Chapter 101 FCADW? IRTBTMOTMM

FlamingoBees

Translating Chinese Historical Dramas for your enjoyment... and mine! :)

Favoring Concubines and Destroying Wives? I Refuse to be the Mistress of this Marquis' Mansion

Chapter 101:

It's Too Late

The side hall had been arranged in advance, with a low table and a pair of cushions.

Next to the table was a small charcoal stove, although there was no boiling water on it, there were tea utensils on the table.

With the small stove, it was much warmer inside than outside.

Upon entering, Lin Yunwan rubbed her hands together. The jade pendant held in her hand felt cooler than when it was tucked into her sleeve just a moment ago.

Qi Ling Heng explained to her, "The jade pendant was sent to the residence by my order."

Lin Yunwan asked, "Then I should thank you, Your Highness."

"There's no need," Qi Ling Heng replied. "My pawnshop wouldn't accept such items. Regardless of who ends up pawning it, it will be returned intact."

Lin Yunwan looked into his eyes and said, "Your Highness, did you use the idiom incorrectly? 'Wan bi gui Zhao'—you should return it to the Xingguo Duke's Mansion, not to my hands."

He clearly intended to help her but refused to admit it.

© translations belonging to flamingobeestranslations.blogspot.com. If you read this somewhere else instead of flamingobeestranslations.blogspot.com then the translations has been posted WITHOUT permission of translator.

Is he afraid of trouble?

If he is, he has already caused quite a bit of trouble on behalf of the Lin family.

Of course, for someone of his high status, the Lin family's affairs may not be considered significant trouble.

But offending the Xingguo Duke's Mansion is not a simple matter; after all, there is still a Crown Prince who is at odds with him.

"It seems that the lady insists on getting a clear answer today," Qi Lingheng chuckled.

Lin Yunwan did not deny it. She indeed did not want to be a confused person.

Qi Lingheng could only tell the truth, "At first, I did consider whom to return this jade pendant to."

Compared to the Lin family, it seems more profitable for him to befriend the Xingguo Duke's Mansion.

Normal people would think this way—

Suddenly, someone pushed open the door of the side hall.

Lin Yunwan was startled when she heard the sound. Although she had maids with her, if someone saw her, it would be hard to explain.

A'Fu entered, carrying a water kettle and a thick cloak draped over his arm.

Seeing Lin Yunwan's expression, Ah Fu smiled apologetically, bowing and saying, "Oh, did I startle the madam?" He then showcased what he held in his hands, saying, "This servant has come to deliver something."

Lin Yunwan also realized this and felt relieved.

As A'Fu came to boil water, he extended the cloak and spoke to Qi Lingheng, "Your Highness, you left in a hurry. This servant was afraid you might feel cold."

Qi Lingheng didn't feel cold, but he told A'Fu, "You keep it for now."

Holding the cloak, A'Fu bent over, attending to the side.

Now that the water was ready, Qi Lingheng said to Lin Yunwan, "Madam, please have a seat."

The two of them sat facing each other, like monks reciting scriptures.

Once the water boiled, A'Fu set down the cloak and brewed tea for the two. As Lin Yunwan caught a whiff of the aroma, she closed her eyes and said, "It's Liu An tea."

Qi Lingheng nodded, "It's the tea my teacher used to drink the most."

Recalling her father, Lin Yunwan smiled gently, "My father used to say Liu A tea brightens the eyes and helps scholars, especially when their brains and eyes are strained. Though he loved the taste of Longjing the most, he always drank Liu An infused with melon slices, claiming it was good for the eyes."

"When I was a child and spent too much time reading, he would make me drink Liu An tea too."

"However, I once discovered that my father secretly drank another kind of tea behind my back. I thought it was Longjing, so when he wasn't around, I took a sip. Surprisingly, it wasn't Liu An or Longjing."

Qi Lingheng asked, "What was it?"

Lin Yunwan's smile deepened, "Something you wouldn't expect, sweet water[1]."

Qi Lingheng also laughed along, "It seems that Prime Minister Leng didn't favor Liu An or Longjing the most."

Lin Yunwan nodded.

Although her father was well-read, his personality was anything but pedantic; instead, he often resembled a child. Even during the years when he was ill, he retained the simple and optimistic nature of a child.

A'Fu poured the tea and handed it to the two.

Qi Lingheng scrutinized the tea and said with lowered eyes, "Madam, you may not know, but Prime Minister Lin also told me that he needed to drink tea to clear his eyes."

"The prime ministers who taught me were not few, but only your father dared to discuss things beyond the Four Books and Five Classics with me."

"Like Madam, whenever I see Liu An tea, I think of Prime Minister Lin."

So whenever he saw someone who looked serious and rarely smiled, but was actually very amiable in private, he would think of the once Grand Tutor, Prime Minister Lin.

Lin Yunwan felt surprised.

She knew that Prince Huan highly respected and admired her father, but she didn't know the details of Prince Huan's feelings towards her father so clearly.

Qi Lingheng knew that she was surprised.

There were more things she didn't know, such as how bold her father was. Even when he was ill, he dared to go and talk to his father when neither he nor his father paid much attention to each other.

However, he didn't need to explain these things to her in too much detail.

"Madam, you don't know that there is one thing I regret deeply."

"Is it related to my father?" Yunwan frowned."

Qi Lingheng nodded, and in his indifferent tone, there was a somewhat imperceptible sense of melancholy, "The Prime Minister passed away just when I left the capital, and I didn't have the chance to offer my condolences to him."

Everyone faces death, and he knew that the Prime Minister was seriously ill, destined to pass away one day. He also understood that even the emperor couldn't defy the inevitable.

However, it happened that he missed the Prime Minister's funeral, failing to accompany him on his final journey. There was still some regret lingering in his heart.

Yunwan remained silent for a moment and expressed her gratitude sincerely, "Thank you very much, Your Highness, for remembering my father."

"When my father was alive, he also valued Your Highness greatly... If my father knew about your sincere thoughts even after his passing, he would surely be pleased."

Unfortunately, with people gone, such sentiments remain known only to the living.

Qi Lingheng brought the conversation back to the matter of the jade pendant, saying, "Out of respect for the Prime Minister, I won't allow the Madam to be in a precarious situation. With a member of the Lin family negotiating with the Marquis of Wu Ding's residence regarding separation and reconciliation, this jade pendant, under any circumstances, cannot fall into the hands of the Duke of Xingguo's residence."

A surge of warmth flooded through Yunwan's internal organs. So, it turned out that His Highness helped her because of her father, even after all these years since his passing, he continued to assist her father!

She felt truly grateful. Yunwan stood up and bowed, saying earnestly, "Your Highness, thank you very much."

Her gratitude emanated from the depths of her heart, and her eyes gleamed with tenderness.

Qi Lingheng smiled faintly, "It's just a small effort. Madam, there's no need to be overly polite with this prince."

Yunwan sat back down, intending to have some tea before leaving. As a married woman, she felt a bit uneasy about spending time alone with a man from another family, even if he was the Prince Huan and her benefactor.

Qi Lingheng understood her concerns and didn't want to make her uncomfortable. However, he felt the need to ask her something, even if it might be a bit intrusive.

Lifting her head, Lin Yunwan politely responded, "Please go ahead, Your Highness."

"If you truly wish for a separation, why not use the jade pendant to leave cleanly from such a filthy place," suggested Qi Lingheng. The nature of the Lu's family was evident to anyone with discerning eyes.

"While it may seem greedy and base, it is precisely by exploiting their weaknesses that you can make them let go," Qi Lingheng advised. After careful consideration, he continued, "Madam, delays can lead to complications. Swift and decisive action is the best strategy. People with ill intentions in the Lu family might harbor malicious thoughts about you, even to the point of taking your life."

Seizing the opportunity while the Lu family is in a precarious situation to break free, once she returns to the Lin family, her relatives will not force her to the brink.

This is her only way out now. Aware of any lingering resentment in Lin Yunwan's heart, Qi Lingheng suggested, "Madam, if there's anything you can't let go of, you can address it after leaving the Lu family."

Lin Yunwan forced a smile and shook her head, saying, "Your Highness, it's already too late."

•••

[1] Sweet Water: In this context, "sweet water" likely refers to water infused with a sweet flavor, possibly through the addition of sweet herbs, fruits, or other natural sweeteners. It's not a specific type of tea but rather a term used to describe water with a sweet taste.

https://ko-fi.com/flamingobeestranslations

Prev : TOC : Next

Search This Blog

FlamingoBeesTranslations

Chapter 101 FCADW? IRTBTMOTMM

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Novel List + Chapter Updates

Rebirth of the Charming Girl in Space, Chapter One

Rebirth of the Charming Girl in Space, Chapter Two