Chapter 157: Visiting the Wounded – Unedited
Author: White Pear Flower
Raws: https://book.qidian.com/info/2386994/
Translated by Pill Bug
Read the Edited Version
A little while later, they heard the news from the front, saying that Prince Rong had accompanied the Princess Consort and left. The atmosphere in the room was gloomy for a moment, and then slowly warmed up under the deliberate efforts of Jiang Wanying and others. After gathering for a while longer, the people gradually dispersed.
Seeing that Jiang Wanying and Madam Jiang were leaving, Fu Qiuning couldn’t care less and made up her mind, thinking: What? I am Jin Fengju’s official wife, isn’t visiting him the most natural thing to do? Why should I have to hesitate and consider anything else?
Because of that thought, she went forward to Jiang Wanying and said, “Younger Sister, I heard that Lord Husband is recuperating in Clear Soft Pavilion. I do not know what kind of injuries he has and I have the intention to go to visit, but I would like to ask Younger Sister for a favour.”
Jiang Wanying looked at her. By that time, they had walked out of the room. Within the courtyard, only Madam Jiang was in front and several concubines were in the back. There was no opportunity more fitting than this one to boss around Fu’shi, so she sneered and said, “Elder Sister, your words are very odd. Isn’t visiting Lord Husband the most natural thing for you to do? What favour do you want from me?”
Fu Qiuning had long known that she wanted to show off how glib her tongue was. However, though she had to go to the other side’s territory, she did not want to swallow this insult. She was now very clear, if she gave these women an inch, they would smugly take ten miles. And She was the official wife of Jin Fengju. With that identity of hers, if she still allowed people to bully her, then she could only blame herself for being incompetent.
So, she smiled slightly and said, “Is that so? I seem to have underestimated Younger Sister. I would never have thought Younger Sister would be so understanding and have such foresight. I was afraid that Younger Sister would set a few vicious dogs at the gates to block the path, but now that I’ve heard Younger Sister’s words, I’m the one who has tried to read a lady’s intent with a bitch’s heart, so why don’t I compensate Younger Sister here?”
“You…” Jiang Wanying was so riled up she was stunned, eyes sternly glaring at Fu Qiuning. But she saw that the other party was looking at her neither humbly nor proudly, refusing to give even half a step away. Shaking herself twice, she sneered, “Elder Sister, feel free to go in. Younger Sister was only afraid that you would have no face in front of the young marquis. If Elder Sister did not guard her own purity so tightly, only wanting to avoid everything while living in the Night Breeze Pavilion, our Lord husband would not have met such an unwarranted disaster as today. If Elder Sister does not feel any shame in her heart and rushes in to see Lord Husband, well then, I naturally have nothing else to say.”
Fu Qiuning laughed and said, “I am not worried about the Lord Husband’s side. As long as Younger Sister does not create obstructions, that’s good enough. I think when the time comes, if Lord Husband is angry with me and publicly disgraces me, would not that fulfil all of you sisters’ wishes? No wonder Younger Sister is so happy today, so it was all for this.
This is also nothing much. For a wife, even if the husband was hit on his body, the duties that should be done, must be done. Lord Husband not giving me face is something I acknowledge, but this courtesy must be carried out. Younger Sister comes from a noble family, so I think this truth must be well understood.”
Being rebutted like that, Jiang Wanying actually did not know how to refute to stop it. Racking her brain, she suddenly saw Yanfang rushing from behind, saying as she smiled, “I and a few other sisters just want to go together to see Second Brother. It so happens that Sister-in-law also wants to go, and be a companion on the way back when the time comes.”
Jiang Wanying frowned, eyes flashing with a stern glare and an unhappy heart, secretly thinking: Why are you, whose husband has died and are squatting under someone else’s roof, coming to join in the scene? Calling you with an “Aunt” title was to show respect to you, so what now? Did you really think of yourself as an aunt now? Why don’t you look at whose house you live in, whose food you eat and whose things you use? You don’t even know just who you should seek refuge from anymore?
The more she thought of it, the angrier she became. She suddenly heard Madam Jiang say plainly, “Since you are so willing, go over and take a seat, but don’t delay too long, your second brother still has to recuperate.”
Jin Yanfang agreed and winked at Fu Qiuning as she passed by. However, Fu Qiuning looked at Madam Jiang’s back and was a bit dazed. She originally thought that when Jiang Wanying was at her wit’s end, Madam Jiang should have stepped in, but she didn’t expect the other side to let themselves off so lightly. Even with Jin Yanfang’s help, the result was really unexpected.
In fact, Madam Jiang had also done it out of helplessness. According to her thoughts, just why would she do something so noble, helping Fu Qiuning out of a tight spot? She just couldn’t help it. Her son liked this woman, and he wanted her so much that if he could hold her tightly in his hand or in his mouth, he would. He was hurt so badly, yet he still kept thinking and saying how he would not let her go and cause trouble for that woman.
She previously hated that this woman did not know when to advance or retreat, becoming so arrogant after being pampered. Now, hearing that she was going to visit her son, apparently, she still had some conscience. Her son was injured, and perhaps if he saw her, he would be ecstatic.
Because of this, thinking over it back and forth, she could only say those words under utter helplessness. No matter how angry she was that her son doted on Fu Qiuning, she still had a parent’s heart after all. This love for her own child was enough to overcome any other hate or disgust she harboured.
Listening to her aunt’s words, Jiang Wanying was shocked, envious and hateful, but she just could not do anything about it and had to lead Fu Qiuning and others to Clear Soft Pavilion. On the way, Jin Changfeng and Jin Changjiao only found out that their father was injured again at that time, receiving quite a shock. Holding their mother’s hand, they wished they could stick some wings on and fly to their father’s side to see how he really was.
Meanwhile, as they arrived at Clear Soft Pavilion, Jin Fengju was leaning on the bed and reading a book. Prince Rong had also just come to visit him, taking the chance to say that the emperor would call them to the study for questioning. Now that the situation was not clear, more talk would not be beneficial, so after sitting for a while, he also left.
Jin Fengju thought: This storm should be around 80% passed, and as long as the Princess Consort goes to the Queen Mother to admit a mistake later, though the emperor might mete out some light punishment towards Prince Rong, it should not be so severe that he will be kicked out as the Crown Prince candidate. However, that’s all good and all, but what are they going to do about the courtesan and the child in her belly? Brother-in-law should also not dare to bring people into the palace while still under public scrutiny, right?
His hand holding a book while his brain was pondering about these chaotic things, he suddenly heard the noisy sound of footsteps outside, He reached out to support his forehead, thinking: This is called ‘recuperating’? From noon to now, the people who have come to visit have never stopped, and now I don’t know which family’s matron has come due to their master’s order, or it might be the estate’s housekeeper or maid or something like that. Aiyo, my heavens, this is annoying me to death.
Ending his thoughts there, he was just about to lie down and pretend to sleep when he heard a familiar voice from the tip of his heart ring out: “Is he in the inner room? I wonder, is Lord Husband asleep? Let’s keep it down and take a peek.”
If was not Qiuning, who else could it be? Probably afraid that he had already fallen asleep, the voice was very quiet, but what kind of ears did Jin Fengju have? Especially since it was the voice of his beloved, how would he not listen to every word as clear as crystal?
And so, with his face full of impatience, all of a sudden replaced by excitement and joy, he put down the book and said loudly, “Is it Qiuning? Why are you here?”
Before the words had faded away, the door curtains were pulled apart, followed by Fu Qiuning, Jin Yanfang, the shy and timid three Feng sisters, Jiang Wanying and the others all crowded in.
Jin Changfeng and Jin Changjiao greeted their father and immediately jumped in front of his bed, grabbing his hand and asking with tears in their eyes, “Father, what’s wrong? Mother said you were injured, are you bleeding? Does it hurt? Let Jiao’er blow on Father’s wounds, and then the pain will fly away.”
Jin Fengju rubbed the two children’s heads. Because the stuffy feeling of being bedridden all day had been thrown all the way to the Java Kingdom, he felt that the injury was very worth it. Gaining the emperor’s sympathy, gaining his elder sister’s heartache, and now gaining Qiuning’s and children’s concern, this was simply killing three birds with one stone, one shot three kills.
Jiang Wanying called everyone to sit down and ordered Qiu Xia to serve tea. There, Jin Fengju smiled and said, “Did you come over from the old ancestor’s place? Have the Princess Consort and the Prince returned to the palace?”
Jiang Wanying answered in a hurry. Jin Fengju nodded, looked at Fu Qiuning and smiled, “I specifically asked Old Ancestor not to say anything about me, and only asked Jin Ming to tell you that I am very busy these days. How did you still find out about it? Did the news accidentally leak out from somewhere?”
Fu Qiuning smiled warmly and said, “It wasn’t someone that leaked anything. I thought it was strange and I had just made some snacks, so I asked Jian Feng to send them to Health & Longevity Court. How did you get hurt? The day you left, lightning flashed in the sky. I kept feeling uneasy, but I thought that the lightning wasn’t too heavy, so how could there be such a coincidence? Lord Husband has very good karma. I don’t know how many people you saved on your trip to Yangzhou and the lightning should not have fallen on your head, but who knew that something would still happen in the end?
Jin Fengju laughed and said, “It’s just that I’ve been too much of a burden to you and your children, and now I’m getting my retribution. In fact, this can be counted as the Heavenly King leaving me a way out of disaster, not wanting my life. It is just a stone piercing into the leg, letting out a little blood, you do not have to worry.”
The two of them chatted there, completely looking as if they talking about daily affairs as if they did not have any other people within their sight. The three Feng sisters kept their heads down, but the corner of their eyes could not help but look at Jin Fengju from time to time, only feeling a maiden’s heart beating wildly, yet Jin Fengju was not even sparing them a glance.
Suddenly, Jiang Wanying interjected, “The injury is not a problem, at most, it just needs a few more days to recuperate. But what about the Emperor’s punishment? I heard people say that the emperor let Lord Husband recuperate, but you have to wait for a summons before you can attend court again this is not a reward, right? Otherwise, Once Lod Husband’s injury has recovered, being able to attend court once again should be the correct thing to do. I heard it’s all because of that Chu Daxiu ……”
“Cough cough cough…” Before Jiang Wanying could finish, Jin Fengju coughed violently, then silently and calmly glared at her. Jin Yanfang and others did not understand, but Fu Qiuning understood in her heart that this was a sign of his extreme displeasure.
However, Jiang Wanying’s heart was preoccupied with hatred about the matter back then where Jin Yanfang helped Fu Qiuning escape a difficult situation. She was used to being on top, and except for the Old Madam and several other old ladies, Jin Fengju and these two concubines, who else dared not hold her up like the stars holding up the moon? A few squatting widows and orphans actually dared to not even hold her in their eyes, how could she stand it? So, even though she thought Jin Fengju was unhappy, she was not going to give in to his wishes. She simply must make these women realize their status.
Engrossed with those thoughts, she hurriedly got up, took a cup of tea and brought it to Jin Fengju’s mouth, pretending to help him pat his back while also pretending to be indignant, rebuking, “Lord Husband, drink a cup of tea to moisten your throat. You also do not have to worry, what does that Chu Daxiu think he amounts to? Does he even have a turn to participate in our family’s affairs? What lax moral values? Hmph, could his own estate not contain any dirty things either? Not to mention his…”
Interrupting her, Jin Fengju dropped the tea cup heavily onto the table, his face as gloomy as deep water, “Enough, as a woman, what are you researching courtly matters all day for? If you have time, why don’t you make some women’s handicrafts and read some books, cultivating your body and temperament? That would also save your own womanly virtues from being forgotten.”
Pill Bug TL Notes:
