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End of the Year
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!
Actually, between Wu Wang’s main consort and side consorts, exactly who was successful and who was frustrated, it really wasn’t worth the court officials’ attention.
But, while the inner cabinet was repeatedly proposing for Xuan Emperor to establish the heir apparent, if Side Consort Tan can produce a boy in one go, giving birth to the eldest son for Wu Wang, then for Xuan Emperor who originally already loved Wu Wang, his heart might further lean towards them.
As the saying goes, the father dotes on the youngest son, while the grandfather dotes on the eldest grandson. This kind of reasoning, in the imperial family, also couldn’t be avoided.
Even if this one is a daughter, based on how Li Consort, as well as Wu Wang and Wei Wang, were adept at winning Xuan Emperor’s favor, how the the scales will tip from hereon in the imperial harem, one can more or less infer a little.
After all, the battle for the throne in the Tianxu period was different from other times. The maternal families of the imperial consorts all had respectable noble titles but not much actual power. Most of the important ministers of the inner cabinet and Central Secretariat also mostly maintain a neutral attitude. As such, this establishment of the heir apparent ultimately still depended on where Xuan Emperor’s heart leaned.
This also made Side Consort Tan’s pregnancy now become particularly important, not only standing out among the competition in Wu Wang Manor’s backyard, but further helping Wu Wang move a step closer to winning the emperor’s heart.
Regarding this layer of consideration, don’t know whether or not Xun old madam can understand, but the side consort becoming pregnant before the main consort, and what kind of influence it will immediately bring about in the back manor, Xun old madam was still clear about. Her complexion upon the family banquet immediately just turned ugly, also directly putting down the ebony chopsticks in hand.
Xun second madam hurriedly consoled, “Old madam don’t worry, Pei’er is dignified and virtuous. His Highness still respects the main wife. Even if the side consort is pregnant, perhaps it’s just a girl, so how can she easily surpass the main consort. Look at the gifts Pei’er brought you last time, weren’t there several mountain ginsengs personally selected by his Highness Wu Wang? His Highness still has Pei’er in his heart.”
Xun old madam’s complexion finally eased a little, just sighing again, “Even if it’s a girl, that is still his Highness’s first child, sigh….”
Right at this time, the servants came to deliver the warm soup. Xun second madam glanced at the pretty servant girl standing by in attendance near Xun old madam, “Luohua, ladle the soup for the old madam. Old madam, Wu Wang Manor having more children is also a good thing. In the end, they all need to call the main consort mother. The more children his Highness has, the more it shows that the main consort is virtuous, is it not? Come, have some of this chongcao pigeon soup first, heard that this was even helped stewed by Luohua earlier.”
Hearing the second madam call by name twice, Yu Lingxin couldn’t help but smilingly glance at Xun Che, also hinting at him, the smile on her lips practically unable to be contained.
That pretty servant girl Luohua was currently still very steady, answering the second madam’s orders, obediently and attentively serving the old madam.
Unknown as to whether or not the clothes were that tiny bit short, when extending her hand, her wrist that was exposed on the outside was half an inch more than the other servant girls. The fair and lustrous like jade skin sure enough was exceedingly tender, and her smiling side face with her eyes slightly lowered also appeared extremely delicate and pretty, truly an eye-catching servant girl.
The others at the table also couldn’t help but glance a few times. Ever since a few days ago, when the old madam mentioned wanting to give Qingyu Pavilion a servant girl to help ‘serve’ Xun Che and help Yu Lingxin ‘share the burdens’, everyone at home more or less were all somewhat mindful of the matter, wanting to see exactly where this person came from.
Previously, Li mama had agreed to Yu Lingxin upfront, so had no choice but to properly teach a few days, thus not coming out much. All the way until the end of the year, more or less reaching the date Yu Lingxin previously agreed on, did Xun old madam finally start bringing along by her side.
Ming Huayue’s complexion also couldn’t help but darken a little. Xun Che, however, suddenly smiled at this time, gazing towards the old madam, “Second aunt is right, for Wu Wang Manor to have this kind of good news, it’s ultimately still due to Wu Wangfei’s virtuousness. Old madam should be happy. Moreover, our family also have good news.”
Pausing for a moment, he reached out and pressed Yu Lingxin’s hand again, “Yesterday, Imperial Physician Chi came over to take my wife’s pulse, confirming that she’s three months pregnant. Previously, it just looked to be the case, so recuperated for a period of time, letting the fetus stabilize before respectfully telling everyone.”
TN: All translations outside of Broken Jinsei are stolen and reposted without permission!
Xun old madam and the second branch all blanked. Shortly after, second master and second madam, as well as the peers of the same generation, all congratulated a few words one after another. The old madam naturally also said a few words, just her expression was still somewhat unnatural, even glancing at Li mama.
Li mama and that servant girl, Luohua, both carried a docile and submissive look, but still appeared to be cheerful.
Yu Lingxin coldly observed, just feeling that it was interesting. At the same time, she also understood———Luohua probably felt that since she was pregnant, she won’t be able to share the room with Xun Che anymore, so entering Qingyu Pavilion at this time, she perhaps will have even more opportunities to win over Xun Che?
After listening to a few congratulations from the second branch, Xun Che smiled again, “Imperial Physician Chi said that her condition is still pretty good, just can’t get angry. Previously, I heard that when I’d just returned to the capital, grandmother wished to dote on me, generously bestowing someone, even asking this Li mama to educate a little. However, this grandson is unable to enjoy.”
Pausing for a moment, he calmly glanced around at everyone present, “Although my wife is open-minded and magnanimous, a servant girl is ultimately still a servant girl. Even if Li mama has done her best to educate, still can’t guarantee that she won’t make any mistakes. If by chance she were to anger Huijun, even if I exterminate her entire family, it’s still unable to make up for my wife and son. That’s why, considering for the lives of this servant girl’s entire family, it’s best for grandmother to not send anyone to Qingyu Pavilion. Eldest tang brother’s marriage arrangement at present still hasn’t been settled, so why not worry about eldest tang brother first.”
No one expected that at this harmonious family banquet, the scholarly and refined Xun Che who was smilingly talking about his wife’s pregnancy just now would just casually bring up the words ‘exterminate the whole family’.
Never mind Luohua suddenly shivering, even the people of the second branch all shook along with.
Xun Che smiled and nodded again, “Yes, if she makes Huijun angry, I will exterminate her entire family.”
“This…..cough cough, Che boy, these words are too heavy, especially in the middle of the new year……” Xun second master’s throat twitched, and immediately after, gazed towards Xun old madam, “Mother, about that, since niece-in-law is pregnant, the matters in their room, it’s better to let sister-in-law arrange. Giving this servant girl to Ze boy is also quite good.”
Xun old madam was similarly alarmed inside by Xun Che’s smiling yet calm and emotionless stare. For the first time in her life, she very clearly sensed that her old madam title really wasn’t that useful. Although she didn’t know what exactly Xun Che will do, but that faint killing intent was actually even more terrifying than the old marquis, and even Ningyi Xianzhu………
“Right now, I’m still not engaged yet, so have no intention of taking in a concubine.” Xun Ze suddenly opened his mouth, “A servant girl’s duty should be to serve the old madam. If old madam doesn’t want to keep, then just send away. I also don’t want.”
This line although once again severed Luohua’s future prospects, making that servant girl who originally had spring contained in her almond eyes thoroughly feel bitterness spreading in her mouth, her obedient figure practically stiffening, but it also can be considered to another way out for her.
Xun old madam took the opportunity to frown once more, having Wu Wang Manor’s news previously all piled together. It seems all the matters related to the grandchildren’s generation were all unfavorable in every way. After grumbling to herself a few words, she put down the chopsticks and left. The matter of shoving someone over, as well as this originally just somewhat complicated family banquet, also subsequently ended up unsettled.
Returning to Qingyu Pavilion, as Xun Che and Yu Lingxin laughed and chatted, they simply didn’t have this matter taken seriously. It was a scheme that wasn’t worth mentioning to begin with, easily torn apart.
The two of them sat down to discuss the arrangements with Jin Duke Manor at the end of the year.
“How’s Jincheng lately?” Yu Lingxin was still very concerned about this matter, because the discussions about Cheng Yanling recently truly were very clamorous. Even the young ladies in the Linglong Literature Club, when chatting with Xun Ying, would all vaguely and reservedly mention a few words, wanting to ask Xun Ying who was very close with both the Cheng family and Ming family whether or not she had more information.
And on the other hand, there was naturally also the pressure in court.
As time passed day by day, for Cheng Yanling who still hasn’t returned with the person she was hunting down, the suspicions on her also grew heavier little by little.
Even Grand Elder Princess Zhaoning entered the palace to meet with the emperor two days ago. Although it was said as merely entering the palace to visit the consort dowagers, the emperor, and such for the new year as a member of the imperial clan, but during this period now, who didn’t know that it was for the sake of Cheng Yanling and the Zhenbei General Manor’s suspicions.
“He’s still alright, just a bit thinner.” Xun Che also sighed, “I met with Jincheng yesterday. He hasn’t returned to the duke manor for several days already, probably having been lodging in Yulin Camp the whole time. He’s clear inside, Chen province’s matter, there’s too little we can do. It’s beyond our powers. For Xianzhu to personally take the risk alone this time, since we weren’t able to stop her beforehand, then right now, the only thing we can do is wait. Other than that it’s just paying close attention to the defenses around the new year. After all, Yulin Camp and the city guards are the most important forces in the capital. At this time, the debates in court appear as if all pointing towards the Chen province, but there are also quite a few eyes on him. Right now, really can’t let the slightest problem occur.”
“They really don’t have it easy.” Yu Lingxin said with a sigh, “Then, does xianzhu have any other plans, or perhaps set some date? If really because of some reason temporarily unable to catch the person, this matter can’t just keep dragging on forever.”
“The fifteenth of the first month.” Xun Che’s expression was also increasingly grave, “Xianzhu said, she will definitely rush back to the capital before the fifteenth of the first month, giving an explanation to his Majesty and to the world.”
Yu Lingxin couldn’t help but gaze out the window. The deep winter’s night sky seemed particularly clear. The moon in the horizon was also bright and lustrous, just there was less than twenty days until the next full moon. Can Cheng Yanling really have this matter taken care of all at once?
At this very moment, there were too many people that carried similar thoughts. Just, everyone’s attitude differed based on their respective positions. There were naturally quite a few people that were like Xun Che and Yu Lingxin who hoped for Cheng Yanling to return early, but there were even more that wholeheartedly hoped for her to be unable to return or unable to complete her task.
For instance, on the twenty-ninth of the twelfth month, during the last court meeting of the year, the Assistant Minister of the Ministry of War, who was also Wei Wang Manor’s Liangyuan Lin-shi’s father, submitted a memorandum, formally accusing the Zhenbei General Manor as well as the Jin Duke Manor of misconduct.
T/N: The servant girl the old madam picked already has a different name from what was mentioned previously, don’t expect these minor character names to ever be consistent in this novel, they are easily forgotten by the author.
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i think it’s fine for the author to forget minor character names when they don’t show up for dozens of chapters…bc I also forget lol. In defense of the old lady and Li mama: I don’t think literally anyone expected XC to straight up say “exterminate her entire family” at a relatively normal family dinner. that’s you playing tic tac toe and him blowing up the table. absolutely hilarious tho