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Indirect Relations
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!
“Apologies!”
Before even seeing who the person in front was clearly, Yu Lingxin’s face already started burning. She has always been steady in conduct, so this kind of situation really has never happened before in her two lifetimes added together.
And by the time she made out who the person in front was, that was really where even the back of her ears turned red.
“No worries.”
The young Wen’an Marquis heir wore a deep blue satin long gown like the clear sky. The subtle patterns weaved with gold and silver threads faintly radiated under the bright summer sun. His eyes under his slanted long brows were gentle and warm, his thin lips perked with an extremely light smile. His extremely handsome face clearly had the most nonchalant expression, yet it strangely made one’s heart sway.
His familiar yet unfamiliar voice landed in her ear. Yu Lingxin, for a moment, actually somewhat felt her nose going sour. She still hasn’t completely thought of how she will face Xun Che again, and further didn’t think that they would meet again in this way.
However, fortunately, through this awkward encounter, her blushing with her head lowered was also considered an extremely normal reaction.
Just then, she heard another young man behind Xun Che say with a laugh, “Shenzhi, you also have times like this where you’re not looking at where you’re going?”
Yu Lingxin finally composed herself, noticing that there was also a tall and valiant looking man dressed in brocade behind Xun Che. His facial features were resolute and handsome, his figure very straight, seemingly a bit familiar looking.
Thinking for a moment, she finally recalled that this was Jin Duke Manor’s eldest young master, Ming Jincheng, also Xun Che’s older cousin and close friend. No wonder he called Xun Che by his courtesy name.
In the last lifetime, Yu Lingxin had also seen Ming Jincheng many times. Just, at the time, Ming Jincheng’s face had a deep scar, where even his left eye had deformed because of it, greatly different from his current handsome appearance.
Xun Che didn’t pay Ming Jincheng any attention, just retreating a step to the side, politely turning his body, “Yu family younger cousin, please.”
Yu Lingxin couldn’t help but feel a bit awkward. The Xun family and Yu family indeed have some indirect relations. For instance, Xun Che’s eldest paternal aunt, Xun Chun, was the Chang’de Countess, in other words, her maternal uncle’s wife. Also, Xun Che’s younger paternal aunt, Xun Xiu, married into the Chen province’s Xie family, which was Yu old madam’s maiden family.
Just, these indirect relations truly were very indirect. For the Yu family, ever since the old master who was the former Head Minister of Rites passed away, they’ve very rarely interacted with Wen’an Marquis Manor. In the last lifetime, prior to marrying, Yu Lingxin had just met with the Xun family once in her childhood. Etiquette-wise, addressing as young master and young miss was enough. This ‘younger cousin’ address truly was a bit awkward.
But at this time, it wasn’t good to say anything. Yu Lingxin in fact didn’t even dare to look at him again, and could only slightly nod, taking Kou Yuluo with her.
They very quickly arrived in Peony Residence. The young ladies’ tea gathering was arranged in the courtyard. Under the blooming flower branches four tables were arranged, the thin silk bright and beautiful, with brightly colored decorations. The noble young ladies that came to chat were either pretty and lively, or gentle and sweet, full of vitality and laughter, just like a beautiful scenery.
Kou Yuluo clearly was still afraid of strangers. To suddenly see this many people, her little hand that was holding onto Yu Lingxin just tightened even more, her steps also somewhat slowing.
TN: All translations outside of Broken Jinsei are stolen and reposted without permission!
Yu Lingxin didn’t have any intention of becoming too close with these young ladies to begin with, just leading along Kou Yuluo as she slowly walked. After greeting the little host of this tea gathering, Chang’de Count Manor’s second miss, Qi Pei, she just found a seat to the side and sat down, casually picking up a piece of lotus crisp to coax Kou Yuluo.
Slightly sweeping a few glances around, the great majority, she all still recognized. On one hand, as the Qi family’s relative, every year during the holidays, there were always those occasional visits, and on the other hand, it was during those years in her past life as Wen’an Marchioness, the great majority that she had dealings with were just the noblewomen of the same generation. And naturally, quite a few were the identities of these noble young ladies here after they marry in the future.
However, after glancing a few more times, Yu Lingxin noticed that there was still a young lady that she completely didn’t recognize, and moreover, that person was dressed in vibrantly colored damask silk, sitting at the center.
That young lady’s age was approximately fifteen to sixteen, a bit older than the majority present. Her figure was extremely slender and willowy, her skin fair like ice and snow, having light brows, phoenix eyes, and cherry lips. In terms of appearance, she can be said as movingly elegant. Just, her complexion somewhat lacked a rosy color, appearing to be very fragile.
The young lady sitting next to her, Yu Lingxin actually recognized. Dressed in a pale green soft satin dress, with pearl and jade hanging by her temples, all warm and lustrous, her facial features refined and gentle, always carrying a faint smile, yet also filled with a scholarly air, that was precisely Xun Che’s younger sister, Xun Ying.
Seeing Xun Ying, many things from her past life inevitably bubbled up in her heart. In the battle for the throne during Xuan Emperor’s reign, too many people had died. Even these official family young ladies before her, there were also some that had perished within due to various causes.
This gentle and kind Miss Xun was one of them.
Yu Lingxin lowered her eyes. In the past life, there were truly too many regrets. Exactly how much can she alone change?
“Older sister.” A moment later, Kou Yuluo lightly tugged her sleeve, softly asking, “Is that older sister talking about us?”
Yu Lingxin gazed over along Kou Yuluo’s line of sight. Sure enough, that delicate and fragile young lady was also looking at her. Just, when their eyes met, the delicate and fragile young lady immediately turned her head. This movement was truly a bit obvious, making the people next to her all feel a bit awkward.
But, in the next moment, Xun Ying still lightly nodded and smiled, which can be considered to be greeting Yu Lingxin who she wasn’t too familiar with. As for the other noble young ladies at the table, their eyes were somewhat flickering.
This series of soundless movements linking together, in addition to vaguely hearing between the soft laughters phrases such as ‘divorce’, ‘etiquette’, ‘face’ and such, Yu Lingxin naturally understood very quickly.
Just, she didn’t really mind that much either. Qi-shi and Yu Bocheng, after divorcing, have both respectively remarried for more than ten years. Yu Lingxin was already used to being used as the topic of conversation among the relatives. No matter how much she minds or care, it was still nothing more than just bringing trouble to herself, so might as well let go, letting herself be more carefree.
After drinking another two cups of tea, this little tea gathering was also more or less reaching its end. The young girls chatted and conversed, and then respectively got up, heading to the front hall where the banquet was held.
Yu Lingxin also got up with Kou Yuluo. When walking to Peony Residence’s entrance, Xun Ying also rushed over in quick steps, softly saying, “Yu family older sister, just now, really sorry. That was Miss Wen who’d just arrived in the capital, so still not familiar with everyone, and seeing how adorable the Kou family younger sister was, she thus asked a few words. Miss Wen is shy, so didn’t come greet older sister, hoping older sister doesn’t take offense.”
Yu Lingxin was somewhat surprised. Looking at the seating arrangement earlier, then connecting it back to the marriage ties that she was aware of from her memories, she’d already roughly guessed that that Miss Wen was probably the current Empress Wen’s niece, and also Ming Jincheng’s fiancee. Ming Jincheng was Xun Che and Xun Ying’s older cousin, so Xun Ying accompanying and looking after this future cousin-in-law in his place was also proper.
Just looking at Xun Ying’s expression and tone, she could tell that the other party wasn’t scared of Miss Wen offending them, thus came over to smooth things out, but rather genuinely feeling sorry, thus came over to apologize.
After all, when all is said and done, for Empress Wen’s niece, Jin Duke Manor’s future young madam, never mind asking a few words about the Yu family at this gathering, even if being rude to her face, based on the Yu family’s current standing, what would they even dare to say.
Thinking to here, Yu Lingxin couldn’t help but produce good feelings towards the kind and honest Xun Ying. However, there was no need to point out anything, just smiling and pinching Kou Yuluo’s little face, “Miss Xun is too serious, what is there to mind. Little Yuluo is this cute, so naturally everyone all want to glance at a few more times.”
Xun Ying also nodded with a smile, and then leaned down to softly ask Kou Yuluo how old she was and what she liked, even giving her a little fragrance pouch before finally going back to accompany that delicate and fragile Miss Wen.
Yu Lingxin also returned to the front hall with Kou Yuluo to join the banquet. The banquet feast actually went by peacefully with no other incidents occurring.
After the feast, the Qi family let the acting troupe continue performing to liven the mood. Some of the guests that were relatively close with the Qi family thus stayed a little longer, while others began to take their leave.
At this time, Qi-shi called out to Yu Lingxin again, “Ling’er, look after your little sister a little, it’s time to go back.”
These words truly sounded incomparably natural, just like every family’s madam or elder beckoning their own family’s child, but when landing in Yu Lingxin’s ears, it was just like a ringing alarm.
Was Qi-shi really willing to just walk with her to the second gate, and then respectively climb onto their respective carriages and return to their respective homes?
However, this was indeed the time to return home. Forcibly delaying won’t be appropriate either. Yu Lingxin still held Kou Yuluo’s hand as she got up to leave, and at the same time, she quickly warned Shuangye and Ganlu who were behind her a few words.
The two of them were both shocked, “Miss, not likely, right?”
A mocking smile emerged on Yu Lingxin’s lips, “It’s best if that’s the case.”
Once these words came out, in less than half a cup of tea’s time, it just came true.
Furthermore, it was even in a way that even she herself didn’t predict.
Practically immediately after they arrived at Chang’de Manor’s second gate, the servant boy that came with the carriage today, Zhao Liang, came over to report with an extremely embarrassed look, “Eldest miss……..this servant, just now, just discovered, our carriage has broken.”
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man….. even if you divorced more than a decade ago that’s still your kid!!! what’s wrong with u lady!!!!!