Rebirth of the Treacherous Official’s Madam

Yu Lingxin pressed her lips into a smile, entering the study with her father, “That is also father looking after uncle’s face, no?”

As she said this, she had the hot soup in hand placed before her father, “This is the pigeon soup that I just stewed myself, have a taste father.”

Yu Bocheng sat down and took a sip, his entire mouth filling with a clean fragrance. The warm feeling also very comfortable in his stomach. He couldn’t help but lift his head, once again sizing up Yu Lingxin. That pretty face was sixty-percent similar to Qi-shi’s, having bright eyes and white teeth, extremely lucid and elegant, yet her bearing was completely different.

There was that moment of daze, where Yu Bocheng distantly recalled that sudden glance of a stunning beauty when passing by the gardens during his visit to the Chang’de Count Manor with his father in his youth. The Qi family third miss who was chatting and laughing was dressed in an apricot yellow garment and a red thin silk skirt, having elegant brows and a cherry lip, her exquisite appearance like a blooming peony.

Just, that moment of astonishment really didn’t last for long.

The big and small quarrels after marrying were endless. For a very long time, he felt that he no longer wanted to see that face anymore.

And that kind of feeling practically persisted all the way until several years after divorcing, until he suddenly noticed that Yu Lingxin’s appearance although resembled Qi-shi, her personality was nevertheless completely different.

At the time, he just felt that his daughter was completely unlike Qi-shi, who had a violent and unreasonable temper, instead extremely soft and gentle. As such, he couldn’t help but love and dote on her a bit more.

But, at present, the Yu Lingxin before his eyes seemingly was also no longer the same as before. Her slightly smiling pretty face still appeared gentle and soft, but the easy-going mannerism and steadiness in her conduct made Yu Bocheng feel a bit unfamiliar, while also having a bit of an indescribable pride.

His little girl actually just this unknowingly grew up, this beautiful, this good, indeed should match with the most outstanding young man in the capital.

“Ling’er, sit.” Yu Bocheng hesitated for a moment before having what Ming Yunji mentioned today said.

Yu Lingxin slightly lowered her eyes, truly unable to put on a shocked or even bashful appearance. She could only wait for Yu Bocheng to finish speaking before lightly nodding, “Yes.”

“As the saying goes, ‘being too rich isn’t a good match’. This father also very much hesitated for a few days.” Yu Bocheng sighed again, “But, the Wen’an Marquis Manor first branch’s reputation is still very good, especially given that the Wen’an Marchioness likes you this much. In that way, this father can also be a bit at ease. Just, in the future……” He once again looked at his daughter, as if making up his resolution, “In the future, you absolutely need to be careful for all things. Presumably, based on the Xun and Ming family’s family style and moral character, they won’t treat you poorly. But, if really having anything that makes you unhappy, you still need to tell father directly. Father certainly will help you.”

Yu Lingxin’s nose instantly just turned sour, quickly putting on a forced smile and lowering her head, dryly coughing twice, “What is father saying, it’s still early.”

Yu Bocheng also fell silent, his voice also becoming a bit more tranquil, “It may not necessarily be early, at most, preparing for a year to a year and a half, any more than that is still nothing more than just two years. In the end, you still need to marry.”

A year to a year and a half, at most……..two years?

Yu Lingxin suddenly choked, but in the next moment, her lips unexpectedly had a hard to suppress smile.

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

She was actually rather indifferent. Spending some more time with her father and grandmother was also quite good.

However, Xun Che will probably be impatient to death.

At the same time, Xun Che, who was currently in the Jin Duke Manor bowing in respect to his eloquent maternal uncle, strangely sensed something.

What can practically be said as letting Yu Bocheng once again be shocked was that a mere day later, the Jin Duke heir just once again came to visit.

His action this time was just the same as previously when Ming Jinrou came to look for Yu Lingxin. Just, what was a tiny bit better was that the Jin Duke Manor and Wen’an Marquis Manor’s visiting card were delivered the next day on the morning of the fourteenth, and four hours later, a grand fleet of carriages just arrived.

Just the night before, Yu Bocheng had just told Yu old madam that he for the most part agreed to the marriage, even discussing, when the Xun family formally come to propose at the end of the month or the next month, how to prepare the return gift and such matters. Yet, unexpectedly, not long after opening his eyes the next morning, the visiting cards were already at the door.

At this time, he can’t just reject and tell them to not come, right?

Whether it was the Dongli Residence or the Lianyi Residence, at this time, all quickly became busy.

On one hand, the womenfolk at home usually got up even earlier, and on the other hand, when it comes to receiving and sending off guests, they were even more proficient. For the most part, it was just while Yu Bocheng was still somewhat confused, the entire Yu manor from top to bottom already began busily moving about.

On Su-shi’s side, she was similarly puzzled. Yu Yunxin and Yu Zhenghua even somewhat wanted to join in on the excitement, but Su-shi very quickly came to realization, hurriedly having her own children blocked back.

Last night, when Yu Bocheng went to Dongli Residence to discuss about preparations for Yu Lingxin’s marriage, he naturally had her called over too. As the current main wife of the Yu family in charge of the household, she can’t just be completely skipped over. But, from their words, she can just tell that regardless whether it’s Yu Bocheng or Yu old madam, on the eldest miss’s marriage arrangements, they just need her to slightly show her face when needed and just put on a compassionate smile. The specific arrangements, it’s best for her to not interfere. Yu old madam will personally handle.

Although Su-shi’s face didn’t look too good, but after thinking about it, she also felt that it was better to be spared from the trouble. In the end, she really didn’t have that many ideas towards Yu Lingxin. Mainly, it was because it wasn’t necessary. Back then, when Yu Bocheng and Qi-shi mutually divorced, they’d already separately allocated ten thousand taels worth of dowry for Yu Lingxin. In the future, even if adding a few thousand more taels in from the household funds, it also isn’t anything major.

It’s not like the eldest miss was a boy that can become the head of the household and inherit a big share when dividing the family. In addition to her personality being soft and weak to that degree previously, also not having any talent in poetry and literature, merely just having a good appearance and a soft temperament, whether it was Su-shi or Yu Yunxin, towards this di daughter from the original wife, they actually mostly still just looked down on her.

However, from the sixth month to now, in merely half a year, the eldest miss’s temperament although changed quite a bit, she still didn’t sprout any exceptional abilities, so how come just directly got involved with the noble personages of the duke manor and marquis manor, even obtaining this kind of marriage that others didn’t even dare to think about?

Especially after hearing Yu Bocheng roughly recount the Jin Duke heir’s words to Yu old madam, that wasn’t just coming as a matchmaker, that was bringing very earnest sincerity, persuading in every way, insisting on taking the eldest miss as a wife.

At the time, when listening in Dongli Residence, Su-shi naturally didn’t dare to say a single word, the sourness inside practically overflowing, feeling uncomfortable all over. Afterwards, pondering it over again, she felt that not getting involved in the eldest miss’s marriage arrangements was also good. What the eyes don’t see, the heart won’t feel vexed, even able to slightly relax a little.

All in all, the Yu family hurriedly prepared, with each having their own thought, before opening the door to welcome the guests. When Yu Bocheng went out, he was actually more or less a bit unhappy. After all, when it comes to marriages, the union of two families, the more it was marriage between large families, the more it shouldn’t be this urgent and rushed.

Having just decided by mouth a day ago, they just impatiently came to propose the next day, where was the sincerity and solemness from yesterday?

However, once Yu Bocheng saw the people that climbed down from the carriage behind Ming Yunji, his entire body suddenly quivered, practically blanking for moment before quickly clearing his throat and going forward to welcome, forcibly restraining the uneasiness in his voice, “Greetings older brother, General Cheng, Marshal Yan.”

Ming Yunji followed Yu Bocheng inside, smiling along the way, “Virtuous brother, please don’t blame this foolish older brother for coming this hastily. Mainly, it’s considering that your manor doesn’t have many relatives in the capital. It just so happens that General Cheng’s family had returned to the capital at the end of the year to give a report, and Madam Cheng also just happens to be your mother’s niece within the clan. As such, this foolish older brother took matters into one’s own hands, inviting General Cheng as a matchmaking witness for your noble manor, so just came together with Marshal Yan. Virtuous brother won’t take offense, right?”

“How could one dare, how could one dare, for General Cheng to be this fond of my daughter, this younger brother is endlessly grateful, endlessly grateful.” Yu Bocheng hurriedly waved his hand. When leading the guests to the central hall, his steps were all somewhat floating.

In the so called ‘three matchmakers and six proofs^[1]‘, the three matchmakers were just the groom’s family and the bride’s family each inviting a matchmaker, then additionally have a neutral matchmaker in between. It’s best for their status and position to not be too far apart. The Jin Duke heir Ming Yunji was Xun Che’s maternal uncle, so naturally the matchmaker for the groom’s side.

For this matter, Yu Bocheng had also roughly discussed with Yu old madam last night. At the time, he was even thinking that the middle matchmaker will be invited by the Wen’an Marquis Manor, so no need to consider too much. Just, he never thought that they would actually invite a high official of the first rank, the Marshal of the Central Secretariat, Yan Min, Marshal Yan.

As for the matchmaker for the bride’s side, Yu old madam was also somewhat troubled, because Yu old madam came from a Chen province military family, the Xie clan. The great majority of her maiden family relatives were all in the Chen province. And among the Yu family relatives, of the ones that were still in the capital, and also have a noble title, it was probably just the Chang’de Count couple. Although they didn’t have dealings much, they were still Yu Lingxin’s maternal uncle and maternal aunt-in-law. Just, because of the Xun family’s incidents lately, they were unsure of the Chang’de Count Manor’s current standing.

But, when discussing this matter, Yu old madam and Yu Bocheng felt that although it was somewhat troublesome, there was still half a month to a month of time to think of a way to invite. How could they’ve known that the next day, Ming Yunji would just pass on a visiting card and come to the door, even voluntarily having the matchmaker for the bride’s side invited along in their place.

This General Cheng’s mother was his Majesty Xuan Emperor’s paternal aunt, Grand Elder Princess Zhaoning. His esteemed status was just not something ordinary generals can compare with to begin with. And the Cheng family have defended the Chen province’s Yulong Pass for generations, having outstanding military accomplishments, with many of their descendants dying for the country, their martial and loyal name known throughout the country.

And this Madam Cheng, Xie-shi, indeed can be considered a same clan relative within five relations with Yu old madam. In terms of family hierarchy, they can be considered aunt and niece. Just, the Yu family and the Cheng family truly had too few dealings with one another. And General Cheng’s family mostly stayed in the Chen province and not in the capital, so Yu old madam didn’t even think of this previously.

All in all, not long after arriving in the central hall for tea, Yu old madam and Yu Bocheng both didn’t have anything more to call into question. This proposal although came a bit quick, but the three matchmakers’ status was placed there. The solemness of this matter can already be considered to have been completely made up.

Ming Yunji further explained a bit more when offering up the gift list, “Hoping aunt and virtuous brother can forgive me. This date is a bit rushed. One of the reasons is that the dates suitable for proposal in the first month just have today and the twenty-eighth, these two days, but General Cheng and his madam need to return to the Chen province on the twentieth. As such, it can only be today.”

Yu old madam was an elder after all, so on the surface, she was still very easy-going. When smilingly exchanging pleasantries, she’d also asked if the Cheng family was well and so on. That General Cheng was also very modest, joking a few words.

And Marshal Yan that made Yu Bocheng fear the most, at this time, also carried a relaxed expression, chiming in to the side, “This date although is a bit close, still hoping that Sir Yu won’t take offense. My old brother Xun’s family have also very much been hoping to take in an eldest daughter-in-law.”

Once Marshal Yan opened his mouth, Yu Bocheng’s back that had just relaxed a little tightened up again, repeatedly smiling in return and saying that he didn’t dare. And when looking down at the live wild goose, pampas grass, aromatic herbs, harmony bells, mandarin duck embroidery, as well as gold and jade ornaments, and so on, more than several dozen types of items listed on the gift list for the proposal, he was both surprised and satisfied. At the same time, he also faintly produced another thought inside:

This many things, this many people?

Exactly when did that Xun family brat start having ideas towards my daughter!?

[1] As explained in the text, the three matchmakers refer to the matchmaker for the groom’s side, matchmaker for the bride’s side, and a neutral matchmaker that will act as the in-between. The six proofs refer to the six items placed on the marriage table, a temporarily table for sacrificial offerings when bowing to the heaven and earth during the marriage rites. The six items are one wine vessel, one ruler, one scale, a pair of scissors, one mirror, and one abacus.