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Adapting to Change
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!
The green hills and tall skies, jade pines and white snow.
The winter air in the mountains was particularly fresh and clear, making one just become very awake and clear-minded after slightly taking two deep breaths.
However, at this very moment, no matter how much cold wind and light snow there were, it was all unable to make a certain someone’s enthusiasm cool down in the slightest.
Practically the moment they set foot in the back yard, Xun Che just turned around directly meeting Yu Lingxin face to face while still holding her hand. Just as Yu Lingxin was about to open her mouth to ask, Xun Che already went forward a step, directly having her tightly embraced in his arms.
He has always been gentle. Even previously when kissing and hugging in the carriage, his movements were also always light, just fearing that she will have the tiniest bit of discomfort.
But, the tightness of Xun Che’s hug at this time, Yu Lingxin just felt that it was like as if she was about to get crushed in his arms. She couldn’t help but softly call out, “Shenzhi…………”
And following her voice, Xun Che just went down for a kiss, having all the words and feelings in their heart directly blocked between the lips.
A slight gust of cold wind swept past. The pine branches swayed, the rustling sound shook down quite a bit of accumulated snow, mixing together with the light snowfall that was still fluttering about at this time, gracefully getting carried away together in the wind.
Under the corridor, the figures that were practically glued together finally reluctantly separated a moment later. Although not at all satisfied, it can still be considered somewhat resolving the yearning. The two of them once again held hands, slowly strolling as they talked.
Just like that time four months ago, when the two of them met alone for the first time here, Yu Lingxin carried a stomach full of questions, just this time, Xun Che didn’t deliberately tease her and wait for her to open her mouth first, instead briefly explaining his trip this time as well as the unexpected changes.
The most important part was that Xun Yan’s horse carriage indeed overturned and tumbled down by the river at the Ji province and Liu province border.
But, he believed that Xun Yan wasn’t in the carriage at the time.
Because he had set out from the capital on the twenty-third of the tenth month, rushing the whole way on quick horse and light carriage, by the night of the twenty-seventh, he’d already arrived at the Jiang residence in the Liu province.
In the days prior to that, his guard, Yin Xian, that he’d sent in advance, actually had already reached the Jiang residence first. However, it was just as how Yu Lingxin had previously predicted, Yin Xian’s status wasn’t high enough, and also a man, thus the Jiang family easily brushed off with the excuse of ‘the eldest miss is still recuperating’, having Yin Xian directly invited out.
But, this was also within Xun Che’s expectations, so on the surface, Yin Xian just left the Jiang residence after visiting twice, yet in reality, secretly monitored the Jiang family’s movements, waiting until Xun Che personally rushed over.
On the night of the twenty-seventh, Xun Che reached the Liu province, directly visiting the Jiang residence. Together with him was also a doctor, said to be for examining Xun Yan, so that they can settle on the return trip to the capital.
The Jiang family’s frantic look at the time naturally didn’t need to be mentioned, each and every one with a deathly pale look. In the end, the excuse they used to have Xun Che temporarily blocked outside was that the eldest miss had met with some powerful daoist master yesterday, saying that the eldest miss’s illness this time came rather suddenly, and that there’s some evil aura within and so on, needing to meditate for a day, and can’t come in contact with any male.
TN: All translations outside of Broken Jinsei are stolen and reposted without permission!
To even have this kind of nonsense brought out to muddle through, Xun Che just smilingly left behind a warning on the spot, “Since Sir Jiang has said it as such, then this one will just believe it as such. Just, it’s best that Sir Jiang can validate every word, else if unable to see Xun Yan tomorrow, then I can only accuse your esteemed manor of conspiring against my younger tang sister, killing and hiding the body.”
After the Jiang family forcibly delayed for a day, on the morning of the twenty-eighth, they just voluntarily sent someone to the inn Xun Che was staying at, saying that the eldest miss had already set out, riding in what kind of horse carriage, and so on.
Xun Che counted the days, simply not believing that Xun Yan had already arrived in the Liu province. This kind of explanation was nothing more than just wanting to let Xun Yan who’d traveled midway appear as if she was currently on the way back to the capital. However, even with this kind of explanation, based on the distance, it was actually still not enough time. Xun Yan simply was unable to reach his position in time. That’s why, at the time, the horse carriage that pretended to have its horse startled certainly will be an empty carriage.
This move, for Xun Yan, was already having no other way, because as long as she is unable to smoothly show up at the Jiang residence, letting Xun Che’s subordinate escort back to the capital, then all the explanations for the delays during this entire trip back to the capital all won’t be able to hold ground.
The Xun family second branch were actually very clear inside. The Wen’an Marquis, Xun Nanheng, in terms of attitude, although wasn’t as unyielding as Ming Huayue and Xun Che, and indeed has a bit of affection towards Xun old madam and the Xun family second branch, but the Wen’an Marquis wasn’t the least bit stupid either.
The holes in these explanations now, as long as Xun Che display one by one in front of the Wen’an Marquis…….
Although from Xun Yan’s view, the first branch doesn’t know that she’d returned to the capital in advance, and also got involved with Ruiyang and the Zhu family, but an unmarried young lady’s whereabouts being unknown, others can only think in the direction of having a secret love affair.
By that time, regardless of how much Xun old madam dotes on her, and no matter how the Xun second master plea and explain, her final ending certainly will be marrying far away. Moreover, it won’t be to somewhere such as the Ji province that was relatively close to the capital. The best outcome was probably just directly marrying back to the Liu province Jiang family, unable to return to the capital for life.
That’s why, it was better to just pretend to have fallen into the river. Afterwards, she just needs to pretend that she’d gotten saved by someone.
Although this way will also have many hidden troubles, but the carriage overturning and her falling into the river can just be pinned on Xun Che first. Once Xun Che and the first branch begin to argue that they don’t have any intentions to harm her, only then will there be leeway to take advantage of the situation. The final outcome of the dispute will very likely just be the second branch expressing that they won’t pursue Xun Che’s fault, and Xun Che also won’t have any grounds to continue questioning Xun Yan’s tracks.
This strategy although wasn’t necessarily considered that flawless, but for Xun Yan who had gotten trapped in the capital, getting impeded everywhere, it was already considered the best way to counter.
Regarding Xun Yan’s thoughts, Yu Lingxin had already roughly guessed most of it. Although she didn’t know the specific dates and the specific twists and turns, but when personally hearing the matter at the Xun manor, she’d already figured out the core of this matter. The key was precisely in ‘making it public’.
Suppose that this matter didn’t come from Xun Yan’s scheme, then the Xun family second branch, for the sake of Xun Yan’s reputation and future prospects, certainly won’t wantonly make this matter public, let alone inviting guests to witness.
Even if it was an accident, and they really just coincidentally heard during the banquet, it should still be immediately dragging that servant woman to the back to talk first thing, and not, in front of that many people, begin fighting with Ming Huayue.
To put it bluntly, that was just wanting to gain the upper hand by striking first in the capital. Regardless of what the truth was like outside, first put out a rumor of Xun Che seeking to harm Xun Yan. This kind of severe matter, if true, it will just affect Xun Che’s position as the Wen’an Marquis heir, even affecting the inheritance of the Wen’an Marquis Manor’s noble title. With this kind of mess in front, in the future, when Xun Che look into Xun Yan’s matter again, the Xun family second branch will even have the opportunity to bite back, saying that Xun Che was framing them, trying to retaliate, and so on.
“However, they absolutely never expected that my wife would be this smart.” Xun Che smilingly lowered his head again to kiss Yu Lingxin’s cheek, lightly pecking.
Yu Lingxin although had a smile by her lips, she nevertheless still had some lingering fears inside, letting him kiss before pursing her lips, “At the time, I actually didn’t think that clearly, just remembering what you’d said before in the past. The more complicated and unimaginable the situation appeared to be, the more one can’t let others lead by the nose. What month, what day, what place, and what happened, they ultimately need to first prove that what they are saying is true. Besides, at the time, you were away, and the madam was in the middle of wrangling with them, so I could only ask Ming eldest young master to first seal off the manor.”
“You did extremely well.” Xun Che smiled. Shortly after, he gazed outwards. Even if clearly aware that Ming Jincheng and Ming Jinrou who were guarding outside can’t hear them, he still lowered his voice a little, “Jincheng is loyal and steady, and also a brave general on the battlefield, but when it comes to cleverly adapting to changes, he more or less lack a bit of decisiveness. This was just what I was saying previously, in terms of improvisation, he is actually a bit inferior to Xun Yan.”
Yu Lingxin couldn’t help but laugh, lightly slapping him again, “How can you be like this? For the sake of our matter, he has spent that much energy. At this time, he’s even guarding the door outside, yet you’re still saying that he’s not as good as Xun Yan behind his back.”
Xun Che smiled, “It’s not like I’ve never said to his face before. Actually, Xun Yan’s strategy this time can be considered ‘a warrior breaking his arm’, already very decisive. If really putting myself in her shoes, getting held up to that point, I also don’t dare to say that I certainly can be more brilliant than her.”
“You won’t ever be in her shoes.” Yu Lingxin slanted her mouth, turning around, directly facing Xun Che, and reaching out to pull his collar, “Regardless of how much schemes and calculations Xun Yan has, it’s all on the nefarious path. To put it bluntly, it’s just thinking too highly of oneself, believing that one can scheme against everyone in the world, not getting scathed in the slightest. If she really has insight and understand, then she won’t try to collude with Ruiyang and the Zhu family, to the extent of having her status as the Xun family eldest di miss squandered to this point.”
She paused for a moment, lifting her eyes to look at him, “Then, what happened afterwards? At the end of the tenth month, her horse carriage overturned, but how come it took you this long to return? Not even passing back a single message for me. Do you know how worried I was?”
Xun Che reached out to have her two hands gathered in his palm, softly speaking, “In this month, I was continuously running between the Liu province and Ji province. Since Xun Yan set up this kind of situation, then I naturally need to help her have the latter half of the matter taken care of. The matters outside were truly numerous and disorderly. I figured, since a letter was sent to Jincheng, then you probably can figure out that I’m safe.”
He paused for a moment and then continued, “Most importantly, if Xun Yan didn’t really fall into the river, then this dangerous move of hers won’t have other ways out and can only be thoroughly tied to death with Ruiyang and the Zhu family. Since I can send people to keep an eye on the Jiang family, also secretly keeping an eye on the Youjiang Wang Manor and Zhu family, then who knows if they are also keeping an eye on me or not? That’s why, in this month, even if giving you some news, it’s also merely just letting you know that I’m safe. But, if I were to let you attract some unnecessary attention, then I will have a hard time outside, understand?”
Yu Lingxin lightly relaxed a breath and lowered her eyes, “Probably. It’s not like I don’t understand this meaning, but I just………”
“You just miss me, I understand.” Xun Che’s voice was increasingly light, taking her hand and lightly kissing, “My father will return tomorrow. Our matter should have some progress.”
“But my father…………” When mentioning this matter, Yu Lingxin’s brows lightly furrowed, “He seemingly……….”
Xun Che’s gaze slightly flickered, “En, I know.”
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Seriously…. XY thinks she is soooooo clever…. I think this time her falling into the river is also XC’s plan.. just not in the way it played out… I think he plans to make it seem she made it seem she died but really eloped using the carriage falling into the river and used XC as bait to distract people…and at the end XC will be pitied for being used by his eldest Tang sister, for her elopement…
a classic example of “being sharp enough to cut oneself” …
smart people, who know they’re smarter than most people, will do the stupidest things bcs they can reason out the logic of said things to their own satisfaction.
whilst other normal people, who understands that they are less smarter than other people, can’t afford these stupendous leaps from the cliffs of common sense to the great sea of idiocy…
…truly speechless @ XY’s plan. when I said earlier on that the plan was peak level nonsense & theatrics I didn’t expect to see an even better show. what on earth makes XY think that XC has NO idea where she is rn, to the point that her plan is probably to show up to the capital later at an undisclosed date being all “yea he ran me off the road and I fell in the river but I’m FINE now!!! do not question me on anything else!!!” does she think no one will find out that she’s hiding in someone’s house rn? what about her reputation! what about her family’s reputation! ruthless! she’s so ruthless to herself and I see no reason for this! what on earth is she being offered that she can do this with no further thought???
I think at end of it they are more scared of getting found out that they are working with the Zhu family at this point. At least, from her pov, XC just knows she’s not where she’s suppose to be, but doesn’t know exactly where she is and what she has been doing. Their ultimate goal is to take down the first branch and let the noble title fall to the second branch, don’t forget the Zhu family is the second and third prince’s maternal family. Honestly, this whole thing will escalate further into what I consider is peak comedy.
J- Jealousy 🙂