Chapter 142: Honest Person
All the way until after Qin Wang Manor’s carriage completely left did Yu Lingxin finally turn towards Xun Che and Ming Jincheng.
Xun Che still had a smile by his lips, his gaze full of carefreeness. Clearly, everything regarding Ming Jinrou’s first return to the maiden home today was all within his expectations.
As for Ming Jincheng, his expression was instead complicated. Seeing Yu Lingxin and Xun Ying both gazing over, he nodded his head, “En, they also climbed down the carriage like this when they came.”
Yu Lingxin increasingly understood. No wonder, when they were first led in, Ming Jincheng had that kind of expression.
However, exactly how did Qin Wang and Ming Jinrou end up this harmonious? She was practically curious to death!
Shortly after, everyone once again returned to the main hall. Ming Huayue was currently consoling Ming Yunji. The overall meaning was just letting him rest assured. Looks like Ming Jinrou has married very well. Ming Yunji’s face finally didn’t have that deep worry and irritation anymore. Seeing Xun Che and them return, he also no longer had the stance of ‘I’m gonna kill you little brats who don’t have any regards for Jinrou’s future’, just glancing a few more times at Xun Che, not saying anything.
However, Xun Che voluntarily bowed and said, “Maternal uncle, rest assured. His Highness is highly devoted by nature, certain to fulfill his promise. In the future, Qin Wang Manor’s interior certainly will strictly adhere to etiquette, distinct and clear in the ranking.”
Ming Yunji shook his head, sighing again before changing the subject and saying a few casual words about mundane things. The people of the Xun family saw that it was more or less about time, so just got up to take their leave too.
At this time, the one that was the most looking forward to it was actually Yu Lingxin. Even if knowing that she will be able to visit Qin Wang Manor in two days and directly ask Ming Jinrou, in this moment, she still couldn’t wait to quickly get on the carriage and ask Xun Che first exactly what happened.
Yu Lingxin asked Xun Che, how did Qin Wang suddenly win over Ming Jinrou?
Even if Xun Che still didn’t have an answer, she still needed to question him first before she can settle down.
However, what she didn’t expect was that Xun Che actually did have an answer, “A jar of nuerhong[1], the debts and grudges vanishing after drinking.”
“Nuerhong?” Yu Lingxin blanked, blurting out, “What does this have to do with wine? Could it be that they can even become sworn brothers after drinking?”
Xun Che pressed his lips into a smile and at the same time, reached out to embrace her waist, softly whispering a few words by Yu Lingxin’s ear.
Yu Lingxin had a bit of contempt on her face, yet still couldn’t help but secretly laugh, “So this is the so called ‘using wine to……..strengthen the guts’?”
Xun Che softly chuckled, “His Highness’s capacity for alcohol isn’t very good, just a small sip will make his face red. After drinking, he will also be less self-restrained, and especially talkative. However, there’s one thing that’s good, and that is, although he will turn red after a few cups, but if to really drink to the point of blacking out, he still needs a whole jar. That’s why, that jar of old wine that I gave his Highness was probably the right amount for the good deed.”
“You’re really……..” Yu Lingxin smilingly clicked her tongue at him, “What kind of an older cousin are you, even this kind of thing——”
TN: All translations outside of are stolen and reposted without permission!
Xun Che had her held even tighter, “His Highness is used to being self-disciplined and reserved, his character also that cautious and courteous. Some words, even if writing the lines out for him, he’s still unable to say. And Jinrou is also stubbornly stuck in a cow horn. If the two of them were to continuously be at odds like that, how long will they be in a deadlock for? How things are currently, is it not good?”
Yu Lingxin followed along his words and contemplated, still feeling that there was a bit of something missing, “But, looking at the bashful look on Jinrou’s face today, it shouldn’t just be finally talking things through, right?”
Xun Che laughed, “This—-His Highness was very self-disciplined previously, also guarding against other people’s schemes, so has never gotten involved with women before, thus having endured for a very long time. You have to know, his Highness’s skills in horseback archery even surpass Jincheng’s, and when exchanging blows with Duanyi Xianzhu, they’re pretty much equal, so his waist is very good.”
Even if as an already married woman, hearing these words, Yu Lingxin was still somewhat embarrassed. Turning her face, she rolled her eyes at Xun Che, and then recalled a previous matter, “This was what you’d said to his Highness that time?”
Xun Che had a serious look, “Said what? I didn’t say anything at all, just giving his Highness a jar of wine for his wedding.”
Yu Lingxin knew that she won’t be able to ask more, and Xun Che at this time also didn’t want to talk about the matters between other couples. Thus, after Ming Huayue and Xun Ying’s horse carriage smoothly returned to their own manor, they discovered that unknown as to when, Xun Che and Yu Lingxin’s carriage had separately changed directions, roaming around outside for another hour before returning.
Xun Ying was even foolishly worried somewhat, but Ming Huayue nevertheless slanted her mouth, inwardly grumbling, ‘like father, like son’, before turning the page and forgetting about it.
The next morning, Ming Jinrou, as Qin Wangfei, formally sent an invitation to Yu Lingxin, inviting her to the manor for tea. Yu Lingxin naturally was looking forward to it very much, quickly preparing a present and hurriedly dragging Xun Che over.
At this time, there weren’t other relatives and elders, so between Qin Wang and Xun Che, things were also much more casual. After simply greeting, the two men just went to the study to talk, while Yu Lingxin and Ming Jinrou went to the water pavilion by the small lake inside Qin Wang Manor to have tea.
In this moment, Yu Lingxin was already too lazy to ask about whether or not the side consorts have caused trouble, or whether or not the palace was peaceful. For the most part, after dismissing the servant girls, she just directly got to the point, “How did you two reconcile?”
Ming Jinrou lowered her head. The light blush on her cheeks were like the red clouds, unable to be waved away. She really was very embarrassed, yet still wanted to say, so after vaguely mumbling a few words, she ultimately turned towards Yu Lingxin again, softly saying, “That……that day, after returning to the room, I originally said that we should sleep on our own tonight and just put on a front to cover the face. He also agreed, just saying that for better or worse, we are both acquainted, since this awkward, why not drink some wine and chat, then respectively go to sleep a little later…….”
“Afterwards?” Just thinking about that scene, Yu Lingxin just wanted to laugh. Under the wedding veil, Ming Jinrou had a solemn and cold look, yet she clearly liked Qin Wang for that many years inside, loving him to death. But, after a few hurtful words, she just tensed up and forcibly put on a rigid front. Qin Wang probably had already brought out the stance of ‘as the children of jianghu, when heroes meet, drink to the honorable aspirations’, in order to let Ming Jinrou be willing to drink wine with him.
“Afterwards………” Recalling that scene, Ming Jinrou slightly lowered her eyes again, “Afterwards, we just chatted. He talked about the matters in the palace. Listening to him, I also feel he was quite pitiful. He also said, in the past, towards the Lu family young lady, he didn’t have any thoughts, just treating her as the main consort the empress prepared for him, respecting the other party out of courtesy. Then, afterwards………afterwards, I also don’t remember what I said. In any case, I just started crying.”
“Then, did his Highness comfort you?” Yu Lingxin was increasingly unable to cover up her smile, but fearing that Ming Jinrou will get annoyed out of embarrassment and not say anything, she forcibly put on a serious and calm look when asking.
Ming Jinrou bit her lip, her voice even softer, “He hugged me……..” And what happened afterwards, she really was unable to say. Pausing for a moment, she suddenly lifted her eyes to look at Yu Lingxin, her big bright eyes limpid, “Cousin-in-law, say, am I really too useless? Actually, the next morning, after waking up, I even hit him and yelled at him, but considering that we have to meet with the emperor, afterwards even needing to enter the palace to go through those rites, fearing that I might accidentally cause trouble, I just endured and went with him. Afterwards, that night, he came over again to apologize to me, saying that in the future, he will properly respect me, this main consort, letting me have glory and honor no matter where I go………….”
“Status and honor again!” This time, Yu Lingxin was unable to keep listening. Towards Qin Wang’s elm wood brain, she practically wanted to nicely knock against it, “Your family’s wangye sure is dim-witted!”
“Actually, he’s quite alright.” Ming Jinrou pursed her lips, a smile of happiness quietly blooming on her face, “He said, women that aren’t genuinely loved and cherished by their husband don’t have honor. All the other honorific titles and ranks are all empty talk. He will properly love and respect me. Only in that way will it be considered giving me ‘dignity and honor’.”
Yu Lingxin finally relaxed a breath, but thinking again, she teased, “But, I also heard, your wangye also promised to give the other two ‘dignity’ as side consorts. Did you not ask him?”
Mentioning this, Ming Jinrou was instead more open-minded, laughing brightly, “The dignity and honor of a side consort and concubine is just not having to worry about food and clothes, and not letting others bully. If they want to obtain their husband’s love and respect, then go be someone else’s main wife. Since they are willing to be the side consort, then obeying the order and following the rules is just their duty. The status and bestowments are their honor. Other than that, we also don’t owe them anything.”
“En, sure enough, someone else’s person. This ‘we’ is said so naturally.” Yu Lingxin finally was at ease and began teasing Ming Jinrou.
Ming Jinrou’s face although was red, she still raised her brow to look at Yu Lingxin, not having the intention of backing down, “This also isn’t considered quick. Back then, before sister Huijun even married, you already held all of second cousin’s private savings, right? All those times changing carriages……….”
This time, it was Yu Lingxin that turned red, “Cough, cough, no need to mention the past!”
The two of them happily chatted.
On the other side, Qin Wang and Xun Che’s discussion also more or less concluded. The two of them didn’t send someone over to pass on a message, instead personally coming over to pick up their respective wife. Especially considering that Ming Jinrou’s sprained left foot still haven’t recovered completely, the carefulness in Qin Wang’s movements was just even more obvious. Yu Lingxin’s brows and eyes were full of smiles as she watched, paying attention to Ming Jinrou’s expression the whole time.
Xun Che couldn’t help but lightly snort, “Alright, that’s someone else’s wife. How come you’re like having married off a daughter, paying attention at all times. If you have this mind, why not pay more attention to your husband?”
Yu Lingxin casually laughed, “But, you’re not injured, how come even eating this kind of dry vinegar.”
Xun Che put on a serious look, “How about I also get injured for you to see?”
Ming Jinrou and Qin Wang were walking in front. However, as martial artists, their hearing were truly very good. At this time, Ming Jinrou couldn’t help but turn around, “Does older cousin need help? Where do you want sprained?”
“Jinrou.” Qin Wang pressed her hand, slightly carrying a bit of reproach.
Ming Jinrou turned back towards Qin Wang, “What’s wrong? Letting someone get sprained, isn’t your Highness very good at it?”
“Don’t say nonsense.” Qin Wang’s gaze was a bit awkward. His hand that was holding Ming Jinrou’s also tightened a little, “That’s between them as husband and wife.”
“That’s my older cousin and cousin-in-law.” Ming Jinrou was still glaring at him, “They love me, spoil me, and allow me to mess around, does your Highness have a comment?”
Qin Wang fell silent, suddenly nodding, “En, in the future, having me spoil you is enough. Don’t act up with them, be good.”
The sharp-tongued, forever unwilling to concede, Qin Wangfei, Ming Jinrou, suddenly was just speechless.
And for Xun Che and his wife who were already a few feet behind, they practically wanted to turn around and run. The two of them both had the same thought———Words of love coming from a genuinely honest person truly was too scary!
[1] A type of traditional chinese wine made from fermented gluttonous rice. It’s considered a type of yellow wine.