Rebirth of the Treacherous Official’s Madam

Just based on Xun Che’s tone, the meaning can be considered relatively clear-cut.

Xun Ying didn’t think anything of it, softly conversing a few words with Yu Lingxin. Yu Lingxin forcibly responded a few words, but in reality, she was inevitably distracted, her entire mind filled with those various messy rumors from the past life.

In the last lifetime, the Jin Duke Manor didn’t reject Empress Wen’s idea of forming marriage ties. Roughly around the end of Tianxu year 14, Ming Jincheng married that fragile and delicate, Yiyang Marquis Manor eldest miss, Wen Ruoqiong. And the time Cheng Yanling returned to the capital should be a little later than now. In fact, it might just be when Ming Jincheng married.

Their specific situation in the early years, Yu Lingxin actually knew very little of. After all, in the past life, she’d only returned to the capital in Tianxu year 18, and by that time, Wen Ruoqiong was already heavily ill, unable to get up, and by Tianxu year 19, just passed away from illness.

But, Cheng Yanling had already returned to the Chen province in Tianxu year 17 and didn’t remarry, just, as Duanyi Xianzhu, return to serve under her father, the Zhenbei General’s banner, continuing to lead troops and assist in battle, her illustrious name resounding throughout Yulong Pass.

Yu Lingxin still remember, prior to Xun Che passing away, she seemingly had vaguely heard Xun Che urge Ming Jincheng in regards to remarrying, because Wen Ruoqiong only gave birth to a daughter for Ming Jincheng. The Jin Duke Manor similarly faced the problem of lacking a heir. What Ming Jincheng answered at the time, she already didn’t remember. Afterwards, Xun Che died of illness, and Yu Lingxin no longer had the mind to pay attention to others.

All the way until a few years later, she gradually started hearing that seemingly, starting from Tianxu year 23, every year, Ming Jincheng would all go to the Chen province for a month or two, but Cheng Yanling ultimately never returned to the capital, and also never remarried.

Ming Jincheng later remarried in Tianxu year 27, marrying a Lou clan young lady of the Ying Duke Manor’s side branch. Her birth wasn’t considered too high, but her ability to handle affairs was very skillful. With Ming Jincheng, it was probably just treating each other like honored guests, afterwards giving birth to a son and a daughter.

(T/N: The Ying Duke Manor, Lou family, is Ming Jincheng and Ming Jinrou’s maternal family.)

At the time, there was the saying that Ming Jincheng waiting an entire eight years between losing his wife and remarrying, it was precisely because of Cheng Yanling. But, why Cheng Yanling was unwilling to return to the capital and marry Ming Jincheng, there was actually many different sayings.

Because for twenty plus years after the great triumph at Yulong Pass in Tianxu year 10, Great Sheng and North Rong all didn’t break out into war again. Although Cheng Yanling trained soldiers and led troops in patrolling the garrison in the Chen province, there actually weren’t any opportunities to face enemies on the battlefield, so it truly can’t be considered being wholeheartedly focused on the battlefield.

As such, in regards to the relationship between between Ming and Cheng, whether it’s the Chen province or the capital, there were countless different kinds of amorous and ambiguous sayings. On the surface, the two of them were senior sister and junior brother, fellow disciples under the same teacher, and strictly in terms of family relationship, after going through a layer, they can also be considered cousins. Every time there was some dealings, one seemingly was always able to find some legitimate excuse on the surface.

But, in reality, exactly whether the two of them had feelings or not, no one was actually clear, including Ming Jinrou who later traveled around the country under the Changan Junzhu title. Because she also didn’t understand, if the two of them had feelings, why would Ming Jincheng remarry? In any case, one was a widower and one was a widow, what was there to nitpick?

However, to say that the two of them were actually just close friends, in Tianxu year 32 of the past life, Yu Lingxin’s tenth year living as a widow, when her body also wasn’t too good, she once heard that Duanyi Xianzhu had fallen seriously ill in the Chen province, and the Zhenbei General Manor had requested for an imperial physician from the capital. Ming Jincheng, at the time, unexpectedly rushed towards the Chen province on horseback at once, and seemingly because of traveling day and night, he actually even arrived a day earlier than the imperial physician.

All in all, exactly what kind of relationship Ming Jincheng and Duanyi Xianzhu, Cheng Yanling, had in the past life, whether it’s having feelings or not, no one was able to say clearly.

However, they were ultimately on the way to Liufang Courtyard, so Xun Che didn’t say more. Yu Lingxin just pondered for a moment before setting the matter aside, because when turning onto the nearby corridor, she just saw Xun Xiang and Qi Pei heading over together.

Xun Xiang was dressed in an aqua blue brocade long dress embroidered with peonies using silver thread. The pattern was refined, yet the color was somewhat clean and plain. Don’t know whether or not she was still reminiscing Xun Yan who’d just passed away less than a hundred days ago. However, looking at how the smile on her pretty face was very bright, it was completely just the usual look when coming in contact with someone of the same generation.

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

Qi Pei, who was next to Xun Xiang, was Chang’de Countess’s sole di daughter, in other words, Xun old madam’s only outer granddaughter. Ever since Xun Yan’s sudden death in the twelfth month, she has just continuously stayed in the Wen’an Marquis Manor, accompanying Xun old madam together with Xun Xiang.

Towards this matter, Yu Lingxin had also heard. At this time, seeing Qi Pei coming out to welcome with Xun Xiang, and even with the stance of a host, a deep smile uncontrollably emerged on her lips. At the same time, she side-glanced at Xun Che, “Heard that the Qi family miss has very much taken care of the old madam these past few months, also helping the madam quite a bit.”

The Xun family’s internal relationship was currently peculiar and messy like a lump mud that was falling apart.

Actually, ever since the Wen’an Marquis, Xun Nanheng, returned to the capital early, he already went to interrogate the second branch after hearing Xun Che’s report. Afterwards, Xun Yan met with mishap, and the matters outside, Xun Che handled very skillfully and swiftly, yet the mess inside the manor mixed together layer after layer.

On the matter of Xun Yan colluding with the Zhu family and Youjiang Wang Manor, Xun Che although was certain, he nevertheless didn’t have ample evidence. After all, whether it’s Yu Lingxin discovering the lilac powder, or Xun Yan messing up her own tracks, or even the confessions and circumstantial evidence obtained from interrogating the servants, all were unable to prove exactly what the already deceased Xun Yan was scheming.

That’s why, when the Wen’an Marquis Xun Nanheng directly questioned the people of the second branch, the second master and madam naturally refused to admit in every way. Even if unable to keep their explanation consistent on the details, there was still one thing they could do, and that was just have all the schemes and blame all pushed onto the already deceased Xun Yan. All the living just sorrowfully weeped, pleading in every way, expressing that they didn’t have that many thoughts, and in the past, they also didn’t know exactly how Xun Yan plotted, even asking the marquis, seeing that Xun Yan was already dead and Xun old madam really was bedridden from grief, to give a little more consideration as blood-related kin, and not pursue the matter too closely.

Actually, this was the reason behind the arguments between Xun Nanheng and Ming Huayue. Ming Huayue didn’t believe that all of the second branch’s schemes were all singlehandedly planned by Xun Yan, and further looked down on the second branch currently, after failing in their plans, just have the blame pushed onto a dead person, this shameless look.

But, Xun old madam being bedridden was indeed true, and before the court case concludes, it really wasn’t suitable for the Xun family to divide the family. That’s why, in the end, Xun Che still got involved, persuading his mother to temporarily endure.

From Xun Che’s perspective, towards the Xun family second branch’s explanation, he actually believed half of it. If Xun Yan can be considered both ruthless and malicious, then the second master and madam were just both greedy and cowardly. For them to say that everything was all planned by Xun Yan, this really wasn’t considered completely false. At least, in terms of intelligence, only Xun Yan was able to think of these and take action.

And afterwards, what let the situation become even more peculiar was just the Chang’de Count Manor Qi family’s standing. In the past, when the Xun family was harmonious inside and out, and Xun old madam appeared to also have a bit more authority, Chang’de Countess was closer with the second branch, but also never offended the first branch before. In fact, she would even very smoothly mediate a few times, having the Chang’de Count Manor’s constant reputation of ‘turning with the wind’ exhibited extremely well.

Currently, Xun Yan has met with mishap, and the first branch and second branch were on the verge of falling out. The Chang’de Countess although let her daughter, Qi Pei, go accompany her maternal grandmother, Xun old madam, but their overall behavior was also starting to repeatedly express goodwill towards Ming Huayue and Xun Ying.

Even though Ming Huayue and Xun Ying didn’t like them that much, it ultimately wasn’t good to slap a smiling face, and the Qi family has never tried to harm their family before. Additionally, during this period of time with Xun Yan’s court case, the Xun family has officially faced off against the Zhu family, so they can’t just offend the Qi family for no reason at this time, erecting another unnecessary enemy.

That’s why, from the twelfth month to the first month, these two months, the Xun family first branch’s relationship with the second branch, although was rigid, their relationship with the Qi family, on the surface, seemingly was a little better, especially with Qi Pei staying over at the Wen’an Marquis Manor, further mediating back and forth between the first branch and second branch, even helping out with some of the domestic affairs at home.

Reportedly, she even intentionally or otherwise ran into Xun Che quite a few times.

Towards this, Xun Che had vaguely mentioned in his letters with Yu Lingxin. He didn’t say too much, but based on Yu Lingxin’s understanding towards Xun Che, as well as the people of the Xun family, that really was ‘hearing the string accompaniment and understanding the elegance’.

To put it bluntly, Xun old madam and the Chang’de Countess still haven’t thoroughly given up on having Qi Pei matched with Xun Che.

Just, right now, their methods were very subtle, openly creating some natural opportunities to meet. If something really were to happen, then afterwards, they can smoothly take advantage of the situation.

And if nothing happens, there also won’t be the slightest loss.

Previously, in Lianyi Residence, when Yu Lingxin thought of this, she actually didn’t feel anything of it. Towards Xun Che, she was still very confident.

If he had other thoughts, even if it’s the princesses or junzhus, he was all able to marry, let alone the Chang’de Count Manor that were like fence sitters.

But, although confident and understanding, in this moment, seeing Qi Pei coming over dressed in a fancy gown full of smiles, Yu Lingxin still glanced at Xun Che again and again with a deep smile.

The exceedingly outstanding Xun-shizi’s lips still carried an easy-going smile, but the back of his neck had that tiny bit more of an extremely subtle stiffness.

“Second brother!” Right when Xun Che was about to speak, Qi Pei directly waved her hand with a smile, even forgetting the ‘cousin’ in ‘second cousin’, and at the same time, pulled Xun Xiang along as she picked up her pace.

“Second brother, today’s tea party is ready. Also, thanks a lot for giving me pointers last time!” Qi Pei smilingly thanked. On her dainty and rosy face, she smiled like a flower, her bearing further natural and sincere, not having other thoughts inside.

“Qi younger cousin is too polite.” Xun Che retreated half a step, “It was merely just you sending someone to Qingyu Pavilion to ask the taboos at home, and Chen Qiao responding to your servant girl. This can’t be considered me giving you pointers. Today’s tea party, Duanyi Xianzhu will come together with Jinrou, hoping that you two can carefully receive, and don’t be rude.”

He paused for a moment, turning to glance at Yu Lingxin and smiling. Immediately after, he once again turned towards Qi Pei and Xun Xiang, “Qi younger cousin, third younger sister, Huijun is your future second sister-in-law, so also asking you all to not give her a hard time. Regardless of what the old madam has instructed at this tea party, and in the future, regardless whether you all say that it was intentional or that you didn’t know, as long as she is wronged, I won’t give any face. As for what I’m like when I change face, the case records in the Judicial Court are very clear. On this bit, hoping that second uncle and second aunt remember, also hoping that Chang’de Count Manor is aware. I will definitely do as I say.”

When he finished, he just directly turned around, also disregarding how frightened and how embarrassed Qi Pei and Xun Xiang were. And at an angle where they couldn’t see, he blinked towards Yu Lingxin before leaving in long strides.

And at this time, Ming Jinrou’s bright laughter already sounded several steps away, “Big sister Cheng, you certainly won’t regret coming, let you see my second cousin’s future wife!”

Yu Lingxin couldn’t help but shake her head, also turning towards Qi Pei and Xun Xiang whose complexion still haven’t recovered yet, “Greetings you two.”

“Hello…..”