Read Novel Full Chapter 91: Thousand Meter Dike
‘A thousand meter dike collapsing due to the mole crickets and ants’ burrowing; a hundred feet building burning down due to the cracks in the chimney[1].’
Unknown as to whether it was the will of the heavens or fate, right when the Wen’an Marquis couple entered the Cheng’en Duke Manor together with the Ying Duke heir, Zhongyong General couple, and such witnesses, in the Yu manor’s Lianyi Residence several miles away, Yu Lingxin just happened to open the Liu style calligraphy copybook sent to her by Xun Che.
On the first page were just these words from ‘Han Feizi: Interpretation of Laozi’[2].
Her brush couldn’t help but pause, lifting her eyes and gazing out the window at the clear winter sky.
Counting the hours, it was more or less about time.
Changchun Palace was currently still prospering with imperial favor. Wu Wang and Wei Wang, one had a virtuous reputation, while one was clever and lovable, precisely the time when the young princes were flushed with success. And the Cheng’en Duke Manor, as the maiden family of Xuan Emperor’s birth mother, Cihui Empress Dowager, still maintained the Cheng’en Duke noble title even five years after the empress dowager passed away, their glory and honor never once reducing.
All of the prosperous brocades[3] and overflowing prestige, following Qin Wang getting reproached previously, as well as the situation in the palace, appear as if it was all leaning towards them, becoming even more glorious, like adding oil in the blazing inferno.
Even if they’d suffered some setbacks on the matter of the hundred flower banquet and the private school for the young ladies, in the eyes of the Zhu family, it was probably nothing more than just a small hiccup in the moment. Especially given that in less than half a month later, there was the incident of Renshun Crown Prince’s vermillion umbrella getting misused. Qin Wang forfeited his salary, Empress Wen was punished to reflect, and although Changchun Palace similarly got warned, comparatively speaking, seemingly, it was still Empress Wen and Qin Wang’s side that suffered a greater loss.
That’s why, Xun Yan’s matter at present, in Cheng’en Duke Manor’s view, was probably still just a small matter.
If it works out, it will be nothing more than just letting the shu-born second young master marry the Xun family second branch’s eldest di daughter, further breaking apart Qin Wang and the Xun family’s connection. If it doesn’t work out, then it’s just having Xun Yan returned to the Xun family. Regardless of whether or not the Xun family will divide the family next, or how they will fight internally, it all has nothing to do with the Zhu family that had saved her.
This abacus was clicking clacking quite resoundingly.
Yu Lingxin’s lips couldn’t help but slightly hook into a mocking smile. In the past life, the Zhu family had exhausted all their means and calculations, yet still got killed in retaliation by Xun Che on his sickbed.
At present, afraid, even on their way to the netherworld, they still may not necessarily understand exactly where the problem occurred. Just like how they assume that Xun Yan’s matter was merely just a small matter.
And in reality, in this same time period, the people of the Cheng’en Duke Manor were indeed somewhat shocked, because the crowd the Xun family brought along was too enormous. Aside from the Wen’an Marquis couple, Wen’an Marquis heir, and the Xun family second branch couple, these most important family members, there was also the Ying Duke heir and his wife, Zhongyong General couple, as well as the Head Minister of Works Nie Qingyuan, and the young imperial physician Chi Lanzhou, who’d just entered the Imperial Physicians Court several months ago, yet already have a resounding reputation.
(T/N: The Ying Duke Manor is Ming Jinrou and Ming Jincheng’s maternal family.)
With this many people coming to the door, the seriousness of the matter already far exceeded that time when the Cheng’en Duchess invited the noble madams of the capital to identify the person.
The Cheng’en Duke originally didn’t have any intention of participating in this matter, but after hearing his family’s report, he had no choice but to hurriedly change and come welcome. At the same time, he also faintly produced some suspicions.
TN: All translations outside of are stolen and reposted without permission!
This originally was just the womenfolks’ matter. Although already known throughout the city, the Xun family still shouldn’t have this matter raised another level. Inviting this many important witnesses, what did they want to do?
Could it be that they want to fully deny Xun Yan’s identity? But, if really like that, it actually didn’t matter either. If they don’t acknowledge today, then it’s just not acknowledging. In the future, when Xun Yan ‘recover’, perhaps she will be able to ‘remember her past’. When time comes, the Xun family will just be in an even more difficult position.
However, after greeting and serving the tea in the main hall, the people of the Cheng’en Duke Manor shockingly discovered that the Xun family didn’t have any intention of giving them a hard time. The witnesses that the Wen’an Marquis brought along, including the young imperial physician Chi Lanzhou, aside from greeting, surprisingly didn’t say a single word.
The Wen’an Marquis, Xun Nanheng, who has already led troops for twenty years, at present, was increasingly martial and firm, directly getting to the point, his words like crossing swords on the battlefield, “Heard that your noble manor’s young master saved one’s niece Xun Yan from the river, thus specially came today to express one’s thanks and pick up the person.”
Immediately after, he waved his hand. Xun Che, who was sitting by his father’s side, personally got up, going forward and handing over a gift list, “This is our humble manor’s gratitude, to have disturbed your manor.”
Once these words came out, the people of the Cheng’en Duke Manor were all a bit relieved. The Cheng’en Duchess that had accepted the gift list roughly swept over it. Seeing the valuable items listed on the gift list worth over a thousand gold, she felt even more calm inside.
Sure enough, just as they’d previously discussed, the Xun family at this time already don’t have any other options. Not only do they need to pick up the person, they also need to thank them greatly. Perhaps, inviting this many people as witness was for the sake of earnestly requesting their family to keep a tight mouth on this matter later, even having Xun Yan and the second young master Zhu Yifeng’s matter discussed altogether.
At this time, Xun Che once again opened his mouth, “However, regarding the matter of getting saved from the waters, one still want to ask Zhu second young master about the timing and details of this. After all, it concerns one’s younger sister’s reputation. If some outsider were to add to the rumors, for our humble manor and your noble manor, it will all be inconvenient.”
This questioning was actually within the Zhu family’s expectations. Xun Yan’s matter was truly too bizarre, so the Xun family should have countless questions, especially regarding Xun Yan’s amnesia, as well as the time and date of when she got saved. Zhu second young master already had a mental outline, immediately answering one by one on the spot, even voluntarily mentioning, “The doctor that examined and treated Miss Yan is currently still present. How about inviting him out to explain Miss Yan’s condition again for Xun-shizi?”
“This isn’t necessary.” Xun Che said with a smile, “Just asking your manor to have a share of all of the prescriptions my younger sister had used given to Imperial Physician Chi. That way, when looking after my younger sister’s body in the future, Imperial Physician Chi can have a reference.”
Zhu second young master slightly blanked, “This……this is only natural, I will let someone go find right away.”
The smile on Xun Che’s lips carried a bit of a hard to read implication, “In that case, many thanks.” With that said, he actually no longer asked more. The other words that the Zhu second young master prepared all didn’t get used. At the same time feeling a bit relieved inside, he also strangely felt uneasy.
The renowned Xun-shizi was this easy to deal with?
The Cheng’en Duchess although also felt that this conversation seemingly was a bit too smooth, but since the Xun family didn’t ask more, it wasn’t good to forcibly explain too much, so just directly ordered someone to go invite Xun Yan over.
Not long after, a beautiful young girl dressed in a light green garment arrived in the main hall under the servant girls’ escort. Xun second master and madam immediately stood up. Xun second madam was even on the verge of tears from excitement, “Yan’er!”
However, the expression on that young girl’s face seemingly was a bit unfamiliar, getting supported by the servant girl as she retreated half a step, also asking the person by her side in disbelief, “These are my parents?”
The servant girls hurriedly responded affirmatively, while also supporting Xun Yan, who appear to completely not recognize her parents as well as the Xun family, to go forward to meet with Xun second master and madam. At this time, Xun second madam really started crying, “Yan’er, you really scared mother to death, you’ve finally returned!”
Xun Yan however was still in a daze, seemingly still adapting, but she still vaguely called out father and mother. Facing Xun second madam’s excited expression, she didn’t have too much of a reaction.
Ming Huayue let out a cough, “Younger sister-in-law, whatever there is to say, wait until we return to the manor.”
Xun Nanheng directly got up, cupping his hands towards the Cheng’en Duke to take his leave.
The people of the Zhu family naturally quickly got up to send them off. Just, when exiting the door, Zhu second young master instinctively glanced at the tea on the table. Practically the great majority of the people all just politely took a sip. In this mere half hour period, not even a single cup of tea was finished. This trip of the Xun family’s was just like a breeze, giving the gifts, asking the questions, and then picking up the person, everything happening all in one breath. It was even shorter than the time their family had prepared.
Never mind not discussing the marriage, they didn’t even mention anything like asking to keep this matter a secret, not spreading the matter out, and so on.
Of course, at this time, saying to not spread this matter out was also just empty talk. But, to not even say anything out of courtesy, the Xun family plans to just thoroughly smash the already broken jar?
Very soon, the people of the Xun family and the accompanying guests all got on their respective carriages. Xun Yan also had her own separately prepared carriage. The style and decoration was all what she had used in the past in the capital. Xun second madam was very concerned for her daughter, even watching the servant girls support Xun Yan onto the carriage first before wiping the tears in the corner of her eyes and mounting the carriage to return to the manor.
In this way, not long past noon, the Wen’an Marquis Manor as well as the witnesses’ carriages all slowly returned to the Xun manor.
This kind of smooth flow and speed let those that were full of excitement wanting to hear new news all can’t help but feel disappointed.
However, this disappointment was also merely just for a very brief moment.
Because the changes in this matter shortly after actually rapidly turned towards a direction that no one had expected.
The turnaround happened precisely an hour later. When the long line of carriages reached the Wen’an Marquis Manor’s second gate, after the Wen’an Marquis couple, Xun second branch couple, Xun Che, as well as the accompanying witnesses had all descended the carriage, Xun Yan’s carriage still didn’t have any movements.
Perhaps it was because of not remembering anything, scared of coming to this unfamiliar environment, thus didn’t want to come down?
Everyone looked to one another in dismay. Shortly after, Xun second madam personally went over to lift the carriage curtains, calling out to Xun Yan, “Yan’er, we’re home, you…………”
Before she could finish, Xun second madam suddenly started screaming, “Ahhhh! Yan’er, what’s wrong?!”
Inside that gorgeously decorated horse carriage with brocade curtains and an embroidered canopy, the young girl dressed in light green, whose intelligence and beauty were a cut above others, whose memory loss was still unknown to be real or not, was entirely passed out inside the carriage, her head bent on one side, her complexion appearing as if normal, yet seemingly not breathing.
“Yan’er! Yan’er!” Xun second madam’s panic really wasn’t small this time. Compared to that time when hearing of Xun Yan’s accident during the plum blossom banquet, she was ten times more alarmed, her screams even going out of tune. Her hands and feet were like as if useless as she tried to climb onto the carriage to go check on Xun Yan’s situation.
Fortunately, the servant girl by her side was quick, immediately stopping Xun second madam. At this time, the Wen’an Marquis couple, Xun Che, Xun second master, and the others all gathered over. Under great shock, they naturally just turned towards Imperial Physician Chi.
Imperial Physician Chi at this time also didn’t have any misgivings about the etiquette between man and woman, lifting his gown and directly jumping onto the carriage to check on Xun Yan’s situation.
A moment later, he stuck his head out, his expression also completely stunned, “Your manor’s eldest miss has stopped breathing.”
“Yan’er———” After Xun second madam tearfully cried out, her eyes just rolled over, directly passing out.
[1] This is a famous expression meaning how small things can have enormous impact, emphasizing on the importance of paying attention to small details to avoid disaster, completely foreshadowing what’s to come.
[2] Han Feizi is a book of Legalist Philosophy authored by Han Fei during the Warring States Period (475-220 BC), made up of 12 scrolls. Interpretations of Laozi (喻老 – Yu Lao) is one of the scrolls from Han Feizi, using historical anecdotes and folk stories to explain the complicated and abstract philosophical ideologies of Laozi. Laozi (c. 500 BC) was a philosopher and founder of Daoism, authoring the Book of Daoism.
[3] Phrase to describe wonderful things, particularly wealth and luxury.
T/N: On a random side note, Xuan Emperor and Noble Consort Zhu are actually cousins.