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Mid-Autumn
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!
“Mid-autumn?” Yu Lingxin immediately became nervous. Isn’t that just in a few days? If to say that Wei Wang still hasn’t given up on Xun Ying, still wanting to borrow Ruiyang Junzhu and Su Hanwei’s hand to do something again, this actually wasn’t that surprising.
But, at present, Wen Ruoqiong was still the legitimate Wei Wangfei. Wei Wang being this impatient in making a move, could it be that he wants to forcibly let the ‘raw rice be cooked’, and afterwards, let Xun Ying go be his side consort?
How is that possible?!
Xun Che’s expression didn’t seem to have any abnormality. As he lowered his eyes, he seemed to be easy-going like usual. Even intimate as his true love wife, Yu Lingxin, also didn’t make out the sharp killing intent in his eyes in this moment.
On Xun Cong’s side, he was still nervous. At the same time nodding his head, he also added a few details. Overall, it was just what was leaked out from Su Hanwei’s words regarding their recent dealings with Xun Xiang. Wei Wang Manor has the intention of nicely holding a poetry gathering, interacting and becoming closer with the Linglong Literature Club, hoping that Xun Ying can give their side some pointers, and so on.
In between, Qi Ke was also mentioned. Reportedly, Qi Ke was increasingly trusted by Wu Wang lately. In fact, Wu Wang even mentioned, when meeting alone with his Majesty, that he wanted to directly seek a junwang manor historian’s position for Qi Ke who haven’t taken the spring exam yet.
Although this already can be considered clearly confirming his status as an aide, but the historian of a junwang manor was also an official post of the fifth rank. Compared to those who’ve just passed the spring exam, starting from the sixth and seventh rank, it was still much better.
Yu Lingxin’s brows furrowed even tighter, “Qi Ke is………”
“Understood.” Xun Che suddenly waved his had, “For you to be able to dig out this much information from the Su family girl, it’s also not easy. Looks like, you’ve improved a little.”
Xun Cong instantly relaxed a breath, also a bit pleased with himself, “It’s not all heard from Su Hanwei’s side. Those few from the academy previously also came over to look for me twice. I’d also sounded them out. Qi Ke lately is very close with Wu Wang and Wei Wang. Reportedly, he’d even stayed overnight at Wu Wang Manor before. Other than that, it’s just that poetry gathering of theirs, not calling Xun Xiang over in private any less. On the surface, it seems as if the number of times Xun Xiang went out weren’t many. Every time going out, it was all going with second aunt to pray for the old madam, or just going to the estate to check the account books, but in reality, it’s all a cover. I even looked for someone to go keep an eye on Wei Wang’s outer estate——-”
“Your people, I’ve already called back.” Xun Che slowly lifted his eyes and gazed towards Xun Cong. The young boy’s enthusiasm instantly got cut in half. His back that had finally relaxed with great difficulty immediately tightened again, “Ah? …………Elder brother feels it’s not suitable?”
Xun Che didn’t speak, just indifferently glancing at him again. Xun Cong immediately lowered his head, cupping his hand and saying, “Brother, it was I that was too reckless, forgetting oneself. I was wrong.”
Xun Che still didn’t speak. Xun Cong was increasingly rigid, not even daring to put down his hands. After waiting another few breaths in fear and trepidation, he swiftly had everything he’d said all pondered over and over again inside. Just as he was about to harden his head and admit his mistake a few more times, Xun Che finally faintly opened his mouth again, “You have improved, this is good, but one mustn’t be frivolous, and also don’t look down on others too much. Remember, when a lion hunts a hare, it also uses all its strength.”
These words actually didn’t have much reproach, but Xun Cong was still full of reverence. As such, he got up and bowed again, “Yes.”
“Alright, go back and rest. The Duan family’s matter, I will keep in mind. When father returns, I will go talk with father.” Xun Che nodded his head, finally somewhat resembling a gentle older brother.
Xun Cong was instantly elated. However, before his smile completely bloomed, he just recalled the lesson just now, promptly forcing it back down. After deferentially bowing, he retreated out of Qingyu Pavilion.
Yu Lingxin, at this time, was actually already very anxious inside. On one hand, it was worrying about Wei Wang scheming against Xun Ying, and on the other hand, it was not knowing how Qi Ke can free himself. But, earlier, in front of Xun Cong, she couldn’t directly say anything about the ‘old affairs of the past life’. That’s why, when it was just Xun Che and her left in the room again, she immediately gazed towards Xun Che, “Shenzhi?”
TN: All translations outside of Broken Jinsei are stolen and reposted without permission!
Xun Che’s expression was also a bit heavy, not immediately speaking, instead pulling out a sheet of paper that was as thin as cicada wings from his sleeve and handing it to Yu Lingxin.
Yu Lingxin took it into her hands and roughly swept a glance, her eyes immediately widening. Without asking Xun Che anything, she directly had the densely packed tiny characters on the paper carefully read over twice before lifting her head in astonishment, looking towards Xun Che again, “You received this today? Then, what do we do now? The mid-autumn banquet this time, it’s probably better to not let Ying’er enter the palace……”
Xun Che had the paper taken back, reading it over again before placing it by the candle and burning it, “There’s only being a thief for a thousand years and not guarding against a thief for a thousand years. Let Ying’er enter the palace as usual. This matter, I’m going to end it once and for all.”
Yu Lingxin recalled the familiar writing on that slip of paper, feeling increasingly apprehensive, “This matter can only be evaded, how can it be thoroughly brought to an end? Could it be to expose on the spot? But, even if the matter succeeds, his Majesty would only just try to cover up the scandal, let alone if it doesn’t succeed. Wei Wang can just brush over the matter with just having lost his bearings due to being drunk.”
The corner of Xun Che’s thin lips emerged with a smile, “This matter, I’ve plotted for a long time already. Originally, it was still short of one step, but now, it’s instead complete.”
If Xun Cong was still here, seeing this smile on his brother’s face at this time, he probably would be scared to the point where deferentially standing wasn’t enough and might drop on his knees to reply.
And for Yu Lingxin, seeing this look of his, she nevertheless just felt both familiar and sad.
This kind of Xun Che, she’d seen a few times in the past life. Not many, because when she’d married Xun Che in the past life, the Yiyang Marquis Manor had already gotten extinguished, and the Zhu family had already fallen. The great majority of the most ruthless matters were already done and over with.
But, she still saw a few times, especially when it came to sorting out the aristocratic families of the northwest. Yu Lingxin was ultimately unable to forget that seemingly ruthless cold smile of his upon his sickbed.
And in lifetime, with everything starting over again, she has always hoped for Xun Che to not walk his past life’s old path again, not shoulder those former cursed names anymore, and also not have such ruthless moments again.
Just, unfortunately, some things were ultimately unavoidable.
“Huijun, this matter, you also need to help.” Xun Che suddenly reached out to hold Yu Lingxin’s hand, and afterwards, clearly explained.
Yu Lingxin started from nodding her head to once again widening her eyes. In the end, she practically froze in place. A good while later, she finally asked, “Can…..can this work?”
The sky outside the window gradually dimmed. A crescent moon rose up in midair. The warm breeze gently brushed over the still green leaves that were unwilling to shed early. The over ten pots of renowned chrysanthemums under the corridor brilliantly produced fragrance.
Different from the conversation inside Qingyu Pavilion that will soon bring the storm, the sky and scenery outside, every single one, all filled with the tranquility and stillness of an early autumn evening, just like the Wen’an Marquis Manor outside Qingyu Pavilion, as well as the various families and manors under the imperial city that were happily preparing for the mid-autumn festival, seemingly all that well and tranquil.
Just, the speed in which the so-called tranquility shattered in the capital surpassed that of the changing weather.
Before the chilliness of the mid-autumn even arrived, amidst the various controversies regarding whether or not Qin Wang’s conduct was fair, whether or not Qin Wangfei was narrow-minded and petty, and whether or not Qin Wang Manor’s structure was appropriate, on the evening of the sixth of the eighth month, after struggling briefly in the delivery room for a quarter of an hour, Ming Jinrou gave birth to a plump and lively baby boy with a resounding cry.
For this reason, Xuan Emperor was greatly elated. Aside from personally naming his eldest grandson Yuanjia, he even overruled all the various discussions related to the Qin Wang couple.
For a time, the debates regarding the heir apparent became increasingly peculiar. And at the same time, this most important, and also most unforgettable by the later generations, palace banquet of the Tianxu period was also put in order.
Actually, prior to the nobles, court officials, and various titled madams entering the palace to attend the banquet, there was already a bit of expectation, because ever since Empress Wen fell ill in the sixth month due to vague reasons, recuperating all the way until the eighth month, she never once recovered Zhaoyang Hall’s privileges as the central palace. Thus, the power to oversee the six palaces also once again fell into Li Consort’s hands.
The disputes in court regarding the heir apparent also increasingly focused on between Qin Wang and Wu Wang, and exactly who was a bit more virtuous. General Deng’s memorandum previously although seemingly led to many gossips, but at the end of the day, it was still just the gossip between the womenfolk, or the Zongjing Bureau saying a few more words. The Central Secretariat, Inner Cabinet, as well as Xuan Emperor all didn’t get affected.
And Ming Jinrou giving birth to the eldest imperial grandson, although can also be said as a ‘domestic affair’, but seeing the bright smile on Xuan Emperor’s face, it still made the nobles and court officials clearly sense the imperial favor tilting.
If Wu Wang wants to recover lost ground on this matter, it won’t be that easy. On one hand, the order of seniority was already set. Even if the consorts of Wu Wang Manor were to immediately give birth, it can only be considered the second imperial grandson. And on the other hand, it was just that Side Consort Tan that came out with the good news of being pregnant the earliest. She already had a miscarriage in the fourth month. Right now, the ones that were pregnant in Wu Wang Manor were the main consort Qi Pei and another one that has fawned over Qi Pei for a very long time, Liangyuan Li.
However, the two of them were merely just three to four months pregnant. For the time being, they were unable to compete with Qin Wang Manor’s eldest young master.
Then, in order for Li Consort to turn the tides, she can only use the mid-autumn palace banquet, as well as the movements in the inner palace.
To put it bluntly, if by chance Empress Wen were to have some unexpected misfortune, and Li Consort obtains the opportunity to progress a step further, then Wu Wang, who has always had the reputation of being virtuous, can immediately become a di-born prince. When time comes, if Qin Wang wants to turn the tables again, it will practically be harder than scaling the skies.
This kind of situational circumstance, the court officials all understood inside. That’s why, when entering the palace to attend the banquet, especially the titled madams going to the inner palace, towards this mid-autumn banquet that was personally arranged by Li Consort, they were particularly mindful.
In reality, it sure enough was just like how the court officials had guessed. The mid-autumn banquet’s decorations were extremely beautiful and luxurious, while also dignified and imposing. Even Li Consort’s look and head ornament when attending, as well as the palace luan[1] gown, all were different from the usual bright and charming colors, changing into a more steady and magnanimous golden cassia color.
And the flow of the banquet further adopted an original approach. Aside from the several dozen tables in Yanqing Hall, as well as the opera plays performing in the imperial garden, there were also arrangements for flower viewing, scenery viewing, even poetry performances, and so on, striving for elegance and uniqueness, the ruler and ministers enjoying together.
Just, such a banquet, although brilliant and ingenious, there were still many that had varying thoughts and roaming minds. Yu Lingxin was also one of them.
Even though in the past ten days, she needed to discuss with Xun Che practically everyday for an hour for today’s matter, even watching how Xun Che arranged everything, but when Yu Lingxin set foot into Yanqing Hall with together Xun Ying, she still instinctively began feeling nervous.
[1] A mythical bird related to the phoenix
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15 minute labour???? congratulations to MJR that’s so good. I am a good bean but I really wanna see some bloodshed on this good auspicious holiday. the 2 princes are so annoying and disgusting with the way they treat the Xun family, as if they’re not allowed to fight back.