Chapter 259: A Child’s Thoughts (Edited)
Author: White Pear Flower
Raws: https://book.qidian.com/info/2386994/
Translated by Gumihou
Proofread by Pill Bug
Gumihou: This time, White Pear Flower showed a lack of knowledge on landslides. Please don’t look down on your own people’s general science knowledge.
Fu Qiuning [1] nodded sympathetically. “Yes, I believe that would be best.”
Regardless of Jin Fengju’s personal feelings about that woman, she was still a very capable person. It would be best to have a reasonably amicable relationship with her. Whatever Jin Fengju ultimately decided to do to her in the end had nothing to do with Fu Qiuning.
“I know that Elder Sister has Lord Husband’s favour now. Even so, I caution Elder Sister’s confidence in relying on this relationship,” said Jiang Wanying stiffly.
Fu Qiuning nodded again, “Yes, I understand.”
“Do you really?” For a moment, Jiang Wanying just stood in place, tapping a finger against her arm. “What of those interlopers? Do you intend to kick them out? After all, you claim that they entered through misuse of your name.” [2]
Fu Qiuning sighed, “Whether we kick them out or not, the damage has been done. We have to stay in Quanzhou for the foreseeable future. It would be easy for them to make trouble for us about any perceived fault. However, if we concede this point, it would be difficult for those people to press any advantage on us.”
Jiang Wanying narrowed her eyes at Fu Qiuning. After a moment, she nodded imperiously before spinning around to stride away. Fu Qiuning watched as her skirts flapped rapidly under her quick steps, whatever imagined decorum all but gone.
“Madam, how rude is that woman?” Yu Jie began.
“The ones who are rude were the ones that moved in on their own last night. Second Madam Wan has every right to be annoyed by them,” said Fu Qiuning neutrally. After saying that, she entered her private rooms once more, passing by the children playing with their kittens in the yard, thinking: The maids and servants were watching closely, so they should be safe. In a few years’ time, the girls would have to marry out and the boys… they already had to study hard, later, they would have to add military pursuits and skills to their repertoire and eventually take up governmental posts if successful.
For now, let them be carefree little children for a bit longer.
Wait.
She turned back and counted the children again. There was no mistake this time; one of the children was missing. It was gloomy little Jin Zhenxuan. For a moment, Fu Qiuning considered looking for him, but dismissed the thought almost immediately. There was really no point in building bridges with someone who did not want to have anything to do with her.
After some thought, she turned towards the garden.
Now that Jiang Wanying was back with the living, she could handle all those pesky household matters. Let’s take a walk.
Ah.
That was when she saw Jin Zhenxuan sitting under a tree with his chin propped in his hands, lost in thought. Thus far, all of Jin Fengju’s children outside of Jiao’er and Feng’er were spoilt, gloomy and scheming to a certain degree. Considering how little interaction he had with the twins, Fu Qiuning was inclined to believe that Jin Fengju was at least partly at fault for their behaviour.
Even so, the younger children were not yet 10 years old and it is said that the characteristics of children at that age are not yet set. After a little more time, she sighed and approached the child, “Why are you sitting in the wind here? What if you get sick? Your mother will be worried.”
When Jin Zhenxuan saw that it was Fu Qiuning, he quickly hopped to his feet and greeted her with a respectful ‘Honoured Mother’ before staring up at her blankly. Fu Qiuning said nothing, allowing the child to gather his thoughts. After all, it was not like she had anything better to do now that his mother had managed to get out of bed and was now working at harassing the people into staying in their lines.
Was the child worried about the kitten? No, that can’t be. Jin Xiuzhen was the one distraught about losing the kitten. Jin Zhenxuan was more worried about her getting into trouble for whatever reason. Although Jin Xiuzhen had a clever tongue, Jin Zhenxuan appeared to have a more sensitive nature.
After a long bout of staring, Jin Zhenxuan finally said, “There is nothing, Honoured Mother.”
“Is that so? It is fine if you have nothing to say. However, do keep away from the wind. It would be bad if you get sick in this weather.”
[2] “Yes, Honoured Mother.”
[2a] Fu Qiuning nodded and was about to leave when Jin Zhenxuan continued, “There is no need for Honoured Mother to worry. My sister is stubborn and my mother is angry for now. It is best for them to be apart to calm down.”
“Indeed,” said Fu Qiuning after a pause.
Jin Zhenxuan nodded once in return. He had apparently used up his quota of words for the day, because after that, he stood up and saluted her once more before leaving for the yard where the children were playing together. Fu Qiuning noted that he did not have his kitten with him.
“My heavens, ah. No wonder Madam always said that children’s education is important regardless of their talent in learning. Just look at that child, his words are just uncanny…”
[3] Technically, Jin Zhenxuan’s status among Jin Fengju’s children was the highest, since he was the di-born child of the secondary wife. However, since Fu Qiuning had adopted the twins and took in Concubine Xu’s children, his position had dropped two places down. If Fu Qiuning happened to give birth to her own child, he would be further ousted from his original position as ‘first official son’. Not to mention, Jiang Wanying, and most likely Grandma Jiang, would have filled his head with pride about being the great-grandson of a duke, especially in a then-marquis family.
“Madam… that child,”
“What about him?” asked Fu Qiuning, curious what Jian Feng would say.
[3] “Could it be possible that the child is harbouring some deep schemes? The way he speaks, it is as though he sensed something was not right and…”
“You are overthinking the matter,” said Fu Qiuning mildly. This Jian Feng truly loved her conspiracy theories too much.
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It was still quite early. The sun peeked out behind the clouds, emitting a weak ray down on the city. Fu Qiuning walked through the previously empty paths and courtyards which were now filled with washing flapping in the wind. Intrigued by this sight, she was about to step in for a closer look when a shrill voice shouted, “Quick, pack up these freshly made snacks. Send two plates to the Marquis’ wife. Inform her that these are our local specialities, something that can’t be found in the Capital. We must let her taste something she never had before.”
[4] Wait, don’t tell me… was that the fat, tantrum-throwing lady? The whole move last night must have been instigated by that person as well. Feeling a slight headache coming on, Fu Qiuning said, “I want to return to my room.”
Jian Feng could not help but lower her head and tittered, “In this maid’s opinion, that person is just too tactless. In what way had madam ever said anything about letting her in? To think that they would just move into this place under the cover of darkness merely on Madam’s reputation of benevolence, how disgraceful, ah.”
“At least she thought of us when making snacks,” Fu Qiuning muttered.
“Could two plates of snacks erase her utter lack of tact? The cheek of it.”
“She is someone who has the courage to flap about in the mud and make a scene in front of the yamen. As the saying goes, no one is as powerful as the shameless.”
In fact, Fu Qiuning could even admire this trait, if only it wasn’t aimed at her…
Later, when they returned to their courtyard, a junior maid came in with a food box. As expected, it was from ‘that person’. Jian Feng’s lips curled, but Fu Qiuning waved at her to accept the offering. She also bestowed a string of 500 coins to the poor girl, who looked all sorts of frail and pitiful. Even if the fat lady had been the benevolent kind type, she couldn’t have been too good to the servants.
The maid was so overwhelmed with joy that she fell to the floor in a deep kowtow at the gift of money.
As soon as the maid left, Jin Fengju came in. The usually charming and elegantly put-together young marquis looked a little dishevelled and very muddy. As soon as he stepped into the house, his eyes sought Fu Qiuning and he immediately made a beeline for her.
“Yesterday’s rain was short but heavy. We were on our way back when we were caught in it. We had no choice but to seek shelter at someone’s house. Unexpectedly, a flood of mud and water came rushing down the mountain, sweeping into two houses. Fortunately, the damage was not too severe and with the help of the villagers, we managed to rescue the people from those two households. [5] Alas, I have travelled far and read many books, but never knew that mud and water could flow down from the mountain like this…”
[5] “… Is that so?” It said a lot about Jin Fengju’s monologues that Fu Qiuning was not entirely sure whether he was truly ignorant or was just baiting her to say something so that he would have an excuse to praise her. Although why he would want to the latter was problematic at best.
[5] Also, he was looking at her with pitiful eyes. However, she had very few sympathies to spare him after yesterday’s incident.
“Go take a bath, I have something to inform you later.”
Even as he undressed to bathe, Jin Fengju cast several glances at her. However, she kept her eyes on her embroidery instead. Having nothing better to do, he washed his hands and started on the snacks left on the table. It was the snacks brought in by the junior maid. Jian Feng had missed the opportunity to take the offending articles away. Still, since Jin Fengju was eating so heartily, that woman must have had some skills in making snacks.
After polishing off one plate, he smiled and said, “I have not seen these kinds before. Were they gifts from some of your visitors? It must have been tiring to receive visitors all day.”
“Hmm…”
“… Speaking of which, what was it you wished to say to me? The servants are still filling the bath, you may as well tell me.”
“Later, look, they are almost done,” said Fu Qiuning, still not looking in his direction.
“Qiuning…”
“It is nothing urgent. Go and bathe first.”
Since he was unable to convince her otherwise, Jin Fengju took himself off to the bathing chambers. After sitting in the room with a little pile of mud and dust on the floor where Jin Fengju had stood, Fu Qiuning made her way to the receiving room to wait. This way, the maids would have an opportunity to properly clean up the place.
About half an hour later, Jin Fengju appeared with his hair still damp and dripping all over the place.
[Gumihou: I think the last one is meant to be a sexy sight.]
[1] A non-delulu Qiuning
[1a] Why, aren’t you a ‘benevolent’ one? Try and give off the same atmosphere without assassinating someone else’s character, won’t you?
With a faint smile, she looked at Jiang Wanying, who was puffing up and speaking louder and louder, clearly looking for a fight. Fu Qiuning took a few sips of tea, even more calm and composed, and said with a smile, “Sister can do whatever you want.”
[2] Deleted the vitriol spat by Jiang ‘most ebil’ Wanying, which prevents Jin Zhenxuan from looking at Fu ‘angel goddess rainbow dove shiny goodness’ Qiuning with tragic shiny eyes
[2a] Actual sinister words that are not contrived or overly explanatory
[3] Connect Jin Zhenxuan’s disposition with his difficult position within the family in a political sense rather just ‘oh, that creepy gloomy kid’
If her guess was correct, Jin Zhenxuan had noticed some of his mother’s actions and decided to draw a line at this opportunity. Then… his cunning and coldness were really terrifying.
Yeah, there are other reasons why a ‘line’ would be drawn instead of ‘kya~ conspiracy~’. But we don’t talk about that because it’s just not ‘exciting’ enough.
[4] Wait, who you?
Despite Fu Qiuning’s efforts to conduct herself like a proper young lady since transmigrating, so as not to arouse suspicion
Please don’t change the original plot or character profile willy-nilly, White Pear Flower.
[5] In fact, according to AI (because I trust that more than White Pear Flower) Ming Dynasty scholars do, in fact, have some knowledge of why landslides happen and how to prevent them. The knowledge may be limited to the upper echelons of the scholastic world, but they know
So, either this is more of ‘uwaa~ AR Qiuning amazing~ moment’ or ‘JFJ is NOT as knowledgeable as he thinks’.
