Read Novel Full Chapter 22: Huijun
Yu Lingxin lightly coughed, “That doesn’t count. I wasn’t thinking of meeting anyone.”
“En, so you didn’t.” Xun Che slightly nodded, saying with a smile, “Then, do you have a lot you want to ask me?”
This was actually true.
Yu Lingxin practically was about to blurt out, but in the next moment, her mind instead filled with all kinds of questions. She really wanted to ask Xun Che, but where should she start asking from?
Did you also return?
When did you come back?
Do you remember the past?
How did you know that I also returned?
Exactly why did you interfere in my family affairs?
Last time at Chang’de Count Manor really was just a coincidence?
The Kou family getting transferred to the Quan province this time, was it your handiwork?
Is there any problems with my father’s evaluation this time?
Didn’t you invite me here today? Could it be that you don’t have anything to say to me!?
These questions were the ones that she could think of clearly. There were even more questions that she still haven’t properly sorted out yet that have been lingering in her mind for don’t know how many days. But, arriving at this moment, where she can actually ask Xun Che directly, she instead didn’t know where to start.
After slightly falling silent for a moment like this, Yu Lingxin suddenly felt that she didn’t have anything to ask. After reversing life and death, she and him both returned to this place. At present, being able to see Xun Che perfectly fine like this, and she herself was also well, it was actually enough.
Thus, after a few moments of hesitation, Yu Lingxin finally asked just a light, “Are you well?”
Xun Che’s smile slightly froze. His heart was like as if getting lightly jabbed, feeling both sour yet sweet. Countless past events of the past life flashed through his mind. Actually, how was he not also carrying an entire carriage of questions waiting for her answer.
TN: All translations outside of are stolen and reposted without permission!
But, in this moment, he felt that he still received an answer. At least, he’d obtained the most important answer.
Pausing for a moment, the smile on Xun Che’s face carried a bit of solemness, “Quite well, just….” He paused again, using his usual clear and steady voice to sincerely answer, “Difficult to sleep on a lonely pillow.”
Yu Lingxin absolutely didn’t expect that it would be such a response. In an instant, her entire face just started burning, instinctively lowering her head, “T-this, this, what nonsense is this!”
“It’s the truth.” Xun Che took another step forward, his voice increasingly deep, and also increasingly soft, “After parting in death, stricken with grief, thought that from hereon, forever separated by the heavens. However, when opening one’s eyes once again, the heaven and earth still the same, the capital still the same, yet my wife is no longer mine, so how can one sleep well?”
This can be considered the truth. Yu Lingxin slightly composed herself. Although her face was still burning, feeling embarrassed, but she also understood Xun Che’s meaning.
But, what was ‘difficult to sleep on a lonely pillow’?
In the last lifetime, they actually never truly shared the bed before, and never even consummated their marriage!
But, these words, Yu Lingxin was unable to say out loud and could only continue lowering her head, stammeringly adding, “The matters in the past, actually………aren’t really anything. Words like this, in the future, don’t say anymore. After all, at present, you and I don’t have any relations, so it’s best to just respectively be well on our own. The past few times you helped me, I’m very grateful, but in the future, you should just take care of your own important matters first. I can take care of my own matters………….”
“Huijun[1].” Xun Che softly interrupted her.
Yu Lingxin slowly lifted her head, gazing towards him.
This was her courtesy name. About half a year into their marriage, occasionally when Xun Che’s condition was good, he would teach her calligraphy in the study, and also casually talk about the poetry books that he liked reading and such. At the time, Xun Che had asked her whether or not she had a courtesy name for a recreative seal[2]. She naturally didn’t have one.
Thus, Xun Che selected these two characters for her as her courtesy name, saying that in the future, she can use it as an inscription for paintings and calligraphy works. As long as she makes progress in the Zhao style and Liu style[3], he will find time again to teach her how to paint.
Just, right when she finally improved a little in the Zhao style, he just passed away.
That’s why, afterwards, the name ‘Huijun’, Yu Lingxin no longer used. Just, occasionally when waking up in the middle of the night, she would recall Xun Che smilingly calling to her in the study.
Unknowingly, her nose actually became a bit sour again.
“Huijun……” Xun Che called out again, softly speaking, “Today, you came out with your family elder, so it’s not suitable for us to stay like this for too long. These dishonest words, don’t say anymore.”
Yu Lingxin opened her mouth, but she seemingly was indeed unable to refute, so could only purse her lips again.
Xun Che looked at the surroundings before continuing, “From now on, if there’s anything you need, just tell Bai Guo at anytime. Additionally, no need to worry about father-in-law’s evaluation in the Ministry of Works this time. I already have a plan inside.”
Yu Lingxin was just about to nod in response, but suddenly felt something off, “En——–what, what ‘father-in-law’?!”
“Can also say Taishan[4], all the same.” Xun Che saw her two cheeks once again fill with a light blush. Her soft rebuking tone practically was just like a kitten endlessly scratching his heart. He endured again and again, finally suppressing the desire to reach out and caress her cheek.
He lightly coughed, saying with a slightly stern look, “This time, I interfered in the six ministries’ evaluations. The Zhu family will very soon make their move. The situation in the palace is also like so. The situation in the capital taking a turn won’t be far from now. Regardless of what you hear, all don’t need to worry too much. You have me for all things. You just need to be good and don’t let me worry.”
These words were said that naturally, seemingly as if they’d already returned to their previous relationship again.
Yu Lingxin wanted to slant her mouth and argue with him, but the meaning in Xun Che’s words instead made her even more apprehensive.
The battle for the throne in the previous life, regardless of how violent the undercurrents were, the conflicts on the surface actually all started from the beginning of Tianxu year 16, after Xun Ying tragically died in the palace. And in the year after, the changes among the officials upon the imperial court were over several hundred. Losing their job or getting demoted all weren’t considered anything. The high ranking officials that got their noble title stripped and home seized, or even lose their life, were already over several dozen.
Now, according to Xun Che’s meaning, this enormous chaos will start ahead of time.
Compared to this kind of major matter, their relationship in the past life and this life, the hidden meanings between their addresses, really were insignificant.
Having gone through many crises in the past life, Yu Lingxin was already very familiar with the state of affairs in the capital. With him pointing out like this, she roughly just had an understanding inside, and at the same time, also somewhat worried. Even though Xun Che knew all about the matters from the past life, his opponent was the currently still extraordinarily illustrious Noble Consort Zhu, as well as Wu Wang and Wei Wang, these two princes, after all.
Even if Xun Che was able to seize the first move, the other party wasn’t stupid either, and further not dead. They similarly will counter every move, taking appropriate measures depending on the situation. Just like how at present, her situation at home had also turned on its head completely because of her change. The state of the imperial court certainly will also rapidly change, no longer the same as the past life.
Thinking to here, Yu Lingxin temporarily put aside those other subtle thoughts of hers, softly replying, “You also need to be careful and take care of yourself. As things change, the other side will also change.”
Her gentle voice was still completely the same as before. Xun Che’s heart was like as if drinking a bowl of honey. He just knew, his Huijun was just like this, always able to very quickly distinguish the overall state of affairs, and afterwards, just wholeheartedly consider for others.
“Don’t worry.” Xun Che smiled. Although very unwilling to part, he knew that it was indeed more or less time, immediately taking out a small brocade case from his sleeves and handing it to her, “I will be mindful. As long as nothing happens to you, then there won’t be anything that can distract me.”
Yu Lingxin hesitantly accepted it, “What’s this?”
“Just a little gift.” Xun Che’s gaze quickly swept over her face again, inwardly hesitating for a moment. However, seeing Yu Lingxin’s crystal clear eyes in this moment, he ultimately didn’t dare to prematurely advance and could only soundlessly press down the little flame in his heart, taking a step back, “I’ll be going first.”
This kind of gaze that carried a bit of endurance and restraint, somewhat like wishing to speak but hesitating, Yu Lingxin once again felt a strong sense of familiarity.
In the past life, she actually had seen many times. Just, every time she asked, Xun Che would just directly change the topic. She figured that it was probably just him being vexed over the imperial court’s matters, so pointless to say more. As such, she no longer asked. However, seeing it again this time, she seemingly detected a different meaning……….
As the afternoon passed by, the families that came to Jingfu Temple successively headed back to the capital one by one. The Yu family, seeing Yu Lingxin’s mood clearly much better than when they came, all inwardly relaxed a little. Sure enough, coming out for a walk was good, especially walking around the courtyards. The melancholic look on the eldest miss these days had also dispersed, finally returning to that smiling look.
Yu Lingxin didn’t pay attention to her family’s thoughts. When she climbed on the horse carriage to return home, she just had one question in mind, exactly what was in that little case?
After returning home and changing, Yu Lingxin sent Ganlu to look for Bai Guo, the excuse being that she wanted to see which kinds of braids Bai Guo knew, letting her make a few for her as spares. In reality, she just wanted time alone so that she can open that small case.
In the case, there were two one and a half inch long little hair clips. The flat pin was made from gold, about half a finger wide. The tail end of the hair clip was inlayed with two little jade carved water lilies. The entire flower bud was just the size of a fingernail, but the flower petal and pistil all used an extremely smooth sheep-fat white jade to carve from, incomparably delicate.
Yu Lingxin’s name carried the character ling (water lily), so she has always been partial towards water lily patterns. Just, there weren’t many accessories that used water lilies. At this time, seeing this kind of exquisite hair ornament, she also very much liked, looking it over several times in hand. As she caressed it, she felt that there was markings underneath the gold pin.
Flipping it over and carefully examining under the candlelight, it actually had four extremely tiny characters carved on there: My wife Huijun.
[1] 慧君 – Huijun, loosely translates to ‘the intelligent you’, 君 although translates to lord/ruler, but when used as a suffix it’s used as a very respectful ‘you’.
[2] A seal using the courtesy name for recreational purposes, commonly used to sign paintings and other works.
[3] Zhao style and Liu style are both styles of calligraphy. The Zhao style comes from an early Yuan dynasty calligrapher and painter, Zhao Mengfu. You can see more of his works [here]. Liu style comes from one of the last great calligraphers of the Tang dynasty, one of the four great regular script masters, Liu Gongquan, more info [here].
[4] Mount Tai, refers to one of the five sacred mountains, and also a very respectful way of addressing the father-in-law by the son-in-law. Note, this address is only used to address one’s wife’s father.