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Chen Province
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!
These words can be said to have made everyone present all very surprised. The other excuses and arguments that Xun old madam and Li mama had originally prepared completely didn’t get used. After mutually sharing a glance, they could only agree.
The new bride already agreed to accepting the servant girl for her husband, could it be that Xun old madam or Li mama can even say that they won’t properly teach?
Li mama naturally could only bow in response, “Since young madam has instructed, this old servant naturally will do one’s best. Just, this Miss Hanxiang that the old madam has selected for young madam is very sensible and clever. What this old servant can teach is also limited.”
Yu Lingxin smiled, “Li mama is too polite. You’re a seasoned old servant from the palace, how could you not have anything to teach? These few days, the heir has just returned, so also busy. Why not wait until the new year to send over, if the heir really likes, then during the first month, we will arrange a banquet, officially promoting as a yiniang(concubine)?”
The straightforwardness of this response already made Ming Huayue and Xun Ying both look over with their eyes wide open. Yu Lingxin however carried a relaxing smile across her face, as if this matter was even simpler than eating and drinking tea.
Just, Bai Guo, who was standing behind her in attendance with her eyes lowered, still faintly caught that tiny bit of murderous aura in Yu Lingxin’s tone——-‘If the heir likes…..’
Would the heir dare to like?
Of course, Xun old madam and the others completely didn’t think of this layer of problem. Moreover, what was even more rare was that the teatime in Cide Hall this time was unexpectedly very harmonious.
Just, after leaving Cide Hall, Ming Huayue couldn’t hold back anymore, “Child, actually, you don’t need to agree with the old madam. Our family simply doesn’t have the rule of needing to arrange someone during the pregnancy period. Furthermore, the old madam still doesn’t know about your matter, so there’s further no need to agree to them shoving someone over like this.”
Yu Lingxin held Ming Huayue’s arm, just laughing, “It’s merely just verbally agreeing with the old madam, just let it drag out first. Later, Shenzhi will take care of it. Right now, why bother saying that much with the old madam? Mother, don’t worry, you care for me, I know.”
Ming Huayue saw how she indeed seem to have her own ideas, so didn’t say anything more. Xun Ying also lightly sighed, following along with her eyes slightly lowered.
During the evening meal, Xun Che finally left the palace and returned to the manor. Although the official gown on him was brand new and bright, the exhaustion from running around several days in a row still showed. Especially when entering the door, his complexion was increasingly unsightly.
Yu Lingxin quickly went before him, “Shenzhi, are you especially tired?”
Xun Che casually had the cloak removed and tossed to the side. He didn’t answer her question, instead he held her shoulders with both hands, carefully studying her expression, “Huijun, did you get angered?”
Yu Lingxin actually slightly blanked, and immediately after, came to realization. A certain Sir Xun who had eyes and ears everywhere probably already learned of the ‘harmonious conversation’ at home today on his way back to the manor. Yu Lingxin pursed her lips, “Angry about what? About the beauty that you will soon obtain?”
Xun Che also helplessly laughed, but seeing the Yu Lingxin before him with a rosy complexion and a crafty look, his smile deepened. Obviously, she completely didn’t have Xun old madam’s movements taken seriously. As such, he also relaxed. His two hands slid downward, going to embrace her still slender and graceful waist, “The stunning beauty is already in one’s arms, so where does the saying of ‘soon to obtain’ come from?”
Yu Lingxin couldn’t help but roll her eyes at him, “Goodness, you are now increasingly slick and smooth.”
TN: All translations outside of Broken Jinsei are stolen and reposted without permission!
Perhaps because she was pregnant, or perhaps because she has already married for some time now, although Yu Lingxin’s body at this time was still very young, the charm and grace in her expression nevertheless appeared a bit more mature. This light glance unexpectedly made Xun Che somewhat parched, the tip of his tongue uncontrollably turning in his mouth, his throat also moving.
But, recalling Little Chi’s warning, in the end, he still had no choice but to forcibly endure, resentfully sighing, “Sigh, this little guy still came too early.”
Yu Lingxin turned to look at him, also holding back her laughter, “Go bathe first, you have been awfully exhausted these days. At most……..I’ll help wash you.”
“Really?” Xun Che slightly raised his brow, “Together?”
“No!” Yu Lingxin spat out, and then ordered the servant girls to prepare the hot water, towels, and such items.
Xun Che couldn’t help but somewhat regret, but based on Yu Lingxin’s personality, even when she wasn’t pregnant, she was also unwilling to bathe with him, so now, she was naturally even more unwilling. At the moment, he could only enter the bathing room first, taking off his clothes and entering the tub.
Yu Lingxin also changed into a shorter sleeping gown, going in to personally wash Xun Che’s hair, also scrubbing his back and shoulders.
The current Xun Che very much regard ‘being weak with no strength’, as well as the various sickly state from the past life, as taboo. That’s why, after his rebirth, he very vigorously practiced archery and horseback riding. On normal days, when wearing the long official gown, it wasn’t that obvious, but at this time, while naked in the bath, one could tell that the muscles on his back and arms were firm and distinct, filled with a healthy glow.
Yu Lingxin’s movements when washing him were actually very practiced. After all, in the past life, Xun Che was that sickly and weak. Yu Lingxin helping him wipe and clean his body was practically something that needed to be done every day. That’s why, seeing his healthy body now, she was also filled with joy and relief inside.
However, just as they chatted a little, Yu Lingxin unexpectedly saw at a glance a long swallow scar that had just fused on his arm, an entire five inches long. Her heart instantly jumped, “Shenzhi, what’s this?”
Xun Che slightly turned his arm, his tone very nonchalant, “Just a little scar, it’s nothing.”
“A little scar?” Yu Lingxin went around to the front side, staring towards Xun Che, “Didn’t you go into the Chen province army to investigate under imperial orders? Why would you get injured?”
Seeing Yu Lingxin’s expression, Xun Che hesitated for a moment, before simply explaining, “The Chen province’s situation really is very complicated. Let’s slowly talk later. Don’t worry, didn’t I safely return? There really isn’t any other injuries. If you’re really worried, how about coming in for a wash too, so that you can nicely examine?”
Yu Lingxin naturally knew that he was pretending to be relaxed. She directly shot him a glare. Of course, she didn’t enter the tub to bathe together either, but she still carefully checked all over Xun Che again. Sure enough, aside from being a bit thinner, there were indeed no other scars. As such, she finally relaxed.
Xun Che knew that his wife was concerned, so just let her examine. And after he finished bathing, returning to the bedroom, and drinking a few sips of hot tea, he waved away the servant girls, before finally having the Chen province’s matter explained one by one.
The simplest way to summarize, and also the most astonishing key point, was that all these years, there should be someone continuously colluding in secret with North Rong, selling out information and supplies. Just, the amount of information and supplies leaked out shouldn’t be too much, and it also didn’t bring about too serious of an outcome. That’s why, all the way until Tianxu year 13, prior to Cheng Yanling returning to the capital from the Chen province, it all didn’t breakout.
And in the past life, Cheng Yanling only returned to the capital at the end of Tianxu year 14. Afterwards, she only temporarily stayed in the capital very briefly. That’s why, this matter of colluding with the enemy probably didn’t lead to any severe consequences from beginning to end, and also didn’t reach the imperial court. Even based on Xun Che’s control over the political state of affairs in the past life, he all didn’t learn of this matter. It can be seen just how tightly this matter was covered up. That’s why, prior to going to the Chen province this time, even Xun Che didn’t know that it would be like this.
And the source of the so called mutiny this time wasn’t because the army lacked provisions and supplies, nor because the drills from the high-ranking generals were too harsh to the extent of destabilizing the army, and such, but because during an inspection in the tenth month, at the same time losing weapons and information, more than ten people had died. Most likely, when someone was in the middle of stealing and transporting, they got discovered, thus killed to silence. Just, among the people that died, it’s unknown who were the traitors, and who were the ones that got silenced. That’s why, the army divided into a few factions mutually criticizing and suspecting each other. Colluding with the enemy was a major crime that can result in the execution of the entire family, no one would dare to acknowledge, but the incident had undoubtedly occurred, thus resulting in a ruckus.
Yu Lingxin’s eyes widened as she listened, “You’re saying that xianzhu knew about this matter of colluding with the enemy, but she had this matter pressed down?”
Xun Che sighed, “Xianzhu certainly must know some inside information, or at least know a portion of it. But, exactly how she is involved in this matter, I’m not particularly certain either, because as soon as the Chen province mutiny broke out, xianzhu had already rushed back to the Chen province overnight.”
Pausing for a moment, he deliberated over his phrasing again, “And by the time I arrived, xianzhu’s attitude wasn’t considered particularly cooperative either. Right now, the controversy in the Chen province army is very big. The capital and the Chen province interior are all arguing. There’s also the saying that xianzhu herself just has the suspicion of colluding with the enemy. But, xianzhu is just unwilling to explain for herself, so right now, it’s just even more complicated.”
“How could xianzhu collude with the enemy?” Yu Lingxin although wasn’t considered especially familiar and close with Cheng Yanling, but in the past life, Cheng Yanling’s valiant reputation of defending the Chen province was known all over. Especially after Qin Wang ascended the throne, Cheng Yanling’s father was already elderly in age, also having old injuries from the early years on the battlefield, his vigor no longer like back then. And among the Cheng family’s younger generation, the various descendants all couldn’t compare with Cheng Yanling. Afterwards, in the Tianjing years, every time North Rong invaded, it was practically always Cheng Yanling that led troops in driving out the enemy.
Of course, under that famous reputation, there were also other rumors. For instance, Cheng Yanling was strict in training the soldiers, her style ruthless, and so on. But, the Cheng family’s iron-blooded loyalty was witnessed by all. Yu Lingxin really was unable to imagine Cheng Yanling colluding with the enemy. Moreover, it was even selling out weapons and information. Could it be that she would even lack money, or what?
Xun Che nodded, “I also don’t believe that xianzhu would do this, but xianzhu’s attitude truly is odd. A few days ago, I told xianzhu that it’s best to return to the capital to meet with the emperor first. After all, the Chen province army is Great Sheng’s most important garrison in defending against North Rong, so absolutely need to let his Majesty be at ease inside, only then can the Chen province army be steady. However, xianzhu is just unwilling. Now, leading a group of people, she has personally headed to North Rong.”
“To North Rong?” Yu Lingxin was even more shocked, “Could it be that someone suspicious has escaped past Yulong Pass? But, but, even if really going to catch someone, xianzhu still shouldn’t personally take the risk?!”
Xun Che helplessly responded, “Naturally, I’m not the only one that tried to strongly urge her like this, but xianzhu has trained soldiers for many years, having her own firm views. Moreover, this matter afraid is closely related to xianzhu’s own family matters. For her to obstinately go her own way, to the point where even General Cheng was unable to stop her, I also have no other way.”
Yu Lingxin felt increasingly shocked as she listened, and at the same time, had other thoughts, “Is there anyone from the capital involved in this matter?”
“Most likely not.” Xun Che shook his head, “This kind of major crime, it’s not good to rashly get involved in. Without sufficiently enough benefits to motivate, no one would risk the extermination of the entire clan. Just, since things have come to this point now, for the people in the capital to use this matter as pretext to make a fuss, it is nevertheless inevitable.”
Looking at Xun Che’s expression, Yu Lingxin still had a bit of confusion, so lowered her voice and asked, “What other thoughts do you still have in mind? Do you have some suspicions?”
Xun Che slowly exhaled a breath, saying a in a low voice, “Right now, the Qii family has the arrow pointed towards xianzhu. This perhaps might be related to xianzhu’s already deceased husband, Qii Feng.”
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see? doesn’t this mean the concubine plan is useless… they didn’t even pick up on the subtle bits of the conversation, so happy to succeed, tsk tsk… I do hope that CYL will happily marry over but seeing as how she never got married in the last life this is probably a complicated order, especially if her dead husband had anything to do with selling military secrets (!)
Would the heir dare to like indeed 😂