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Close at First Sight
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 held that lotus heart tea, secretly laughing to herself for a while, before personally looking for a case of the heart soothing incense she bought a few days ago at Jingfu Temple, carefully placing in a brocade box, letting Bai Guo send back as a return gift, even instructing Bai Guo to deliver a message, asking the second young master to slowly use.
She originally thought that this was enough for a reply, yet in less than three days after this return gift was sent over, Bai Guo just deferentially brought over another case of tea leaves again.
Yu Lingxin at the time was in the middle of organizing the old account books in her dowry. Seeing the new tea leaves, she just furrowed her brows, “Lotus heart tea again?”
Bai Guo offered up with both hands, also not daring to say too much, “Shizi says that miss will know once you see.” After saying this, she very perceptively retreated out.
As soon as she opened the case, the fresh and bitter scent similar to the lotus heart tea from last time just drifted out. Just, the bitterness this time was even more intense than last time. Yu Lingxin carefully looked over that tea case again. Inside, aside from lotus heart tea, there seemingly was also a bit of sophora root[1] and kuding[2] tea, an entire case packed full.
Carefully sniffing a few times, the strong bitter scent just sharpened her spirit. And this kind of bitter tea, if she really were to brew a cup, afraid it would just make her tongue go numb from the bitterness.
Thinking of Xun Che’s thoughts and expression, Yu Lingxin increasingly couldn’t help but laugh. Really, how come this person just likes messing around this much now? Was the lotus heart tea not bitter enough, even needing to add kuding and sophora roots?
But, recalling the words he said the previous few times, as well as the pressure he was facing now, Yu Lingxin somewhat softened a little. Although still not willing to go boating, but it also wasn’t good to send more calming incense as a return gift.
Thus, she had the account books put away, while also ordering Ganlu to find a few piece of light colored fabric, just saying to let the servant girls do a bit of needlework for Yu Zhengshan who was diligently studying lately.
As for herself, she selected a piece of cyan colored fabric, making a simple embroidered pouch, embroidering a few bamboo leaves on there according to her memories of what she once made for Xun Che in the past life. Then, she used the oil paper to wrap an entire pack of flaky pastries to place in the embroidered pouch, letting Bai Guo send over later.
And this time, she finally didn’t receive anymore intensified return gift of bitter herbs and medicine.
Back and forth, it just reached the ninth month. The weather also gradually turned cold.
However, the capital’s atmosphere nevertheless became increasingly lively. On one hand, Wenhua Academy will be receiving the various families and manor’s recommendation letter and poetry essay at the end of the ninth month, and in the tenth month, the Wenhua Academy will soon hold the Meilin Poetry Gathering, also making the young ladies of the capital even more diligent in preparing.
Perhaps motivated by Ming Jinrou and Xun Ying’s poetry club, at this time, it wasn’t just the literature teachers that were very high in demand, even the comings and goings between the relatives in the entire ninth month all had a bit more of paintings and calligraphies passing around. And the tea and poetry gatherings among the young ladies of the same generation were further found everywhere.
However, there wasn’t anyone that seriously tried to form another poetry club, imitating the Linglong Poetry Club’s framework. After all, in the capital, young ladies of similar status and age, in total, there was just that many. If someone really were to have this idea at this time, it will just be directly snatching from the Ming family and Xun family. This kind of thing, aside from Cheng’en Duke Manor’s Zhu family, there really wasn’t anyone that would rashly do.
As for the Yu family’s interior, it was also somewhat stirring faintly.
Previously, because of the conflict with the Wen family sisters at the Jin Duke Manor, Yu Yunxin and Su-shi were very much fearful for a few days. Afterwards, seeing Ming Jinrou bring two carriage of presents worth over a thousand gold over, their thoughts just began moving in another direction.
TN: All translations outside of Broken Jinsei are stolen and reposted without permission!
Since the eldest miss was this valued by the Ming family young miss and Xun family young miss, then it was very possible that the eldest miss might not care about the Wenhua Academy. Then, the Yu family’s recommendation letter, perhaps can consider giving it to the second miss?
Actually, Yu Lingxin really was willing to yield. Even without the Linglong Poetry Club, she also wasn’t the least bit interested in the Wenhua Academy.
But, Yu old madam and Yu Bocheng completely didn’t agree. On the fifth of the ninth month, when the whole family was paying respect to the old madam, Su-shi slightly mentioned this matter. Yu Bocheng immediately just got angry, and even the old madam all slammed the table in anger, scaring Yu Yunxin and the young Yu Zhenghua into tears. In the end, it was still Yu Lingxin that got up to pacify before the matter finally settled down.
Just, what was originally a perfectly fine family gathering just ended unhappily like this. Yu Lingxin was also a but unhappy, but just as she returned to Lianyi Residence, she just saw Gancao come over to report, saying that the Jin Duke Manor’s Ming fourth miss came to see the eldest miss again.
Yu Lingxin was very surprised. Wasn’t the tenth of the ninth month just the date for the next poetry club meeting? Could it be that Xun Che can’t even wait these five days? However, thinking it over again, she was also a bit worried. Could it be that something happened to Qin Wang again, that’s why Ming Jinrou was upset inside?
But, Ming Jinrou was just like last time, the visiting card and person arriving at the same time, so it wasn’t good to not welcome. Yu Lingxin was also helpless and could only head to the second gate to greet her.
Today’s Ming Jinrou was dressed in a simple orange thin silk dress embroidered with round patterns[3], very valiant and agile looking, her words also even more direct, “Older sister Huijun, Ying’er is sick, do you want to come with me to go see her?”
“How’d she get sick?” Yu Lingxin didn’t expect that it would be this kind of change. Xun Ying was a quiet and gentle young lady that extremely loved poetry. Although not like Wen Ruoqiong where even the breeze can knock her down, but compared with the energetic and lively Ming Jinrou, she was still much more delicate, “Could it be that she got worn out by the poetry club’s matters?”
Ming Jinrou slanted her mouth, “Not that, it was from the river breeze when riding the pleasure boat a few days ago. My older brother, her older brother, and I were all fine, only her, this little soft bun, that immediately fell ill after returning. Really quite frail.”
Yu Lingxin helplessly smiled, but seeing how Ming Jinrou still had a bit of a disdaining look, she just knew that Xun Ying’s cold probably wasn’t very serious, “She’s just a bit delicate, how can she compare with men and someone like you who practice martial arts. So, it’s catching a cold and having a fever? How is she now? Did her family invite an imperial physician?”
Ming Jinrou pouted even more, “Why can’t she be compared? Older sister, you sure enough love her more than me, immediately just defending, really like real…………”
When speaking to here, the two of them had just set foot in Lianyi Residence. Yu Lingxin stopped in her tracks and turned back to glance at her, “Real what?”
Ming Jinrou was startled, for a moment, suddenly feeling that Yu Lingxin’s glance was very familiar-looking. How come it was somewhat similar to Xun Che’s look. She immediately changed her words, “Real sisters!”
Towards this girl that had no filter, Yu Lingxin was also very helpless, instructing Ganlu and the others to serve the tea and desserts before closing the door, “Our manor can’t compare with your Qinghong Pavilion. Although unlikely for the walls to have ears, but still need to pay attention a little. If you randomly blurt out like this again, next time, I won’t dare to welcome you in.”
“I was wrong!” Ming Jinrou gave in very quickly. After taking a sip of tea, she continued, “Older sister, why don’t you go change and come with me to go see Ying’er? I really came to pick you up.”
Yu Lingxin although didn’t feel that Xun Che and Ming Jinrou would use Xun Ying’s illness as an excuse, but this attitude still made her somewhat suspicious, “Just going to see Ying’er? Nothing else?”
Ming Jinrou smiled, “That’s just you two’s matter, how would I know. However, yesterday, the imperial physician said that Ying’er needs to rest more. She has been a bit tired lately, so we figured that since the next club meeting will be soon, and even held at the Wen’an Marquis Manor, it’ll be great if older sister can come over to help.”
She paused for a moment, and seeing that there was indeed no one else in the room, she finally cutely added, “Actually, these tedious and mundane tasks, Ying’er and I really aren’t too good with. Just, there’s second older cousin’s order from above, so we can only hardened our heads and try to manage. Second cousin-in-law, please just come over and help us!”
Hearing this ‘cousin-in-law’ at this time, Yu Lingxin’s eyes although darted around, she nevertheless didn’t refute her again.
Based on Xun Che’s plans and the current state of the capital, Linglong Poetry Club certainly can’t just be interrupted at this time, and there further can’t be any careless mistakes in the arrangements. Actually, according to what Xun Che revealed to her in their conversation last time, it was precisely wanting her to secretly assist a little.
“Additionally……” Seeing Yu Lingxin’s expression ease, Ming Jinrou suddenly said with a smile, “Older sister should dress a bit more attentively. Today, going to see Ying’er, paternal aunt certainly will also be present.”
Yu Lingxin thought for a moment, before finally comprehending. Ming Jinrou’s meaning was that she will see Xun Che’s mother, Ming Huayue, this future mother-in-law, today. That’s why, she needs to be mindful of her attire. Just, what Ming Jinrou didn’t know was that this future mother-in-law, in Yu Lingxin’s heart, was nevertheless her former mother-in-law, so she was very familiar with her.
In the past life, Ming Huayue died of illness in Tianxu year 27, an entire five years later than Xun Che. In those five years that Yu Lingxin lived as a widow, aside from managing Wen’an Marquis Manor’s household affairs, and raising their adopted son, she just served by Ming Huayue, this mother-in-law’s side.
Between the two of them, even if not close like real mother and daughter, they were still very close. Because of this, when thinking of meeting Ming Huayue soon, Yu Lingxin not only didn’t have the nervousness and bashfulness of meeting the mother-in-law, but instead faintly looked forward to it. After all, in the last lifetime, when she returned to the capital, she had already painfully lost the opportunity to reunite with her grandmother and father. And in the many years after, the only elder by her side that gave her care was practically just her mother-in-law, Ming Huayue alone.
Very soon, she finished changing.
Yu Lingxin also let Ganlu go to the storeroom to retrieve two types medicinal ingredient for cold and a pack of swallow’s nest as a gift. Afterwards, she just headed to Wen’an Marquis Manor together with Ming Jinrou.
Along the way, as they laughed and chatted, Ming Jinrou was still secretly observing her expression, finding it increasingly strange. How come this second cousin-in-law was this composed?
Was she really not the least bit nervous about meeting her future mother-in-law soon?
When they were about to reach Wen’an Marquis Manor’s second gate, Ming Jinrou finally said with a sigh, “Sister Huijun, how come I feel like you’ve already been my second cousin-in-law for a very long time?”
Yu Lingxin couldn’t help but dryly cough, averting her eyes, “Cough, cough, don’t say nonsense.”
Ming Jinrou also shook her head, “I also don’t know what I’m thinking, probably just feeling close with older sister at first sight.”
Yu Lingxin felt increasingly awkward inside, not knowing how to respond to this. Fortunately, at this time, the horse carriage finally stopped, and outside the carriage, a familiar voice also sounded, “Jinrou, you’re here.”
[1] Dried sophora root is a type of traditional chinese medicine known to be very bitter.
[2] Another type of super bitter tea.
[3] Picture example below. It’s described as 橘色(orange) 绣团纹(embroidered round patterns) 织锦(silk fabric with colored pattern) 罗(thin silk dress) 衣(clothes).
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