Chapter 63: Foreshadowing

Translated by Gumihou

Proofread by Pill Bug

 

“Is Lord Husband resting at Night Breeze Pavilion tonight?” Jiang Wanying asked casually as she slowly removed her makeup in front of the mirror.

“Yes, Jin Ming came over this afternoon to inform us that the master will be resting at Night Breeze Pavilion,” Qiu Xia collected the accessories on the dressing table one by one and put them away. Catching sight of her mistress’ expressionless face, she comforted in a low voice, “There’s no need for Madam to be sad. The master spends more than half a month at our place…”

“Of course, I know this,” Jiang Wanying sneered. With a wave of her hand, she snapped, “There’s no need for you to comfort me. I understand that even if he was not at Night Breeze Pavilion, he would not be in my room either. Right now, I believe Concubine Xu’s hatred is even worse than mine. Lord Husband only visits her place five or six days a month. Today, it was finally her turn, but then it was snatched away by Night Breeze Pavilion.”

Qiu Xia smiled and said, “Isn’t it true? This maid just went by Fragrant Dew Court and heard Concubine Xu scolding one of the maids. I believe someone was being beaten too. Clearly, her anger was not light. It’s better not to start trouble with Night Breeze Pavilion, otherwise, our heads would be broken in.”

Jiang Wanying nodded with a little smile, “You have a vivid way with words. In fact, I have always been curious. No matter what, she is the daughter of a Fourth Rank official. Just how did she come by her shrewish attitude?” She stood up from her chair and sat down slowly on the bed. She turned to Qiu Xia, “Where is the Young Miss and Young Master? I haven’t seen them all day. They only know how to play wildly outside.”

“Mother is wrong, who is playing wildly outside? I’ve returned long ago and have been studying since.” A child ran in, his face gleaming with sweat and one hand clenched closed around something.

“Well, well, if this is studying and not playing, I wonder what’s that in your hand?” Jiang Wanying pretended to scold her son but her face was wreathed with smiles as she looked at her little son tenderly.

“It was caught by Shuang De this afternoon. He tied up its wings. I really didn’t go out and play. I only took it after I finished reading a book. If Mother doesn’t believe me, look. Its wings are still tied up [1],” Jin Zhenxuan held up his hand to show the cicada to Jiang Wanying.

“Honestly, it’s all true, I can be little brother’s witness. He has been studying all afternoon.” Eldest Young Miss Jin Xiuzhen also came through the door, a folding fan fluttering in her hand. She complained, “It’s still fine during the day but why is it so hot now?”

“Qiu Xia, go and fetch the watermelon from the well and cut it open. Bring the sour plum soup that we simmered yesterday too,” ordered Jiang Wanying. She smiled at Jin Zhenxuan, “If it is as your sister said, and you’ve been studying all afternoon, Mother is happy to hear that you have become sensible. My children, ah. You must also struggle for Mother’s sake. Look how angry your father became when you were too playful and unwilling to study. As for Night Breeze Pavilion, could those things even be considered your elder brother and sister? Pei, those are merely bastards squeezed out by a cheap slut. How could they be compared to you? However, just because they happened to study a little… well, you’ve seen it yourself. Your father gifted the dragon phoenix jades to them. If you still do not grow up, do you think Mother will have a foothold in this estate?”

“That’s right, don’t worry, Mother. Your daughter and my little brother understand,” Jin Xiuzhen said coldly. “Who knows just how many eyes are fixed upon Mother? Now, even a low-ranking, immoral and despicable woman has delusions of competing against Mother for favour. Isn’t it all because of those cheap bastards from Night Breeze Pavilion? Back then we were unaware of their tricks but now that we do know, we will not let them live well. Didn’t father said that he has invited a great scholar for our education? [1] Daughter has already discussed with little brother, we will study properly.”

Jiang Wanying nodded with relief and smiled, “Good, good, this is very good. The most important thing is that the two of you are sensible and understand what’s transpiring. It’s all fine if Mother suffered a few grievances. However, Zhen’er, there’s no need for you to worry about doing your best in the Confucian classes. You are a girl and will have teachers for the four arts. You should pay attention to music, chess, calligraphy and painting as well as other womanly arts. Whether you can marry a good man in the future will depend on your ability with these arts.”

“What is mother saying? [1] Naturally, it is only right for your daughter to worry. How old am I? There’s no need for Mother to worry about me. This daughter shall not marry and stay home with Mother forever,”

Jin Xiuzhen was only six years old, but already knew what it meant to be shy. However, she still spoke with a young girl’s coquettish attitude.

“Yes, yes, yes, I shall not speak of it anymore. No matter what, so long as you are willing to strive for Mother. Mother is not afraid. Mother will be afraid of nothing.” At this, Jiang Wanying’s voice hardened. With a hint of viciousness, she muttered, “It should Mid-Autumn soon? That scholar should be here just around that time, right? Well, very good. It is all very good.”

 

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The next day, Jin Fengju got up early and went to court. Because there was nothing for him to do at Hanlin Academy, he took a leave of absence from the academy custodian. The custodian also knew that though Jin Fengju was officially attached to the Hanlin Academy, he was not obligated to run errands for them. There were no orders from the emperor either, so Jin Fengju was free to leave.

Upon returning home, he had just entered his study when a low-level maid from Jiang Wanying’s courtyard called Dong’er entered and bobbed a salute at him. She said, “Young Marquis, the Madam has invited you for a visit. She said she has something to discuss with the Young Marquis.”

“What can it be? It’s too early to discuss preparations for the Mid-Autumn Festival, moreover, she has always been the one in charge of all these things,” Jin Fengju wondered.

Dong’er smiled, “How could this maid know? Would not the Young Marquis know if you speak with the Madam?”

Thus, Jin Fengju had no choice but to follow Dong’er to Clear Soft Pavilion. When he arrived, he found Jiang Wanying dressed in a homely water-coloured long gauze dress with only a single golden phoenix buyao [2] in her hair. She looked both benevolent and dignified. When she saw him, she smiled and said, “I have just sent Dong’er to find you, but did not expect Lord Husband to arrive so soon. Well? Did the emperor not send you out for some errands?”

“How could there be so many things to do? There are many courtiers at court, I am hardly the only one,” Jin Fengju smiled and sat down in a chair. “Speak, you say you have something important to discuss? To call me over for discussion when you have always made all the household decisions, what could the matter be? You’ve never been interested in outside matters either,”

Jiang Wanying smiled and said, “I have not called Lord Husband for anything serious. This morning, a servant brought a letter for Lord Husband. From the handwriting, I could tell that it was from Wu San’er. I remembered that Lord Husband mentioned something about sending Wu San’er to pick up that great scholar. I speculate that this letter must be related to that matter. I was about to have a servant take this letter to Lord Husband when a thought occurred to me. I thought I had better invite Lord Husband to come to sit and have a little talk and see if it is feasible.”

As she spoke, Jin Fengju had already opened the letter and taken a look at its contents. After reading, he smiled and said, “Wu San’er is very quick on his feet and efficient with his work. He and the great scholar are on their way here. It is estimated that they would reach the city in half a month, so long as they do not encounter any difficulties. That’s right, you mention that you wish to speak to me about something. What is it?”

Jiang Wanying smiled, “I am thinking of Elder Sister’s two children. They have only studied by Elder Sister’s side and have never attended the clan school before. Since Lord Husband said they have good prospects, how about letting them join the clan school too? After all, it is not easy to invite such a great scholar to teach the children, how could Elder Sister’s teaching be compared? What does Lord Husband think?”

Once she was done speaking, Jin Fengju looked over. Under his penetrating gaze, Jiang Wanying’s heart jumped and the smile on her face grew brighter. A long while later, she heard her husband chuckle, “That is a very good thought, I too have similar views. To think that Wanying is such a benevolent person and shared the same opinions as I. We shall proceed as you have suggested.”

“How could your words be so heartless? What ‘benevolent person’? Are you saying that after so many years of being husband and wife, you secretly thought of me as a stingy and jealous woman?” Jiang Wanying humphed and turned away. She sneered, “To be frank, if I truly was a jealous woman, would your inner court be so peaceful? The little concubines in Cousin’s inner court all like to pick fights. If I truly was a jealous woman, would I have endured all these years? As for Fu’shi, I pitied her for having been banished away to that remote Night Breeze Pavilion and could not bear to ruin the future of those two children. That is why I brought the matter up. To hear you say something like this, as though I am deliberately trying to appear like a good person in your presence and faked some good deeds…”

“Aren’t you overthinking matters a little? I just said it casually, is it really worth being angry over it?” Jin Fengju walked over to Jiang Wanying. He picked her up and placed her on his lap, “Don’t worry, my cousin is very good. I know this well. Otherwise, after so many years, how is it that only you receive my wholehearted love?”

“Your wholehearted love?” Jiang Wanying’s smile was very charming. She extended a long finger and poked his chest. “My dear Lord Husband, there’s no need to coax me with such sweet words. I might just be coaxed into working even harder for the Marquisate. Even though it’s all just words. Speaking of which, enough about those concubines, let’s talk about Elder Sister. She must have taken very good care of you last night? When you were there, did you still remember who I was? I’m afraid you must have completely forgotten about me.”

“Look at you, I just know you’re feeling suspicious again,” Jin Fengju smiled helplessly at her as he reached for Jiang Wanying’s clothes. “I have said this to you before, I visited Night Breeze Pavilion not for the beauty, but for the children. Why do you still not believe me? If you are still suspicious, why don’t you test my strength now, see if I’ve wasted any energy last night.”

“Go away, humph, what time is it now? Still so sticky,” Jiang Wanying slapped playfully at Jin Fengju’s hand. Although her mouth was filled with sharp words, her heart was sweet. After some thought, she still felt a little dissatisfied. Therefore, she leaned in to whisper in Jin Fengju’s ear, “If you truly have a clear conscience, why don’t you come to my room tonight and let me properly test your strength? How about it? Do you dare?”

“How could I not dare? In fact, if you wish to test me now, I have no problems,” Jin Fengju took the opportunity to kiss her and, after a token struggle, Jiang Wanying became drunk with happiness.

Just then, Jin Zhenxuan’s voice shouted from outside, “Where’s Father? Qiu Xia, is Father here?”

The two quickly separated. Jiang Wanying touched her lips and hurriedly checked her rouge in the mirror. She hissed at Jin Fengju, “Did I not say that this is not the time? How naughty, luckily Zhenxuan shouted first, otherwise, if he just barges in…”

As soon as she said this, Jin Zhenxuan really dashed into the room.

“Xuan’er, didn’t the teacher inform you before? Before entering your parents’ room, you must greet them from the outside first and wait for permission before entering,” Jin Fengju said with a cough of embarrassment. Jiang Wanying’s lips pursed up with amusement as she watch him scold his son.

“Father, what happened to the pair of white jade lions in your study? I went to look at them today but they’re gone,” Jin Zhenxuan had always relied on his parents’ identity and had grown up willful and arrogant. He did not care much about anything that did not concern him, even dared to grab Jin Fengju by the shirt and question him.

 

[Gumihou: …I think… this Jin Fengju saw his ‘affection’ as currency. I give you x amount of affection and play the part of a loving husband and in return, you play the part of a benevolent wife. Everybody gives and takes. Except, Jiang Wanying thought she was playing the long game with Jin Fengju and thought he would eventually fall for her for real if she just hold on to a certain role for a certain amount of time and eliminate all other rivals. Kind of sad for Jiang Wanying, but if she did succeed in her long game, she would definitely grow to be the arrogant and annoying mother-in-law]

 

[1] Small fixes so that the dialogues aligned.

Pill Bug:

[2]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buyao

This hair accessory literally means “dangle as you walk”.

Picture from https://ziseviolet.tumblr.com/post/620316469923823616/hello-i-see-that-you-posts-a-lot-of-hair

Gumihou: Woah, Pill Bug found a very detailed hair piece labelling thing

 

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