Rebirth of the Treacherous Official’s Madam

Where they met was still the Jin Duke Manor, because the Xun family and Zhu family’s court case was still ongoing at the Judicial Court, and it still hasn’t been a hundred days since Xun Yan’s funeral. After the Linglong Literature Club started up again after the new year, it was just temporarily changed to meeting once a month at the Jin Duke Manor, with Ming Jinrou in charge of handling.

The tenth of the second month was the club’s first gathering in Tianxu year 14. Those family clans that still want to maintain neutral, not wanting to pick a side between the Xun and Zhu family, were somewhat hesitant, not really wanting to let the young ladies in their family continue participating.

But, under Xun Che’s incitement, when Ming Jinrou was preparing the invitations, she also added a line, ‘also holding a welcoming reception for Duanyi Xianzhu in passing’. This was just tantamount to a brightly shining signboard with gold lettering. Regardless of exactly how much misgivings those family that want to remain neutral have, there wasn’t anyone that was really willing to or dare to miss the tea party invitation for Cheng Yanling’s ‘welcoming reception’.

Thus, by the tenth of the second month, the number of young ladies that headed to the Jin Duke Manor to participate in the Linglong Literature Club was actually even more than before. Yu Lingxin, as the club secretary, naturally was also among them.

Just, the preparations for the club this time finally didn’t need Yu Lingxin worrying over anymore. On one hand, it’s because through this half a year of practice and studying, Xun Ying has gotten a lot better at handling the general affairs than before, and on the other hand, it was also because Qi Pei and Xun Xiang had also voluntarily mentioned that they can help out. Considering their stance and position in front of outsiders, Ming Jinrou didn’t completely reject.

That’s why, for once, Yu Lingxin can just relaxingly head to the Jin Duke Manor to attend the meeting, not needing to stress over the miscellaneous affairs in the slightest.

Naturally, very unsurprisingly, as soon as she arrived at the Jin Duke Manor, she just got directly led to Ming Jinrou’s little study in Qinghong Pavilion, receiving her first addition to her dowry in this lifetime, not coming from her grandmother or father, nor her other relatives of her maiden family, but rather, from her father-in-law.

“Pinxiang Kitchen? Isn’t this too valuable?” Yu Lingxin looked at the deed, hesitating, not daring to receive.

The famous dessert shops in the capital were just those five to six establishments in total. Pinxiang Kitchen although can’t compare with the Puwei Brand, Eight Treasure Pavilion, and such old brands that have passed on for over a hundred years in reputation, but its business was still very prosperous. Just looking at the shop being located on Rongan street of the east district, one would just know that this shop was worth at least three to four thousand taels.

This kind of hand truly was too generous. One has to know, in a woman’s dowry, the most important was precisely the farmlands and shops, all resources that can be lived off of.

Wooden articles, chinaware, jewelry, and clothing material, those although look pretty, bright and fresh when using, but they will ultimately wear down. Moreover, no matter how much they were worth, unless to the point of going bankrupt, no one would go pawn them off to exchange for silver.

That’s why, after a girl marries, whether or not she was well-off still depended on how many money growing capitals there were in her dowry. Shops like Pinxiang Kitchen, never mind the Yu family right now, even if it’s the Chang’de Count Manor marrying off Qi Pei, or even the Wen’an Marquis Manor preparing for Xun Ying’s marriage in the future, at most there will just be two to four of these in their dowry, and that was already very respectable and very beneficial.

After all, based on the usual practice in the capital, fourth and fifth rank officials marrying off their daughters, the total sum of the dowry was also nothing more than just between four thousand to eight thousand taels. If a relatively clean and honest family was a little poor, then three to four thousand taels also won’t be laughed at. If the family is wealthy, while also loving towards the daughter, and especially if the husband’s family is of a high status, then the dowry reaching eight thousands taels was also very presentable.

At this time, the Wen’an Marquis just giving out a shop like this, it was practically just equal to those daughters of less well-off families’ entire dowry, so how can Yu Lingxin not hesitate.

Xun Che smiled, “No worries, since father gave it, just take it. Next month will be matching the birthdate cards and discussing the betrothal gifts. I’m the heir. Based on to the customs in the manor, will just be spending a little more to begin with. At present, father and mother have the intention of raising the amount some more, so just take it.”

Yu Lingxin couldn’t help but gaze towards Xun Che, unclear as to whether it was feeling sweet or sour inside.

As the saying goes, an appropriate match was the families being of similar status. When marrying, one of the commonly seen problems was just the value of the betrothal gift and dowry not matching. The best situation was nothing more than an equal share, fifty-fifty. However much the groom’s side sent as the betrothal gift, the bride’s side will just match with an equivalent amount of dowry. If the betrothal gift is more than the dowry, or vice versa, then they will more or less get gossiped and laughed at by outsiders.

TN: All translations outside of are stolen and reposted without permission!

At present, with the Xun and Yu family discussing marriage, it clearly was already marrying low for the groom and marrying high for the bride. Based on the common practice for the heir of a marquis manor in the capital, the betrothal gifts will usually all be around twenty thousand taels. How can the Yu family afford to bring out that much. After all, the Yu family first branch still has Yu Yunxin and Yu Zhenghua, and the third branch still has Yu Zhengshan. The Yu family can’t just empty their family savings just to marry off Yu Lingxin, this one daughter.

Under this kind of circumstance, when discussing the betrothal gifts, the Yu family can only ask the Xun family to slightly lower the amount, reducing some of the betrothal gifts, or if truly unable to match the amount, then they can only have a little less dowry.

Towards this, Yu Lingxin roughly had an understanding inside, also not minding that much. After all, the two families weren’t of equal status. The saying of marrying high and climbing up was unavoidable.

But at present, it wasn’t just him minding, the Wen’an Marquis even gave a shop to let her put in her dowry………

“Silly girl.” Xun Che, seeing that Yu Lingxin’s expression wasn’t pleasant surprise, but rather, seemingly about to cry, couldn’t help but slightly heartache, reaching out to caress her face, “What did this shop count as? Father even feels that it’s too little. A few days ago, when discussing matters with maternal uncle and Jincheng, mentioning how the second branch schemed and clamored back then when I was away from the capital, and how fortunately, at the time, the manor was immediately sealed off, thus catching the person, Jincheng just told father that you were the one that said to immediately seal off the manor. Additionally, it was also you that let Jinrou go block his Highness Qin Wang from entering the manor that time, and so on. That’s why, father went back and told mother that he wanted to have the standard of the betrothal gifts raised again. On the dowry side, we will also help you add some more.”

Yu Lingxin didn’t expect that these matters that have already gone by for several months would actually get mentioned at this time. She practically instinctively just asked back, “You deliberately let Ming eldest young master mention at this time?”

Xun Che hooked the corner of his lips, very much having a bit of pride in his smile, his fingers rubbing against her cheek again, “My wife knows me best.”

Yu Lingxin thought for a moment and just slightly lowered her eyes, “Actually, those were merely all sudden incidents, just momentarily adapting to the change, not considered anything major.”

“How can it not be considered anything major?” Xun Che’s heart was increasingly soft, further going forward a step to have her taken into his arms, “Actually, in your heart, you’re already used to considering for me, considering for our family, even including his Highness Qin Wang, no? You feel that whatever you do for me, it seemingly is all expected and natural, but I don’t feel this way. In this world, how many family members connected by blood would still scheme and backstab one another, and when great disaster befall, each fly their respective way. Only you alone would care for me like this.”

Yu Lingxin gently leaned against him, her gaze still lowered, her voice also increasingly low, “A cup of rice brings gratitude, a bucket of rice brings grudges^[1]. In this world, there are also many that won’t think of other people’s good. How many people all feel that whatever benefit they obtain, it’s all only natural. You having every little thing I’ve done taken to heart like this, I’m…..I’m very happy.”

“Huijun.” Xun Che lightly lifted her chin, meeting with her eyes, his voice similarly lowering, “In the last lifetime, how many imperial physicians all said that I won’t live past eight months. If not for thinking of you, how could I’ve lasted until the day his Highness ascended the throne?”

This time, Yu Lingxin’s nose really did turn sour. She voluntarily kissed his lips, “Then, in this lifetime, you also need to think of me, you absolutely can’t leave me behind again.”

“I won’t, absolutely won’t.” Xun Che had her held even tighter, “If not for fearing that father-in-law will get angry, I even want to have you directly snatched away now.”

“Actually, my father—–” Yu Lingxin buried her head into his arms, “probably……won’t be angered that badly?”

“Ahh….choo!”

Practically in the same moment, Chief Administrator Yu who was currently supervising the project at the imperial tombs north of the capital heavily let out a sneeze.

His subordinate to the side fawningly went forward, “Has Sir Yu caught a spring cold? How about going back to the city to rest for a few days? Heard your noble manor has a big happy matter lately, don’t tire yourself out too much.”

Yu Bocheng’s face couldn’t help but darken, “The official matters are more important. How can I because of private matters just abandon one’s duties, betraying his Majesty’s trust? Moreover, the matters in my home aren’t that urgent either……achoo!”

It was another heavy sneeze. That subordinate awkwardly retreated. Yu Bocheng who has never believed in superstitions was also somewhat angry, thinking to himself, could it be that there was really someone talking about me at this time?

“Achoo!”

In reality, he just caught a cold.

The second month’s spring chill was still a bit cold. Yu Bocheng who has been troubled and distracted for several days in a row, after sneezing for half a day, just became somewhat feverish that night. In the end, he reported his sick leave the next day, returning home to recuperate.

And this rest just lasted for ten some days.

The cold actually wasn’t particularly serious, just coughing here and there occasionally, yet unable to get better. The imperial physician came twice. The first time, it was said to be heat in the lungs, yet the second time, it was made out to be heat in the heart. Thus, the imperial physician just asked Yu Bocheng was there something on his mind making him unable to sleep peacefully, or something causing him to be overly anxious. Yu Bocheng could only vaguely brush over the matter.

Afterwards, it was only in Dongli Residence, facing Yu old madam and Yu Lingxin’s worried questioning, did he finally hesitantly told the truth.

It was a very simple answer. He was just headaching over Yu Lingxin’s dowry.

Back then, when he and Qi-shi divorced, under Yu old madam’s insistence, they did allocate a dowry worth over ten thousand taels for Yu Lingxin. Among it, there were naturally also land deeds, shops, and furniture.

Yu Lingxin although had let Shuangye and Gancao organize those dowry account books for a period of time previously, also inventorying and checking the chinaware, fabric, and such items, but those ultimately were just numbers on the account book.

Yu Bocheng had personally gone to go look at those farmland and shops, also letting someone re-appraise. Right now, in Yu Lingxin’s hands, that dowry that was worth about ten thousand taels back then, after many years of not having anyone carefully managing, in addition to Qi-shi later also secretly moving out some funds, as well as the wear and tear, and such, the total value might just be nine thousand taels.

If not forming marriage ties with the Wen’an Marquis Manor, then nine thousand was also quite a lot. In addition to their manor adding in some more, scraping together enough to make up ten thousand, then it can completely be considered grandly marrying.

But, lately, he’d heard about the amount for the marriages between the marquis manors in the capital, so just very much worried.

Yu old madam was practically between laughter and tears, “Even if it’s like this, you still can’t just fall ill? Which father-in-law would worry over the dowry to the point of collapsing?! When discussing the betrothal gifts, we can just re-discuss!”

Yu Bocheng felt very awkward, “I’m just worried about Ling’er getting nitpicked and criticized in the future………”

Yu Lingxin although was moved by her father’s affections, she still couldn’t help but want to laugh. However, in the end, she still relied on her pretty decent acting skills to have it forcibly pressed down, and at the same time, brought out the deed for Pinxiang Kitchen, “Father, the marquis manor gave a gift for my dowry.”

If this kind of addition to the dowry becoming known by others, what kind of discussions there will be among the relatives, Yu Lingxin currently was unable to find out. However, the effect at present was just after a very peculiar moment of silence, Yu Bocheng’s complexion just became even more unsightly.

Clearly, after lessening some of his worries over his daughter’s dowry, Chief Administrator Yu just gained a sense of defeat as the father, yet losing to the future father-in-law.

However, these complicated feelings didn’t really affect the upcoming marriage arrangement procedures between the Xun and Yu family.

On the second of the third month, the Wen’an Marquis couple, as well as the main matchmaker, the Jin Duke heir, Ming Yunji, brought an entire four carriages full of gifts, going through the rites for matching the birthdate cards, issuing the engagement letter, going through the first engagement step. Furthermore, they also agreed on visiting again three days later to discuss the betrothal gifts, which was the second step of the engagement rites, where the two sides agree on the betrothal gifts and dowry amount.

Since the Wen’an Marquis Manor was this sincere, even though Yu Bocheng was still a bit reluctant, a bit worried, and such, overall he was still gratified and happy. That’s why, the first step in the engagement rites was very smooth.

Just, on the fifth of the third month, when the two sides were discussing the betrothal gifts, the amount the Wen’an Marchioness mentioned still let Yu Bocheng nearly choke on his tea, “Thirty thousand taels?”

[1] This phase basically means when you give a little, people will feel grateful towards you, but if you give too much, people might hold a grudge against you for not giving them more. Overall, it’s about how some people will take what you do for them as granted. It comes from an old story about two neighbors, one rich and one poor. At first, the two families were relatively equal, but during a famine the wealthier neighbor had a more abundant yield, so helped out their less fortunate neighbor by giving them a sheng [old measuring unit for dry grains, one-tenth of a dou] of rice. Their neighbor was very grateful towards them for this because it saved their family from starving to death. Later on, when the wealthier neighbor became even richer and a second famine hits, the poorer family came to borrow rice again and received a dou [old measuring unit] of rice, which was a lot more than before. However, this time, the poorer neighbor weren’t grateful instead feeling that the wealthy neighbor was stingy and should’ve given them more, thus bearing a grudge against them.