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Truly Sinful
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!
Yu Lingxin was just about to say more when her brows slightly furrowed, “You’re saying, Qi Ke is also sick, what do you mean?”
Yu Zhengshan lifted his eyes and looked at Yu Lingxin. In his dim expression, there was actually a bit of agonized mockery, “There’s even something that brother-in-law doesn’t know or didn’t tell older sister? Senior brother Yuzhang, lately, is also very famous outside. Heard that there’s even betting houses outside that have already secretly opened bets, betting on which place he will take in the exam. Just, unfortunately, his illness this time came very suddenly, afraid he won’t be able to take the spring exam.”
Yu Lingxin really was a bit surprised. In the past life, Qi Ke precisely scored third place in the spring exam of Tianxu year 15, for a time, having limitless honor and glory. Afterwards, according to the usual practice, he entered the Hanlin Academy, his entire official career smooth sailing. Moreover, his character was extremely clean and honest. Although having great talent at a young age, scoring first place in the autumn exam, and then in the spring exam, successfully got picked as the flower snatcher (third place), also having countless aristocrats and nobles that admired him and wanted to win him over, Qi Ke nevertheless politely refused every single one of them. In fact, even on his marriage later on, he’d also decided to take Nie-shi as his wife who merely came from a minor sixth rank official family. Although towards this, the officials of the court secretly sighed with pity many times, feeling that he was a bookworm, being stubbornly inflexible, and so on, but among the pure and upright scholars, there were naturally those that still greatly admired Qi Ke.
However, all of that was in the past life.
As the tides change in this life, and as the Chang’de Count Manor’s position change, Qi Ke also got affected to a certain degree. Starting from when Qi Jue began roping in Qi Ke, to the plum forest poetry gathering afterwards, where Wu Wang and Wei Wang voluntarily expressed goodwill towards him, unknowingly, Qi Ke’s talent and learning, although still praised by the scholars, he nevertheless was no longer praised to have pure and upright character, not adhering to the powerful, and such now.
Towards these, Yu Lingxin naturally had somewhat heard about, not even needing Xun Che to pay extra attention to. In reality, not long after the poetry gathering, Wei Wang although had gotten reprimanded and punished for getting involved with Wu Wang’s liangyuan, but Wu Wang’s social dealings didn’t really reduce by much, especially in his attempts to win over Qi Ke.
That’s why, after the new year, Qi Ke’s essay collection and poetry collection were already circulating outside. It practically all appeared under Wu Wang’s recognition and support. Towards this, Xun Che didn’t openly scorn in any way, unknown as to whether it was because of minding his past life’s rival, Yu Bocheng’s consideration on Yu Lingxin’s marriage previously, or because Xun Ying was continuously buying Qi Ke’s poetry works. All in all, Xun Che almost very rarely mention Qi Ke.
Yu Lingxin also wasn’t too sure, exactly what kind of influence all the changes in this life had on Qi Ke. But, if to say that he won’t even participate in this spring exam of Tianxu year 15, then the changes were just much bigger.
“What illness is it? Did you go see him yet?” Yu Lingxin knew that Yu Zhengshan’s relationship with Qi Ke was quite good. However, Qi Ke’s stance right now was very peculiar, so for the time being, it wasn’t good to say too much. She could only follow along his words and ask this.
“Visited him once.” Yu Zhengshan nodded, “Previously said that it was a cold, but it’s much more serious than an ordinary cold. When he suddenly broke out with a high fever, his mother was nearly scared to death. Even now, he’s still recuperating. Heard that Wu Wang Manor sent over several ginseng. The second prince even invited an imperial physician for him, so it shouldn’t be anything too serious, just unable to participate in the spring exam.”
“The second prince really is considerate.” Yu Lingxin hooked the corner of her mouth, immediately understanding inside.
“Eldest sister….” Yu Zhengshan suddenly called out to Yu Lingxin. However, in the next moment, he was seemingly hesitant again, actually wishing to speak but stopping.
Yu Lingxin blinked, causally taking out the honey water Bai Guo brought and taking a sip, “What’s wrong? Is there even something you can’t directly say to older sister?”
“Not really.” Yu Zhengshan’s expression indeed was very hesitant. After feeling conflicted for a moment, he finally carefully said, “Although senior brother Yuzhang has been a bit too close with the second prince these days, but I…….I keep feeling that he might like your family’s second miss.”
Yu Lingxin nearly had the honey water sprayed back into her cup, “……….What?”
Yu Zhengshan thought for a moment, “Actually, I’m not particularly sure either. For someone like him, only when talking about history and literary works will he have more to say. On other things, he doesn’t really have anything to say. Last time, when I went to visit him, I’d also asked to borrow a book from him. Senior brother Yuzhang let me go look for it in his study on my own. That was when I saw the poem he wrote. Although it was about white plum blossom, I keep feeling that he was writing about your family’s second miss. Because that manuscript your family’s second miss gave advice on that day, it has already become a bit wrinkly, yet still pressed flat and placed together with the new poems. Senior brother Yuzhang very rarely keeps his drafts, especially given that the poem that day at the poetry gathering was merely written for the occasion and not some masterpiece. If there’s anything special about it, then it’s just having been picked up and pointed out by your family’s second miss before.”
Although through Xun Ying and Qi Ke’s limited interactions, as well as Xun Ying’s behavior these days, it all made Yu Lingxin and even Xun Che both roughly prepared inside, hearing Yu Zhengshan analyze like this one by one, Yu Lingxin still strangely felt between laughter and tears. She was practically tongue-tied for a few breaths before finally saying, “When did you start having this many meticulous thoughts?”
TN: All translations outside of Broken Jinsei are stolen and reposted without permission!
Yu Zhengshan slightly turned his head, not looking at Yu Lingxin directly. In his obviously young and crisp voice, there was unexpectedly a bit of aged gloominess, “To enter my school of yearning is to know my pain of yearning. There’s that many unhappy people, so probably all similar.”
Yu Lingxin further didn’t expect that Yu Zhengshan was actually this in love with the Yan family young lady. As she sighed and was just about to say something, she heard the servant outside report, saying that Xun Che personally came over to pick her up.
Yu Zhengshan shook his head, forcibly working up his spirit, “Eldest sister, why don’t you go back first. Your body is more important. It’s better to take care of my little nephew first. Everything else, all aren’t anything.”
Yu Lingxin also knew that this wasn’t something that can be taken care of in a day or two, thus just reached out and patted his shoulder, “First rest and clear up your mind, the Yan family’s matter, I’ll discuss with your brother-in-law. Everything all have a way to turn around. As for what you said just now………”
“Don’t worry, I absolutely won’t mention with others.” The dejected-looking Yu Zhengshan unexpectedly appeared particularly steady and mature. As if, having not met in a few months, he really has grown up quite a bit.
Yu Lingxin nodded her head, also reminding him to pay attention to his daily life, take care of his body, and so on. Afterwards, while getting supported by Bai Guo, she massaged her somewhat sore waist and slowly returned to the front.
Xun Che who was dressed in his official gown had already greeted the old madam and Yu Bocheng. Because everyone was concerned about Yu Lingxin’s body, they didn’t try to keep them any longer, directly saying their goodbyes.
Seeing that Xun Che’s expression was still considered tranquil, after deliberating for a moment, Yu Lingxin just mentioned in the carriage what Yu Zhengshan had said.
Xun Che’s complexion sure enough was very unsightly. After a moment of silence, he just reached out to hold Yu Lingxin, and at the same time, stroked her warm and soft hand.
Yu Lingxin was also silent. After adjusting her posture in his arms, her feelings were also complicated, “Actually, I don’t understand, why Qi Ke needs to walk that close with Wu Wang. Based on his own talent and learning, it’s not like he doesn’t have other paths. Even if liking Ying’er, after successfully passing the imperial exam, it’s not like he won’t have any opportunity.”
Xun Che lowered his eyes, falling silent for quite a while before finally sighing, “Truly……sinful.”
Yu Lingxin very rarely would hear Xun Che say something like this, and even more rarely would she hear him carry this kind of helplessness in his words. She couldn’t help but lift her eyes to look at him, “Shenzhi?”
Xun Che squeezed her hand, also placing by his lips and kissing. However, the irritation inside still was unable to be pressed down. For someone like him who has lived for two lifetimes, believing himself to be flawless in his calculations, having outstanding intelligence, able to manipulate the rain and clouds, in this moment, he actually just wanted to loudly curse.
But, he unexpectedly didn’t know who he should scold. Is it scolding Qi Ke, or scolding Wu Wang and Wei Wang, or scolding Xun Ying? Or perhaps scold himself?
“Shenzhi?” Yu Lingxin saw the changes in his expression and couldn’t help but call out again.
Xun Che finally slowly exhaled a breath, “Ying’er although is gentle and easy-going, not taking many things seriously, but in reality, she extremely values relationships, and towards certain things, she is also particularly stubborn. I’ve seen how she looks at Qi Ke’s poetry works, afraid she really has taken him to heart. This one, we won’t be able to dissuade.”
Yu Lingxin nodded, “This, I can also tell. Then, should we help out Qi Ke? If he continues moving closer to Wu Wang like this, in the future, won’t he end up becoming Wu Wang Manor’s advisor? I heard Zhengshan say, with Qi Ke suddenly falling ill this time, Wu Wang has bestowed favor in every way possible. Afraid this illness of his may necessary be real.”
Xun Che coldly sneered, “Of course it’s not real. Wu Wang’s methods in roping people in, how many ways can there be in total? Just, Qi Ke may not necessarily be unaware inside. How I see it, he’s merely pushing the boat along the current.”
“Pushing the boat along the current? Could it be that Qi Ke doesn’t want to take the spring exam himself, not wanting to obtain scholarly honor? He…….could it be that he really supports the second prince and Changchun Palace?” Yu Lingxin was even more shocked than before, especially when recalling Qi Ke’s reputation in the past life, as well as his character and conduct in the few times she’d met Qi Ke in this life. It was very hard to imagine that Qi Ke would want to adhere to Wu Wang.
Not to mention, in the past life, Qi Ke clearly had even better opportunities.
Besides, due to the discussions about establishing the crown prince, the current state of affairs was still unclear. Even the important ministers of the court all were afraid of taking the wrong side, going all out in being indirect and roundabout, striving to be neutral to preserve themselves, yet Qi Ke instead took the opportunity to cast himself towards Wu Wang? Even if Qi Ke, amidst the changes in this life, no longer want to be a pure and clean scholar, based on the current political climate, this also wasn’t considered a particularly smart move.
“Did you hear Bai Guo mention how Wei Wang bought a batch of songstresses prior to his wedding?” Xun Che suddenly asked this, and at the same time, turned his head to gaze out the carriage window, his gaze already containing freezing cold chilliness.
Yu Lingxin slightly blanked, “I think so, but Wei Wang has always been lustful, liking songstresses and dancers. This purchase of songstresses, is there something wrong?”
“The appearance and bearing of this batch of songstresses are all picked based on Ying’er’s appearance.” When Xun Che said this, he clenched his teeth again, “This matter, Qi Jue definitely knows, and the Chang’de Count Manor might have even helped out.”
Yu Lingxin immediately felt her back grow cold, “Is Wei Wang crazy? Could it be that he’s still unwilling to give up on Ying’er?”
In the next moment, she suddenly understood Xun Che’s meaning, why when mentioning Qi Ke, he would mention this matter.
Just, Yu Lingxin was still shocked, “You think Qi Ke is……..because of knowing that the Chang’de Count Manor is helping Wei Wang look for women with similar appearance to Ying’er, as well as knowing that Wei Wang in the future certainly will still scheme against Ying’er, thus willingly gave up on the opportunity to take the spring exam……….”
Xun Che turned back at this time, gazing back towards Yu Lingxin again. In his complicated expression, he also carried a bit of weariness, as well as a bit of a sigh, “If to switch places with him, for you, I would also be willing.”
T/N: The previous chapter the author said that Yu Lingxin and Yu Zhengshan haven’t met in several days, and in this chapter, the text say it’s been a few months, so I’m not exactly sure either, unless several days = a few months too.
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the author is wise… several months are indeed made up of many several days 🗒️✍️ related to the chapter: …how bad is regicide really. I’m warming up to the idea of having the insufferable prince meeting with an unfortunate accident. he’s surely not so stupid that he didnt notice that XY has no plans for him and her family deliberately let her skip the draft right? this is, in my opinion, wilful and disgusting behaviour. the butterfly effect is also beautifully done, with XY not dying and meeting QP, QP’s affection for her sadly making his life trajectory shift to protect her. I don’t read these types of novels for the politics/schemes (I prefer the gossips) and this tangled web of interests is still so interesting to me.
Took me a min to realize you were referring to Qi Ke, I was confused to what Qi Pei had to do with this for a moment 😂. Also, there’s QK’s wife in the past life being the girl that almost married Xun Tan.