Chapter 110: Days Without the Young Marquis

Author: White Pear Flower

Raws: https://book.qidian.com/info/2386994/

Translated by Gumihou

Proofread by Pill Bug

 

AR Qiuning stomps her feet and sulked, then chases after the maid to smack her.

Gumihou: … …

Fu Qiuning: Wait, who’s that?

Gumihou: …Here, take this paper talisman

Fu Qiuning: What, why? It says… Yeet?

Gumihou: Yup, it’s a spell for yeeting out evil spirits. Trust me, you’ll want it

 

Fu Qiuning blinked. So, it’s for the marriage thing. [1] Didn’t Jin Fengju say that Third Brother Zhang revealed vital information about her in exchange for Aunt Yu’s divorce from her previous husband? Still, it was not like she could talk about [2] the upper management’s personal lives with the employees. Therefore, she merely smiled and said, “Do not worry. The Young Marquis himself has already given the order, so there should be no issue.

However, the matter must have been overlooked due to preparations for the New Year as well as the return of the Marquis and the [3] Eldest Master. If you could be patient and wait, I believe that it should be taken care of by spring next year. With the season of flowers and things reborn anew, I shall bring up Aunt Yu’s matter once more before Old Madam, Elder Madam and the Young Marquis. What do you think?”

“Hearing Madam’s reassurance, how could this old woman harass you over the matter? Moreover, surely this matter is too insignificant to be brought up before the Old Madam, Elder Madam and the Young Marquis?” Mother Zhang stood up, bowing repeatedly to Fu Qiuning, giving her thanks again and again. Finally, she left with a wide smile on her face.

The smile on Fu Qiuning’s face, which had stiffened, did not waver as she turned to the door near the back and called out, “Come in. How long are you going to stand there? Have you heard enough? Do you feel at ease now?”

A red-faced Aunt Yu came in. She stomped her foot and said, “Wh-what is Madam talking about? This maid is just here to send tea. However, since you are with guests, naturally, I cannot come in.”

Qiuning thought: You can’t come in or can’t bring yourself to leave? Clearly, you are very concerned about this matter. [4] Too bad you did not know that your beloved Third Brother Zhang already betrayed me once, though he seems very sorry for it. Clearly, this sickness call love blows nobody good.

Still, the smile on her face relaxed a little as she picked up the sachet on the bed and continued to embroider it. “Looks like your marriage will happen soon. Though his family background is not prominent, he is someone you like. Moreover, he is… [4a] very devoted to you. I believe that, [4a] after all that has happened, he would wish to remain faithful to you and you alone. It is rare to have a pair of harmonious husband and wife.

There are many who married into rich and wealthy families but ended up miserable. Once you have gotten married, there will only be Yu Jie left. She is getting older now and will be twenty-one next year. Women in [2] this era marry young and often have several children by her age. [4] We have plenty of gold and silver now, therefore, it should not be difficult to choose a decent family for Yu Jie to marry in.”

Aunt Yu blinked at the [2] ‘in this era’, but smiled and said, “That is so, Yu Jie had been sold into slavery as a child and had followed Madam for many tough years. Now that the days are more comfortable, it is really time for her to get married. It is all thanks to Madam’s merit that we have these comfortable days. Therefore, we should add two more new maids to Madam’s side.”

Fu Qiuning’s mouth quirked up, “What new maids? Once you are married, it would be best if you could return to Night Breeze Pavilion. If not, I am fine living alone with a few of the older maids and matrons coming from time to time to take care of the general work around the courtyard. As for picking new maids, I’m afraid those young ones tend to come with high ambitions and would try evil tricks at others’ instigations or be used as spies for this place. No, I do not these extra worries.”

Aunt Yu [5] suddenly beamed. Her eyes nearly disappeared as she cheerfully said, “Madam is right. Having wild young maids around with thoughts of climbing the branches and transforming into phoenixes from sparrows would be too troublesome~ I heard from that Second Young Madam Ying and the concubines that the young maids all like to stay around the residence. Every time the Young Marquis visited, how they all wished with all their might to be the one to serve him~”

Fu Qiuning [6a] scoffed, “Hah! They wish. If the Young Marquis has the habit of bedding every random female, he would have more concubines clinging to him. Though I must say it would be more convenient for me.”

Even as she spoke, her hands had already finished embroidering the sachet. She only had to sew the edges of the cloth together to make the bag. After looking around, she frowned, “Where are the pieces of sewing patterns? Yu Jie is supposed to have cut them out, right? Has she done them yet?”

“Just about. With her skills, she should have little trouble cutting out patterns for two sets of clothes,” Aunt Yu set a teacup on the table in front of Fu Qiuning. “I shall go and have a look. If she’s done cutting, I shall bring them here. There is a little over a month to New Year’s Eve. We still have time.”

She was about to open the door when Yu Jie came walking in with a stack of cloth and cotton in her arms. With a smile, she said, “I believe that Madam is eagerly waiting for these. I must say, these precious cloths are very difficult to deal with. It took me a lot of effort to cut and sew them. I’m just done with them. I think Young Master and Young Miss would look very sweet in them.”

Fu Qiuning and Yu Jie came over to admire the cloth. After appraising them and exclaiming over the quality of the material for a while, the three of them got to work.

Evening came with the children running back from school. When they saw their mother sewing New Year clothes for them, they screamed with joy and began running around the house, nearly bouncing off the walls with happiness.

Yu Jie noticed Jin Zhuan and Lu Hua standing to the side, their little faces clearly envious. She smiled and said, “There’s no need to be envious. Madam is generous and has already set aside cloth for your New Year outfit. Moreover, come the New Year holidays, you will be granted two rolls of cloth to bring home to your mothers to make clothes for spring and summer.” When Jin Zhuan and Lu Hua heard this, they threw themselves to the floor and gave thanks. Qiuning quickly ordered the maids to help them up. Seeing the big smiles on the four children’s faces brought indescribable joy to her heart.

The little family was interacting harmoniously with each other when they heard someone calling from the courtyard door. Aunt Yu went to open it and in walked Old Madam’s Luo Cui. The maid came over with a large smile and said, “Madam, with how heavy the snow gets each day, I fear even our Old Madam’s pavilion would be difficult to get to soon. Old Madam has missed you.”

Fu Qiuning [2] thought: Has this maid come here with a quest? Or is she hinting that I should visit the Old Madam more to establish connections?

Aloud, she said, “I fear disturbing the Old Madam’s peace. As Old Madam has mentioned, with the snow getting heavier each day and how far Night Breeze Pavilion is to Health & Longevity Court, there is no need for me to give my daily greetings. So, has she sent you to guilt trip me?”

Lu Hua laughed and said, “How could that be? No, no, I am just here to ask after Madam’s health. Please do not place that kind of hat on this maid. Otherwise, Old Madam will scold me for speaking badly. I am here to send news. The Eldest Master and Marquis will be home tomorrow. Old Madam bids you bring the two children to her place to meet with their uncle and grandfather. You should also greet your father-in-law.

Fu Qiuning [4b] paused. Finally, she nodded and said, “I see. Very well, I understand. Please convey my thanks to the Old Madam for the reminder. I shall be there early tomorrow. That’s right, are there any news or letter from the Young Marquis?”

Luo Cui suddenly tittered. [5] She beamed knowingly at Fu Qiuning, “Oh, oh, Madam is asking this maid? Surely any letter from the Young Marquis would all be addressed to you and not the Old Madam?”

Fu Qiuning [6b] raised an eyebrow. She thought: What’s up with this maid? What’s with her weird way of speaking?

Mindful of causing misunderstanding, Fu Qiuning said neutrally, “[4c] A letter to me? Even if he were to write to me, surely the stewards of the marquisate will direct all letters to the official residents or Old Madam’s place? Moreover, it is not like this place receives much news.”

Luo Cui blinked curiously at her, “That’s odd, letters should come to the individual residence. Hum… Anyway~ From what I see, the Young Marquis favours Madam very much, however, Madam refused to accept him because of what happened in those five years. But, but, seeing how worried Madam is now~ Forgive this maid for being rude, but seeing Madam so worried over a letter [5], it is clear that Madam’s heart still has him~

Since that is the case, my good Madam, you should listen to me and understand that the Young Marquis is not to be blamed~ You should also not be so aloof or awkward and smile at him a bit more~ Isn’t it best for husband and wife to dispel their misgivings and live harmoniously together? If we and the Old Madam could see the couple live harmoniously together, how light our hearts would be, ah~”

[4d] [6c] For a long moment, Fu Qiuning did not react as she watched Luo Cui twisting her waist and more or less squirming like she has bugs in her underwear in front of her, lost in some kind of girlish delusion.

[6c] “Six years.”

[4d] “Madam?”

[4d] “If you wish to quote facts, get them right. The twins were indeed brought up by me for five years. However, before that, I was alone at Night Breeze Pavilion for over a year before I decided to commit suicide.”

[4d] “Oh, ah, that is. Well…”

[4d] The silence after that was very awkward as Fu Qiuning stared neutrally at the maid who was now twisting with awkwardness instead of glee.

[4d] Suddenly, Fu Qiuning laughed. A loud, tittering laugh, that caused Luo Cui to reflexively laugh as well. Well, no wonder, since the servants and all the other low-status residents within the marquisate had been trained to laugh when the most powerful person in the room laughed. “Miss Luo Cui sure knows how to joke. Well, well, I must say that certain matters are still unclear. Now, it’s getting dark. You should hurry back to Health & Longevity Court. The Old Madam must be waiting to be served, [4e] or, do you intend to have your meal here~?”

Luo Cui’s mouth trembled as she wondered whether the sudden coldness just now was her imagination. When she heard the question, she laughed again, a little too loudly she hastily said, “[4e] Th-this maid has no such thoughts! A-anyway, we received no letters from the Young Marquis. [4f] The day before, Elder Madam even spoke to the Old Ancestor about it, wondering whether something has happened. A-alas, who knows what kind of errand the Young Marquis has been sent to this time. To have to go to Yangzhou so close to New Year, surely the matter cannot be simple.”

[4f] The last bit was said in a rush, as though it had been rehearsed just to put into Fu Qiuning’s ears for whatever reason. Perhaps to elicit sympathy for the man who had abandoned his official wife for six years?

“I’m sure there is no need to worry. Wasn’t the Young Marquis at Jiangnan this last spring? He must have someone looking out for him there. You should return and properly soothe the Old Madam.” Fu Qiuning began walking towards the courtyard door, [4] forcing Luo Cui to scuttle after her.

“[4] I-if Madam has filial piety, you should personally soothe the Old Madam. How could we be compared to Madam? A great literate person and the Young Marquis’ confidante…”

[4g] [6d] Fu Qiuning stopped walking. Luo Cui skidded to a halt, managing to skitter to the side and actually slipped and fell on an icy patch on the floor. Fu Qiuning said nothing as she stared at the maid sprawled on the floor. “You know,” said Fu Qiuning softly. “You should really be careful when you walk.”

Luo Cui sprang up from the snow, patted down her clothes and, still unwilling to admit defeat, burst out, [4h] “It is not good to laugh at people. Madam had better not laugh at this maid. One day, I shall see you fall too.”

[4h] Fu Qiuning cracked a strange smile at this defiant maid, just what kind of show was she putting on? Were all the people in this era fond of acting? She said, “You should watch where you walk, take care not to fall again. You should watch your mouth too.”

This time, Luo Cui left without further parting words.

 

That evening, she found suitable clothes for Jin Changfeng and Jin Changjiao for the following day’s ‘meeting with more elders’. After a little more thought, she took out a set of clothes that she had worn only twice before and was about 80% new. She thought: These are not quite brand new, so it won’t look like I am better dressed than the twins. Nothing we are wearing tomorrow will be shabby. ‘Expensive and not new’ should be the key to fitting in with a monied family, right?

After quizzing the twins once more on what to say and how to behave for the next day’s meeting with their uncle and grandfather, she sent them to bed. Long after the children had fallen asleep, Fu Qiuning found herself still awake and staring out the window at the moon. The cold light of the moon made the snowy landscape look even brighter and otherworldly at night.

[6e] Today’s encounter with Old Madam’s maid… how would it be reported? She had behaved coldly to the Old Madam’s personal maid, who knows what would be whispered to the old lady’s ear. Should she be worried? Should she have stomped her feet and made some petulant noises about them ‘teasing’ her and let the old lady’s imagination run wild?

[6e] As for Jin Fengju… what would her life be like if he dies from this mission? How would it affect her position? Financially speaking, she was much better off than before, but, it was unlikely that the people here would allow her to take too many things. Should she sew gold and silver into sturdy but shabby-looking old cloaks, just in case? The children might still have the Old Madam’s protection since they looked so much like Jin Fengju. The Elder Madam may or may not be biased towards them too, even with Jiang Wanying and the other concubines scheming against the children…

[6e] No, perhaps it would be best to strike out on her own with the children. It would be best if she could also get her mother and Luo’shi out too…

“Is Madam thinking up poems again? What little warmth in the room is being sucked out by the wind,” Yu Jie’s voice called out cheerfully from behind her. Soon after, the maid bustled into the room to close the window. She smiled and said, “Thanks to the Young Marquis, we now have lots of charcoal. If this was in the past, if you had wilfully opened the window like this, the entire house would have frozen over.”

[4i] Fu Qiuning studied Yu Jie as she bustled about, closing the window and pulling the curtains close. To her, having the Young Marquis’ attention was a good thing. This way, she was the same as Luo Cui. She had already completely forgotten about the six years of suffering her mistress had gone through, only pathetically happy that the man who had thrown them in there was now paying attention to them.

[4i] Should she pity these women for being stupid? Or pity herself for being too far-sighted? Was she arrogant? Or were they too dumb?

“You are getting more and more forward, to dare to even lecture me like this,” Fu Qiuning smiled. [4i] She had no way of knowing whose way was better. To ‘dispel their misgivings and live harmoniously’ together? That simply meant giving herself over to the expectations and desires of the people in the marquisate. Well, half of them anyway. The other half wanted her to just disappear off the face of this earth. It was this other half of the people that made it difficult for her to just frolic into Jin Fengju’s bed. So what if he favoured her? So what if the Old Madam desired it? The ones who would suffer would be her, and the children.

[4i] The downsides were too many. He could abandon her again, she could die from the schemes of others, the children could die from the schemes of others, and she would have to work hard for a fickle man’s affections, compete with the concubines she once looked down on. The upside? A man’s affections. Fu Qiuning looked around the room, at the brazier of charcoal, the thick blankets and the warm clothes.

[4i] Well, perhaps a man’s affection wasn’t so bad if it would benefit her this much. She just… had to regulate the amount of ‘love’ she handed out to this man. As she laid down on the bedding, she smiled. Yu Jie grinned back before skipping away to her own bedroom.

[4i] Yes, perhaps it was time to reconsider her position.

 

Gumihou: Since the author is so insistent on making this a ‘turning point’ on the affection status of the couple, especially on Fu Qiuning’s side, Gumi decided to expand the [6e] moment to include thoughts about extending some ‘affection’ to Jin Fengju. In a way, this mirrors JFJ’s habit of using his affection as currency.

Fu Qiuning: Don’t blame me, you did it first

Gumihou: Sister Solidarity!

 

[1] Instead of ‘Haha, no worries, JFJ already give okay~~’, return normal brain function to FQN. Also, let’s recall JFJ’s fuck ups too, because that’s always fun.

[2] Insert ‘modern person thoughts’ because FQN is from the modern world

[3] Eldest Master – Because Jin Fengju is Second Master

[4] Maintain a stiff emotional state, because this is should be too awkward. Never forget the awkward. DO NOT allow for Ass Polishing moment.

[a] Add double speak influenced from FQN’s knowledge of Third Brother Zhang’s betrayal, which the Author is clearly hoping to gloss over by sending AR Qiuning to take over FQN’s thoughts and body.

[b] Just realise that it has been over six years since she had seen this father-in-law should make her stiff with realisation.

[c] Replace [6b] with stern coolness. Adjust Luo Cui’s reply in accordance to ‘stern FQN’

[d] Replace [6c] with more realistic reaction

[e] Adjust ‘invitation to eat’ dialogue so they match.

[f] The following dialogue re the letter does not match [4e]. Adjusted to make it into a ‘performed script’

[g] Replace ‘teehee’ with ‘cold stares’

[h] Instead of ‘teehee’ replace with ‘threatening vibe’ because Luo Cui is still a high standing maid with pride. Match next paragraph with this one.

[i] Spend some time thinking about the happiness of stupid people

[5] Power of MISUNDERSTANDING

[6] Yeet the AR Qiuning.

[a] Yeet the ‘Teehee, I’m not worried. Those pitiful girls~ Have you not seen how wonderfully the great Young Marquis restrained his d*ck? Otherwise, this place would be flooded with his women~ They should all just squash their infatuation and find a place to settle down~ uwu~’

[b] Yeet the ‘oh noes *blushies~* he wouldn’t~ Surely he if he writes, it would be to Sister Wan~’

[c] Yeet the ‘Fu Qiuning stomped her foot and said, “I only said one line, but you said all this to make fun of me. In fact, certain matters are still unclear, you know~[7]? Go back, go back!’

Gumihou:…

Fu Qiuning: I ask again, who is that?

Gumihou reaches for banishing talisman: It’s best if you don’t know.

[d] She had not finished speaking when Fu Qiuning chased after her to smack her. Luo Cui laughed as she quickly ran off, “Look! This maid is right, Madam is embarrassed and angry~ Aiyo…” Luo Cui had been running without looking, and had slipped and fell… Fu Qiuning went ‘Pffftt’

Fu Qiuning: Please give me the talisman

Gumihou hands the talisman to Fu Qiuning

*Fu Qiuning casts [6d] Yeet!

[e] Yeet AR Qiuning’s contemplation re JFJ’s mission and ponder over what the maid will tattle to the Old Madam instead. Because, you know, that’s the more important thing.

Who knows how Jin Fengju is doing at Jiangnan? Is he safe? Why did he not write to her? Surely he must know that the people at home are all worried? Or, is he currently facing so much danger that he could not even safely write a letter home?

Ah~~ her heart is so heavy~ that man might be in danger, wuwu…

Fu Qiuning: …hey, can I stab-

Gumihou, kneeling on one knee, a knife held up in both hands

Pill Bug: You two are too dramatic

[7] Somehow I managed to reconnect the original lines after [6c]. I’m awed by my own brilliance.

Pill Bug: Self-praise is no praise

Gumihou: Heh, I’m fine with self-praising

Fu Qiuning slow claps

 

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