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Side Story 3
T/N: Translated by Jen on Broken Jinsei! Please do not repost my translations! All translations outside of Broken Jinsei are stolen and reposted without permission!
As the saying goes, when people come across happy matters, their spirit is refreshed.
But, if there are too many happy matters at once, all happening in one place, then it really would be quite a sight.
This principle, the great majority of the people all didn’t think of before. After all, each have their own difficulties in life, the unfavorable matters many and common, yet very little can be told to others. Even if esteemed and wealthy to the extreme like the imperial clansmen, who knows what problems with the friends and relatives, or grievances among the wives, concubines, and children, they might have.
And speaking to here, never mind the inside and outside of the capital, even the officials, the gentries, and the commoners all over the country were all more or less tucking their necks, having a tacit understanding inside.
After all, his Majesty Xuan Emperor, who currently is still bedridden and paralyzed in Ganxi Hall, already between retiring and not retiring from the throne, was probably just the classic example of someone that’s wealthy, powerful, with wife and children, yet incomparably miserable.
After the palace rebellion on the new year’s eve of Tianxu year 16, Empress Wen and Li Consort Zhu-shi, who were involved in the rebellion, their two clans both got exterminated. Seeing on behalf of Cihui Empress Dowager, they managed to let the Zhu family leave behind the young children under ten. For the Wen family, on the other hand, only that side consort that married into the crown prince’s eastern palace was able to leave the palace and shed her hair. Although her future prospects were severed, but for better or worse, she was able to preserve her life.
The third prince Wei Wang had already perished in the large fire. The fourth prince Zhao Wang had gotten executed on the night of the palace rebellion. The second prince Wu Wang although is still alive, for the time being, but after the Inner Cabinet and Central Secretariat’s repeated discussions, in the end, they still reported up to the bedridden Xuan Emperor, asking Xuan Emperor to bestow imperial wine to the second prince, letting him carry his last bit of dignity on his way.
Xuan Emperor already has a hard time speaking on the sickbed. Facing his virtuous wife, beautiful concubine, and beloved son poisoning him and raising a palace revolt, he doesn’t know whether he’s more angry or more heartbroken. All in all, in the end, he still personally selected a pot of poisoned wine to bestow to the Wu Wang couple. He ultimately didn’t have the reputation of ‘slaughtering one’s brother’ pushed onto the crown prince.
And all this foul wind and bloody rain, by the late spring of Tianxu year 16, thoroughly settled down. Regardless whether it’s beheading or exiling, interrogating or leaving on record, it all winded up and concluded before the end of the fifth month.
By the time the autumn wind of Tianxu year 16 brushed past, the atmosphere of the capital from top to bottom already changed anew. If to insist on saying something that still made people ponder over, then will probably have to count the densely stacked together marriages and wedding invitations from the Wen’an Marquis Manor Xun family, as well as the Ming family and Yu family that were the closest with the Xun family.
As soon as the fifth month went by, Yuzhu Hall and Qingyu Pavilion just didn’t have a single peaceful moment. Ming Jincheng, Xun Ying, Xun Cong, Yu Zhengshan, and even Yu Yunxin, and also Xun Tan, one by one, came and went, just like a paper carousel lantern[1].
At first, it was still said as coming over to visit Xun Che and Yu Lingxin, as well as An’er who was now becoming more lively by the day. They indeed also brought along all kinds of gifts, the novel playthings from all over, the personally made paintings and calligraphy, or the personal embroidery. Yu Lingxin practically felt that she’d returned to that time when adding to her dowry.
However, after slightly pondering for a moment, she was somewhat between laughter and tears, both understanding very much, but also a bit troubled.
This refreshing happy matter really came like toppling mountains and overturned seas!
The one that had the most qualifications to be impatient was naturally Ming Jincheng. He has liked Cheng Yanling since childhood. However, her engagement had long been set, and he also felt that his military tactics and martial arts all weren’t as good as this older cousin, so forcibly pressed down his feelings and waited this long. Now that she has finally cut ties with the Qii family, and the state of affairs are finally stable, Ming Jincheng who was over twenty practically hated that he can’t be like when Xun Che proposed marriage back then, quickly going through the processes as fast as lightning.
But, Cheng Yanling wasn’t in a hurry. She didn’t say that she didn’t like Ming Jincheng, but she didn’t say that she liked him either. Grand Elder Princess Zhaoning, along with General Cheng and his madam, were even more steady. Although all very intimate with the Ming family and Xun family, they still didn’t reveal the slightest intention of loosening their mouth. This made Ming Jincheng increasingly anxious. As soon as his job in the Yulin camp relax a little, he would just frequently run to Qingyu Pavilion, wanting Xun Che to help him come up with ideas.
Xun Che, however, didn’t like seeing him. He’d been exhausting himself for this long to settle the entire affair in advance, while also having been risking his life in the northwest all these days, making his wife be worried to death. Now that things have finally calmed down, he still wants to rest behind shut doors, planning out Xun little two sooner. Where does he have the energy to straighten out Ming Jincheng whose slowness is comparable to the crown prince?
TN: All translations outside of Broken Jinsei are stolen and reposted without permission!
That’s why, every time at this time, Xun Cong and Yu Zhengshan were just the best shields.
The two little guys at present were also burning with anxiety. Seeing Ming Jincheng, they just complained, “Older cousin, say, how should I tell my father? I feel that she does like me. Her older brother and her father are also quite good to me. But, right now, I don’t have an official post. I keep feeling that using my family name to propose marriage will just be like a wastrel. But, I can’t just not propose. Back then, she’d entered the capital for the imperial selection. Having delayed until now, it’s already been very long. If by chance she returns to the Qian province, separated by thousands of miles, what will I do?!”
Speaking to here, those deep heavy sighs of his made him look even more aged than his father.
In comparison, Yu Zhengshan ultimately wasn’t that familiar with Ming Jincheng, so it wasn’t good for him to directly say something to Ming Jincheng, but when consoling Xun Cong, he also had a heartbroken look, “Sigh, Xun fourth brother, your feelings, I understand. Every time I think of Xiaochan’s family, it’s also the same. To enter my school of yearning, to know my pain of yearning. The matters of the mortal world truly are difficult in many ways.”
“Sigh, virtuous younger brother.”
“Sigh, fourth older brother.”
The two little guys, one less than sixteen, and one less than fifteen, raised the teacup like wine, their faces full of worry, making the veins on Ming Jincheng’s forehead pulse again and again, very much wanting to knock on their two heads, but after enduring again and again, he still gave up.
Perhaps, if he go ask his younger sister again, she will have some idea. After all, the one that got along the best with Cheng Yanling was still Ming Jinrou.
However, just as his request was passed into the palace as per routine, good news just directly came from Chonghua Hall————-The crown princess Ming Jinrou was pregnant again.
The entire Jin Duke Manor naturally was greatly delighted. The Xun family, Lou family, and such relatives were also very happy. Aside from sending congratulatory gifts into the palace like running water, there were also quite a few that came to the Jin Duke Manor to congratulate.
And at this time, there were naturally also elders that came over to pat Ming Jincheng’s shoulder, “Your younger sister truly is extremely blessed with good fortune. You, as the older brother, cough, cough, should also pick up the pace.”
These words practically directly stabbed into Ming Jincheng’s lungs. Who says he doesn’t want to hurry up!?!!
However, right when he was staring at Cheng Yanling’s valiant and beautiful face, inwardly calculating to no end, the Xun family’s side announced news of marriage first.
Qi Ke had contributed greatly in putting down the palace rebellion this time. However, facing the crown prince and cabinet ministers’ bestowments, Qi Ke refused the privilege to enter the court as an official as a special exception, instead just requesting a recommendation letter from Prime Minister Lou (Ying Duke), enrolling in Wenyuan Academy, wanting to fully concentrate on his studies. This move naturally won countless praises from the scholars. And three months after enrolling in Wenyuan Academy, he asked Great Scholar Yan to go propose marriage as the matchmaker. The Xun family young daughter’s marriage finally, after going through countless storms, landed in Wenyuan.
Towards this, Xun Nanheng and Ming Huayue naturally were greatly reluctant. Xun Che appeared calm on the surface, but in private with Yu Lingxin, he was still somewhat resentful. The one with the most complicated feelings was instead Xun Cong. Although happy that his younger sister has a marriage fate with a considerably talented scholar who she shares mutual affections with, but won’t his own marriage get pushed back?
While feeling anxious, he in the end still shamelessly went to Qingyu Pavilion to beg his older brother to help him, endlessly pestering and throwing a tantrum. In the end, he even said things like having good matters in pairs, bringing in good fortune for the old madam, praying for blessings for his Majesty, and such. Even Xun Che and Yu Lingxin were both annoyed and amused.
However, seeing how that Duan family young miss was indeed a decisive and bright-minded good young lady, and that Xun Cong was indeed at the age to discuss marriage, thus when the friends and relatives were still in the middle of preparing the congratulatory gifts for Xun Ying, news that the Wen’an Marquis Manor had proposed marriage and settled on an engagement for the fourth young master Xun Cong also came out. Although there was indeed the saying of using a happy matter to bring in good fortune, Xun Cong nevertheless was ecstatic. In fact, he didn’t forget to also put in a word for Yu Zhengshan, “Sister-in-law should also think of Zhengshan a little. He’s already become thin from worry.”
Actually, Yu Zhengshan’s marriage arrangement was even simpler than Xun Cong’s. Back then, the Yan family being unwilling, it was ultimately having misgivings about the Xun family’s interior, not knowing the exact situation. The first branch and the second branch ultimately were closely-related brothers. The old madam was also the marquis’s actual mother. For the time being, they were in disagreement, seemingly about to have a falling out, but who knows if some day, they just reconcile, what thoughts they might have. The Yan family being unwilling to have marriage ties with Xun Ze back then, it was mainly still looking down on the second branch’s way of doing things. Yu Zhengshan’s diligence and studiousness was still visible to everyone. Moreover, as the political situation change, Xun Che, who was this young yet resides in a high third rank position, his prospects in the future were limitless. Forming marriage ties with his wife’s younger brother, who would be unwilling?
Yu Lingxin although felt that her husband’s family already having two marriages was truly busy enough, but she can’t, because of this, just let her maiden family’s younger tang brother wait to marry. Thus, after discussing with Xun Che, she decided to personally be the matchmaker. That’s why, for a time, the red silk and red brocade in the capital were all in high demand. On one hand, it was the families with the marriages rushing to buy, and on the other hand, those sending gifts were also very busy.
And at this time, Yu Lingxin didn’t expect that two other marriages were also more or less about to be settled on. One was Xun Tan and Nie Jingniang. Back then, Xun Tan felt that his father and grandmother perhaps would burn themselves by playing with fire, but he still didn’t forget to ask Xun Che and Yu Lingxin to look after Nie Jingniang. And now, the Xun family second branch will move to the Liu province, not knowing what the future will be like. But, Nie Jingniang was still willing to marry over. Looks like, the two of them really do have feelings.
This marriage although didn’t need Yu Lingxin to worry over, merely just sending a gift, but recalling how in the past life, Nie Jingniang married Qi Ke after her marriage discussion with Xun Tan fell through, and now, Qi Ke has become Xun Ying’s fiance, Yu Lingxin still had a bit of amazement. The changes in the world were truly very interesting.
And what made her even more astonished was the other pair———Little Imperial Physician Chi and Yu Yunxin.
If to say that Nie Jingniang in the past life and this life all had a relationship with Xun Tan first, then as the worldly affairs turn, it can also be considered to have come to a satisfying end. But, Yu Yunxin and Little Imperial Physician Chi coming together, it just made Yu Lingxin surprised to the extremed.
She indeed knew that Yu Yunxin has increasingly grown up and also increasingly sensible, no longer having dealings with the Su family. But, when did she become involved with Little Chi?
Xun Che was actually much calmer, “I’d asked Little Chi to secretly take care of your family. Mainly, it was fearing that someone might start off from your family. As for how they mutually fell for one another, who knows? The saying, to not know where the feelings come from, probably was just this.”
Yu Lingxin thought for a moment, but couldn’t help but become speechless, “That is true, but after going around in a big circle like this, the ones whose marriage still hasn’t been settled on, it’s still just Ming Jincheng and xianzhu?”
Xun Che waved his hand, “Heard xianzhu once say in the past, the person that wants to marry her need to be able to win against her.”
“Wahhh——” The crying sound of an infant sounded next door. Yu Lingxin hurriedly went over to check on An’er, also sighing at the same time, “I’ll just treat it as An’er worrying about his uncle Jincheng. To win against xianzhu, that truly is…………”
Xun Che held her waist and went over together with her, just saying with a smile, “Actually, this isn’t that difficult. Whether or not he will be able to write his wedding invitations will just depend on when he finally becomes enlightened.”
As he said this, his gaze swept towards writing desk to the side, sweeping over a bright red wedding invitation with gold lettering, still that easy-going and carefree, even making one want to punch him.
[1] A type of lantern that has paper figures spinning inside.
T/N: Officially done with the translation of this novel! I’m so glad this was much shorter than my previous project. Now onto my next project: The Wastrel and The Pearl!
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Thank you very much for your translation! We would’ve never been able to read this wonderful story without your hard work, thank you thank you thank you
Thank you for your work, dear translator, and congratulations for another completed project.
It’s been quite some time since I started following your translations and I have to say that they are among the best ones out here. I really like all the work you put out with adding explanations and images in the various chapters, it makes the story way more vivid and interesting.
Thank you for your hard work these last few years! Looking forward to the new translation