Rebirth of the Treacherous Official’s Madam

Exactly how powerful was a word?

This question made the young Wen’an Marquis heir very much ponder over for a few days.

Especially, when clearly the same word, how come hearing some people say it, his neck would just stiffen, but hearing another person call out with a faint smile, it was instead heart-penetrating sweet, able to make him in the following ten days uncontrollably raise the corner of his mouth whenever slightly recalling. Repeatedly reminiscing again and again, he still felt it wasn’t enough, constantly thinking of letting her call out one more time.

At the same time, right when this resourceful heir was foolishly laughing to himself randomly, in these ten some days, there were many people around him that wanted to cry but unable to.

Among them, the most serious were naturally the people of the Xun family second branch.

For Xun second master and second madam, although they knew that because the old madam had failed to humiliate Yu Lingxin last time, even getting slapped in the face and angered quite severely by Duanyi Xianzhu, Cheng Yanling, she will probably cause some trouble during the heir’s marriage arrangement period, they nevertheless didn’t expect that such a severe incident would suddenly occur.

The moment Cide Hall caught on fire, Xun second master and second madam really were awfully frightened.

Xun Yan’s case had clamored for that long, and although the saying outside was that Xun Yan had gotten abducted by Zhu second young master and so on, but exactly what the actual situation was like, they themselves were the most clear inside. The Xun family interior, for the time being, not having a fall out and dividing the family, it wasn’t because Xun Nanheng was muddled inside. On one hand, it was considering for the explanation given when wrangling with the Zhu family, as well as the entire family clan’s face. On the other hand, it was just relying on that last bit of sentiment towards the old madam.

If something really were to the happen to the old madam, for the second branch, observing mourning wasn’t necessarily anything major. In any case, their whole family’s future prospects in officialdom, from top to bottom, were merely average. Their eldest son, Xun Ze’s marriage arrangement with the Nie family was already set. The remaining two weren’t in a hurry either.

But, if the old madam really were to pass away, the matter of dividing the family at most will just drag out for another hundred days.

As such, the Xun second branch couple can really be said to have very much exhibited their ‘filial piety’, really just randomly draping on some clothes before rushing to go check on the old madam’s situation. All the way until the imperial physicians all said that the old madam’s situation wasn’t too serious, mostly just having gotten frightened, did they finally somewhat recollect themselves.

Just, they absolutely never expected that the next morning, not even two hours after Xun Nanheng, who’d rushed back from the capital’s army camp, arrived back home, before even having the fire incident explained clearly, several dozen light-armored personal guards just poured into the second branch courtyard like flowing water.

The words Xun Nanheng and Ming Huayue put down after entering side by side, before Xun second master and second madam could fully process, Xun Xiang’s complexion was already deathly pale to the point of not being able to stand properly. If not for Xun Tan who was next to her supporting her, afraid she really would’ve directly slid onto the ground.

As for Xun Ze, he really didn’t know what happened. That’s why, he blankly asked back, “The old madam going to the hot spring estate to recuperate is a good thing, but why do my father and mother all need to go?”

Xun Nanheng indifferently spoke, “Your father, in these years, merely just hung his name under an idle post, not having any actual political achievements. At present, the old madam had gotten frightened, thus needing to peacefully recuperate. You father serving by the bedside can also be considered gaining a filial reputation. In this way, there will be more leeway later when asking for an assignment outside of the capital. The location and the post itself will also be a bit better. Of course, not going with the old madam is also fine. Just, in the future, if the appointment outside of the capital ends up being for the Quan province or Liang province, this kind of remote and isolated area, it’ll be too late to regret.”

“Appointment outside of the capital?” While Xun Ze was still completely dumbstruck, Xun Tan had already lowered his eyes, inwardly relaxing a breath.

“Ze boy and Tan boy both have scholarly honors on hand from the imperial exam, so should also start taking up an actual assignment. As such, no need to go serve the old madam. On the contrary, third miss has always been attentive, so better to go with the old madam.” After saying this, Xun Nanheng directly left, not having any intention of explaining more.

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

Xun second master’s face at this time already went from red to white, and shortly after, turned gray. He although still hasn’t fully figured out exactly what happened overnight, but Nanheng storming off and leaving behind several dozen personal guards, what this attitude meant, he still understood.

Thus, while the outside was still continuously discussing the cause of the Wen’an Marquis Manor fire this time, Xun old madam, as well as the Xun second branch couple and Xun Xiang, under the elite guards’ escort, already quickly moved to the Jade Peak Villa north of the capital to recuperate.

Actually, the old madam, having gotten injured and frightened, going out to recuperate for a few days was actually pretty normal. When hearing about it, others didn’t feel anything of it either. Just, this time going to recuperate, including the Xun second branch couple, all won’t come back to participate in the heir’s wedding. This was just a bit unusual.

Just, this didn’t need to be announced to the outside. The Yu family, including Yu Lingxin, also didn’t receive news in advance.

Of course, the Yu family was also completely busy with everyone running about.

The dowry add-on Xun Che gave Yu Lingxin that day on the fifth of the sixth month, when holding in hand, it seemingly was very light, just a few sheets of paper inside a flat brocade case. However, after opening up for a look, she was still slightly shocked.

Silk fabric shop and medicinal ingredient shop, one each, three hundred mu^[1] of fertile land in the capital’s suburbs, one farmland estate, and one villa.

Based on the market value of eight to ten taels a mu for the fertile land in the capital’s suburbs, these deeds for the shops and farmland added together were already worth over ten thousand taels.

Xun Che spoke very nonchalantly, “The shops are from his Highness Qin Wang. Firstly, thanking you for looking after the account books, and secondly, the vermillion umbrella incident, it’s also thanks to you that it was discovered early. As for these land and estate, it’s my generosity as an ‘older cousin’. Already told you to not worry and just wait to grandly marry.”

These words, Yu Lingxin accepted rather calmly. Just, when taking it back home and telling her grandmother and father that she’d obtained this last bit of dowry add-on, and without needing the Yu family to take out money from the household funds, she just managed to gather more than thirty thousand taels worth of dowry, Yu old madam and Yu Bocheng were both dumbstruck. The inside of Dongli Residence was very still for a moment. In the end, they could only express that the Yu family will use money from the household funds to rush order a batch of the best mahogany chests for Yu Lingxin. Additionally, they will use another three thousand taels of silver to convert part of the betrothal gifts. In other words, ninety percent of the betrothal gifts, in addition to the three thousand taels in silver, all let Yu Lingxin take with her. It can also be considered their feelings for her as her maiden family.

Yu Lingxin calmly nodded, just smiling, “All listen to grandmother and father. When it comes to holding a wedding, it’s still the most important for it to be harmonious at home. Regardless of what, don’t break the harmony at home.”

At this time, Su-shi, who was sitting to the side, hearing those numbers, and seeing the eldest miss smiling like a flower, also felt like she was dreaming, practically instinctively nodding to Yu Lingxin’s words.

At this time, she also faintly felt that she seemingly somewhat understood the eldest miss for the first time. Including the Lotus Heart Soothing Pill scheme, the Wenhua Academy name slot, the household funds and dowry, why was Yu Lingxin always very magnanimous, never bothering too much nor pursuing the matter?

At present, seeing Yu Lingxin’s ‘dowry add-ons’, unknowingly just gaining more than twenty thousand taels of dowry add-ons like running water, then recalling how Duanyi Xianzhu and the Jin Duke Manor young miss were all close with Yu Lingxin like sisters, Su-shi finally understood.

Many things, Yu Lingxin didn’t care about because it simply wasn’t worth letting her care about.

At this point now, the Yu family was also quite harmonious. The household funds completely didn’t suffer, and the eldest miss’s face was also even more honorable. Then, the only thing left to do was just use the quickest speed to prepare the chests for the dowry and make the inventory booklets, as well as the matters related to the wedding day itself.

The twelfth of the sixth month was the formal date for adding to the dowry, but in reality, it was just a routine procedure, the friends and relatives coming over again to drink tea and say some auspicious words, giving a little red packet, or little accessory, and such. Seeing the mahogany chests that have already piled up in two courtyards and the storerooms, everyone all inwardly clicked their tongue. The Yu family eldest miss sure enough was marrying high. This was at least sixty-four trunks?

On this day, Yu Lingxin also received Qi-shi’s reply sent over from the Jiang province. Sure enough, she’d written a few handwritten calligraphy congratulating the marriage as the dowry gift. At the same time, in the letter, she very not that tactfully expressed that she was too poor, not having the money to send her off, so won’t be coming to the capital.

Yu Lingxin very cheerfully put away the letter, directly locking it up together with the other letters similarly crying about being poor.

The fifteenth was the day the Yu family offered sacrifices to the ancestors. Yu old madam shedded tears for a while in front of the old head minister’s memorial tablet, but she also very happily prayed for half a day, thanking the ancestors’ spirits for blessing the descendants.

The sixteenth was for laying the bedsheets, the day where the maiden family send people to the husband’s family to decorate the bridal chamber. Because Su-shi didn’t have any experience, Yu old madam personally instructed Wen mama for half a day, absolutely need to be careful in all aspects. However, in the end, before even going out, they just heard the outside report that the Grand Elder Princess Manor had sent a female official over to help, and Madam Cheng, this ‘distantly related aunt’, will also take the trip.

Thus, the Yu family once again nervously yet also very relaxingly ‘participated’ in the laying of the bedsheets for a noble household. The wooden furnitures and brocade canopies in the bridal chamber were originally all given by Grand Elder Princess Zhaoning. The princess manor’s female official was further very skillful with the arrangements and decorations, having every area all arranged appropriately.

And Madam Cheng, who’d symbolically gone over to help, naturally chatted very happily Ming Huayue, agreeing to let the children interact more from now on, all treating each other as one’s own siblings.

Yu Lingxin naturally understood Madam Cheng’s meaning. Just, at this time, she didn’t have the excess energy to think about the future between Cheng Yanling and Ming Jincheng.

Because, the seventeenth of the sixth month, the day of her wedding in this life, will soon arrive.

Although she really shouldn’t, and there also wasn’t the need, Yu Lingxin still began feeling nervous.

This kind of nervousness even started from the night of the sixteenth. Yu Bocheng had already asked for a leave for his daughter’s wedding. During the evening meal, the whole family was all in Dongli Residence.

According to tradition, there were naturally many things to pay attention to. From the dishes and drinks, to the fruits, all had some auspicious meaning. Just, this evening meal was abnormally silent. Yu old madam personally picked up two shrimps with the chopstick for Yu Lingxin, letting her eat more of what she likes to eat. Immediately after, she just somewhat uncontrollably choked with emotions, forcibly turning away.

Yu Bocheng didn’t say a single word, similarly putting food in his daughter’s bowl, afterwards, also picking some for his mother. After that, he just drank wine cup after cup.

Yu Lingxin forcibly smiled, wanting to tell her grandmother and father to take care of themselves, but meeting her father’s increasingly red eyes, she also somewhat choked up.

To the side, Su-shi and Yu Yunxin ate very awkwardly, and could only lighten their movements, practically not making a sound.

This meal difficulty carried on for a full two cups of tea time. In the end, it was still the eight year old Yu Zhenghua that quietly went asked his older tang brother, Yu Zhengshan, next to him, “Older brother, is eldest sister marrying a bad guy?”

“Pfff…..” The mouthful of soup that Su-shi had just soundlessly drank directly sprayed out, “Hua’er, what nonsense are you saying!”

Yu Zhenghua innocently looked towards his mother, “Then, why is grandmother and daddy that sad?”

It was ultimately the innocent words of a child. Yu old madam couldn’t help but laugh. Yu Lingxin and Yu Zhengshan also laughed. Yu Zhengshan stroked his little tang brother’s head, “No, grandmother and eldest uncle just can’t bear to part with eldest sister.”

Yu Zhenghua thought for a moment, “But, if eldest sister marries well, eldest sister will be happy, right? Then, won’t grandmother and daddy be happy?”

“Happy, daddy is happy!” Yu Bocheng let out a sigh and solemnly looked towards Yu Lingxin, “Ling’er, in the future, you need to nicely live out your days. If that brat bullies you, I will just fight him.”

Yu Lingxin endured and endured, but in the end, still laughed, “Father, you might not be able to win against him.”

[1] Mu – Unit of measurement for fields equal to one fifteenth of a hectare.