Chapter 166: Brilliant Scheme (?) – Edited

Author: White Pear Flower

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

Translated by Gumihou

Proofread by Pill Bug

Gumihou: This brilliant scheme is…

Fu Qiuning: …so basic…

Gumihou: You sounded OOC there.

Fu Qiuning: I’m a modern woman, I am allowed to use this term.

Gumihou: Ah, right.

Fu Qiuning: I wish we could just torch the whole chapter

Gumihou: I’ll see what I can do…

 

“Oh, nothing. I was just remembering the ghost who had lost her way and ended up in the Night Breeze Pavilion. If Yu Jie had not been diligent, I would have been the hanged ghost that haunted that place. Perhaps, we could have been companions…”

 

Jin Fengju [2] hastily interrupted her, “F-fortunately, fortune smiles upon us all and nothing bad happened. Amitabha, Amitabha. Naturally, heaven smiles upon those who are pure and righteous.”

Fu Qiuning smiled a smile that was not a smile at this perverted man. Was he expecting her to comfort him over his past actions against poor original Fu Qiuning? Was she supposed to beam and declare how fortunate she was to marry a brilliant man like him? A low-born woman like her with neither looks, lineage nor talent to recommend her?

Yes, maybe she should.

In a slightly hysterical voice, she said, “Fortune has certainly smiled upon a low-born concubine’s daughter like me. How wonderful it is that I, a shu-born daughter of your political rival, married into such an illustrious family, as an official wife no less! How wonderful, how fortunate~!”

Jin Fengju smiled back uneasily. He could only agree and said, “Indeed, though you may feel that my sister may be pitiful for having married someone like my brother-in-law, you should not be angry with me. You should know that men like me are hard to come by, not only in the Capital, but in the whole world as well.”

“Indeed, men like you are hard to come by!” she chirped as her eyes continued to stare blankly in his direction.

There was an awkward pause.

Jin Fengju stuffed his mouth with a pastry for lack of something to say and nearly choked himself before drinking a cup of tea. He coughed and said, “As I had told you before, that woman had, ahem, hung herself but survived! She had survived, thankfully, thanks to a quick-witted maid. We should all be grateful for quick-witted maids. Hahaha… Sadly, when such news was leaked to the world, those who had an eye on us could not miss the opportunity to fan the flames. Sure enough, when I sent Jin Ming out to inquire, rumours of Prince Rong trying to silence someone were everywhere. Many of the rumours slander my sister as well, saying that she could not stand it anymore and paid someone to take action, saying things like how ruthless the princess consort was.”

Fu Qiuning blinked, still waiting for the other shoe to drop while Jin Fengju stared eagerly at her for… some kind of reaction? What was she supposed to say at that point in the narrative? Practically nothing had happened yet.

After some thought, she could only say, “How… unfortunate…”

“Indeed! It is very unfortunate. Do they think my sister and brother-in-law are fools? When I gave the order for them to bring the woman back to the palace to be treated, they immediately knew what to do. Imperial physicians were sent and though the concubine’s injury was too severe, she still survived. Moreover, her throat was so injured that she could not speak in the short term.” He gave Fu Qiuning a significant look. “Which.is.what.I.wanted.”

[1] “…ah,”

That answer was enough for Jin Fengju to chuckle in a [2] self-satisfactory manner and leaned back with a teacup in hand to leisurely explain, “On the second day of the rumours, the emperor called Brother-in-law to the Imperial Study to be scolded. Naturally, when asked about the woman, Brother-in-law was able to give the utmost, most truthful answer. Naturally, since an imperial physician was sent and both mother and child were alive and well, the rumour that Prince Rong was a ruthless fellow out to silence them with murder was quashed. My brother-in-law preserved his image of loyalty and righteousness. Although it was inappropriate to bring such a woman to the palace, the circumstances were urgent. Moreover, it involved the imperial bloodline. Therefore, what could the emperor do but overlook such a discourtesy?”

[1] “I see,”

Obviously hopping with eagerness, he continued in a rush, “Naturally, that is not the extent of your husband’s true ability.” [2] He leaned forward to seize Fu Qiuning’s hand and stroked it tenderly, “Indeed, if such an opportunity is wasted, not even the heavens would forgive me. On the third and fourth day, a new rumour arose. Someone intentionally tried to harm the woman and frame my brother-in-law!”

He finished with a triumph.

Fu Qiuning waited. When it was obviously the end of his narrative, she removed her hand from his paws and clapped politely.

“What a good plan. A very good plan indeed. A very… reasonable and logical plan. Lord Husband is clearly very brilliant, learned and cunning.”

Jin Fengju nodded and smiled proudly. “That is not all. Just the other day, the woman finally spoke and had no major problem moving about. I had my sister escort her to the Empress Dowager’s palace. Because my sister had been wilful before, it is only right for her to make her apologies to the Empress Dowager. As for the woman, though her status meant she was not fit to even sweep the floors of the Empress Dowager’s palace, she still carried the royal seed within her belly, and thus, this transgression may be overlooked.”

[3] Fu Qiuning paused in her clapping. She thought: Not fit to sweep the floors of the Empress Dowager’s palace? This transgression may be overlooked?

[3] There were times when she almost deluded herself into thinking that this Jin Family was forward-thinking from the way they treated Jin Yanfang, the Feng sisters and their cousin. She had to remember that these treatments were exceptions rather than the rule. They treated certain people well when it suited them to, but when someone caused them trouble, isn’t it too easy to diminish their status to less than human?

[3] She may be the favoured ‘official wife’ now, but that was only because he paid attention to her. The moment he shifted his gaze, she would fall from grace and be devoured not only by Jiang Wanying, but Elder Madam Jiang and perhaps even the Old Madam as well.

“Then, before the Empress Dowager, the woman admitted to hanging herself because she could not bear burdening Brother-in-law with her sins!”

He suddenly declared with a flushed face.

“… …”[4]

“Qiuning, Qiuning, are you wondering why? Did you figure out my intentions?”

“Lord Husband is truly good at moving people in the shadows to achieve what you want without soiling your hands,” she said at last. After all, he did the same with her. Arranging and rearranging her circumstances, moving his mother, grandmother, her servants and even his wives and sisters to force her into this godforsaken pavilion to suffer his attention.

Jin Fengju coughed, suddenly realising that the recognition he received was not quite the gushing admiration he was seeking. Thus, he decided to try for modesty and said, “Well, that woman, if she could not be saved… all would have been lost. Thinking back, I could not help but break out in cold sweat.”

Fu Qiuning nodded and reassured him, “It is fine, people don’t die so easily from hanging. I could testify to that.”

“… …”

Suddenly, Jin Ming’s voice called from outside, “My lord, Prince Rong sent someone to see you. He said no matter what, you must come to his residence tomorrow. He has just obtained two bottles of good wine and has no one to drink with.”

Seizing the opportunity to change the subject, Jin Fengju leapt to his feet and called out loudly. “What did he mean by ‘obtained two bottles of good wine’? He is clearly just showing off.” Jin Fengju laughed very loudly and said, “Yes, yes, I have received your message. Oh, and go to the accounts and receive 20 silver taels. I made arrangements earlier. You have worked hard running about all day. I shall be at Elegant Mansion today, so there is no need for you to stay and serve me.”

Jin Ming’s voice, now filled with joy and happiness, cried out his goodbyes before leaving.

Fu Qiuning said, “The Young Marquis’ ability to win a servant’s heart over is unparalleled.”

 

[Gumihou: This chapter is only 1500 long because over 400 of ass-polishing had been scrubbed off]

 

[1] Reduce long-ass ass-polishing to monosyllabic answers.

[2] Reveal JFJ’s creep factor. Because it’s interesting. Don’t you think it’s interesting?

[3] Instead of ‘nodding along’ to JFJ casually dismissing a woman’s status, engage in some modern worldview pondering.

[4] If you need blow-by-blow account of JFJ’s ‘brilliant plan’, it’s available in the Unedited Chapter. AR Qiuning generously spent over 300 words on it, followed by another 99 words of ‘you so brilliant’ praise.

 

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