Rebirth of the Treacherous Official’s Madam

Caressing the bright red gold lettering engagement letter and gift letter^[1] in hand, Yu Lingxin fell silent for a while, her eyes unexpectedly heating up a little.

The countless old dreams of the past life, all the hard work in this life, messily interweaving together, all the flavors mixing in one place, and in the end, still transformed into a long-lasting sweet aftertaste.

This overly winding road finally gradually led towards the proper path.

Just, the twists and turns on this path didn’t really, because they will soon be able to rightfully travel alongside one another, just lessen a little.

For instance, her father, Yu Bocheng’s practically unshakeable perseverance, “Ling’er, no need to worry about your dowry. Your father, I, have already thought it out.” Yu Bocheng, who personally took the engagement letter and gift letter to Lianyi Residence, after a moment of silence, patted his daughter’s shoulder, his words unexpectedly revealing a kind of ‘ready to die for a righteous cause’ stance.

Yu Lingxin’s heart immediately jumped. What did her father want to do? She naturally knew how much money their family had. How can they really gather thirty thousand for the dowry this time? If really that way, then they would have no choice but to sell farmland, or use the money prepared for her younger siblings.

Yu Bocheng however was unwilling to say more, just urging Yu Lingxin to peacefully focus on her needlework, and additionally, also spend some more time with her grandmother. Afterwards, he just got up and left.

Yu Lingxin was increasingly uneasy, attempting to chase out a few steps, but still got sent back by her father. Yu Bocheng’s stubbornness already carried the determination of ‘I will definitely be able to let my daughter marry grandly!’ Amidst being moved, Yu Lingxin was also very much between laughter and tears.

Of course, this attitude of Yu Bocheng’s, the effect on Su-shi was just making her cry, cry, and cry. Because after discussing the wedding date on the eighteenth of the fourth month, in the two months prior to the formal marriage, the two most important matters for the Yu family, one was holding Yu Lingxin’s hairpin ceremony, and the other was preparing the dowry.

The former was still not a problem, a ceremony commonly held for engaged young ladies. It was nothing more than just inviting the guest of honor and the ceremonial host. But, the latter was practically asking for the Yu family’s life. Yu Lingxin’s own dowry in her hands, after re-evaluating the value, was just nine thousand taels. Even if adding the dowry add-ons she received these days from the distant relatives, as well as the dessert shop from the Wen’an Marquis, in total, it was still less than fourteen thousand taels, not even reaching half of the betrothal gift amount.

And when the Xun family sent the betrothal gifts, on the gift list, although it was written as exactly thirty thousand taels, but in reality, when the Yu family was inventorying these gifts into the storeroom, they discovered that the value already exceeded thirty-two thousand taels. This both showed the groom’s family’s earnest generosity, while also more or less having the intention of secretly helping out a little.

Because, based on Great Sheng’s marriage customs, for the great majority of respectable families, all will have eighty percent, or even up to ninety percent, of the betrothal gifts all given to the bride to take with her as dowry, just symbolically leaving behind a small portion, as well as a few jade artifacts specifically used for the engagement.

In other words, if Yu Lingxin really has thirty thousand taels of dowry, then the final amount that she will take with her should be her own family’s dowry of thirty thousand in addition to eighty to ninety percent of the betrothal gift. The total amount should be over fifty thousand taels. This was truly the dignity of the bride. After all, a girl’s dowry was the wealth they will live off of for the great majority of their life, and at the same time, will also pass down to their own children.

The Wen’an Marquis Manor secretly giving some more like this was also equivalent to indirectly adding on to Yu Lingxin’s dowry. Towards this, Yu Bocheng was very grateful, feeling that the in-law family’s big hand like this was very considerate and generous, so he also needed to put out an equal amount of sincerity.

But, Su-shi really was about to have a mental breakdown. She wasn’t after the dowry originally in Yu Lingxin’s hand, nor after however much left behind from the Xun family’s betrothal gift, but their own family still needed to live. How can they throw in everything just for the sake of face?

As such, in the ten some days at the end of the fourth month, the Yu manor from top to bottom was all in a frenzy. On one hand, Yu old madam although also somewhat headached over the discrepancy between the betrothal gift and dowry, but what she worried about more was still regarding the purchase of the various furnitures, head ornaments, and clothing material. Everyday, from waking up to nightfall, she was all busy nonstop picking things and looking over catalogs. On the other hand, it was just Yu Bocheng and Su-shi’s big and small quarrels, from the money in the household funds to the private savings, then to the children’s future, and so on.

Amidst this kind of frenzy like flowing water, Yu Lingxin was also very helpless. Actually, she felt that Su-shi’s worries were indeed reasonable.

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

To put it bluntly, living in this world, one ultimately needed to assess one’s capabilities and act accordingly. Her father’s feelings, she can understand, and also very grateful towards, but the Yu family’s wealth differed from the Xun family’s by more than ten times. She didn’t need to put up such a front. Getting into a stalemate would instead cause her maiden family to harbor complaints, so why go that far.

But, at this time, Yu Bocheng was actually particularly stubborn, and Yu old madam was also indecisive and very busy, so didn’t really intervene in Yu Bocheng and Su-shi’s quarrels. Yu Lingxin went to urge twice, but it was also useless. The Yu family just tossed around in this kind of pandemonium all the way until the first of the fifth month.

Meanwhile, the state of the front court and inner palace was also unconsciously changing subtly. Although Xuan Emperor ordered to establish a manor outside the palace for the four princes, including the di born fourth prince, Zhao Wang, he nevertheless didn’t show any intentions of leaving any one of them to move into the eastern palace, Chonghua Hall^[2]. However, that memorandum of the Ying Duke’s that was practically equal to accusing Xuan Emperor of favoring the concubine over the main wife still to a certain extent let the imperial harem’s state of affairs once again lean towards the empress slightly.

The most obvious example was just the Duanyang^[3] palace banquet on the fifth of the fifth month. Empress Wen had already more or less finished recuperating. Reportedly, Changchun Palace’s Noble Consort Zhu’s body had also recovered quite a bit, but only Empress Wen and Imperial Concubine Nie, who recently accompanied the emperor relatively frequently, came out to manage the palace banquet. Additionally, there were also a few unfavored imperial concubines that assisted. Yet, Noble Consort Zhu who stood out the most in past years was completely unseen.

Normally, for this kind of palace banquet, only the womenfolk of the imperial household, as well as titled madams of the third rank and higher, can enter the palace. The Yu family, ever since the old head minister passed away, just didn’t have anything to do with this kind of imperial family palace banquet anymore. But, this year, because of the marriage with the Xun family, Empress Wen actually specially issued a decree to pass on a message, summoning Yu Lingxin to enter the palace for the Duanyang palace banquet.

The Yu family was naturally both shocked and nervous. Yu Lingxin actually wasn’t surprised in the slightest, even not caring about it that much. On one hand, it was because in the past life, as Xun Che’s wife, she’d entered the palace many times, so already a walk in the park.

And on the other hand, she’d also long confirmed with Xun Che through letters, after Empress Wen recover this time, she probably will set her mind on further winning over the Wen’an Marquis and Jin Duke Manor. That’s why, summoning her into the palace was probably for adding to her dowry and granting honor, adding splendor for this marriage of the Xun family’s, so absolutely won’t look for trouble.

Very soon, the fifth of the fifth month arrived. Just like before, Ming Jinrou came over to pick her up. Just, this time, the other person in the carriage wasn’t Xun Ying, but instead Duanyi Xianzhu, Cheng Yanling.

Seeing Cheng Yanling, Yu Lingxin just felt even more reassured. Last time, retorting Xun old madam on the spot last time was actually just a thousandth of Cheng Yanling’s might. According to her memories from the past life and this life, Duanyi Xianzhu’s temper completely took after her grandmother, Grand Elder Princess Zhaoning. Although her imperial blood wasn’t very high, but her military achievements and glory was able to make up for everything. With her coming along, never mind Empress Wen, even Xuan Emperor will all need to be careful.

Just, after arriving in the palace, to still not see Xun Ying, Yu Lingxin was just a bit surprised.

Ming Jinrou hooked the corner of her mouth, batting her eyes, “Second cousin said she’s sick.”

Yu Lingxin immediately understood. Xun Ying’s absent should be the Wen’an Marquis Manor secretly hinting towards the empress, and even Xuan Emperor, their attitude regarding the imperial selection.

Actually, in the capital, no one felt that Xun Ying would participate in the imperial selection, or rather, even if participating, it would also just be going through the motions. After all, the Xun family’s lawsuit with the Zhu family previously was that intense. And between the Xun and Zhu family, there was even Xun Yan’s death. It was absolutely impossible for Wu Wang and Wei Wang to select a Xun family daughter as a consort.

As for Qin Wang, he previously got rumored to have beaten his study companion, and afterwards, at Xun old madam’s birthday banquet, had that kind of conflict, once again hitting Xun Che in public, so how could the Xun family be willing to have their daughter married to Qin Wang. Although when it comes to selecting consorts for the imperial family, it was the subjects offering up, and the imperial family selecting, but the princes’ selecting a consort was ultimately for the sake of roping in support and forming ties, and not incurring grudges and becoming enemies.

All in all, regardless of what, Xun Ying not appearing at the Duanyang palace banquet still clearly indicated the Xun family’s very clear standing and attitude. Empress Wen didn’t really mind either, just after softly greeting and consoling a few words at the banquet, directly called Yu Lingxin before her.

This was Yu Lingxin’s first time meeting Empress Wen in this lifetime, but she also wasn’t considered too unfamiliar. In the past life, Yiyang Marquis Manor Wen family although got slaughtered to extinction by Xun Che on this sickbed, but for the sake of Qin Wang’s reputation, Empress Wen in the palace and the eastern palace side consort, Wen Ruoyao, still preserved their life, also getting promoted to Empress Dowager Wen and Noble Concubine Wen after Qin Wang ascended the throne.

In the past life, Yu Lingxin had met Empress Dowager Wen a few times. At the time, she just felt that the noble woman upon the phoenix seat was dignified yet withered. Although her appearance and look was maintained and groomed very appropriately, but there wasn’t the slightest life in her eyes, practically just a buddha statue that can just exchange pleasantries.

Now, meeting the current Empress Wen, her eyes and brows were about the same as her memories, dignified and graceful, but the smile in her eyes, the friendly and gentle look on her face, still very enthusiastically asking about the marriage and the matters at home, she was like as if really just a close and amiable elder.

Yu Lingxin answered one by one according to the rules, cautious and careful with her words, not daring to be rude in the slightest. And Empress Wen naturally didn’t have the intention of giving her trouble either, just softly asking a few more words. Shortly after, she just began praising how Yu Lingxin had a sense of propriety, how beautiful and gentle she was, also issuing a decree to bestow jade artifacts and such to add to her dowry.

At this time, Imperial Concubine Nie and the other imperial concubines, as well as the imperial relatives and titled madams, naturally needed to follow along, also going through a round of praising, also repeatedly congratulating Ming Huayue. As Ming Huayue smilingly responded, she also had a bit of pride inside.

Although everyone were all saying it out of courtesy, but those flattering words, Yu Lingxin indeed was able shoulder. Ming Huayue previously was still a bit worried. This was Yu Lingxin’s first time entering the palace, also needing to meet the empress, imperial concubines, and quite a few elders of the imperial clan, compared with the noble daughters of imperial clan like Duanyi Xianzhu that she’d previously met, it was completely different. That’s why, she still specially ask Ming Jinrou to go pick up Yu Lingxin, so that she can advise a little on the way. Ming Huayue also specially waited at the palace gate, just for the sake of looking after her future daughter-in-law.

Who knew that after entering the palace, Ming Huayue very quickly sensed that Yu Lingxin seemingly was very relaxed. The entire way, towards the environment, rules, and etiquette in the palace, she completely wasn’t unfamiliar or nervous, seemingly even more at ease than Cheng Yanling who’d mostly resided in the Chen province.

The outsiders’ feelings were also the same. Previously, when they’d heard that the Wen’an Marquis Manor settled on the Yu family young lady for the heir, Xun Che, there were all kinds of guess and speculations. However, when really seeing her in person, they discovered that this young lady although was very young, also having stunning beauty that surpassed others, yet her movements this dignified and composed, her bearing natural, they just felt that it was very reasonable. No wonder despite having a mediocre family background, she was still able to be this highly regarded by the Wen’an Marquis Manor.

All in all, this round of bestowments for her dowry was very smooth and lively. Just thanking, Yu Lingxin thanked for half a day. Shortly after, following the etiquette, she returned to her own seat. Just as she was about to speak with Ming Jinrou, she just heard the empress call Cheng Yanling over, still filled with a gentle and affectionate smile, also asking Cheng Yanling whether or not she was used to living in the capital and so on.

Cheng Yanling spoke naturally, still that candid, “Replying to your Highness, everything is well. Just, the hunting grounds in the capital are a bit smaller than Chen province’s. Jincheng rode horses with me a few times. I’m still adapting.”

“That’s good.” Empress Wen’s smile didn’t have any change. However, the Yiyang Marquis couple, as well as the Wen family young ladies, on the other side, their complexions were actually very interesting.

[1] These two are two of the three documents in traditional marriage customs, part of the three documents and six rites of marriage. The engagement letter is just a formal document given to the bride’s family by the groom’s family when getting engaged, sort of a formal acknowledgement of the engagement. The letter of gifts is a document used during the engagement ceremony. It will list out the name and exact amount of the items in the betrothal gifts. The last of the three documents is the welcoming letter, which is a document given to the bride by the groom when welcoming the bride through the door.

[2] Just like how the central palace is another word for the empress’s residence, while Zhaoyang Hall is the name of her residence, the eastern palace refers to the crown prince’s residence, while its name is Chonghua Hall.

[3] Duanyang is another name for the dragon boat festival, also known as the double fifth festival. Duanyang just means midyear.