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Gongs and Drums (2)
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!
Qi Pei, however, was somewhat unable to endure anymore. For her to have no hope of marrying Xun Che, it was all because of getting messed up by this younger cousin of a not that great birth. She was already enduring in every way possible, and now, even voluntarily lowering her stance to come be the hairpin bearer for her, yet even got rejected?
Seeing her mother idly chatting with a forced smile, she just felt even more angry, suddenly interrupting, “Younger cousin now has everything according to one’s wish, don’t know if you still remember paternal aunt whose far away in the Jiang province? Does younger cousin not have the intention of letting your own mother come back to see you marry?”
Once these words came out, Yu old madam’s face immediately turned cold. Chang’de Countess had wanted to stop her, but it was also too late.
Yu Lingxin, however, just smiled, “A few days ago, my mother had sent a letter over, wanting to come to the capital to send me off. However, I’ve already sent a reply, asking my mother, how much dowry she has prepared for me. At present, there still isn’t a reply yet, perhaps because of the long distance, or perhaps just expressing her feelings through the letter was enough.”
Regarding this exchange of letters, even Yu old madam was unaware. However, seeing her reply this calmly, she also just relaxed. Then, thinking over the meaning in those words, Yu old madam’s face also had a bit of mockery, so just looked to Yu Lingxin, “With the tall mountains and long roads, in addition to the heat in the sixth month, it’s better to not let your mother take the trip. The daughters of the count manor have good learning after all, so writing a few scrolls of calligraphy for you as something to remember her by is also fine.”
The daughters of the count manor having good learning, these words were just like slapping Chang’de Countess’s face. Her smile that was already somewhat stiff previously was increasingly unable to be maintained. As such, she pretended to scold her daughter a few words, then hastily got up to take her leave.
Yu Lingxin saw the still unwilling to resign look on Qi Pei’s face when leaving, and could only shake her head inside, also recalling that sweet sound of ‘second brother’ at the Xun manor last time.
Qi-shi was ultimately Qi Pei’s paternal aunt. If to really point out the problems in Qi-shi’s upbringing, would it look good on the Qi family’s face? Would Qi Pei have radiance on her own face?
She usually wasn’t this brainless, so there was probably still other complaints inside, thus disregarding everything.
And what Yu old madam further cared about at this time was actually another matter, “Ling’er, when did you invite Madam Cheng as the guest of honor?”
Yu Lingxin’s gaze couldn’t help but somewhat flicker. She actually just heard Bai Guo report this morning, saying that Xun Che has already arranged everything, but at this time, she could only vaguely respond, saying that she’d mentioned it during the palace banquet that day.
Yu old madam didn’t ask for the details, probably also able to guess that it was because of the Xun family. After all, for the Zhenbei General to become the bride’s side’s matchmaker, it was also because of the Xun family.
Just, after the old madam fell silent for a moment, she suddenly said, “Looks like Duanyi Xianzhu and Ming eldest young master’s matter indeed had some signs.”
Yu Lingxin thought for a moment. She naturally knew the Cheng family stepping in for her marriage was because of the Xun family, but to help out this much, it was actually not that different from the Qi family’s or even the Wen family’s thoughts, all trying to pull in the relationship through her. In the future, this favor will just result in Ming Huayue and Xun Che’s influence towards the Ming family, especially towards Ming Jincheng.
But, at this time, the most distinct thought in her mind was actually, this kind of situation, was it also within Xun Che’s calculations?
Looking at that faint confidence in his constant letters everyday, and the craftiness revealed in the words passed on through Bai Guo, perhaps this really was………….
Sixteenth of the fifth month, hairpin ceremony.
TN: All translations outside of Broken Jinsei are stolen and reposted without permission!
The hairpin ceremony for a girl was just like the crowning ceremony for boys, necessary to be completed after getting engaged and prior to marrying. If still not engaged after reaching fifteen years old, then one can also separately hold a hairpin ceremony to show that one has come of age.
Yu Lingxin’s hairpin ceremony in the past life was dragged out until she was sixteen before hastily getting held in the Jiang province Kou family residence, the ceremony simple to the extreme. The guest of honor and hairpin bearer were further just randomly inviting two Kou family relatives to go through the motions, also not receiving courtesy name[1]. The only significance was just expressing that she can start discussing marriage.
Now, it naturally can’t compare with before. Prior to Duanyang, the Yu family already suddenly gained quite a few ‘friends and relatives’. After going through the empress’s praising and bestowments at the Duanyang palace banquet, the guests coming to the Yu family’s gate at present were further like running water.
But, Yu Lingxin already didn’t want to attract more attention, so for her hairpin ceremony, she didn’t invite too many guests. Aside from Xun Ying and Cheng Yanling, it was mainly just the young ladies from the literature club that she was relatively close with. On the Qi family’s side, out of courtesy, she also sent an invitation. However, the Qi family just sent the gifts, but didn’t attend. Everyone all had an understanding inside.
One plus two plus three, the course of the hairpin ceremony went by very smoothly. Madam Cheng didn’t select another courtesy name for Yu Lingxin either, still retaining the name Huijun, just saying a few more encouraging words. As such, the rite can be considered to have concluded.
The next day, on the seventeenth of the fifth month, according to tradition, one needs to send a return gift to the guest of honor and the hairpin bearer. Because unwilling to let Su-shi step in, Yu old madam personally took Yu Lingxin to the Grand Elder Princess Manor.
The two of them originally were just thinking, after simply and politely expressing their thanks and placing down the presents, they can just deferentially take their leave. The greeting process was indeed very simple, but the hale and hearty Grand Elder Princess Zhaoning’s way of speaking was even more straightforward and direct than her daughter-in-law and granddaughter, “Shenzhi and Jincheng are both children I watched grow up. Now that there’s a happy occasion, as an elder, I should slightly add a little.”
Casually waving her hand, it was just four red sandalwood articles, eight sets of jade and glazed porcelain, in addition to sixteen bolts of brocade and damask.
These things, never mind being worth several thousand, even if having money, it was still difficult to buy them outside. Ordinary official family daughters, if able to have just a fourth of this, then the entire dowry will be considered very presentable.
Amidst the shock, Yu old madam and Yu Lingxin also understood. Looks like Grand Elder Princess Zhaoning has also decided on Ming Jincheng for her granddaughter. She was probably also worried about Cheng Yanling’s reputation being too valiant and formidable, also not her first time marrying, thus indirectly expressing goodwill towards the Xun family.
After all, if she wants to Cheng Yanling to be well after marrying over in the future, they can’t just rely on the in-law family’s reverence. There ultimately needs to be some feelings and sentiments.
At this point now, Yu Bocheng and Su-shi have already stopped arguing, also no longer running about. The Yu family from top to bottom were all just left with repeated shock, as well as the busy preparations.
On the twenty-fifth of the fifth month, Ming Yunji visited to ask about the marriage preparations, and at the same time, also represented the Jin Duke Manor in adding to the dowry. This hand was just four trunks of brocade and tea sets. Yu Bocheng more or less was already used to it, also finally understanding exactly how big his future son-in-law’s face was.
So far, as the wedding date increasingly approach, Yu Lingxin’s dowry has already reached twenty thousand full.
And the state of affairs in the capital also similarly, because of the approaching imperial selection, entered a new wave of commotion. Inside and outside of the capital, the official families of the fourth rank and higher were all weighing the matter and preparing. The dealings between the noble and illustrious households were also increasingly sensitive.
Under this kind of condition, the Linglong Literature Club that let Yu Lingxin first become prominent still continued with one gathering per month. The girls further agreed to have another gathering at the Wen’an Marquis Manor on the fifth of the sixth month, for the sake of sending off Yu Lingxin and adding to her dowry as club sisters.
Yu Lingxin naturally didn’t refuse. On her side, she also prepared some small gifts for them.
However, this gathering ultimately wasn’t able to be held.
Because on the night of the fourth of the sixth month, the Wen’an Marquis Manor suddenly caught fire, startling a little less than half of the capital.
[1] The courtesy name, for girls, is normally given by an elder in the family during the coming-of-age ceremony. For boys, it’s similarly given by an elder or teacher. Yu Lingxin received hers from Xun Che since her own family never gave her one in the past life.
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