Higher Level Wife – 140 – Night Interrogation

Chapter 140: Night Interrogation

Author: White Pear Flower

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

Translated by Gumihou

Proofread by Pill Bug

 

Fu Qiuning was [1a] too tired to look at Jin Fengju for too long, especially when the man raised triumphant eyebrows at her [1a] in, what, some kind of petty revenge? For her not moving to Elegant Mansion? 

[1a] What?

[1a] Whatever.

Since Jin Yangfang and the rest would be moving in, the plan was to look over and clean up the dozen over small courtyards in Yong Cui Garden. Aside from Elegant Mansion, which Jin Fengju had selfishly reserved for Fu Qiuning, most of the courtyards would be assigned to the women who would be arriving soon. The courtyards were given names like Pillow Moon Pavilion, Tranquil Garden, Water Tower Song, and Autumn Parasol House. Right now, Jiang Wanying was busy arranging for people to clean up the place and purchasing more people to serve the various courtyards, around 20 bright young maidens and even more labourers as well as older maids and other female workers had to be added to the workforce.

Among them, high-ranking maids (Jian Feng, Qiu Yu and Qiu Shuang), as well as two lower-ranking ones (Chuang Hua and Bing Ling) were sent to Night Breeze Pavilion, while the rest were reserved for Jin Yanfang and the others. Knowing that this matter was borne out of a crisis and a direct order of Old Madam, Jiang Wanying handled everything with extra care, otherwise, she would not have been so generous.

The once-neglected Yong Cui Garden was suddenly teeming with life. Every day, hundreds of people entered the garden to clean up the place, scrubbing stones and trimming back branches. Yu Jie and Aunt Yu had longed to explore this garden for a long time, but dared not due to their equally bad sense of direction. Now, with so many people in the garden, they pulled Fu Qiuning with them and the three women spent the next two to three days soaking in the garden.

Fu Qiuning had plenty of free time and did not have to even intervene in any of the household chores. Jiang Wanying was especially eager to show off her abilities after the long confinement, and she was now so busy that her feet barely touched the ground, proudly thinking: Even if I can’t drive you out of the estate, the inner court of Duke of Jing’s estate is still within my hands. What of you? Humph!

After busying herself tirelessly for eight or nine days, the entire garden looked new. The half-abandoned courtyards were now proper, liveable spaces, even more exquisite and elegant in fact, with gorgeous sceneries of flowering trees, herbs, and fruiting crabapples and plantains. Little pets were placed inside, the beds were newly installed, and the windows were newly papered. The pieces of furniture were antique pieces giving the courtyards a warm and elegant feel. 

Jin Fengju walked through the courtyards with approval. He had just received a letter from Jin Luanfeng informing the family that his entourage would be entering the mansion the next morning.

These days, he mostly rested at Clear Soft Pavilion as he had to make arrangements with Jiang Wanying on how to manage Jin Yanfang’s re-entry into the estate. When everything was finally in place, he was finally able to go to Night Breeze Pavilion with his much missed Qiuning whom he had not seen for days.

[1b] Fu Qiuning waved her peaceful days goodbye as this so-called loving husband came in to play house at her place. Naturally, she had to pay for her room and board by servicing the man and entertaining his self-righteous dramatics. She could only comfort herself by telling herself that encouraging this kind of righteous self-delusion was a good thing that would benefit the people.

That night, after a round of vigorous exercise, Jin Fengju tenderly put his arms around Qiuning and said, “Go to sleep. Tomorrow, when Little Sister enters the estate, it would probably be very hectic. You must remember to visit Health & Longevity Court early in the morning to assist Old Madam and persuade her a little. She is old and should not suffer from too much sadness.”

[1c] Fu Qiuning rolled her eyes, thinking: That old bat? Suffer from sadness? Hah, if someone like her is suffering, the rest of us would have long been ground to dust from the trials of the world. She had already paid the monthly rent with her body, there was no need for her to entertain his delusions. Therefore, she merely answered with a short, “Of course [2a].”

[1d] Silence stretched out from the short answer. Jin Fengju fidgeted awkwardly for a moment before blurting out, “Sir Feng’s two daughters are rumoured to be very beautiful. It is said that he planned to have them enter the Palace Harem, but it has been years since the emperor announced a draft for Imperial Concubines. His daughters are now eighteen and nineteen years old and have yet to match with anyone. Really, Sir Feng is practically a laughingstock by now, having wasted his daughter’s youth, when in fact, many noble sons wished to marry one of the girls, but he had his heart set on sending them into the Imperial harem-”

[3a] “Is there a point to this?” Fu Qiuning asked tiredly.

[3a] Jin Fengju coughed and spluttered. No one had ever dared to interrupt him in the middle of his clever reveals before, and for a moment, he lost his chain of thought. “Qiuning?”

[3a] “Do you plan to marry one or both of those girls?” Fu Qiuning yawned. “If you’re asking for permission, consider this as me-”

[3a] “No! Nononono, of course not, ahem. That is, of course not. Never. I shall never take another woman in. Qiuning, you are the only person I love, I promise…”

[3a] “Naturally, I would never hold you on your promises-”

[3a] “It’s true! I swear it.” It was at that moment that Jin Fengju wished he could go back in time and punch himself in the face.

[3a] “… of course.”

[3a] It would have been better if the woman in his arms had pouted or thrown a tantrum. That way, he could comfort her and reassure her that she was the only one for him. How does one argue with someone who agrees with him so flatly?

[3a] In the end, he could only clear his throat and said, “As I was saying, Sir Feng had plans t-to marry one daughter to Prince Lie and another to Prince Hong. With his son married to Little Sister, he would have one foot on three boats. That way, regardless of who ascends the throne, he can maintain his wealth and position. However, now that misfortune has befallen him, the young ladies have also fallen in status.”

“I see.” [2b] [2b]

[3b] Jin Fengju waited. And waited.

[3b] However, Fu Qiuning remained as silent as a stone. Mirth and happiness suddenly bubbled up inside of him as he teasingly said, “My dear Qiuning, are you jealous? If so, that means you still have this husband of yours in your heart. This is a good thing, ah~”

[3b] Silence.

[3b] “Qiuning?”

[3b] The bubbly mirthful feeling in his heart plummeted. Suddenly anxious, he hurriedly said, “Qiuning, ah. I am already a man with eight children, ah. Having more women in the inner court would only invite trouble. I-in fact, look at all the trouble you’ve suffered! How could I bear it, ah? Hahaha. Moreover, those girls are proud and arrogant, it is unlikely that they would put me, a married man, in their eyes, ah.”

[3b] “…it is as you say.”

“Truly, ah. Qiuning, meeting you is my good fortune. You should know that women like to gossip, did someone say something? Was it Concubine Huo? Concubine Xu? It doesn’t matter even if the girls are interested. After all, I am known for my steadfast feelings. Even if the Nine Heavenly Fairies were to descend from the skies, I would not even look at them. Qiuning? Qiuning?”

[1c] A little annoyed, Fu Qiuning said, “So what if you look at the beauties a few times? Aren’t beauties meant to be looked at? I am not blind. Aside from myself, the rest of the women in your harem are rare beauties.”

Jin Fengju tightened his arms around Fu Qiuning, “So what if they are beautiful? It is all just skin deep. What’s the use of being infatuated with beauty? While I dare not consider myself worldly or that I can face beautiful things with a calm heart, I have seen many kinds of beauties and have yet to be tempted. Otherwise, were I to accept the advances of every beauty that comes my way, I fear that this estate would be completely overcrowded.”

[1c] Fu Qiuning thought: How is it that this fellow managed to praise himself even as he attempted to apologise? Was he even apologising?

Fortunately, the distant bell tolled for midnight and Fu Qiuning took the opportunity to say, “It’s midnight, go to sleep. You still have morning court tomorrow.”

[1e] How could Jin Fengju be willing to let the matter go just like that? However, there was no way to continue the argument without making himself look even worse. Therefore, he could only hug the woman in his arms tightly, wishing that he could press himself closer to her heart and have her understand his true feelings for her.

 

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The next day, Fu Qiuning got up before dawn to send Jin Fengju off to court. [3c] She still had to play her role as his wife, and there was no harm in doing so until he inevitably moved his attention to someone else once he got tired of playing a dutiful husband. She called Jin Changfeng and Jin Changjiao to her, had them change their clothes, arranged their breakfast, and changed her own clothes before leaving for Health & Longevity Court with Yu Jie and one of the high-ranking maids, Jian Feng. With her coming nuptials, Aunt Yu was busy making wedding clothes. She was also in charge of the low-ranking maids.

When she stepped into Health & Longevity Court, she found dozens of maids in brightly coloured new clothes gathered together, whispering and tittering with each other. For a moment, she was a little dazed. Why was this scene so familiar?

After some thought, she finally remembered. That’s right, wasn’t this the scene where Daiyu first entered the Jia Mansion in the 87th Version of the <<Dream of Red Mansion>>? Only, there were probably not as many maidens in the story… also, she had to wonder just how beautiful Sir Feng’s daughters were. Could their beauty be compared to Daiyu’s?

“Second Madam Ning is here,” the low-ranking maids immediately pulled up the curtains and greeted her.

Fu Qiuning smiled at her, “Have all the madams arrived?”

“Indeed, Second Madam Wan, Concubine Xu, Concubine Huo, Concubine Cui as well as Second Old Master’s Elder Madam and Concubine Ming Yan are all waiting. There’s only Madam left,” said the low-level as she stepped aside for Fu Qiuning.

“Elder Sister is really late, you may decide your own punishment.”

As soon as she stepped into the room, she was greeted by Jiang Wanying’s beaming smile. The smile was as pretty as a flower and the greeting was like a friendly tease between close sisters. Her warm and courteous attitude made Fu Qiuning feel a little ashamed to call herself a professional in the acting and entertainment business. She thought: It’s too bad that this person is born a woman in this era. Otherwise, with her skill for deception and ability to bend and stretch her morals and conscience, she could have been the next brilliant strategist Han Xin [4]. When that person was down and out, he was humiliated by all kinds of people, including a washerwoman and a hooligan. Later, he became a general and one of the founding heroes of the Han Dynasty. This Han Xin was later demoted from his position as king to the Marquis of Huaiyin because he was feared for his ability to endure humiliation and act clearly. Later generations would often refer to him as someone who could bend and stretch with any situation.

Having been targeted by this female Han Xin, Fu Qiuning now found all eyes on her. However, she also understood that she could not embarrass Jiang Wanying too much. After all, wasn’t this just a competition on who could act well? [3d] While she, Fu Qiuning, was not brought up in a situation where scheming and acting meant the difference between life and death, she had taken acting lessons as part of her Chinese Opera training back when she was still enthusiastic about taking the stage.

She smiled back at Jiang Wanying and said, “Here I thought I was up early at chen’shi [5], who would have thought that all the elder madams have already arrived? Looks like I am truly late. Even so, as the far-away guests have not yet arrived, surely I could still be forgiven for this slight?”

Everyone laughed. He’shi even came over to say, “As expected of the people raised by Brother Feng, just look at them, each one of them is so well-spoken. Compared to them, the rest of us have clumsy mouths and tongues.”

Everyone laughed again.

Suddenly, they heard the maids outside happily chirping, “They’re here, they’re here, Madam Aunt has returned.”

Everyone restrained their laughter and for a moment, the entire hall was silent as everyone stared at the doorway.

 

[Gumihou: Humm…]

 

[1] Replacement:

[1a] Replaced ‘AR Qiuning glare at JFJ *humph*’ to ‘uggh, I’m tired’

[1b] Replaced ‘Qiuning also longed for him in her heart~~ kyuu~ kyaa~ uwu~~ ahnn~~’ with ‘Eerggh…’

[1c] Replaced ‘aww, tee hee~~ AR Qiuning’ with more ‘errgh…’

[1d] Replaced [2a] with Jin Fengju’s awkward word vomit.

[1e] Replaced ‘the two people folded themselves in each other’s embrace with their dark hair entangled with each other’ with ‘JFJ + frustration’

[2] Deleted:

[2a] Gossipy AR Qiuning’s ‘Iyaann~~ I heard that the Scholar Feng’s two daughters are rare beauties and that they were meant to enter the Palace Harem etc etc etc~’

[2b] Deleted 400 over words of the horrendously nauseating:

‘Ufufu~ gorgeous girls are coming, they are targeting my most handsome and beautiful husband~~’

‘ehehehe~ I am already a father of eight~~ those proud ladies, would they want to be my concubines, hee hee~’

‘Ufufu~ you underestimate yourself~~’

‘Kyaahaha~ oh my, Qiuning is jealouss~~’

[3] Add Detail:

[3a] Fu Qiuning’s exasperated dialogue in the middle of JFJ’s dramatic solo and some of its consequences.

[3b] Consequence of deleting the nauseating [2b] [3c] Add ‘ugghh’ from FQN

[3d] Add detail on Fu Qiuning’s life as an opera singer and JWY’s life as a noble daughter.

[4] Han Xin aka Marquis of Huaiyin – this fellow was once taunted by a hooligan to fight or crawl under his legs and… this fellow crawled under the hooligan’s legs. Later, he appointed this hooligan as his lieutenant… Got to respect his ability to preserve his life and think before he acts

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

[5] Chen’shi – 7-9am (Two-hour subdivision in the former times)

 

 

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