Read Novel Full Chapter 160: The Second Branch Returns to the Manor
Fires, throughout history, have always been a taboo of the noble and high-ranking official families in the capital. Not only for the safety of human life and personal properties, but more importantly, it was viewed as extremely inauspicious.
Last time, right before similarity Che and Yu Lingxin’s wedding, the Wen’an Marquis Manor’s Cide Hall had caught on fire. At the time, although the fire wasn’t big, the aftermath it brought about was nevertheless quite big. On one hand, Xun old madam and the Xun family second branch got directly sent to Jade Peak Villa to ‘recuperate’, while on the other hand, Xun Ying used this opportunity to report in having developed heart problems from the shock, thus avoiding the imperial selection.
That’s why, at the time, after the incident, facing the explanation the Xun family gave of the servant harboring grudges, setting fire as retaliation, and so on, those whose thoughts were more nimble among the outsiders still further felt that it was related to the Xun family’s internal disputes. After all, the first branch and second branch have been at odds for a very long time, and just half a year ago, Xun Yan had mysteriously died all of a sudden, who knows what the actual circumstances were inside. Only those whose mind truly wasn’t too clever would purely feel that it was an unlucky accident.
But, this time, for the Jade Peak Villa to also catch on fire, it certainly won’t be because of a struggle between the first branch and second branch, at least not for the first branch. Currently, the Wen’an Marquis, Xun Nanheng, and his heir, Xun Che, both weren’t in the capital. The womenfolk in the marquis manor naturally preferred peace over trouble. Especially, ever since the lively plum forest poetry gathering at the end of the tenth month, the Wen’an Marquis Manor seemingly also gradually reduced many social activities such as visiting the relatives and such. Even the Linglong Literature Club’s meetings were also arranged extremely simply.
That’s why, towards the incident this time, the great majority of the people would all feel that Xun old madam was indeed unlucky, encountering a fire twice in a year. Perhaps, there really was something inauspicious or unclean floating around.
Towards this, for Ming Huayue and Yu Lingxin, who were in the know, they naturally didn’t believe. Last time, Cide Hall catching on fire in the marquis manor, the responsibility in the end all got pushed onto the first rank servant girl by Xun old madam’s side, Songxiang. And Songxiang at the time was the accomplice in Xun old madam’s scheme to ruin Yu Lingxin’s reputation. Xun Che can’t actually kill the old madam, but he could still deal with Songxiang.
The current Jade Peak Villa’s fire actually also had that bit of similarity. Because Xun old madam’s own people by her side were all fine, but the steward personally picked by the Wen’an Marquis nevertheless got heavily injured. When Yu Lingxin heard, she immediately understood. Regardless whether the people outside felt that this was a misfortune or curse, this in reality was just the second branch’s handiwork, wanting to move back to the marquis manor while Xun Nanheng and Xun Che were away from the capital.
And this method really was very effective. The saying back then was that the fire had frightened the old madam, in addition to Cide Hall suffering damage, they had no choice but to let her move out. Now that Jade Peak Villa has also caught on fire, they can’t just reject the second branch from moving back. No matter the reason, it was all inexcusable.
Thinking to here, Yu Lingxin practically subconsciously stroked her own lower abdomen, and Ming Huayue also just happened turn towards her, “Child, you just stay at home and rest. I’ll go to Jade Peak Villa to check on the situation. Rest assured, even if the old madam and the second branch all move back, absolutely no one can come to our first branch to cause trouble!”
Ming Huayue was already firm and decisive to begin with. At this time, thinking of that child in Yu Lingxin’s stomach that still wasn’t born yet, and even because the month was still to early, have yet to inform the friends and relatives, her eyes practically already burned with killing intent, nearly wanting to dispatch troops to guard Qingyu Pavilion.
Yu Lingxin thought for a moment and still stood up, “Mother, why don’t I go to Jade Peak Villa together with you. The day before yesterday, Little Imperial Physician Chi also said, my body actually isn’t too weak, mainly just having heavy thoughts. Actually, appropriately moving around and exercising a little are all good for the body. Besides, for the Jade Peak Villa to have such a big incident occur, if I don’t go, others will inevitably comment. My own reputation is nothing, but afraid that it will drag onto Shenzhi again. The Chen province’s matter currently doesn’t seem to be going smoothly, can’t let others find more things to attack him with.”
Seeing Yu Lingxin’s beautiful face carrying a faint smile, her gaze clear and firm, Ming Huayue couldn’t help but sigh, “Alright then, but bring a few more people with you, and be careful.”
Yu Lingxin smilingly responded, and immediately after, let someone prepare the carriage before heading out together with Ming Huayue.
Along the way, the two of them casually chatted about the matters at home, neither mentioning the possible troubles that might come up after Xun old madam and the second branch return to the marquis manor, nor discussing the current disputes in court regarding the Chen province mutiny and the criticisms towards Xun Che, instead mostly talking about the interesting matters regarding Xun Ying recently when helping with the account books and household affairs, as well as how Ming Jinrou and Qin Wang’s unusually loving relationship recently has made Ming Yunji and even Ming Jincheng both feel displeased inside, the old father-in-law and older brother-in-law eating the son-in-law’s vinegar together, complaining that Ming Jinrou only has her dumb goose in her eyes now, and so on.
This can also be considered a kind of tacit understanding between Yu Lingxin and Ming Huayue as mother-in-law and daughter-in-law——–Towards those future problems or various hidden threats that have yet to come, just having an understanding inside was enough, no need to worry and no need to be scared, just directly face it when time comes.
As the saying goes, to become a mother, thus strong. Ming Huayue even sensed that the currently pregnant Yu Lingxin was instead even more firm and resolute than before getting pregnant.
Thus, after the two of them arrived at the Jade Peak Villa and saw the seemingly messy and chaotic condition of the villa, Yu Lingxin didn’t even reveal much of a shocked or anxious look, just very calmly letting someone go find and inquire the current steward in charge of the villa about the situation. Afterwards, while holding Ming Huayue, they headed to the reception hall that didn’t get affected by the fire to check on the ‘frightened and startled’ Xun old madam.
TN: All translations outside of are stolen and reposted without permission!
Xun old madam’s expression was very weary, her grizzled hair somewhat messy, her clothes also not too tidy, even having some traces of ash and singed edges. What was very rare was that she didn’t get angry or give an attitude, instead having a frightened and weary look, “Eldest one’s wife, you have come.”
Ming Huayue looked to the old madam, and then looked to the people of the second branch by her side, each more or less in the same sorry state. Although shaking her head inside, she didn’t show it on her face, “Old madam must have been frightened. This daughter-in-law has already instructed the manor to prepare on the way over. Why don’t you move back to the manor to rest.”
Ming Huayue unexpectedly opened her mouth this swiftly, not hesitating in the slightest, not even asking the specifics of the fire. Xun old madam and the people of the second branch practically all blanked a little before Xun second madam voluntarily brought up the fire, the process of putting out the fire, inviting the imperial physician, and so on. Yu Lingxin listened to the side, also sighing inside.
Sure enough, in the second branch, aside from Xun Yan and Xun Tan, no one else really grew a brain.
The Jade Peak Villa appeared as if in a sorry state, having been covered by smoke and flames, but in reality, not that many buildings were damaged. The doors and windows of a few places all were just black from the smoke, simply not having actually been burned. If it had actually been burning, then it simply was impossible to extinguish this quickly. If to say that the fire wasn’t that serious, just the people having gotten frightened, then it was also reasonable. But, Xun old madam and the second branch family didn’t all sleep in the same building at night, so how come everyone was all in the exact same sorry state?
Additionally, by the time the marquis manor received the news and made the arrangements before coming over, never mind tidying the hair and clothes, afraid there was even enough time to heat up the water and let the whole family take turns bathing. Putting on this kind of appearance, wasn’t it precisely for the sake of pretending to be pitiful for Ming Huayue to see, fearing that they can’t move back to the marquis manor?
But, wasn’t this too obvious? Exactly who came up with the idea?!
However, Ming Huayue simply was too lazy to listen in detail and think too carefully. After all, Xun Nanheng and Xun Che weren’t in the capital. At present, it wasn’t suitable for more trouble to arise. After sharing another glance with Yu Lingxin, the two of them both didn’t expose the matter, directly vaguely responding a few words before letting someone arrange the carriages and luggage to take Xun old madam and the second branch family back to the marquis manor to settle down.
At this time, Cide Hall’s renovations have already finished. Before Xun old madam moved in, she still looked up at the inscription board above the door again, her movements a bit stiff. She probably wanted to turn around to glare at Ming Huayue or Yu Lingxin, but considering that at this time she was still in a ‘sorry appearance’, she didn’t want to reveal flaws that were actually already obvious all over, so unexpectedly endured the urge, still pretending to be weary and dispirited as she went in.
And by the seventh of the twelfth month, the Xun family’s friends and relatives all heard about the Jade Peak Villa’s fire and Xun old madam returning to the marquis manor afterwards, so naturally needed to come visit. That’s why, from the seventh all the way to the sixteenth, there were about ten days where the Wen’an Marquis Manor was all very lively.
At the same time coming to visit, the friends and relatives naturally also brought quite a bit of consoling words and gifts. Xun old madam surprisingly didn’t do anything embarrassing or mannerless that would make others dumbstruck. In fact, she even praised Ming Huayue a few words on the surface for coming to pick her up very quickly and so on.
Those that were genuinely close with the Wen’an Marquis couple, or those with a clear head, all just listened and laughed it off. But, those whose brains didn’t work that well, or those with ulterior motives, gradually brought out some other arguments.
For instance, back then, when Cide Hall caught on fire, they shouldn’t have let the old madam move out, who knows if it was some other reason that caused the incident. Moreover, they should’ve long had the old madam received back. Dragging out until the end of the year, when it was this cold, the weather dry and easily flammable, letting another incident occur, how can swiftly coming to pick up compare with preventing beforehand? Also, two fires in one year, shouldn’t the Xun family also perform a cleansing ritual?
These words, Ming Huayue and Yu Lingxin didn’t really care about that much, all within expectations. Previously, even when there wasn’t the fire, there were already similar gossips. Just, the Xun family father and son pair all didn’t take too seriously, so they naturally didn’t need to care about it either. In any case, the people that are able to say these kinds of words all aren’t anyone important. At this current juncture, it was further not worth being bothered over.
However, by the eighteenth of the twelfth month, hearing that the already silent for a month and a half Wu Wangfei, Qi Pei, will be coming to visit, it ultimately still made Yu Lingxin slightly be on alert.
Especially when she saw that the gift list Qi Pei sent in was actually that long, and many of the things inside were mentioned to be for her and Xun Ying by name, Yu Lingxin’s brows still slightly furrowed.
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