Rebirth of the Treacherous Official’s Madam

On the Zhu family sisters’ side, they were naturally very awkward. After all, for young girls of the boudoir, their primary status still depended on their father’s position. Regardless how renowned and virtuous of a reputation the deceased Yu old master had, the current Yu Bocheng was still nothing more than just a fourth rank Chief Administrator of the Ministry of Works. The Zhu family young ladies never once considered having the Yu family sisters’ seats arranged in the main hall, sitting together with the daughters of the high nobles and imperial clansmen.

But, Ming Jinrou’s attitude at this time was also this firm, not having the slightest intention of following along the host’s arrangements. They could tell that if they really have Yu Lingxin and Yu Yunxin’s seats arranged in the courtyard, then Ming Jinrou really will follow over along with Xun Ying. When time comes, if the Wen family sisters were to also request to sit with them, then the more changes there were, the greater the disturbance. The scene will just be even more awkward.

Zhu third miss shared a glance with her older sister, having no choice but to reluctantly agree with a smile, “Since that’s the case, it’s not a big deal either. I’ll order someone to add two seats for the Yu family young ladies right away.”

“Then, many thanks.” Ming Jinrou smiled and headed inside with Yu Lingxin.

As for Yu Yunxin who was following behind them, she was just increasingly nervous, just feeling that, that slight moment of deadlock during the conversation just now, as well as in the next moment, upon entering the hall, that mystifying feeling of walking among the daughters of high nobles, it was all greatly different from before when going to the Wen’an Marquis Manor to participate in the poetry gathering.

Every person she saw before her eyes were all dressed magnificently and exquisitely, having jade pearls and glistening jewels by their temples, their every gesture and soft voices all carrying the elegance of a high noble, eminent and unapproachable. Yu Yunxin’s entire body seemingly all tensed up, her every step taken very carefully. And as she followed behind Yu Lingxin to what practically can be considered one of the main seats situated at the center of the hall, Yu Yunxin further felt that her hand when pulling out the chair all wasn’t that steady anymore.

She couldn’t help but gaze towards Yu Lingxin again. That strange and unfamiliar feeling once again bubbled up her heart. That timid and soft eldest sister that she knew of from her impressions since little, unknown as to when, seemingly just thoroughly disappeared.

The Yu Lingxin she saw before her eyes, when sitting down, was extremely easy-mannered and natural, not just faintly carrying an appropriate smile, continuing to chat with Ming Jinrou and Xun Ying who she was already familiar with. Even the other noble family daughters that were already sitting here, such as the Chu Duke Manor’s young lady, Fuyuan General’s daughter, when exchanging greetings, she was all very easy-going and experienced, as if she was already extremely accustomed to this kind of setting, and even already acquainted with the other party.

Towards this bit, others didn’t feel anything of it. When Ming Jinrou and Xun Ying met Yu Lingxin, she was already like this.

Especially after seeing her handle the general affairs for the poetry gatherings, when dealing with situations, she was always that relaxed and experienced. Regardless whether it’s Ming Jinrou, who knew of Yu Lingxin’s relationship with Xun Che, or the relatively simple-minded Xun Ying, they were already used to having Yu Lingxin treated as half an elder sister, also feeling that the late Head Minister Yu’s scholarly reputation ultimately wasn’t just empty talk. This was precisely what the eldest di daughter of a well-known scholarly family should be like. On the contrary, Yu Yunxin was similarly the Yu family first branch’s di-born granddaughter, yet how come she was like as if not having seen much before, appearing cautious and nervous.

Everyone casually chatted for another quarter of an hour, with more and more guests coming one after another.

And in between, the gazes casted towards this table were particularly noticeable. On one hand, it was because compared to the other tables, Ming Jinrou and Yu Lingxin’s table clearly had more people, and on the other hand, it was just because of seeing those two Wen family young ladies, as well as the somewhat unfamiliar Yu family sisters all at this conspicuous table.

The Zhu family young ladies’ smile when welcoming the guests were also somewhat uneasy, but they can’t just voluntarily explain to each guest one by one that it was Ming Jinrou that insisted on sitting together with Yu Lingxin, thus they had no choice but to add seats and so on. In the end, they could only force a smile on their faces.

Especially Zhu third miss, she was both today’s birthday star, and on normal days, also someone with a reputation of having good learning and a good temper, so it further wasn’t good for her to say anything. However, the Zhu second miss was just much more flexible. When going back and forth, she glanced a few times at Ming Jinrou’s table, and then, whispered a few words to the servant girl by her side. Afterwards, she was just full of smiles again, continuing to accompany the Zhu third miss in greeting the guests.

Yu Lingxin although appeared to be idly chatting with the people next to her, but in reality, ever since entering the Zhu Manor, she has been taking note of the people in the surroundings. Especially when carrying that many memories and understandings from the past life, looking at the Zhu family’s seating arrangement at this time, and the conversations and dealings between the young ladies, her awareness towards the current state of affairs and relationships was just even more distinct, also further having the energy to pay attention to various details, naturally also including Zhu second miss’s little movements just now.

Very soon, a crisp laughter like a silver bell just sounded from the east side of the reception hall. Two young girls dressed in luxurious palace gowns entered from the outside. The person on the left’s attire was particularly bright and glistening, the jade and pearl ornaments all very luxurious. Her sweetly smiling face was further peerlessly dainty, precisely the one that was currently the most favored among the daughters of the imperial clan by Noble Consort Zhu and even his Majesty Xuan Emperor, Ruiyang Junzhu.

Yongfu Junzhu, who was on the other side, was a year younger than Ruiyang Junzhu. Her appearance, although was also delicate and cute, her beauty ultimately was a bit weaker, her temperament also not as lively. When the two of them walked together, she wasn’t nearly as eye-catching as Ruiyang Junzhu.

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

As soon as Ming Jinrou saw Ruiyang Junzhu enter, she just lightly snorted, slightly turning her head, clearly having been very displeased towards this niece of Noble Consort Zhu’s for a long time. However, Yu Lingxin strangely somewhat looked forward to meeting her. Zhu second miss’s little movement just now most likely was inviting Ruiyang Junzhu over, perhaps having her say a few words about the seating arrangement.

This, she actually didn’t care about. Yu Lingxin even faintly hoped that she can borrow any means to have Ruiyang Junzhu hindered here, unable to leave, best not having any opportunity to get involved with Xun Cong.

Yu Lingxin probably can be considered to have her wish granted. After Ruiyang Junzhu and Yongfu Junzhu roughly said a few words to the other guests and the Zhu sisters, they indeed just came to Ming Jinrou and Yu Lingxin’s side, “Ming fourth miss, Ming Ying, long time no see. These are?”

The Wen family sisters naturally heard of Ruiyang Junzhu, just they didn’t have the opportunity to meet previously. Regardless of how much Empress Wen and Noble Consort Zhu hated each other on the inside, the appearances on the surface was still needed to be maintained. At present, it was just getting up and exchanging greetings. Ruiyang Junzhu smilingly responded and then continued, “Really very lively. Ming fourth miss also very much have face, everyone all needing to look after you from top to bottom. Even on this side, also need to add seats before you can sit, not at all considering ‘following along the host as the guest’.”

Once these words came out, half the guests in the pavilion all erected their ears to listen. Everyone all knew that because his Majesty Xuan Emperor’s two daughters in the early years both died prematurely, and in the current court, aside from Xuan Emperor’s older sister, Kangning Elder Princess, there weren’t any other princesses, the junzhu title was already the highest status for this generation’s daughters of the imperial clan at present. Additionally, Ruiyang Junzhu was also favored, so when speaking, she was always just this blunt.

Before Ming Jinrou could speak, Ruiyang Junzhu just swept a glance at Yu Lingxin and Yu Yunxin, “Moreover, these two are also not the least bit reserved, not weighing your own family’s status in the slightest?”

Yu Yunxin’s mood originally had just relaxed a little, but at this time, it instantly tensed up again, her entire face all red, helplessly gazing towards her own older sister.

Ming Jinrou also got angry and was just about to speak when she heard Yu Lingxin let out a laugh first, “You are really funny, don’t know, in junzhu’s eyes, how should one’s status be measured?”

Ruiyang Junzhu was actually throwing these words at Ming Jinrou, originally thinking that by sweeping a glance over from above like this, Yu Lingxin would just be like Yu Yunxin right now, her entire face red from shame. But, who knew that she would actually just openly ask back. Moreover, her voice was clear and crisp, her tone gentle, just like as if this line was the most common greeting.

“Don’t even know how to measure one’s own status?” About seventy percent of Ruiyang Junzhu’s astonishment was actually real, afterwards, snorting, her entire face filled with contempt, “Your ability to act stupid is quite impressive. What official rank of the court and what rank of nobility your family has, you also don’t know?”

Ruiyang Junzhu’s voice although wasn’t loud, the tone of these words was nevertheless extremely heavy. The people in the reception hall became increasingly quiet. Even the voices in the courtyard outside all softened.

Yu Lingxin slightly hooked the corner of her mouth, her elegant smile similarly carrying a bit of mockery, her responding words actually even slower and also even more clear, “When I received Miss Zhu’s invitation, I saw that the words on the invitation were full of literary grace, amiable and sincere, so just thought that this esteemed Miss Zhu was being wholeheartedly sincere, just like the Linglong Literature Club, willing to be friends with us, these daughters of families that were lower ranked than the Cheng’en Duke Manor.”

She paused for a moment. Seeing Ruiyang Junzhu’s expression already very subtly flickering, Yu Lingxin just continued with a smile, “But, at this time, hearing junzhu clearly indicate like this, I thus learned that turns out, I, as someone from a family without a noble title, had just thought too much, and that the seating arrangement even needed to be according to rank, not having the intention of becoming friends. Then, can one ask junzhu to advise whether or not it also needs to be according to ‘civil officials to the east, military official to the west’, dividing like the imperial court meetings? If this is the case, then I certainly will abide by it, so as to avoid letting junzhu and Miss Zhu see a joke.”

Once these words came out, the people inside and outside of the pavilion all didn’t have a good look on their face.

Although for occasions like flower gatherings and banquets, when arranging the seating order, aside from considering the close and distant relationships, it was just the ranks and statuses of the guests, but as the saying goes, those coming to the door were guests. The Zhu family’s goal in inviting this many young ladies was naturally still for the sake of making friends and roping them in. Even if somewhat having the implication of showing off their imperial favor and glory, they still can’t really just not give face at all.

Especially given that the majority of the young ladies present were all from high ranking families, practically everyone in this moment all either blatantly or discreetly looked around at their own seating order, while weighing their own family’s position, all inevitably feeling a bit discontent inside. Even if knowing that using the status and position for the seating arrangement was appropriate, but when hearing these words, they still felt that becoming friends and whatnot were all empty talk.

The two Zhu family young ladies’ complexions were even more unsightly like a corpse. Regardless of how others view this banquet, whether it’s for the sake of showing off their imperial favor or displaying their status, the two of them were fully aware of their paternal aunt Noble Consort Zhu’s thoughts, and their own family’s goal. Especially Zhu second miss, at this time, further regretting to death. This Yu family miss that appeared gentle and soft, how come spoke even sharper than knives!