Higher Level Wife - 151 - Thoughts

Chapter 151: Thoughts

Author: White Pear Flower

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

Translated by Pill Bug

Edited by Gumihou

Bi Yu was just waiting outside when she heard that Jin Fengju was about to leave for Night Breeze Pavilion. Concerned, she said, “Master, Jin Ming has already gone home…” then, she caught sight of Cai Lian waving frantically at her and she switched her words to, “But there are two young servant boys on duty. I shall ask them to escort the Master over.”

“No need, I don’t need any escort. I shall go by myself today,” said Jin Fengju as he took the lantern. “You two return to the room and rest. You must have found it difficult to sleep with me here at all hours at the study. Go back and rest well, you must get up early tomorrow and wait on me before court.”

Cai Lian and Bi Yu accepted the order and tried once again to persuade Jin Fengju to bring the boys with him. However, could someone like Jin Fengju listen to their entreaties? Instead, he laughed and said, “Those young boys, the only thing they can do is carry lanterns. They cannot even put on a martial arts show, let alone defend me properly. If something were to happen, who would be rescuing whom?”

With that final derisive remark, he left Cai Lian and Bi Yu to lock up the study, carried off the lantern and grandly set out.

Upon entering Yong Cui Garden, he found the entire area shrouded in darkness. Just how beautiful and upright were those trees in the daytime? However, at night, they looked like ghastly shadows, giving people an exceptionally eerie feeling. Nonetheless, Jin Fengju did not care, he carried his lantern and slowly walked forward. Seeing a few courtyards with their lights shining in the distance, he guessed that these places must be where Jin Yanfang, Feng Zhenzhu and Feng Mingzhu were staying at.

At the sight of those lights, Jin Fengju could not help his curiosity and turned around to have another look at the lighted ares. He passed by Elegant Mansion and had to sigh: Just when will Qiuning move in, ah? Once she move in, wouldn’t the lights of this courtyard be lit up too? If that is so, I can come in and we could trade words under the candlelight. We could even trim the red candles together and enjoy the night in each other’s arms. Would it not be so very charming and romantic?

As he indulged in his fantasies, he heard footsteps followed by some noisy chatter in the distance. Soon, faint lantern light was seen and, as they approached, he realised they were a large group of matrons and older maids. Leading this group of women was a housekeeping maid with so much status that even he was obliged to address her as ‘Auntie’.

He stopped walking to smile slightly and said, “Is Matron Yu leading the night patrol?”

At those words, the matrons who had been prepared to shine their lanterns on him immediately lowered their hands. Not a single one dared to speak up, their heads timidly lowered. Matron Yu was the only one who came forward to laugh and say, “Isn’t it so? With so many young ladies living in this garden now, this is the time to make our rounds to inspect the matrons and maids. Some of them might be slacking off or wasting their money on gambling and drinking. Old Madam has instructed us to be vigilant. What’s more, the young ladies were all very warm-hearted and friendly.”

Jin Fengju nodded with a smile and said, “Yes, now that we have several young girls in the estate, the place is livelier than before. The Old Ancestor has also enjoyed the change of atmosphere. However, we must trouble you all for all this extra work. Later, I shall speak with Wanying. Now that we have added all these new people for you to look after, it is only right for you to be compensated with a little more money.”

When the maids heard this, it was as though flowers were blooming on their faces, although it was not really clear due to the darkness of the garden. Matron Yu also laughed and said, “No need, it is just adding a few more steps to our regular work. If this also merits an increase in monthly salary, how can the hearts of these servant girls remain stable? That’s right, it is very late. Where is Second Master going?”

Jin Fengju coughed and laughed, “I happened to recall a matter that I need to discuss with your Second Madam, that is why I am on my way to Night Breeze Pavilion.”

He was too embarrassed to say that he came out on a whim and that he had missed Qiuning, to the point that he was walking through a darkened garden in the dead of the night, alone, with no escorts.

However, even without saying it, the women all knew why he was there and were all sniggering in the privacy of their hearts, thinking: That Second Madam Ning, whose appearance could only be considered ‘willow-like’ at best, somehow manage to charm our master to the point of being muddled. Just what kind of foxy charm did she use on him?

As Matron Yu lead her congregation of maids and matrons away, Jin Fengju continued on his way towards Night Breeze Pavilion. He had no idea that this entire interaction had been witnessed by someone who had been quietly engaged with her embroidery at a faraway window.

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“What is the young lady looking at?”

Feng Zhenzhu’s maid, Zi Yuan, had just spread out the bedding when she noticed that her mistress was staring out the window, lost in thought. She went over to close the window before smiling and saying, “Although spring is here, there is still some spring chill lingering in the air. Young Lady should be more careful, it is best not to trifle with one’s health.”

“Yes, I understand. I will be careful.” Feng Zhenzu walked towards the table and sat down. After some time, as though she could not herself, she said, “Zi Yuan, I saw the night patrolling madams outside. They appeared to have encountered someone and spent some time talking to the person. A short while later, the Madam went east towards the exit, but the person made their way west. Who do you think it was, ah? To have such great privilege to walk around freely in a tightly guarded garden in the middle of the night?”

Zi Yuan laughed, “Who else? The only people with such power within the estate are the Old Masters and the Masters. Eldest Master is now in Jiangnan while Second Old Master’s family had moved out. Therefore, only the Young Marquis is still at the estate. Moreover, the Young Lady mentioned that he went west. It could only be the Young Marquis making his way towards Night Breeze Pavilion. Speaking of which, this maid had encountered that Second Madam Ning twice now and felt that her looks were quite ordinary. It is unclear why the Master likes her so much.”

Feng Zhenzhu gave the closed window another glance before sighing, “As the saying goes, a woman’s beauty is short-lived. Second Madam Ning’s looks might be ordinary, but that might be a good thing instead. With the Young Marquis being so loving towards her, isn’t her position much better than us sisters who have no one to rely on?”

Hearing something amiss in the young woman’s voice, Zi Yuan gave her mistress a closer look. She noticed that, although the young lady was speaking in a sad tone, there was a brightness to her eyes and lightness to her brows that gave off a very spring-like atmosphere. A flash of understanding lit up Zi Yuan’s heart. However, she first tested the waters with a light laugh, “Young Miss, please don’t be like this. Though we have been taken into the duchy, this maid feels that the Old Madam and Elder Madam are very good to the young ladies. Surely there is no need to fear they would not assist Young Miss’s family to locate good families to marry into? Aren’t they an excellent family to rely on for the rest of one’s life?”

Feng Zhenzhu shook her head and laughed bitterly, “A good family? What’s the use of having a good family? If Heaven pities one such as I, they will allow me to find a man as affectionate as the Young Marquis. Not to mention, us sisters… how old are we now? Can we still consider ourselves girls in the first bloom of our youth? To marry into a good family… there is no need to be so extravagant.”

It was only after she was done speaking that she suddenly realised that she should not have spoken so frivolously before her maid. Blushing with embarrassment, she stomped her foot and said, “You little hussy, you tricked me into speaking these shameless things with your tricky tongue! Why should I spare a maid like you!?” with that, she chased after Zi Yuan, her hands raised to smack the maid.

Zi Yuan was a maid from the newest batch of maids brought into the Jin estate. Before coming into a large mansion, she had worked under more gruelling circumstances outside, so who knew just how much stronger she was compared to a pampered young miss? After chasing around for a few steps, Feng Zhenzhu ended up panting and holding herself upright with a chair, one hand covering her chest. This pitiful appearance really invoked feelings of tenderness and endearment from onlookers.

Zi Yuan smiled. She approached her mistress, saying, “Everyone says that Xizi clutching her heart [1] is the picture of utmost beauty, but when I saw Young Miss today, how could Xizi clutching her heart be compared to you? Young Miss is such a beauty that if age and past incidents could drag down your looks, the very Heavens must have their eyes shut tight.

This maid has only been with Young Miss for a few days, but I know that the Young Miss is a good-hearted person, bound to have a rich and happy life in the future.

Leaving aside those far from the eye, isn’t there at least one person within Young Miss’ sight? Whether it is your character, family history, appearance or talent, everything is higher than others. Only, if Young Miss were to really match with him, I fear that your status will suffer some aggravation.”

“You hussy, how dare you bully me to this point? You are becoming more and more improper…” Feng Zhenzhu pretended to scold the maid, but her heart was already flipping about as Zi Yuan’s words stirred her mind.

She knew in her heart of hearts that after coming out of a bandit’s den, despite still remaining pure, there was no way any decent family from the Capital would take them in. Any family with some degree of prominency would not want them. Even so, she still possessed her city-toppling, nay, country-toppling appearance…

Moreover, just what kind of young talent was Jin Fengju? Even all the noble sons and aristocratic young men combined could not match him. On top of that, he valued that ordinary-looking wife of his, so if she and her sisters were to follow him, wouldn’t they be spoilt to the heavens? That way, they would have a dependable backer for life. With the Jing Dukedom being so prominent, even if she were to become a concubine, her sisters would not be shabbily treated either…

The more she thought about it, the more it made sense.

Zi Yuan was a clever one. Just by looking at her Young Miss’ face, she knew that the Young Miss had been convinced by her persuasion. The maid also had her own schemes brewing. She thought: personal maids of noble girls and madams all doubled as their husband’s bedroom maids. The Young Marquis is so handsome, if I could go one round with him, I shall die happy.

Thus, she made up her mind to urge the Young Miss, perfectly willing to be her mistress’s hands and feet as she promised to fulfil her precious Young Miss’ dream to be together with Jin Fengju.

The two of them each had their own thoughts, all their plans falling on Jin Fengju’s head, yet he remained blissfully unaware.

Jin Fengju continued on his way to Night Breeze Pavilion. The night patrols never made it there, but from what he could see, the gates of Night Breeze Pavilion had long been shut tight. Even so, from the lights in the distance, most of the people here had not retired for the night yet.

Thus, [a] emboldened by these assurances, he walked up to the gates and called out. The gatekeeping servant grumbled and opened the gate crossly, ready to reprimand the person behind the gate when he saw that it was the Young Marquis.

[a] The servant fell to his knees with a thud, shocked by the sight of the most prominent master of this house and was frightened to think that the marquis may have heard him complaining just then.

Instead of reprimanding him, Jin Fengju generously allowed him to rise to his feet and even awarded the man with a gold leaf, shocking him to elated silence. That’s a gold leaf, ah! Even if he worked hard for the rest of his life, there was no guarantee that he would ever earn enough to buy a single piece, you know? And yet, the Young Marquis handed him a whole piece of gold leaf just like that, how could he not be overjoyed?

[a] Now that he had bought the gatekeeper’s silence, Jin Fengju quietly made his way toward’s Qiuning’s room. [a] Naturally, any maids or servants that happened to notice him would be understanding enough to turn a blind eye to their Master’s antics. He was the one who paid their wages after all.

He found Fu Qiuning in front of the mirror, humming a line from Huangmei opera as she removed her makeup. Perhaps sensing someone, she said, “Have the children gone to sleep? If so, go rest, I don’t need anyone to serve me.”

[b] When no one answered her, she paused. The footsteps did not move away but came closer instead. Feeling that something was wrong, she quickly stood up and turned around, a plain and sharp hair accessory already in hand. When she saw it was Jin Fengju, she froze, “Young Marquis, why are you here? Has… has something happened? Is it an urgent matter?”

[b] And don’t tell me you are here because you missed me, she thought furiously.

“I missed you, is it an urgent matter?” Jin Fengju smiled as he handed the lantern to Fu Qiuning.

[b] “… …” Fu Qiuning had no words. She automatically accepted the lantern and blew out the candle inside, thankful for the opportunity to turn away and cringe to her heart’s content as the man took off his cloak and laughed, “I was at the study, thinking to retire for the night when I thought of you. I could bear it no longer and came to see you.”

After putting the lantern away, Fu Qiuning snatched up the cloak and went to fold it at the table, [b] unwilling to face the man she had hoped to not see for the night, her mouth saying unnecessary things like, “Who escorted you? I shall speak to Yu Jie about finding a place for them to rest. Did you call Jin Ming from his home to escort you again?”

[Gumihou: I think the interaction between JFJ and FQN was supposed to be cute and sweet, but it just smacks of entitlement on one part.]

[a] Add creep factor for JFJ, can’t have too much of that. No need to thank Gumi.

[b] Dialed up Fu Qiuning’s ‘creep sensor’

Pill Bug TL Note:

[1] 西子捧心 Chinese idiom, means: the beauty of a sickly woman.

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