han Min.
Without wanting to speak much, Fu Xun nodded slightly and said, “No need for formalities,” then moved toward Han Min.
Han Li continued: “Your servant is a cousin of Lord Han Min. When in Tongzhou, Your Majesty instructed the magistrate to look after the Han family with your servant’s help.”
Fu Xun glanced up and replied, “Mm.”
“These past months, your servant has worked diligently, without slack.”
“Once back, let Han Min choose a few things for you in the palace.”
“Caring for relatives is only right. I am only doing my duty.”
“Let Han Min decide.”
Every sentence revolved around Han Min. Han Li’s quick wit realized Fu Xun valued Han Min greatly. Seeing him glance at Han Min often, clearly intending to summon him, he subtly shifted the topic from the Han family to Han Min himself.
“Lord Han is truly fortunate to be valued by Your Majesty. Yet he doesn’t realize it, thinking the emperor came to hunt. Let me fetch him.”
Fu Xun said, “Let him speak with whom he wishes.”
After saying this, he walked ahead a short distance, distancing himself from Han Li.
Han Li hadn’t finished saying, “Your servant overstepped,” before Fu Xun was already far away.
Han Li glanced at Han Min, assessing him, and raised his value in the emperor’s eyes.
He had thought Han Min away from the capital for two years would act childish and playful, but it turned out he had fared well among the elite, even with the emperor—a pleasant surprise.
Thinking this, he rode to Han Min: “Little Brother Min.”
Wei Gui frowned openly: “So corny.” Not out of malice, just teasing Han Min, calling: “Ah, Little Brother Min? Little Brother Min?”
Han Min gritted his teeth: “Shut up.”
“How come he can call you, but I can’t?”
Han Min was speechless. Han Li said gently, “If it causes quarrels with your friends, I won’t call you that again.”
By noon, they returned to Yong’an City.
The group entered the city in a Eunuch Yang procession, arriving at Gouchen Street.
Han Min dismounted at the gate and hurried forward, lifting the carriage curtain: “Grandpa, big brother, we’re home.”
He helped his grandfather down, the Wei brothers helped with Han Shi and his wheelchair, and Han Min moved to the second carriage.
“Mother, Aunt, we’re home.”
Inside, Han Pei mumbled: “Why didn’t my second brother call me?”
“All right, Pei’er, we’re home!”
Han Min lifted him from the carriage. Seeing his mother and aunt safely down, he carried Han Pei to his grandfather.
After two years away, standing in front of the old residence, Grandpa Han tapped his cane and let out a long sigh, scattering two years’ dust and troubles.
Han Min put Pei’er down, took out the keys: “Grandpa, please open the door.”
Grandpa Han took the key, stepped up three stone steps, and unlocked the copper lock.
The door opened with a sound.
The Han family’s old residence in Yong’an was not large but comfortable in its lived-in way.
Inside was a stone corridor, left yard, right hall, further in the study and rear house.
The yard’s plants were new, still growing, reminiscent of when Grandpa Han had planted them in his youth.
After settling, they had a simple lunch. Fu Xun didn’t return to the palace, staying beside Han Min for a meal.
In the afternoon, they sat in the main hall drinking tea.
Han Min, exhausted from over half a month of travel, relaxed and nearly dozed in his chair.
Fu Xun glanced at him, put down his teacup: “Rest. I only came to see you; I’ve troubled you enough. I’ll leave now.”
Han Min held his grandfather’s cane and was jolted awake by Han Pei: “Second brother, His Majesty is leaving.”
“Oh… alright.”
He handed the cane to his grandfather, about to support him, but Fu Xun said, “No need. You escort me.”
“All right.”
Everyone rose, paying respects as they sent the imperial carriage off. Han Min followed, still tired and unsteady.
Outside, Fu Xun suddenly raised his hand, ruffling Han Min’s hair.
Han Min pushed his hand away: “What are you doing?”
Fu Xun pinched the tip of his hair: “It’s been so long since I last saw you.”
Han Min brushed it off and rolled up his sleeves: “Stop saying such mushy things.”
Fu Xun said, “Then come back to duty tomorrow.”
Ah!
Han Min realized it was a way to tell him to return to work.
Reluctantly, he said, “I understand.”
“Come early, work early, pay off the money early.”
“I understand.”
Ha, wicked feudal landlord.
Fu Xun teased him a bit more, pleased with Han Min’s dazed reaction, then returned to the palace.
The Han family still had matters to arrange. Exhausted, no one dared disturb them further, and with the emperor gone, guests departed.
Liu Ting, about to leave, was instructed by Grandpa Han: “Have your grandfather, Eunuch Yang, and Physician Liang come tomorrow. I am tired today and cannot receive them.”
Liu Ting agreed.
Han Min sent off the guests, closed the house door, stretched, and prepared for a nap.
Han Li also found a room in the Han family residence, unpacked, and surveyed the room.
The furnishings were mostly old, practical, with many scholarly items like paintings, brushes, and ink.
Sitting, he poured tea, puzzled why Fu Xun valued Han Min so highly yet allowed him to live in such a simple house.
Later, seeing Han Min pass in the corridor, Han Li rushed to tidy his clothes, intending to follow him outside.
The two rooms were adjacent. After waiting, Han Li saw no movement and realized Han Min had gone for a nap.
What a perfect time to sleep!
Annoyed, Han Li returned to his room, wanting to nap but alert for Han Min’s next move.
He waited until sunset.
Han Min slept the entire afternoon until Han Pei came to wake him.
Han Li was irritated, thinking him socially naive.
Meanwhile, Han Min remained unaware, sleeping comfortably with Han Pei beside him.
“Come, sleep.”
Han Pei: “Second brother, Aunt said dinner is ready. Hurry up.”
“My mother is always like that. It’s fine. Let’s lie a bit longer.”
“Grandpa said to buy something.”
Han Min sat up: “Why didn’t you say earlier?”
Han Pei: “You didn’t listen, dragged me up.”
They went to find their grandfather, who was brushing his grey beard in the mirror.
“Grandpa?”
Grandpa Han: “Min’er, buy black beans and rice vinegar. Quick. Back, and dinner is ready.”
Han Min agreed, took Han Pei, and left.
Han Pei had been too young to see Yong’an properly before. Holding Han Min’s hand, he exclaimed: “Wow! Second brother, I want that! And that!”
“Let’s buy what Grandpa asked first. It’s late; usually it’s livelier. In a few days, we’ll explore properly.”
“Okay.”
After visiting the grain and spice shops, the spice seller asked: “Young Master, are you dyeing the elders’ hair?”
Han Min realized black beans and vinegar were for hair dye. Grandpa wanted to freshen up before meeting friends.
He nodded. The seller instructed him: “Boil slowly over low heat…”
Han Min noted everything carefully.
On the way home, he bought two pear blossom candies for Han Pei.
They ate them on bamboo sticks, finishing before entering the house.
Dinner was ready, and the family laughed and talked more than usual, happy at Han Min’s return.
Han Min prepared the traditional hair dye for his grandfather, following the tutorial.
He washed Grandpa’s hair and beard, tied a blue cloth around the neck, and applied the paste with a small brush.
“Grandpa, how does it feel?”
“Strong vinegar smell.”
“Just a bit.”
He also applied it to the beard.
“Wait a while, then wash off.”
Han Min set it down, about to sit, but Grandpa Han said: “Cold. Bring a stool.”
He fetched a small stool and sat beside him.
Twilight fell, stars hung high.
Grandpa touched his temple: “Did your teachers have white hair too?”
“Yes.”
He sighed, looking at the stars: “Your Majesty values you greatly.”
“Why suddenly say that, Grandpa?”
“He deliberately came for you. Didn’t you notice?”
“Ah? No, he just wants me on duty tomorrow.”
“Back when Emperor Dezong was alive, I went south to Jiangzhou on business. Emperor Dezong did the same—swooped in to pick people up. Rare is loyalty between emperor and subject. Cherish it.”
Han Min nodded.
He thought a while, sighed again.
Grandpa asked, “What’s wrong?”
“Too bad Grandpa Dezong isn’t here.”
“Why is that a pity?” Grandpa laughed. “He’d be fuming underground: ‘These are my historians, my physicians, my attendants, my scholars—how dare they gather without me?’”
Han Min smiled.
Later, he boiled water and washed Grandpa’s hair clean.
“Looks darker, more spirited.”
“Good. Tomorrow, don’t tell them yet, let them admire first.”
“Okay.”
After sending Grandpa to his room, Han Min returned to his.
He sorted the gifts he brought from Tongzhou, “Wen Bianzhang, Chu Zhuoshi, Senior Brother Jiang, Senior Brother Liu, Xie Dingyuan, Mr. Ge…”
Finally, one for Fu Xun. Slightly meager, he added another upon recalling Grandpa’s words: “Loyalty between emperor and subject is precious; cherish it.”
—
The next day, Han Min entered the palace for duty.
He donned official attire, strapped on his writing pouch, and carried two wooden boxes in.
As usual, the guards checked the boxes at the gate. One pointed at an item: “Young Master Han, what is this?”
“Oh, a gift for Your Majesty.”
“You’re thoughtful.”
Not rushed, he slowly carried the items to the Funing Hall.
Inside, Fu Xun was up, about to take down the long sword on the wall, hearing palace attendants outside: “Young Master Han returned from Tongzhou, bringing gifts?”
Han Min answered: “Yes.”
Fu Xun immediately rehung the sword and seated himself on the couch.
Ready to receive the gifts. I am prepared.
Author’s Note:
Grandpa Han and Old Scholar Liu’s taught Min-min differently:
Grandpa Han: Loyalty between monarch and subject is precious.
Old Scholar Liu: The emperor’s heart is changeable; keep distance.
So the outcomes of the two elderly men’s later years were very different.
Old Fu: Too bad both lessons were wrong. My wife and I are in love and should be very close.
