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Frightening Words
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!
Setting aside what Xun Che was thinking on this side, when Yu Lingxin returned to the lakeside water pavilion, the sweetness and joy in her heart was still brimming, but for Xun Ying and Yu Yunxin who were waiting for her by the water pavilion, they didn’t have that good of a mood.
Especially Xun Ying, she practically took care of the entire poetry gathering alone today. No matter how gentle and agreeable her temperament was, she still appeared somewhat exhausted.
As for Yu Yunxin, her entire mind was on Yu Lingxin openly offending the empress’s niece, and exactly how serious the consequences will be, so how can she still sit steadily. It was just that she didn’t dare to directly cry in front of Xun Ying, but her expression was just like as if she was about to cry.
Ming Jinrou had rushed out afterwards to send Yu Lingxin out, hurriedly going over to pacify Xun Ying, “Ying’er, sorry I took too long, it’s all my fault. At the next poetry gathering, you just need to sit there, and I’ll take care of everything!”
Xun Ying actually wasn’t that displeased. Seeing Ming Jinrou’s mood seemingly recovering a little, she instead felt relieved, just smiling, “Later, just compensate me with two box of good ink.”
As for Yu Yunxin, she was completely unable to smile, especially after seeing Yu Lingxin’s relaxed and joyful expression, her entire person becoming even more anxious, repeatedly grumbling at Yu Lingxin for taking too long.
Yu Lingxin, however, completely paid no mind, casually brushing off, before bidding farewell to Ming Jinrou and Xun Ying, finally taking her servant girls to the second gate to wait for the carriage to return to the manor.
When they arrived home, the time was still early. Yu Lingxin and Yu Yunxin thus directly went to Dongli Residence to see the old madam. After all, going to the Jin Duke Manor, that kind of household, as a guest, Yu old madam was both happy yet also worried, long instructing them to come over after returning to the manor.
The two sisters feelings when entering Dongli Residence naturally were completely different. On the way back, aside from the sweet smile that would unknowingly emerge on her lips from time to time, Yu Lingxin also carefully thought over the interest ties between the Xun family, Ming family, as well as Empress Wen, and Noble Consort Su. As such, when coming down from the carriage after arriving home, she was just somewhat distracted.
As for Yu Yunxin, on the horse carriage, because they were finally going home, she finally relaxed a little, but when recalling the Wen family young ladies previously dressed in beautiful brocade, acting arrogant and haughty, as well as their appearance when running away with their face covered after getting mocked to their face by Yu Lingxin, she just became increasingly scared. That’s why, when entering Dongli Residence, her little face was already on the verge of tears.
Yu old madam was currently talking with Su-shi. Those unsightly matters previously, Yu Lingxin although voluntarily asked to turn the page and not mention again, Yu old madam still produced deep dislike towards Su-shi ever since. Su-shi could only carefully curry favor in every possible way, their mother-in-law and daughter-in-law relationship very much rigid.
At this time, seeing the servant girl lift the curtains, and seeing Yu Lingxin and Yu Yunxin entering, one full of smiles, while the other was full of tears, Yu old madam and Su-shi were both very surprised, “What’s the matter?”
Yu Lingxin finally noticed that Yu Yunxin wasn’t just vexed and worried, but rather actually shedding tears. She hesitated for a moment, organizing her words, but before she could open her mouth, Su-shi already distressingly embraced Yu Yunxin, “Yun’er, don’t cry, mother’s here, what’s wrong? Tell mother!”
Yu Yunxin threw herself into her mother’s arms, crying even harder. Yu old madam was also somewhat worried, turning to ask Yu Lingxin, “Ling’er, you come tell us, did something happen at today’s poetry gathering?”
Yu Lingxin hurriedly held Yu old madam’s hand, consoling, “Nothing serious. In the beginning, it was still fine, but afterwards, there were two young ladies that said Yun’er’s calligraphy wasn’t good, still needing practice. In front of that many people, their tone also not good, Yun’er’s face was somewhat unable to handle. Afterwards, they also tried to criticize Miss Ming and I, so I just retorted a few words, not anything serious.”
Yu old madam was just about to ask more, when Yu Yunxin, who had already somewhat recovered, immediately turned around and refuted, “It’s not that simple. Old madam, those two Miss Wen were the empress’s nieces. Saying that my calligraphy wasn’t good wasn’t anything, what eldest sister said to retort them afterwards, now that was serious. In the end, those two Miss Wen ran off crying!”
Su-shi’s face immediately just turned pale, practically about to jump up, “The empress’s nieces? Old madam, t-this, this isn’t a small matter!”
TN: All translations outside of Broken Jinsei are stolen and reposted without permission!
Yu Lingxin actually could still understand. Based on Su-shi and Yu Yunxin’s experience and insight, having this kind of reaction was very normal. Just, how to explain the Xun family and Ming family’s attitude towards the empress and Yiyang Marquis Manor at present, that was actually a bit difficult.
While she was muttering to herself on this side, Su-shi was just increasingly unable to sit still, “Old madam, should our manor immediately send gifts to the Wen family? Or, or take the children over to apologize? The empress’s niece, how can we afford to offend……….”
“First, don’t panic.” Yu old madam’s heart although also sunk, she was still able to hold it together on the surface. Especially when seeing that Yu Lingxin’s expression was that calm, she just further felt that this matter was fishy, “The sky won’t collapse that easily. First take Yun’er back to clean up and change. I will carefully ask Ling girl. Later tonight, when eldest one return, we will discuss again.”
Su-shi also wanted to carefully ask her daughter the details of this matter, so she just hastily left with Yu Yunxin.
Once they were out of the door, Yu old madam also revealed a bit of a worried look, “Ling’er, you have always been steady, so how could you offend others outside, and even the Wen family’s young ladies. This isn’t true, right?”
Yu Lingxin hesitated for a moment, still having her exchange with Wen Ruoyao repeated to Yu old madam. After all, it was in front of that many people. Even if she doesn’t say, Yu Yunxin will also say.
As for the two times she left with Ming Jinrou, she could only vaguely explain as the first time, she really went to tidy her clothes, while the second time, it was Ming Jinrou wanting to talk to her alone, telling her to not be worried about the Wen sisters’ matter. Speaking of which, this latter half was also more or less the truth. Xun Che calling her over, it can also be considered to be for this.
After hearing, Yu old madam fell silent for a good while, her expression still somewhat bewildered. But, unlike Su-shi, she didn’t feel that offending the Wen family sisters will bring great disaster, instead once again realizing that the political state of affairs in the year of Tianxu really will begin to turn.
That conflict although small, appearing as if caused by Yu Lingxin, but in reality, what it showed was Ming Jinrou’s attitude towards the Wen family daughters. Just looking at how afterwards, no other elder or womenfolk in the Ming family came out to pacify the Wen family young ladies, it can already reflect the Ming family’s current attitude. It was no longer like a few months ago, their position clear-cut in supporting the empress.
Could it be that all of this all started from Wen’an Marquis heir’s falling out with Qin Wang? After all, Ming Jincheng and Ming Jinrou were close with Wen’an Marquis Manor. This was known by all. And the Xun family’s heir, Xun Che, further had rumors about him discussing marriage with Ming Jinrou.
Just, Yu old madam never thought that in this kind of unforeseen event, their own family’s granddaughter would actually get dragged in, even becoming breakout point.
“Grandmother, you don’t need to worry too much.” Yu Lingxin voluntarily coiled around the old madam’s arm, gently saying, “The empress’s reputation has always been good, compassionate and gentle. She also won’t like the Wen family young ladies acting this reckless and arrogant. Besides, exactly what was being implied behind this matter, presumably, everyone all have an understanding inside. The empress won’t do anything to our family.”
Yu old madam listened to her granddaughter reveal in her words her understanding towards the capital’s state of affairs, even exceeding her eldest son, Yu Bocheng. She was also unclear as to exactly how much bewilderment and how much relief there was on the inside. But, in the end, she still lightly sighed, “Since you are able to see clearly, grandmother won’t say too much either. Later, on your father’s side, might need to say some more.”
Yu Lingxin agreed with a smile, and then idly chatted with the old madam for a while, before finally returning to Lianyi Residence.
That night, she just heard that Su-shi sobbingly went to the study to look for her father Yu Bocheng, but the two of them very quickly got called away by the old madam. After talking in Dongli Residence, the manor once again settled down. They also didn’t call Yu Lingxin over again to ask about the details and so on.
However, the next afternoon, Su-shi’s sister-in-law, Madam Su, still came to visit. Don’t know whether it was because Su-shi didn’t completely get pacified by the old madam’s words, or because Madam Su similarly heard of this matter and just felt that it was an opportunity. All in all, when Yu Lingxin got invited over to Su-shi’s courtyard for tea, as soon as she entered, she just heard Madam Su saying frightening words, “……………The matters afterwards will be very hard to predict!”
Towards Madam Su’s emphasis in saying these words, Yu Lingxin was also very familiar with. After greeting and sitting down, she just held the teacup in hand, listening to her continue.
Madam Su’s meaning actually was also very simply. It was nothing more than just saying that the consequences of this matter was serious. Yu Lingxin embarrassing the Wen family young ladies on the spot in the Ming Manor like this, Empress Wen and the Yiyang Marquis Manor’s Wen family perhaps won’t dare to do anything to the Jin Duke Manor, this kind of influential noble family, but the Yu family, this kind of mid-ranking family clan that just has an empty reputation as a scholarly family, where the old head minister has long passed away, as long as they hold a grudge, wasn’t it precisely just crushing to death however they want.
Even if for the time being, there aren’t any movements, perhaps it was just due to face, but once the situation dies down a little, they can just randomly look for a way to sort out the Yu family. In that way, it will be the whole family getting dragged down together. Never mind Yu Lingxin and Yu Yunxin, these young ladies, getting affected when discussing marriage in the future, afraid even Yu Bocheng’s official career will also suffer.
After following along these words, Su-shi and Yu Yunxin’s complexion became increasingly pale. As Su-shi spoke with her sister-in-law, she was practically about the cry, and occasionally when sweeping a glance at Yu Lingxin, her gaze also faintly carried a bit of resentment.
At this time, Madam Su finally revealed her true intentions, “At the foot of the emperor, how is it that easy to establish one’s footing. Although these words might be cold, but brother-in-law’s official career at present really can’t compare with the old master back then. Why? It’s still because of not having anyone looking after him. All say, ‘it’s easy to be an official when knowing someone in court’. Setting aside others, just look at your own older brother, at present working for Zhu third master, and when encountering matters, there’s also someone to give directions. Our family’s Wei’er further don’t need to be mentioned, in the Zhu family private school, getting along harmoniously with the Cheng’en Duke Manor’s sisters, never even having a moment where her face turns red, and further won’t attract this kind of trouble.”
She paused for a moment, saying with a sight, “Actually, I already said before, for the eldest miss and Yun’er, going to the Zhu family private school is the best choice, why go to that nonsensical poetry gathering to invite trouble? What kind of background is the Jin Duke Manor? The Ming family young lady, that is just using Ling girl as a knife! Later, when there’s really trouble, look at exactly who will help your family!”
Yu Lingxin couldn’t help but hook her lips. Just as she was about to say something, she just heard Bai Guo’s voice pass in from the outside, “Eldest miss, Jin Duke Manor’s Ming fourth miss came to visit you, saying that she brought along the empress’s bestowments and the duke manor’s gifts.”
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