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Plum Forest Poetry Gathering
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!
Xun Ying blanked, her fair and elegant little face full of genuine confusion, “Is there a difference? Isn’t the difference between holding a poetry gathering and reading poetry collections just being able to see the poet in person? Our Linglong Literature Club has been running for this long, the fixed members just those few. I also want to meet other people.”
Seeing Xun Ying’s big eyes this clear and limpid, Yu Lingxin was instead somewhat speechless. Back then, for the sake of preventing the Zhu family from using the Wenhua Academy as an excuse to win over the children of the officials in the capital, Xun Che instructed Xun Ying to start the Linglong Literature Club. In this past year, it has been running at the rate of one club gathering per month.
Just, because the Zhu family had suffered a blow due to Xun Yan’s case, as well as getting affected by Changchun Palace’s various unforeseen changes afterwards, their control and support towards Wenhua Academy all weakened quite a lot. That’s why, at present, the Wenhua Academy’s political weight has already greatly reduced, merely just an ordinary academy that both accepted sons of official families, while also having a private school set up for official young ladies.
As for the Linglong Literature Club, without the purpose of going against the Wenhua Academy, it also just thoroughly became a boudoir pastime for little bookworm Xun to make friends, practice holding gatherings, and compete with poetry.
This appear as if more or less the same as the other young ladies of upper class families. However, others probably further attached importance to the social and gathering aspects in such activities, while Xun Ying was genuinely studying poetry and literature in the club, her entire head full of verses and poetry.
That’s why, towards this plum forest poetry gathering that has been pushed back for more than a year before finally holding, Xun Ying’s eyes lit up when mentioning, seemingly completely not realizing, even if Wenhua Academy has a private school for young ladies, at this poetry gathering there will still be more than seventy percent young men.
Even though Great Sheng’s customs were far more open than the previous dynasty, and under the company of one’s family, participating in this kind of poetry gathering, where there were both men and women, wasn’t considered anything, but seeing Xun Ying completely not having any other thoughts, Yu Lingxin was still somewhat between laughter and tears, “Alright, when we go back, I’ll inform mother.”
“I just know sister-in-law loves me the most.” Xun Ying smilingly leaned against Yu Lingxin’s arm, “Mother certainly won’t oppose. Jinrou will also be going.”
“Jinrou sure is very carefree nowadays.” Yu Lingxin sighed. In her smile, there was also a bit of gratification. Back then, Ming Yunji’s unwillingness to let his daughter participate in the imperial selection, to the point of being unable rest or eat in peace, it actually wasn’t because of the fear of being politically tied with Qin Wang. After all, given Xun Che’s connection, Jin Duke Manor actually didn’t have too many leeway in their position.
What Ming Yunji was afraid of the most was once Ming Jinrou enters the palace that was as deep as the seas, she will henceforth just see one horizon, between those towering walls and glazed tiles, watching her husband’s imperial harem fill up, yet still need to forcibly smile, getting neglected, becoming lonely, and so on.
However, in reality, after marrying, Ming Jinrou was probably the most free and unfettered wife in the entire capital. Inside Qin Wang Manor, although there was also the rules and regulations of the imperial family, she ultimately didn’t have to serve a mother-in-law under the same roof. And starting from the day of the wedding, Qin Wang already put forward the attitude of letting wangfei’s satisfaction take priority for all things, going out together practically every day, racing horses, and admiring flowers, carefree to the point where even someone like Yu Lingxin, who had a loving relationship, and harmonious home, yet always busy with miscellaneous affairs, was all somewhat envious.
“Yeah. Moreover, Jinrou said, this time, she and his Highness will come out in ‘plain clothes’, and won’t bring too many guards.” Xun Ying said with a nod, “After all, it’s a poetry gathering for scholars.”
“His Highness will also come?” Yu Lingxin couldn’t help but slightly frown, her heart strangely jumping. Although after Ming Jinrou married, she was practically inseparable from Qin Wang, always together when going in and out, but Ming Jinrou already didn’t have too much interest in poetry to begin with. Back then, helping in managing the literature club together was still because of Xun Che’s instructions, as well as trying to find some entertainment. And for Qin Wang who was adept in martial arts and military tactics, he further wasn’t the type to recite poetry and compose verses.
However, thinking it over, she also understood.
The Wenhua Academy has gone through an entire year of turbulence and restlessness. This poetry gathering that has postponed till now, for the academy itself, can be considered an important opportunity to make a comeback. That’s why, they indeed invited quite a few great masters and renowned scholars. At the same time, they also widely invited the sons of officials in the capital. The number of people afraid will be several hundred.
Rather than say that Ming Jinrou wanted to come join in on the fun, it was more realistic to say that it should be Qin Wang wanting to personally come over for a look, befriending, or rather, winning over some of these young sons of officials.
This kind of thing, the past life’s Qin Wang didn’t do, probably because he wasn’t too skilled in poetry. At the same time, there was more or less also Empress Wen secretly suppressing him, so as to avoid Qin Wang from becoming too popular with the people. Wu Wang and Wei Wang however did this kind of thing a lot. On one hand, it was borrowing Wenhua Academy’s name, while on the other hand, after respectively opening their own manors, they also frequently held poetry gatherings, flower banquets, and such activities, widely accepting guests, winning over scholars, gaining quite a bit of reputation for ‘having respect for the wise’, ‘being easy-going and modest’, and so on.
TN: All translations outside of Broken Jinsei are stolen and reposted without permission!
This current poetry gathering just happened to be the perfect opportunity to make a comeback.
Just, Yu Lingxin couldn’t help but glance at Xun Ying again, still having a bit of a strange feeling inside. Setting aside the political affairs and scholarly pursuits, this little bookworm, does she really not have the slightest romantic thought?
After returning to the manor, Yu Lingxin pondered over and over again, but still quietly went to ask Ming Huayue about Xun Ying’s marriage plans.
After all, Ming Jinrou, who was two months younger than Xun Ying, currently has already married. Even if Xun Ying, because of reporting in sick, didn’t participate in the imperial selection, thus can’t immediately rush to discuss marriage, but no matter what, they should still start seriously looking over candidates. But, whether it’d be Ming Huayue, or Xun Che, seemingly both were completely nonchalant towards this matter. Yu Lingxin didn’t understand too well either.
Ming Huayue’s reply was actually very simple and direct, “Ying’er is timid, her nature also pure and simple. Since there’s no one suitable for the time being, waiting a little longer is also fine, even if waiting another few years. All in all, what’s important is having good learning, good moral character, and even if the family background is a bit lower, it’s also fine. Eh? How come you’re suddenly asking about this? Is it that you know someone suitable?”
Yu Lingxin quickly waved her hand, having this topic brushed over. Although she indeed had a name jump up inside, but thinking it over, she still felt that it was better to not say it. If Xun Che were to know………….he would definitely explode in anger.
In a blink of an eye, another few days passed. The discussions regarding the plum forest poetry gathering in the capital increased more and more, because through Wenhua Academy’s headmaster’s strenuous efforts, he finally invited Wenyuan Academy’s Great Scholar Yan. Among the scholars, the atmosphere instantly became lively. Qingyang Academy’s teachers and students also successively expressed that if able to meet Great Scholar Yan, then this poetry gathering, they absolutely can’t miss out.
Jingfu Temple originally was just going to give Wenhau Academy half of the area to hold the poetry gathering, but this time, they were much more lenient. Aside from the main hall that still needs to be left for the incense guests to worship and pray, the entire rear mountain and all of the courtyards and gardens were all lent to Wenhua Academy for the poetry gathering.
Little bookworm Ying naturally became even more excited. The night before the poetry gathering, she practically couldn’t sleep. Fortunately, Xun Che wasn’t home, so she just directly ran to Qingyu Pavilion, dragging Yu Lingxin to chat for an entire night. In the end, she can be considered to have gotten forcibly requested by Yu Lingxin to go back and sleep, so as to avoid not having any energy when discussing poetry and literature the next day.
The next morning, Qin Wang Manor’s carriage arrived outside the Wen’an Marquis Manor first. Ming Jinrou although was dressed as a married woman, her actions were still like before in the boudoir, lively and cheerful, “I know that you two don’t need me to come pick up, but I just want to come over to travel together with you two!”
Yu Lingxin narrowed her eyes, sizing up Ming Jinrou’s dainty and rosy face that was practically glowing, deliberately dragging out her voice, “Come with us? You don’t want your wangye anymore?”
Ming Jinrou angrily snorted, “Don’t know whose husband led him astray, when sitting in the carriage, he’s never once obedient. Today, not riding together with him!”
“What do you mean by ‘not obedient’?” Xun Ying blinked, “You two would argue when riding together in the carriage? Sister-in-law, then you and second brother——”
“Cough, cough, alright, let’s go!” Yu Lingxin hurriedly cut off Xun Ying, and at the same time, shot a glare at Ming Jinrou, “Next time, if you randomly say nonsense again, I won’t talk to you anymore!”
Ming Jinrou slanted her mouth, “Little Ying’er is even two months older than me——-” However, after getting side-glanced by Yu Lingxin again, she finally tucked her neck and changed the topic, “Sister Huijun, you and second cousin are becoming more and more alike.”
Yu Lingxin turned and flicked the corner of her forehead, “You are also increasingly like your straightforward wangye, able to say anything.”
Ming Jinrou smiled sweetly and brightly, “This is just fate. When we go to the poetry gathering today, we also need to properly look around, see whether or not there’s another bookworm like little Ying’er.”
“Don’t call me little Ying’er! I’m older than you!” It was rare to see Xun Ying appear this angry, but that seemingly angry voice was still gentle like water.
Yu Lingxin couldn’t help but shake her head and laugh, the three of them happily chatting all the way to the second gate. Qin Wang sure enough was already waiting by the side with a horse. After greeting and climbing onto the carriage, they headed all the way to Jingfu Temple, still full of joy and laughter, as if they’d returned to the days before marrying.
After arriving at the foot of the mountain below Jingfu Temple, as soon as Yu Lingxin and them descended the carriage, they just saw among the numerous carriages a few familiarly labeled carriages already parked in one place, Wu Wang, Wei Wang, Yiyang Marquis Manor’s Wen family, Chang’de Count Manor’s Qi family, as well as the Xun family second branch and so on.
Ming Jinrou’s gaze flickered, lightly snorting, “Jackals of the same mound.”
Yu Lingxin actually wasn’t surprised. The casualties in the Chen province mutiny although weren’t many for the time being, the situation also seemingly under control, but Cheng Guangling getting injured, as well as the Cheng family being unable to escape from the responsibility, overall, it was all a blow to Qin Wang’s faction.
Additionally, the Wen’an Marquis Xun Nanheng and his son Xun Che leaving the capital at the same time, rushing towards the Yu province and Chen province, further let the situation in the capital subtly change. For Qin Wang whose foundation wasn’t sturdy enough to begin with, he just immediately appeared even more flimsy. And following Wu Wang’s wedding, as Wei Wang sends the betrothal gifts to the Wen family, as well as Zhaoyang Hall and Changchun Palace’s harmonious relationship, the Qi family and Wen family’s decision to draw closer to Wu Wang and Wei Wang just became even more obvious and expected, or rather should say, completely without misgivings.
And today’s poetry gathering, probably aside from little bookworm Xun and certain young scholars, for the descendants of these noble and official families in attendance, as well as for the princes and wangfeis present, everyone’s intentions all weren’t in the wine cup.
“Oh, imperial sister-in-law and second cousin-in-law all came?” At this time, Wu Wang Manor’s carriage also just happened to have steadily parked. The handsome and refined second prince Wu Wang personally supported the extravagantly dressed Qi Pei down from the carriage. Upon meeting, everyone naturally needed to greet one another.
And later on, when Yu Lingxin slowly recall exactly how many dramatic events occurred this day, the first thing to come to mind was just this smiling greeting of Qi Pei’s.
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if he turns into the brother in law what kind of vinegar can be eaten?? Xun Ying deserves someone who can let her stay a silly white sweet forever 💜
oh????? dramatic events you say?????
looking forward to that xD
by the way, I too ship Xun Ying and Qi Ke XD so Yu Lingxin is not alone in her speculations lololol
Xun – Little bookworm – Ying, you smol precious cinnamon roll ðŸ˜ðŸ’•ðŸ’•ðŸ’•ðŸ’•