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Dearly Beloved Wife
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!
Up until this point, the first court session of Tianxu year 15, under Xuan Emperor’s approval of the Ying Duke’s request and the imperial decree ordering the Central Secretariat and the Inner Cabinet to further settle on the details, closed its curtains.
Of course, in regards to what Cheng Yanling presented, as well as what the Ying Duke reported, everything was just the start, or rather the trigger, to the reformation of the military regulations and the conflicts of the succession battle.
On the seventeenth of the first month, an urgent memorandum from the Chen province once again entered the capital. It was Old General Qii’s memorandum from his sickbed.
And although Qii Feng had gotten captured alive and sent to the Judicial Court, Qii Feng’s mother, Madam Qii, Tong-shi, as well as Tong-shi’s maiden family all protested their innocence and raised a countercharge, expressing that they don’t recognize this so-called ‘Qii Feng’ that got sent in, and that the real Qii Feng had already died on the battlefield, sacrificing his life for the country, and so on.
The Judicial Court, Ministry of Justice, and Ministry of War jointly held the hearing, so naturally need to collect evidence from many sides. While the rest of the Qii family were rushing to the capital to defend and explain themselves, the Judicial Court also requested a decree from Xuan Emperor, sending people to the Chen province to further catch or gather testimonies, material evidences, and such.
And upon the imperial court, although it wasn’t good to re-discuss the matter before the Judicial Court’s three party hearing yielded results, regarding the matter of the female generals and female soldiers that the Ying Duke mentioned, the controversy was still very big. And towards Cheng Yanling’s memorandum of letting the descendants of military families participate in the army training, the backlash was even greater.
Actually, among the military households, there were very many that shared similar views with the Qii family. Even at times of war, noble descendants that were really willing to risk their lives in the frontlines weren’t that many. Furthermore, at present, Great Sheng was strong, and North Rong was weak, so naturally there were quite a few descendants of military families that weren’t willing to train that arduously.
That’s why, after the court session on the sixteenth, aside from the Cheng family thoroughly shedding all suspicions of colluding with the enemy, for the other disputes, it was merely just a start. Other than the court officials endlessly disputing every day in court, the discussions and gossips among the womenfolk of the upper class were also increasingly heated and rampant.
Among them, the most debated topic was——–since Qii Feng didn’t die, then Cheng Yanling and Qii Feng, are they still considered a married couple?
Because according to what they all heard in the past, Qii Feng had sacrificed his life for the country on the battlefield, so Cheng Yanling naturally just became Qii Feng’s widow. At the time, for the sake of compensating the generals that died for the country, the imperial court even bestowed honor to Cheng Yanling as a widow. And in Tianxu year 14, Cheng Yanling’s formal return to her maiden family, it was an agreement reached between the Zhenbei General Manor and the Qii family, carrying out all the rites in front of the Qii clan elders, receiving the official document for her return, thus changing back into a Cheng family daughter from a Qii family widow, also having the freedom to remarry.
But now, Qii Feng was actually still alive!?
Madam Qii and the Tong family saying things like they don’t recognize Qii Feng, this isn’t the real Qii Feng, and so on, simply were just nonsensical excuses after losing their heads in a panic, attempting to ‘break their arm to survive’ at this critical time, thereby preserving the entire family and clan.
In the capital, it’s not like only Cheng Yanling alone was familiar with Qii Feng. Although Qii Feng’s face indeed had two more scars, making his facial features somewhat scary looking, but under the joint testimonies of numerous witnesses, in addition to the evidences collected through the Judicial Court’s skillful questioning, Qii Feng’s identity was undeniable without a doubt.
First, setting aside the criminal charges, the military and governmental affairs, letting the imperial court go dispute, the gossip that the womenfolk were curious about was still on Cheng Yanling.
Since Qii Feng didn’t die, then as long as the Qii family don’t release a divorce letter, Cheng Yanling at present will still be considered Qii Feng’s wife. And Qii Feng, having committed such a major crime, presumably won’t be able to keep his life. However, it’s unknown to what degree this will affect the Qii family, and under this kind of situation, if Qii Feng dies for real once again, then will Cheng Yanling’s ‘formal return in advance’ previously still be considered valid?
Although, overall, the great majority of the people all knew that Cheng Yanling probably won’t have too much involvement with the Qii family anymore, but the changes in life usually were unexpected. Back then, who could’ve known that Little General Qii who’d died for the country in battle and got honored by the imperial court didn’t die.
And now, while the Qii family were going all out to save themselves, could it be that they won’t have Cheng Yanling’s name thoroughly smeared to the end, biting back and devouring, letting her die together with them?
TN: All translations outside of Broken Jinsei are stolen and reposted without permission!
Facing Yu Lingxin who also had this kind of worry, Xun Che, who during the entire first lunar month, had practically been leaving early and returning late, even having lost a bit of weight, just smiled, “Unless the Qii family really want their entire clan to all get wiped out, then they won’t continue to frame xianzhu. After all, currently, Old General Qii still has a breath left. His Majesty naturally will be lenient. He doesn’t really want to have the Qii family pulled out by the roots. The Cheng family also have a bit of feelings towards Old General Qii.”
“But, Madam Qii’s activities in the capital, could it be that the Qii family elders don’t know?” Yu Lingxin slanted her mouth. She was currently further along in her pregnancy, and as her stomach gradually protruded, her appetite also worsened, frequently vomiting, her waist also awfully sore. In the latter half of the first month, she all didn’t go out much.
Originally, there was still Ming Jinrou that could come over to chat with her, but now, Ming Jinrou was still less than three months pregnant herself. Even though when mentioning on the second at the Jin Duke Manor, she had a completely nonchalant look, even having yet to report to the Zongjing Bureau, but in reality, a certain dumb goose wangye already issued a death command wanting Ming Jinrou to nicely rest.
As for Xun Che, between the frenzy upon the imperial court and the high pressure of the Judicial Court’s investigation and hearing, he was also very busy. On one hand, it was frequently needing to accompany the emperor as an consultant, and on the other hand, as the imperial envoy in charge of investigating the Chen province mutiny back then, Xun Che also needed to be present at the Judicial Court’s hearing from time to time.
Once he was done being busy with both sides, Xun Che still needed to spend more than half his time at Qin Wang Manor or the Jin Duke Manor. Every time returning home, although he still wholeheartedly cared for Yu Lingxin’s body as well as the matters at home, seeing his tired look, Yu Lingxin usually would hurriedly rush him to go take a bath and rest, not letting him strain himself too much.
All the way until the end of the month, when there was finally this half day off, did the couple finally have time to nicely talk.
Xun Che reached out and had her taken into his arms even more, snuggling against her hair and neck before faintly laughing, “Actually, those messy matters in military households are more or less the same as those in noble and high-ranking official families in the capital. Old General Qii although has been heroic and valiant all his life, but probably because he has put too much of his mind on governing the army and leading troops, his back manor has never been too peaceful. As for Qii Feng, it’s not like he wasn’t talented at all. Actually, when it really comes to political and military achievements, compared to his two younger brothers below, he was still a bit stronger. Just, compared to xianzhu, he was just a bit inferior. But, this also can’t be helped. Among this current generation of military descendants in our Great Sheng, never mind the Qii family, even if counting those in the capital, in addition to the Yu province’s Baodong Manor and the Quan province’s Pingnan General Lou family, no family’s young descendants can compare with Duanyi Xianzhu. This is just a fact.”
Mentioning Qii Feng, Yu Lingxin still very much despised, “Can’t win against his wife, so he can just raise a mistress outside? Exactly what kind of stunning beauty can make him betray the country and commit treason? For Old General Qii to not get angered to death by him, it’s quite incredible.”
The corner of Xun Che’s lips slightly hooked. At the same time, he tapped the tip of Yu Lingxin’s nose, “This is just how you women think. A stunning beauty naturally can’t make Qii Feng commit treason, but if this beauty were to grasp some dirt against him, making him start step by step from divulging some trivial matter, then slowly, he will naturally just sink even deeper into the mud, just like those youngsters who gamble away their family fortune. If from the start you just let them throw in all their family fortune, or even go kill for money, which wastrel would be willing? But, if you first use a small matter to hook them, then proceed step by step, they naturally will have a hard time turning back.”
“What do you mean ‘how you women think’?” Yu Lingxin immediately raised her brow, pushing away Xun Che’s hand, “Even the Ying Duke said that women don’t lose to men, yet you instead come home and look down on me?”
Xun Che just laughed, letting go of Yu Lingxin’s hand, but immediately went to embrace her waist, “How could I dare, especially after witnessing xianzhu’s abilities in the Chen province. What it means to feel ashamed to be inferior, I still know. What I meant just now was that you are ultimately too soft and kind, thinking that a man and a woman being together certainly will have true feelings. That’s why, you would feel that Qii Feng abandoned his home and committed treason because of being in love with that mistress. Actually, that woman first kept Qii Feng infatuated for a few days, then secretly set a trap, letting Qii Feng sleep together with one of General Qii’s concubine once. The crime of raping one’s father’s concubine, Qii Feng and the Qii family all can’t afford to shoulder. Afterwards, that outside mistress just demanded money and things from Qii Feng, wanting to see the inside of the army camp, and so on. All in all, it was just half-tricking and half-threatening him into the trap step by step. By the time Qii Feng finally realized that his outside mistress and that concubine of General Qii’s were actually both spies, North Rong already obtained even more evidence against him, so he had no choice but to obey.”
Pausing for a moment, Xun Che added, “As for exactly when Madam Qii learned of these, afraid it was only last year. They actually don’t have the ability to continuously collude behind closed doors. As for Madam Qii’s activities in the capital, it was also instigated by Qii Feng after he secretly returned to the Chen province. Old General Qii is definitely unaware, but General Qii, it’s somewhat hard to say. Just, currently, as Old General Qii and General Qii argue, there’s also the saying of divorcing his wife. For the time being, there’s still quite a fuss. Probably by the second month, we will finally be able to see results.”
Yu Lingxin slanted her mouth, “When something happens, just know to divorce the wife and push it onto the woman, Old General Qii may have had a valiant name, but this General Qii is also a coward. Qii Feng sure enough inherited from him.”
Xun Che laughed and lowered his head to snuggle against her, “Madam Xun, that’s why this husband said that sometimes, you’re still too pure and kind. In this world, the person that truly loves one’s wife, willing to do anything for one’s wife, is right before you. How could others have this kind of mindset?”
“Really…….increasingly shameless!” Yu Lingxin couldn’t help but smilingly scold him, “Able to say anything, even……even……..” After stuttering twice, the words ‘truly loving one’s wife’ still couldn’t come out. Just the overflowing happiness and sweetness inside were like a tide. The bright smile on her lips further couldn’t be suppressed.
“Even what? Not even doing anything? Then, this husband will make it up right now.” Xun Che smilingly went to kiss her lips, afterwards, traveling down along her neck, his movements practiced and gentle. Just, he couldn’t help but also carry a bit of restraint.
Yu Lingxin also hugged him back, even lightly biting Xun Che’s earlobe, “If you truly……….”
Xun Che’s eyes couldn’t help but light up, “Really?”
Yu Lingxin bit her plump and pretty lower lip, the light response from her throat practically inaudible.
Very soon, the servant girls and guards outside Qingyu Pavilion awkwardly and tacitly moved further outwards by two steps. And the slightly red-faced Ganlu, upon lifting her eyes and seeing Chen Qiao quickly walking over with a letter in hand, extended her arm to block, “If not an emergency, then please wait a little.”
T/N: Qii Feng inherited his position through his family, so in their family, his grandfather is Old General Qii, his father is General Qii, and Qii Feng is Little General Qii.
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the author is very nice having XC explain exactly what nonsense was happening. bc I, like YLX, also thought there was some calamitous beauty and lustful idiot combination happening. turns out yes, but actually no. not only is little general Qii an idiot, his father is too! did men in ancient china really just pick up random beautiful women as concubines without a single further thought about things like spies….esp when they are fighting wars and live right next to the border……
Given how hard information passes around in ancient times, even if they do background check, the spies will also have fake identities prepared.
This is an odd request but would it be possible to make the amount of preview text shorter? Right the “this is a preview” text is a scroll or 2 down on mobile so you end up reading a decent amount before realizing you can’t get to the rest.
But it says teaser in the title 🤔