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Under the Collar (1)
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!
When these words fell into Yu Lingxin’s ears, her back instantly stiffened, instinctively wanting to immediately turn around, but in the end, she still kept her last thread of rationality. Perhaps it was the habit left behind from the past life, no matter how enormous of a matter, still can’t have one’s emotions revealed on the outside.
Enduring the urge, she slightly waited a moment before finally making a natural turn, gazing over in the direction where those two girls were.
Under the glitteringly fragrant osmanthus tree, Xun Ying was still receiving guests, and not far by her side, there were a total of two beautiful young girls elegantly dressed in brocade, their appearance and style entirely different. It can be considered the orchids in spring and the chrysanthemums in autumn, each excelling in their own field.
Just, those two, Yu Lingxin both recognized.
Her startled mood just now also swiftly relaxed again.
If it was some other noble family daughter discussing marriage with Xun Che, she probably might have believed, but those two were absolutely impossible.
The girl that was closer to Xun Ying was delicate and soft, her movements like the willow branches in the wind. Just, her brocade clothes were luxurious and eye-catching, precisely the girl she met last time at Cheng’de Count Manor, Yiyang Marquis Manor’s eldest di daughter, the current empress’s niece, Wen Ruoqiong.
As for the other tall and slender young girl that was standing a bit farther away, she was dressed in red, her appearance bright and charming, straightforward and outgoing. In this lifetime, Yu Lingxin although still haven’t had the chance to meet her, but in the last lifetime, she’d seen her don’t know how many times. That was Ming Jincheng’s younger sister, Jin Duke Manor’s fourth miss, Ming Jinrou.
Wen Ruoqiong naturally didn’t need to be mentioned, that was Ming Jincheng’s fiancee. Because Yiyang Marquis Manor was in the Ji province, and although they also have a residence in the capital, there weren’t any elders residing in it, as such, this time, after the Wen family young ladies arrived in the capital, they just directly resided in the Jin Duke Manor for the time being.
The implications within naturally was very easy to understand.
As for Ming Jinrou, she was indeed Xun Che’s mother’s niece, Xun Che’s legitimate younger cousin. Ming Jincheng and Ming Jinrou grew up together with Xun Che and Xun Ying. That’s why, their relationship was very close. If one has to say something, then they can also be considered childhood sweethearts.
Strictly speaking, Xun Che and Ming Jinrou had also discussed marriage before in the last lifetime.
Just, Ming Jinrou already had someone else in her heart. That’s why, the discussion very quickly ended unsettled.
As for who this person was specifically, Xun Che in the last lifetime didn’t say. Yu Lingxin at the time just knew that during the battle for the throne, not only did the Wen’an Marquis Manor suffered disastrously, the Jin Duke Manor similarly had many casualties. Ming Jincheng even got slashed in the face by an assassin, nearly losing an eye. As for Ming Jinrou, at the time, she actually voluntarily chose to marry the awfully infamous third prince, Wei Wang.
However, when Yu Lingxin finally met Ming Jinrou in person in the past life, Wei Wang had already died because of committing treason. And Ming Jinrou, this Wei Wangfei, because of exposing his crimes, was able to preserve herself, not like the family members of criminal officials or widows of the imperial clan normally, silently living out her life in low profile. Instead, after the new emperor ascended the throne, she overturned Jin Duke Manor’s case, shedding away the Wei Wangfei title, newly obtaining a Chang’an Junzhu title, living free and unfettered.
Regarding Ming Jinrou’s various details, Xun Che ultimately never said in detail before, and Yu Lingxin also didn’t ask, but based on what she knew, she roughly can guess. Regardless of why Ming Jinrou at first didn’t marry the person she liked, afterwards when her family met with disaster, her choosing to marry Wei Wang wasn’t like what many people said as ‘going after appearance’ and ‘lowering herself to avoid disaster’. Ming Jinrou simply must have done so for the sake of taking down Wei Wang, thus didn’t hesitate to sacrifice her body.
This kind of bold and daring young lady, if she really was interested in Xun Che, then it would’ve long been known by everyone.
TN: All translations outside of Broken Jinsei are stolen and reposted without permission!
Thinking to here, Yu Lingxin suddenly felt that she was very embarrassing, just coming to a poetry gathering to admire flowers, yet how come she kept having her thoughts placed on Xun Che?
He can discuss marriage with whoever he likes, what does it have to do with her!
Just so perfectly at this time, the guests finally more or less all arrived. Xun Ying and Ming Jinrou jointly explained the rules of today’s poetry gathering. Actually, it was very simple. Within half an hour, using the osmanthus trees and renowned chrysanthemums in the courtyard as the subject, each person compose one poem and one lyric[1], no more than this. As for those who are unable to, no need to force oneself, can just admire and drink tea in peace.
And outside of those rules, the words that seemingly were said casually, indeed revealed what Yu Lingxin had guessed from the start. They didn’t plan on just holding this one poetry gathering today, instead preparing to openly form a poetry club. The name of the poetry club can be chosen from today’s works.
After having this so called poetry club, in the future, every half month, there will be a poetry gathering. If not in Wen’an Marquis Manor, then it will just be at the Jin Duke Manor. All in all, it will be jointly ran by Xun Ying and Ming Jinrou. They will also take the opportunity to invite some guests to come talk about composing poetry and verses, having critique and prizes.
Most importantly, Ming Jinrou at the end even directly stated with a smile, “For us to have this idea, it’s just wanting to help everyone prepare for the Wenhua poetry gathering at the end of the year. Whether one succeeds or not, there ultimately won’t be any harm in coming and going more. However, I’m going to say this here first, the first club meeting today, Ying’er was able to arrange this beautifully. Later, when going to my place for the second club meeting, you all better not laugh at me.”
The young ladies present all laughed, successively responding, “Absolutely wouldn’t dare to nitpick the two presidents.”
Yu Yunxin although stood relatively to the edge along with Yu Lingxin, but hearing these words, she also burst with joy. Although in Wenhua Academy, there will be several teachers giving guidance for one’s learning, but in the private schools for young ladies, true learning was still limited. Aside from poetry, it was just the principles of women’s teachings and women’s virtue. Yu Yunxin wholeheartedly wanting to go in, more than half the reason was for the sake of being able to become friends with more even higher status young ladies in Wenhua Academy.
But listening to the meaning in Xun Ying and Ming Jinrou’s words, if able to join this poetry club, then won’t that be directly becoming acquainted with this many high status young ladies. That really would be a hundred times better than going to the Zhu family’s private school.
A meeting once every half month, although didn’t sound very frequent, but in reality, the normal frequency in which relatives visit one another was also just to this degree. Regardless whether it’s Xun Ying and Ming Jinrou who were forming the club, or these meticulously dressed young ladies that needed to work hard to prepare, time wasn’t considered that ample. After all, it’s not like everyone really didn’t have anything else to do all day aside from poetry and flower gatherings.
Yu Lingxin paid attention to Yu Yunxin’s expression, also slightly relaxing a breath. She simply didn’t care about the Wenhua Academy’s name slot. Yielding it to Yu Yunxin wasn’t a problem. What she cared about more was Yu Yunxin and Su-shi not getting further involved with the Zhu family.
Now, since Yu Yunxin was interested in this poetry club, the Zhu family’s private school probably can be tossed aside. Moreover, if this poetry club is handled well, afraid even the young ladies that are currently studying in the Zhu family private school will also produce thoughts.
Looking at it on the surface, it was merely just the recreational activity of the official family young ladies in the capital, but in reality, the family clans behind these young ladies will still gradually be influenced.
Thinking to here, Yu Lingxin looked to Xun Ying and Ming Jinrou again——–their personality, one was gentle and refined, liking literature, while one was bright and carefree, liking martial arts. Actually, they both didn’t like managing the various tasks of the poetry gathering, but the only one that can mobilize the two of them was also just Xun Che.
At this time, the twenty to thirty young ladies already split into twos and threes, following the rules for composing poetry announced by Xun Ying, respectively going to admire flowers, polishing and refining their verses and phrases. Yu Yunxin further concentrated her attention, on one hand carefully observing those renowned chrysanthemum again, while on the other hand, having the already formed verses repeatedly mulled over in her mind.
Yu Lingxin just happily agreed to just drinking tea and admiring the scenery, directly looking for a quiet corner to sit down, holding a cup of tea and spectating.
Time passed little by little. The young ladies were either ambitious and competitive, or imaginative and clever, or hesitant and wavering, or overly conceited and proud. The personalities that weren’t revealed earlier when drinking tea and chatting gradually just surfaced.
Yu Lingxin looked around again, discovering that today, among all the young ladies present, aside from the organizers of this poetry gathering, Xun Ying and Ming Jinrou, turns out only she, this one guest, clearly expressed from the start that she won’t write poetry, directly just spectating.
Xun Ying and Ming Jinrou naturally didn’t mind. Having been greeting the guests until now, the two of them were also somewhat tired, so might as well just sit down by Yu Lingxin’s side, casually chatting, “Yu family older sister doesn’t like writing poetry?”
Yu Lingxin smiled, “As the saying goes, rather than embarrassing oneself, it’s better to hide the awkwardness. When it comes to poetry, I really don’t have any talent, so better to not make a fool of oneself.”
This can be considered Ming Jinrou and Yu Lingxin’s first meeting, but hearing how her tone when speaking was very easy-going, she just very much liked, “That’s fine, there’s also those that don’t like composing poetry. Actually, I also don’t like poetry. Whether it’s aspirational verses, or emotional lyrics, it’s all not as useful as doing some practical things.”
Yu Lingxin couldn’t help but laugh again. She was actually completely the same as that Ming Jinrou in her impressions that has experienced many twists and turns. Sure enough, no matter what kind of experiences, it all can’t erase the carefree and bright nature in her bones.
Xun Ying also pursed her lips and smiled, “No matter how much you dislike, you still need to write one out first, else in the next club meeting, at the Jin Duke Manor, how will you, this host, muddle through? That is also your reality.”
Ming Jinrou helplessly shook her head, “Deal with it when time comes, there’s still half a month.” She paused for a moment, suddenly thinking of something, asking Xun Ying, “Oh right, exactly what happened to your brother? How come after entering the palace, he just fell ill?”
[1] Ci (词) – It’s a form of lyric poetry that flourished during the Song dynasty.
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