Chapter 255: Old Cat – Unedited
Author: White Pear Flower
Raws: https://book.qidian.com/info/2386994/
Translated by Pill Bug
Gumihou: This is an UNEDITED version, please go to the EDITED VERSION HERE
The matron rambled on and on, and Fu Qiuning steeled her patience, her brows furrowing tightly while she listened to the end. She thought to herself: There must be a story behind all of this. However, I don’t know why such a thing would happen.
Despite her inner suspicions, she maintained a composed smile and said, “Whether these matters stir upset or not, if you ever hear of them again, do let me know. Whether they are useful or not, I will assess it myself. If I am not informed, it might lead to trouble.”
With that, she stood up, noticing that Qiu Yu had returned. She handed a string of money to the two matrons, delighting them to no end, and they knelt down to kowtow to Fu Qiuning before departing with smiles plastered across their faces.
Qiu Yu hadn’t heard the conversation as she had gone to fetch the money. Seeing Fu Qiuning’s solemn expression, she couldn’t help but ask, “Madam, what is wrong? I think that gossip from those two matrons might not be that important. After all these days of exhaustion, it is not good to add more worries. Madam’s body is not made of steel either; you should place more importance on taking care of yourself.”
Fu Qiuning turned and slowly walked back, not answering Qiu Yu’s question. Lost in thought for a while, she finally looked up and asked Qiu Yu, “Has Lord Husband returned?”
Qiu Yu smiled, “Madam, you were chatting with the young masters and young misses just now; how could Madam forget in the blink of an eye? It is not dinnertime yet; how could it arrive that quickly? Besides, Madam has also said it is possible that he would stay out tonight. Let us hope those officials under Master do not entice him into any brothels. Otherwise, hmph, I fear that Master might not forgive them.”
Fu Qiuning glanced at her, shaking her head with a smile, “You hussy, you do not need to purposely borrow these words to leave me a reminder. Your master is not that kind of person. Otherwise, since there are plenty of renowned brothels in the capital, if he wanted to go, who would not try to hitch a ride while flattering him? Even our parents-in-law might not stop him. If he does not go there in those circumstances, he would not do so either over here.”
Qiu Yu chuckled, “Madam’s words are true. This maid is simply too inexperienced. Elder Sister Yu Jie has also mentioned that even when Young Marquis went to Jiangnan, he never lingered in the brothels. On the contrary, it was the guards who sometimes wanted to experience the local women.”
As Qiu Yu steered the conversation away, Fu Qiuning remembered Jin Fengju’s trip to Jiangnan back then. Actually, being an imperial envoy wasn’t easy. Fu Qiuning had only been with Jin Fengju for just over a year, yet her husband had been sent on two missions already, and the Jiangnan trip had nearly cost him his life. Recalling those little specks in her memories left her with an indescribable feeling swirling in her heart.
As the pair of Madam and Maid conversed, a peal of thunder suddenly roared in the sky. In the blink of an eye, it was followed by a torrential downpour, drenching them both like soaked chickens.
When they returned indoors, Yu Jie and Jian Feng had already come out to meet them. Seeing Fu Qiuning soaked through, they hurriedly helped her change clothes, laughing, “There are many rumours about the unpredictable weather in the south. The weather in June is like a child’s face, changing just when you say it is changing. Now we have truly experienced it. It was clearly bright and sunny just this afternoon, and now, such heavy rain is pouring in the evening. If Master had intended to return today, he would surely be hindered by the rain on the way.”
Fu Qiuning knew that Jin Fengju had gone to inspect those anti-Japanese guard posts. [1] Logically, as he was a prefect, being a civil official, he shouldn’t interfere in the affairs of the guards. However, this matter was related to life and death. In order to trap him, the Crown Prince had included a clause in the decree, making him also responsible for the anti-Japanese affairs in Quanzhou. The purpose was to sow discord between him and the local officials, and if there were any invasions by Japanese pirates in the future, it would be easy to label Jin Fengju as “ineffective in resisting the Japanese.”
The Crown Prince’s intentions were indeed malicious, but Jin Fengju paid them no mind. There were several key officials from Prince Rong’s faction there, and the Crown Prince’s influence wasn’t particularly strong. Therefore, on his second day in office, Jin Fengju went to inspect the coastal anti-Japanese guard posts, putting aside the affairs of the government office for the time being.
By then, it was the height of summer, and at the beginning of autumn, the wind was most conducive to Japanese pirate activities. Not to mention for the sake of the city’s residents, but even for the sake of his own wife and children, he did not dare to be careless. Compared to those vicious Japanese pirates, the matters of the government office seemed trivial.
As she pondered, the rain came and went in a hurry, leaving only a drizzle. Fu Qiuning stepped out of the bedroom, hearing bursts of laughter coming from a distance. Surprised, she instructed Yu Jie to bring out the oiled paper umbrella Jin Fengju had previously bought especially from Suzhou. The pair of Madam and Maid each held one as they stepped out into the courtyard, and before they could even settle, several children came running in, each of them laughing and holding something in their arms.
As soon as they saw Fu Qiuning, Jin Zhenyi and Jin Changjiao, who were running in the front, immediately stopped in their tracks, looking at Fu Qiuning hesitantly without saying a word.
“Yi? This is… a cat?”
Fu Qiuning saw that the children were all soaking wet, resembling soaked chickens, each holding a tiny kitten in their arms. She didn’t know where they had found them. Besides Jin Changfeng, even Jin Zhenxuan and Jin Xiuzhen each held a small kitten in their arms.
“Mother…”
Jin Changjiao hesitated to speak up, since at that moment, Jin Zhenyi wouldn’t dare utter a word. He was known for causing trouble on ordinary days, so how could he dare to add more debts to his name? Therefore, Jin Changjiao, relying on Fu Qiuning’s usual affection for her, bravely spoke up. However, just as she called out “Mother,” she heard Fu Qiuning say, “Alright, hurry inside and change your clothes. Running around in this weather, not fearing the cold. I see that every one of you has tight skin. I simply must resort to family law to give you a hearty spanking, loosening your skin and cleaning you up, don’t you think?”
With her stern words, even Jin Changjiao dared not speak. The children rushed into the house in a flash, and even the maids following them were soaked through. It was quite chaotic for a while before everything was sorted out. Yu Jie had long disappeared into the small kitchen to boil some ginger soup with brown sugar, serving each person a bowl.
Fu Qiuning saw the children coming out of the house, yet they were still carrying the little kittens in their chests. And just as they went to change clothes, unexpectedly, a skinny, but unusually large, black and brown-patterned old cat followed them in. She understood most of the situation, so she sat down on a chair with a stern face without saying a word.
“Honored Mother, this is my fault. If you want to spank someone, spank me. After all, my skin is thick, and even if it is beaten, I can take it better than they can.”
Suddenly, Jin Zhenyi knelt down. Although this brat had just avoided getting involved in trouble, seeing Fu Qiuning’s expression at the time, even though he felt uneasy, he didn’t want to drag others into it. His original character was somewhat like a bachelor, but that was because he had not learned well under Concubine Xu’s care. After arriving at Elegant Wind Mansion, undergoing quite a few of Jin Fengju’s instructions and witnessing Fu Qiuning’s actions, he began to become a bit more responsible, even though he was still young. Originally, he thought that if Fu Qiuning wasn’t angry, he could coax Jin Changjiao to settle the matter. But seeing how upset his Honored Mother clearly was, he dared not hold onto that hope.
“Mother, it is not Younger Brother’s fault. As the Eldest Brother, seeing my younger siblings do such things without stopping them, the blame lies with me.”
Seeing Jin Changfeng also kneeling down, followed by Jin Changjiao, Jin Xiunan, Jin Zhenxuan, and Jin Xiuzhen, Fu Qiuning couldn’t help but feel both amused and exasperated. With a cold snort, she said, “What exactly happened? Tell me, and then we will talk again.”
Before Jin Changfeng could answer, Jin Zhenyi interjected, “Honored Mother often says ‘one should be responsible for one’s own actions’. This whole thing started because of me, so there is no need to involve anyone else. Even that old cat…”
He pointed to the large tabby cat that had been standing nearby, then continued. “Before it started raining, we also did not know where it came from. The servants were chasing it in the courtyard, and when we heard about it, we came out of the house, and this old cat actually bit my pants and pulled me forward. The children thought it wanted to take us somewhere, so they followed it, but it turned out to be at the end of the back street behind the government office. There was a nest of kittens here, and I guess they were its offspring.
At that time, it began to rain, and the children realised the old cat wanted us to take the kittens to a sheltered place, so they brought them back. Mother, this matter has nothing to do with my brothers and sisters…”
Before he could finish, Jin Changjiao interrupted sharply, “Nonsense! Who was the one who said each person could only keep one? Now you regret it? I know you are eyeing Spotty in my arms. Don’t even think about it. I won’t give it to you…”
“Jiao’er.”
Fu Qiuning shouted, startling Jin Changjiao, who then lowered her head and timidly said, “This daughter is at fault and is willing to accept mother’s punishment. But Spotty must accompany me. I beg mother to agree.”
As soon as she spoke, Jin Zhenyi, Jin Xiunan, and the others all chimed in too, “We beg Mother to agree.”
Fu Qiuning felt a dull ache in her head. Logically, these children were raised in a noble estate and, apart from their siblings, didn’t have many playmates. Even keeping a small dog or cat wouldn’t be something too much. However, that day, their selfish outing was highly inappropriate. It must be known that they were now in Quanzhou, with unfamiliar people and places. These young children, even with servants accompanying them, would encounter unspeakable fates should they run into evil people.
After pondering for a moment, she slowly said, “If you want to adopt these kittens, that is fine. However, what you did today was absolutely wrong, actually foolishly running out like that by yourselves. Your father is busy outside, and the rain might have stopped him on the way back. I also cannot watch over you all the time and you need to be responsible for yourselves. It is only your first day here, and you have already caused such trouble. I will not let you off without punishment, or you will never learn. Yu Jie, bring the bamboo board. Each of them will receive ten strokes on the palm.”
Yu Jie acknowledged the order and went to fetch the bamboo board. Fu Qiuning then turned to the servants who were following Jin Changfeng, Jin Changjiao, and the others, and said sternly, “Back in the mansion, with so many elders watching them, the younger ones would not dare to be too presumptuous. You all should stick to your duties as servants. Unless it’s something excessive, you could turn a blind eye to the young masters’ mischiefs.
However, things are different now. We are now in Quanzhou, where your master, although acquainted with some people, has moved to a new place. You have all heard about it, right? This place is often plagued by Japanese pirates, with lurking dangers you might not expect. Do you think it is as safe as the place right at the emperor’s feet in the capital? Today, since it is the children’s first offence, and you dared not stop them, I will punish only the children this time. But if this happens again, and you still do not try to stop them, by then, you should have grown wiser, right?
At that time, whatever method you use, whether it is hugging them or tying them up, just do it. You are older and stronger than the young masters and misses. Do not tell me you cannot restrain them. Rest assured, if they misbehave and you intervene, I will not punish you. As the saying goes, loyalty is not simply obeying the master’s orders blindly. You are all clever. You should be able to understand the limits. If there is another incident, the punishment will not be solvable with just a few strokes. Understand?”
[Gumihou: …I have no idea who these people are…]Pill Bug TL Notes:
[1] 抗倭卫 倭 here stands for 倭寇 Wokou, which are Japanese Pirates. This is part of the reason why China hates Japan.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wokou
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