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Lilac
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!
Seeing Yu Lingxin’s face instantly turned red then pale, Xun Che hurriedly grasped her hand, “No worries, just go down and say a few words with Ruiyang. She still doesn’t have the guts to get into a fight with Jinrou in the middle of the street.”
“But, Jinrou isn’t here.” Yu Lingxin was indeed a bit frantic, “Ruiyang Junzhu is directly asking for Jinrou.”
Xun Che nodded, completely recovering his usual easy-going nature. Leaning forward, he directly whispered a few words by Yu Lingxin’s ear.
Yu Lingxin’s interlocked hands tightened, “Can this work?”
Xun Che just smiled, “Do you have a better idea? Besides, what’s there to be scared of? If by chance we really get seen by Ruiyang, I naturally will go shoulder everything. In any case, I’ve already mentioned it in front of mother. At worst, it’s just mother beating me a few times, but this matter of ours will just successfully be settled. Is this not good?”
“Saying nonsense again.” Yu Lingxin softly spat out, but she knew that there was no time to waste. After slightly composing herself, she just instructed the outside according to Xun Che’s idea, “Go reply to Ruiyang Junzhu, at present, it’s just Jinrou’s horse carriage sending me back to the manor. Jinrou isn’t here. If junzhu has something for me to pass on, asking her to please instruct.”
The servant went to carry out the order. However, very soon, the servant once again returned with a reply, “Miss Yu, junzhu is unwilling to believe that fourth miss isn’t in the carriage, wanting to personally come over to talk.”
Yu Lingxin’s back tightened again, subconsciously looking towards Xun Che.
The smile on Xun Che’s lips didn’t reduce in the slightest, lightly nodding his head.
Seeing him this composed, Yu Lingxin strangely felt a bit more steady inside. She immediately pressed down that remaining bit of nervousness, clenching her teeth as she climbed down the carriage.
Sure enough, Ruiyang Junzhu, who was still dressed in the brocade palace gown, also climbed down from the carriage in front, currently heading in her direction.
“Greetings junzhu.” Yu Lingxin curtsied with a smile.
Ruiyang Junzhu had her measured up from top to bottom again before she finally somewhat unwillingly lifted her hand, “Miss Yu is too polite. This really is quite the coincidence, to actually run into you and Ming fourth miss here too.”
Yu Lingxin stood upright, directly facing Ruiyang Junzhu, saying with a smile, “To be able to encounter junzhu, really a coincidence. Just, unfortunately, Jinrou has already returned to the manor. At present, it’s just Jin Duke Manor’s horse carriage sending me back alone.”
“Is that so?” Ruiyang Junzhu softly chuckled, “Heard that lately, Miss Yu and Ming fourth miss have been very close, practically together at all times, the Jin Duke Manor’s horse carriage going in and out, picking up and dropping off, yet how come at this time let Miss Yu return to the manor alone? Is it not Ming fourth miss deliberately avoiding me, thus letting Miss Yu come out to brush me off?”
Directly facing off like this with Ruiyang Junzhu, that nervous feeling that was like as if sitting on pins and needles unexpectedly dissipated a little. At this time, Yu Lingxin’s smile was increasingly natural, “Junzhu has thought too much. Although I’m on good terms with Jinrou, still wouldn’t go as far as to be together at all times. If junzhu doesn’t believe, how about coming onto the carriage to check and see if Jinrou is present?”
“Okay.” Ruiyang Junzhu coldly sneered again as she walked forward.
TN: All translations outside of Broken Jinsei are stolen and reposted without permission!
“Just,” Yu Lingxin continued with a smile, “this ultimately isn’t my carriage, but rather the Ming family’s. To get searched in broad daylight in the middle of the streets like this, it will inevitably damage Jin Duke Manor’s face. I’m unable to shoulder such responsibility. After all, gossip is a fearful thing. Later, if the people outside were to say that the Ming family young miss’s carriage got searched in the middle of the streets, someone certainly will just ask, ‘Why did the Ming family young miss’s carriage get searched? Is there something in the carriage, or someone?’ Once this kind of rumor and question come out, afraid junzhu will have a hard time explaining to the Jin Duke Manor.”
“Such eloquence! I’m merely just going to see whether or not Ming fourth miss is avoiding me, where is there this many sayings?!” Ruiyang Junzhu was becoming a bit impatient, yet she still stopped in her tracks. Even if she was an esteemed junzhu, she still knew that regardless whether it’s Youjiang Wang Manor, or Changchun Palace (Noble Consort Zhu’s palace), they all very much have misgivings towards these meritorious noble families that have passed down their title for generations.
Even if these last two generations of the Jin Duke Manor were sparse in number, their influence unable to compare with the past, but at present, the old Jin Duke was still alive, their marriage ties and friendships with the other large influential families were also still present, and Ming Jincheng was also very outstanding on his own as well. These were what gave Ming Jinrou the guts to not be polite with her inside and outside of the palace.
At this time, if she were to find that Ming Jinrou was sure enough in the carriage, and just avoiding her, then her actions can still be considered justified, and what she originally wanted to say can also be said.
But, if by chance Ming Jinrou really isn’t there, and this extremely eloquent Miss Yu were to have this matter spread out, then the Ming family certainly will make a fuss. It truly will be the gains not making up for the losses.
“Junzhu is bright and clever, knowing to be magnanimous.” Seeing that Ruiyang Junzhu’s reaction was sure enough exactly the same as what Xun Che had predicted, Yu Lingxin was increasingly calm inside, “For you to let someone pass on a message, and even graciously descend the carriage, presumably, it’s not specifically for the sake of humiliating the Jin Duke Manor in the streets of the capital. If there’s a message to pass on that junzhu doesn’t mind saying, can share with me. Of course, if junzhu minds, or have other thoughts, please carry on.”
“You——–” Ruiyang Junzhu once again felt uncomfortable to the extreme.
The other party was full of smiles, polite and thorough, yet in between her words, it was like as if striking the snake at its heart, letting her be stuck in an extremely difficult position.
She has been spoiled and doted on since childhood, with everything always going smoothly. Although occasionally, there were times where she would have conflict with upper class noble daughters that she didn’t get along with like Ming Jinrou, but getting repeatedly grasped by Yu Lingxin, this kind of insignificant nobody, was something that has never happened before.
Thinking to here, Ruiyang Junzhu couldn’t help but feel increasingly irritated. Turning around, she directly headed towards Yu Lingxin, “Miss Yu, you sure view yourself very highly. You really think you can sit and stand as equals with me and the Jin Duke Manor’s young lady?!”
Yu Lingxin couldn’t help but slightly retreat half a step. It wasn’t that she got frightened by Ruiyang Junzhu’s words and imposing manner, but rather, Ruiyang Junzhu seemingly had used a kind of cosmetic that carried a bit of lilac. This scent wasn’t considered unpleasant, but Yu Lingxin has disliked it since childhood. Every time smelling, she would easily start sneezing. That’s why, she instinctively backed away.
At this time, she suddenly heard a crisp ‘clink’ sound from inside Ruiyang Junzhu’s horse carriage, seemingly the sound of porcelain cups lightly touching. Yu Lingxin looked over following the sound, her thoughts turning, “Since junzhu is unwilling to say more to me, then I also don’t dare to hold up junzhu’s time. It’s best to not let ‘Yongfu Junzhu’ wait too long.”
She intentionally emphasized a bit more on the words ‘Yongfu Junzhu’, and at the same time, carefully studied the changes in Ruiyang Junzhu’s expression. Sure enough, she saw an extremely light trace of abnormality.
At the same time, Ruiyang Junzhu seemingly also slightly pressed down her emotions, her expression a bit complicated as she forcibly changed the subject, “Cough, cough, since Ming fourth miss isn’t here, then forget it.” Afterwards, she had her measured up again. Unknown as to what she thought of, she suddenly raised her brows into a smile, “In the past, I’d also heard that the daughters of the Qi family are extremely beautiful, especially the shu-born ladies. Their birth mother may not be of high birth, but their appearance surpass the mass. At present, seeing Miss Yu carrying half of the Qi family’s shu-born bloodline, sure enough, this appearance is quite good.”
Yu Lingxin slightly blanked. Following this topic, she pondered for a moment before finally realizing that Ruiyang Junzhu was mocking her birth mother’s birth, her family changes, and so on.
Just, after understanding this, she was actually a bit disappointed. No wonder Xun Che didn’t mind in the slightest. Ruiyang Junzhu just had this bit of a brain.
“Junzhu’s meaning is that the shu is inferior to the di?” Yu Lingxin smilingly responded.
‘Cough, cough.’ At this time, a light cough very distinctly came from inside Ruiyang Junzhu’s horse carriage. From the sound of it, it was a young lady. However, Yu Lingxin was unable to tell whether or not it was Yongfu Junzhu’s voice.
Just, this cough came a bit late. Ruiyang Junzhu already responded, “Shu being inferior to the di, that is only natural!”
Yu Lingxin once again smiled, “Junzhu is wise, no wonder deeply favored by his Majesty.”
Mentioning his Majesty, Ruiyang Junzhu’s complexion finally became unsightly. As Youjiang Wang’s di daughter, the close friends of the boudoir that she had dealings with normally, the great majority, naturally were all the di sons and di daughters of noble families.
But, she just had to forget one thing. The currently illustrious Noble Consort Zhu, even if having the word ‘noble’ in her title, having peerless glory and imperial favor, she still wasn’t the empress of the central palace. At least, at present, she still wasn’t.
And the two princes, Wu Wang and Wei Wang, that she has always gotten along with, they naturally also had the word ‘shu’ hanging over their heads.
“You……….” Ruiyang Junzhu wanted to say more, but coughing sound from her horse carriage just sounded again.
This time, Yu Lingxin heard even more clearly. It seemingly really wasn’t the even younger Yongfu Junzhu.
In the end, Ruiyang Junzhu stomped her feet and left. Yu Lingxin also thoroughly relaxed a breath, returning to her own carriage.
Xun Che was still that leisurely sitting there, carrying a smile on his face as he extended his hand towards her, “How did it go?”
Yu Lingxin thoroughly relaxed, feeling both physically and mentally exhausted as she naturally leaned into his arms, “Pretty alright, just as you’d predicted, leaving after getting retorted a few words——-achoo!”
That lilac scent seemingly was still lingering. She ultimately couldn’t hold in, lightly sneezing, hurriedly using the handkerchief to cover her mouth and nose. She continued with a sigh, “It’s just, Ruiyang Junzhu’s new powder from don’t know where, I really can’t stand this scent. She clearly didn’t have it during the flower banquet.”
“What scent you can’t stand smelling?” Xun Che actually didn’t pay too much attention to this, just randomly asking. What he further cared about was how to soundlessly embrace her and have her turned around again, continuing where they left off before getting interrupted by Ruiyang Junzhu.
“Lilac scent.” Yu Lingxin leaned against him, just feeling tired, also not minding Xun Che’s little movements, similarly just casually answering, “Other flower fragrances are still okay, just this lilac scent, I’m always unable to smell. That lilac scent on Ruiyang Junzhu just now was really heavy, probably even face powder made from very good lilac flowers. If next time, she wears this powder again, I really will just surrender after smelling.”
Xun Che was just about to have the conversation pulled back to the two of them, when a thought suddenly flashed through his mind, his expression immediately congealing, “You’re saying lilac? Are you sure?”
“Shouldn’t be wrong.” Yu Lingxin nodded, “I still remember a few years ago, my father once gave me a set of twelve different kinds of flower powder. Eleven of the twelve, I all very much like, only this lilac powder from the Liu province, I just start sneezing whenever I use. That scent is exactly the same as what Ruiyang Junzhu had on her today.”
This time, Xun Che’s little thoughts thoroughly extinguished. Although he didn’t let go of Yu Lingxin, his complexion nevertheless turned dark.
A moment later, just as Yu Lingxin was about to ask again, he gave his answer, “My grandmother is from the Liu province. My second uncle’s eldest daughter, Xun Yan, loves using lilac powder the most.”
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