Chapter 72: Respecting and Treasuring Words
When Han Min was young, he often fought with Fu Xun. Han Min was frequently overpowered by the chubby Fu Xun due to his size.
So back then, Han Min’s greatest wish was to pin Fu Xun down and beat him once.
By Yuanyang Lake, in such a beautiful atmosphere, the soon-to-come-of-age Han Min finally said it aloud.
Fu Xun’s face darkened, and he stayed silent for a long time.
“If you dare to write it, I’ll pin you down and beat you right now…”
But that was impossible now. Han Min could write whatever he wanted—what could Fu Xun do about it?
Finally, Fu Xun looked away. “Then write it.”
Han Min picked up his brush, tapped it against his face thoughtfully for a while, and wrote two small lines on the water lantern.
Seeing that Fu Xun still averted his face, he held the lantern directly in front of him. “Is this okay?”
He had already written it—Fu Xun just had to look at it.
Fu Xun glanced helplessly.
On the five-petaled lotus-shaped water lantern, their names were written side by side. Below that, in larger characters, were the words:
Eat well, sleep well.
Extremely mundane, entirely unlike something Han Min would normally write.
But after these two years of experience, Han Min realized that these two things—eating well and sleeping well—were truly the best things in the world.
He smiled at Fu Xun. “If you have no objections, shall we release it?”
“Mm.”
The two squatted by the lake. Han Min cupped water in his hands, pushing the lantern away.
“Before, it was always with Fu Rang and the others. I don’t think I’ve ever come with Your Majesty alone.”
“Yes.”
“What did Your Majesty think I would write at first?”
“Just some silly words.”
“I didn’t…”
Han Min turned to look at him, and coincidentally, Fu Xun also turned to look at him.
They met face to face. Han Min was startled and didn’t continue speaking.
Though the lantern’s light was dim, because they were so close, Fu Xun could see every single one of his long eyelashes, and even hear his breathing.
Feeling embarrassed, Han Min squatted back a few steps and pointed at Fu Xun’s left eyebrow.
“Your Majesty has a scar at the end of your brow.”
He was merely stating a fact, but it seemed to indicate something else: Han Min was paying very close attention to him.
Han Min had noticed, ever since the polo field incident, that he had nearly cried because of Fu Xun. And even today, at Songzhu Hall, Fu Xun had asked him so aggressively why he was there.
Fu Xun suddenly realized that from then until now, Han Min was increasingly attentive to him.
His heart swelled. He quietly calmed himself and spoke in a casual tone: “When we were in the northwest, I dodged an arrow from the opposite side, but didn’t fully avoid it—it grazed me.”
He simply described the incident.
Han Min smiled foolishly. “But normally, it’s not noticeable. Only up close can you see it. Your Majesty’s left brow tip seems slightly shorter.”
Fu Xun was naturally heroic-looking, with deep black, sharp eyebrows that appeared symmetrical. How Han Min noticed the left one was slightly shorter was beyond him.
Han Min thought for a moment, took his brush, and dabbed a little ink on the pad of his right thumb.
He held Fu Xun’s chin with his left hand and supported his face with his right. “Close your eyes. Don’t move.”
Having just handled water, Han Min’s hands were slightly cold, or perhaps Fu Xun’s face was truly warm.
Han Min rubbed the ink on his fingertip across Fu Xun’s brow. Fu Xun, trained in martial arts with heightened senses, felt even more acutely with his eyes closed.
The earthly manifestation of the Wenqu Star deity was using precious ink to paint the emperor’s eyebrows, and the emperor slowed his breathing, afraid of startling the immortal.
Perhaps it lasted a long time, or perhaps only an instant.
Han Min withdrew his hands and studied his work. “Not bad. Looks good.”
The moment Fu Xun opened his eyes, Han Min’s gaze collided with his dark eyes.
Han Min rubbed his nose and looked away. “It’s getting late. Shall we head back?”
“Mm.”
The two stood. Han Min’s legs were numb from squatting, so he stamped them a few times.
Now seated in the carriage, Han Min became more talkative, no longer dazed as before.
Soon they returned to the Han residence. Han Min jumped down, turned, and bowed.
Fu Xun lifted the curtain and chatted casually with him. Nothing important, but Han Min listened earnestly.
Finally about to leave, Han Min suddenly leaned to the window and quickly asked, “I’m being crowned tomorrow. Will Your Majesty come?”
Before Fu Xun could answer, Han Min, feeling embarrassed, added, “Zhuoshi and Bian Zhang will be coming too.”
Still shy, he finally said, “I’ll go in first. Thank you for seeing me back, Your Majesty.”
Han Min stepped onto the front steps, kicked his robe, opened the wooden door, and closed it behind him without looking back.
“Done… System, I’m done for.”
When writing the lantern, he had muted the system.
The system asked, “What’s wrong?”
Han Min patted his chest, “My heartbeat is irregular… I’m sick.”
The system said nothing, only handed him a stack of medical literature.
Outside the old residence, Fu Xun watched him run inside. After a long moment, he finally told the attendants to return to the palace.
Luckily, Han Min had gone inside quickly; otherwise, Fu Xun might have been unable to resist kissing him in front of the attendants, making him cry.
But Han Min left him with a small problem:
Fu Xun leaned in the carriage, touching his left brow.
He didn’t want to wash his face.
That night, after washing up, Han Min went to bed early.
He hugged his long sword on the bed, his thumb unconsciously tracing the engraved characters on the hilt.
The system spoke, but he didn’t hear. He was lost in thought and eventually fell asleep.
A night without dreams. When he awoke, it was Little Jizi coming to wake him.
Blinking, he realized it—today was his crowning.
He hung up his sword, finished washing, dressed, and left the room.
The family had breakfast together. Grandpa Han and Eunuch Yang looked particularly spirited.
Halfway through breakfast, Elder Scholar Liu and Old Physician Liang arrived.
After breakfast and a short rest, the ceremony began in the main hall.
The Han family had just returned to Yong’an. As the former sinning minister’s title had not been revoked, it was inappropriate to host a Eunuch Yangbanquet. Only the elders who had watched Han Min grow up were invited.
June 27th was Han Min’s birthday and a lucky day, so his crowning was set for this day.
The elders had discussed seating arrangements at length.
Grandpa Han, the eldest direct relative and most prestigious in the clan, crowned Han Min and sang praises, sitting in the central seat.
Elder Scholar Liu, Han Min’s teacher, sat beside him.
Eunuch Yang and Old Physician Liang disputed the position on the right, finally Eunuch Yang, who often fed Han Min snacks, won over Liang, who often gave him medicinal tonics.
Seats on the left were for Madam Yuan and Han Shi. Han Shi had respectfully set out his father’s ancestral tablet.
In the center of the hall was a cushion. Han Min changed into his ceremonial attire and knelt on it.
Little Jizi placed the tray aside. As he was about to help remove Han Min’s hair ribbon, Grandpa Han stood. “I’ll do it.”
Han Min lowered his eyes quietly. When the ribbon was removed, soft hair fell on his shoulders.
Grandpa Han gently gathered his hair.
Finally, after the third crowning and praise, he handed Han Min the jade crown.
Thus, three times crowned, thrice praised, receiving Heaven’s blessings.
Grandpa Han touched Han Min’s temples, slightly melancholic. “Can’t pat your head anymore after this.”
Elder Scholar Liu cleared his throat to bring focus back.
Grandpa Han said, “Han Min, 29th-generation descendant of the Han family, given the courtesy name Xici, treasured for words and writings.”
Grandpa Han returned to his seat. Han Min bowed.
Layered ceremonial robes made him heavy, but he rose slowly and bowed again to his grandfather.
The ceremony was complete. The elders still had words of advice.
Grandpa Han leaned forward, holding his hand, “Your teacher and I considered several names. At first, we thought of ‘Jingxi,’ meaning ‘respect and treasure the written word,’ but the two characters were too formal. I guessed you wouldn’t like them, so we took just ‘Xi.’
“Then we thought of ‘Xiyan’—also fine, but Lord Wen of the Marquis Wenyuan Mansion already used it. Using it again would seem odd.
“Finally, we settled on this: Respecting and Treasuring Words, cherishing ink and brush. From now on, as a scholar, uphold your heart in writing.”
Han Min nodded. “I understand.”
Too many words. Elder Scholar Liu cleared his throat impatiently, urging Grandpa Han to yield to his student.
Han Min straightened his robes and bowed. “Teacher.”
Liu held his hand, lowering his voice, “Remember, as an official in court, the emperor’s mind changes easily.”
“Understood.”
“Good. Go talk to them.”
After speaking to the elders, Han Shi said, “Tonight, continue learning the Emei Thrust.”
Han Min’s serious expression vanished, and he half-smiled, “Brother? Big brother?”
Han Shi didn’t let him refuse and handed him the Emei Thrust.
Later, at the ancestral hall, they were busy until afternoon. The crowning ceremony ended.
Han Min sat, talking to his grandfather, when Chu Yu’s voice was heard outside, “Don’t fight me! Han Min being crowned is mine!”
Someone knocked on the door. Grandpa Han waved, “Go play.”
Han Min nodded and went to open the door.
Halfway open, someone pushed in.
Chu Yu fell forward, instinctively grabbed Han Min’s hand, steadied, and held his hand, “Not bad, a little beauty.”
Behind him, Wen Yan pushed his back, “Come in, don’t block the way.”
He looked at Han Min, “Is everything done? Didn’t disturb, right?”
“No.” Han Min shook his head.
Several familiar friends had come. Jiang Shixiong made time, perhaps brought by Liu Shixiong.
A small figure, Liu Yu, tiptoed trying to see Han Min, “Second Brother Han.”
Han Min waved.
They temporarily stepped aside to let Liu Yu go first.
She handed him a brocade box, “Congratulations.”
Han Min thanked her. She couldn’t linger and went to see her sister and Pei’er.
After returning to Yong’an, Liu Yu often visited her sister and Pei’er. She sometimes came with Elder Liu, sometimes alone.
She brought two maids through the corridor. Beyond the moon gate was the inner residence, but someone suddenly emerged from the fake mountain.
Liu Yu stopped, bowed, “Master Han.”
Han Li held several papers, bowed, but his eyes darted about, “The wind blew my poetry sheets out just now, and I chased them here. Didn’t mean to disturb you.”
Liu Yu glanced at the papers, “Found them all?”
“No. Probably blown elsewhere. The poems are crucial to me, but if you…”
Before he could finish, Liu Yu frowned, “Master Han, take more care and find them.”
She turned, flanked by two maids.
Past the moon gate, a maid spotted a paper in the grass. She picked it up, “Probably what Master Han lost. He’s outside. Should I return it?”
“Wait, send a boy. If you return it, someone may spread gossip.”
“Yes, Miss.”
“Next time you visit your sister, remind me to get a few kitchen maids to come along.”
“Why?”
Liu Yu snorted, “How many times has he lost things in front of me? I see someone with ill intentions trying to climb using my family. Failed to apprentice, now scheming—probably read too many stories.”
The maid smiled, “Miss, your insight is keen.”
“Of course. I’ve seen many pearls; how could I not spot the fakes?”
“Ah, then you must marry the ‘real pearl’?”
Another maid whispered, giggling, “Who’s the ‘real pearl’? Among the young men who came with you, any ‘real pearl’?”
Liu Yu frowned deeply, “They? Always cling together, doing everything side by side. That’s not a ‘pearl,’ that’s a ‘pearl necklace.’”
As Liu Yu said, the “pearl necklace” was in Han Min’s room, clinging to each other.
Gifts were stacked on the table and floor. Being both his birthday and crowning, the gifts were naturally valuable.
Han Min brought tea and snacks. Chu Yu urged, “Come open two.”
“Alright.”
Heavy in ceremonial robes, he removed one outer layer and went to the table.
Chu Yu pointed to the large box, “This is from me. Look at this first.”
Inside the box was cushioned with soft bedding to prevent damage.
Startled by the Chu family’s wealth, Han Min recovered and hugged Chu Yu’s waist, “No words. From now on, you’re the boss.”
He called to the group, “Come see my boss.”
They all went to see what was in the box—a huge red coral ornament glowing inside.
Seeing everyone’s astonished eyes, Chu Yu said, “My father picked it. He likes scholars. Some of our family brought this from overseas recently. Thought it fitting. Is it too extravagant?”
He pushed the box aside, “Forget this, too flashy. Look at the others.”
The elders had gifted a full scholar’s set of ink, brushes, paper, and inkstone, plus extra items.
Friends also gave scholarly gifts.
After a morning of unwrapping, Han Min felt tired, saving the rest for evening, lying on the couch, talking intermittently.
Wen Yan sat beside him, “By the way, the most important question—have you chosen your courtesy name?”
Han Min leaned against Chu Yu, half asleep, “Mm.”
“What two characters?”
Xie Yan asked, puzzled, “Wasn’t it ‘Jiao Jiao’?”
Han Min instantly woke up, noticing his serious expression. “I always hear Liu Xizhou call you that. Aren’t you ‘Jiao Jiao’?”
Everyone else laughed. Han Min sat up, tossing his pillow: “If you paid attention, you wouldn’t think my name is ‘Jiao Jiao.’”
Jiang Huan intercepted the pillow and handed it to Liu Ting.
Liu Ting asked, “Grandfather was reviewing books recently. Which two characters were chosen?”
Han Min answered: Xici, Respecting and Treasuring Words.
Chu Yu touched his hair crown, “Han Xici. Good. That’s what we’ll call you from now on.”
Some still preferred ‘Jiao Jiao.’
Han Min said, “If you like, I’ll pick one for you too. Xie Yanyan—Yanyan Smile, beautiful.”
Everyone laughed. He touched Wen Yan’s sleeve, “What do you think? Wen Xiangxiang.”
“Wen Xiangxiang” glared and ignored him.
After joking for a while, Jiang Huan left for business, Liu Ting to school.
Chu Yu patted Han Min’s face, “Good they left. Bianzhang, Xie Yan, and I have one more gift for you.”
Han Min felt uneasy, “You?”
“Come on, you’ll see.”
It was the three of them’s joint gift: “The Emperor and the Imperial Record Official.”
Han Min fell back on the couch, gripping the armrests: “I’m not reading.”
“Come on, it’s fun,” Chu Yu said.
“No!”
Chu Yu looked at Wen Yan and Xie Yan, “Help him.”
Han Min held tighter, “I won’t see it!”
Wen Yan tickled his waist; he laughed and loosened his grip.
They tried to drag him off the couch.
Han Min, “Fine, fine. I’ll put on shoes and come.”
Chu Yu, “Why not do that earlier?”
Han Min sat up, adjusted his robe, and reluctantly put on his shoes.
Wen Yan sat close, “When you took my storybook, did you ever think this day would come?”
Chu Yu, “My favorite book—when I saw it on you, you know how scared I was?”
Xie Yan stayed silent. Han Min, caught in the middle, shivered.
He didn’t know if Mr. Ge sold his storybook with theirs.
After a while, Han Min finished putting on his shoes.
Chu Yu was about to urge him when Han Li knocked, “Little Brother Min, palace messengers are here. Uncle wants you to come quickly.”
Han Min quickly put on shoes, “Okay, coming.”
To the three: “The Emperor is surely here. We can’t go today. Another day.”
He hurried off. Han Li was outside. Looking into the room, piled with gifts, he smiled wryly, “Just outside. Go on.”
Han Min nodded, hurried down the corridor, eyes scanning the courtyard.
Two lines of palace servants held gifts. He instinctively looked ahead. The lead servant was newly promoted near Fu Xun.
Perhaps in the main hall with grandfather.
He sped up, reached the hall, and stopped.
Fu Xun hadn’t come—Wei Gui had.
Grandpa Han smiled, “Why stand there? Come on.”
For some reason, Han Min felt restless. He went over and chatted with Wei Gui, who tapped his hair crown, “Receive the imperial decree first
“Okay.”
“The Emperor, considering Grandpa Han’s age and Han eldest son’s leg ailment, waived formalities.”
Han Min supported his grandfather, bowed in the courtyard.
His chest felt tight; Wei Gui’s words were barely audible.
Two things happened: first, Han Min’s crowning, receiving many gifts from palace servants; second, the former emperor’s decree punishing the Han family for privately compiling national history was incorrect. Fu Xun had investigated, found clues, and was checking further.
This meant the Han family’s tarnished name would soon be cleared.
Hearing this, Han Min relaxed.
He thought: perhaps this was why Fu Xun had been busy.
No matter, he would go to the palace tomorrow.
After seeing the palace servants off, Han Min went with Chu Yu and others to see the birthday gifts they prepared.
After Pine Smoke Ink Guest’s storybook became popular, Baishi Bookstore released news days before selling. On sale day, crowds queued outside.
Today was the same. Han Min watched from the street, relieved.
Seems everyone went for Chancellor and Imperial Record Officer would be ignored.
Chu Yu draped his shoulder, “I came this morning. Our book coincidentally released the same day.”
Han Min nervously smiled, “Really? What a coincidence.”
“Yep. I don’t care about small profits. Told Mr. Ge, anyone buying Chancellor gets Imperial Record Officer free. I’ll get you a copy as a gift. Better than the red coral, right?”
Han Min’s expression went blank.
Author’s Note:
Old Fu didn’t come. Min Min is a bit sad.
But sadness was quickly drowned by shocking news.
Min Min: I’m totally dumbfounded.
