Rebirth of the Treacherous Official’s Madam

Xun Che thought for a moment, his handsome face carrying a serious look, “Huijun, actually, this method really is not bad. How about I let someone have the Kou family’s boat dragged back and give them another chance?”

“Alright, enough with the nonsense.” Yu Lingxin pursed her lips into a smile, those heavy and melancholic feelings inside finally dispelling. At this time, she finally carefully examined Xun Che again, “How’s your injury?”

Xun Che let out a long sigh, “Sigh, really not easy, you finally remembered to ask.”

Yu Lingxin naturally knew Xun Che was being deliberate. In the past life, when he was plagued by the poison, suffering greatly, he never once complained and grumbled in front of her. At present, this bit of injury, what did it count as, merely just wanting to mess around.

But, seeing that he was this diligent, she just let him be.

Yu Lingxin rolled her eyes at him, “Let me see, have the ones on your arm healed?”

“Of course not.” Xun Che cleanly rolled up his left sleeve for her to see. On his lower arm, there was indeed still three to four blue bruises overlapping. Just, it already didn’t seem that serious anymore, should be in the middle of recovering.

Yu Lingxin once again lowered her eyes, “Did you bring medicine?”

Xun Che couldn’t help but dryly cough, his heart beating a bit fervently. Just, relying on his usual composure, he was seemingly still calm on the surface, “Chen Qiao, go bring the medicine over.”

Outside the pavilion, Chen Qiao immediately bowed, heading towards the carriage right away to fetch, and very soon, he just brought back a porcelain bottle, offering up to Yu Lingxin with both hands. Afterwards, he just bowed and retreated out, his usual loyal and deferential look completely unchanging.

But, Yu Lingxin swept a glance, and immediately just knew, what the so called ‘the servant resembling the master’ meant. Chen Qiao at this time seemingly appeared very normal, but who knows how much he was complaining inside. The cunning and calculating Xun-shizi probably didn’t anticipate that she would reveal such an intention. That’s why, he didn’t bring his own medicine out.

For Chen Qiao to be able to this composed in pretending to have brought the medicine, it was already not bad.

Sure enough, opening the medicine bottle for a sniff, she just knew it was the medicinal oil that Xun Che commonly carried in the carriage. Although it was also of top-quality, it certainly won’t be what he used at home.

Yu Lingxin didn’t point out either, just glancing at Xun Che, helplessly smiling, “Come a little closer.”

Xun Che’s movements this time really was like the moving clouds, smooth and natural, nodding his head as he got up, full of elegance, directly sitting down next to Yu Lingxin, lightly brushing his gown, like as if naturally taking his seat at a banquet, the image of a noble and elegant gentleman.

Just, when he sat down, he had that stone stool shifted two inches closer to Yu Lingxin, really not like what a gentleman would do.

“Have this side rolled up too.” Inside this pavilion that was surrounded by trees and flowers, Yu Lingxin didn’t have that much misgivings, especially when it comes to applying medicine for him. In the last lifetime, she’d done this for him don’t know how many times. Afterwards, even Yinxing and Imperial Physician Chi both half-jokingly said that Madam Xun’s skills were masterful, surpassing the doctors.

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

Following the concentrated scent of the medicinal oil, Yu Lingxin’s fair and soft fingers circled around back and forth on Xun Che’s lower arm, having all the bruises all painted over one by one.

Xun Che’s throat once again uncontrollably twitched. The circles she was lightly drawing on his arm was like as if it was being drawn on his heart at the same time. This kind of gentle and familiar feeling was practically the last trace of warmth within his grasp in the last half year of his life in the last lifetime.

Starting from Tianxu year 19, the renowned doctors inside and outside of the capital all said that he probably just have six to eight months left, no matter what, all unable to live past a year.

But, day after day, hour after hour, he endured through it. He didn’t know whether it was because he was unable to put down his deeply scarred mother, or worried about the crown prince whose foundation was still unable, or because his wife once again gave him endless attachment to this world.

He just remembered, even when at the end of his days, where every breath was all painful, every moment in agony, he was still unwilling to be released from the suffering. He still wanted to open his eyes again and see her guarding by his side, holding his hand.

“Shenzhi?” Yu Lingxin carefully finished applying the medicine for him, and just as she lifted her head to say something, she just saw Xun Che’s expression seemingly carrying a bit of faint sorrow, thus softly asked, “Is something the matter?”

Xun Che once again met with her caring and warm eyes, for a moment, like the warm sunlight penetrating the clouds, the sorrow and lament all dispersing. As he hooked his lips into a smile, he also shook his head, reaching out to hold her hand, “It’s nothing, just sighing at how my injuries are light, letting you finish this quickly.”

Clearly it was such nonsense, yet for him to say it this casually, it actually also had a bit of genuine feelings within. Although teasing, there was also deep yearning and helplessness.

Yu Lingxin’s expression couldn’t help but slightly blank, her heart also like sweet honey carrying a bit of sourness. His various difficulties in the past life, and the numerous considerations in this life, no one was more clear than her.

If the Xun Che at this time was still that high-spirited young heir that was full of talent and aspirations, having yet to experience everything, then perhaps he would have some considerations for the future state of the imperial court, but he absolutely won’t be like this now, deeply aware that if he takes one wrong step, exactly what kind of tragedy and destruction it will bring about.

The matters of the past life, although a strong weapon in his hand in gaining an advantage against his enemies, it nevertheless will also become a sharp blade hanging over his head at all times. Even Yu Lingxin herself would occasionally wake from her dreams, shaking in fear for a long time due to dreaming of her and her family following their past course, falling to ruins again. She was practically unable to imagine, for Xun Che who had experienced that kind of disastrous tragedy, exactly how many nightmares and burdens were buried in his heart.

What wise like a demon, having flawless strategies and calculations, Xun Che in the end was still just an ordinary person made of flesh and blood. He would also bleed because of the whips and blades, his face would distort amidst the intense pain from the poison, and he would further shed tears like rain when recalling his father and younger sister, his loved ones and family.

In the past life, she’d seen all his suffering and struggles. In this lifetime, she really didn’t want to see it again, not in the slightest.

Practically half out of instinct, Yu Lingxin’s hand lightly turned, similarly grasping Xun Che’s hand, “Don’t say nonsense. If you want, I can apply it again for you, just don’t get injured anymore, alright?”

The satisfaction and joy in Xun Che’s heart at this time was practically about to overflow, subconsciously tightening his grip, the smile on his lips increasingly deep, “Alright.”

“Cough, cough.” Yu Lingxin let him hold for a while, but in the end, still wanted to pull back her hand. After all, at this time, they were still outside, “Alright, sit properly. Regarding the Linglong Poetry Club, exactly what plans do you have? Do we really need to continuously run it?”

Xun Che although was reluctant, but counting the time, no matter how he tricks Yu Zhengshan, these two river and mountains should more or less be completed. Squeezing her hand one last time, he finally let go, getting up and returning to his original spot, “At least keep it up for a year first. Wenhua Academy at present although is being held according to the imperial edict, in reality, it’s being pushed forward by the Cheng’en Duke Manor behind the scenes, else what excuse would their family’s private school have to win over people?”

Yu Lingxin was a bit astonished, “But, from what I remember, Wenhua Academy’s reputation later on was still pretty good. Didn’t the Zhu family fall in Tianxu year 18?”

Xun Che’s lips emerged with a bit of mockery, “Wenhua Academy’s reputation being pretty good later on was because in Tianxu year 17, after Wei Wang’s death, the empress’s older brother, Yiyang Marquis entered the capital again. That’s why, the empress took the opportunity to have the academy’s matters taken in hand. Just, this time, I don’t want to wait for these.”

Yu Lingxin finally understood completely. She previously thought that Xun Che instructing Xun Ying and Ming Jinrou to join hands and form this Linglong Poetry Club, it was just for the sake of challenging the Zhu family’s private school, and the final goal was still on Wenhua Academy.

But looking at it now, Xun Che’s sights wasn’t even on the Zhu family’s private school, instead wanting to contend against the currently resoundingly renowned Wenhua Academy.

Just, this kind of big matter, can it really be accomplished by this kind of young girls’ poetry club?

Yu Lingxin although has always trusted Xun Che, she still had this question asked out loud.

Xun Che smiled, “It’s not like we need to produce some sort of great talent, or some exceptional literary work from the poetry club. What I want is just to ‘distract’. As long as Ying’er and Jinrou can have the poetry club running for more than half a year, the womenfolk in the capital’s enthusiasm towards Wenhua Academy will just get divided out. As for the portion regarding the sons of the various family clans studying in Wenhua Academy, I’m currently discussing it with Qingyang Academy. That also isn’t a big problem. In comparison, I’m more worried about the matters on the womenfolk’s side.”

Yu Lingxin immediately comprehended. In terms of etiquette, for every family clan, it should be the men managing the outside, while the women manage the inside. But, in reality, the womenfolk’s influence towards the family clan wasn’t any less than the men’s. If the Zhu family rely on the private school and Wenhua Academy to rope in these official family madams and daughters, then it was actually also just indirectly grasping half of these families.

In the last lifetime, the Yu family’s decline was just an excellent example. If not for Su-shi and the Su family tightly adhering to the Cheng’en Duke Manor, pulling strings and building bridges in all kinds of ways, Yu Bocheng may not necessarily just follow the Zhu family, and in the end, end up losing their ancestral residence, getting exiled thousands of miles away.

“The poetry gathering last time was quite good.” Yu Lingxin thought for a moment, “Just, Ying’er and Ming fourth miss both don’t have any interested in managing the miscellaneous affairs. Occasionally once or twice is fine, but to really carry on for more than a year, don’t know whether or not the two of them can manage?”

Xun Che’s gaze slightly flickered, his smile also carrying a bit of vagueness, “Then, when you go, help them out a little.”

Seeing his expression, Yu Lingxin just knew that there was undoubtedly some calculations within. Just as she was about to ask again, she just heard Yu Zhengshan’s excited voice outside, “Xun second brother, I finished it!”

Xun Che smiled, getting up and directly going out to meet him, “How is it? Isn’t there more depth in painting an actual scenery?”

Yu Zhengshan didn’t even have the mind to say anything to Yu Lingxin, just pulling Xun Che back to the left pavilion to go look at the painting and verses. Yu Lingxin at this time naturally had already tossed aside all those parting sorrows and various grievances from before. As such, she also just followed along, looking over Yu Zhengshan’s work with Xun Che.

After Xun Che gave a few comments and pointers, Yu Zhengshan still wanted to paint another piece. Hearing this, Yu Lingxin’s expression slightly sunk, “Shan’er, you may not have anything to do today, but you still can’t be this greedy. Xun-shizi still have other matters to attend to.”

Xun Che was already perfectly satisfied with today’s trip, thus just followed along with a smile, “Poetry and painting can’t be mastered in just a day. Brother Shan, you can slowly mull over after returning to the academy, no need to rush it today.”

Yu Zhengshan could only dejectedly agree. Afterwards, Xun Che called Chen Qiao over to arrange the horse carriages to return to the capital. Because Yu Zhengshan only asked for a day of absence from the academy, he just directly returned to the academy together with Xun Che, letting Yu Lingxin return to the manor alone.

After she returned home, Yu old madam was still extremely worried, but when Yu Lingxin came to Dongli Residence to talk, seeing her brows and eyes all not having much gloominess, instead having a bit of faint joy, she finally relaxed.

Just, she inwardly sighed. Having Qi-shi sent away, Yu Lingxin was actually this happy. Qi-shi, as a mother, really was quite sad.

Actually, seeing that bit of change in her grandmother’s expression, Yu Lingxin could still roughly guess. As such, she could only vaguely mention accompanying Yu Zhengshan to Wangchuan Pavilion to paint and admire the scenery, slightly muddling through.

After all, she’d been gone for this long. The old madam will eventually know of this matter.

Yu old madam didn’t raise any other suspicions either, just a bit happy that Yu Zhengshan was able to become friends with Xun Che. After all, the Yu family’s branches at present, in terms of official career, were all still very far off compared to the already deceased Yu old master. If Yu Bocheng can’t progress further, then the family clan’s future will end up falling on the grandchildren’s generation.

Yu Zhengshan was already considered very diligent and outstanding, arduously studying in Qingyang Academy since a young age, and now, if also able to obtain Wen’an Marquis heir, this senior’s guidance, then his future prospects certainly will be bright.

Thinking to here, Yu old madam instructed a few more words. If there’s this kind of opportunity again in the future, they definitely need to nicely receive Xun-shizi.

On the surface, Yu Lingxin naturally agreed with a smile, but on the inside, she couldn’t help but roll her eyes. Her handkerchief was currently still covered in the scent of Xun Che’s medicinal oil, how else should they ‘nicely receive’ him!