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Ming Huayue
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!
The servant girls at this time have already come over to lift the curtains and place the footstool. However, Ming Jinrou just waved her hand, saying that there was no need, directly jumping down from the carriage on her own, smilingly turning to Xun Che, “Second cousin, I brought sister Huijun over.”
“En.” Xun Che slightly nodded. On the surface, although still warm and gentle, he seemingly was also a bit too calm, still standing in place.
Yu Lingxin climbed down from the carriage with Bai Guo’s support. Glancing over, she could immediately tell that Xun Che seemingly had something on his mind. She was also too lazy to exchange pleasantries in front of Ming Jinrou, similarly directly asking in a soft voice, “Is Ying’er okay?”
“Nothing serious.” Xun Che slowly exhaled a breath, his reply similarly natural. Shortly after, he just turned his body, leading Ming Jinrou and her over to the back manor, “Imperial Physician Zhou said that she’s just a bit overly exhausted, so the cold this time appear a bit more serious than usual, also coughing a lot more.”
Seeing that his worried look wasn’t that deep, Yu Lingxin also figured that Xun Ying should just be a bit sick. But, if this cold was related to being tired out by the poetry club, then Xun Che, as the true driving force behind the poetry club, he certainly will feel a bit guilty.
She knew, in the past life, one of the most painful matters for Ming Huayue and Xun Che was precisely Xun Ying’s premature death. As such, although she knew that Wei Wang was the main culprit behind Xun Ying’s death, the specific cause and effect of this matter, she nevertheless never asked in detail.
At this time, Xun Ying was merely just a bit sick. With that kind of tragic past, there was nothing that can be compared. But, Xun Che, as the older brother, still couldn’t help but remember those past memories.
“When the seasons change, it’s easy to get sick.” Yu Lingxin gently said, “In addition to bearing the river wind, coughing a bit more is also normal. The next poetry club meeting, Jinrou and I naturally will take care of, not letting Ying’er worry.”
“If not at this time, the poetry club won’t be this important.” Xun Che lightly shook his head, sighing, “At least, still need to get by the tenth month first.”
Yu Lingxin understood, “This is natural——-” Just as she was about to continue, she suddenly realized that she had just been softly speaking back and forth with Xun Che along the way, actually not giving Ming Jinrou, who was walking on her other side, the chance to speak. Yu Lingxin could only lightly cough, “Cough, cough, Jinrou, you also need to be mindful of your body, don’t fall sick too.”
Ming Jinrou couldn’t help but laugh, quickly sweeping a glance at the surroundings, and seeing that there weren’t anyone else walking around, she finally softly responded, “You two can just talk, no need to insist on adding me in. Heheh, my body is great.”
Xun Che was even more blunt, directly stating, “Letting them handle this matter, it’s also quite hard on them. Jinrou isn’t the type that likes doing these things. Huijun, you will need to put in some more thought.”
Yu Lingxin was helpless. Just, hearing his tone, he clearly still had something on his mind, but it wasn’t good to say anything more in front of Ming Jinrou. As such, she just lightly made a sound in response.
Hearing that her voice was actually even more gentle than normal, Ming Jinrou secretly laughed to herself even more.
Fortunately, their pace was quick, and Xun Ying’s courtyard also wasn’t too far, so they very quickly arrived. Xun Che just stopped outside the courtyard, glancing again at Yu Lingxin and Ming Jinrou, “Mother is inside, so why don’t you two just go in. I will return to the study first.”
Ming Jinrou immediately nodded, “Don’t worry, I will take care of sister Huijun.”
Xun Che slightly hooked his lips, “Many thanks.” With that said, he just turned and left.
TN: All translations outside of Broken Jinsei are stolen and reposted without permission!
This time, Yu Lingxin, who didn’t have the opportunity to insert a word, couldn’t help but inwardly roll her eyes. However, on the surface, she didn’t show anything, just heading inside together with Ming Jinrou.
Sure enough, Ming Huayue was in the warm room looking over Xun Ying’s prescription. Ming Jinrou just called out ‘paternal aunt’ upon entering, while for Yu Lingxin, who was the guest, it can be considered her first time meeting Ming Huayue like this in this lifetime. Thus, she deeply curtsied according to the etiquette of a younger generation, “Greetings madam.”
“So this is the Yu eldest miss, quickly sit.” Ming Huayue smiled, quickly sizing up the young girl before her eyes. Her stature was tall and slender, her skin fair, her appearance graceful and bright, can be considered rather eye-catching, yet her movements were very easy-going and steady. Ming Huayue had a somewhat favorable impression inside, continuing with a smile, “Previously heard Ying’er and Jinrou both mention that they were close with the Yu family young miss. Sure enough, a good child.”
“Madam is too polite.” Yu Lingxin sat down along with Ming Jinrou, also gazing towards Ming Huayue, her feelings inside extremely complicated. In the past life, prior to leaving the capital, she hadn’t met Ming Huayue before. It wasn’t until five years later in Tianxu year 18, after returning to the capital, did she meet her for the first time. That was also when her marriage arrangements were settled.
Ming Huayue’s dignified and beautiful appearance back then although was similar to her appearance at present, the wrinkles in the corner of her eyes and the tips of her brows, and her weary look nevertheless made her appear more than ten years older than now. More than half her hair at the time was also gray, practically worlds apart from her elegant and noble appearance at this time.
“Paternal aunt, has Ying’er gotten a little better?” Ming Jinrou swept a glance in the direction of Xun Ying’s bedroom, “Yesterday, I heard that her fever has already gone down somewhat. How is she today?”
When mentioning Xun Ying’s condition, Ming Huayue just shook her head, slightly sighing, “Yesterday afternoon, it had gone down a little, but at night, it just started burning again. She’d just taken the medicine earlier and have already fallen asleep. Her throat is a little better, not coughing that severely.”
“How come she started burning again?” Ming Jinrou clearly didn’t expect this. At this time, she also somewhat understood why Xun Che’s complexion wasn’t that good earlier, “Then, did the imperial physician change the prescription?”
Ming Huayue nodded, “Indeed changed, just your older cousin said that today’s prescription is too heavy, so should first use yesterday’s to stabilize a little.”
“Older cousin knows how to read prescriptions?” Ming Jinrou said in surprise, “How come he knows everything?”
When mentioning Xun Che, Ming Huayue revealed a bit of displeasure, “I’ve already scolded him. Merely just read a few medical books, yet dare to question the imperial physician’s prescription. If not for the poetry gathering’s matter tiring out Ying’er, where would she fall ill like this.”
It naturally wasn’t good for Yu Lingxin to say anything at this time, just she slightly heartached for Xun Che. How was it because of reading some medical books thus understanding the prescriptions.
In the past life, Xun Che got poisoned for the first time in Tianxu year 16, and at the end of the next year, he suffered a knife wound carrying poison. Prior to passing away in Tianxu year 22, he struggled on the sickbed for an entire six years. As the saying goes, ‘long term illness turns the patient into a good doctor’. Never mind Xun Che hearing and seeing don’t know how many medical principles in those six years, even she all slightly understood a little afterwards.
Hearing Ming Huayue and Ming Jinrou mention a few more words about Xun Ying’s condition, Yu Lingxin also swept a glance at the new prescription on the table and was somewhat astonished, “Madam, it wasn’t Imperial Physician Zhou that changed the prescription today?”
Ming Huayue was even more astonished than her, “Not Imperial Physician Zhou, but how did you know it wasn’t? Wait, how did you know it was originally Imperial Physician Zhou?”
Ming Jinrou hurriedly answered first, “Earlier, older cousin had mentioned a word, saying that Imperial Physician Zhou had said that Ying’er’s cold wasn’t too serious.”
Having obtained this buffer, Yu Lingxin also had an excuse to muddle through, “Previously, our family frequently invited Imperial Physician Wang and Imperial Physician Zhang to take grandmother’s pulse. I’d seen grandmother’s prescriptions a few times, thus felt that this handwriting was similar to Imperial Physician Wang’s.”
These words naturally were half true and half false. The Yu family have never invited this Imperial Physician Wang before, but in the past life, Xun Che getting examined by the Imperial Physicians Court was already a common occurrence. Yu Lingxin had looked over his medical records and prescriptions countless times, so towards every imperial physicians’ handwriting, she was all very familiar with.
It’s not that this Imperial Physician Wang’s medical skills weren’t good, just his style was somewhat risky, using much heavier medicine than his colleagues. Sometimes, it can also bring about some miraculous effect. The painkiller decoction that Xun Che occasionally used in the last half year of his life was precisely prepared by Imperial Physician Wang.
But Xun Ying at present was just tired on top of having a cold. After resting more, she naturally will just recover. Xun Che not willing to let his younger sister use Imperial Physician Wang’s heavy prescription was also normal.
“Is there something not suitable about Imperial Physician Wang?” Ming Huayue asked in confusion, “I know that he’d just entered the capital from the Zhang province last year, but heard that in the Zhang province, he also has somewhat of a reputation as a medical sage, so his medical skills should be good.”
Yu Lingxin shook her head, “It’s not that serious, just I seemingly heard that Imperial Physician Wang likes using strong medicine, skilled in curing heavy illness. That’s why, when my grandmother just needs something mild, she won’t take Imperial Physician Wang’s medicine.”
“In that case, not changing the prescription is also good. Waiting a little is also fine.” Ming Huayue thought for a moment, instructing her personal servant girl to prepare the medicine according to the previous prescription. Afterwards, she turned towards Yu Lingxin with a smile, “Fortunately, Miss Yu know some inside information. Letting Ying’er slowly recuperate is also good. Just, the poetry gathering’s matters will have to trouble you to help Jinrou some more.”
“Don’t worry paternal aunt, Yu family older sister is the most dependable.” Ming Jinrou hurriedly responded with a smile, “With her helping me, certainly won’t let Ying’er be tired again.”
Towards Ming Jinrou, this niece, Ming Huayue naturally very much trusted. Just, she knew that she has always disliked dealing with these tedious household matters. At this time, bringing along a steady indirect relative family’s young miss to help out, it was just much more reliable. At present, she just roughly explained a few words to them about the important rules in regards to the arrangements, wares, and so on in the Wen’an Marquis Manor, before handing over the tile[1] to Ming Jinrou.
Ming Jinrou and Yu Lingxin, on the surface, appear to be carefully listening, but in reality, both were somewhat distracted.
Yu Lingxin was familiar with the matters in Wen’an Marquis Manor to the extreme. At this time, it was merely needing to remember the names of the different servants in charge, completely effortless.
While Ming Jinrou felt that Yu Lingxin was meticulous and steady, so should be able to remember everything. She was truly too lazy to think too much. At the same time, she also had that kind of subtle strange feeling inside.
Just now, it appeared to be just a few ordinary words, but Yu Lingxin actually helped Xun Che bring the matter around. How many times can the two of them meet in total? Where did all this rapport come from?
Very soon, they finished discussing the poetry gathering’s affairs, and because Xun Ying had already fallen asleep again, it wasn’t good for Ming Jinrou and Yu Lingxin to sit for too long, taking the tile and getting up to take their leave.
On the way out, all the way to the second gate, Xun Che didn’t appear again. Yu Lingxin was actually a bit surprised, but considering that he was originally just feeling guilty over Xun Ying falling sick, and then also got scolded by his mother, Ming Huayue, presumably he didn’t have that many idle thoughts. Thus, she didn’t think too much of it either.
After climbing onto the carriage, Ming Jinrou directly just opened her mouth, “Second cousin-in-law, those things that paternal aunt said just now, do you have it all memorized? The poetry gathering this time is all for helping second cousin, and also your little sister-in-law. The invitations for this poetry gathering, I will send, but the rest of the preparations will all rely on you.”
Seeing her acting like this, Yu Lingxin couldn’t help but laugh, also recalling Xun Che’s thanks towards Ming Jinrou outside Xun Ying’s courtyard. Since, in Xun Che’s heart, she was someone even more intimate than Ming Jinrou, then what needs to be done should still be done, “Alright, those trivial matters, I will take care of. Just, I’m ultimately an outside guest. The specifics, I will prepare with you, while you go instruct the marquis manor’s servants.”
“This is natural!” Ming Jinrou immediately smiled like a flower, “Many thanks second cousin-in-law!”
The horse carriage continued traveling for a distance, but just as it was about to take a turn, Ming Jinrou suddenly called out, “Hey, stop the carriage for a moment. Are we currently at the entrance of Changning Street? Does Puwei Brand’s dessert shop have new osmanthus cake?”
The servant outside immediately complied and had the horse carriage parked at a spot near Changning Street’s entrance, reporting back a moment later, “Puwei Brand doesn’t have osmanthus cake today, but there’s four new kinds of dessert.”
“Four kinds? Then, I’ll go have a look!” Ming Jinrou immediately became delighted, “Older sister, wait for me for a moment. I’m going to go buy some desserts!”
Before Yu Lingxin could even say, ‘just let the servant go buy’, Ming Jinrou had already lifted the curtains on her own and agilely jumped down from the carriage just like before.
Yu Lingxin couldn’t help but shake her head and laugh again. This girl really was restless, probably just wanting to go out whenever she can.
Ming Jinrou left quickly, but seemingly also returned very quickly.
In less than half a cup of tea’s time, the carriage curtains just got lifted once again.
Just, it was hard to say whether this was something that made Yu Lingxin surprised or not. The person that climbed onto the carriage again wasn’t Ming Jinrou.
[1] Usually made of jade, wood, or metal. You can think of it like an ID card. By having it, they will have the authority to order around the servants.
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