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Old and New Debt
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!
Ming Jinrou and Yu Lingxin were in the very front to begin with, both startled by the sound, hurriedly rushing over, and immediately just seeing Ming Jincheng holding back Xun Che. On the other side, a pretty young boy in a gray long gown was currently covering his face as he staggered a few steps, practically about to fall on the ground.
“Fourth older cousin?” Ming Jinrou couldn’t help but softly cry out. However, in the next moment, she instinctively turned towards Yu Lingxin, a question flashing through her mind——–This was the reason behind her words to Xun Che on the horse carriage?
How did she predict that Xun Cong would be here?!
“Shenzhi!” Ming Jincheng clearly didn’t expect that Xun Che, while still at the Zhu Manor, would already be out of patience, hurriedly pulling him, softly rebuking, “Return first!”
Xun Che saw Yu Lingxin and Ming Jinrou come over, one full of worry, one full of surprise, and behind them, there will obviously still be the Wen family sisters and the others. Xun Che practically used all his strength to clench his teeth, glancing at Ming Jincheng, “Have him tied up and dragged back!” After saying this, he flung his sleeve and stormed off.
Ming Jincheng furrowed his brows, going over and pulling Xun Cong, directly dragging away, not knowing whether it’s shoving him in the servants’ horse carriage, or riding together on one horse. All in all, Xun Cong tremblingly followed along.
Yu Lingxin glanced at Ming Jinrou, “How about sending the two Wen family young ladies back first?”
Ming Jinrou immediately understood, directly instructing the servants, “You all carefully send the Wen family young ladies back. I’m going back with Ying’er first. Just come to the Wen’an Marquis Manor to pick me up later.”
Yu Lingxin similarly instructed the Yu family servants to quickly and carefully send Yu Yunxin back to the manor. Shortly after, she directly climbed onto Xun Ying’s carriage together with Ming Jinrou.
On the way back, everyone all had different thoughts. Xun Ying and Ming Jinrou were both completely confused, the two of them mutually lookin at each other, softly discussing a few words about Xun Cong’s days during his studies, but still not understanding. Just, what Xun Ying was puzzled about was why Xun Cong would appear at this time, while Ming Jinrou was curious about why Yu Lingxin would think of Xun Cong in advance? But, in front of Xun Ying, Ming Jinrou just glanced at Yu Lingxin a few times, not asking anything out loud.
Yu Lingxin didn’t speak the entire way. Her entire heart was filled with Xun Che’s appearance just now.
Although when they arrived, Xun Che had already gotten pulled back by Ming Jincheng, but the anger between his brows, his tightly pressed lips, and also the faintly visible redness in the corner of his eyes, all made Yu Lingxin very nervous.
This was the reason why she would disregard whether or not others would have suspicions and still insist on following back to the Xun Manor for a look.
Xun Che very rarely would become this angered. From what she can remember from her memories, the last time seeing a similar scene, it was the last time Xun Che met with Xun Cong prior to passing away.
At the time, Xun Che’s body really was already an arrow reaching its end. However, the muddled and drunken color on Xun Cong still didn’t dissipate. What the two brothers said behind closed doors, she was unable to find out, but the moment she heard the cups shattering on the ground, she just charged in and saw Xun Che spraying a mouthful of blood on Xun Cong’s front lapel.
His angered look at the time was somewhat similar to just now. Just, at the time, Xun Che’s body truly was too weak, unable to even cough out much blood, the color also dark. That was probably the first time and also the only time Yu Lingxin got angry at the someone of the Xun family in the last lifetime, driving away Xun Cong.
However, afterwards, as time passed, Yu Lingxin also gradually felt that Xun Cong wasn’t thoroughly rotten to the bones, unable to be tolerated.
TN: All translations outside of Broken Jinsei are stolen and reposted without permission!
Although in the past life, Xun Cong ultimately wasn’t able to stand up on his own again as Xun Che and Ming Jincheng had hoped, but afterwards, when the Xun family clansmen caused trouble, or when someone tried to go after the Xun family’s assets, and went to go look for Xun Cong for assistance, even if he was still dead drunk, he would still clearly stand on her and her adopted son’s side, “All get lost! Get lost! Don’t touch my sister-in-law and nephew, no! No! No………”
Even if he was still abandoning himself to despair and wasting away, Xun Cong still never let someone use him again.
Perhaps because in the past life, after Ming Huayue had also passed away, Yu Lingxin truly didn’t have any family by her side, in those last few years of hers, she would all call Xun Cong over to the manor once or twice every year, telling him to pay attention to his diet, and giving him some food and fabric, doing the last of what she can as an older sister-in-law.
To really say how much feelings there were, there really wasn’t much, but in her heart, she still helped Xun Che look after this younger brother in his place.
Of course, the Yu Lingxin at this time actually wasn’t scared of Xun Cong getting beat, but rather scared of Xun Che losing control. All in all, the more she thought about it, the more uneasy she felt. Prior to reaching the Xun Manor, she was all somewhat distracted.
Fortunately, Ming Jinrou and Xun Ying were also similarly eager to find out exactly what happened. After the three of them arrived at the manor, they just immediately headed to Xun Che’s study in Qingyu Pavilion together. Even the most delicate Xun Ying was full of worry, so walked very quickly, practically arriving right after Xun Che, Ming Jincheng, and Xun Cong.
Xun Cong at this time can be considered having just calmed down. Although the handprint on his pretty face was still there, but for better or worse, he can be considered to have cooled down for a while on the way back, probably also having thought of how to respond to his older brother. As such, after entering Qingyu Pavilion, he wasn’t that flustered anymore. Just, when glancing a few times at Ming Jinrou and Xun Ying who’d followed in, and also seeing Yu Lingxin who he didn’t recognize, he dryly laughed, “About that, brother, us brothers talking, shouldn’t we first ask the younger sisters to go back first? There’s also a guest…………”
Xun Che directly made a hand gesture, ordering the servants to all go out. Afterwards, he coldly sneered, as sharp as a blade, “What, now you remember to want face? What were you doing at the Zhu Manor earlier? When setting foot through the Zhu family gates, did you think of your face as a son of the Xun family?!”
“Brother………” Xun Cong’s entire body all couldn’t help but tremble, his back increasingly tense, faintly feeling that his older brother’s anger this time was different from usual. The words that he’d thought of previously, don’t know whether or not he can still say, practically instinctively retreating half a step, also glancing at Ming Jincheng, “Older cousin………..”
Ming Jincheng angrily snorted, directly pulling out the chair and sitting down, shaking his head, but didn’t say anything. Just, he also glanced at Xun Che.
Xun Che suddenly slammed the table, “Kneel!”
Xun Cong was once again startled, his knees going soft, practically about to fall down, but he also couldn’t help but glance again at Ming Jinrou and them, his entire face turning red, forcibly squeezing out an apologetic smile, even more unsightly than crying, “Brother……….older brother, it’s fine if you want to scold me, but don’t let the younger sisters watch…….It’s all my fault, I was shameful, I was wrong, so don’t taint their eyes. Can you let the younger sisters go out first, alright?”
“Chen Qiao!” Xun Che coldly shouted with a heavy face, “Teach the fourth young master how to kneel!”
This time, never mind Ming Jinrou and them being startled, even Ming Jincheng’s face all somewhat changed, but Chen Qiao and Chai Guangyi were both Xun Che’s personal guards, the most compliant towards his orders. Upon hearing the order, Chen Qiao immediately entered. Seeing Xun Che’s ashen look, he further didn’t hesitate.
“Fourth young master, forgive me.” Chen Qiao cupped his fist and apologized first, afterwards lifting his hand to press down on his shoulder and kicking behind his knee. Xun Cong although had also practiced archery on horseback for a few days before, but how can he compare with Chen Qiao, this kind of expert. He immediately just got forcibly pressed down on his knees with a thud.
“Brother! What are you——-” The moment Xun Cong knelt down, he finally felt that he really will be out of luck today. Afraid, it won’t end with just getting scolded and getting punished to copy a few sheets of calligraphy.
“You’re afraid of your shameful matters tainting the younger sisters eyes?” Xun Che was already extremely angered to the point of laughing, waving his hand to let Chen Qiao withdraw. At the same time, he took a step forward and sternly said, “If you continue being such a disgrace like this, you will sooner or later ruin the younger sisters’ lives!”
These words were truly too shocking, everyone including Ming Jincheng all changed in complexion. Only Yu Lingxin, who actually wasn’t suited to be here at this time, genuinely knew exactly what Xun Che meant. After sweeping a glance at everyone, she gazed towards Xun Che again, strangely full of sorrow inside.
“Older brother, how can it be that……..no, about that, I was wrong. I really know I was wrong.” Xun Cong looked towards Xun Che while on his knees, his body all somewhat trembling. From when he was little to until now, he has never seen his old brother this furious before, his eyes seemingly about to spit fire. But, at the same time being terrified, he was also very confused————-didn’t he just secretly run out to play, didn’t even get the chance to secretly peek at the girls’ flower gathering, so how can it be that serious?
Xun Che’s complexion was very scary. His eyes that were usually full of an easy-going smile, at this time, were already red, and from the muscles on his cheeks, one can also make out his tightly clenched teeth. He practically had to use all his strength in order to restrain himself from letting that decadent and depraved younger brother from the past life, who let him till his death, all unable to be at ease, completely overlap with the Xun Cong before his eyes who still have yet to commit any major wrongdoings.
“Shenzhi!” Yu Lingxin who was three steps away already sensed Xun Che’s mood and his restraint. She couldn’t help but call out.
Xun Che lifted his head and glanced at her, but immediately turned away.
He can’t look at her at this time. If he were to look into her gentle eyes again, he really won’t be able to control himself anymore.
“You say you know you were wrong?” Xun Che forcibly relaxed a breath, returning to his desk and sitting down again, slowing down his voice as he asked Xun Cong, “Where were you wrong?”
Xun Cong finally felt the mountain-like pressure before him loosen a little. He hurriedly adjusted his breathing before obediently lowering his head and responding, “I was wrong, I shouldn’t have snuck out from the academy to play, disregarding my studies. I also shouldn’t have secretly changed into those clothes, and further shouldn’t………….” Speaking to here, he still couldn’t help but pause, secretly sweeping a glance at Ming Jinrou and them, his voice also lowering somewhat, “Further shouldn’t have…….gone with friends to secretly take a peek at the flower banquet………”
“Heheh, heheh.” Xun Che unexpectedly laughed, just this dry laugh, compared to the cold sneer previously, further made Xun Cong scared. Even Xun Ying all couldn’t help but move closer to Ming Jinrou, pulling her sleeve.
Xun Che first glanced at Yu Lingxin, and afterwards, gazed towards Ming Jincheng again, his face unexpectedly full of endless mockery and sorrow, “So this is what’s in the fourth young master’s head, this is just what he feels he has done wrong, heheheh.”
Xun Cong got goosebumps all over from Xun Che’s laugh. Thinking again, he stammeringly spoke, “I……..I was also wrong for selfishly listening to my friends. I should’ve focused on my studies, and even if I want to come out, should still let older brother, you………….” Seeing Xun Che’s complexion turn cold again, he didn’t dare to continue.
“Xun Cong, did the books you studied end up in a dog’s stomach?” Xun Che once again got up, directly looking at Xun Cong with a frown, “Do you not have a brain? Let me ask you one more time, do you know what kind of place is the place you’d gone to today?”
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felt so much heartache for xun che in this chapter. must’ve been painful to lose his younger sisters; one younger sister who died and another younger sister cousin who ruined and sacrifice her life (thru marriage) just to avenge the death of xun ying. all bc xun cong fell in love with a wrong person, can’t sober up, and was eventually used as a tool. all that bottled up debt, pain, and sorrow from the past then having to restrain yourself in the present bc it haven’t happened yet but all those pain from the past was real, and he was still carrying it in the present time.
happy easter 🐣🩷