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The Northern Wind Blew Hard All Night
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 was practically in disbelief, quietly asking, “Isn’t this too daring? Where did the imperial physician gown come from?”
Xun Che chuckled, “Head Imperial Physician Chi’s second son just entered the Imperial Physicians Court. He was suppose to come over today to take Jinrou’s pulse anyways. His Highness can be considered to be very thorough, even changing clothes with him before entering. However, his Highness certainly won’t sit for too long. He’s currently heading out on an assignment, merely just conveniently passing by.”
Yu Lingxin couldn’t help but recall Xun Che’s various tricks in the past, rolling her eyes, “You two really are ‘the lord and his subject sharing one mind’, very ‘convenient’.”
However, Xun Che’s words sure enough came true. In at most just a cup of tea’s time, Qin Wang, who was dressed as an imperial physician, came out from Ming Jinrou’s room, hurriedly leaving under Ming Jincheng’s company. In less than a moment later, Ming Jinrou’s trusted servant girl led another young imperial physician in. This time, it was really coming to take her pulse.
Yu Lingxin waited for a moment, originally wanting to go in again to check on Ming Jinrou, but who knew that before the real Imperial Physician Chi came out, Ming Huayue’s personal servant girl, Bishu, returned to Qinghong Pavilion first, directly going to the east warm room and curtsying towards Yu Lingxin, “Miss Yu, the duke and the duchess invites you over.”
Yu Lingxin’s heart immediately jumped again, instinctively turning towards Xun Che.
Xun Che helplessly laughed, “What are you looking at me for? Mother has a straightforward personality. Since already here today, she certainly must have mentioned our matter to maternal grandfather and maternal grandmother. Probably just calling you over for a look.”
Yu Lingxin naturally understood this, but she was still somewhat hesitant, “Isn’t…..isn’t this too early?”
Xun Che waved his hand, sending off Bishu, saying with a smile, “Sooner or later, what difference is there? If I have to say, it’s even late.” Looking outside, he lowered his voice, “What are you scared of? It’s not like you haven’t met them before.”
These words were actually true. The old Jin Duke couple were both very long-lived. In the past life, Yu Lingxin had met the two elders before, indeed very friendly. The old Jin Duke even had a bit of wit and humor, while the old duchess was similarly straightforward and candid like Ming Huayue.
Speaking of which, Yu Lingxin’s feelings right now actually weren’t that tense and nervous, just feeling that the Ming family truly moved too quickly. This marriage arrangement just had a blurry outline, yet within a day, already meeting with Xun Che’s maternal family elders?
However, since Bishu already came over to deliver word, she could only harden her head and head over.
Seeing her expression, Xun Che just smiled. Shortly after, he reached out and stroked Yu Lingxin’s bangs, “This is mother caring for you. Once maternal grandfather and maternal grandmother have also seen you, then in the future, if the old madam look for trouble, then there will be some more words to say. Let’s go, I’ll go over with you.”
Yu Lingxin understood his meaning, and it also wasn’t good to continue declining, so just let Xun Che personally accompany her to the Jin Duke couple’s main courtyard. Because Xun Che didn’t receive word from the elders, it wasn’t good for him to enter along with her, thus just stopped in the gardens, letting Bishu lead Yu Lingxin in to greet the to elders.
From beginning to end, it was merely just two cups of tea’s time before Ming Huayue came out together with Yu Lingxin and Xun Ying. Upon lifting the curtains, they saw that Xun Che was actually still waiting outside. On the surface, it was still his usual nonchalant look, appearing to be idly strolling around. Just, Ming Huayue and Yu Lingxin were both someone that had an extremely well understanding towards Xun Che, practically gazing towards his neck at the same time.
This was a habit of his left behind since his childhood. Whenever he was particularly nervous, his neck will just be stiffer than normal. Outsiders sweeping a glance over may not necessarily be able to detect anything, but Ming Huayue and Yu Lingxin immediately just had an understanding inside with a glance.
Just, Yu Lingxin somewhat embarrassingly lowered her eyes. She knew that Xun Che may sound very calm, but in reality, he will also worry whether or not she will have a hard time when meeting the Ming family elders for the first time.
TN: All translations outside of Broken Jinsei are stolen and reposted without permission!
Ming Huayue instead slanted her mouth, directly pointing out, “You little brat, just this worried about Huijun?”
Xun Che bowed with a smile, “With mother present, what does this son have to worry about?” Although it was said as such, he still quickly glanced at Yu Lingxin. When catching at a glance, the lustrous and magnificent jade bracelet that suddenly appeared on her wrist, the smile on his lips couldn’t be restrained.
Ming Huayue snorted, “Finally relieved? Someone you personally picked, the elders are quite fond.”
Yu Lingxin lowered her head, still feeling a bit embarrassed, but also didn’t dare to say anything to Ming Huayue, and could only silently follow along.
Xun Che at this time was already relaxed, so naturally won’t continue going in circles with his mother, just smiling along.
Seeing his eyes and brows all filled with endless joy, Ming Huayue was also too lazy to say more, taking everyone to go see Ming Jinrou again. But, who knew that through this delay, Ming Jinrou had already taken the medicine and fell back asleep again. As such, aside from Xun Che, who needed to stay behind to discuss matters with Ming Jincheng, the womenfolk just directly took their leave.
At this time, Xun Che and Yu Lingxin mutually looked at one another, also not having anything more to say. During the trip from the Yu manor to the Jin Duke Manor, it was both intimately cuddling and secretly discussing, so what needed to be said have already been said. At this time, in front of Ming Huayue and the others, they just reservedly nodded their heads in farewell.
However, Ming Huayue, Xun Ying, and Ming Jincheng, who came out to send them off, were all very astonished, “That’s it?”
Xun Che was actually surprised for once, “What?”
Ming Huayue instead gazed towards Yu Lingxin, “Child, you two don’t have anything more to say to each other?”
Yu Lingxin was even more awkward, hurriedly shaking her head, “No.”
Ming Huayue generously waved her hand, “No need to be reserved, if you want to talk, just talk.”
Seeing Yu Lingxin’s face burning up again, Xun Che smiled first, “Alright, then just say a few more words. Huijun, I’ll be leaving the capital tomorrow to handle some things. On mother and younger sister’s side, will be troubling you to look after them a little.”
“Understood.” Yu Lingxin softly responded, and shortly after, voluntarily went to hold Ming Huayue, “Madam, we’re done, let’s go.”
Ming Huayue couldn’t help but shake her head and smilingly sigh, finally taking Xun Ying and Yu Lingxin to the second gate to mount the carriage, respectively returning to their manors.
After returning home, Yu Lingxin briefly told her grandmother about the matters in the Jin Duke Manor. Of course, Qin Wang secretly visiting Ming Jinrou part was left out. The important part was about her meeting with the Jin Duke couple, as well as having obtained a ninghua bracelet from the Jin Duchess.
Yu old madam although was happy, there was also a bit of seriousness in her expression. After carefully asking Yu Lingxin about the responses and words at the time, and hearing that things were indeed appropriate in all aspects, she finally relaxed, also letting Shuangzhi go bring out a pair of gold bracelets inlayed with a rubies for Yu Lingxin, “The clothes in the winter are heavy, so wear some bright colors to lift the complexion.”
“Grandmother, no need, this is too valuable.” Yu Lingxin could tell at a glance that this should be something from Yu old madam’s dowry. The massive gemstone was glistening, and that gold was also just polished not too long ago, appearing increasingly glittery and bright, worth thousands of gold.
Yu old madam however pressed her hand, “Take it. When going out, you can’t just use things from others to maintain one’s appearance, no?”
Yu Lingxin was at a loss for words. When going out at present, her accessories naturally were from home. Just, when it comes to truly presentable large piece jewelry, other than the Tianshui jade from Ming Huayue, it was just the jewels Xun Che previously sent in together with the empress’s bestowments.
In her own dowry, there were naturally also some of Qi-shi’s accessories from back then, but regardless whether it’s the craftsmanship or the preciousness of the gemstone, it was still a bit more inferior.
After hesitating for a moment, Yu Lingxin still accepted after thanking her grandmother.
From a certain perspective, this is also considered having dignity as a Yu family daughter.
That night, a gale swept over the capital, the biting cold whistling sound engulfing the entire imperial city. Don’t know how many people were unable to sleep peacefully.
Yu Lingxin who was worried about Xun Che’s trip the next day naturally was also one of them. That’s why, after getting up in the morning, from washing up to the morning meal, Yu Lingxin was all somewhat absent-minded. She couldn’t help but keep thinking about whether or not Xun Che’s trip to the Liu province can be smooth, and whether or not he will encounter any wind, rain, snow and such.
However, these worries just stopped after noon. It wasn’t that the wind stopped outside, but rather, a new batch of annual accounts from those shops of Xun Che’s arrived.
This time, it was Bai Chuan leading people in having a trunk full of over twenty volumes of account books from inside and outside of the capital and all over the country lifted in.
Yu Lingxin’s complexion instantly turned dark. What tender feelings and deep worries, it immediately got replaced by the teeth clenching anger of having accidentally boarded a pirate ship.
However, because Ming Jinrou was still recuperating from her illness, and the weather in the capital was also rapidly turning cold, Yu Lingxin actually peacefully stayed at home for a few days for once, spending some more time with her grandmother. At the same time, it was just slightly looking over those account books, and in between, also let Bai Guo talk about the news and novel matters outside.
Bai Guo’s words were extremely short and concise, but the information was all very important, for instance:
On the twenty-fourth of the tenth month, the strict security that has tormented the capital for an entire half a month finally ended. When entering and exiting the city gates, although there was still the capital’s stationed troops spot checking, there were no longer lines of interrogation and questioning one by one.
On the twenty-seventh of the tenth month, the once famously reputed Wenhua Academy announced that the Wenhua Poetry Gathering will be rescheduled.
On the first of the eleventh month, Wenhua Academy officially began its classes. However, on the ladies’ private school side, practically one-tenth of the young ladies didn’t go.
Yu Lingxin listened to them one by one, all not overly taking it to heart. For the most part, everything was all the exact same as Xun Che predicted. There wasn’t anything she needed to particularly worry about. At this time, for her, the most important thing in fact wasn’t that trunk of account books that Bai Chuan lifted over either, but the garment in her hands that she was making for her father.
Yu Lingxin faintly felt that perhaps her time at home was actually that tiny bit shorter than she’d previously thought. That’s why, it was better to take advantage of the free time now to personally make a few more clothes for her father and grandmother.
On the second of the eleventh month, a letter from the Jiang province was delivered to Lianyi Residence.
Yu Lingxin opened the letter and just swept a glance. Afterwards, she let Ganlu directly lock it up together with those invitations Qi-shi previously sent over when she was still in the capital.
Although the words were different, the matters mentioned different, and even Qi-shi’s attitude and tone were also different, but in reality, all the invitations and letters’ final goal was still the same——–crying about being poor.
“Eldest miss, what plans do you have?” Ganlu was ultimately someone that has served Yu Lingxin since childhood, deeply aware of her own miss’s softheartedness and good nature. Even if in the recent months, she has seen Yu Lingxin’s many changes, she still would somewhat worry.
Yu Lingxin shook her head, casually picking up an account book to flip through, “Just store it away. When the third letter asking for money come in, just let someone send a hundred taels of silver over. To help the starving not the poor, for some things, there’s also nothing I can do about it.”
Ganlu relaxed a breath, responding with a bow.
Yu Lingxin couldn’t help but think of Xun Che again. If he was here at this time, perhaps there will be other ways and arrangements.
He has already left the capital for ten days, don’t know whether the matter is smooth or not?
Based on the distance from the capital to the Liu province, regardless of whether or not Xun Che has met Xun Yan in the Jiang manor, at this time, he should all be on the way back to the capital.
The next day, this thought of Yu Lingxin’s just got confirmed. Just, it was in a way that she’d never expected.
T/N: The title of this chapter (一夜北风紧) comes from ‘Dream of the Red Chamber’ by Cao Xueqin in the mid-18th century, one of the Four Great Classical Novels of chinese literature. ‘The Northern Wind Blew Hard All Night’ is actually the first line of a poem composed by the characters in the novel during a poetry gathering. Although, context-wise, there’s actually no correlation with this chapter.
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I can’t wait!! Frothing at the mouth! Looks like Qin Wang has been enlightened
that’s Qin Wang, right?!???