< Previous Chapter | Table of Contents | Next Chapter >
Another Wave
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!
“It was precisely mentioned by the cabinet ministers previously, and at present, naturally still haven’t been put down completely.” When mentioning this matter, Ming Jinrou’s expression was still relaxed, seemingly as if she completely didn’t have herself viewed as someone already at the heart of the struggle in the battle for the throne, and as if the disputes in court regarding the crown prince position was unrelated to her, “Going back and forth, it’s nothing more than just the matter of whether it’s establishing the di or the establishing the worthy, but no matter what, there’s no argument for establishing the eldest. There’s all kinds of sayings outside, and it’s even more chaotic in the palace. Even Shun Concubine’s matters back then when she was still alive all got dug out by them. Our family’s dumb goose is still fine though, not really taking it too seriously, still mostly discussing with my older brother and them about the defense in the capital.”
Yu Lingxin’s expression couldn’t help but pause for a moment. Shun Concubine was Qin Wang’s birth mother, originally coming from a songstress background, so truly very low. Just, her beauty was peerless. Back then, she was personally picked by Empress Wen to serve Xuan Emperor, probably for the sake of dividing Li Consort’s favor. Afterwards, she sure enough got pregnant very quickly, even giving birth to Qin Wang. Just, the heavens were unfair, not blessing with a long life. When Qin Wang was less than three, Shun Concubine, who at the time was still just a sixth rank beauty, died of illness. When getting buried, she’d only gotten raised by one rank, using the burial standards of a noble lady, her posthumous title just the character ‘Shun’[1].
As for this high fourth rank Shun Concubine posthumous title, it was only conferred afterwards when Qin Wang came of age at fifteen. It can be seen just how low her status was, as well as how that peerless beauty didn’t win much favor from Xuan Emperor.
To bring up the past of the deceased Shun Concubine, who has passed away for more than a decade, at this time now, what good things can be said, wasn’t it just for the sake of belittling Qin Wang? Yet, this was also the most difficult thing to refute for Qin Wang. After all, Shun Concubine’s low birth was an indisputable fact. And Qin Wang himself has no knowledge of the past affairs in those years when his birth mother was still alive, so regardless of what others say, he can only silently endure.
“If his Highness is able to not get vexed by these matters, then it’s also not bad.” Yu Lingxin sighed, “You also need to be careful when going in and out yourself. After all, the princes currently all don’t have too many important assignments and had all married one after another in the same time period. And the easiest thing to fall into his Majesty’s and outsiders’ eyes is precisely the matters of the manor.”
“It’s still alright.” Ming Jinrou raised her brow and laughed, “At present, the one that should really be careful is still Changchun Palace. The Jingfu Temple incident this time really caused a big wave. Wei Wang getting mixed up with Wu Wang’s liangyuan that still haven’t entered the manor, heard that Li Consort ran before the emperor again, removing her hair ornaments and humbly apologizing, crying for half a day outside the hall. Afterwards, it was even the empress that went over to plead for her and helped her up. The two palaces nowadays are harmonious and intimate like real sisters.”
“Is his Majesty really angry with Wei Wang?” Thinking of Xuan Emperor and Wei Wang, hatred flashed by in the bottom of Yu Lingxin’s eyes, her face full of mockery, “Isn’t it just having that Sun-shi taken in? In any case, it’s not like she’d formally married into the second prince’s manor, still just waiting to marry. The sedan chair can just change directions after going out the door. The two brothers aren’t outsiders anyways.”
Ming Jinrou couldn’t help but side glance at Yu Lingxin, “It’s rather rare seeing second cousin-in-law this sharp.” Recalling the matters in the palace, her lips also carried a bit of mockery, “Currently, his Majesty’s meaning is just, with the excuse of Sun-shi being improper in conduct, directly exempt her from entering to serve, sending back to her family, free to marry on their own. Just, the Sun family’s official career in the future will probably be severed.”
“Just this?” Xun Ying although was somewhat embarrassed when hearing Ming Jinrou and Yu Lingxin mention ‘catching in the act’, ‘having an illicit relationship’, and such previously, she still understood the severity level of this incident in Jingfu Temple, so upon hearing this, she just blanked.
Yu Lingxin, however, nodded her head, “His Majesty sure enough still cares for his son’s face.” At the end of it all, regardless whether Sun-shi was just blind or got schemed against, and whether Wei Wang was braindead or propelled by lust, the two of them can both be considered to have ‘willingly’ gotten involved together. If Xuan Emperor really were to sentence Sun-shi, whether it’d be not abiding by the ways of a woman or blatantly seducing a prince, and such, admittedly, it can implicate the entire Sun clan, but this green hat[2] on Wu Wang will just be firmly pinned on. Moreover, Wei Wang had gotten seduced, not raped. One hand certainly cannot clap together. Even if crushing the entire Sun Clan into dust, it’ll still be difficult for Wei Wang’s reputation to be washed clean again.
That’s why, it was better to just lightly let off, pretending that Wei Wang had only chatted with Sun-shi, so as to make the situation seem not that serious and the green light above Wu Wang’s head not that bright and verdant. And Wei Wang’s frivolous and wanton nature can still have a bit of leeway to be covered up.
“En, to want face, one will just have to give up the butt.” Ming Jinrou said with a laugh, “Our family’s dumb goose went before his Majesty to apologize for the offense, saying that he didn’t look after his younger brother well. His Majesty was very moved, listening to the dumb goose talk about propriety, justice, integrity, and honor, for an hour, and afterwards, bestowed Wei Wang forty beatings with the plank. Probably, before the end of the year, Wei Wang all won’t have any opportunity to lose face again. His Majesty intends to immediately arrange Wei Wang’s wedding after the new year, hoping that Wei Wangfei in the future can properly restrain him, hahahah.”
This time, even Xun Ying broke out in laughter, “This…….Wen family older sister, afraid won’t be able to restrain the third prince.”
Ming Jinrou shrugged, “Then will just depend on the abilities of Wei Wang Manor’s other liangyuans. His Majesty also said, if the main consort truly doesn’t have the strength to handle, then can quickly promote a side consort up to assist. Wu Wang Manor will soon have a side consort.”
“Tan-shi?” Yu Lingxin’s eyes slightly flickered, “Truly skillful.”
“Although I feel that for Sun-shi to end up with Wei Wang, it was certainly Tan-shi’s scheme, but Sun-shi afterwards didn’t say anything, just saying that she’d asked Tan-shi to bring her along to meet his Highness Wu Wang. As for recognizing wrong and meeting the wrong person, it as all her own fault, unexpectedly having Tan-shi removed from the matter completely.” Ming Jinrou thought for a moment, “Don’t know whether Sun-shi is really just stupid, or Tan-shi used some other means, all in all, the current outcome is just Wu Wang becoming greatly displeased with Qi Pei who’d exposed Wei Wang and Sun-shi at the time, instead voluntarily mentioning wanting to have Tan-shi conferred as a side consort!”
“Alright, don’t talk about these messy matters anymore.” At this time, Ming Huayue finally came over with the servant girl, bringing along the newly prepared medicine soup, “Just now, Little Imperial Physician Chi said, although after recuperating for ten days, your condition has improved quite a bit, but ultimately still too stressed. At such a young age, what are you doing with this many thoughts? In the future, properly relax your mind. The matters outside, don’t worry about too much. After taking the medicine, properly rest your body and obediently wait for Shenzhi to come back. This is the most important.”
TN: All translations outside of Broken Jinsei are stolen and reposted without permission!
Yu Lingxin took the warm medicine soup, emptying the bowl in a few sips, “Mother’s meaning, I understand, but to continuously rest without doing anything, it’s also quite stuffy. Besides, the matters outside are always related to our family and also Shenzhi. To not listen or question would make one even more anxious.”
Ming Huayue was just a straightforward type to begin with. Thinking along her words, it seemingly also made sense, “Then——then just pick the happy matters to talk about. All in all, don’t strain yourself too much, else not only will you feel unwell, the little guy in your stomach will also feel unwell.”
Ming Jinrou quickly responded, “Paternal aunt, don’t worry, I just picked the funny matters to tell cousin-in-law——–Actually, this matter of Wu Wang and Wei Wang’s, isn’t it precisely very funny!”
“This girl!” Ming Huayue laughed, but seeing how Yu Lingxin’s expression was indeed very spirited, she didn’t keep blocking, just instructing Yu Lingxin and the servant girls by her side to be mindful of the diet and daily matters before returning first to Yuli Hall to arrange the household affairs, letting Yu Lingxin continue chatting with Ming Jinrou and Xun Ying.
However, they had indeed finished talking about the most important matter, so for the remainder of the time, it was just idly chatting a little. The time was also getting late. A servant outside came to report, saying that his Highness Qin Wang came to pick up Ming Jinrou.
Ming Jinrou could only mumble ‘mood ruining dumb goose’, and then smilingly tell Yu Lingxin and Xun Ying to be careful for all thing, if something comes up, give her a word at anytime, and so on, before getting up to leave.
Yu Lingxin let Xun Ying go send Ming Jinrou out the door. Having sat for half a day, her waist was feeling sore again, so she just listened to the imperial physician and her mother-in-law’s urging, lying back down to rest again. When turning on her side and seeing Xun Che’s pillow, that enormous wave of sweetness and melancholy in her heart once again swelled up inside.
Shenzhi, we are going to have a child, are you happy?
When are you coming back?
She blankly thought to herself, her warm tears once again soundlessly slid down from the corner of her eyes. The struggle and powerlessness in the past life, his unwillingness to resign, and his regrets, at present, really have all turned around.
Just, at such a wonderful time, Xun Che wasn’t by her side. Also don’t know whether or not he was well at this time amidst the wind and frost of the Chen province.
All kinds of scenery from the past life and the changes in this life messily emerged inside. Yu Lingxin quietly laid there, letting those thoughts flutter around. Slowly, her breathing became increasingly drawn out, gradually falling asleep.
In the several days after, Qingyu Pavilion continued maintaining such a state, with Yu Lingxin’s health as the priority for all things. In fact, it was somewhat loose on the outside, tight on the inside.
Because her pregnancy period was currently still less than three months, Ming Huayue’s idea was to temporarily not announce to the outside, so as to avoid having some change or accident occur.
In fact, even on Chen province’s side, they also didn’t send a letter. Mainly, it was not wishing for Xun Che to be distracted outside. The importance level of the military affairs, Ming Huayue understood better than Yu Lingxin.
Towards this, although somewhat impatient, Yu Lingxin still understood that her mother-in-law’s words were reasonable. As such, when resting, she also worked hard to let herself relax and not think too much about the various matters outside. Just, by the end of the eleventh month, Xun Che still didn’t show any signs of returning to the capital early. She ultimately still missed him very much.
Fortunately, Ming Jinrou would normally come over every other day to chat with her, so she was also able to distract herself. In between, she would bring various kinds of gossip and news in the capital, as well as some interesting matters inside and outside of the palace, still mainly focused on the princes’ back manor.
For instance, how the maiden families of Wei Wang’s future liangyuans, when preparing the dowry, fought and competed, how Wu Wang Manor’s new side consort Tan-shi contended against Qi Pei, how Empress Wen was preparing to celebrate the fourth prince Zhao Wang’s thirteenth birthday, even wanting to start looking for a future daughter-in-law now, and so on.
Xun Ying naturally also came over everyday to keep Yu Lingxin company. Moreover, practically everyday, she would always bring her own newly composed poetry work, either extravagant or graceful, either broad or melodious. Aside from discussing, she would also softly read to her own future niece or nephew, saying that this was preparing their classwork ahead of time.
Yu Lingxin was between laughter and tears. However, she was still very grateful towards this gentle and considerate bookworm sister-in-law of hers. Of course, as genuinely good sisters, she sometimes would also tease her with Ming Jinrou, especially when detecting traces of a certain someone’s style in her poetry works.
For a period of time, Yu Lingxin thought that her life during her pregnancy period would just peacefully and joyously carry on like this.
However, on the sixth of the twelfth month, Jade Peak Villa suddenly caught fire.
Yu Lingxin immediately knew, this new year, probably won’t be peaceful.
[1] Her title Shun means to be obedient/follow along.
[2] Green hat = getting cuckhold
< Previous Chapter | Table of Contents | Next Chapter >
Discover more from Broken Jinsei
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
◈ ◈ ◈ ◈ ◈