Rebirth of the Treacherous Official’s Madam

Because of a moment of emotional fluctuation, Yu Lingxin didn’t hear clearly the latter half of Yu old madam’s words, and also didn’t notice her second younger sister, Yu Yunxin, in that moment, having her sized up several times, also having her gaze paused on that ruby plum flower hairpin in her hair for some time.

However, a moment later, she still returned to her senses, just happening to hear the old madam give Su-shi a verdict, “It’s best to wait until eldest one returns to the capital before discussing.”

Su-shi’s delicate and gentle face still carried a faint smile, “Mother is right, waiting for master to return to the capital to discuss is also good. Last night, this daughter-in-law received a letter. Master said that he can return to the capital on the first of the seventh month.”

Yu Lingxin similarly was calm and composed on the surface, yet on the inside, it was a burst of excitement——–Father will be returning to the capital soon!

According to this life’s timeline, in the beginning of the sixth month, Yu Bocheng had headed to the Ji province on an assignment, returning on the first of the seventh month, merely leaving the capital for a month.

But for Yu Lingxin who’d died and came back to life, the last time she saw her father in the previous life was when she’d returned to the capital at eighteen and just happened to see her father board the boat to leave the capital, heading to the Quan province thousands of miles away. The two of them, in fact, weren’t even able to say anything to one another. She could only watch her father stand at the head of the boat gazing towards her. His usually calm face was filled with tears, and since then, it was just parting forever.

Counting like this, she already hasn’t seen her father in an entire seventeen years.

Thinking to here, Yu Lingxin felt a bit nervous again. She’d long decided, in this lifetime, she not only will stay in the capital, but also properly be filial to the old madam and her father, absolutely can’t let him once again get dragged into Noble Consort Zhu and the second prince’s faction that currently appeared advantageous.

Noble Consort Zhu was the empress dowager’s niece, and under her was the second and third prince. Ever since Xuan Emperor ascended the throne, her imperial favor has never waned, her glory limitless. But, in the past life, in the battle for the throne, she still miserably lost to the first prince’s faction in the end.

Never mind when time comes, the Cheng’en Duke Manor Zhu family, who currently still appear to be incomparably wealthy and honorable, miserably ending up losing their nobility and getting exiled, the Yu family also ended up in a sorry state because of the various ties with the Zhu family. Not only did Yu Bocheng who was in the capital get demoted down to a seventh rank, dispatched far away to the Quan province, even the Yu family second branch and fourth branch that were holding posts in the outer regions also got implicated, getting demoted as well.

However, all of this was the twists and changes four years later. Right now, she still has time.

Yu Lingxin once again composed herself. On the other side, Su-shi and the old madam’s conversation was also almost done, additionally mentioning a few words about sending presents and attending the Chang’de Count Manor’s banquet two days later. Afterwards, Su-shi got up and asked to be excused. At the same time, she naturally and magnanimously gazed towards Yu Lingxin, “Will Ling’er also be going back?”

Yu Lingxin had already told her grandmother what she wanted to say, so she didn’t have any intentions of staying in Dongli Residence any longer. Thus, she took the opportunity to get up, curtsying towards the old madam again, before leaving together with Su-shi.

Su-shi’s Songju Courtyard and Yu Lingxin’s Lianyi Residence weren’t in the same direction. As such, after exiting Dongli Residence, they needed to part left and right. Su-shi at this time added with a smile, “Eldest miss’s attire today really is elaborate, the most suitable for going out.”

Yu Lingxin originally had something on her mind, so didn’t pay attention, but hearing this line, she turned towards Su-shi. Seeing the other party still carrying an affectionate and dignified stance, even if she was as clear as a mirror on the inside, she was still too lazy to expose her, similarly revealing a magnanimous smile, “Madam is right.”

After saying this, she slightly bent her knees again, and then directly left with Ganlu.

As soon as she entered Lianyi Residence, Caixia just came up to greet, “Eldest miss, you’ve returned? The horse carriage at the second gate is almost ready. How about resting a little, and then drink some tea before heading out?”

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

“Head out? To where?” Yu Lingxin didn’t even have any intention of halting her steps, directly heading inside.

Caixia had no choice but to turn around and follow after Yu Lingxin. The smile on her face stiffened, but she still diligently coaxed, full of a ‘rightfully so’ friendliness, “Look at what you’re saying, of course it’s heading to the Kou Manor to see the Kou family madam. A few days ago, didn’t you even prepare for the Kou family madam braided tassels^[1] and embroidered pouches? This servant has already packed them for you.”

As she spoke, they’d already entered the door. Yu Lingxin directly sat before the dressing table indicating Ganlu to serve her in changing her clothes and taking apart her hair. Caixia felt increasingly awkward. Going to help out wasn’t good, but not helping further wasn’t good.

“Go have my account books brought over.” Yu Lingxin simply didn’t answer Caixia’s words, directly ordering, “In a bit, older sister Shuangye from the old madam’s side will come over to help me look over the account books. While you’re at it, have the things in the storeroom organized, else if something is missing, then you, this first rank servant’s face won’t be pretty.”

“Look over the account books?” Caixia repeated in shock, “Didn’t you accept the Kou family madam’s invitation, and will be going to the Kou Manor this afternoon…….”

Yu Lingxin casually had the invitation card on the dressing case picked up, sweeping a glance. Her mother Qi-shi’s zanhua script^[2] was rather neat and orderly, probably the only thing that can still show that she originally came from the Chang’de Count Manor, this kind of upper class family.

“This month, I’ve already gone twice, so won’t be going this time.” Yu Lingxin put down the invitation, waving her hand, “Go sort out the account books.”

“But…” Caixia was increasingly anxious inside, “Yesterday, the person that delivered the invitation said that the Kou family madam very much misses you, unable to even sleep well. She ultimately is your birth mother, so no matter what should still go have a look, right? How can you just turn down the Kou family madam like this? The carriage at the second gate is already prepared.”

Hearing these words, Yu Lingxin, for a moment, actually somewhat sighed. In the previous life, exactly how weak was she in her boudoir, for a servant girl to even be able to casually say something like this.

But when some things were absurd to a certain degree, she was no longer angry, just laughing, “I can’t refute the Kou family madam, but Caixia you sure can refute me, no? Normally giving you a bit face, you just really forgot that you’re my servant girl?”

Caixia had never once heard Yu Lingxin speak this harshly before, even in front of Ganlu. Her face immediately turned red, twisting the handkerchief and stomping her feet, “This servant was just considering for eldest miss, never mind if miss doesn’t want to listen!” With that said, she turned and directly left.

Ganlu looked in the direction Caixia went in, and couldn’t help but worry a little, “Miss, Caixia ultimately was given by the madam. If you do this, won’t it……..”

Yu Lingxin curved her lips, having Qi-shi’s invitation put together with the other letters, all throwing into the pear wood case by her hand and locking up, “Madam has always been ‘virtuous and kind’. Even if Caixia goes to look for the madam, it’s merely just getting another scolding.”

Very soon, it was past noon. Even after Yu Lingxin finished the afternoon meal, Caixia still didn’t return. However, Shuangye from the old madam’s side already came over to Lianyi Residence.

Because it was just temporarily coming over to look after, also not bringing anything, she directly entered and greeted Yu Lingxin, “Eldest miss, the old madam sent this servant over to serve you until master returns to the capital. The old madam said, seeing you dressed like this today, she very much likes, and further likes your clear understanding of matters. Please just rest assured, all things will have the old madam backing you. Additionally——–”

As she spoke, her two hands lifted a brocade case before Yu Lingxin, “This is a pair of white jade jinbu^[3] from the old madam. The day after tomorrow is Chang’de Countess’s birthday banquet. If you are going, then can also use.”

Yu Lingxin accepted with a smile, also letting Ganlu bring over an embroidered pouch for Shuangye, “In the past, frequently hear grandmother praise older sister as clever and capable. In this half month, will be troubling older sister. Just, the account books in this little courtyard of mine are very simple, so there’s no hurry. If older sister is free, how about telling me about the Qi family banquet, is there anything one needs to pay attention to?”

Two days later, it was Chang’de Countess’s thirty-eighth birthday. Because her seniority in the family was in the middle, and also not a round number birthday, the banquet won’t be grandly held, just inviting some relatives and old friends. The Yu family originally should be considered the Qi family’s proper in-law family, but ever since the divorce, the two sides although didn’t have a falling out, it was still just having a bit of surface relationship left.

In past years, if the Yu family second branch and fourth branch were still in the capital, then for this kind of banquet, it was just the Yu family second madam or fourth madam taking the Qi family outer granddaughter Yu Lingxin over for a sit.

However, right now, the Yu family just has the first branch left in the capital. Su-shi, as the second wife, wasn’t willing to go to the Qi family, the original wife’s maiden family, for a sit, especially since they will definitely run into Yu Lingxin’s birth mother Qi-shi. This bit of awkwardness, it was better to avoid. As for Yu old madam, there was no reason for her as the elder to go over and congratulate the Chang’de Countess. That’s why, these last two years, it was always Yu Lingxin taking the Yu family’s gifts and heading over alone.

Shuangye thought for a moment, “Although normally not visiting much, but the Chang’de Countess ultimately is your maternal aunt-in-law, and eldest miss, you’ve always been steady, so there probably won’t be any problems. If one must say something to be mindful of, then it’s probably just the Wen’an Marquis Manor Xun family.

“The Xun family——” Yu Lingxin instinctively repeated, and then immediately lowered her head, taking a few sips of tea, having the countless past memories that had suddenly rushed forth forcibly pressed down. Her voice seemingly was still steady, “Isn’t that Chang’de Countess’s maiden family? Is there something wrong?”

Shuangye clearly didn’t take note of that tiny bit of unnaturalness in Yu Lingxin’s tone, just hesitating for a moment before lowering her voice a little, “This servant heard, last month, Wen’an Marquis Manor had requested for the imperial physician several times. Reportedly, the Wen’an Marquis heir had gone mad.”

“Gone mad?” This time, Yu Lingxin’s astonishment truly was unable to be contained, suddenly lifting her head, looking towards Shuangye, “You said Wen’an Marquis heir, Xun Che, went mad?”

[1] See below. They’re usually used as attachments to other accessories such as pendants.

[2] This is a specific style of calligraphy that’s particularly favored by women in ancient times, originating from Madam Wei, full name Wei Shuo, courtesy name Mao Yi, a famous calligrapher of the Eastern Jin dynasty. She was the teacher of the ‘Sage of Calligraphy’ Wang Zi Zhi.

[3] Pictured below. It’s an accessory made from stringing together a jade pendant that’s hung at the waist to help hold down the dress.

T/N: ML and MC are sort of indirectly related through marriage ties. MC’s maternal uncle’s wife is ML’s paternal aunt. To be exact, it’s MC’s birth mother’s half-brother’s wife. MC’s birth mother is a shu born daughter of the Chang’de Count Manor, while the current Chang’de Count was the di son. I drew a quick relationship map below to illustrate. Note that the family tree is not fully complete as many of the unimportant family members are cut out of it for simplicity sake, since the intention was just to show how MC and ML are related.