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Peace and Harmony
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!
Yu Lingxin couldn’t help but look outside, finally lowering her voice, asking him, “That’s why you told the madam that you will go out of the city to receive the people of the second branch?”
Xun Che didn’t lift his eyes, turning the pear in hand two more times, having the entire pear completely pared. The entire strip of pear skin was tossed aside. Then, wielding the knife, he had the pear meat cut into the glass bowl, “The second branch’s entire family accompanied the old madam back to the Liu province to visit her maiden family brothers. And now, they naturally need to return together. Xun Yan probably didn’t expect that I will go out of the city to receive them, but if she wants to be steady, then just need to go out of the city on the night of the fourteenth, or even the morning of the fifteenth, reuniting with everyone from the second branch, and afterwards, return to the capital together. At present, his Majesty has given the imperial order to impose martial law on the capital. The vehicles going in and out all need to be rigorously inspected. Even the imperial relatives aren’t exempted. I rather want to see what kind of extraordinary abilities Xun Yan has to slip out.”
With that said, he also finished cutting the pear. Xun Che personally inserted a bamboo pick, pushing it towards Yu Lingxin, “Have a taste, this is nanshui pear that maternal uncle ordered someone to send back from the Zhang province.”
Yu Lingxin casually picked up a piece. The water content was a little less than ordinary pears, but it was a bit more crisp and refreshing, very pure and sweet. She thought for a moment, “You want to secretly take care of this matter? Not going to mention with madam?”
Xun Che lowly muttered, “Exactly to what degree this matter should this matter be taken to, I’m currently still somewhat unsure. Ying’er’s incident in the past, Xun Yan is unable to escape from the blame. Others, I can forget, but Xun Yan, I still don’t want to spare. Just, when to make a move, and where at, I’m still deliberating.”
Hearing Xun Che mention Xun Ying, Yu Lingxin’s heart just immediately jumped. Regarding Xun Ying’s tragic death in the past life, she has always wanted to know, yet didn’t dare to ask in detail.
Just, at this time, Yuli Hall still wasn’t a good place to talk.
Just as she was pondering, she just heard footsteps sound outside. It was Ming Huayue coming over along with Xun Ying and Xun Cong.
“Mother.” “Madam.” Xun Che and Yu Lingxin simultaneously got up, bowing towards Ming Huayue.
Ming Huayue directly sat down in the round chair on the other side, “Sit.”
Ever since she had the impulse to scare Xun Che a few days ago, towards Xun Che and Yu Lingxin, Ming Huayue more or less felt a bit embarrassed.
After all, at the time, she could tell that he really was angered, but afterwards, when returning to the manor, he didn’t say anything, thus she just knew that Yu Lingxin must’ve appeased countless times, having this matter pressed down. As the main culprit behind the joke, Ming Huayue still felt a bit sorry towards Yu Lingxin.
That’s why, right now, Ming Huayue can be considered to have thoroughly let go. After sitting down, she glanced at Xun Ying and Xun Cong.
Xun Ying naturally directly called out ‘older sister Huijun’ and then sat down next to her mother. As for Xun Cong whose body finally recovered more than half, this was still his first time seeing Yu Lingxin again after getting beaten, so when entering, he was actually somewhat embarrassed.
On one hand, from his mother and older brother’s meaning, this unfamiliar young lady that he’d just met for the first time that day when getting beaten probably will be his future sister-in-law. Previously, he completely didn’t hear any news of this, making him also very surprised.
On the other hand, it was naturally just because during his previous meeting with his future sister-in-law, he was just in an extremely sorry state, getting ruthlessly scolded and beaten by his older brother, really losing all face.
Of course, he actually still remembered that the reason why he didn’t directly get beaten to death that day was still thanks to this young future sister-in-law.
TN: All translations outside of Broken Jinsei are stolen and reposted without permission!
“Second brother.” Seeing Xun Che, Xun Cong naturally had even more reverence. When bowing, he was even more deferential and cautious than when seeing his father and teachers.
Shortly after, he turned towards Yu Lingxin, but how to address her, it was still quite difficult. He was a year older than Yu Lingxin, so truly unable to be like Xun Ying, calling her older sister, but to call her Miss Yu, it would unavoidably feel too distant, and calling her Yu family younger sister seemingly would feel a bit disrespectful. After being stifled for a moment, he finally bowed, “Hello.”
Yu Lingxin was very speechless and could only bow, returning the etiquette, “Greetings fourth young master.”
Xun Che was rather satisfied towards Xun Cong’s attitude, “You also sit.”
Xun Cong finally obediently sat down on Ming Huayue’s other side, his waist and back perfectly straight and upright, not daring to look directly at Xun Che, instead half lowering his eyes, resting his two hands on his knees, appearing ten times more orderly and proper than when at the academy.
Ming Huayue swept a glance at Xun Cong and then turned towards Xun Che, pressing her lips. It was still more relaxing talking to Yu Lingxin, “Huijun, this list regarding the servants, there’s actually no need to rush looking over. The day after tomorrow, when the people of the second branch return, perhaps there will still be some transfers and changes. You have also been tired these two days, just rest a little for now.”
Yu Lingxin lightly nodded her head, “Yes.”
She didn’t look towards Xun Che, but from the meaning in Xun Che’s words just now, the Xun family second branch’s return to the capital absolutely won’t be too smooth.
“Actually, second uncle and them returning won’t have that much of an affect.” Xun Che followed up, “It’s merely just leaving the capital for three months. Slightly helping them settle down will be enough. The birthday banquet this time has honor bestowed from the palace, as well as the imperial family coming to congratulate. On second aunt’s side, they will probably be thinking of how to be in the limelight. Everything else, they may not necessarily care about that much.”
Ming Huayue shook her head, “Just let them be. On your father’s side, at the earliest, still need to wait until the end of the year to return to the capital. The most important thing at home is keeping the peace, so it’s better to leave some more leeway just to be safe.”
“Don’t worry mother.” Xun. Che smiled, “The matters at home, I will put more thought into, certainly will let there just be peace and harmony when father come home.”
His voice was very gentle, yet when Yu Lingxin heard, she just felt slight chills on her back. Enduring a little, she finally didn’t go look at him again in front of Ming Huayue, Xun Ying, and Xun Cong.
Ming Huayue, however, didn’t make out any other different meaning, instead assuming that Xun Che’s meaning was that now they have Yu Lingxin helping out and managing things. Her first reaction was just wanting to roll her eyes at him, but when the corner of her eye swept over Yu Lingxin who was sitting upright with her eyes lowered, she actually also somewhat rejoiced inside.
This child, truly……….too capable.
Originally, it was just helping Xun Ying have the arrangements and details for the poetry gathering and tea gathering straightened out, and then attend to some of the female guests that were from the same generation on the day of the banquet. However, on the seventh that day, Bishu wasn’t clear in passing on the order, so the servant woman in charge and the servant girl that came to deliver the account books just had the general ledger for the banquet placed on Yu Lingxin and Xun Ying’s side.
Ming Huayue had merely just gotten held up for a while in Xun Cong’s room. When returning to Yuli Hall again, Yu Lingxin had already finished looking through the portion regarding the dishes for the banquet. Shortly after, while chatting with Xun Che, her hand in writing the note slips were like as if gliding on paper. Unexpectedly, it was like as if towards this big banquet of several hundred guests, she had a very clear understanding, casually looking through, casually thinking, casually writing, and casually organizing. That clear understanding and sense of propriety, Ming Huayue was all a bit faintly shocked from seeing.
Never mind Xun Ying and Ming Jinrou, these two who don’t like learning about household affairs, even the most proficient in housework of the younger generation that she’d seen before, for instance, the Ying Duke’s eldest daughter-in-law, it was also just to this degree. In fact, those such as the second branch madams of ordinary noble families might not even be as good as her.
Thinking to here, Ming Huayue couldn’t help casting a glance at Xun Che——–This brat, his eyes sure were sharp.
On Xun Che’s side, seeing his mother’s gaze moving back and forth, he immediately just understood inside, inwardly laughing. This time, his mother’s thoughts were actually wrong. Strictly speaking, Yu Lingxin, this daughter-in-law, it was actually his mother that immediately took a fancy to her at first sight in the last lifetime, personally picking for him.
Ming Huayue cleared her throat again, saying a few words to Xun Ying and Xun Cong, the rough meaning was nothing more than just instructing them to be attentive during the banquet, each respectively looking after a few things.
Just, what was very peculiar was that originally, a few days ago, it was still Yu Lingxin coming over to help Xun Ying, but now, it has turned into Xun Cong and Xun Ying each receiving two tasks to look after from Yu Lingxin’s hands.
Yu Lingxin also felt a bit awkward, but when lowering her head and seeing that dark green and lustrous string of Tianshui Jade on her wrist, she also felt that there was nothing to feel unnatural about, calmly pulling out the account books and note-papers, and handing it over to Xun Cong and Xun Ying.
The two of them deferentially accepted, especially Xun Cong, not even daring to glance in Xun Che’s direction. Seemingly sensing his older brother look towards him, his entire back ridge and neck all somewhat stiffened.
In the end, it was still Yu Lingxin that lightly coughed, softly saying, “The matters on this side will be troubling fourth young master. If a guest really were to startle the female guests on Ying’er’s side, afraid it will be very inappropriate, so asking fourth young master to put in the effort.”
“Yes.” Xun Cong still felt very nervous, instinctively wanting to move another half step away from Xun Che.
“At present, you are also gradually getting older.” Xun Che got glared at again by Yu Lingxin, finally softening his tone as he opened his mouth, “The matters at home, you should also learn to look after. These matters are neither big nor small, but you should be able to take care of steadily, so just be attentive.”
“Yes.” Xun Cong once again lowered his head and responded, not even daring to move.
Yu Lingxin flipped through the account book in hand. The things that needed to be taken care of were more or less taken care of. As such, she just got up, “Since that’s the case, I will be going back first today. If madam thinks of something later on, then just send someone to call on me at anytime.”
“Mother, I’ll send Huijun back.” Xun Che also got up, bowing towards Ming Huayue.
Ming Huayue nodded, also not saying anything. These last few days, Yu Lingxin has come over everyday to help prepare for the banquet. Sometimes, even the usual household affairs, if placed together, she would also take care of in passing. Ming Huayue was also used to being carefree like this.
When Xun Che passed by Xun Cong’s side, he reached out and patted his shoulder.
As soon as Xun Che lifted his hand, Xun Cong practically wanted to hold his head, but Xun Che’s hand was also quick, two light pats landing on his younger brother’s shoulder, similarly feeling extremely complicated.
Xun Cong still didn’t dare to lift his head, just bowing and nodding his head, letting his nervous body slowly relax.
Yu Lingxin took it in, inwardly shaking her head. On the way back to the manor, she just asked Xun Che, “Did you have the fourth young master frightened a bit too ruthlessly this time?”
Xun Che thought for a moment, his lips full of bitterness, “Probably a little. That day, I really was too angered, so went over the limit. However, Cong’er shouldn’t be that stupid either. Just like you’d said, perhaps, in the past, I really was too strong-minded and didn’t properly teach him, always feeling that based on our manor’s foundation, based on my abilities, he and Ying’er don’t need to worry too much.”
He paused for a moment, suddenly softly whispering by Yu Lingxin’s ear, “In the end, I’ve never been a father before, no?”
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Thanks for the chapter, Jen!💖
By the way, typo alert:
Xun *Che* once again lowered his head and responded, not even daring to move.
I believe that should be Xun Cong since Xun Che just said something apparently addressed to Xun Cong in the preceding paragraph.
Fixed! Thank you~
…I’m suspicious that Xun Che arranged for the household ledgers to appear in that instance now.