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Expected
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!
By the time Yu Lingxin finally returned home, the sky had already darkened a little.
Because the time she was gone wasn’t short, as soon as she entered the back manor, she just saw Dongli Residence’s servant girl, Shuangzhi, waiting for her. Yu Lingxin thought for a moment, feeling that the old madam might think that Xun Ying’s illness was very serious, or perhaps still have other things to say. As such, she just followed Shuangzhi to Dongli Residence.
Just, unexpectedly, after entering, Yu old madam’s first words were, “Ling girl, don’t worry, the academy’s matter this time, there’s absolutely no reason for others to step over you.”
Yu Lingxin had just discussed with Xun Che for a long time on the horse carriage about the poetry gathering, the academy, the womenfolk of the capital, and other similar matters. Suddenly hearing this, she was somewhat dumbstruck, but thinking again, she finally understood that her grandmother was talking about how the name slot that the Wenhua Academy gave to each family to recommend their family’s young lady will definitely be left for her and won’t be given to Yu Yunxin.
She naturally was a bit moved. The old madam was wholeheartedly shielding her.
But, at the same time, she was also inwardly between laughter and tears. Today, after she left with Ming Jinrou, Yu old madam and Yu Bocheng certainly must have mentioned this matter again, having Su-shi ruthlessly reprimanded.
However, the whole family still didn’t know that while Su-shi was still treating the Wenhua Academy’s opportunity as a valuable stairway to heaven, Xun Che and her were instead plotting how to have this academy torn apart and shattered, dispersing like mud.
“Ling girl, tomorrow, your father will go meet with one of your grandfather’s former student, Scholar Liu.” Yu old madam continued, “His poetic essays are particularly good. At present, they are currently writing a book, so won’t come out to lecture and give lessons, but based on our Yu family’s name, asking him to give a few pointers on your poetry perhaps is still possible. These next few days, don’t go out anymore, just focus on carefully preparing.”
“This……there’s no need to be this troublesome.” Yu Lingxin hurriedly waved her hand, “Grandmother, your and father’s feelings, I understand, and also very much grateful. However, the Wenhua Academy’s opportunity, actually, I can yield to Yun’er, because I really don’t want to go.”
Yu old madam was a bit astonished, “You don’t want to go to Wenhua Academy? But, that’s an extremely good opportunity. Although young ladies don’t need scholarly honor in the imperial exams, but the Wenhua Academy is held under his Majesty’s decree, even the junzhu, princesses, and such young ladies of the imperial clan will all be going. Sigh, you are still too young. Ling’er, being classmates with young ladies like these, do you know how much it will benefit your future prospects?”
Yu Lingxin smiled, “Grandmother, these words, you must have also heard from others, right?”
“What do you mean?” Yu old madam was confused, “Information going around, it’s naturally all heard from others.”
“As the saying goes, take what one hears as false, and what one sees as true.” Yu Lingxin casually picked up the teacup and took a sip, unexpectedly feeling that she was somewhat not used to the green tea at home. Soon after, she continued with a smile, “This matter, once it involves the imperial clan, the outside naturally will only have good things to say. But, in reality, when one really enters the academy, will one just have a bright future? I don’t necessarily think so. Not counting the princesses under his Majesty, at present, the ones among the imperial clan that have come of age and can come yet, while also interested in coming out to study, were merely just those dozen or so people. Among them, the most well-known is just Ruiyang Junzhu and Yongfu Junzhu. What kind of temper those two have, you must have also heard, right?
Yu old madam slightly blanked, her gaze towards Yu Lingxin changing again, and the words that she originally wanted to say also got swallowed back, “Heard a little. After all, both are children favored by his Majesty, so they naturally have a bit of a temper.”
“This is natural.” Yu Lingxin still had the teacup placed down, while secretly scolding herself inside, how did her taste just become so picky this quickly. At present, aside from the tea leaves sent over by Xun Che, she actually wasn’t able to get used to other tea.
“Ruiyang Junzhu and Yongfu Junzhu will definitely go to the academy. The other members of the imperial clan will also go. Setting everything else aside, just looking at Qian Wang Manor’s young ladies and Youjiang Wang Manor’s Ruiyang Junzhu gathering in one place, the conflict inside will be enough to look at. When time comes, with those of the imperial blood fighting, the ones that will suffer collateral damage will still just be families like ours.”
“Qian Wang Manor and Youjiang Wang Manor?” Yu old madam was increasingly apprehensive, “You’re saying……….”
TN: All translations outside of Broken Jinsei are stolen and reposted without permission!
Yu Lingxin smiled, “Grandmother, as you know, I just came back from Wen’an Marquis Manor, and had also chatted with Miss Ming the whole way. Hearing the meaning in their words, Zhaoyang Hall and Changchun Palace’s conflict will just become increasingly serious. To put it bluntly, Qian Wangye still supports the di eldest of the central palace, but the current Youjiang Wangfei is Noble Consort Zhu’s younger sister. Think about it, can this academy still be considered some lofty and bright path.”
(T/N: Zhaoyang Hall and Changchun Palace represent Noble Consort Zhu and Empress Wen respectively. Central palace is also a way to address the empress’s palace.)
“Then doesn’t that mean that Yun’er shouldn’t go too?” Yu old madam although was shocked by her granddaughter’s intelligence, but the meaning in Yu Lingxin’s words were nevertheless more important. As such, she practically blurted this out.
Yu Lingxin slightly lowered her eyes, “If I really have to say, then Yun’er not going really won’t be of any loss. Just, these words, we are unable to get through to her and the madam. The scope of one’s insight is one thing, but also, the madam’s older brother ultimately still work under the Zhu family. The madam doesn’t understand, while Aunt Su understands the state of affairs, just Aunt Su probably stands on the opposite side of us.”
Yu old madam also sighed, “True.”
Yu Lingxin secretly glanced at her grandmother’s expression, actually somewhat wanting to laugh inside, recalling that scene in the horse carriage earlier.
Xun Che, that annoying guy, had her hand grasped till it was burning hot, yet still unwilling to let go, also carrying that kind of shameless smile as he instructed her, “Every time you have the chance, just have the marriage ties and conflicts in the palace and among the imperial clansmen carefully explained to your grandmother, the more detailed the better. Use these fine subjects to lead her in following your thoughts. As for the source of the information, just have it pushed onto Jinrou and Ying’er. Subconsciously, the old madam will feel that her thoughts are the exact same as yours. Afterwards, you just need to hint, ‘our family naturally support the empress’, showing this kind of rightfully so attitude. Your family’s old madam, as well as father-in-law, will just instinctively feel, ‘indeed, our family supports the empress’ and such.”
Right now, by just slightly using this method, the old madam sure enough also just tacitly agreed that Madam Su and the Zhu family’s standing was opposite of the Yu family’s.
“However, if Yun’er insists on going, it also doesn’t matter.” Yu Lingxin continued, “Since we are unable to let the madam and Yun’er understand clearly, then there’s no need to say, so as to avoid the madam immediately passing it on to Aunt Su, and then drag out some unnecessary trouble. Based on Yun’er’s personality, if she really encounters conflict among the young ladies of the imperial clan, she at most will just be frightened into tears and then withdraw from the academy. There won’t be other problems. On the contrary, if we really don’t let her go, then what one doesn’t obtain will just be the best thing in the world. In the future, the madam and Yun’er will definitely feel, if they’d gone, then how great it would’ve been and so on. Being upset normally isn’t anything, but once Yun’er starts discussing marriage, it will just become even more intense, feeling that their own social status didn’t get elevated and so on. This will certainly end up causing trouble. Rather than letting them harbor a grudge like this, it’s better to just let them go run into the wall on their own. When time comes, they will finally have a peace of mind.”
“You really have it viewed very transparently.” Yu old madam originally felt that what was said was very reasonable, just towards the end, Yu Lingxin, who was still a young lady of the boudoir herself, actually even thought of her younger sister Yu Yunxin’s marriage discussions in the future. How is this the thought process of an ordinary young lady? This was practically the mindset of a matriarch or elder of a household.
Yu Lingxin just laughed, “I’m merely helping you consider, all our family’s matter. Father appears to have learning, but in reality, when it comes to handling matters, he’s still not as good as you, this backbone. The madam is shortsighted, so if there really is some trouble, the one that will be tired out will still be you in the end. In any case, regarding the academy’s matter, this is my thought. Why don’t you think it over again before deciding?”
“You crafty little thing, even daring to make fun of your father.” Yu old madam said with a laugh, “Saying this much, displaying everything clearly, yet in the end, say to let grandmother decide? Aren’t all the ideas still yours in the end?”
Yu Lingxin went forward to sway her grandmother’s hand, “I’m your granddaughter, so naturally taught by you.”
Yu old madam tapped her forehead, “Nowadays, increasingly know how to act spoiled. Alright, why don’t you go back, I will just discuss with your father again.”
Yu Lingxin smilingly said a few more words before retreating out.
Yu old madam stared at her retreating figure. She still had a bit of faint suspicion lingering in her heart. Yu Lingxin’s personality was gentle and kind. She was filial and care for the family, while also sensible. This, she has always known. But, having the imperial court and imperial palace’s circumstances viewed this clearly, that really wasn’t something taught by their family. Perhaps this child really just resembled her grandfather……….
Meanwhile, Yu Lingxin returned to Lianyi Residence, her mind also full of matters. On her grandmother’s side, the matters in regards to the Wenhua Academy probably can be considered settled. But, seeing the account books already sent over on the table upon entering, she just closed her eyes again before sitting down with a sigh, calling Bai Guo to come in.
“Miss.” After deferentially greeting, Bai Guo directly asked first, “Shizi asks whether or not he needs to send over another person for you.”
Yu Lingxin pointed at that six volume pile of account books on the table, just having helplessness left, “I did agree to help him look after his shops’ account books, but didn’t I say I just want the general ledger? How come he brought over this many?”
Bai Guo bowed and explained, “Miss, these are the general ledgers. These are the respective ones for shizi’s five shops in the capital, as well as the capital’s combined account. The ones for the shops outside of the capital will be sent over next month.”
“There’s more outside of the capital?” Yu Lingxin finally understood why Bai Guo first asked whether or not she needed more people just now, “How does he have this many private businesses?”
In the past life, as the Wen’an Marchioness, she naturally looked over countless account books, also aware of how many businesses the Wen’an Marquis Manor had, but she never expected that Xun Che would have this many private businesses.
Moreover, previously, when Xun Che was mentioning it to her, he really was nonchalant to the extreme, “Since you’re organizing your dowry’s account books lately, then help me look after some of my private businesses in passing. If there’s a loss, then it’s counted on me, but if there’s profit, I’ll share half with you.”
When she’d randomly agreed, she thought that there was just one or two shops!
“This, this servant doesn’t know.” Bai Guo bowed again, “This servant also doesn’t understand the account books’ matters, just having shizi’s original words passed on to you.”
Yu Lingxin could only send Bai Guo out first, temporarily not answering the question about adding more people. Ever since Bai Guo entered Lianyi Residence, she has already been quickly promoted up and frequently kept by her side. It’s also fortunate that Shuangye and Gancao were both busy lately, and Ganlu was also the gentle type that wasn’t competitive, thus this matter didn’t attract too much attention. For her to suddenly add another unfamiliar servant girl to her side, it still wasn’t too appropriate.
But flipping through the account books, Yu Lingxin just inwardly clenched her teeth again.
Xun Che’s trick of ‘nonchalantly inviting someone onto the pirate ship’ simply was just used on her the most smoothly!
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I think it’s very cute how he just wants to give her all the things and make her life as smooth as it can possibly be
indeed. i think in a way, it’s also a compensation for accompanying him through his rough times in the past. i’m sure he’s not unaware of her struggles, so now that he had a second chance, he’s doing his best to make her life at ease this time.