< Previous Chapter | Table of Contents | Next Chapter >
Birthday Banquet Conclusion
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!
The people of the Wen’an Marquis Manor naturally were stunned. It wasn’t good for Xun second master to go out to welcome, but it also wasn’t good to casually brush them off either. As such, Ming Huayue just ordered someone to go look for Xun Che.
And the people of the Shangwu[1] Bureau were even more awkward than the people of the Xun family. Coming to visit against the heavy rain, then getting led to the front hall for a cup of tea, by the time they finally met the young Wen’an Marquis heir, they instead got told that Qin Wang had already left.
Having no other choice, the people of the Shangwu Bureau could only cover up the astonishment on their face and politely take their leave. And the moment they stepped out of the Wen’an Marquis Manor’s front gate, the vice director that was in the lead couldn’t help but turn back for a glance, his back faintly growing cold.
The Xun family’s main reception hall was still very lively. While the wind and rain overlapped outside, the inside was filled with brightly colored decorations. Just, between the noisy chatters and laughters, that complicated and ominous feeling amongst the guests grew increasingly strong.
Those conflicts from when Qin Wang had entered more or less had spread a little among the guests. And Qin Wang suddenly lashing out, the Shangwu Bureau strangely coming to the door, all these matters linking together, it all let the entire birthday banquet fill with a hard to describe preposterousness and nervousness.
At the you[2] hour, the sky outside was already increasingly dark. In the sky, there was even faint sounds of thunder. All the servants of the Xun family got dispatched to serve the wine and dishes for the guests. They absolutely must let every dish entering the reception hall all be neat and tidy, and the felt rug in the hall must not have a single drop of water. The tea and even dishes in front of every guest at each table were all meticulously arranged, very orderly and proper.
This kind of steadiness overlapping with the confusion previously increasingly made the guests feel very complicated. And at this time, the third news that thoroughly shattered the banquet’s atmosphere came.
Xuan Emperor’s oral decree, ordering Wen’an Marquis’s heir to immediately enter the palace to meet the emperor.
Accompanied by the rain and thunder outside, Xun Che calmly received the order and left.
However, for the guests in the hall and the people of the Xun manor that remained, they were practically unable to keep up the smile on the surface.
A decree at this time can be said to be very bad. Although it’s unknown as to what Qin Wang had said to Xun Che earlier that resulted in that slap, to the point where the young heir’s face was still swollen at this time, but without a doubt, Xuan Emperor’s summoning at this time certainly will be related to this.
This decree not directly condemning and reproaching might already be considering on behalf of the Xun family’s status and seeing that he was still young.
In any case, it can’t still be bestowing rewards and adding honor, right?
Xun old madam’s face really was unable to light up no matter what, and the Xun family second branch was further full of alarm. When looking at one another, their faces were full of fear and trepidation, just fearing that this matter will implicate the whole family. They were unable to even say anything to lighten up the mood.
Ming Huayue appeared to still be calm, but the handkerchief in hand had already gotten unconsciously scrunched into a ball. After watching Xun Che’s figure disappear in her line of sight, she just secretly reached out to tug Yu Lingxin, having her voice pressed extremely low, “Did he tell you anything previously?”
Yu Lingxin’s heart was also beating wildly. She was able to sense Ming Huayue’s enormous strength, but she still composed herself, clenching her teeth, “The matter was sudden, so I also don’t know, but madam should still trust him. There won’t be anything serious.”
Ming Huayue slightly adjusted her breathing, and shortly after, raised her brow and waved her hand, instructing the servants to quickly serve the wine and dishes. Today’s banquet inevitably will need to end early.
TN: All translations outside of Broken Jinsei are stolen and reposted without permission!
Under this kind of unforeseen change, how could the guests still have the mood to celebrate and enjoy the banquet. Practically once all the dishes were served, forcibly saying a few auspicious words for Xun old madam’s birthday, Wu Wang and Wei Wang who were similarly full of suspicions just used the weather as an excuse to take their leave first.
Some of the impatient guests directly just got up along with them. The circumstances of Xun old madam’s birthday banquet was practically not that different from the Zhu family’s flower banquet. Just, because of the increasingly heavy storm outside, even if there wasn’t the unforeseen changes brought about by Qin Wang, some guests will still leave early. That’s why, for better or worse, borrowing the weather as an excuse, letting the birthday banquet quickly conclude wasn’t that unsightly.
But in reality, the guests feelings were ten times more complicated than that time at the Zhu manor. The Cheng’en Duke Manor although seemingly had some notorious bandit sneaking in, but in the end, it was nothing more than just the security not being strict thus dampening the spirits.
However, for the Xun family, in this series of unforeseen changes, the one that got into trouble was the Xun family first branch’s heir. In addition to Qin Wang’s sudden outbreak, and the Shangwu Bureau’s appearance, exactly what did it signify?
Probably, the storm in Tianxu year 13 really was very big.
In short, after the guests successively took their leave, the atmosphere inside the Xun manor was still extremely awkward.
Xun old madam practically was about to fly into a rage, and the people of the second branch also successively came over to question Ming Huayue, even wanting to have Ming Jinrou, who was resting in the back after getting drenched in the rain, called out to explain, exactly what was wrong with each and every one of them today to have the perfectly fine birthday banquet turned into such a mess.
At this time, Yu Lingxin was just in a very difficult position. Although she was very worried about Ming Jinrou who’d gotten wet in the rain, and also concerned for Ming Huayue and Xun Ying who were filled with worry, but for her who currently didn’t have any actual relationship, it was already very inappropriate to continue staying at the Xun manor. Especially seeing how the people of the Xun family were about to get into a quarrel, it was just even more inappropriate for her, this outsider, to be present. Thus, after slightly hesitating, Yu Lingxin still softly informed Ming Huayue, directly taking her leave and returning home.
Sitting in the horse carriage, the carriage lightly rocking along the way, her ears finally obtained a bit of peace. The soreness and exhaustion all over her body also surged up, her two cheeks burning, her eyelids heavy, but on the inside, she still deeply worried nonstop.
Even if she believed that Xun Che and Qin Wang’s various moves afterwards were all for the sake of trying to salvage the Renshun Crown Prince’s ceremonial weaponry matter, but she will still worry whether or not his strategy can succeed.
And will he suffer or be at a disadvantage during this process?
When Qin Wang’s slap landed, Yu Lingxin was standing far away at the main hall’s entrance, watching the servant girls deliver desserts inside. However, her line of sight was directly facing the main seats direction, so she instantly took in that entire scene.
That moment when Xun Che’s body was on the verge of falling, Yu Lingxin practically had to use all her strength to not call out in alarm. Although afterwards, she continuously forced herself to keep a tight eye on the details of the banquet, but on the inside, her heart was already aching to the point of twisting.
How come Xun Che just don’t know to treasure his own body?
Could it be that there aren’t other useful methods? Must he use his own body?
After having the vermillion umbrella matter comb through from head to tail again, towards Xun Che’s plan, Yu Lingxin roughly had a guess. Then, recalling the various details at the Xun manor, she couldn’t help but have Ming Jinrou’s action, the unforeseen changes during the banquet, as well as the countless complicated and tedious internal affairs of the Xun family all sorted through one by one inside, becoming increasingly exhausted.
By the time Yu Lingxin descend the carriage at her own manor’s second gate, holding Bai Guo and Ganlu’s hand, she also felt that her legs were somewhat weak.
“Miss, how come your face is red?” Ganlu said with worry, “Is your body unwell?”
Yu Lingxin used the back of her hand to press against her face, seemingly a bit hot. However, amidst cold wind and rain hitting the face, she also didn’t feel that cold. Thinking for a moment, she just sighed, “Probably just tired, might have a bit of a low fever. Just go make some ginger soup for me to drink. Nothing to worry about.”
Bai Guo slightly curtsied, “Miss has been too strained lately, should properly rest.”
“En, I also want to ‘peacefully’ rest.” Yu Lingxin bitterly laughed, glancing at Bai Guo again, not saying anything else.
But, Bai Guo clearly comprehended. When serving Yu Lingxin in bathing and changing, she quietly approached, “Miss, just rest with ease. Once second young master has news, it will immediately be passed over.”
Yu Lingxin slowly relaxed a breath, closing her eyes and nodding her head, having herself completely submerged in the hot water, attempting to adjust her breathing, wanting to slightly press down the worries and thoughts in her heart.
However, this kind of attempt ultimately was useless. She who was exhausted to the extreme although very quickly climbed onto the bed and went to sleep, she was still very uncomfortable in her sleep. While her whole body was burning up, the various scenes that flashed through her mind were extremely chaotic. There was how Xun Che got hit and humiliated during the birthday banquet, as well as how he was stuck on the sickbed in the past life, Ming Huayue’s worries and endurance in this life, Xun Cong’s crippling injury and decay in the past life, and so on.
To the extent when Yu Lingxin woke up again, she still felt sore and exhausted all over. In fact, her head and throat were all faintly aching.
“Miss, you have finally awaken!” Ganlu’s voice actually had a bit of elation, and shortly after, went to support her. “Do you want to get up to drink some water? The imperial physician said that you need to properly rest and disperse the heat.”
Yu Lingxin just got up with Ganlu’s help, still feeling a bit of a headache, “Imperial physician? What happened?” She somewhat managed to turn her head to gaze out the window. The sky was still dark, so she was even more confused, “How long did I sleep for?”
“My miss, you really scared us to death.” As they spoke, Shuangye came in with the congee in hand, “You’d slept for almost an entire day. During this time, when you were burning up, you even started talking in your sleep. The old madam personally came over for a look, also inviting an imperial physician.”
Yu Lingxin sat up, indeed feeling that her throat was still uncomfortable. She dryly coughed twice, and also touched her own cheek and forehead, finally realizing that she probably caught a cold. After all, during the deadlock when receiving Qin Wang, everyone all endured the wind and rain.
“En.” She drank two sips of hot water, her head becoming a bit more clear, immediately recalling her worries from before, “Where’s Bai Guo?”
“Bai Guo said that she had some matters at home, so during the afternoon today, she asked for a leave to go back, saying that she will return tomorrow morning.” Shuangye had the congee and side dishes set down, then came over to help support Yu Lingxin, “Miss, get up and have some congee before taking the medicine.”
Yu Lingxin nodded on the surface, also getting up to eat the congee, but on the inside, she quickly became anxious.
What is Xun Che doing?
Regardless of what, first let Bai Guo come over and deliver a message, so that she can be at ease. At this time, not only was there not a single word, he even instead had Bai Guo called away? This is wanting for her to worry to death!
But, at this time, aside from patiently waiting, she actually had no other choice, especially given the fact that although her body wasn’t too hot, it was still sore and exhausted, not that well. After taking the medicine, she heavily fell asleep again.
When waking up again the next day, Yu Lingxin could sense her body feeling light and relaxed, having recovered after fully resting. And Bai Guo also already returned to her side, yet didn’t report anything to her alone, just carrying a bit of craftiness in her smile, “Has miss recovered? Then, should nicely dress up today and look more lively.”
Yu Lingxin’s eyes flickered, yet slightly relaxed a little inside. Judging from Bai Guo’s expression, things on Xun Che’s side probably went by smoothly. Just, this girl usually didn’t talk that much either, so what did she mean by this?
At this time, Ganlu and Shuangye entered. Changing, washing up, taking the morning meal, and such matters at present naturally didn’t need to be mentioned. Around two quarters into the si hour[3], they just heard the first rank servant girl of Dongli Residence, Shuangzhi, come over outside, her voice even faintly carrying excitement, “Eldest miss, the old madam asks you to change and prepare yourself. The Wen’an Marchioness is personally coming over to visit you!”
[1] 尚务司 – Another bureau made up by the author.
[2] 酉时 – 5 to 7 pm
[3] 9 – 11am, so two quarters in is about 9:30am
< Previous Chapter | Table of Contents | Next Chapter >
Discover more from Broken Jinsei
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
◈ ◈ ◈ ◈ ◈