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Chen Province Mutiny
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!
Yu Lingxin blanked, “Duanyi Xianzhu didn’t come?”
This matter, she really didn’t know. Ever since two months ago, after Madam Cheng returned to the Chen Province, many of the Grand Elder Princess Manor’s social dealings outside were all handled by Cheng Yanling. Having this kind of powerful maiden family behind her, while also having the xianzhu title herself, no one would dare to comment on her being a woman that returned to the maiden home.
And after Qin Wang and Ming Jinrou’s wedding, Ming Jincheng and Cheng Yanling met increasingly frequently. For the most part, everyone in the capital currently all had an understanding inside. Grand Elder Princess Zhaoning and the Cheng family’s various expressions of goodwill towards the Xun family, Ming family, and even Yu family previously were all for the current moment. The Ming family and Cheng family’s marriage alliance probably will have developments soon.
But, Cheng Yanling suddenly didn’t show up at Wu Wang’s wedding?
Yu Lingxin slightly thought for a moment. The unrest previously faintly pressed in the bottom her heart the whole time also gradually rose up.
Today, prior to coming to Wu Wang Manor, Ming Jincheng had gone to Wen’an Marquis Manor first, discussing with Xun Che about the recent defense change in the Yulin camp, as well as about the sacrificial rites performed by Xuan Emperor at the end of the year. At the time, she even talked with Ming Jincheng, completely not hearing him mention that Cheng Yanling had some other arrangements.
“I don’t see older sister Cheng.” Xun Ying shook her head with certainty, “Moreover, just now, Jinrou also came to ask me. She originally wanted to look for older sister Cheng to talk to, but after looking around a circle, she didn’t see her.”
Yu Lingxin nodded, “Perhaps the princess manor has some urgent matter. Later, I’ll go back and ask again——-”
When her voice ended, she saw at a glance on the corridor outside the pavilion Chai Guangyi’s figure quickly passing by. Her heart immediately jumped. Among Xun Che’s trusted subordinates, Chai Guangyi can be considered the most steady one, especially considering that they were currently at Wu Wang Manor’s wedding banquet right now!
Xun Ying saw Yu Lingxin’s abnormal look, also looking outward following her line of sight, “Sister-in-law, what’s wrong?”
Yu Lingxin slightly adjusted her thoughts, and at the same time, calmly and soundlessly looked around at the other guests that were still happily celebrating. Afterwards, she gently said with a smile, “Nothing, why don’t we sit for a while longer, if there’s anything, it can wait until after we go back.”
Xun Ying didn’t have an impatient temper to begin with. Additionally, towards Cheng Yanling’s absence, she was merely just curious. Afterwards, when sitting together with Yu Lingxin at the banquet, she was still very steady.
But, half a cup of tea later, Yu Lingxin nevertheless saw Bai Guo standing outside with a meaningful look in her eyes. After smilingly enduring halfway through the banquet, her heart was already suspended very high.
And once the banquet concluded, taking their leave and going to the second gate, the Wen’an Marquis Xun Nanheng and his heir Xun Che, sure enough, had already left in advance. Ming Huayue’s complexion was also somewhat peculiar. After glancing at Yu Lingxin and Xun Ying, they ascended the carriage together and returned home.
Because when coming, Yu Lingxin had rode together with Xun Che, so on the way back, she just directly called Bai Guo onto the carriage to question.
Bai Guo’s reply was very simple and direct, just three words, yet it was more than enough to make Yu Lingxin freeze all over.
“Chen province mutiny.”
TN: All translations outside of Broken Jinsei are stolen and reposted without permission!
“What? Mutiny?!” Amidst the enormous shock, Yu Lingxin practically was about to doubt her own ears. After blanking for a moment, she finally asked Bai Guo, “What does that mean? How serious is it? When did it happen?”
Bai Guo bowed and replied, “The specifics, Chai Guangyi didn’t mention in detail, but shouldn’t be too serious. This news had just came. Duanyi Xianzhu is currently already on her way back to the Chen province.”
Yu Lingxin couldn’t help but once again clench her teeth, forcing herself to carefully recall everything that she’d heard in the past life.
The autumn of Tianxu year 14, during this time in the past life, she was already living under the Kou family in the Jiang province. At the time, what she mainly knew was that her father Yu Bocheng had already written several letters to the Kou family, probably negotiating with Qi-shi on having her sent back to the capital, yet she ended up repeatedly falling ill. Moreover, the situation in the capital probably already had some signs of unstableness.
But, no matter how she recalled, Yu Lingxin still wasn’t able to remember rumors about the Chen province having a mutiny before in the past life. Moreover, if really having occurred before, even if she doesn’t remember, it would still be impossible for Xun Che who was in the capital, the center of the political whirlpool, to not remember, so how could he not have any arrangements at all.
If Xun Che also doesn’t remember, or rather, say that Xun Che also didn’t know that such an incident would occur, then it can only be that because of their rebirth, as well as the changes to the state of affairs in this lifetime, it thus brought about this new unforeseen event.
A kind of indescribable fear suddenly bubbled up inside Yu Lingxin’s heart, just like what was once very certain, the confidence towards the path in front as a reborn person, getting ruthlessly struck down. From today’s sudden changes in the Chen province, to recalling the situation in the palace currently during Li Consort’s hibernation, Yu Lingxin reached out and lifted the carriage window’s inner curtains, turning and gazing outwards.
In the skies of the capital at the end of the tenth month, layers of clouds heavily stacked in one place, the light gloomy, probably a snowstorm will come soon.
In reality, that night, a gale rose in the capital. Moreover, unlike the early winter of past years, just a bit cold and gloomy, it was instead like deep winter, freezing cold. When hitting the face, it was like knife cuts, to the extent that when Xun Che finally returned to Qingyu Pavilion late into the night, his fair and handsome face was already frozen red. When sensing the warmth from the earth dragon in the room, there was even a slight twinge of pain.
Yu Lingxin originally had been waiting to the point where her eyelids were unbearably heavy, but upon seeing Xun Che return, at the same time relaxing a breath, she also finally sobered up, quickly letting someone have the prepared hot water, warm soup, and such items all sent in, also personally helping him change, pour tea, etc.
Xun Che at this time clearly was extremely exhausted, letting Yu Lingxin help him change, and then waved his hand to send out the servant girls.
He looked to his wife, but didn’t speak, taking a sip of the chicken soup Yu Lingxin left for him before placing it down.
“Shenzhi, is the Chen province matter very serious?” Actually, after returning to the manor, Yu Lingxin had also asked Ming Huayue. However, Ming Huayue seemingly wasn’t even as clear of the situation as her, and the outside seemingly was also very calm, like as if the news of this mutiny hadn’t even spread yet.
That’s why, until Xun Che returned, Yu Lingxin was just inwardly hoping that perhaps this matter wasn’t too serious. After all, Wu Wang’s wedding didn’t get affected in the slightest, and the great majority of the nobles and officials at the wedding banquet were still peacefully sitting there, excitedly and happily staying over at Wu Wang Manor for a very long time.
Xun Che deliberated for a moment and let out a long sigh, wanting to reach out to embrace Yu Lingxin, but recalling that his hand was still cold, he retracted it, “Hard to say, need to wait until xianzhu returns to the Chen province before we can know.”
Yu Lingxin couldn’t help but frown, voluntarily grasping his hand. Sure enough, it was very cold, like as if having been outside freezing for don’t know how long. As her two hands repeatedly caressed, she also asked, “This kind of incident, will it bring about very big changes? Why say it’s uncertain?”
Xun Che lowered his eyes, “The current commotion isn’t very big yet, the casualties also not that many, but all important people. Xianzhu’s father, General Cheng, also got heavily injured, the cause might be related to the local weapons and provisions. The specifics, still need to wait for xianzhu’s news.”
As Xun Che slowly spoke, Yu Lingxin’s entire heart also strangely sunk along with little by little. Although there were still many confusions and uncertainties, she still made out Xun Che’s self-blame and worry, thus lowered her voice, “You……you feel that because xianzhu wasn’t in the Chen province…….”
“Right now, I still don’t know.” Xun Che fell silent again, before shaking his head and saying, “In this matter, there should be some inside story. In Tianxu year 13 of the past life, Duanyi Xianzhu already had the intention of returning to her maiden home, but why she didn’t return, and also didn’t immediately return to the capital, Jincheng and I both don’t know. Just, judging from the military reports and memorandums received by the imperial court, the Chen province had always been safe and sound. After all, these years, Northern Rong also have their own internal problems, so don’t have the ability to invade.”
After pausing for a moment, Xun Che continued again, “Afterwards, by the end of Tianxu year 13, xianzhu still didn’t return. On the empress’s side, the empress was also exerting pressure. After Jincheng wrote three letters to the Chen province and received no reply, he just got engaged with the Wen family. After that, by the time xianzhu really returned to the capital, it was already the end of Tianxu year 14, just happening to make the first new year banquet arranged by Wen Ruoqiong after marrying into the Jin Duke Manor, which ended up quite disastrous. In the end, it was still mother that went over to help clean up.”
Yu Lingxin calculated the time according to Xun Che’s words, “Speaking of it like this, xianzhu returned to the capital a year and a half earlier than in the past life, so change just occurred in the Chen province.”
Xun Che nodded, “At the time, I’d mentioned to General Cheng, suggesting them to arrange for xianzhu’s return to the capital. When mentioning remarriage, xianzhu actually hesitated before. Just, I——” He shook his head and didn’t continue.
Yu Lingxin understood Xun Che’s meaning. On the matter of Cheng Yanling’s return to the capital, Xun Che should’ve played a very large role in it. Currently, Cheng Yanling and Ming Jincheng’s marriage still haven’t even formed, yet an incident occurred in the Chen province first. Moreover, Cheng Yanling’s father, Cheng Guangling, was even heavily injured in the mutiny.
This kind of major event, although temporarily still haven’t spread today, it will certainly be discussed in court tomorrow. Even if Cheng Guangling can be blessed by the heavens, preserving his life, the Chen province army’s main commander position might still have the possibility of temporarily changing hands.
Even if Northern Rong that was beyond Yulong Pass temporarily don’t have the ability to large-scale invade, the military force in the northwest changing commanders, its influence towards the state of affairs in the capital was far more serious than the palace banquets, the wives and concubines of the princes, and such matters!
“Then, will Jincheng be going to the Chen province?” Yu Lingxin thought for a moment, subconsciously tightening her hold on Xun Che’s hand.
Xun Che shook his head, “He can’t go. At the end of the year, his Majesty’s sacrificial rites will certainly be carried out. The Yulin camp’s defense can’t relax. I know he wants to go, but he absolutely must stay in the capital. The Yulin camp can’t have any unforeseen changes at this time.”
Yu Lingxin lowered her head, no longer asking. Just, her hand that was holding Xun Che’s nevertheless tightened more and more.
“Huijun.” Xun Che waited for a moment. Seeing Yu Lingxin not continuing to say anything, his feelings inside were very complicated. He lightly called out to her, his other hand going to embrace her shoulder.
Yu Lingxin endured again and again, feeling her entire heart thoroughly sinking to the bottom, “So, you need to go to the Chen province, right?”
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