Chapter 38 : Duan Xinrong

Yuxi was quite delighted in her heart. She didn’t expect Duan Xinrong to be a girl from a Noble House. Although Duan Xinrong was not rescued by her, but with this relationship in place, she would be able to have a good relationship with her in the future.

Yuxi thought for a while before she asked, “Sister Xinrong, how did you fall into the hands of the kidnapper?” In fact, she had nothing to talk about, and the kidnapping attempt process she had heard it all from Yun Qing, himself.

Duan Xinrong currently still had a lingering fear of the incident but still managed to explained, “My brother and I were watching the lantern boats, when suddenly a few people in black appeared and started killing many people. Everyone fled for their lives. In the chaos, my brother and I were somewhat separated. I didn’t know from where, a man suddenly appeared. He picked me up and walked away from the scene. I struggled desperately. However, the man covered my mouth with a handkerchief and I fainted. I didn’t know what happened afterwards.”

Well, Duan Xinrong had met a professional kidnapper. Yuxi thought that Duan Xinrong was very lucky. If it weren’t for Yun Qing’s rescue, she was afraid that they would not know where Duan Xinrong would be sold by the kidnapper. Even if she could be saved in the future, her reputation was already ruined for a lifetime.

The Duan family soon arrived at the Han residence. Madam Duan wept when she saw Duan Xinrong. She almost died of fright when she learned that her daughter was missing.

Yuxi looked enviously at both the mother and daughter who wept bitterly in each other arms. Therefore, a child with a mother was treated like a treasure, while a child without a mother was treated just like a grass!

Madam Duan was too excited, that she lost control for a while. However, she was quick to realize that she was in someone else’s house. At that moment, she embarrassingly said, “I’ve just made myself become a joke in front of Madam.”

Qiu Shi kindly ordered people to fetch water for Madam Duan to clean her face. She then said with a smile, “What a joke? We all are mothers. Just now, when I knew that there was a disturbance at the lantern festival, I was scared out of my wits. Fortunately, the Bodhisattva has blessed us and that we are all safe.“ She knew Madam Duan, but they never mingled in the same circle, so they were not familiar with each other.

After properly making herself presentable, Madam Duan said, “Our family Xinrong, is really thankful to your family.” If her daughter had met some unexpected misfortune, she would not know how to continue living.

Qiu Shi naturally did not dare to take the credit, “It was the eldest grandson of the Yun family who saved her. Some of my children just lend their hands to him.”

Madam Duan was very grateful to all of them, even if some of them just lend their hands in helping her daughter out.

Duan Xinrong was frightened to death today. What she wanted the most right now was to return home, “Mother, I want to go home.” In other people’s homes, her heart would not be able to be free from anxiety.

Madam Duan looked at the frightened face of her daughter and felt very sorry for her. She hastily replied, “Okay, okay, we’re going home.” At that moment, she immediately took her leave from Qiu Shi and went back home.

It was already very late at the moment, so Qiu Shi did not retain Madam Duan from leaving. After seeing off Madam Duan and Duan Xinrong, she said to Yuxi, “The lantern festival is too dangerous for you to go again.”

Yuxi felt that if she was given the same chance again, she would still go. However, she knew the current affairs very well. At this time, she didn’t dare to refute, otherwise she would definitely be scolded.

The next day, Yuxi went to the main house to greet the Old Madam.

On her way there, she met Yuchen. Yuchen smiled and asked, “Fourth Sister, I heard from the maid that you and our Cousin Brothers had saved the young miss of the Right Imperial Censor family. Is this true?” The Right Imperial Censor of Capital Censorate worked as a supervisory officer, supervising officials of the imperial court. Although this position was not the position of a leader, they still had great powers.

Yuxi shook her head and told Yuchen the whole incident, “We were only helping out. We did not save anyone.”

The Old Madam was very satisfied with Yuxi’s initiative to bring the young miss of Duan family to their residence. Even if they did not directly saved her, but they also helped. Through this relationship, they could move a lot in the future. Although they were the family of Duke of the State, the title had little influence in the court. So, it was very good for the future of her youngest son to be able to get in touch with powerful officials of the ruling dynasty. “In the future, you should go visit the young miss of the Duan family more often.”

How could Yuxi not know the Old Madam’s calculation? Of course, the real reason why she lend her hand last night was because she looked at Duan Xinrong’s extraordinary background and wanted more assistance for her future. The Old Madam’s proposal fell right onto her lap.

The Old Madam seldom saw Yuxi being so clever and obedient. As she was feeling quite happy, she rewarded Yuxi with a few clothings, jewelleries, some supplements and a set of four treasures of the study. The things that she took out of her hand were very valuable.

Yuxi didn’t feel anything as she received the gifts. Compared with the news obtained from Yuchen, all these were not enough for her to consider as valuables. Though, having some was much better than having none.

Out of the Old Madam’s courtyard, Yuxi went straight to the main courtyard. As soon as she arrived there, she heard that Duan family had sent a gratitude gifts.

When Yuxi entered the room, Duan family stewardess, with an apologetic face, said to Qiu Shi, “My Madam should have comes and thanked Madam personally, but my Young Miss has quite a fright yesterday and started to have a fever in the middle of the night. So, my Madam couldn’t walk away. Please don’t blame our Madam, Madam Duke.”

Qiu Shi said, “It’s just a matter of giving a hand. It’s very kind of Madam Duan to send such many gifts.”

What Yuxi didn’t expect was that Duan family had send gratitude gifts to her separately. When she went back to her courtyard and looked at the gifts piled up on the table, she smiled and ordered nearby maids, “Register all these things.” Turning around, she ordered Hongshan to ask her Third Brother for information regarding outside situation. Yesterday there were assassins, so today there must be a lot of talk in the streets and alleys.

Dali Temple

Image credites to 看一書 at kknews.cc (古代的大理寺和刑部有何區別，兩大刑獄機構那個權力更大?t, April 2nd, 2017)

Hongshan soon told Yuxi the news of her inquiry, “Miss, the Tenth Prince were nearly assassinated by assassins. The Emperor was very angry that he ordered the ministers of Dali Temple (Chinese old term for Supreme Court) to thoroughly investigate the case.”

Yuxi then asked, “What else?” This matter was bound to implicate many people.

Hongshan hesitated for a while before saying, “Now, there is rumour outside in the capital saying that the Sixtieth Prince had been assassinated and the one behind the assassination is the Crown Prince. Even General of South Garrison Residence unable to escape from being implicated.” General of South Garrison Residence was the residence of the Yan Family, the maternal family of the Empress and also a strong backer of the Crown Prince.

A corner of Yuxi’s mouth rose in mockery. The Crown Prince was not a fool. How could he vigorously send assassins to kill the Tenth Prince. The Ninth prince and the Tenth prince were both born by Imperial Consort Song, but the one the Emperor really fond of was the Ninth Prince, not the Tenth Prince. If the Crown Prince really wanted to kill someone, he should have killed the Ninth Prince, the Emperor’s heart. How could he have gone to great lengths to kill the Tenth Prince?

Hongshan asked anxiously, “Miss, do you still want to know more about the outside news?” She felt that Yuxi was too keen on things happened outside. She didn’t know for what reason a girl from the boudoir needed to know things outside. She was more worried that Yuxi’s behaviour would upset the Old Madam.

Yuxi felt that Hongshan was worrying too much and said, “I did nothing else other than just asking about the outside affairs. I’m sure Grandmother wouldn’t mind. Afterwards, you don’t need to inquire every day. Just go inquire once in three or five days.“

Hongshan nodded and said, “Okay.”

Yuxi waved Hongshan out, while she stayed sitted in a chair, thinking. From what she remembered, the Ninth Prince had an accident in her last life. Because of that, only Tenth Prince was able to be crowned on the throne. As for what accident befell on the Ninth Prince, she didn’t know. She always felt that she had lived in vain in her previous life. She knew nothing and did not understand everything. It was no wonder that she was bullied and killed by the Jiang family.

At the thought of Jiang family, Yuxi was in a bad mood again. She currently studied so hard so that she could get rid of the fate of marrying Jiang family in the future. However, she could not really get rid of the them because she still did not know why Jiang Hongjin married her. If she knew the reason, she could still be on guard, but she still had no idea. This kind of feeling was very bad. It was like a hanging sword on her head, which could fall any time, but she couldn’t avoid it, so she would be worried all day long.

Well, Yuxi sighed. What she could do now was to learn more useful things. At that time, she could still live even if she had to live outside.