The moon, which was not yet full, rose high into the sky, and transparent grey clouds faintly obscured the moonlight. A light smoke seemed to rise from the courtyard as if it was falling into a dream.
More than a year had passed, and Yuxi was now completely grown up. Her skin was as delicate and smooth as a peeled egg. Her features were beautiful, and her figure was so beautiful that she attracted people's attention when she walked out. But at this moment, Yuxi was standing in the corridor, staring at the night scene.
Zisu walked over to Yuxi and advised, "Miss, you really don't know how to treasure your health. It's so windy right now, and you don't even go inside." Two months ago, when Miss found out that the Third Lord would remarry, she didn't show any reaction. So Zisu did not expect her Miss to become abnormal today, especially the night before the Third Lord's big wedding tomorrow.
Yuxi pushed the large long-hair pelt overcoat that Zisu was about to drape over her and said, "I'm not cold." This was not an excuse. She indeed wasn't cold.
Zisu hesitated for a moment and asked, "Miss, the Third Lord's marriage has little to do with you. So why do you need to overthink about it?" This point was particularly puzzling to Zisu, as the Third Lord's marriage had nothing to do with her Miss. She wondered what her Miss was so upset about.
Yuxi laughed. "You're overthinking it. I was thinking about something else." Seeing Zisu's disbelief face, she explained, "San Shu is getting married right now. San Jie is getting married in the next second lunar month, and I am getting married in the fifth lunar month. I thought that the State Residence has been full of good things lately!"
Zisu was a bit speechless. "What kind of good thing is this? I don't know what the Third Lord is thinking. The Third Miss and Miss will marry next year, yet he still wants to get a new wife right away. He is not afraid of being laughed at, isn't he?" It was no problem for Han Jingyan to get married a bit later, but he had chosen to remarry at this time.
Yuxi responded, "I don't mind. It's just that San Jie's face doesn't look so good, though." Not only did Yuchen's face look bad, but she probably felt terrible in her heart! Yuxi had no love for Han Jingyan for a long time, so it didn't matter how Han Jingyan treated her. But Yuchen was different. She had deep feelings for Han Jingyan and had always believed that Han Jingyan loved her mother. Seeing Han Jingyan marry a new person, Yuxi was sure that Yuchen must have been upset.
Yuchen was really upset. She complained to Momo Gui, "Momo, tell me, what on earth is my father thinking?" He was almost forty years old, and he was marrying a woman about her age. She didn't even know if she could ever call that woman' mother'.
Han Jingyan's new wife was a shu daughter of a fifth-ranking official who had already retired. She was only seventeen years old, one year older than Yuchen. It was rumoured that she was beautiful and gentle. Of course, all of this was just hearsay, and no one at the residence had seen the actual person yet. [T/N]
What else could Momo Gui say except to console Yuchen? "Miss, in the end, it is inconvenient to not have a mistress in charge of the inner chambers. If something happened to you, later on, it would be beneficial to have the Third Lady come to the royal residence to say a word or something." The Eldest Master Wen had married off his shumei for the sake of a high position.
Yuchen didn't object to Han Jingyan's remarriage, but her father shouldn't have done it at this time. He could have married a year later after she was married. "Forget it. It's useless to talk about it anymore. I just hope this woman will be an easy person to get along with!" If her own father wanted to marry, she, as a daughter, could not stop him.
Momo Gui said soothingly, "Don't worry, Miss. The Old Lady has already seen her. It was said that she is a gentle and demure person. Besides, Miss is going to get married soon, and the Third Lady who just married into the family won't dare to make a face at Miss." Since Miss was going to marry a Prince, unless that woman was out of her mind, she would have to be the one to curry favour with her Miss instead. [+]
Yuchen sighed, "All things have been piled up together." If she hadn't had to keep mourning for Wu Shi, she would have married earlier this year. She didn't expect that after just a year, such a messy thing had happened.
Momo Gui didn't know what else to say. Even the Old Lady could not stop this marriage, so her Miss had to accept it even if she was depressed. "Miss, don't think about it anymore!" Thinking about it would only add to her Miss' worries. And, the translator's worries when she saw this chapter on another site and not at xinshou blogspot com.
Yuchen nodded slightly.
The next day, the State Residence hung lanterns and coloured decorations, giving off a smell of celebration.
Qiu Shi got up early in the morning and couldn't help but complain as she washed up, "Other people only get married once in their lives, but he does it even better. He has been married four times overall." After saying this, she added, "I hope there won't be a fifth time." The third time was fine. After all, it wasn't done in the capital. But the other two times, and this time, she had arranged them all. She was already tired of organising one of his marriages, and now she was doing it three times overall. Not to mention their cost, most of which came from the public account.
Mama Li also felt that Han Jingyan was really something. They never spoke out about this thing before. After the Third Lord's return to the residence four years ago, they had never seen him paid, apart from the salary, into the residence's public account. How much could an official earn in a year? It was only a few hundred taels of silver. But the expenses of the Third House combined, including Han Jingyan's, would amount to 5,000 to 6,000 taels of silver a year. Fortunately for him, her Lady was not a fussy person. Otherwise, there would be countless fights regarding the lack of money.
Since there was no one else in the room, Qiu Shi didn't hide her inner thoughts and let them all out, "I don't know when I can stop filling this bottomless pit!" The Third House's expenses were all paid from the public accounts, but with her in-law still around and the houses had not yet been separated, she could only put up with it.
This was not an easy question for Mama Li to answer.
Qiu Shi's heart was full of anger and complaints, but what should be done must be done. Otherwise, not only would she be laughed at by outsiders, even the Old Lady would not give her a good look either.
After tidying herself up, Qiu Shi said, "There shouldn't be many guests today, so tell Yuxi not to come out and stay in the courtyard." Even if Yuxi had been adopted by the Main House, she was still Han Jingyan's own daughter. It was better not to come out on such occasions to avoid hearing any sarcastic remarks.
Not only did Yuxi not come out to greet the guests, but neither did Yuchen nor Yurong. It was good that the friends and relatives who came to the house as guests this time did not bring any young misses over either.
Yuxi was at Taoran House and heard no movement up until it was noon. She was so amazed that she asked, "Why is there no sound at all?" It was unbelievable that the residence would be so quiet for such a big celebration. Even if it was done simply, this was just too simple!
Momo Quan answered, "There is always the need to take care of the Third Miss' face." The Third Miss would get married next year. If the Third Lord made a big deal of his own marriage, the Third Miss' reputation would not look good.
Yuxi snorted. "If he really cared about San Jie's face, he wouldn't have taken a wife at this time." Han Jingyan was a selfish and self-interested person. The most important thing in his heart was himself. When did he ever think about other people?
Momo Quan felt that this topic was too sensitive and should not be discussed. "Miss, you still have to embroider your head covering. So you'd better go and embroider it!" Yuxi's wedding dress had been embroidered six months ago. There was no way around it. Since Yuxi had done it with both hands, her speed was generally fast. Without anyone help, she had finished it quickly. Most of the quilts and pillows were embroidered by the maids, so the progress had been even faster. The only thing Yuxi was not happy about was her head covering.
Yuxi responded, "There is no hurry." There was still more than half a year to go. Thus she wasn't worried that the embroidery would not be good. [+]
Zisu thought it would be better to go and do the embroidery work instead of letting Miss think about other things. "Miss, you should finish the head covering early. Then you won't have to think about it all the time, right?"
Yuxi was not in the mood to embroider the head covering at this time. "I can't embroider the head covering right now, but I can practice my calligraphy."
After practising her calligraphy for half a shichen, Yuxi's mind became utterly calm. That afternoon, Zisu reported to Yuxi, "Miss, the new Third Lady looks delicate and beautiful."
Yuxi smiled. "Really? Let's see how beautiful she really is tomorrow."
On the second day of the marriage, Yuxi was in no hurry. She only freshened herself up after practising a set of wuqinxi. This delay meant that she was the last one to arrive in the Main Courtyard.
By this time, the house was already packed with people. Not only was the Old Lady and Qiu Shi present, but so were Dage and Er Ge! As for the newcomer, she was preparing to offer tea!
Yuxi seemed not to notice Han Jingyan's ugly face. After offering her greeting, she stood extremely cleverly behind Qiu Shi.
Han Jingyan was very unhappy with this late appearance of Yuxi. It was just that he knew that he could no longer reprimand her with his current status. Otherwise, his Dasao would not give him any face.
Everyone in the room had witnessed Han Jingyan's expression and knew that he was very unhappy with Yuxi's late arrival. The Old Lady was not blind either. She naturally saw it too and said expressionlessly, "Serve the tea!" To be honest, the Old Lady really did not want to drink this cup of tea from her new daughter-in-law. Since Han Jingyan was already old and had five children so far, she did not want him to remarry. At that time, when Han Jingyan told her his remarriage plan, she immediately disapproved of it. Her intention was for him to take a high-ranking concubine so that there would be someone to look after his daily life and manage the internal affairs of the Third House. However, Han Jingyan thought that it would be better to take a wife than a concubine. Hence, the Old Lady could no longer resist and let him have his way.
Cherry Mouth
This is the make-up version. I believe Wen Shi has a natural-shaped cherry mouth.
Image Credit | The actual owner of the old painting & Chen Yen-hui (right) via Hanfu and whatnot
This is the make-up version. I believe Wen Shi has a natural-shaped cherry mouth.
Image Credit | The actual owner of the old painting & Chen Yen-hui (right) via Hanfu and whatnot
Yuchen took the gift and responded politely and distantly, "Thank you, Mother." No matter how reluctant she was, this woman was still the wife that her father had taken into the residence.
Next, it was Yuxi's turn. With a smile, Wen Shi handed the prepared hebao to Yuxi with both hands and said, "They are all small trinkets. I hope Fourth Miss won't mind them." To marry into the State Residence, she naturally needed to have an understanding of the situation there. It was said that the male members of the Third House were not prominent, but its two young misses were very famous. It was good that the Fourth Miss had already been adopted out, and the Third Miss was about to get married. Otherwise, she would really be under tremendous pressure.
Yuxi took it and handed the hebao to Zisu beside her while saying expressionlessly, "Thank you, San Shen." There was no need to put on a smile with her current status.
Han Jingyan's face darkened a little as he watched how Yuxi looked as if she didn't put Wen Shi in her eyes. Since her adoption to the Main House, this girl's attitude had become even more arrogant, and she had a tendency to lean towards Qiu Shi. Han Jingyan wanted to reprimand Yuxi, but Qiu Shi was still staring at him at this moment!
Yurong took Wen Shi's gift with both hands and said respectfully, "Thank you, Mother." Since Yuchen already bowed her head, what else could she do?
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The Rebirth of Han Yuxi