Rebirth of the Treacherous Official’s Madam

This question circled around in Yu Lingxin’s mind for an entire day.

Xun Che had left the capital on the twenty-third of the tenth month, while the questioning and interrogation inside and outside of the capital was lifted on the twenty-fourth. Even if Xun Yan had immediately rushed towards the Liu province that very day, she still had no way of returning to the Jiang manor earlier than Xun Che.

Unless Xun Yan abandons the carriage and change to horseback, disregarding her life and rushing with all her might, perhaps there’s still a thread of hope, but the weather at the end of the tenth month was already very cold, and Xun Yan didn’t practice martial arts, so her body shouldn’t be able to withstand that kind of rush.

But, according to that servant woman’s explanation at the Wen’an Marquis Manor, Xun Yan not only arrived, she even arrived before Xun Che, thus returning to the capital even earlier than Xun Che, and afterwards, met with mishap on the way.

Exactly how much truth were in these words?

Or perhaps should say, what part of this matter was false?

During the quarrel at the Xun manor, the people of the second branch were clearly emphasizing that ‘Xun Che harmed Xun Yan’. Suppose that they really were to argue along their words, then what they can say was probably just ‘Xun Che didn’t’, or ‘he won’t go harm Xun Yan’.

But, what if this entire matter was all fake?

The Jiang family said that Xun Yan had already departed prior to Xun Che arriving. In other words, Xun Che simply didn’t have the opportunity to see Xun Yan. Then, how can they determine that the person in the carriage was actually Xun Yan?

If Xun Yan really fell into the river, then at this time, is she dead or alive? If the one in the carriage wasn’t Xun Yan, then where is the real Xun Yan?

Most importantly, exactly what did the true mastermind behind that servant woman want to do? Moreover, to even directly blurt out at this kind of neither big nor small banquet, wasn’t that just intentionally wanting to have this news spread outside?

This was what puzzled Yu Lingxin the most. If this was the second branch’s scheme, then their focus should be thinking of a way to pave a path for Xun Yan to return home, and not let her die outside. It can’t be that Xun Yan wants to use her own life to frame Xun Che with a murder charge?

Of course, there is also another kind of possibility, and that is just that this matter was an outsider’s scheme. For instance, Ruiyang Junzhu or the Zhu family, directly plotting to kill Xun Yan, and afterwards, pin it onto Xun Che, thereby propelling the Xun family’s internal conflict, while also ruining Xun Che’s reputation.

But, this also didn’t seem to be the case. Yu Lingxin thought back on what she saw at the Wen’an Marquis Manor at the time. She kept feeling that the Xun family second branch accepted this news too fast, their reaction also not natural enough, so they should be involved in this matter.

Then, what was the truth? Perhaps, she will need to wait until Xun Che returns to the capital to find out.

While Yu Lingxin was still puzzled after pondering, the news regarding this fight at the Xun manor and Xun Yan meeting with mishap already soundlessly began spreading.

In fact, even Yu Bocheng, who’d just returned home on the fifth of the eleventh month for his day off, similarly heard a little about it. That’s why, when hearing Yu old madam mention Ming Huayue’s intentions, he immediately shook his head, “Marriage ties with the Xun family? This isn’t appropriate, no, no.”

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

Once these words came out, the whole family was shocked, including Yu Lingxin. No one expected that Yu Bocheng would actually oppose this marriage.

“Lately, there has been many turbulence in court.” Yu Bocheng originally was still somewhat worried about Yu Lingxin also being here at this time, but thinking again, he felt that it was still better to clearly explain the stakes to his young daughter, thus he continued, “The situation in the palace is also tense. This Wen’an Marquis heir is just eighteen years old, yet already took up the post of the Chief Secretary of the Central Secretariat. In the past, he was also his Highness Qin Wang’s study companion, so simply just at the heart of the struggle at all times. One wrong step, and it’s just the entire family meeting with disaster. It’s still better for Ling’er to not be too close with their family.”

Yu Lingxin couldn’t help but choke. Back then, she’d also once blocked her father in every way, letting him stay far away from the battle of the throne in court in order to preserve the family clan. Now that Yu Bocheng has genuinely set his mind on repairing the imperial tombs, staying far away from the imperial court, while also similarly hoping that she won’t get involved with the Xun family that’s at the core of the power struggle, she was actually speechless to respond.

Xun old madam was still somewhat hesitant, “This………..although also make sense, but the Wen’an Marchioness genuinely likes Ling’er very much, even the Jin Duke couple gave their greeting gift.”

Yu Bocheng was completely unmoved, even speaking even more bluntly, “To be particularly attentive for no reason, afraid there’s some ulterior motive. Based on the Wen’an Marquis heir’s talent, appearance, and status, even marrying an imperial princess or junzhu is possible. What exceptional redeeming quality does our Yu family have at present? Why insist on Ling’er? Besides, the Wen’an Marquis Manor’s family status is also too high, the interior also not peaceful. Even at the north of the capital, I’d heard the news about that Wen’an Marquis heir plotting against his younger tang sister’s life. Although that is just rumors, but wind doesn’t come from an empty cave, so not necessarily baseless. The Wen’an Marquis heir still very much have some tricks up his sleeve. If by chance Ling’er were to suffer grievances after she marries, when time comes, it’ll be very difficult for us to even argue with them.”

Although Yu Bocheng’s firm opposition made Yu Lingxin both surprised and headache, but the meaning in her father’s words still made her very moved.

Because in this marriage, father simply never considered how to become close with the Wen’an Marquis Manor through marriage ties, and from there, move up a step in his official career. In fact, he doesn’t even care what kind of benefits this marriage can bring to their family. He is just wholeheartedly thinking about whether or not this is a good match, and whether or not she can live well in the future.

Yu old madam followed along this train of thought, also somewhat agreeing. Just, the old madam had seen Ming Huayue’s genuine fondness towards Yu Lingxin the day before yesterday. That’s why, she was still a bit hesitant. As such, this matter in the end temporarily concluded with just ‘wait and see’.

After all, the Xun family right now still haven’t formally proposed marriage, and at present, Xun Che and Xun Yan’s matter has also spread throughout the capital. The Xun family’s interior afraid will be very messy for some time, so observing a few days was also proper.

Yu Lingxin actually wasn’t that nervous. She has always felt that no matter what kind of problems there were, as long as Xun Che returns, everything can all be easily solved. That’s why, the only problem was just: ‘Xun Che, when will you return?!’

Another few days quickly passed by. As the weather in the capital was becoming increasingly cold, the various rumors and gossip were also becoming increasingly heated.

The Wen’an Marquis Manor’s plum blossom banquet had blown out a murder case of an elder tang brother murdering his younger tang sister. In fact, it was brought before the Capital Magistrate Office that very day. Speaking of which, this was also considered very sensational. However, the turnaround and even more bizarre part of this matter was that very night after Ming Jincheng had the person that delivered the news taken to the Capital Magistrate Office, that servant woman and the servant boy that delivered the news both died in prison.

For a time, the speculations and discussions regarding this matter were extremely clamorous. Some say that Xun Che had murdered Xun Yan, yet accidentally let this servant boy escape. Now, it was just killing to silence.

There were also some that say that it wasn’t likely for Xun Che to kill Xun Yan. This was someone else framing Xun Che after having killed Xun Yan in order to incite disharmony, killing to silence in between.

Regardless of which, this young Wen’an Marquis heir’s return to the capital entirely became the hottest topic. The Capital Magistrate Office even sent two old and seasoned constables to the Liu province, attempting to find the Wen’an Marquis heir that still hasn’t sent any news back to the capital.

However, all the way until the fifteenth of the eleventh month, with more than ten days having passed, the Xun family’s interior already fighting over whether or not they should hold a funeral for Xun Yan, Xun Che still hadn’t returned to the capital. Rather, it was the Wen’an Marquis who was originally set to return to the capital at the end of the year that submitted a memorandum back first, expressing that the military affairs in the Chen province are going very smoothly, so should be able to complete the inspections even earlier, thus requesting to return to the capital early on the first of the twelfth month.

At this time, this disturbance concerning the Xun family has long spread throughout the capital already, so the palace naturally also heard. On the eighteenth of the eleventh month, Xuan Emperor personally lifted the brush, at the same time allowing the Wen’an Marquis to return to the capital early, he also vaguely mentioned the importance of ‘cultivating one’s moral character and governing one’s family’.

Once this matter got out, there was just even more discussions about Xun Che in the capital. At first, when the news regarding Xun Che murdering Xun Yan came out, there actually weren’t that many people that believed it. After all, killing someone was a big matter. Xun Yan, as the eldest daughter of the Xun family second branch, was merely an unmarried young lady. Why would the Wen’an Marquis heir kill his own younger tang sister for now reason?

However, as Xun Che’s return gets continuously delayed, also not passing back any letters or news, those that grew suspicious of this matter, feeling that Xun Che had a guilty conscience, gradually increased. In fact, there were even some that started looking for a reason to explain why Xun Che might want to kill his younger tang sister, Xun Yan.

Amidst these restless rumors and gossip, Yu Lingxin also faintly began feeling a bit fretful, because Xun Che didn’t pass back the slightest news, yet on her father Yu Bocheng’s side, he has already started searching for another marriage arrangement for her.

Seeing Yu Lingxin worried and anxious, Bai Guo voluntarily asked whether or not they should let Bai Chuan secretly go look for Ming Jincheng. Because the Xun family’s interior was practically arguing everyday lately, the Linglong Literature Club naturally got put on hold. Ming Jinrou and Xun Ying didn’t come look for Yu Lingxin either, so for a time, she actually didn’t even have the opportunity to ask.

Yu Lingxin hesitated for a moment, but still shook her head. Although she was worried everyday, she has always felt that if Xun Che has something to tell her, he certainly will pass her a message on his own, else going to look for someone to ask would also only be in vain.

Just, forcibly holding back the worries and waiting day by day was also very torturous.

As the wind rose and the frost descended, another ten some days passed in a blink of an eye. The capital’s weather was already about to reach freezing point. And Yu Lingxin, who can be considered to have quietly rested at home for nearly a month, clearly wasted away a little. When Yu Bocheng once again returned home on break and saw his daughter, he was all somewhat startled, “Ling’er, do you feel uncomfortable anywhere?”

Yu Lingxin just smiled and vaguely responded, voluntarily having the conversation turned onto her father’s assignment, the preparations for the new year, and so on, forcibly saying some things that can also let herself be distracted.

Yu Bocheng casually responded, and then started mentioning Yu Lingxin’s marriage arrangements again, voluntarily turning towards Yu old madam, “Mother, do you remember Qi Chu?”

Yu old madam blanked, “You’re talking about that side branch of the Chang’de Count Manor?”

Yu Bocheng nodded, unexpectedly very happy, also explaining to Yu Lingxin, “Qi Chu can be considered your distant maternal uncle, Chang’de Count Manor’s side branch. Back then, we’d studied together at Qingyang Academy. He was fifth place of the second class during my imperial exam year, his learning very good, also upright and honest, just he passed away early. His sole son Qi Ke is also at the Qingyang Academy at present, very steady and studious………”

Yu Lingxin’s hand that was holding the teacup slightly shook. Father actually had this idea?

Qi Ke, in the last lifetime, can also be considered one of Xun Che’s rivals!