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What Thoughts
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!
Very soon, they arrived at Jade Peak Villa. As soon as they entered, they were just able to sense the difference in the atmosphere. Originally, when the Xun family second branch and Xun old madam got sent over, Ming Huayue had separately assigned four families over to serve them. All the people that the second branch were used to using originally, at the time, all stayed in the marquis manor, getting very rigorously interrogated. Mainly, it was related to the matter of Xun old madam scheming against Yu Lingxin back then, exactly who all were in the know, as well as having Songxiang’s family separately arranged, finding a place for them, so as to avoid Cide Hall’s fire getting dug up again in the future and having some slip-up.
Afterwards, Xun Che and Yu Lingxin’s wedding smoothly carried out, and the interrogation towards the second branch’s servants previously also concluded. A few servants that had indeed never gotten involved in the matter, also honest and kept to their duties, also got sent to Jade Peak Villa, still serving Xun old madam and the people of the second branch.
The last time Yu Lingxin came over, it was when she came to formally meet the relatives as the new bride. Jade Peak Villa in her impression was very stern, all strictly abiding by the rules from top to bottom. Strictly speaking, there was actually a bit of dejectedness. After all, coming over to keep an eye on the second branch and the old madam, although it was also being very trusted by the Wen’an Marquis couple, but this ultimately wasn’t as well-off and glorious as working in the marquis manor.
But, this time, Jade Peak Villa, from top to bottom, practically filled with jubilation. The autumn exam this time clearly didn’t have anything to do with Xun Ze and Xun Tan, but Jade Peak Villa was surprisingly also draped in red silk, just like as if a child in the family had passed the imperial exam.
Yu Lingxin couldn’t help but glance at Xun Che, “Wasn’t it said that there’s a change to Xun Ze’s marriage arrangement? This is………”
The corner of Xun Che’s lips slightly hooked, full of mockery, “After Xun Yan died, the pearl of the old madam’s eyes is just Qi Pei. Now that Qi Pei has been chosen as Wu Wangfei, the old madam is naturally happy to the extreme. The one that’s engaged to Xun Ze is Marshal Yan’s niece. The old madam originally just looked down on her, feeling that her status wasn’t noble enough. Now that Xun Ze has a wangfei younger cousin, in the old madam’s mind, things are just further different. In my view, if not the Yan family mentioning wanting to break off the engagement first, then the old madam would’ve probably mentioned it too.”
Yu Lingxin shook her head, really unable to understand Xun old madam’s thoughts. Even if she’s unable to make out the opposing state of affairs between Qin Wang and Wu Wang, as well as the Xun family’s standing, just based on how Xun Yan’s case was fought with the Zhu family in court, Xun old madam should at least know that the Xun and Zhu family have grudges, right? And how peculiar this kind of marriage and relationship was? Never mind the old madam not worrying for Qi Pei, to even light lanterns and put up decorative banners, appearing as if the whole family was rising with the tides……..
Xun Che looked to her expression of wanting to say something but stopping, lightly smiling again, “I know what you’re thinking. Think of it from another angle, if the old madam, from the start, just feels that our first branch is the enemy, and that Xun Yan should just nicely collude with the Zhu family, then everything at present, for her, can also be considered ‘setting things right again’.”
Yu Lingxin couldn’t help but be at a loss for words, “That is true. Xun Yan although got involved with Zhu second young master, but her goal certainly wasn’t trying to marry into the Zhu family as the wife of the shu-born second young master. Instead, her intentions were on the princes. If the old madam, from the start, just knew, and moreover, approved of Xun Yan’s thoughts, then Qi Pei, at present, can be considered to have inherited Xun Yan’s unfulfilled ambitions.”
As the two of them talked, they just arrived at the main hall. Ming Huayue and Xun Cong had already arrived. Today, the Wen’an Marquis didn’t come along. The rest of the people in the hall, their seating arrangements were basically more or less the same as last time. Even every person’s expression and posture were all more or less the same.
Xun old madam sat in the middle, her complexion as dark as iron, and at the same time, her gaze was sharp, her spirit hale and hearty. Next to her, the Chang’de Countess and the future Wu Wangfei, Qi Pei, were both dressed luxuriously, their expression indifferent. Xun second master and madam, as well as Xun Xiang were just a bit complicated, probably still having some subconscious fear and misgivings towards the people of the first branch, but their eyes still revealed a bit of excitement from being able to rise with the tides soon.
As for Xun Ze, he was sitting in his own seat, yet there was a bit of loneliness on his face, probably not wanting to withdraw from the engagement. This marriage arrangement has actually been set for several years. In the past, he’d also met the Yan family young lady before a few times, still having a bit of faint affection.
Xun Tan was just very strange, his movements actually still a bit stiff. From the looks of it, it seems he’d gotten beaten again. Last time, when formally meeting the relatives, for him to have gotten beaten, it was actually quite normal. After all, Xun old madam’s plans of scheming against Yu Lingxin were voluntarily reported by him. Xun old madam not having him directly beaten to death was already considered showing mercy.
But, this time, seeing Xun Tan, he unexpectedly appeared as if unable to move about freely again. Looks like the second branch’s interior has also been restless lately.
While greeting one another, Xun old madam’s side were also sizing up Xun Che and Yu Lingxin. Seeing the two of them dressed this extravagantly, especially that brand new formal gown of a noble heir on Xun Che, the silver and gold threads of the embroidery faintly shining, landing in Xun old madam’s eyes, it was just even more piercing for the eyes, pricking the heart. The dark expression on her face just grew even heavier, “Hmph, to even wear the formal gown when coming over today, the heir is coming over to put on airs in front of this old woman’s family?”
Xun Che faintly nodded, “Look at what old madam is saying, this grandson had just came from the palace. Hearing that old madam has something important, I just picked up my wife and came over to hear your teachings, not having the time to change clothes, that’s all. Old madam doesn’t like seeing this grandson’s formal gown of a noble heir? His Majesty just bestowed it a few days ago.”
Seeing Xun old madam fuming in anger, Yu Lingxin practically wanted to roll her eyes at Xun Che again. She was just wondering, yesterday, Xun Che was even complaining that the material Xuan Emperor newly bestowed was too thick. Although good-looking when made into a formal gown, but wearing it in the seventh month was still a bit thick. However, today, he actually just wore it? Turns out, it was specifically coming over to piss off Xun old madam.
TN: All translations outside of Broken Jinsei are stolen and reposted without permission!
She’d heard before that back then, when Xun Nanheng was still young, Xun old madam had already once mentioned before to establish the heir later, so as to appear more modest and steady, and at the same time, also endlessly caused trouble. Actually, it was just wanting to let her second son, Xun Nanan, that she raised by her side to take the position. However, this was purely delusional. Never mind Ningyi Xianzhu living extremely long, even if Ningyi Xianzhu had passed away, the old marquis still wasn’t muddled to that degree.
Towards the end, Ningyi Xianzhu passed away, the old marquis also passed away, and Xun old madam finally reached the status of an old dowager, but by that time, the Wen’an Marquis Xun Nanheng had long gained outstanding military achievements, his position as stable as a mountain. Afterwards, Xun old madam just began eyeing Xun Che’s position as heir, because Xun Ze was even a year older than Xun Che. That’s why, when Xun Che was little, the old madam didn’t cause any less disturbances.
But, Xun Nanheng was even more unyielding than the old marquis. Although he wasn’t completely heartless towards his own mother inside, his way of handling things was nevertheless completely the style of a military man, directly submitting a request to confer Xun Che as heir when he was fifteen. At the time, Xun old madam was angered to the point of being unable to eat well and sleep well for several days in a row. As such, even now, she still very much dislike seeing Xun Che in his formal gown.
“Hmph, his Majesty valuing you is your good fortune, need to cherish one’s good fortune! Don’t end up squandering away your own good fortune on your own!” Xun old madam although was muddled, she ultimately still knew that one can’t comment on the emperor. Just, the latter half of these words were just very interesting. Ming Huayue, Xun Che, and Xun Cong practically looked towards Xun old madam at the same time. That gaze was just like as if looking at an idiot.
Old madam, so you also know that people can squander away one’s good fortune?
However, in the next moment, Xun old madam’s following words clearly proved that she probably still didn’t understand this reasoning, “Eldest one’s wife, regarding Ze boy’s marriage, it’s truly inappropriate. Marshal Yan’s younger brother at present is merely just of the fourth rank, how can that girl be worthy of Ze boy. Tomorrow, you go and tell the Yan family to break off the engagement!”
Ming Huayue blanked, “Still need to say it again? Didn’t the Yan family already send someone to mention this?”
Xun old madam slapped the square table, “They simply didn’t come to withdraw from the engagement, merely just being pretentious, wanting to increase the betrothal gifts! Isn’t it precisely because your little heir that lavishly married a precious wife back, so their Yan family just want to raise the price, using this matter to threaten us. Not even looking at our Ze’er’s talents and future prospects, for what reason should they ask for more?! Quickly go and break off this marriage arrangement, tell them, our Ze’er doesn’t care for their family’s young lady! Don’t want anymore! Also quickly return the original engagement gifts!”
Ming Huayue directly sneered, “Old madam, you have thought too much. The Yan family just wants to break off the engagement. They don’t have the intentions of raising the betrothal gifts. Even if really adding more, the Yan family would still want to break off the engagement. Their family quietly passing over a message, it isn’t for the sake of negotiating the price with our family, but rather caring about the two families’ face, wanting to peacefully withdraw, each respectively finding another good match. If Ze boy, or second brother and second sister-in-law, want to go offend Marshal Yan, I would also block.”
“Even if not succeeding in forming ties, it still may not necessarily be considered offending.” The Chang’de Countess at this time passive-aggressively followed up again, “Mother’s words are a bit impatient, but breaking off an engagement ultimately will damage the reputation. Reasonably speaking, if the Yan family really have the intentions to form ties, then they should’ve married last year. Yet, that Miss Yan insisted on observing mourning for her maternal grandfather, something that isn’t even required in the rites, dragging out for another year. At present, even your son has married, yet Ze’er got held up for a whole year. It can be seen that the Yan family simply doesn’t have the sincerity. Could it be that now, even need to have rumors going around about the Yan family breaking off the engagement and looking down on Ze’er? You, as the elder aunt, not wanting to stand up for him, isn’t it just not caring for your nephew of another branch too much?”
Ming Huayue although didn’t like quarreling, she also wasn’t someone that can be easily fooled, immediately just coldly sneering, “The Yan family at present want to end things peacefully on good terms, so how could there be rumors of them looking down on Ze boy? These words, at present, I’ve only heard coming from your mouth. In the future, if there really is some rumors, we should definitely look into it, see whether it was the Yan family that said these words, or you, as well as exactly what kind of thoughts you have!”
“Maternal aunt-in-law’s words sure are heavy.” Qi Pei originally was sitting by her mother’s side, not saying a single word. Just, her eyes swept over Yu Lingxin and Xun Che several times. Afterwards, she forcibly returned to that aloof and haughty appearance from before. However, she couldn’t help but also interrupt, “What kind of thoughts does my mother have? This question of yours, what are you implying? My mother is worried about the old madam’s body, worried about older cousin’s marriage, future prospects, and reputation, so what kind of thoughts can she have? Speaking of which, for your whole family to live in the marquis manor, yet have the second branch casted away to the Jade Peak Villa, what kind of intention is that?”
“Qi Pei.” Yu Lingxin immediately ignited in anger inside, also adding a line, “Right now, you’re still not Wu Wangfei yet!”
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Thanks for the chapter!!!!