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Elders
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 eldest miss has come, quickly sit.” Su aunt-in-law called out to her even more enthusiastically than Su-shi, this Yu family madam, “You must have been exhausted these days. Last time, I brought some fresh fruits, and even said to give some to eldest miss for a taste, yet didn’t see you.”
Yu Lingxin smiled, “Aunt-in-law is too polite. These days, just have been a bit busy with the literature club’s matters. As a matter of fact, it’s also because the Wenhua Academy’s poetry gathering is near. Don’t know whether Wei’er’s preparations are going well?”
“I’ve given my poetry works to the teacher to look at.” Su Hanwei said with a smile, her brows and eyes full of color, “The teacher said that it’s still pretty good. Yun’er’s is also okay.”
Yu Lingxin swept a glance at Yu Yunxin. Sure enough, on the latter’s face, there was also a somewhat prideful look, probably feeling that her own poetry work was enough to enter Wenhua Academy, very confident in the outcome.
Towards this, she was a bit relieved. If at this time, Su Hanwei were to say that Yu Yunxin’s poetry wasn’t good, all because she didn’t go to the Zhu family private school to study these days, it would instead be troublesome. It was better for it to be like this, letting Yu Yunxin happily go to Wenhua Academy.
On the other side, Madam Su secretly glanced at Yu Lingxin’s expression. Sure enough, she didn’t have the slightest envy or attachment towards Wenhua Academy. When mentioning, it was just like mentioning an ordinary festival. Madam Su was also quite baffled inside.
“Eldest miss, your aunt-in-law came today to bring you all invitations.” At this time, Su-shi finally spoke. The other first rank servant girl by her side, Baochan, hurriedly came over, offering up an extremely exquisite invitation with both hands to Yu Lingxin. Written on the cover was Cheng’en Duke Manor Zhu family’s character.
Madam Su immediately added, “On the sixth of the tenth month, it’s the Zhu family’s third young master and third young miss, this pair of fraternal twins’ birthday. Her Highness the Noble Consort has bestowed honor from the palace, mainly because of loving her niece, wanting to hold a hundred flower banquet for the third miss, inviting all the noble and official families’ young ladies in capital over. When time comes, even the junzhus and xianzhus[1], as well as those young ladies from the imperial clan, will all come. The third miss has always been close with Wei’er, and also heard that the eldest miss and Yun’er are both talented, so very delighted inside. Just look at how she specially prepared personally handwritten invitations for you two. Eldest miss must definitely go!”
When the words ‘her Highness Noble Consort’ came out, Yu Lingxin immediately understood.
The Linglong Literature Club although hasn’t been running for that long, it has still been almost two months. Although on the surface, everyone is still very enthusiastic towards the Wenhua Academy, but in reality, the overall state of affairs is already subtly changing.
On one hand, Ming Jinrou and Xun Ying had very diligently roped in some noble family young ladies that they originally weren’t too close with. And on the other hand, because of some of the discussions in the club, those young ladies that were actually proficient in poetry, literature, and history were also able to have fun making friends and exchanging knowledge through literature.
In between this, Ming Jinrou and Yu Lingxin, under Xun Che’s incitement, would also intentionally or otherwise mention the Wenhua Academy from time to time. This made everyone, for a time, appear increasingly eager towards entering Wenhua Academy, yet at the same time, it also let them have an even higher expectation towards exactly how much literature and history the Wenhua Academy can teach them.
To put it bluntly, if the current Wenhua Academy really is like what Xun Che said, just a shelf with a fancy name, then those young ladies that genuinely like learning, even if entering, afraid will still voluntarily withdraw out not long after.
Of course, this part probably only Yu Lingxin completely understood Xun Che’s intentions. The others, including Ming Jinrou, may not necessarily look down on the Wenhua Academy.
But, there was one thing that was very obvious, and that was just, in terms of winning people over, the Zhu family private school at present can be considered completely defeated in front of the Linglong Literature Club. That’s why, Noble Consort Zhu holding a big birthday banquet for her niece and nephew of her maiden family, inviting all the noble family young masters and young ladies in the capital, it was very likely an attempt to recover some lost ground.
“Eldest miss at present certainly must have made quite a few friends in the literature club.” Seeing that Yu Lingxin seemingly didn’t have the intention to immediately refuse, instead looking over the invitation with a bit of interest, Madam Su hurriedly continued, “Then, the flower banquet this time, one further can’t miss out. The junzhus and xianzhus of the imperial clan will all be there. No matter what, the eldest miss should also take your younger sister to gain more experience, right?”
Yu Lingxin smiled, “Alright.”
TN: All translations outside of Broken Jinsei are stolen and reposted without permission!
“This—–is really great!” Madam Su originally still had a long string of words that she wanted to say. Suddenly hearing Yu Lingxin just directly agree like this, she immediately just choked up, actually feeling a bit stifled from not having fully expressed herself.
However, after going through the setbacks from the previous few times, Madam Su also made out that regardless whether it’s because of the horse carriage incident, or because getting schemed against by her own mother, thus getting particularly looked after by the elders, or because as the eldest di daughter, she was thus just regarded highly by Yu old madam and Yu Bocheng, all in all, in the present Yu family, this eldest miss’s words were much more useful than Su-shi’s, this main wife.
Actually based on Yu Bocheng’s current low fourth rank position, the Yu family’s standing in the capital was also just in the middle. The Cheng’en Duke Manor giving the Yu family this invitation, it was already considered a great honor. Even if not giving an invitation, it completely wasn’t considered rude either.
But Madam Su can still sense that this kind of free honor and glory, if this stubborn Yu eldest miss were to refuse to go, then never mind Su-shi, this stepmother being powerless, afraid even Yu Yunxin, who wholeheartedly wants to go, also won’t be able to go.
That’s why, she specially took this trip today, even preparing loads of words to persuade Yu Lingxin. But, who knew that before she could pour out everything, Yu Lingxin not only agreed, she even agreed very straightforwardly.
Yu Lingxin smilingly nodded and then just got up, “The sixth of the tenth month, noted. When time comes, I’ll go with Yun’er. Aunt-in-law can continue to sit. I’m a bit tired, so will go back first.”
Su-shi and Yu Yunxin actually both relaxed a breath at the same time, quickly responding, “Then why don’t eldest miss go back first to rest.”
Yu Lingxin once again smiled. Her obstructing in every way possible previously was just not wanting the Yu family to have any ties with the Zhu family. However, the situation at present was already different. She still very much want to go to the Cheng’en Duke Manor for a look, see exactly what kind of tricks Noble Consort Zhu had up her sleeve.
After simply curtsying, she just exited Su-shi’s main room, first giving Bai Guo a meaningful glance. Because these days, whenever going to the Jin Duke Manor or Xun Manor, she would all take Bai Guo, the two of them were increasingly coordinated. Bai Guo immediately understood Yu Lingxin’s meaning, bowing to her before going to pass on the message.
After returning to Lianyi Residence, Yu Lingxin genuinely felt a bit tired. Although at present, she’d returned to her youth, when her body was still good, but during her youth in the past life, she was very lacking in blood and qi, suffering from pent-up frustrations. Actually, speaking of this, her body wasn’t necessarily that much stronger than Xun Ying’s.
After running around these days, dealing with the Xun family’s inner and outer accounts, the Ming and Xun family’s poetry gathering, and so on, at present, she was indeed a bit tired. As such, she just called Ganlu and them to prepare warm water for a bath. Afterwards, after eating a bit of dessert, she just took a nap.
Perhaps really tired, she slept very soundly. By the time she woke up, the sky had already darkened, and Bai Guo also returned with a message.
Accepting the letter, Yu Lingxin immediately smiled after opening it.
It was still the bamboo leaf paper that Xun Che frequently used, his calligraphy bold and tangled, probably randomly writing while busy.
But, those strokes of his strangely made her feel delighted. On the paper, there was just a few words.
Just go as you like.
Don’t know whether or not she’d thought too much, an entire sheet of letter paper with just these words, holding it in hand, Yu Lingxin still pursed her lips and smiled for a good while.
Through the calligraphy, she was just able to imagine, what kind of unrestrained attitude Xun Che had when writing this. Even the glint in his eyes, the smile on his lips, she was all able to directly picture in her mind.
“Miss has woken? Do you want some light tea?” Precisely at this time, Ganlu entered with the tea. Yu Lingxin finally had the letter soundlessly put away, casually taking the teacup. Afterwards, she instructed Ganlu to look for fabric and head ornaments in the storeroom, starting to prepare the various things related to this matter.
Two days later, it was Jin Duke Manor’s poetry gathering. This one also went by smoothly like the one last time at the Xun Manor. Ruiyang Junzhu and Yongfu Junzhu that Xun Che mentioned previously also didn’t come. While slightly feeling relieved, Yu Lingxin also felt that it wasn’t that strange. Since the Cheng’en Duke Manor was grandly holding some flower banquet in a high-profile, then as Noble Consort Zhu’s niece, Ruiyang Junzhu probably will be at the Cheng’en Duke Manor more.
And because at the end of the tenth month was Wenhua Academy’s poetry gathering, at the Linglong Literature Club this time, it was just like scholars preparing for the imperial exam. Everyone no longer competed in composing poetry, instead jointly choosing to write famous works, historic anecdotes, classical stories, and so on. After conversing and discussing, while also drinking tea and admiring the scenery, it was easily the host and guests enjoying themselves to the greatest extent.
Just after the club meeting ended, and Xun Ying smilingly sent off the guests, her expression very quickly just revealed a bit of faint worry.
Yu Lingxin saw when turning around and just instinctively looked towards Ming Jinrou first.
Ming Jinrou also looked at Xun Ying, slanting her mouth, “Little squishy bun, what are you worried about now? Your family’s second branch’s matters?”
Xun Ying nodded, “Last night, mother received a letter, saying that the old madam and my second uncle’s family will arrive in another two days. Originally, the old madam said that because her maiden family has just held a funeral, she doesn’t want to grandly hold a birthday banquet this year, but the palace has already bestowed the rewards, so even if not wanting, still need to hold. Moreover, if the next club gathering coincides with the birthday banquet, just thinking about it makes me worried.”
“You’re worried about how to handle and manage the various affairs, or worried about those two tang sisters of the second branch?” Ming Jinrou slanted her mouth, “When time comes, your family’s old madam will certainly have them shoved over. Just don’t know whether or not their other sisters of their maternal family will come to the capital together with them.”
“There shouldn’t be. After all, the Jiang family’s young ladies are still observing mourning.” Xun Ying shook her head, but the worries in her eyes were difficult to dispel, “I’m just scared that when time comes, there’s some inconsiderate areas, letting older brother and mother be distracted and troubled. After all, my father isn’t in the capital right now. If mother really has some dispute with the old madam and the second branch, it won’t be good.”
After interacting these days, Yu Lingxin really increasingly liked Ming Jinrou and Xun Ying. Xun Ying although wasn’t as lively and intimate as Ming Jinrou, but she was kind and good-tempered, genuinely thinking of others for all things.
Seeing Xun Ying like this at this time, Yu Lingxin couldn’t help but stroke her head, “Ying’er, don’t worry, just deal with the problems as they come. For all things, there’s still your……..your family’s elders in front.”
Ming Jinrou broke out into laughter, glancing at Yu Lingxin, “En, elder.”
[1] Junzhu is a title bestowed to a daughter of a qinwang (first rank wang) and Xianzhu is the title for a daughter of a junwang (second rank wang).
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