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Willful
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!
Xun Ying at this time was very obedient, getting up to receive the booklet from Ming Huayue’s hands and directly giving it to Yu Lingxin.
Yu Lingxin could only slightly bow towards Ming Huayue from her seat, and shortly after, just started looking over the guest arrangements, carefully examining the seating order, drinking vessels, tea sets, and other details.
Less than a moment later, she just roughly had an understanding inside. At this time, a servant from the outside came to report that the fourth young master had woken, but the medicine change seemingly wasn’t going well.
Ming Huayue immediately got up and shot another glare at Xun Che.
Xun Che hurriedly bowed and said, “Mother don’t need to worry too much. I’d asked the imperial physician, it’s all just superficial wounds. He’d gotten frightened, so have a bit of internal heat. Mother, you yourself have also gone onto the battlefield before. Compared to the youngsters in the army camp, this really isn’t considered anything.
Ming Huayue angrily snorted, “This reasoning, I naturally understand. Sigh, if only I’d known earlier………should’ve just had him sent out to practice martial arts back then, letting him toughen up a few years before coming back. If the eyes don’t see, then the heart won’t worry.”
Xun Che didn’t dare show it on the surface, but on the inside, he was nevertheless secretly laughing. Mother although had times where she was quick-tempered, she ultimately understood the overall state of affairs, very much hard on the outside but soft on the inside.
He then glanced at Xun Ying who was looking over with a face full of concern, “Ying’er also wants to go look at Cong’er again?”
Xun Ying lightly nodded her head, her big eyes blinking, indeed worried.
Xun Ying and Xun Cong were just two years apart, their temperament also a bit similar. Towards Xun Che, this eldest brother, they naturally incomparably revered, but when it comes to playing together since childhood, she was still more close with Xun Cong.
Ming Huayue also swept a glance at Xun Ying and Yu Lingxin. Yu Lingxin still had misgivings being in front of Ming Huayue, so didn’t dare say a single word, but her gaze towards Xun Ying were already full of disbelief———-Xun second girl! Are you really going to leave me here alone looking over account books for your family?
Xun Che however just laughed, “If Ying’er wants to go over for a look, then let’s just go over together.”
Ming Huayue glared at Xun Che again, declining to comment as she left.
Thus, Yu Lingxin really just watched in dumbstruck as Xun Ying somewhat embarrassingly got up and followed Xun Che out.
They really just left her here with two tables full of account books, abacus, brush, ink, and paper, sitting alone in Yuli Hall’s east warm room. The servant girls waiting outside the door were rather calm, not knowing whether they were really just composed and collected, or just had this shock all buried in their heart.
Outside the window, an early winter cold breeze brushed by. As the branches swayed, a few more leaves fell.
Yu Lingxin in the end just shook her head, sighing as she continued sorting through the lists and account books.
TN: All translations outside of Broken Jinsei are stolen and reposted without permission!
However, these account books and affairs of the Wen’an Marquis Manor, she was truly very familiar with, so she was able to handle them with ease. Yu Lingxin carefully looked over for a while, gradually becoming even more concentrated. Not long after, another servant girl came to deliver more booklets. Yu Lingxin swept a glance, knowing that it was the records pertaining to the wine cups and chinaware in the inner and outer storerooms, also just letting them place down.
She slightly pondered for a moment, still unsure whether this was really just Ming Huayue hoping for someone to help out because of Xun Cong’s condition, or intending to test her, this future daughter-in-law.
But no matter what, she has already become involved to this degree now, so even if there’s more, it’s also nothing to worry about. To shrink back and whatnot was just being too fickle at this time, so might as well just look over them all.
Taking the booklet, she flipped through it, while also separately laying out a note paper. Seeing some problem, or thinking of something to take note of, she would separately mark down.
After writing for about a cup of tea’s time, she just heard footsteps sound outside, even accompanying the sweet scent of pastries. Yu Lingxin casually lifted her head and just saw Xun Che carrying in a tray of tea and desserts. Behind him, there wasn’t Ming Huayue, nor Xun Ying. Yu Lingxin immediately blanked. Looking again, the servant girls outside surprisingly weren’t there either, probably having gotten sent away. This time, she was even more shocked, “This……..where’s Ying’er?”
Xun Che had the tea and desserts placed down, saying with a smile, “I personally came to deliver tea and desserts for you, yet not saying thanks, not even giving a reward, instead asking for Ying’er first?”
Yu Lingxin was somewhat nervous, her voice also lowering a little, “This is Yuli Hall! Where’s Ying’er? How come she didn’t come back?”
“I let Ying’er sit with Cong’er for a little while longer. Since he just woke up, he won’t be able to immediately fall back asleep again, so it’s good to have someone to talk to.” Xun Che directly sat down in Xun Ying’s seat earlier, talking face to face with Yu Lingxin.
Yu Lingxin was even more shocked, “Madam actually allowed it? Letting Ying’er stay behind? And you come over? This…………”
Xun Che smiled, “What am I coming over for? I just came over to get an account book and leaving afterwards. What’s there to not allow? What did you think I came over for?”
Yu Lingxin’s face slightly burned, wanting to click her tongue at him, but also feeling embarrassed. In the end, she still had misgivings towards where she was at currently, so could only lower her head.
Xun Che didn’t tease her too much either, just inwardly laughing to himself a few times before going to look at the notes in her hand, “You also don’t need to be this anxious, there’s still time. On the second branch’s side, the current saying is that they will arrived in the capital around the fifteenth. The formal date set for the birthday banquet is also the twentieth of the tenth month. There’s still more than ten days.”
Yu Lingxin rolled her eyes at him, “Currently, it’s not just Jinrou and Ying’er ordering me around, your whole family is using me as free labor.” As she said this, she also had the brush placed down. Because she’d been writing for a long time just now, she casually stretched her wrists a few times.
Xun Che could see clearly. Her wrist was snow white and slender, her tender fingertips a bit red. It was because of having held the brush for a bit too long. He instinctively wanted to reach out and hold her.
Just, at this time, it wasn’t just Yu Lingxin alone that had misgivings towards being in Yuli Hall. Xun Che naturally knew that his mother, Ming Huayue, might come over again at anytime. Having no other choice, he could only force down that tiny flame in his heart and just deeply gaze towards Yu Lingxin, “You have worked hard.”
Hearing the sincerity in his voice, Yu Lingxin just lowered her head, “It’s nothing really, not considered anything difficult. Oh right, has the fourth young master gotten a bit better now?”
Xun Che nodded, “Still okay. I was a bit heavy with my hand, and he has never really suffered before since childhood. However, he should remember this lesson. Mother does heartache for him, but I’ve already explained the stakes within to her.”
He paused for a moment, and said, “Speaking of which, the gates and walls of Maolin Academy should also be renovated. Back then, when father had Cong’er sent over, it was precisely for the sake of receiving strict guidance. I never knew that they’re actually like this now nowadays. Later, I will definitely go tear down their signboard.”
Yu Lingxin thought for moment, but before she could respond, Ming Huayue already returned with Bishu.
At this time, Xun Che was still sitting in Xun Ying’s seat. Although the seats were separated by a table, so not considered that close, there was just the two of them after all, even talking face to face. Yu Lingxin’s face just heated up even more.
Xun Che actually still appeared easy-going, and when getting up to greet his mother, he didn’t even have the intention of leaving this seat.
Ming Huayue seemingly also didn’t mind too much, just waving her hand as she sat down, “It’s fine, you two talk.”
Yu Lingxin was still a bit uncomfortable, but could only sit down again.
Looking at Yu Lingxin’s appearance, Xun Che just laughed, “What are you this nervous for? Look at the account books in your hand right now, can this be given to outsiders to look at?”
Yu Lingxin couldn’t help but look down. Thinking it over, she also somewhat helplessly laughed, but at the same time, felt even more embarrassed to lift her head to look at Ming Huayue.
Ming Huayue also didn’t say anything. Just, after flipping through the lists, she let Bishu have the booklets that Yu Lingxin just organized brought over and looked through, asking a few questions.
Yu Lingxin was still willing to just discuss matters, so answered one by one.
Xun Che also casually picked up the guest list, “By the way, I remembered something just now. Have Yiyang Marquis Manor’s people separated a little farther away from the Yan family. Back then, the Yan family and the Wen family although had several generations of marriage ties, their relationship nevertheless wasn’t good. Leave two more seats for the Yan family here.”
Yu Lingxin made a note, asking as she wrote, “Do we need to switch to the Chen province’s wine and black tea? The Yan family, is it the Chen province’s branch?”
Xun Che shook his head, “No, it’s the Zhongyong General Manor. The tea doesn’t need to be switched out, but separately prepare light tea and water. Their family’s third master is taking medicine lately, so can’t drink tea.”
Yu Lingxin jotted it down, and then conveniently pulled out another booklet, quickly flipping through, “How many water cups are needed in total? There should be a total of thirty-six colored glass cups. Should we prepare for the Ying Duke Manor’s side?”
Xun Che contemplated for a moment, “Use government porcelain for the Ying Duke Manor. The Lou family are quite particular about this, appearing to not say anything, while nitpicking on the inside.”
Yu Lingxin nodded, suddenly lifting her head again and asking, “Then, the list for the received presents, should it also be separated by specifications? Or all use the gold dust one?”
This, Xun Che also didn’t think of. The two of them finally simultaneously gazed towards Ming Huayue who hasn’t said a word for quite a while.
Ming Huayue was originally watching them talk with the teacup in hand, while pondering inside. Yet, in the end, the two children just this openly gazed over, their expression both the same. She couldn’t help but blank, “This……..it’s also fine to separate.”
Xun Che thought for a moment, “Then, just separate, divide into three records. That way, it won’t be messy to look at. Just make a few similar booklets with the same color paper.”
Yu Lingxin understood, “Order from Chengxin Hall?”
Xun Che nodded, “That’s fine, I can order together with my other invitation cards. Write out the specifications and an amount, I will let Chen Qiao immediately send over to add to my order.”
“Madam, is three hundred enough?” Yu Lingxin asked Ming Huayue.
Ming Huayue indifferently nodded, “All fine.”
Seeing Yu Lingxin swiftly finish writing, Xun Che immediately just took it out to let Chen Qiao send out. Shortly after, he returned again, sitting down to continue discussing the details regarding the guests with Yu Lingxin.
The two of them were separated by a table, speaking sentence after sentence, not having the slightest intimacy that overstepped proper etiquette, but the briefness and tacit understanding between the questions and answers nevertheless made Ming Huayue feel increasingly complicated.
Finally, when they’d more or less said enough, Xun Che picked up a general ledger and got up, going before Ming Huayue, “Mother, for the banquet, just prepare according to these first. Second uncle and them currently say that they will arrive in the capital on the fifteenth. When time comes, I will personally go out of the city to receive them.”
“Why are you personally going out to receive?” Ming Huayue frowned, “Could it be that their family doesn’t know the way back to the manor?”
Xun Che just smiled, “There’s still the old madam among them after all. Nobody will fault having more etiquette. If mother doesn’t mind, then it’s best to go receive together with me.”
Ming Huayue clearly wasn’t willing, “There’s many matters to take care of at home. I won’t go. If you insist on going, then just go. Just be more mindful in terms of etiquette, so as to save them from complaining later.”
“Yes.” Xun Che chuckled and left, also not saying anything else to Yu Lingxin.
But, hearing his laugh, Yu Lingxin just knew that on the matter regarding the second branch’s return to the capital, Xun Che certainly had some plan.
At the same time, as Xun Che exited the door, inside Yuli Hall’s warm room, there was just Ming Huayue and Yu Lingxin left. It was another layer of subtle awkwardness.
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i think what really set xun che and lingxin apart from other novel cps i’ve read is—their relationship started in rough and down time, less passionate love and intimacy bc of xun che’s condition and was built more on connection with one another and tacit udnerstanding thru words and actions. this also reflects how tough to break their bond is compared to other movel cps that started off with intimacy but less connection that leads to misunderstanding and miscommunication most of the time.