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Chang’de Count Manor
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!
On the way to Dongli Residence, after asking Shuangzhi a few words, Yu Lingxin roughly had an understanding inside. And at the same time, while being increasingly disappointed with Qi-shi, she actually also faintly felt a bit of a release.
If Qi-shi really wants to cause trouble again, wearing away their mother-daughter relationship, then she also doesn’t need to hesitate anymore.
Entering Dongli Residence’s main room, Qi-shi was currently sitting in the first seat below, chatting with Yu old madam. Today, she was wearing a brand new cassia gold soft satin summer dress, and on the dangling phoenix gold hairpin in her hair, the enormous sapphire glittered radiantly. It was precisely the vivid look most commonly seen among official family madams when going out and visiting as guests.
“Ling’er came?” Hearing Yu Lingxin enter, Qi-shi immediately turned around, her face filled with an affectionate and warm look, “Come sit down!”
Yu Lingxin soundlessly went around slightly, curtsying towards Yu old madam first, “Grandmother.” And afterwards, she finally looked towards Qi-shi again, “Mother.”
Qi-shi at present had just passed thirty. Her naturally tender and charming features were still stunningly beautiful, but at the edge of her brows, one can already make out the fine and shallow wrinkles, probably due to getting angry too often normally. When smiling, it was still okay, but when angrily shouting, she would appear stern and unruly.
Seemingly for a moment, Yu Lingxin felt that her young mother before her and the mother that she saw before she passed away had overlapped.
In the previous lifetime, in the last half year of her life where she was already bedridden with illness, just barely managing to deal with the Wen’an Marquis Manor’s affairs, her mother Qi-shi, despite nearing sixty, her hair slowly turning gray, her back was nevertheless still straight as a pole, her eyes shining brightly. The two deep lines of wrinkles by her mouth were seemingly like as if she would get angry at anytime. And every time coming to visit, asking for money, asking for things, her voice was still thundering, full of energy.
“Ling’er’s attire today really is orderly.” Qi-shi didn’t detect what was different about Yu Lingxin’s tranquil expression from her usually docile and obedient look in the past, just quickly sweeping a glance over that ruby plum flower hairpin in her hair, and the coral jinbu at her waist, adding with a smile, “Today is your maternal aunt-in-law’s birthday, so the guests in the count manor certainly will be many. With the carriages and people busily coming and going, you, a little girl, going over alone, I also won’t feel at ease. Since it just happened to be on the way, I thus came over to pick you up. Later, once you’re done tidying up, we’ll go together in my carriage.”
When she finished saying this, she just heard Yu old madam lightly cough once.
Qi-shi finally realized that she wasn’t ‘asking’, thus she could only unnaturally pause, slightly changing her tone, “Ling’er, why don’t you go over together with mother, alright?” As she said this, she just went to grab Yu Lingxin’s hand.
Yu Lingxin’s spine stiffened, forcibly enduring so as to not immediately struggle free from Qi-shi’s hand. Slightly collecting herself, she carefully contemplated before softly responding, “Mother’s thoughts are also reasonable, but I am the Yu family’s eldest di daughter. Going over, it’s not just as the niece. And there’s also the Yu family’s presents, so won’t be taking the same carriage as mother.”
With Qi-shi’s temper, she has always been unable to tolerate hearing the word ‘no’, so immediately just frowned, “Sending presents, there’s still the people below, could it be that even need for you to personally hold? Once your maternal aunt-in-law sees the gift list, she naturally will know that the Yu family is thorough in etiquette, who would care whether or not there’s the Yu family’s carriage?”
“Maternal aunt-in-law sees the gift list and know that our Yu family is thorough in etiquette.” Seeing Qi-shi’s complexion already showing slight anger, Yu Lingxin just felt the many feelings from the past life once again rush forth in her heart, but she already wasn’t that clay doll that can be casually manipulate. As such, she just took the opportunity to have her hand pulled back, her body also leaning back a little, calmly answering, “But outsiders may not necessarily know. The Qi family and the Yu family have been friendly for generations. If during the countess’s birthday, the Yu family doesn’t even have a carriage present, how will outsiders view the Yu family’s etiquette and dignity? Mother’s good intentions, I appreciate, but today, it’s best if we head over separately.”
Qi-shi’s brows furrowed even tighter, but in front of Yu old madam, she still wouldn’t go as far as to say something like ‘the Yu family doesn’t need face’, just firmly responding, “This child, in the past, usually very quiet and gentle, yet how come today, just started acting strange! If you must have the Yu family’s carriage, then just transporting the presents is also fine. You riding in a carriage with me, who would nitpick? Among the relatives, who doesn’t know that you’re my daughter?”
“Madam Kou.” Yu old madam’s complexion was also somewhat unpleasant, “Are you lecturing the child in our Yu Manor?”
Qi-shi’s face immediately reddened, naturally knowing that her tone just now was somewhat heavy, hurriedly getting up and curtsying towards Yu old madam, “Old madam, it was I that was irritable. I just miss Ling’er, so just became a bit impatient, there’s no other meaning.” She glanced towards Yu Lingxin again, “My good daughter, just ride together with mother today, alright? Mother even prepared for you your favorite kumquat.”
TN: All translations outside of Broken Jinsei are stolen and reposted without permission!
Yu Lingxin lowered her eyes. She didn’t even need to think to know that once she gets on Qi-shi’s carriage, she might never reach Chang’de Count Manor. Qi-shi can just randomly find an excuse, saying she suddenly has a headache, or perhaps forgot something at home, turning around the carriage and just returning to the Kou Manor. After downing her with a bowl of knockout drug, or even laxatives, when time comes, she’ll just be the fish on the cutting board.
“If mother misses me, then we can just meet at the count manor. This quarter of an hour of travel time won’t make a difference.” The emotions churning in her heart were becoming increasingly complicated and intense. Yu Lingxin directly got up, curtsying towards the old madam and Qi-shi again, “The presents for the cousins at the count manor, I still haven’t finished preparing, thus I’ll be going back first, so won’t be seeing you off.”
When she finished speaking, she just retreated out the door, no longer looking at Qi-shi.
As for Qi-shi calling out in astonishment behind her, Yu Lingxin also just pretended to not hear.
This ultimately was in the Yu Manor, and also in front of the old madam, so she didn’t believe that Qi-shi would really dare to chase out after her.
Sure enough, within minutes of returning to Lianyi Residence, Shuangzhi smilingly came over again, even bringing a small box of silk handkerchiefs, “The old madam was worried that eldest miss won’t have enough things, so ordered this servant to deliver a box of handkerchiefs for you. These are all Jiuzhou Embroidery’s silk brocade. Miss taking them to give to one’s cousins is also suitable. Additionally, the old madam also ask eldest miss to rest assured. The old madam has talked with Madam Kou. When leaving, Madam Kou also wasn’t angry.”
Yu Lingxin’s heart instantly warmed. Her grandmother was still like this, thinking of everything for her. Although she knew that Qi-shi was certainly angered to the extreme, but having grandmother diligently looking after as such, what is there to not be satisfied with.
Those complicated sad emotions inside because of Qi-shi originally got swept away cleanly. Yu Lingxin rewarded Shuangzhi, and after tidying up again, she just directly climbed onto the carriage and headed to Chang’de Count Manor.
Arriving at the count manor, she followed the servant girl that came to welcome the guests to the reception pavilion. In the pavilion, there were already seven to eight families’ madams sitting there, coming to congratulate the countess on her birthday. Beautiful silk and brocade filled the eyes, the pearls and gemstones shining brightly.
Sweeping a glance over, an increasingly familiar feeling swept over her. Every family present, in the past life, she all had many dealings with. Never mind who and who were in-laws right now, even in the future, which will have marriage ties or which will become enemies, she was also very clear.
Sitting at the center naturally was today’s birthday star, Chang’de Countess, dressed in a bright red damask silk gown embroidered with a hundred fu(福) in golden threads, gorgeous and noble. The gold, pearl, jade, and gems that filled her head brightly glittered. And her somewhat plump round face was full of smiles. Just, when mentioning her own maiden family’s older sister-in-law in conversation, she was still a bit not that natural, “…………It’s also unfortunate, that older sister-in-law of mine is one that worries a lot, and there’s many matters to handle in Wen’an Marquis Manor, so ever since two days ago, her body has been somewhat unwell. The Xun family’s heir and young miss naturally came.”
These words for the occasion truly were a bit weak. Half a month ago, regarding Wen’an Marquis’s heir, Xun Che, possibly going mad from eating the Qi family’s dessert, it’d even spread to the Yu family, this kind of indirect relative, so for the madams present, who hadn’t heard before.
If the Wen’an Marchioness, Ming Huayue, had came and shown her face today, showing a bit of closeness between the two of them, then perhaps can still cover up a little more tightly, but Ming Huayue simply didn’t come. Just saying that the body was unwell, the previous rumors will just become even more peculiar.
Just, in this matter, there was one thing that can slightly make the Chang’de Count Manor’s face look a bit better, and that was just that Xun Che had came in person. That also can somewhat show that the poisoning, madness, and so on were nothing more than just rumors.
And Yu Lingxin had practically just arrived before the Chang’de Countess, when she heard the words ‘Xun family’s heir’, her heart uncontrollably jumping.
However, at this time, the Chang’de Countess also saw Yu Lingxin, hastily ending that awkward topic, turning over with a smile, “Ling’er has come?”
“Hope maternal aunt-in-law has been well.” Yu Lingxin curtsied with a smile, also saying a few auspicious blessings such as ‘wishing longevity and happiness’ to congratulate the birthday, similarly having her own increasingly difficult to describe feelings forcibly pressed down.
“This little mouth of Ling’er’s is becoming increasingly sweet.” The Chang’de Countess said with a smile, and then pointed to the side, “Your mother and younger sister are sitting over there, why don’t you go over.”
Yu Lingxin naturally looked over, and sure enough, saw Qi-shi along with Kou Yuluo, the only di daughter that she had with her current husband Kou Xian, sitting on the wooden armchair to the side. Among a crowd of wealthy high-ranking noble madams, her clothing and conduct didn’t appear that unpresentable either, just the smile on her face was even stiffer than the Chang’de Countess’s.
Yu Lingxin’s eyes momentarily met with Qi-shi’s, before smilingly turning towards the Chang’de Countess, “Not afraid to get laughed at by maternal aunt-in-law, I have very few sisters at home, and normally just chat with the elders, so today, wish to be lazy, wanting to relax with older cousin and them for half a day, won’t maternal aunt-in-law grant my wish for once?”
The Chang’de Countess was a bit surprised. She wasn’t close with Qi-shi, this shu-born younger sister-in-law, and towards Yu Lingxin, this niece, she further wasn’t familiar with, just remembering that she has always been a gentle and quiet young girl. Occasionally when seeing during the new year and holidays, she also has never seen Yu Lingxin smiling this sweetly before, both bright and easy-mannered.
However, this in the end didn’t have anything to do with her, and Yu Lingxin was merely the daughter of Qi-shi’s ex-husband. Whether it’s wanting to privately talk with Qi-shi, or interact with her cousins, it all didn’t matter. Chang’de Countess casually nodded, “That’s also fine. Pei’er and her sisters are drinking tea in Peony Residence, feel free to go over and play.”
Yu Lingxin curtsied, and then turned towards Qi-shi slightly gesturing before walking outwards.
“Ling’er, look after your younger sister a little.” Seeing Yu Lingxin not come over, Qi-shi clearly wasn’t too happy, but having that previous experience, she didn’t say anything more in front of this many people, just having the seven year old Kou Yuluo sent over.
Kou Yuluo practically got pushed out by her mother, her large eyes still a bit timid, but could only run to Yu Lingxin’s side, carefully lifting her head, “Older sister.”
Yu Lingxin curved her lips, taking Kou Yuluo’s hand, “Little radish, do you miss older sister?” Although Qi-shi had thousands of faults, this younger sister from the same mother, Yu Lingxin still liked.
(T/N: Kou Yuluo’s name literally translates to jade radish.)
In the past life, after she got taken away from the capital by Qi-shi, she practically just got all her connections with the Yu family cut off. By the time she returned to the capital, the Yu family had completely fallen, and at the time, among what was left of her maiden family relatives, the only one that made her feel family warmth was also just this younger sister.
“Miss.” Kou Yuluo earnestly nodded her head, “Especially miss.”
Yu Lingxin smiled, “Let’s go, I’ll take you to go chat with older cousin Pei’er.”
The two sisters chatted as they went out, turning towards the east side winding corridor, heading over to Peony Residence in the rear court. Because Kou Yuluo was small, Yu Lingxin thus had her head lowered chatting with her, also slightly slowing her steps.
As a result, it was just not paying attention to the front, and right when they turned the corner, passing through the moon gate, she immediately bumped into someone full on.
T/N: It’s a good thing that neither of Qi-shi’s daughters took after her in personality.
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MC’s mother already gives me Ding Duchess level crazy vibes 😭😭
thank you for your hard work on this story!💕💕💕
her baby sister is literally named “Radish”…🥹😭
and such a sweet radish too!!!😭😭😭😭