Rebirth of the Treacherous Official’s Madam

Thinking to here, Ming Huayue even regretted not keeping Yu Lingxin behind, so as to let the old madam and them see what a true expert in managing the household was like.

As for Qi Pei, she was rather calm on the surface. Hearing her mother and maternal grandmother praise her like this, she also didn’t have any bashfulness, her pretty face slightly smiling, full of an eldest di daughter of a count manor’s pride and confidence, “If maternal aunt-in-law needs anything, feel free to instruct.”

Ming Huayue had a straightforward temperament herself, so towards easy-mannered young ladies, she originally did have a bit of good feelings. And all this time, towards the Chang’de Countess, this sister-in-law, being close with the second branch, she also didn’t mind that much either. In the past, she’d always felt that they were all one family after all, so as long as nothing overboard happens, each having their respective little calculations, she didn’t really care.

All the way until four months ago, Xun Che suddenly passed out after eating the dessert sent over by the Qi family when paying respect to the old madam, even going mad for a few days.

Although afterwards, they couldn’t find anything wrong with the dessert, and Xun Che also recovered, but as the mother, Ming Huayue truly was shocked and alarmed. Ever since then, towards the Chang’de Count Manor, she just deeply detested.

Regardless of how much the old madam wants to matchmake Qi Pei and Xun Che, and no matter how much the Chang’de Count Manor tried to compensate afterwards, Ming Huayue was still very much on guard when seeing the Qi family. As for Yu Lingxin, whose birth mother was from the Qi family, because of her falling out with her birth mother Qi-shi, as well as her estrangement with her maternal family the Chang’de Count Manor, it instead made Ming Huayue faintly like her even more.

“The preparations are indeed more or less done.” Ming Huayue randomly responded, not even bothering to say something like ‘come over tomorrow for a look’ and such.

Xun old madam frowned, “Should still let Pei’er go over for a look. Wasn’t it said that the girls’ side will also be holding a tea gathering? Pei’er and Xiang’er can both go over to help out a little. The matters at home, they can also more or less give a hand. You just relying on these two children, how is it enough?”

Ming Huayue indifferently spoke, “It’s not just them either. The children’s poetry club’s side also have another young lady helping out. Speaking of which, Pei’er also recognize, it’s your younger cousin.”

“Maternal aunt-in-law is speaking of the Yu family younger cousin?” Qi Pei was somewhat surprised. She’d participated in the Linglong Literature Club before, also knowing that Yu Lingxin had a so called club secretary title, helping in managing the miscellaneous affairs of the literature club. As for Ming Jinrou and Xun Ying being close with Yu Lingxin, never mind the relatives all knowing, after that extremely unsuccessful yet greatly well-known flower banquet of the Zhu family’s, everyone in the capital all knew.

But, Xun old madam’s birthday banquet, something this big, Yu Lingxin will also participate in?

Out of a certain kind of instinct, Qi Pei suddenly had a kind of strange alarm rising in her heart.

Very soon, practically on the morning of the next day, this instinct of hers just got verified.

Because the next day after the morning meal, when Xun second madam took Qi Pei and Xun Xiang to Yuli Hall together, not only did she saw Yu Lingxin having long arrived at the Xun manor already, sitting next to Xun Ying and Ming Jinrou looking over account books, Qi Pei further saw at a glance hanging on this beautiful younger cousin’s ear, a pair of dark green jadeite beads.

Everyone naturally went through a round of greetings. Even if Ming Huayue was somewhat annoyed, the manners on the surface was still there. And in this brief moment, Qi Pei practically had all her attention placed on Yu Lingxin, examining back and forth.

The sheep-fat jade water lily by her temples, the string of pearls on her wrist, the jasper hairpin in her hair, each and every one all appeared simple and clean, yet in reality, the value was considerable, completely not like the Yu family younger cousin in her impressions from before, who even if not considered poor, still didn’t have any outstanding areas.

And what further made her shocked inside was just that jadeite ruiyi jinbu hanging by Yu Lingxin’s waist, which were clearly of the same craftsmanship and quality as the jadeite beads by her ear. It was most likely from that well-known Tianshui Jade set………..

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

Because Xun second madam was close with the Chang’de Countess, this sister-in-law, she thus frequently visited the Qi manor. Although she had never directly met Yu Lingxin before, but towards those Qi family relatives’ matters, she was actually very clear about. As such, seeing Yu Lingxin here at this time, she was even more surprised than Qi Pei.

Just, she was afraid of Ming Huayue’s unyielding temperament, so she didn’t dare to rashly be rude. After going through the conventional greetings, she just reservedly smiled, “Sure enough, can’t judge one by appearance. In the past, never heard that Miss Yu was this capable.”

Yu Lingxin, as a guest, while also not having an elder from her own family by her side, wasn’t able to directly answer to these words, and could only similarly smile, “You’re overpraising.”

Xun Xiang sat next to Qi Pei, her gaze similarly very nimble, swiftly sweeping over Yu Lingxin’s attire from head to toe, and then turned her head, whispering something by Qi Pei’s ear.

Xun second madam actually also noticed the accessories on Yu Lingxin, feeling somewhat skeptical. Thus, she just smiled again, “Coming over to help this time, truly thank you for the trouble. At home, who did you study accounting with?”

“Younger sister-in-law, these idle talk, leave for later.” Ming Huayue directly interrupted, “The children are currently helping me organize the lists and bills. You questioning them as an elder, should they put down the brush in hand or not? Should the matters be put on hold or not? If there’s really something, just ask later when drinking tea.”

Xun second madam’s gaze slightly flickered. Everyone all knew that this older sister-in-law of hers came from a high birth, possessing a considerable family wealth, her temperament also resolute and upright. Even the old madam didn’t dare to directly clash with her too much. She, as the younger sister-in-law, was further used to seeing Ming Huayue’s strong and unyielding attitude.

Just, these words of hers also revealed a bit of implications. Could it be that the first branch was looking over Yu Lingxin as a daughter-in-law candidate?

But, the Yu family’s Head Minister Manor was merely just an empty title. The Yu family’s eldest master, Yu Bocheng, at present, was just a fourth rank Chief Administrator of the Ministry of Works, and Yu Lingxin’s birth mother was also like that. How can Ming Huayue consider such a daughter-in-law for her eldest son?

“Eldest aunt.” Xun Xiang lightly coughed, voluntarily asking, “Yesterday, I saw that fourth brother also came to pick us up. How come he return this early? Wasn’t it said that he will be at the academy until the end of the year?”

“Because of the old madam’s birthday banquet, so just called him back first to help out.” On this matter, Ming Huayue already reached a consensus with Xun Che, also not planning on letting Xun Cong return to Maolin Academy in the future. Although the matter of Xun Che catching a disguised Xun Cong that day at the Zhu manor during the manor search was also known by some, but on the surface, it was very necessary for there to be an excuse.

Xun Xiang nodded, yet also swept a glance at Yu Lingxin.

Yu Lingxin had her head lowered, swiftly wielding the brush, but upon hearing Xun Xiang’s tone, she roughly just knew what this third miss was guessing.

After all, in terms of this body’s age at this very moment, the soon to be fourteen years old her was still younger than the currently fifteen years old Xun Cong. And judging from her father’s official post and the Yu family’s current status, if the Xun family really wants to form marriage ties with the Yu family, then others probably will feel that they were considering for the younger son and not for the heir who will inherit the noble title.

Qi Pei at this time calmed down a little. Making out Xun Xiang’s meaning, she also followed along and asked a few words about Xun Cong’s studies and so on. Ming Huayue randomly answered a few words and then just had the intention to chase them out.

At this time, a wave of a footsteps sounded outside, mixed with the talking sound of young men. Afterwards, they just saw Xun Che and Xun Cong, these two brothers, come over together.

“Mother, second aunt.” Turning into the warm room and seeing a room full of people, Xun Che and Xun Cong were also somewhat surprised when greeting.

Xun Xiang and Qi Pei both stood up to greet, respectively calling tang older brother and older cousin.

Ming Jinrou however directly just smiled, “Two older cousins, we won’t be greeting. The accounts in hand, we still haven’t finished calculating. If you two are free, then just chat with older cousin and them.”

“Itching for a beating, huh?” Towards Ming Jinrou, Xun Che more or less treated like half a younger brother, casually just flicking her hair bun, “Where am I free?” As he said this, he turned his head and gestured towards Xun Cong.

Xun Cong followed by Xun Che’s side, holding a few lists and bills in hand, still not his usual carefree and joyful appearance like in the past. Although also not like a few days ago where his entire body would just tense up upon seeing Xun Che, but following by his older brother’s side, he was still extremely cautious and obedient.

At this time, he directly went forward, having the lists and bills in hand handed over. Two to his mother, one to Xun Ying, and the other two, it practically can be considered deferentially offering up with both hands to Yu Lingxin.

Yu Lingxin received it in hand, looking it over, and immediately just compared and confirmed with the list of items on the account book. Just, when inadvertently lifting her head, she just saw Qi Pei’s extremely complicated expression again.

Practically following Qi Pei’s gaze, Yu Lingxin first glanced at Xun Cong who was to the side, and then just gazed towards Xun Che.

Xun Che was currently swiftly looking through the notes Xun Ying just wrote. Probably sensing the line of sights gathering on him, he also lifted his eyes, looking at Yu Lingxin, hooking the corner of his lips. Shortly after, he turned towards his mother, Ming Huayue, bringing up a few arrangements and preparations for the seats in the front courtyard. From start to finish, he all didn’t sweep a single glance towards the people of the second branch as well as Qi Pei.

At this time, Xun second madam and Xun Xiang felt even more awkward sitting there, and could only wait for a pause in Ming Huayue and Xun Che’s discussion in order to ask whether or not there was anything they can help with.

Ming Huayue was just about to speak, yet Xun Che let out laugh first, “Second aunt just need to sit and enjoy the banquet. If able to entertain the guests a little, then it’ll be of great help.”

Upon hearing, Xun second madam was just somewhat unable to sit still, “Look at what shizi is saying, could it be that second aunt will even cause trouble? This big of a banquet, how can we just rely on you children?” She then swept a glance at Yu Lingxin who was sitting together with Xun Ying, “Never mind tiring out the girls at home, even a distant relative that’s only indirectly related after going around a big circle is all working hard, could it be that second aunt can only just watch?”

Hearing Xun second madam actually mentioning Yu Lingxin in her words, Xun Che’s smiled just faded a little more, “Isn’t this considering on the fact that second uncle and second aunt’s return trip wasn’t smooth, repeatedly getting held up on the road? Originally, from the Liu province to the capital, it’s merely a six to seven day trip, yet you all took an entire ten days, even dragging out until sunset before entering the city. The old madam had also gotten tired out, no?”

Mentioning the twist and turns on the road, Xun second madam’s heart just jumped. That bit of look originally also just changed, “It……was alright.”

“Is that so?” Xun Che went forward half a step, “I’d even thought that because the trip was truly rough and difficult, the eldest miss thus was unable to travel together and return together. However, that also isn’t too serious. Just now, I’d already let someone send another urgent quick letter, absolutely must receive the eldest miss in person in the Liu province Jiang family residence. Else, how will the eldest miss’s reputation be good?”