Rebirth of the Treacherous Official’s Madam

In the end, this trip to the Jade Peak Villa awkwardly and embarrassingly ended amidst Xun old madam’s powerless venting after smashing another teacup towards Xun second master.

Unsurprisingly, regardless of what Xun old madam wanted to say at first when calling Ming Huayue and Yu Lingxin over, or what other goals she had, in this short less than an hour exchange, it can all be considered ‘resulting in defeat’.

But, in the carriage on the way back, Yu Lingxin discovered that Xun Che’s expression wasn’t relaxed like usual. Even if still shamelessly reaching out to embrace her waist upon getting on the carriage, he still didn’t restlessly move around as usual, instead just steadily holding her.

“Shenzhi?” She thought for a moment, having what she originally wanted to mention with him regarding Su aunt-in-law and the Yu family temporarily pressed down, then after slightly thinking over Chang’de Countess’s words today, she voluntarily asked, “Are you thinking about the Qi family’s attitude?”

Xun Che nodded, “The matter of Anshun Count announcing his retirement will be within this half month. Qi Pei’s father and Yiyang Marquis will both take his place. In this matter, there’s certainly Li Consort’s involvement, else if really according to the empress’s idea previously, then Qi Pei should’ve become Qin Wang’s side consort. Today’s situation really is very interesting.”

Yu Lingxin faintly mumbled to herself. Xun Che’s tone seemingly sounded very calm, but based on her understanding towards him, under this kind of tranquility, afraid there was already killing intent, “You mean to say that Li Consort, after hibernating for a period of time, will still directly stand off against the empress as well as his Highness Qin Wang, and when time comes, the Qi family will just thoroughly become enemies with us?”

“Yes. Actually, from today’s matter, one can already tell.” Xun Che’s lips were filled with coldness, “On the surface, it was arguing over the fact that the Yan family had voluntarily chosen to withdraw the engagement. And with Qi Pei soon to be marrying, coming over to visit her maternal grandmother was also completely not a problem. But, didn’t you notice that after Qi Pei and her mother ran out the main hall, the old madam just didn’t say anything?”

In the past life, when Yu Lingxin married in the Wen’an Marquis Manor, Xun old madam was already paralyzed in bed after suffering a stroke, simply unable to say complete sentences. And in this life, the times they’ve met were also very limited. She although had heard of some of the old madam’s past cases of making trouble out of nothing, or forcibly causing trouble, but she indeed didn’t know exactly how eloquent the old madam was.

Following along Xun Che’s explanation, Yu Lingxin thought for a moment, “You mean that the Chang’de Countess came over to instigate the old madam, wanting to let our relationship with the second branch fall apart even more? She should know, mother absolutely won’t look for the Yan family to say offensive words, so she incited the old madam to have this kind of delusional idea, and in the end, the only thing that will come of it is just letting the first branch and second branch stand on opposite sides even more.”

Xun Che coldly smiled, “It can be seen that Li Consort is ultimately unable to change her inherent nature. Although she has the intention of lowering her head and hibernating, this hibernation period won’t be too long. Qi Pei still hasn’t officially married over as Wu Wangfei, yet the Qi family is already starting to mull over Li Consort and Wu Wang’s thoughts, and starting to work for them.” Pausing for a moment, he sighed again, and at the same time, held Yu Lingxin’s hand, lightly caressing, “I know that you don’t hope for me to shoulder those cursed names again in this lifetime, and I also know that in my father’s heart, he still doesn’t wish for those changes to occur between family. At present, looking at second uncle’s reaction, there seemingly is some leeway. Just, unfortunately, the Qi family, this paternal aunt’s family, in the future, probably won’t be able to be spared.”

Yu Lingxin also had her own hand placed on top of his hand, softly saying, “To cut off when it needs to be cut off. You’re not a deity, so how can things be perfect everywhere. If second uncle can produce a trace of clear-headedness and retreat a step, then just preserve the second branch a bit more.” Speaking to here, she thought of Xun Tan again, “Speaking of which, today’s Xun Tan, how come it’s like he’d gotten beaten again?”

Xun Che was unconcerned, “He’s rather understanding. These days, the Chang’de Countess and Qi Pei didn’t come to the Jade Peak Villa any less. Xun Tan is currently still preparing for the spring exam next year, so still at home. As such, he’s naturally well informed. At the same time passing me a message, he probably also tried to directly persuade the old madam and second uncle a few times, thus getting beaten again. Actually, he should understand inside that the old madam can’t be persuaded, merely using this beating as a means to tell me, regardless of what kind of thoughts the old madam and second uncle, or even the Qi family have, he himself doesn’t approve, but truly unable to stop them.”

Yu Lingxin actually didn’t think of this layer, and couldn’t help but sigh, “Saying it like this, Xun Tan also doesn’t have it easy. In the past life, which family’s young lady did he originally discuss marriage with?”

Xun Che thought for a moment, “Seems to be the daughter of a registrar of the Capital’s Magistrate Office, surname Nie, roughly considered to be from the same hometown as Head Minister Nie, probably can’t even be considered from the same clan nor a distant relative.”

“Surname Nie?” Yu Lingxin suddenly had a thought, “Could it be Nie Jingniang?”

Xun Che blanked. The name of the girl that his tang brother of another branch wasn’t able to marry in the past, how could he possible remember, but carefully thinking it over, it might’ve been something like this, “Possibly, you know her?”

Yu Lingxin pondered for a moment, just feeling that it was very interesting, “If I’m right, then I really have met her before. In the past life, Qi Ke’s wife was precisely the daughter of a functionary of the Capital’s Magistrate Office, surname Nie, called Nie Jingniang. Afterwards, when Qi Ke rose up in success, towards this original wife that wasn’t of a very high birth, he neither abandoned nor left, very much praised by others.”

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

“Qi Ke?” Xun Che lightly let out a dry cough, “Indeed, as a honest and noble scholar, the reputation is naturally important. Never mind the act of not forgetting one’s wife when succeeding in the future getting praised, previously, when not having any reputation, having yet to pass the imperial exam, he was already very likable. And now, having passed the exam in first place, father-in-law must have very much exclaimed in admiration?”

Yu Lingxin couldn’t help but let out a laugh, voluntarily coiling around his arm, “Qi Ke’s father was my mother’s distantly-related tang brother, and also my father’s good friend and classmate in the past. Seeing him pass the exam, he naturally needs to praise.”

“En, perhaps father-in-law is even regretting inside.” Xun Che turned his head, “Such a fine son-in-law, yet just passed over like this.”

Yu Lingxin snuggled in his arm again, “My Chief Secretary Xun, are you eating vinegar? Where are you getting all this vinegar? It’s not like I feel Qi Ke is that good, merely just recalling this matter, feeling that our family really have some interesting connections with the Qi family.”

This incomparable natural ‘our family’ ultimately made Xun Che feel comfortable inside. Lowering his head, he lightly landed a kiss on Yu Lingxin’s forehead, “Forget it, what’s there to argue about, all in all, you just like me.”

“I naturally like you.” Yu Lingxin wrapped around his neck with both hands, also voluntarily kissing Xun Che’s cheek, “Besides, my father also feels that you have more learning! If you don’t believe me, go ask him, I just asked him today!”

Xun Che helplessly laughed. Seeing his wife before him, his heart filled with indescribable sweetness. Yu Lingxin was just born with a gentle and openminded personality. In the past life, where there were that many waves and difficulties, it still didn’t wear away her original gentleness. But, her gentleness wasn’t just being blindly weak, because she was protective of her own.

Although on her own matters, Yu Lingxin a lot of times all didn’t mind, but for the people she loved, she will still be like a little tiger jumping out.

Just like today, at the Jade Peak Villa, for the sake of defending his mother Ming Huayue, she directly reprimanded Qi Pei, so he can also imagine, at the Yu manor, Yu Lingxin certainly will also defend him, not letting Yu Bocheng forget him, this good son-in-law.

“Alright, I know.” Xun Che smilingly had her held even tighter. The contemplation and seriousness between his brows originally also got thoroughly tossed aside. His young and handsome face was filled with a relaxing and carefree expression.

The state of affairs at present were indeed very complicated. Every family’s every move all needed to be carefully pondered over. The paths in front were indeed still many, and the civil and military officials’ every memorandum all needed to be carefully dealt with.

However, all of this wasn’t really considered anything, not just because of having already experienced that many storms and battles in the past life, but further because he had this kind of her by his side. Xun Che really felt that the path below his feet was extremely firm.

And in this same period, the people that had the same feelings as the young Wen’an Marquis heir couple were practically as rare as phoenix feathers and unicorn horns. Especially after the results of the autumn exam were posted, in the capital, after slightly praising and discussing Qi Ke, Yu Zhengshan, and such young and talented scholars that had passed the exam for a few days, the focus of everyone’s attention just returned to the princes’ marriage arrangements again.

Because after the incident of that liangyuan being able to withdraw from the ranks due to breaking her lower leg, in the beginning of the ninth month, two more cases of someone submitting a memorandum requesting to withdraw from the selection, expressing that they were unable to serve the imperial family, and receiving permission appeared.

One was the daughter of an official of the Ministry of War, suddenly breaking out in a rash all over her body, and even on her face. The imperial physicians were invited over to examine, saying that it was neither smallpox, nor chickenpox, nor the commonly seen hives, but what it was specifically, they were temporarily unable to come to a conclusion. However, this strange rash all over the body was indeed too shocking. That’s why, before that official of the Ministry of War could submit a memorandum, Li Consort and Wei Wang already voluntarily looked for Xuan Emperor to express that this liangyuan, they can not want.

Of course, for the final procedures, it was still that official of the Ministry of War himself submitting a memorandum, expressing that this situation had a very large hidden danger. Even if temporarily curing, there was still the possibility of a reoccurrence in the future, so it was better for his daughter to not bring danger to the imperial family, thus successfully withdrawing from the selection.

As for the other case, it was just even more special. It was an official young lady that came the Xuan province. On the first of the ninth month that day, when she went to the temple to pray, that girl suddenly went mad. According to the people that saw at the time, she just started twitching all over, and shortly after, loudly cried and laughed. Moreover, she had extraordinary strength. The servant girls, servant women, and attendants by her side all weren’t able to hold her back. In the end, with the help of many people, they finally forcibly subdued her.

After taking her back home, they naturally invited the imperial physicians to come examine. After all, pretending to have gone mad was still easier than pretending to be ill, especially considering how two young ladies have already successfully withdrew from the liangyuan ranks. Everyone can all tell that they were all thinking of ways to not become a concubine of a junwang.

Actually, at this time, Xuan Emperor was already very irritated. If from the start, it was expressed that the princes didn’t need to take responsibility for the young ladies that fell into the water, then he wouldn’t have to bestow this many concubines either. But, the decree has already been issued. To retract one by one at this time, where would the imperial family’s face go?

That’s why, this time, when going to examine this supposedly having gone mad young lady, the imperial physicians were also in fear and trepidation, all unclear as to whether they hoped for this young lady to be pretending to have gone mad or really having gone mad. If it was pretending, then this young lady’s entire family getting sentenced with the crime of deceiving the ruler will certainly be unavoidable. But, even if Xuan Emperor punishes them, could it be that it will just look good for the imperial family? After all, from the start, for them to fall into the water in the palace, it wasn’t of their own accord. Reasonably speaking, unwilling to serve the imperial family was an enormous crime, but a perfectly fine upper class young lady being unwilling to become a concubine that was a rank lower than the side consort, in terms of reason, it still made people sympathize and understand.

However, what made the imperial physicians relax a breath in the end was that this young lady really had gone mad, because although those loud cries and laughter can be an act, this extraordinary strength really was very real. Four imperial physicians had gone over, and two got beaten to the point of having dark bruises around their eyes. After returning to the palace, without even needing to report, just the black eye was more than enough to let Wu Wang happily express, this young lady it was better to not have, no need, no need.

Towards these two families’ changes, the outside also enthusiastically discussed. While there were those that believed that these were all just accidents that naturally occurred, most people still felt that these families exhausting their means to create this kind of situation in order to let their own family’s young lady peacefully withdraw from the selection can also be considered each taking extraordinary measures.

Towards this, the imperial consorts also had varying thoughts, but on Empress Wen’s side, there was just humiliation left.

Regardless of whether these accidents one after another were man-made schemes, or a natural disaster, everything still needed to be blamed on that failure of a banquet. Every time people exclaimed about the twists and turns of Wu Wang’s and Wei Wang’s consort selection, they will just once again sigh at, or even mock, the central palace’s incompetence, for the perfectly fine selection to end up in this current state.

Under this kind of circumstance, probably the only place that Empress Wen can vent out a little on was just on Qin Wang’s marriage arrangement.