Translator: Dj22031
Editor: Dj22031
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“I didn’t come back this time to really get along with them.” Yu Linlang wiped Jiu Jin’s flushed face and said helplessly, “You know this better than anyone else.”
“I just want to find an opportunity to end this ill-fated relationship with them.”
“They’re not even that familiar with us, why get angry with them? Can the things done by strangers really stir your emotions? What’s there to cry about?”
Jiu Jin wiped her eyes haphazardly, “So, are we still going out now?”
“Of course.” Yu Linlang chuckled, “Yu Shoudao gave us five hundred taels of silver, how could we not spend it?”
“Let’s go.” She grabbed the little girl’s hand, “Let’s pack up and go out for a walk, I’ll buy you something delicious.”
….
At noon, Yu Shoudao dragged his tired body back to the main courtyard, and as soon as he saw Huo Shi, he heard her start complaining.
“What’s going on, master? Why did you suddenly withdraw five hundred taels of silver from the accounts? What does she need so much money for, a mere country girl?”
“How dare you say that!” Yu Shoudao said sternly. “Our daughter has been away from home for so many years, and now that she’s finally back, what’s wrong with treating her well?”
“Why didn’t you even prepare some basic necessities for her? She has to go to the market to buy them herself? Is that appropriate?”
“Do you know how utterly humiliated I was in front of the Prince and Lord Lu today?”
Huo Shi twisted her handkerchief tightly in anger. “This girl truly has no manners or rules; she even made a scene over such a small matter in front of outsiders.”
Yu Shoudao waved his hand at her. “These small matters are fine, but the murder case must be taken seriously. Our residence is unsafe lately. I’ve already ordered more guards to be assigned to protect the house.”
“It’s all because that jinx is back!” Madam Huo was furious. “I knew it! She was born to be my nemesis. Giving birth to her almost cost me my life. Now that she’s back, the whole household is in chaos.”
“I really don’t understand why the old lady wanted her back! She’s making the whole family miserable.”
“Enough!” Yu Shoudao said angrily. “Don’t call her a jinx all the time! You, you! You never think before you speak!”
“Didn’t you want to form a marriage alliance with the Lu family in the capital? Now that Lord Lu has personally come to our residence to investigate the case, can’t you be a little more careful? Tell me, how you treat your daughter, what will outsiders say about my governor’s mansion if they see this?”
Madam Huo said angrily. “Does Master mean to blame me?”
Yu Shoudao looked at her face, which was as beautiful as a peony, and his heart softened. He then stepped forward and took her hand. “Oh, Madam, I’m just thinking about your reputation. Our daughter is still our own flesh and blood. Even if we haven’t raised her by our side all these years, there’s no need to treat her like an enemy.”
“You dote on Pianpian, who is not related to you by blood, so why can’t you show more affection to your own daughter?”
Madam Huo forcefully threw away his hand, her anger blazing. “What are you saying, sir? How can Pianpian not be my own daughter? Do you want the whole city to know? For so many years, I have raised Pianpian, and who doesn’t praise her as a well-educated and virtuous young woman? She is my own daughter, and no one can compare to her in that respect.”
“Alright, alright,” Governor Yu nodded helplessly. “I know, I know, I know you love Pianpian. Haven’t you always wanted Pianpian to marry into the Lu family in the capital?”
“Of course.” Speaking of her daughter Pianpian, a smile appeared on Madam Huo’s face. “Pianpian is the daughter of our governor’s family, and her maternal grandfather is also from the powerful Huo family in the capital. Marrying into the Lu family wouldn’t be considered a step up for her.”
“Yes, yes, yes, yes.” Governor Yu nodded again, comforting his wife, “That’s why I’m reminding you, Madam, that the Lu family’s son happens to be in Weizhou. You see, we can’t let others laugh at our family affairs. Even if you don’t like Linlang, you can at least put on a show.”
“Hmph.” Madam Huo became petulant, refusing to listen to her husband’s advice.
“I just don’t like that girl. Especially looking at her eyes, they’re so dark and cold when she looks at people, so lifeless, like she crawled out of a pile of corpses, like a demon from hell.”
“Oh dear!” Governor Yu quickly reached out to cover his wife’s mouth. “Don’t say things like that.”
Madam Huo shook off Governor Yu’s hand, turning away to wipe her tears in anger.
Yu Shoudao quickly put his arm around her, his voice gentle and tender. “Alright, Madam, alright, alright, whatever you want, whatever you want. If you don’t like the child, so be it. At most, she’ll appear in front of you less often in the future.”
Madam Huo gave a light snort and glanced at Governor Yu.
….
The jinx, Yu Linlang, clutching the five hundred taels of silver given to her by Governor Yu, led her little maid through the East Market of Weizhou Prefecture for an afternoon of shopping and eating.
The two of them also bought some fancy hairpins and trinkets, finally hiring a carriage to return home in the evening.
As they left, lanterns lit up the streets of the East Market, and the noise of people filled the air.
“The city and the outside world are truly two different worlds,” Jiu Jin murmured, looking at the brightly lit night market, and sadly lowered the carriage curtain.
Outside the city, so many starving people huddled in drafty wooden shacks, while inside the city, a scene of peace and prosperity unfolded.
Yu Linlang fiddled with her jade beads. “The relief grain has arrived?”
“Yes, the governor issued a decree this morning and posted notices ordering the starving people to line up for rice.”
“It’s said that they’ll also distribute wasteland to these starving people and help them build more houses, so the refugees outside have become much more well-behaved.”
“They say those who cause trouble won’t get anything, and those who deliberately instigate trouble will be punished, so everyone is very obedient now.”
Yu Linlang nodded, and seeing the girl hesitate, raised an eyebrow and asked, “What else do you want to say?”
“Didn’t you say not to investigate that person?” Jiu Jin scratched her head.
“So you still investigated?”
“Yes. The Xuanping Marquis’s family has five generals, and since the old Marquis’s generation, they have commanded the most powerful army in the Great Qi.”
Yu Linlang paused in her fiddle with the beads. “Black Flag?”
“Yes.” Jiu Jin nodded. “The legendary Black Flag Army. This heir of the Xuanping Marquis’s family is a legend among legends. He became famous at a young age, joining the army at eleven, and at thirteen leading his troops to defeat a famous general from Xichuan. He led his army straight into the capital of Xichuan, forcing the ruler of Xichuan to submit and pay tribute annually.”
“Oh.” Yu Linlang realized. “It’s him.”
“A young general, how come he looks like this now?” Yu Linlang was curious.
“It is said that this heir of the Marquis’s family returned to the capital three years ago, apparently suffering severe internal injuries while pursuing the remnants of Southern Chu. In recent years, the people of the Marquis’s family have been secretly searching for the whereabouts of the Heavenly Sound Master.”
“It is said that the Heavenly Sound Master can control all things with sound and can heal injuries invisibly, especially internal injuries.”
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