Rebirth of the Treacherous Official’s Madam

Yu Lingxin rolled her eyes at Ming Jinrou. The latter finally went from openly laughing to covering her mouth and secretly laughing.

As for Xun Ying, she completely misunderstood the meaning in Ming Jinrou’s sarcasm, even assuming that she was talking about the conflict and mess between her family’s elders. As such, towards Yu Lingxin, she couldn’t help but feel increasingly embarrassed, “Older sister Huijun, actually, my family’s elders………are still okay. It’s just, my grandmother’s temper is relatively stubborn sometimes, and my mother’s temper is also blunt and straightforward. These days, you have also seen. There won’t necessarily be anything……….”

Speaking of the Xun family’s matter, Ming Jinrou’s smile just really went from secretly laughing at Yu Lingxin to sarcasm, “Your family’s old madam, that isn’t just the problem of being stubborn, simply just bias to no end. Isn’t it just that your second aunt is your old madam’s maiden family niece? In her eyes, there’s simply just the people of the second branch, and your first branch just owes them.”

“Jinrou!” Xun Ying couldn’t help but carry a bit of reproach. After all, this was her own family’s elders. In front of Yu Lingxin, this was completely not having any filter.

Yu Lingxin although understood why Ming Jinrou didn’t have any misgivings, naturally having the intention of subtly warning her in advance, but she further understood Xun Ying’s awkwardness, hurriedly going to console her, “Ying’er, every family all have difficulties. Speaking of stubborn-tempered elders, my mother is just an example, so would I not understand? In any case, just carefully deal with the situation as it comes up.”

Because of Kou Xian’s low official rank, and Qi-shi was also merely just Chang’de Count Manor’s di daughter on record, in reality, these years, they simply won’t be remembered by families such as the Jin Duke Manor and Wen’an Marquis Manor. Even if Qi-shi’s sister-in-law was Xun Che and Xun Ying’s paternal aunt, this kind of indirect relatives truly didn’t have any dealings with one another.

Just, the incident of the horse carriage breaking down at the Chang’de Count Manor at the end of the sixth month still caused quite a ruckus, especially since Xun Che and Ming Jincheng were both present at the scene. Ming Jinrou and Xun Ying practically both heard of that Madam Kou’s natural shouting abilities and destructive power that day. The two of them shared a glance, also having a bit more sympathy towards Yu Lingxin.

After all, having that kind of a mother, compared to relatives that were separated by a layer of relationship, such as a grandmother or second aunt, it was even worse.

The only thing to rejoice was that currently, Qi-shi has already followed the Kou family to the Jiang province. As such, on Yu Lingxin’s side, there was thus less trouble.

However, speaking to here, it also wasn’t good to continue saying anything. If they continue, it will really become a discussion about their elders, which both wasn’t good, and also meaningless.

Yu Lingxin voluntarily started mentioning matters in regards to the next poetry gathering, because the twentieth of the tenth month was Xun old madam’s birthday, just a few days from the originally planned date for the poetry gathering. That day, as the eldest branch’s di daughter, Xun Ying certainly will need to receive the young ladies of the same generation, so they can just gather at the banquet, and while drinking tea, discuss about heading to the Wenhua Academy’s poetry gathering together at the end of the month.

When speaking of the actual arrangements of the general affairs, Ming Jinrou just patted Xun Ying, “Don’t worry, older sister Huijun and I will be with you.”

Xun Ying naturally was more close with Ming Jinrou, but through the preparations and arrangements of the literature club’s poetry gatherings, in addition to Yu Lingxin recently staying at the Xun Manor to look at account books with her, when it comes to general affairs, Xun Ying instead relied on Yu Lingxin more, “Sister Huijun, you definitely need to come over more those days. Actually, you can also stay over for a few days with Jinrou, can keep each other company.”

“Right!” Ming Jinrou’s eyes lit up, “I will definitely come two days early to paternal aunt’s place, older sister should come together with me!” She batted her big eyes, also carrying a smile.

Yu Lingxin helplessly laughed. Ming Jinrou really always carried a bit of a ‘fearing there’s not enough chaos’ attitude. However, she didn’t dare to stay over at the Xun Manor. Even now, when there was all kinds of misgivings, Xun Che still would sneak into her carriage from time to time. If she dared to stay over at the Xun Manor, she didn’t even need to think to know how Ming Jinrou and Xun Che will cooperate.

“Cough, our two families aren’t too far away from one another.” Yu Lingxin still gently said to Xun Ying, “If there’s anything, just send someone to look for me. If the preparations are tedious and complicated, I will just come early those days. It’s better to not trouble you by staying over.”

Based on Xun Ying’s temperament, she naturally won’t insist. Rather, it was Ming Jinrou that felt it was a great pity, repeatedly asking a few times, and in the end, successfully got shot a glare by Yu Lingxin before this conversation finally came to an end.

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

In a few days, it was just the Zhu family’s so-called hundred flower banquet. Yu Lingxin had asked both Ming Jinrou and Xun Ying, learning that they also respectively received an invitation and will also go. As such, she had a further understanding inside, feeling more reassured towards this matter, also not planning on doing any extra preparations for it.

After all, dealing with this kind of flower banquet was truly too simple. In the past life, never mind the imperial relatives and nobles’ tea gathering or flower gathering, even entering the palace was also common for her. Yu Lingxin naturally won’t take it too seriously.

However, for Su-shi and Yu Yunxin, it was just greatly different. The Cheng’en Duke Manor, based on their current influence and power, was already a top class prestigious noble family to begin with. And when Madam Su came over to deliver the invitations, she also extravagantly explained for half a day, particularly emphasizing that Ruiyang Junzhu, Yongfu Junzhu, and such daughters of the imperial clan will also be present.

Moreover, because Zhu third miss and her brother Zhu third young master were fraternal twins, the front will also have a poetry gathering and banquet for the young masters and gentlemen that day. This kind of grand and bustling gathering, how many opportunities can there be in total?

For a time, Su-shi’s main courtyard was bustling, having servant girls and servant women running in and out all day, overturning the trunks and boxes, sending people out to select fabric, look for head ornaments, purchase cosmetics, invite tailors, and so on, hating that she can’t have Yu Yunxin dressed up from head to toe and wrapped in fragrant incense. The scene like as if she was going to enter the palace as a candidate for the imperial harem.

As for Lianyi Residence’s side, because the account books for Yu Lingxin’s dowry were finally thoroughly organized, Shuangye went to go take care the gifts Yu Lingxin received from the Xun family and Ming family these days.

And Gancao, whose personality was more lively, when helping Lianyi Residence run errands and handle miscellaneous tasks, just heard quite a few gossips and news in regards to Su-shi’s side, telling Yu Lingxin from time to time, for instance, how Su-shi extravagantly spent a thousand gold in one throw to order a bolt of expensive clothing material from Jiuzhou Embroidery to make bifu^[1] and handkerchiefs for the second miss, and also looked for a few tailors and artisans to make new clothes and new head ornaments for Yu Yunxin. Additionally, Su-shi even went a few times to Dongli Residence, tactfully asking the old madam whether or not Lianyi Residence should also make new clothes.

“The madam asked the old madam about our miss’s clothes?” Ganlu was a bit confused, “So, the madam wants to make for miss too?”

Yu Lingxin smiled, “Previously, the old madam said, Lianyi Residence’s affairs and budget all don’t need the madam to interfere in. The madam is worried that if when time comes, I were to dress ordinarily, yet Yun’er is shining brilliantly, then when the two of us stand together, outsiders will say that the stepmother is not compassionate, just dressing up her own daughter. But, if I’m too lazy to dress up, the madam is also unwilling to let Yun’er also dress plainly and lose face in front of the nobles.”

Gancao slanted her mouth, “Then, why don’t the madam just purchase a set for miss as well?”

“You’d also said, the madam has currently spent a lot of money.” Yu Lingxin casually picked up the teacup and took a sip, “That is all the madam’s own private savings. Spending large amounts of money for her own daughter, that is only natural. It’s not like I’m after the madam’s things. Just, these efforts of hers are actually also in vain. The more nobles there are in a place, the more one doesn’t need to stand out extravagantly. When the daughter of a subject can be more extravagant than the daughters of the imperial clan, then this subject’s family can also be considered to have come to an end. Following the normal standard is enough, anything else really isn’t necessary.”

She thought for a moment, still sending Shuangye to Dongli Residence to convey this meaning to Yu old madam. Su-shi and Yu Yunxin being excited was understandable, but should still stop before going too far.

Yu old madam’s side also responded very quickly, calling Su-shi over for a talk that night, even giving a pair of bracelets to Yu Yunxin. Afterwards, the main courtyard just settled down a little. Although they still made new clothes and such, but at least, not that restless anymore.

Moreover, Su-shi also finally understood a bit of reasoning, knowing that not being able to climb onto the clouds was fine, at least, don’t cause trouble. That’s why, the next day, she even sent someone over to ask Yu Lingxin, whether or not she’d heard the Ming family and Xun family miss mention anything that one should take note of, especially the taboos in front of the noble personages, such as the junzhus and daughters of the imperial clan.

Yu Lingxin was actually very satisfied with this response of Su-shi’s, also feeling that the old madam didn’t waste her efforts. After all, Su-shi wasn’t someone that was completely braindead. As long as the stakes and interest are pointed out, they can still get through to her.

As for the daughters of the imperial clan, they actually weren’t that difficult to deal with. In the end, for flower banquets and whatnot, in the beginning perhaps everyone was all gathered in one place, but after a cup or two of tea, they naturally will just divide up according to their usual circles. Yu Yunxin simply won’t have any opportunity to go near Ruiyang Junzhu and Yongfu Junzhu.

But, since Su-shi sent someone to ask, Yu Lingxin naturally just casually said a few words.

Right after sending off Su-shi’s servant girl, her heart suddenly jolted slightly, seemingly having a bit of uneasiness creeping up her heart, should be related to the Zhu family and Ruiyang Junzhu, but momentarily unable to think clearly.

After pondering back and forth for a while, it was still blurry. As such, Yu Lingxin could only temporarily set it aside for now, instead instructing Ganlu, Bai Guo, and the others to have the clothes, accessories, and gifts for the trip to Cheng’en Duke Manor looked over again.

The days quickly passed by. In a blink of an eye, it was just the sixth of the tenth month, the day of Cheng’en Duke Manor’s hundred flower banquet. Just like before, Yu Lingxin and Yu Yunxin will travel together in separate carriages. The two sisters met at the second gate.

Su-shi personally accompanied Yu Yunxin over to the carriage. Along the way, she naturally carefully instructed a few words, also personally tidying her vibrant and splendid new clothes.

Seeing Yu Lingxin come over, also dressed in a glistening satin long dress, with white jade water lilies and coral beads in her hair, the style simple yet extremely elegant and graceful, Su-shi also somewhat relaxed a breath. At least the two sisters’ attire didn’t exceed what was proper.

Just as she was about to perfunctorily say a few words to Yu Lingxin too, such as be careful while out and so forth, she just heard the servant outside the second gate come over to report, “Madam, Jin Duke Manor and Wen’an Marquis Manor’s horse carriage have arrived, coming to pick up the eldest miss.”

Su-shi and Yu Yunxin both were somewhat stunned. They naturally knew that Yu Lingxin was seemingly very close with these two families recently. However, they even needed to travel together when going out like this?

It just so happens that Yu Yunxin also needed to mount the carriage, so everyone went out together. At this time, they just saw the duke manor and marquis manor’s carriage arrive one after another. And next to the horse carriage, there was also two tall young men on horseback traveling along with, precisely Ming Jincheng and Xun Che.

Ming Jinrou jumped down from the carriage, smilingly going up to Yu Lingxin, “Older sister, come together with me and Ying’er, we can chat along the way.”

Yu Lingxin nodded with a smile, “Okay.”

As Ming Jinrou took a step, Yu Lingxin turned back towards Su-shi and Yu Yunxin, “Does Yun’er’s horse carriage want to follow behind the marquis manor’s carriage?”

Su-shi blanked for a moment, finally stiffly smiling, “That’s also good, that’s also good.”

After watching Ming Jinrou support Yu Lingxin onto the duke manor’s carriage, Xun Che and Ming Jincheng directly turned their horses around, leaving together with the horse carriage. Yu Yunxin also hurriedly climbed onto her own carriage and followed after them.

Just, when sitting in the carriage, looking down at her own vibrantly colored brocade dress, she suddenly once again recalled Yu Lingxin’s simple yet elegant attire today, and her intimate and natural interactions with the Xun and Ming family. She finally faintly sensed that unknown as to when, between her eldest sister and her, there was just a ravine.

[1] Bifu – See below, it’s sort of like a scarf hung around the arms made from a long fabric. The name literally translates to arm support.