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Search the 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!
Originally, when that servant woman rushed in, everyone was already paying attention. By the time the words ‘search the manor’ came out, there was instantly a commotion.
Ruiyang Junzhu and the others naturally changed in complexion too. At this time, how were the Zhu family young ladies still able to consider for the banquet, just hurriedly asking, “Say it one more time, who is coming to search the manor?”
That servant woman also had very distressed look, but also full of helplessness, “The Capital Magistrate Office received news, saying that among the people sending the gifts today, there might be some inappropriate…., so…………”
“How absurd!” Ruiyang Junzhu angrily said, “Who dares to search Cheng’en Duke Manor at this time? Do they not know what day is today?”
That servant woman was immediately scared into kneeling, “Replying to junzhu, it’s, it’s, these words, already said to the sirs of the Capital Magistrate Office, just………just they said, it’s precisely because there are numerous noble and esteemed guests in the manor today, thus not daring to overlook. Although there shouldn’t be a problem, but, but if by chance……..”
Speaking to here, the young ladies that were relatively anxious already stood up, “Exactly what kind of inappropriate people are there? Could it be some notorious bandits!?”
This time, the inside and outside of the reception hall became even more chaotic, and even more alarmed young ladies just stood up to leave.
Actually, in broad daylight, Cheng’en Duke Manor won’t have any overly major problems. Even if there really were some unknown people that snuck in among the guests, at most, it would just be one or two people. Could it be that they can even set fire to the place and kill everyone?
But, these young ladies of the boudoir naturally had even more misgivings, mainly in regards to their clean reputation and integrity. No one can afford to gamble. If by chance they were to encounter a fiend or bandit, never mind getting assaulted, even if just encountering, it’ll just be difficult to clean off, and their future in this lifetime afraid will just be ruined.
“No, no!” That servant woman hurriedly waved her hands, repeatedly explaining, “There isn’t, there isn’t, everyone please sit. It’s just, just wanting to go around the inside of manor once……….this, this is just for safety purposes, that’s all.”
This kind of explanation without elaboration, in addition to the disorderly voices outside that were becoming increasingly clear at this time, just appeared even more feeble. Everyone couldn’t help but successively hint at their own servant girl to go investigate. Ming Jinrou also gave her first rank servant girl at her side, Feihua, a meaningful look. Yu Lingxin, however, didn’t let Bai Guo go. She already roughly knew what was up with this matter inside.
For a moment, inside the reception hall, although there weren’t any guests really taking their leave, but with over ten servant girls heading outward simultaneously, it still appeared somewhat chaotic.
The Zhu family young ladies were both angry and anxious, while Ruiyang Junzhu was both startled and furious, all once again pressing that servant woman, “Explain clearly! Exactly what’s going on!”
That servant woman was truly helpless. Seeing that the scene can’t just be casually stabilized, she could only have the situation outside explained one by one.
Actually, it was still because this flower banquet today was truly grand. Aside from the young ladies of several dozen families, there was also the several dozen young masters and gentlemen that came to congratulate Zhu third miss’s older twin brother, the Zhu third young master, the total number of guests going over a hundred. With guests coming to the door like flowing water, the food and drinks, the in season fruits and the various goods, not all were prepared in the manor. There were many that were either purchased and prepared from their own stores, or from well-known old establishments of the capital.
The beverages and tea leaves naturally were delivered to the manor in advance, but some rare fruits still needed to be urgently transported over from places such as Jiangnan and Saibei. Additionally, some special desserts further needed to be freshly made in order to appear sufficiently luxurious and exquisite. That’s why, during today’s banquet, a corner gate in the back manor was specifically opened to receive the fresh fruits of Jiangnan, rushed over from outside of the capital, as well as the famous desserts of the capital.
The problem just came from this corner gate. To put it simply, it was just that the Capital Magistrate Office suspected that a repeated offender frequently apprehended by the Ministry of Justice had snuck in among the people delivering the fresh fruits and desserts today. Because the guests and horse carriages that came to the Cheng’en Duke Manor today were already over a hundred, even if the Cheng’en Duke Manor was expansive, it was still unable to hold this many horse carriages, so they had no choice but to park in the nearby roads, while also requesting the Capital Magistrate Office to send over some guards to help coordinate.
TN: All translations outside of Broken Jinsei are stolen and reposted without permission!
Since the people of the Capital Magistrate Office had already came, then when detecting an unusual situation, they naturally need to notify the Cheng’en Duke Manor, else if something really were to happen, the Capital Magistrate Office’s responsibility will be big.
That’s why, prior to the reception hall’s side hearing the disturbance, two constables of the magistrate office had already argued with the Zhu family’s steward outside for an entire quarter of an hour. The two constables’ meaning was just that they indeed suspect there’s a repeated offender, but to search or not, the decision was in the Cheng’en Duke Manor’s hands. To put it bluntly, it was just throwing them the responsibility.
If they were to search and alarm the guests, then that was Cheng’en Duke Manor’s own decision. Even if unable find anything, it also has nothing to do with the magistrate office. But, if they were to choose to ignore it and not search, then it was further just the Cheng’en Duke Manor’s own problem.
The Zhu Manor’s steward nearly fainted in anger, but asking back and forth, regardless whether it’s the constables or the bailiffs, they all just dared to say that the person resembled and indeed looked similar, but didn’t dare to say for sure, not daring to guarantee. Everything all just depended on the manor’s own decision. Even if stalling, it was also the manor’s decision, nothing to do with the magistrate office.
In the end, the steward could only go back to report to the Cheng’en Duchess. After all, more than half the guests that came to the manor today were the high-ranking noble daughters of the capital. Although startling the guests during the search wasn’t good, but if an accident really were to occur, then that aftermath will be even harder to shoulder.
With no other choice, Cheng’en Duchess although was also fuming in anger, but after weighing the pros and cons in the end, she still didn’t dare to risk it, and could only let the servants of the various courtyards of the manor not casually walk around anymore. At the same time, she also picked a few experienced old servants to accompany the people of the magistrate office to search around.
At this time, the place where the young masters were gathered had already finished getting searched, and because there weren’t anything unusual, they thus needed to head to the back garden. Just, there were a few young masters that were worried about their own family’s sisters, so also came over together with the people searching. The Cheng’en Duke Manor, as the host family, was already awkward to death. Right now, they just hoped that after thoroughly inspecting, it can put an end to any unusual situations. As such, it wasn’t good for them to block.
After hearing all this, the great majority of the people slightly calmed down a little, also not rushing to leave alone. Just, while looking to one another in dismay, they were all somewhat awkward. For the young ladies that were relatively quiet and timid, this banquet was practically a disaster. However, for Ming Jinrou, this kind of lively young lady, compared to the fresh fruits, tea and desserts, these disturbances one after another were much more exciting.
Especially when Ming Jinrou secretly glanced at Yu Lingxin and saw her reveal an extremely shallow smile after hearing the words ‘search the manor’, she just further felt that today truly was too interesting.
At this time, the Zhu family young ladies and Ruiyang Junzhu were also defeated. Their family’s elder had already agreed, and the magistrate office was already halfway through searching, so what else can their side say? As such, they could only get up again and let the servants serve more tea and desserts, forcibly pacifying the young ladies present.
Everyone similarly could only awkwardly smile, respectively sitting there, not moving. Even those that wanted to go relieve themselves all decided to endure. Who knows what they will run into if they go out?
They awkwardly sat for another two cups of tea’s time. The disturbance sound outside suddenly had a sudden loud burst. The young ladies in the reception hall were all somewhat started, but very soon, there was a servant girl that came in to report, asking the young ladies to not worry. There wasn’t some bandit, just a bit of misunderstanding on the young masters’ side.
Just, towards these comforting words, everyone was still skeptical, even the mood to continue drinking tea was almost gone. The great majority of the people all wanted to hear them say that the magistrate office had finished searching and caught the person. That way, they can quickly leave their birthday present for the Zhu family young miss and then take their leave.
After enduring for another two cups of tea with great difficulty, the disturbance and voices outside finally ended. From the footsteps and sounds, one can tell that the people of the magistrate office and Cheng’en Duke Manor, as well as the male guests that accompanied along, all went around this reception hall and flower garden in a full circle, inspecting each place. Just, there were numerous people in the reception hall and garden, and under this many eyes, it was impossible for a man to sneak in, so there was also no need to come in and search.
Even so, to continuously hear disturbances, as well as unfamiliar male voices like this, there were still some particularly shy young ladies that felt uncomfortable. That’s why, the moment the people of Cheng’en Duke Manor finally came in to report that the search was over, there were immediately people that got up to take their leave.
Under this kind of circumstance, the Zhu family young ladies naturally have nothing to say, can’t even criticize the other party for not giving face. They could only apologetically smile and attempt to keep the guests.
And at this time, Ming Jinrou’s servant girl, Feihua, gave them a meaningful look outside. Ming Jinrou and Yu Lingxin both saw at the same time, mutually looking at one another. Afterwards, they also got to bid their farewell with the Zhu family young ladies.
For a moment those that originally just wanted to leave, as well as those that were indifferent to leaving, practically all stood up together. The Zhu family sisters were extremely helpless, repeatedly hinting at Su Hanwei and the young ladies of their family’s side branches to come help, doing their best to keep the guests. However, in the end, about a third of the guests still left.
Yu Lingxin and Ming Jinrou naturally were among those that left. Just, Ming Jinrou wasn’t willing to come to the Zhu Manor to begin with, while Yu Lingxin’s mind was on that disturbance earlier.
Thinking of this, she couldn’t help but increase her pace a little.
“How come older sister is walking this quickly?” Ming Jinrou’s strides normally were actually quite big. Just, today, there have been repeated incidences, so for better or worse, she still needed to look after Xun Ying, the Wen family sisters, as well as Yu Yunxin behind them. As such, she deliberately slowed her pace with Yu Lingxin. How come everything was perfectly fine when coming, but when leaving at this time, Yu Lingxin was just this rushed.
Upon hearing, Yu Lingxin turned around for a glance, discovering that she’d indeed walked too quickly. Fortunately, the attentive Xun Ying didn’t forget to look after Yu Yunxin as well when looking after the Wen family sisters. But, in the next moment, she still couldn’t help but furrow her brows, “It’s nothing. Let’s return to the carriage first.”
“Is older sister worried about something? Did you suddenly remember something?” Ming Jinrou was increasingly confused. Ever since entering the pavilion, she’d been sitting with Yu Lingxin the entire time. Yu Lingxin’s servant girl, Bai Guo, didn’t even come near. It can’t be that Yu Lingxin heard something she didn’t know, right?
Yu Lingxin shook her head. She also couldn’t explain clearly, but she had a kind of intuition. It was fine if today was just a false alarm on her part, but if that so called ‘misunderstanding between the young masters’ earlier really was Xun Che finding Xun Cong during the search…………
Just as she was contemplating, they were already approaching the second gate, but before they even passed through the last moon gate, they just heard ‘pah!’, an extremely resounding and crisp slap.
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