Rebirth of the Treacherous Official’s Madam

The long flowing cloud brocade dress, purple mist gauze bifu^[1], the massive ruby inlaid upon the gold hibiscus hairpin by the hair, even if a relatively simple attire, it still showed how rich and extravagant the newly-wedded Wu Wangfei was. Her dignified and relaxed smile even carried a bit of friendliness and ‘kindness’.

Looks like in a few short days, Qi Pei has already swiftly adapted to this new identity as Wu Wangfei. As for the look of success in the corner of her brows and eyes, don’t know whether it was because her sweet and happy newly-wed life with Wu Wang didn’t get disturbed by the four liangyuans in the manor, or because the liangyuans in the manor were extremely skilled in flattery, letting Qi Pei further enjoy this kind of high status honor.

All in all, the Qi Pei they saw today probably was the most affectionate and amiable Yu Lingxin has seen in these last several months.

As for the second prince, Wu Wang, who was next to Qi Pei, his temperament was very refined, his attitude and mannerism when greeting seemingly even more sincere than Qi Pei’s, “This younger brother actually didn’t know that imperial brother also had this kind of interest in poetry. If one had known beforehand, certainly would’ve invited elder brother to travel together. Currently, third younger brother has already arrived, should be tasting tea with Wenhua Academy’s Scholar Duan in the eastern garden. Why don’t imperial brother also come along for a cup of tea?”

Before Qin Wang and Ming Jinrou even replied, Yu Lingxin’s heart just jumped first——-the third prince Wei Wang has already arrived? It’s still best to not let Wei Wang see Xun Ying!

Although in the last lifetime, Wei Wang scheming against Xun Ying mainly was because of Xun Yan offering up the plan, as well as being driven by the political state of affairs at the time, but according to the other information Yu Lingxin faintly heard about in the past life and this life, the frivolous and lustful Wei Wang indeed particularly liked Xun Ying, this kind of fair and gentle young girl.

Including the current soon-to-be Wei Wangfei, Wen Ruoqiong, as well as among the official young ladies that fell into the water, the ones that got bestowed to Wei Wang as liangyuans in the end for the most part were also all more or less a bit similar to Xun Ying in style, the majority delicate, gentle, and soft-spoken.

Thinking to here, Yu Lingxin immediately let out a light dry cough. Although she didn’t look towards Ming Jinrou, Ming Jinrou still understood. At the same time Qin Wang nodded his head, she followed up with, “What don’t your Highness go drink tea with third younger brother. I don’t like drinking tea, so it’s better for me to go stroll around with cousin-in-law and older cousin, thus won’t join in with you brothers.”

“Since that’s the case, then I will also go with sister-in-law, second cousin-in-law, and Ying’er, is that alright?” Qi Pei seemingly wasn’t surprised, instead smilingly following along.

This, Ming Jinrou and Yu Lingxin couldn’t really continue declining. At the moment, they could only agreed to travel together.

There were already quite a few people inside Jingfu Temple at this time. Because all the resting rooms and courtyards other than the main hall were all lent to Wenhua Academy to hold the poetry gathering, the people in the main hall that came to offer incense and pray were even more concentrated, so also appeared to be a lot more than usual.

And the side halls, resting rooms, and courtyards beyond the main hall, at this time, were already respectively setup with seats and writing desks. Some areas had invited scholars that were skilled in different styles of poetry to hold discussions, while some invited presently renowned painters to discuss painting techniques and such together with the students of Wenhua Academy, as well as the students that came over from other academies.

The primary meeting place was naturally the plum blossom forest in the back mountain, stretched out over several hundred meters, over half of the plum trees in the forest were already blossoming. It was mainly the vast stretch of snow white plum blossoms that were the focus. In between, there were also several red plum blossoms, pink plum blossoms, and other brightly colored plum blossoms mixed in. Paired with the cold yet very fresh and clean breeze in the mountains, as well as the faint fragrances of the plum blossoms, it truly was easy for one to be intoxicated.

Even for people like Yu Lingxin and Ming Jinrou who inherently didn’t have much interest in poetry, in front of this kind of beautiful scenery, they also couldn’t help but recall famous verses they’d read before by renowned masters. As for Xun Ying, this kind of little bookworm that was entirely thinking of composing poetry, she was just further carefree and spirited. Although she was still coiled around Yu Lingxin, but as they casually wandered around, she clearly was already lost in though, probably starting to have some inspiration for some verses.

As for Qi Pei who was walking together with Ming Jinrou, she seemingly wasn’t that interested in the plum blossoms in itself. Although she’d also followed along and complimented a few words, but very soon, she just seemingly inadvertently started asking about how things were in Qin Wang Manor so far, and such.

Ming Jinrou didn’t like Qi Pei, but it also can’t be considered deeply detesting or loathing her either. Even though Qi Pei has been rude to Yu Lingxin several times before, but every time, the outcome was always Qi Pei herself suffering utter defeat and running off crying. There was practically no exceptions.

In addition to marrying into Wu Wang Manor together with four liangyuans, Ming Jinrou instead gained a tiny bit of sympathy towards Qi Pei. Towards these ‘family talk’, she also just casually responded, “Our manor’s side consorts? All quite good. They have food and water, not lacking in expenses.”

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

“Just this? Then, when they normally come to pay their respects, do they not say anything?” Qi Pei’s eyes slightly averted as she asked again.

Ming Jinrou randomly stroked a branch of red plum blossoms in front and then continued moving forward behind Yu Lingxin and Xun Ying, “What’s there to say? I’m quite well on my own, so needless for them to come ‘ask’. If they lack anything, the mamas will tell the stewards. There’s no use telling me. Even if saying, isn’t it also just going to look for the manor’s secretary?”

“No need to come pay their respects?” Qi Pei blanked, “Could it be that your manor don’t have rules regarding the morning and evening visits?”

“It’s not like I’m their mother-in-law, what’s the point of the morning and evening visits?” Ming Jinrou laughed, “Could it be that younger sister-in-law needs to meet with all the liangyuans everyday like attending court sessions?”

Qi Pei was left speechless. Just as she was about to say something, she instead heard someone loudly praising in front, “Sure enough a good verse, as expected of this year’s first place in the autumn exam!”

Yu Lingxin and Xun Ying were walking in front, so naturally saw the writing desks and a few simple seats by the edge of the plum forest. A group of youths were circled around, having both male and female among them. From the color of their attire, the majority should be students from Wenhua Academy, but at the same time, there were also students from Qingyang Academy and other guests. Someone must be composing poetry.

Hearing the words ‘first place in the autumn exam’, Yu Lingxin’s heart jumped again, somewhat having the feeling of repelling a tiger in front, yet attracting a wolf from behind. There were that many scholars in the capital, the poetry gathering this big, yet how come the roads were just this narrow, encountering Qi Ke in just two cups of tea’s time?

But, a poetry gathering was just a poetry gathering. The reason why little bookworm Xun Ying wholeheartedly wanted to come, it was precisely for the sake of watching the scholars recite and compose poetry here. In this moment, before Yu Lingxin even said anything, Xun Ying already started dragging her over.

And at this time, among the people standing around in a circle, someone also lifted their head to look around. As soon as their eyes met, the other party just happily called out, “Eldest sister! You also came!”

Yu Lingxin finally made out Yu Zhengshan who was dressed in the long gown of a Qingyang Academy student, and by his side, stood Yu Yunxin and Su Hanwei who were still studying in Wenhua Academy’s lady’s school. As for the one that everyone was circled around, it naturally was just the currently renowned young first place candidate in the autumn exam, Qi Ke.

Seeing Yu Lingxin come over, Yu Yunxin’s eyes slightly dodged, her feelings seemingly extremely complicated, not at all that enthusiastic like Yu Zhengshan. In fact, she was even as excited as Su Hanwei, just going forward and simply greeting, “Eldest sister.”

Xun Ying had met with the people of the Yu family before, but what she further cared about right now was actually Qi Ke’s new work that he just composed, so she similarly very simply nodded her head, and then voluntarily headed forward.

Su Hanwei’s flexibility just showed itself at this time, especially as a student of Wenhua Academy, the host of this poetry gathering. It was quite suitable for her to explain to Xun Ying the rules and such set by the people previously composing poetry over on this side.

Yu Lingxin although didn’t like Su Hanwei, it nevertheless wasn’t good for her to block, so she could only closely follow after Xun Ying, staying by her side.

Xun Ying, however, completely didn’t pay attention to anything else, just looking over those completed works page after page, not even noticing when Qi Ke, who was originally still writing, stood up. Once she finished reading those dozen or so completed works, she finally let out a light sigh, “This poetry gathering sure enough is very interesting.”

“Then, does Miss Xun want to assess?” Su Hanwei hurriedly responded with a smile, “Today isn’t an exam of the academy’s either, just for the purpose of discussing poetry, mutually assessing. In the past, already heard that Miss Xun is a greatly talented female scholar, also having established the Linglong Literature Club, composing poetry and assessing every month. So, your insights and talent must certainly be outstanding. If able to give some pointers, everyone can all improve together.”

Xun Ying smilingly shook her head, “I’m not some talented female scholar, merely just like to read books.” She paused for a moment, pursing her lips and saying, “Besides, these poems are all written very well. I also have nothing good to add.”

“Actually, if miss has some thoughts, why not voice a few words.” Qi Ke suddenly interrupted, “Just now, when miss was reading these poems, your expression changed a few times. Presumably, while some lines are praiseworthy, there must still be some that can still be improved?”

Xun Ying was somewhat embarrassed, “This…..” Her gaze unexpectedly turned towards Yu Lingxin.

Looking into Xun Ying’s eyes, Yu Lingxin seemingly saw her somewhat pleading like a little rabbit. She already knew that the little bookworm loved writing poetry, discussing poetry, and so on to the extreme. Right now, she was actually entirely eager to try, wishing to immediately start discussing with these people. For Xun Ying to glance at her, it was probably because of remembering Xun Che’s words previously, letting her be careful outside and listen to her sister-in-law more, and so on.

Yu Lingxin practically headached. Actually, for her to bring Xun Ying out, it was precisely for the sake of letting Xun Ying be able to happily talk with people at the poetry gathering, but why must it be Qi Ke of all people!

However, she’d also slightly swept a glance at those poems. The handwriting on those dozen or so pages had differences, so presumably, they weren’t all Qi Ke’s. More importantly, Xun Ying was currently still looking at her, her big watery eyes seemingly saying, ‘Sister-in-law, I’ll just talk with them for a little while, play for a little while, just a little while!’

Moreover, in a few breaths, everyone’s gaze also followed over towards Yu Lingxin, “Heard that Madam Xun was Old Head Minister Yu’s granddaughter, having profound family learning, and also Linglong Academy’s club secretary, so why don’t you also come assess together!”

Yu Lingxin was helpless and could only wave her hand, “It’s better to ask our little President Xun.”

Upon hearing, Xun Ying smiled again, “I’m not that small either.” Shortly after, she turned towards the crowd again, first picking up the sheet on the table that was still waiting for the ink to dry, “This piece of Gentleman Qi’s truly is very exquisite, just this word here, it’s a bit stiff.”

Qi Ke looked over along her fair like jade finger, nodding his head, “Asking miss to please give guidance.”

[1] Pretty much an arm scarf.

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