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Under the Old Scholar Tree
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!
That person dressed in gray sitting in the tea pavilion seemingly was Chen Qiao?
Yu Lingxin immediately just recognized at a glance. That was Xun Che’s personal trusted attendant. When it comes to martial arts, although not considered top-notch, he prevailed in being steady and meticulous. The great majority of the times, he all followed by Xun Che’s side, very rarely going out alone to handle things.
Carefully looking at the nearby surroundings again, she just saw between the two towering old scholar trees[1] behind the tea pavilion parked an inconspicuous blue-cloth horse carriage. The two listless old horses under the tree shade seemingly were already somewhat drained. At the front of the carriage, there wasn’t a carriage driver, and the horse carriage itself also didn’t have any decorations or labels.
But, Yu Lingxin still recognized it. That was the carriage Xun Che used every time he wanted to hide from other people’s eyes. The seemingly ordinary blue cloth was actually woven with metallic threads. Heard that back then, although be was both poisoned and injured, he ultimately still saved a breath, preserving Wen’an Marquis Manor, and it was precisely thanks to this horse carriage.
Just, why was Xun Che’s horse carriage here at this time?
In the four districts of the capital, throughout history, it has always been the north district where the imperial palace was located that was the most superior. The east and west district each had their own merits, and generally speaking, the east district had a little more civil officials, while the west district had more military generals. Meanwhile, the south district was a place of people from all trades.
What was Xun Che, this Wen’an Marquis Manor heir, doing here? Moreover, judging by the position, it was clearly directly facing the entrance of that little path outside the Kou Manor.
Although there were a lot of doubts, in Yu Lingxin’s mind, it merely just flashed by. Her steps slightly paused, and after seeing clearly that familiar person and carriage, she immediately retracted her line of sight, holding Shuangye’s arm as she headed into the shop with the broken signboard.
Practically at the same time, an entirely snow white jade folding fan finally slowly peeked out from behind the curtains of that seemingly ordinary carriage, slightly lifting an inch of the curtains. Between the cracks, it was already enough for the owner of that folding fan to similarly see clearly the figure standing outside the shop.
The young girl’s slender and elegant figure was already very graceful, just compared to the light and graceful young girls of the same age, her steps always carried a kind of subconscious composure and steadiness. Perhaps even she herself didn’t notice either……
A moment later, that folding fan drew back. Inside the carriage, there was a faint fragrance of lotus longjing tea. Faint daylight also penetrated in from the side carriage window, shining upon that handsome face that at this time had once again closed his eyes, similarly also having a tranquility that didn’t match his age.
The summer cicadas outside were still randomly chirping. The minimal pedestrians on the peaceful streets also didn’t have much clamor. As such, it caused the footsteps of the person coming before the horse carriage a moment later to report to be even more clear and audible, “Second young master, the matter you ordered, have already finished investigating.”
A moment of silence later, he finally heard a light response from the carriage, “Speak.”
“Yes.” The person replying deferentially went forward a step, softly reporting by the carriage side window, “A total of six apothecaries, five medical clinics, in addition to three traveling doctors from the streets, all have already finished investigating, and have obtained the information you want.”
“En.” The person inside the carriage then asked, “What about Qingyang Academy’s side?”
“This subordinate has already confirmed. At present, the Yu family’s eldest young master, Yu Zhengshan, has already obtained Scholar Zhou’s recommendation, and will be going to Biquan Villa to compose poetry. The Yu family’s second young master, Yu Zhenghua, won’t be going.”
The inside of the horse carriage fell silent again. Outside, Chen Qiao and Chai Guangyi, who was currently reporting, both quietly waited. This young master of theirs has been clever since childhood. Working under him, there was favor, but also pressure. Especially this time after falling ill for a few days, his temperament seemingly was a bit different from before.
TN: All translations outside of Broken Jinsei are stolen and reposted without permission!
As for exactly how his temperament has changed, they, these servants, weren’t too clear either, just instinctively feeling that they seemingly revered shizi even more now. Occasionally, whenever their shizi, who at present was just seventeen years old, swept a glance over, the might actually didn’t lose to the marquis.
At this time, the carriage in front of Linglong Pavilion moved again. Shuangye supported Yu Lingxin out from the shop and onto the carriage. This time, she didn’t look in the direction of the tea pavilion and blue-cloth carriage again.
Whether that was Xun Che in the carriage or not, as well as if it’s Xun Che, exactly what he wanted to do, these questions, it was better for her to throw aside for now.
Based on his intelligence, she was unable to guess. Most importantly, based on her abilities, she was also unable to get involved.
Since that’s the case, it was better to put her thoughts on her own shop. That was what was worth spending her thoughts on and looking into. Perhaps, in the future, the turnabout for the Yu family will even fall on these businesses.
Very soon, following the horse carriage’s clatter, they returned to the Yu family. Yu Lingxin’s mood has already eased by a lot. Those schemes of Qi-shi’s, she was originally aware of to begin with. Now, to re-experience again, but not actually suffer any losses, that bit of lament and grief long got diverted by the thoughts of reorganizing the shop.
But Wen mama and Shuangye’s feelings weren’t the same, especially on the way back. Wen mama finally smelled on that handkerchief drenched in plum nectar something suspicious, thus was even more shocked and furious.
As soon as they entered, Wen mama just let Ganlu and Gancao quickly take Yu Lingxin back to Lianyi Residence to rest, change, bathe, take calming medicine, and so on, while she took Shuangye and that handkerchief to Dongli Residence to report to Yu old madam.
Yu Lingxing didn’t stop her either. Today, taking Wen mama over was precisely for the sake of letting Wen mama be a witness.
Qi-shi’s maneuvers sooner or later still need to let grandmother be aware of. On one side, in the future, when needing to deal with again, can ask grandmother for help. After all, if some conflict occurs with Qi-shi one on one, as mother and daughter, she will ultimately be on the short end of the stick. But, if it’s between the Kou family and the Yu family, then the situation can completely turn around.
Especially given the fact that the news of Kou Xian’s assignment outside of the capital still hasn’t formally come down, this made Yu Lingxin very anxious.
Because in her memories, during the Chang’de Count Manor birthday banquet in the last lifetime, she’d already fallen ill during her short stay at the Kou Manor, so simply wasn’t able to go. Shortly after, in just a few days, she just got taken out of the capital.
At present, for everyday the documents for Kou Xian’s assignment outside the capital don’t formally come down, Qi-shi will always have leeway to cause trouble while in the capital.
Even if able to counter every move, Yu Lingxin would also feel annoyed, especially since she also needs to guard against her step-mother Su-shi’s secret cooperation at the same time.
That night, Wen mama spoke for a very long time in Dongli Residence. Yu old madam naturally was both shocked and furious again, and at the same time, also realized that there was something unusual about this matter.
Qi-shi missing the daughter she had with her previous husband, especially wanting to spend more time together prior to leaving the capital, it can be said to be understandable. But, no matter how deep the feelings, it still can’t be deep to the point of needing to drug someone. Wasn’t this just like that dispute at the Chang’de Count Manor previously, crazy like wanting to kidnap?
Moreover, Wen mama was even more experienced than Shuangye and them, thus mentioning another matter, “This old servant feels that eldest miss understands very well inside, and isn’t willing to be continuously involved with Madam Kou. This old servant just thinks, if this is the case, then the madam constantly saying that the eldest miss wants to go to the Kou Manor, afraid might not be the eldest miss’s own wish.”
Yu old madam’s complexion sunk a little. Last time, the horse carriage breaking down at the Chang’de Count Manor, Su-shi, as the main wife in charge of the household, had a difficult time escaping from the blame. Just, in the end, nothing happened to Yu Lingxin, and she didn’t want to overly look into either.
They were ultimately one family. If they really were to tear down the faces, it will also be difficult to clean up.
But today’s matter, there seemingly was something else involved. Yu old madam, although for the time being won’t think of kidnapping Yu Lingxin out of the capital in attempt to steal her dowry, this kind of absurd matter, but she still sensed something amiss, thus instructed Wen mama, “Go tell Ling girl to nicely rest. Shuangye in the future will just stay in Lianyi Residence to serve her. Also, go ask around in the manor, every time there’s dealings between the eldest miss and the Kou family, exactly who was in charge of delivering the message, and who met with them.
Wen mama naturally went to carry out the order, just when delivering the message to Yu Lingxin, she just mentioned leaving behind Shuagnye, as well as how the old madam will back Yu Lingxin.
Yu Lingxin smilingly responded. Knowing that her grandmother had an understanding inside, she was also relieved. What she cared about the most at this time was actually the matter of her father Yu Bocheng returning to the capital soon.
Thinking of her father, the matters between the Kou family, Qi family, and Xun family, and even the plans regarding the shop were all placed aside. The next day, Yu Lingxin first let Ganlu have the clothes she was making for her father previously dug out. After rushing the needlework for an entire two days, finally, on the morning of the first of the seventh month, she completed the garment.
Yu Lingxin still remembered, in the last lifetime, when first leaving the capital, she originally thought that she can just return to the capital in ten days to half a month. When time comes, she can finish this half-finished garment and give it to her father as a present.
Yet, in the end, when she finally set foot back in the capital again, the Yu family’s old manor had already gotten sold off. The garment, needlework, and whatnot was just like her fate with her father and grandmother, thoroughly severed.
However, at present, it naturally wasn’t the same. Holding this finished garment, she was just very excited all morning, letting Gancao go out and ask from time to time whether or not the eldest master has returned.
Again and again, after asking an entire five times, on the fifth time, Gancao finally happily ran back, “Miss, the eldest master has returned! He has directly gone to the old madam’s place to pay his respects!”
Yu Lingxin immediately got up in delight, taking her servant girls and the garment to Dongli Residence.
Outside the main building, before even announcing her arrival, she already heard her father Yu Bocheng’s voice inside carrying a bit of anger, “The matter in regards to Ling’er’s carriage, exactly what happened!”
[1] Chinese scholar tree, scientific name sophora japonica.
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yep. this confirms it.
he Also got a rebirth/second chance.
😅 I thought chap 9 was already very obvious about it. The ml literally says, “Did she come back (rebirth) too?” in that chapter.