The Noble Woman’s Guide On How to Tease One’s Husband

The Noble Woman’s Guide On How to Tease One’s Husband – Chapter 66

Translated by: Oinkoink

Proofread by: SilkScreen

Chapter 66 – Troops Provisions

This novel is only hosted on Foxaholic, copies found elsewhere are either stolen or plagiarized.

Since the feast had ended and it was still early, after coaxing Ye Huaiyang to sleep Chu Jinglan came out to the courtyard where Ye Huailing and Pei Yuanshu were having a great time setting off fireworks in the open ground while Ye Huaixin seemingly sat comfortably and watched them from the octagonal pavilion, with a pot of infused tea and a hot charcoal stove.

Lifting the hem of his robe, Chu Jinglan sat next to Ye Huaixin and poured himself a cup of Penglai xianhao. Before the cup reached his mouth, he heard Ye Huaixin asked, “Brother-in-law, is Elder Sister asleep?”

“Asleep.” He placed the small jade cup back on the round marble table after taking a sip of tea, “Has she always had such a low alcohol tolerance?”

“It used to be much worse.” Reminiscing the amusing incident of the past, Ye Huaixin could not help laughing, “Once when she was a child, she became inebriated after mistakenly taking a small sip of the aged wine at home and somehow broke the pledge-love token that our father gave to mother. When Elder Brother found out later, he asked me to bring her back to the room and took a mouthful of wine himself before going to apologize to our father with the things in hand.”

“What happened afterwards?”

“Afterwards, Elder Brother was reprimanded severely by our father and punished by protracted kneeling in the ancestral hall. What could be done as our mother is father’s beloved and he has always been unforgiving over matters that relate to our mother. When Elder Sister woke up later, she did not remember what happened but hearing from the servants that Elder Brother had been punished, she sneaked into the ancestral hall in the middle of the night to bring him food with her head and face covered in dust and even had her palms and knees scraped. Seeing that, Elder Brother felt so distressed and asked her to go back hastily but she said it was cold in the ancestral hall and afraid that Elder Brother was suffering alone so she insisted to stay behind to accompany him. She then hugged him and refused to let go. When our mother got there the next day, she saw her nestling within Elder Brother’s clothes sleeping soundly and drooling everywhere.”

At this point, even Chu Jinglan could not hide his merriment and his usual cold stern face looked particularly gentle under the shadow of fragmented glow.
“How old was Yang’er then?”

“Only seven.” Ye Huaixin slightly unfurled his face, revealing a maturity that does not match his age, “Speaking of which, her abrupt temperament can be discerned since then. It’s just that the more she grew up, the more introverted she became that we didn’t see it. So, in Elder Brother’s mind, she has always been that adorable and caring baby sister. When she started to wade in the muddy waters* of Wangdu and insisted on marrying you, one could well imagine how shocked and enraged Elder Brother is.”

[T/N: 搅动一滩浑水 (Jiǎodòng yī tān hún shuǐ) – metaphor for intervene/participate in complicated and tumultuous situation]

A huge firework unexpectedly cascaded one after another. Looking at those fragmented glints of gold and silver in the vast sky, Chu Jinglan did not continue the thread of conversation.

Ye Huaixin then spoke again, “Elder Brother might somewhat be blindly devoted but it’s not without rhymes or reason. He has been away all year round and does not know how many people have been killed by this parasitic government nor does he know that the prominent families have been reduced to be the executioner just for the sake of striving for fame and profit, even those like me who have stayed in Zhongshu for a year or so could just sigh.”

Turning his head to face him, the depth halos of Chu Jinglan’s eyes overlapped with the insightful implication as he asked, “Why can’t you stay in Zhongshu Sheng* anymore?”

[T/N: Zhōng Shū Shěng (中书省) – Zhongshu Province is one of the three provinces in the central government system. It is mainly responsible for discussing the drafting of bills with the emperor/Central Secretariat]

“Can’t really say that, it’s just…” Hooking the corner of his lips, Ye Huaixin revealed a bitter smile, “Let’s talk about the new imperial edict this time, I’m unable to make sense of the whole situation.”

“Tell me about it.” Raising his hand, Chu Jinglan picked up the jade cup and slowly fiddled with the lid of the teacup as if he was ready for a long chat.

“The edict for reinstatement of the salt and iron levy was drafted by the teacher himself where afterwards, it was locked within the courtyard before it was handed over to the Imperial Study the next day. It stands to reason that no one other than him would know about it. One could see from the reaction of Wang Ying and Wang Jian at the banquet that night but Xie Yuan was different. Secretly, he did a lot of petty manoeuvre and now it seems that they were all aimed to seek the Governor of Jiangnan position for the Xie clan in the royal court. The inference is that the teacher must have revealed the news to him.”

As he talked about it, his face turned bleak, seemingly unable to believe Yue Ting would get involved with the Xie family nor does he understand the significance of him doing this. All at once, the astute Chu Jinglan could discern what he was thinking and asked lightly, “Do you think you have followed the wrong teacher?”

“No, I won’t jump to any presumption until I get the facts right, merely a little confused …”

“Even the royal court’s affairs will be such that many matters will not make sense to you, but first you have to know what you want. If you want to stand against the parasitic government, you must figure out their interests but if you merely assert to serve the common people then it actually does not matter whether they are privy to it or not. What’s important now is how to prevent this edict from reaching Jiangnan.”

The drifting warm vapor from the jade cup covered half of Chu Jinglan’s face yet the sharp words seemed to arrive piercing through the cloud of fog and besieged Ye Huaixin’s eardrums, making him clear-headed in a flash.

“What’s the point of asserting to serve the common people if the parasitic government is not reformed? Even if this was fended off but what about the next comeback. Overthrowing is the thorough fundamental solution.”

The corners of Chu Jinglan’s mouth curled up into a subtle arc as he spoke, “Then you need not care what your teacher has done. You have been an official in Zhongshu Sheng for more than a year and he has taught you all that you should learn. You just go your own way and if he gets in your way in the future, then there’s no harm for you to struggle again whether to fight against him.”

“He’s the confidant of the present monarch and will be bound to fight against me,” Ye Huaixin muttered to himself then looked immediately at Chu Jinglan, “Since I am yet to be expelled from Zhongshu Sheng like Yuanshu, is there anything Brother-in-law wants me to do?”

“You just stay well.” Chu Jinglan glanced at him as the smile on his lips gradually deepened, “You do know too that my wife is as fierce as a tiger.”

Ye Huaiyang was dumbfounded before bursting into laughter.

The gong for the hour hit lingshi (midnight) resounded from outside as countless fireworks and firecrackers simultaneously reverberated across Wangdu. The night northern wind is still as forceful as before yet it does not dissipate the happy and harmonious atmosphere in King Lan mansion. No matter if it’s the dancing with joy Ye Huailing or Chu Jinglan and Ye Huaixin who are both drinking and conversing in the octagonal pavilion or the soundly sleeping Ye Huaiyang, they are all immersed within the uninterrupted warmth of a small family tonight.

As the frigid winter left, shouldn’t the warm spring be not too far away?

The next day.

When Ye Huaiyang woke up, Chu Jinglan was no longer by her side while the underground heating was still burning profusely like before. Sitting up straight, she stared blankly for a long while before she suddenly felt something dangling around her neck and her eyes instantly brightened up once she pulled it out for a look.

“Yue’ya.”

Hearing Ye Huaiyang calling her, Yue’ya, who had been waiting outside for a long time, hurriedly came in with a water basin. After putting it down, she first performed a new year greeting then spoke with a genial smile, “Happy New Year, Young Miss. Are you getting up?”

Nodding her head, Ye Huaiyang asked, “Where’s Wangye?”

“Reporting to Young Miss, just now Wangye practiced his swordsmanship in the courtyard for a while then went to the study and has yet to come out.”

“Didn’t eat anything again?” Ye Huaiyang frowned slightly then barefooted, she immediately got off the bed and instructed while pulling the waterfall-like long hair up, “Go and let the kitchen make some yam porridge with golden silk pastry and eight-treasure pickles. Heat up two cups of milk, be quick.”

Complied by her instruction repeatedly, Yue’ya went to pass the message to other maidservants then came back to freshen Ye Huaiyang up.

Since it’s the beginning of New Year, it would be more suitable to dress beautifully than plain, so Yue’ya specially chose a peach blossom layered misty skirt for Ye Huaiyang, coupled with a white jade hairpin and ruby rose earrings which made her look peerlessly beautiful like the water lotus. Just as she was about to put her makeup on, a maidservant came to report that the meal was ready, so she waved Yue’ya’s hand away and hurried out to the study.

Passing through the winding corridor, the hem of her skirt got stained with some morning dew that turned the saturated peach color somewhat dark. She did not have time to pay any attention to it as she stretched out her hand to push open the pierce-carved door. In the dazzling morning light, that jade-like handsome man was sitting and writing before a table yet did not look up when he heard the movement as he merely spoke in a shallow voice, “Awake?”

“All day there are these governmental affairs, not even resting a little on the first day of New Year.”

Ye Huaiyang grumbled coquettishly then squeezed into his arms and sat together on the wooden armchair with him. In passing, he roped her waist as the orb of his eyes that held specks of brilliance shifted and met her eyes, revealing a little hints of unrepressed joy.

“The news just came from Yanzhou, Zhenghe has woken up.”

“Really?” Ye Huaiyang’s demeanor was unrestrained too as she exclaimed excitedly, “This is indeed worthy to be called the big gift for the New Year!”

Looking at her appearing happier than himself, Chu Jinglan’s eyes became more subtle but before he could say anything, the maidservants filed in with breakfast. It was all the dishes Ye Huaiyang ordered moments ago, which were all plated in the ice-patterned china wares and arranged neatly on the side table.

“Since there is a joyous event, you can no longer read it with a hungry tummy. I’ve asked them to cook some yam porridge that nourishes the stomach. Won’t you just try some?”

She had asked Lu Heng before, Chu Jinglan had used some acute medicine that harmed his stomach when he was seriously injured six years ago, hence he has never eaten much but being like this is eventually not good. So, she thought of methods to get some nutritious and appetizing food for him to eat. He couldn’t resist her acting coquettishly and accepted all without question. Just like today, he just allowed her to pull him to the side table and slowly ate those stuff that he usually doesn’t touch.

Beaming with a smile, Ye Huaiyang watched him eat and subsequently bit a piece of pastry then asked after she swallowed it, “Are you writing back to Zhenghe just now?”

Chu Jinglan nodded, “He has yet to recover from his severe injuries and can’t get out of bed for the time being. Previously, the provisions and funds for the Shen-ce Army were personally supervised by him but now it’s probably delayed. I intended to transfer some over from elsewhere and let him know in advance.”

“That’s not a small amount…“ Ye Huaiyang unconsciously and secretly calculated, “Ye family still has some properties in Northern Land. If we can get rid of it as soon as possible, at most, there should be no problem for the first half of the year …”

Chu Jinglan chuckled lightly, “You should keep those little silvers for yourself.”

“Yi, Wangye really talks big. Is it possible that you hide some private stash behind this Wangfei? Quick, confess then you won’t be killed.”

The jade-like slender hand pinched Chu Jinglan’s earlobe yet due to the satiny tactile impression, she began kneading it. Chu Jinglan yanked her hand down and held it in his palm, “Emperor Father once bestowed me a gold mine.”

A slight gasp resounded, “Gold~gold mine?”

“Just mined one or two tenth and are still excavating.” Raising his dashing eyebrows, Chu Jinglan looked slantingly at her, “Even Consort Mother didn’t know about this. This King has confessed everything, so not sure if Wangfei is still unsatisfied?”

The Wangfei, who was in charge of the finance nodded like chicken pecking rice and said, “Um, satisfied. If Wangye can clearly state the location of the gold mine and specify the income figures, this Wangfei will be even more satisfied.”

“Why not? To ask for Wangfei’s help, these things must be taken out anyway.”

Raising her head suddenly, Ye Huaiyang looked at Chu Jinglan who had a vague smile on his face and eyes flooded with golden rays.

He never let her get involved in these matters yet today he not only took the initiative to mention it but even allowed her to help. As such, is she finally useful after rubbing her fists and palms for such a long time?

Ye Huaiyang could not hide her excitement as she propped her chin up and questioned closely, “What can I do for you?”

Pulling out a handkerchief, Chu Jinglan helped her wipe away the milk at the corner of her mouth and lightly opened his thin lips then spat out two words, “Transport money.”

If you like my translation, do leave a comment or buy me

Thank you for your support!