BMN : Chapter 16

The next morning, Lady Wang got up early and, hearing that Jin Yi had stayed in Zhao Yan’s room the previous night, decided to visit him with two maids.

When she arrived, the father and son had just finished washing up. After exchanging greetings, Lady Wang said to Jin Yi, “Now that the weather is warming up, the winter quilts might be too thick. I’m worried that Zhao Yan might not sleep comfortably, so I came to check if the maids have changed them.”

Jin Yi responded, “It’s not too thick. I felt it was just right last night.”

Zhao Yan added, “They’ve already been changed. A few days ago, Uncle Ming told Sister Liu Xing to help me switch them out.”

“Good that they’ve been changed,” Lady Wang said with a smile. She then asked, “Are you going to have breakfast with the Old Madam?”

“I’ll go there later for lunch.”

Lady Wang was pleased. “If you don’t mind, would you come to my place for breakfast? I simmered a seafood porridge overnight, and fresh vegetable sprouts are ready.”

After a moment of thought, Jin Yi agreed. Zhao Yan, however, was going to the Old Madam’s place. As he left, he told his father, “Daddy, come to our place early!”

Jin Yi and Lady Wang arrived at her residence, and the porridge and dishes were laid out. As Lady Wang attentively served him, Jin Yi said, “No need to fuss; I’m used to eating on my own in the military.”

Lady Wang then sat down to accompany him. After a few sips of porridge, she tentatively asked, “Are you not upset with me for donating to the relief efforts for Tanshou at the invitation of the Seventh Princess?”

Jin Yi replied, “Why would I be upset about that?”

Lady Wang put down her bowl and sighed, looking somewhat sorrowful. “Because of this, I’ve offended many in the household.”

“How so?”

Lady Wang, with her silver tongue, recounted her previous conversation with the Old Madam, adding and omitting details to emphasize her version. Jin Yi frowned as he listened. When she finished, he said, “The Old Madam is not unreasonable. You can discuss things with her.”

Unsure of Jin Yi’s exact thoughts, Lady Wang felt uneasy. She quickly changed the subject, saying, “The household had to be frugal for the donations. I reduced my own allowance significantly, but Ming Gongzi…”

“What about him?” Jin Yi stopped eating.

Lady Wang explained, “Before the new year, a man came claiming to be your friend and asked for a loan of thirty thousand taels. Ming Gongzi came to me for the money, but I hesitated. Firstly, it was a large sum, and secondly, this Lord Fan rarely interacts with our household, so who knows what kind of person he is…”

Lord Fan? Could it be Fan Zhi? Jin Yi thought back to the banquet the previous night. Fan Zhi had come to toast him and thank him, which Jin Yi had attributed to Fan Zhi’s sense of duty. It seemed there was more to the story.

Thinking of this, Jin Yi asked, “How was the matter resolved?”

Lady Wang responded, “I refused to give the money, and Ming Gongzi insisted that Lord Fan was a close friend of yours. He even scolded me. He’s the legitimate spouse, and I shouldn’t oppose him, but since the Old Madam entrusted me with managing the household, I had to prioritize the common good, even if it meant offending Ming Gongzi. I didn’t give him the money. I’ve heard that he used his dowry. The dowry we sent over was much larger than what they brought back. Although the dowry belongs to Ming Gongzi, it’s still under your control. For him to lend such a large amount without your consent…”

Jin Yi lost his appetite. “I understand now. You don’t need to say more. I’m full; you can continue eating.”

With that, Jin Yi got up and left.

In Fangmanting, Fu Ming was reading a popular street newspaper. These newspapers, compiled with a mix of truth and fabrication by seemingly well-connected individuals, were sold out each morning in no time.

Today’s paper featured several pieces about Jin Yi’s return to court the previous day. It included a detailed account of what the emperor said at the banquet and Jin Yi’s responses, written as if it were an official report. It also contained the poem recited by the Crown Prince.

After reading, Fu Ming concluded that the poem likely came from the Crown Prince himself. The Crown Prince was known for his literary talent, proficient in poetry, lyrics, and prose. He had once published a collection called “A Collection of Winds,” which was quite popular among the public. Fu Ming had read it and was familiar with the Crown Prince’s style. The poem’s quality suggested it wasn’t just some scribbler’s work.

A poem to honor the returning army was natural. But upon closer reading, Fu Ming couldn’t help but laugh out loud at the poem’s deeper meaning.

Jin Yi, entering the room, caught Fu Ming’s laughter and asked, “What’s so funny?”

Fu Ming hurriedly put down the newspaper and greeted him, explaining, “I was just reading the Crown Prince’s poem from last night.” He handed the paper to Jin Yi.

Jin Yi skimmed through it and remarked, “Yes, this is the poem the Crown Prince recited. Is there something wrong with it?”

Though Jin Yi had a remarkable memory, he was not one for deeper literary analysis. Fu Ming explained, “On the surface, it appears to be a straightforward ode, but the Crown Prince’s subtle use of historical allusions carries a hidden meaning that might not be obvious at first glance.”

“Oh? How so?”

Fu Ming elaborated, “The poem uses the Han dynasty’s Emperor Wu as a metaphor for our current emperor, and likens you to Huo Qubing and Wei Qing. But while the poem seems to praise a harmonious ruler and his generals, the choice of figures suggests a critical undertone. It subtly alludes to Emperor Wu’s decree of self-reproach and the early deaths of his generals, hinting that military prowess isn’t a suitable means of governance and that military men are inherently destructive.”

Jin Yi, thoughtful, replied, “The Crown Prince has always favored literature over martial affairs, so this isn’t surprising.”

Fu Ming nodded, “I shouldn’t be discussing court matters; it’s beyond my place.” Jin Yi shook his head, then shifted the conversation, asking about the money borrowed by Fan Zhi.

“Was it your own funds that were used?”

“Yes,” Fu Ming replied, “The household has its rules, so I had to do it this way.”

Jin Yi, sensing Fu Ming’s reluctance to delve into the details, didn’t press further. He simply inquired whether the loan had been repaid.

“It was all returned a few days ago.”

Jin Yi nodded, “Lord Fan is indeed a man of his word. Thank you for handling this.”

Fu Ming shook his head with a smile, “It was my duty.”

Jin Yi, feeling a stir of emotion, pondered the implications of Fu Ming’s actions. Why would he say it was his duty to help Jin Yi’s friend? If Jin Yi truly regarded Fu Ming as a close family member, this statement would seem appropriate. But reflecting on the past, how much had Jin Yi done to deserve such loyalty? How had Fu Ming conducted himself since joining the household?

Lost in thought, Jin Yi recalled countless moments he’d overlooked.

“Master?”

Fu Ming’s soft voice brought Jin Yi back to the present. Seeing the anxiety in Fu Ming’s eyes, Jin Yi instinctively reached out, gently brushing his hand across Fu Ming’s fair, handsome face. Fu Ming froze, barely breathing.

Jin Yi quickly withdrew his hand. “From now on, I will treat you well,” he promised before abruptly leaving, his stride somewhat unsteady.

Long after, Fu Ming raised a hand to his cheek, feeling the lingering warmth.

Given Jin Yi’s triumphant return, a banquet should have been prepared, but the Old Madam knew her grandson disliked crowds. To her, a meal with just the close family was the most heartwarming experience.

As Jin Yi took his seat, he noted the presence of the Old Madam, Ranlan, and Zhao Yan—all blood relatives. But Fu Ming was absent.

The Old Madam’s exclusion of Fu Ming—was it because she didn’t acknowledge him, didn’t like him, or because of Jin Yi? Did she think Jin Yi still didn’t regard Fu Ming as his spouse, thus excluding him from such gatherings?

Seeing Jin Yi distracted, the Old Madam asked, “Changjie, are the dishes not to your taste? Or is there something pressing on your mind?”

Jin Yi shook his head, pushing aside his thoughts, and joined the family in enjoying the reunion.

After the meal, as they drank tea, the Old Madam brought up the issue of Lady Wang’s previous deductions from the servants’ wages. “She’s getting older and more ambitious. She must have spoken to you about this; be discerning about what to believe and what not to.”

Jin Yi nodded, “You’re right, Grandmother. I understand.” He then mentioned Fan Zhi’s request for a loan.

The Old Madam frowned, “I wasn’t aware of this.”

“Since Lady Wang is currently managing the household, Ming probably felt it inappropriate to approach you directly. Besides, Lord Fan’s situation was urgent and couldn’t wait.”

The Old Madam sighed, “Wang Yiniang was once clever and loyal to you. I trusted her, given my declining health, and let her manage the household. But she’s become increasingly improper, making decisions on her own and acting short-sightedly, engaging in actions unbecoming of the household. It seems it’s time to relieve her of these duties.”

Jin Yi agreed, “I believe so. Though it’s an internal matter, it has broad implications. We can’t let her continue in this manner.”

“Who do you think should take over managing the household? I’m too old, and my strength is waning.”

Jin Yi replied, “Ranlan is growing up. She’ll need these skills when she marries, so perhaps we should train her.”

The Old Madam smiled approvingly, “You’re a considerate brother. I’ve been thinking the same. But since she’ll eventually marry out, we’ll need to train someone else as well.”

“Do you have someone in mind?”

“Yes,” the Old Madam said without revealing names. “What do you think? Who else would be suitable?”

Jin Yi deferred, “Your decision will be best.”

“Then let’s consider Xinyue. She’s sensible and doesn’t have many personal motives.”

Jin Yi was slightly surprised but agreed, “That’s a good choice. If she has a place in the household, I’ll feel reassured.”

“If you’re truly worried, you could elevate her status. Who could object? Si Rou entrusted her to you. Don’t you understand what that meant?”

“You know, Grandmother, Si Rou and I had planned to marry Xinyue to a friend of mine. After Si Rou passed, Xinyue refused to leave the household. I can’t force her… She wants to stay, so we provide for her and give her a place. That’s all we can do.”

“Fine, we’ll leave it at that,” the Old Madam said. “While you’ve been away, Ming has been attentive to me, Ranlan, and Zhao Yan. He’s a genuine person… You should consider that.”

Jin Yi nodded, “I understand.” After a moment, he added, “In the future, when you want to gather the family, perhaps you could include Xinyue and Ming.”

The Old Madam was taken aback, then smiled, “That would be nice, very nice.”

Rain : What the hell wrong with them entrusting women to that grown * man, can y’all please leave him alone ? 

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