Rebirth of the Treacherous Official’s Madam

“Qi Pei probably won’t be willing to be a side consort, right?” Yu Lingxin thought for a moment. The Chang’de Count Manor can also be considered a well-known neutral family in the capital, not offending anyone, but also not overly close with anyone either.

Even if the Xun family is the Chang’de Countess’s maiden family, the people of the Qi family can still maintain a lukewarm relationship, neither distant nor close. Of course, this more or less was also due to the subtle relationship between the Xun family’s two branches.

As for Qi Pei, her marriage arrangement in the previous life was also very complicated, because at the time, the imperial selection didn’t occur, and the wrestling match between Zhaoyang Hall and Changchun Palace was also in even more of a deadlock. That’s why, Qi Pei first got engaged with Chang province’s Pingyang Marquis Manor, but also continuously dragged out the wedding date. And once the Zhu family fell from power, and the state of affairs became clear, the marriage arrangement between the Qi family and Pingyang Marquis Manor also had changes. The specific circumstances, she wasn’t too clear about, but by Tianxu year 18, when Yu Lingxin returned to the capital, Qi Pei had already become Cabinet Minister Zeng’s daughter-in-law.

Although it was as Zeng eldest young master’s second wife, but the original wife in front didn’t leave behind any children. The Zeng family’s principles were also very good, so can also be considered a pretty good marriage fate.

Remembering the past, Yu Lingxin sighed again, “At the time, when I heard that Qi Pei had married into Cabinet Minister Zeng’s family, I just felt that her thoughts were different from others. For the sake of marrying into a household that held actual power, being the second wife of a widower was also fine. Then, will she want to marry his Highness Qin Wang as a side consort? After all, in terms of birth mother, his Highness Qin Wang actually has the lowest birth, merely having been raised before the empress. But, who in the world doesn’t know that the empress still has her own biological son, the fourth prince?”

There was another layer in here that she didn’t need to explain, and that was just, as rebirthers, she and Xun Che were aware that the one that ascended the throne in the past life was Qin Wang. However, for others, based on the current state of affairs, if Changchun Palace regains imperial favor, then whose hand the deer falls to, no one will know for sure. And to retreat a step, even if Noble Consort Zhu and her sons truly are unable to rise up again, as long as one waits another three to four years, the fourth prince Zhao Wang, this di born prince, will also come of age, having the highest chance of entering the eastern palace.

If able to become the future emperor’s side consort, then perhaps Qi Pei would still be willing, but if she’s unsure whether or not Qin Wang can ascend the throne in the future, then where do these thoughts come from?

“Qi Pei is indeed prideful and arrogant,” Xun Che’s smile more or less carried a bit of contempt, “but her abilities may not necessarily be able to match her ambitions. Over the years, the old madam has loved Xun Yan and Qi Pei all the same, but between these two cousins, there were also some secret competition. On the surface, they appear as if equally excellent, but in reality, Qi Pei’s brains and means all fell short of Xun Yan’s by a large chunk. Only when comparing with Xun Xiang is it a bit better. Actually, she simply isn’t worth worrying over.”

Yu Lingxin held Xun Che by his neck, turning her head to look at him, “En, looking at it like this, you understand Qi Pei very well.”

Xun Che squeezed Yu Lingxin’s waist, “Dear wife, why don’t you try making fun of your husband again? How is Qi Pei worth me understanding? The Qi family’s thoughts and tendencies, sweeping a glance over, would one not be able to understand? What I care about is the empress’s ideas and the Wen family’s movements.”

Yu Lingxin bent her fingers and counted the days, “In another four days, it will be Chang’de Countess’s birthday. When time comes, probably can make out some clues?”

“En.” Xun Che nodded, suddenly extending his hand under Yu Lingxin’s knees, easily having her picked up horizontally, “After attending the Qi family’s birthday banquet, my marriage break will come to an end. That’s why, it’s better for us to treasure the moment now.”

Seeing his expression, Yu Lingxin was just startled, “It’s still the afternoon!”

However, Xun Che still directly carried her towards the east side room of the study, “En, afternoon, so can take a short nap.”

“But this couch is too narrow!” Yu Lingxin attempted to protest.

Xun Che deeply smiled, “Then, I will just have you held tighter.”

Seeing him smile with his brows smoothed out, Yu Lingxin also suddenly softened inside. Regardless whether it’s the past life or this life, Xun Che truly has it too hard. She should still give him some more happiness.

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

Thinking to here, her smile also increasingly grew wider, “I can also hold you.”

“Really?” Xun Che was slightly surprised, having her placed down.

Yu Lingxin sure enough turned her body, spreading her arms, and like coaxing a child, “Come here.”

Then, what was he still waiting for!

As the sounds in the study gradually became unsuitable for hearing, Chen Qiao and the first rank servant girl, Jianjia, who were standing by in attendance outside mutually shared a glance, and then lifted their heads to look at Qingyu Pavilion’s inscription board^[1].

En, ever since the young madam married in, this rain(yu) character actually can be removed. The heir’s mood every day has been very bright!

(T/N: Qingyu translates to rain or shine, qing meaning clear weather, and yu meaning rain.)

In the following days, it was indeed just as how they’d perceived, no matter what kind of letter or news he received, as long as Yu Lingxin was by his side, Xun Che’s mood continuously remained very bright.

All the way until the twenty-sixth of the sixth month, before going to the Qi manor to attend the Chang’de Countess’s birthday celebration, Xun Che, who had been in an elated mood for several days, finally regained a bit of gravity between his brows.

“What’s wrong?” Seeing Xun Che holding a short letter lost in thought, Yu Lingxin waited and waited, but seeing how he still didn’t speak, she just voluntarily asked, “Is there some unforeseen change on the Jin Duke Manor’s side?”

Xun Che shook his head, “No, these days, the Ming family has been busy preparing for Jinrou’s participation in the selection. Her name has already been reported up. Tenth of the seventh month will be the primary selection. Maternal uncle also stopped being angry. It’s the palace. Lately, it seems to be very harmonious.”

“Harmonious?” Yu Lingxin couldn’t help but frown, “Is it Changchun Palace making a move again?”

The imperial family being harmonious, the great majority of the times was all just a saying. The only one that genuinely hoped for harmony, as well as believed that the imperial harem really can get along harmoniously was probably just the emperor alone.

For the others, who would believe that under that so called deferential and peaceful appearance, wasn’t a knife preparing to stab someone? Especially considering that Changchun Palace and Zhaoyang Hall has fought openly and secretly for this many years, and in the third month, blood had spilled in both palaces. Noble Consort Zhu and Empress Wen have both genuinely bled and staked their life in order to reach this current situation.

“En. Noble Consort Zhu, at present, has fully recovered from her injuries, and in the past few days, she has been using her own blood to transcribe scriptures, reflecting over her own mistakes. The emperor is very moved.” Xun Che had the short letter handed over to Yu Lingxin, “Just burn it after you finish reading it.”

Yu Lingxin understood the mockery in Xun Che’s words, but the solemnness between his brows still made her worried. Taking that short letter, she quickly read through it twice, the rough meaning, aside from what Xun Che had said, also mentioned how Noble Consort Zhu personally asked to be demoted to an imperial concubine, also voluntarily going to Zhaoyang Hall to kowtow towards the empress and admit her mistakes, expressing that in the past, she’d been arrogant, rude, and so on.

That’s why, at present, Xuan Emperor has already issued an order to the Zongjing Bureau, perfunctorily having Noble Consort Zhu demoted by a rank to a consort, using her titled conferred in the early years, Li Consort^[2]. The empress also expressed very magnanimously her forgiveness towards Li Consort, the imperial harem entirely harmonious.

“Isn’t this just blatantly putting on an act?” Yu Lingxin casually lit the letter over the candle, burning it, and afterwards, gazed towards Xun Che again, “His Majesty really believed it?”

Xun Che sneered, taking her hand and walking outwards, “His Majesty is happily willing to believe.”

Yu Lingxin shook her head, not knowing what else to say.

Xun Che laughed again, “We can talk about it later. Let’s head to the Qi manor first. That is the good place where we first reunited this day last year.”

Thinking it over, Yu Lingxin was also filled with emotions, and couldn’t help but joke a few words about the matters in the past. The two of them headed to Yuzhu Hall together, greeting Xun Nanheng and Ming Huayue. Shortly after, they followed their parents to the Chang’de Count Manor together.

Ever since arguing with the Chang’de Countess over whether or not Xun old madam should return to the marquis manor last time at Jade Peak Villa, the Wen’an Marquis couple didn’t have anymore dealings with the Qi family in any way. However, for the birthday, they still gave Chang’de Countess face. The Xun family’s first branch still headed over together as a whole with presents. Just, along the way, as their family chatted and laughed, no one had the Qi family’s people and matters taken seriously, just treating as an ordinary visit between relatives.

But, when they arrived at the Qi manor, everyone all detected something different from previous years. Everything else aside, just looking at the horse carriages parked outside the count manor, it was already about three times more than last year’s.

This wasn’t to say that the Qi family had some obvious change in family status, so much so that it attracted even more people to visit and congratulate. After all, the Chang’de Countess’s seniority wasn’t considered that high, and also just thirty-nine years old, not a round number. The birthday celebration that was never once grandly held in past years, for it to suddenly have more guests this year, it can only be that the Qi family had invited even more people themselves, deliberately arranging.

Towards this bit, as Yu Lingxin followed Ming Huayue to the womenfolk’s side, the feeling was particularly distinct. As for Ming Huayue, considering that this was Yu Lingxin’s first time coming out after marrying, when greeting the other guests, she was particularly attentive, constantly mentioning who was which family’s madam, which families have connections, and so on.

Yu Lingxin was actually very clear inside. In fact, she even knew which families probably will become in-laws in a few years, or which families will have a falling out, and so on. But, her mother-in-law’s kind intentions, she naturally was very grateful towards. As she listened and nodded along the way, she was also somewhat surprised that some guests would actually show up.

Ming Huayue naturally had a similar feeling. When softly whispering, she was also sighing, “To actually even invite the Cui family madam? In the past, they really didn’t have any dealings. Also the Qu family’s and Yao family’s.”

The Chang’de Countess herself actually didn’t seem to have any obvious differences from before, politely saying some smooth words for the occasion, still full of smiles on her face. In fact, when she saw Yu Lingxin, she was even more amiable than last year, “Niece-in-law, is everything still well? Do you want to go to the back to drink tea and chat with Pei’er and the others?”

According to convention, while the elders drank tea in the reception pavilion, the unmarried young ladies usually had another small flower gathering in the back. That’s why, last year, Yu Lingxin took Kou Yuluo to Qi Pei’s courtyard, even meeting Wen Ruoqiong for the first time. But, currently, she was already a new bride. Generally speaking, the great majority of daughter-in-laws stayed with their mother-in-law. In fact, in some families, the daughter-in-law would stand by behind the mother-in-law to serve.

Yu Lingxin naturally didn’t mind, but she nevertheless was somewhat worried about Xun Ying. The current state of affairs was different from the past. If the Qi family’s ambitions have grown, then who knows what they might be plotting. Although Xun Che had already secretly added two new servant girls that knew martial arts for Xun Ying, she was still worried.

“Mother, can I go together with Ying’er?” Practically not having any hesitation, Yu Lingxin just turned towards Ming Huayue. Compared to displaying a so-called ‘good daughter-in-law’ image in front of the friends and relatives that all had their own varying thoughts, she still further cared about Xun Ying’s safety.

Ming Huayue also didn’t contemplate at all, “Go then, you youngsters can just play together. Don’t covet the ice and drink too much fruit nectar. I heard Che’er say that you had a toothache yesterday.”

“Yes!” Yu Lingxin smilingly curtsied and was just about to go with Xun Ying to the back…….

Yet, at this time, she just heard someone to the side coldly sneer, “Aiyoo, this new bride has such great sense of the rules!”

[1] See below, it’s usually hung above the main entrance with the name of the place.

[2] This title literally just translates to beautiful consort, li just means beautiful or pretty.

T/N: A few side notes, the Zeng family is only ever mentioned in this chapter, and has never been mentioned before nor will ever be mentioned again in future chapters. As for the Pingyang Marquis Manor, they were previously mentioned to be the family that the Lu family young miss got engaged to, the same young lady that almost got engaged to Qin Wang.