Rebirth of the Treacherous Official’s Madam

Saying it to this degree, it wasn’t good for the empress to continuing blocking, just lowering her head to take a sip of tea and saying with a smile, “Alright, why don’t you take Jinrou over. You are an attentive child to begin with. In the past, towards the Lu family young lady, you were even more attentive than now. It’s a pity she doesn’t have the good fortune. Now, you better properly take care of Jinrou.”

Ming Jinrou didn’t have any ripples in her expression to begin with. Aside from slightly stiffening for a moment at the first sight of Qin Wang, the rest of the time, regardless of whether others appeared excited or dejected, whether it was delight or awkwardness, she was all calm from beginning to end.

Neither appearing happy because Qin Wang’s words revealed that bit of closeness with her, nor becoming dejected because Empress Wen hinted that Qin Wang was considerate towards the Lu clan daughter in the past. Just, when getting up and bowing, she hooked the corner of her mouth, still mocking, “Many thanks for your Highness’s consideration.”

The same words landing in different people’s ears immediately just produced different meanings.

The empress, as well as the Wen family and Deng family, all felt that it sounded like mockery directly hitting their face. Regardless whether it was mocking the empress for wasting her energy in trying to incite disharmony, or laughing at Wen Ruoyao and Deng Zizhi’s efforts of coquettishly tidying their appearance being completely in vain, all in all, at the same time showing off Qin Wang’s care towards her, it was just full of contempt and ridicule.

But, in Qin Wang and Yu Lingxin’s eyes, this mocking smile was nevertheless even more complicated, both having the indifference of collaborating and working together strictly in a business-like manner, while also having a bit of faint self-mockery towards her own infatuation and feelings in the past.

It can be said that everyone present, including Ming Jinrou herself, not a single one was genuinely happy at this time. Even the calm-looking, seemingly blindly polite and modest, Qin Wang, his eyes similarly flickered with a bit of complicated feelings.

However, no matter how different everyone’s thoughts were, after Qin Wang and Ming Jinrou left Zhaoyang Hall side by side, the atmosphere once again eased up a few breaths later. As they chatted between tea, the topic unexpectedly steered towards that Lu clan daughter that once had the hope of becoming Qin Wangfei, who at this time has already married into the Chang province’s Pingyang Marquis Manor.

Empress Wen naturally greatly sighed, saying how fate toyed with people, how gentle and virtuous the Lu clan daughter was, and so on. The Wen family and Deng family both repeatedly followed along the empress’s words, having the Lu family praised thoroughly, fully exhibiting the attitude of standing against a common enemy.

Ming Huayue and Yu Lingxin originally were just accompanying Ming Jinrou into the palace. At this time, they further didn’t have anything to say, also not wanting to say anything. Seeing the people before them talk, they even felt it was somewhat funny, also sighing.

Back then, the Lu family hastily having their daughter married off to the Chang province, it was precisely the Zhenguo General Manor clearly stating their stance of not wanting to participate in the battle for the throne, not even wanting to support the central palace. At the time, the Wen family sisters were still staying at the Jin Duke Manor, don’t know how much contempt they had in their words towards the Lu family for ‘not knowing their place’ and such.

Now that things have changed with the passing of time, with Ming Jinrou as Qin Wangfei, who has known Qin Wang since childhood, and moreover, high-profile and unyielding in conduct, the former ‘not sensible’ Lu family young lady at this time instead became the virtuous and gentle number one good match in Empress Wen’s mouth. All in all, the meaning was nothing more than just disdaining that Ming Jinrou wasn’t soft enough, not easy to pressure, not easy to grasp.

The joint dissatisfaction towards Ming Jinrou, as well as the awkwardness brought about by Qin Wang just now, although made the empress, as well as the Wen family and Deng family, all very displeased, at the same time, it also had all of them subconsciously pushed even closer towards one another.

After all, the enemy of an enemy was just a friend. Even if just temporary friends, it was still enough to be lively for a period of time. That’s why, in this hour prior to Ming Jinrou’s return to Zhaoyang Hall, the Wen family and Deng family just rapidly became intimate and close. If not for knowing that these two will soon marry into Qin Wang Manor at the same time as the side consorts, just looking at their conversation, Ming Huayue and Yu Lingxin practically felt that these two young ladies perhaps will become sworn sisters.

Moreover, at this time, under the empress’s support, the Wen family and Deng family further didn’t have any misgivings about Ming Huayue and Yu Lingxin being present, instead very quickly just addressing one another as sisters, even like trying to pass on a message to Ming Jinrou through Ming Huayue and Yu Lingxin: ‘Although his Highness is seemingly giving the main consort face this while, but we have the empress’s support! Moreover, in the past, Qin Wang was even better to the Lu family young lady!’

Looking at their expressions, Yu Lingxin just wanted to laugh even more. Xuan Emperor had that kind of an honest and lenient personality, yet Empress Wen fought with Li Consort for twenty years, even getting forced by Changchun Palace to spill blood in Zhaoyang Hall this year. What in the world was the Wen family and Deng family thinking, feeling that the empress still has the power to completely grasp Qin Wang who was skilled in both the sword and brush?

However, thinking again, it was also somewhat understandable. At the end of it, she was ultimately relying on her experiences from the past life, knowing what will become of Qin Wang in the future. But, the Qin Wang that everyone knew of at present, up until now, was still filial and loyal, completely obedient towards the empress, strictly abiding by etiquette.

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

Aside from once having been rumored to have beaten his study companion, Xun Che, this wicked conduct that seemingly wasn’t considered too vicious, there actually weren’t any other bad record or stain, appearing to still be the very loyal and obedient foster son by the empress’s side. Even if just now, he can be considered to have retorted the empress, Qin Wang’s every word completely fell within etiquette, merely just a bit too inflexible.

That’s why, for Wen Ruoyao and Deng Zizhi to still want to tightly lean close to the empress at this time, even working together and supporting one another, it can’t be said to be unreasonable, or perhaps, should say that at this time, it was probably the only thing they can think of.

About less than an hour later, Qin Wang personally sent Ming Jinrou back to Zhaoyang Hall again. Their expressions unexpectedly didn’t have an obvious differences from when leaving Zhaoyang Hall earlier, still with one appearing polite and one appearing indifferent. This actually made Empress Wen and the two soon-to-be side consorts all inwardly relax a breath.

At this time, it was more or less about time. Qin Wang didn’t say anything more either, bowing to the empress and retreating out of Zhaoyang Hall first. After Ming Jinrou entered the hall, she didn’t even sit down, directly bowing and taking her leave. Ming Huayue and Yu Lingxin immediately followed after. Everyone all thanked Empress Wen for the honor and went out one after another.

Yu Lingxin studied Ming Jinrou’s expression, very much worried inside. Just, while still in the palace, she naturally couldn’t say anything, just thinking of carefully asking after getting on the carriage. However, when they arrived at the palace gates, they unexpectedly saw Ming Jincheng and Xun Che already waiting by the horse carriages. Before Yu Lingxin even said anything, Ming Jinrou just used her elbow to poke her first, “Aiyoyo, who’s that coming to pick up?”

Yu Lingxin wanted to shoot a glare at Ming Jinrou, but seeing Xun Che dressed in a moon white official gown standing by the horse carriage, his handsome face slightly smiling, leisurely and naturally gazing at her, also full of expectations, Yu Lingxin was completely unable to control her smile from spreading across her cheeks, unable to even pretend to put on a mean look and glare at someone.

“Sigh, indeed, this is coming to pick who?” Ming Huayue also sourly sighed, shaking her head, “What use is there raising a son?”

Ming Jinrou hurriedly went over to coil around Ming Huayue’s arm on the other side, “Right, so paternal aunt, why don’t you raise a niece instead, this niece will be filial to you for life.”

“Oh you, you’re also about to become someone else’s wife.” Ming Huayue didn’t follow along.

Yu Lingxin also coiled around her mother-in-law, “About that, mother, Shenzhi should be coming to receive you.”

“Receive me?” Ming Huayue tapped Yu Lingxin’s forehead, “If he’s coming to receive me, how come he didn’t come on horseback? Look at the extra carriage he brought, who is that waiting for?”

“He……might be afraid of crowding you?” Yu Lingxin at present was even closer to Ming Huayue than in the past life, having her mother-in-law’s arm held even tighter, “Mother, how about I still ride together with you?”

Ming Huayue helplessly laughed as she shook her head. Just as she was about to say more, everyone already reached the horse carriages. Xun Che smilingly went forward, “Huijun, come here. Today, it’s not your turn to ride with mother.”

Yu Lingxin slightly blanked. In the next moment, she just saw the guards and attendants following by the horse carriage, immediately just letting go and heading over to Xun Che’s side. At the same time, she also smilingly turned towards Ming Huayue, “Mother, looks like there’s someone to pick you up today too.”

Ming Huayue at this time also saw Xun Nanheng’s personal guards standing by the side, sweeping a glance at that low hanging horse carriage curtain, inwardly cursing shameless old man, yet on her face, she was indifferent, “Eh? This carriage today doesn’t seem right. Forget it, Jinrou, I’ll just ride back together with you.” As she said this, she actually really was about to pull Ming Jinrou to get on the Ming family’s carriage.

“Cough, cough.” After two deep dry coughs, the martial and solemn Wen’an Marquis somewhat awkwardly jumped down the carriage, “Huayue, don’t hold up the children, it’s time to return to the manor.”

Ming Jinrou also smilingly tossed aside Ming Huayue’s hand, running over to pull her own older brother, “Alright, paternal aunt, why don’t you nicely go back with uncle-in-law, everyone in a pair, all the loving affection, not enough to show off. I better go back home alone with my older brother with a no good waist.”

Ming Jincheng’s face immediately darkened, even having the impulse to strangle Ming Jinrou to death.

Xun Che and Yu Lingxin nearly couldn’t contain themselves, while Xun Nanheng and Ming Huayue both gazed over in astonishment, “Jincheng, what’s wrong with your waist?”

“Last time older sister Cheng said that my brother’s waist isn’t good, his waist not having strength. That’s why, after getting beaten, he recovered so slow.” Ming Jinrou completely didn’t look at Ming Jincheng’s face that was dark like the bottom of a pot, clearly explaining for the Xun family elders, “Afterwards, I also asked older sister Cheng. She said that when my brother was practicing martial arts in his childhood, he didn’t train his waist well enough, so now it just shows.”

“Oh, that’s still ok.” Xun Nanheng nodded his head, slightly carrying a bit of sympathy. Thinking again, “Practice some more, en, practice some more and it’ll get better.” Shortly after, he turned and glanced at Ming Huayue, “It’s getting late, let’s go back to the manor.”

Ming Huayue clearly was more concerned about Ming Jincheng’s waist than Xun Nanheng, still turning her head and having him sized up and down a few times. Ming Jincheng, who originally wasn’t considered too eloquent to begin with, in this moment, already just wanted to die, practically numbly standing in place, thinking of a hundred different ways to kill Ming Jinrou together with himself.

“Huayue.” Xun Nanheng was increasingly uneasy, once again letting out a dry cough, calling his wife again.

Xun Che who was smilingly watching the whole time, at this time, soundlessly held Yu Lingxin’s hand, retreating a step. Yu Lingxin was busy watching the others and secretly laughing, so didn’t notice. But, used to being intimate with Xun Che for a long time already, she very naturally interlocked her fingers with his, and at the same time, also moved two steps closer.

Towards the youngsters’ bold move, Xun Nanheng revealed a contemptuous look, but thinking again, in the next moment, he still reached out to hold Ming Huayue’s hand, “Let’s go back first.”

When Ming Huayue turned her face, she saw her son and daughter-in-law’s smiling look, unexpectedly also feeling a bit of embarrassment. As such, she could only glare at Xun Nanheng, angrily grumbling, “How are you anything like an elder!”

Fortunately, at this time, everyone was in front of the horse carriage. The valiant and quick-witted Wen’an Marquis immediately found himself a way out, “Cough, cough, come, I’ll help you onto the carriage.”

Ming Huayue rolled her eyes at him again, and this look made all the youngsters in the surrounding all slightly turn away their faces.

At this time, holding Yu Lingxin’s hand, Xun Che also turned to climb onto his own carriage. At the same time, he reached out to pat Ming Jincheng’s shoulder, “Endure a little, Jinrou will marry soon.”

Seeing the from old to young, all incomparably loving, Xun family couples finally climb on the carriage and leave, Ming Jincheng lowered his head and glanced at Ming Jinrou. The latter very brightly smiled towards him, “After I marry, I will also frequently return to the maiden home. In any case, Qin Wang and I won’t become a loving couple.”

Ming Jincheng sighed, “Sinful.”

Ming Jinrou was unconcerned, “Actually, I don’t care, really.”

Ming Jincheng calmly stared at her, “I care. I’m talking about, you, sinful.”