Higher Level Wife

Chapter 30: Uninvited Guests

Translated by Pill Bug

Edited by Gumihou

The Jin Family Tree for your reference

Madam Jiang nodded and frowned. Her voice was cold as she said, “So it is like that. Then you should certainly make a personal visit to Night Breeze Pavilion and find out what that woman is capable of.” Madam Jiang was disgusted to the core by that Fu Qiuning’s existence, that daughter-in-law who was used to humiliate the Marquisate of Jinxiang should have been divorced and thrown out long ago.

Huo’shi added from the side, “It is not certain that the woman has charmed him. From what Lord Husband implied, the two brats dropped by that laundry woman have grown up surprisingly well. Not long ago, the children were scolded by Lord Husband because of them. Naturally, we could not accept having our children be compared to those cheap goods but who knows why Lord Husband suddenly grew angry and headed straight to Night Breeze Pavilion.”

Madam Jiang frowned, “The two brats left behind by the laundry woman? Are they not dead yet?” She suddenly looked at Jiang Wanying and coldly snorted, “You go right now and take a look. If you see your Lord Husband there, have him come and see me. Humph, it’s better to divorce this kind of women as soon as possible.”

Relief could be felt among the wives and concubines of Jin Fengju. Jiang Wanying privately cheered, she was the most happy at this result. Though Concubine Xu and Concubine Huo were not entirely sure what to feel, when they thought of Jin Fengju criticising their beloved children and comparing their precious children to those cheap goods, they felt that it was better to be rid of Fu Qiuning and those brats that Jin Fengju seemed to favour.

“Lord Husband has gone to court and has not returned yet. It is unlikely that Lord Husband would visit that place until court has adjourned,” said Jiang Wanying with a smile. “I had intended to pay a visit today, but seeing how close the Dragon Boat Festival is and how I still have a few matters to consult with Madam, I have not made my way there yet…”

Not waiting for her to finish, Madam Jiang waved her hand and said, “Enough, there are still more than ten days before the Dragon Boat Festival, what is the hurry? You take a look at Night Breeze Pavilion first.”

She could not be blamed for being anxious. That Fu Qiuning had brought great disgrace to the Marquisate of Jinxiang on the day she married into the family. Casting her aside to fend for herself was already a huge concession on their side. Right now, if she was still not divorced but also received Jin Fengju’s favour, once word spread out, where should they place the face of the Marquisate of Jinxiang?

Who knows just how much ridicule they would receive from that father and son pair from Zhenjiang Palace and that Prince Hong. Even her own princely son-in-law might not be able to lift his head from sheer shame. [1] What’s more, that woman’s identity was just too sensitive. If Fengju really liked her, surely even Prince Rong would bear a shadow against the marquisate for favouring such a woman, right?

The more Madam Jiang thought about it, the more restless she became. In reality, she rarely meddled with her children’s affairs. All three were sensible, ambitious people with their own thoughts and plans and never caused her any trouble. Therefore, in everyone’s eyes, she was the gentlest, most agreeable person in the marquisate. However, not even she could brush this aside. Even if she risked angering her son, she was determined to urge Jin Fengju to divorce Fu Qiuning as soon as possible. As for those two bastards, they should just be sent to the farmstead as soon as possible. After all, they have grown up so there was no need for them to stay in the marquisate and add to her trouble. Each time she thought of their cheap slut of a mother, Madam Jiang’s annoyance bubbled up uncontrollably from her chest.

Enough about Madam Jiang and her private sulks. Let us look and see what Jiang Wanying has been up to now that she has Madam Jiang’s explicit order to storm Night Breeze Pavilion.

Jiang Wanying led a group of servants to Night Breeze Pavilion in high spirits. The moment she stepped past the courtyard door, a refreshing fragrance washed over her person. The scent was brought over by a gentle breeze. The light, refreshing scent gave her spirit a little jolt of vitality.

Confused, she looked around the courtyard uncertainly, taking in the large courtyard with its neat borders and beautifully trimmed trees. Flowers and trees flourished everywhere and appeared to be even more pleasing to the eye than her own courtyard. She could not help but hate it on sight.

Suddenly, she caught sight of two children running to the door. They suddenly skidded to a halt, as though frightened by the number of people at the door. The children immediately turned around and ran back towards the house. Jiang Wanying smiled coldly to herself and thought: Are these the two children Jin Fengju was so proud about? Pei! Look at them running about as though they have never seen the sky. What do ignorant brats like them have that is so praiseworthy?

Just then, a delicate and pretty young woman, followed by an older beautiful woman and a sharp looking maid came out. The two children ran up to snuggle by the sides of the first woman.

Jiang Wanying immediately recognised her as Fu Qiuning. She tilted up her head to look down her chin at this woman.

“Forgive me for being away from the group all these years, but this madam looks very familiar.” Fu Qiuning walked down the steps, stood opposite her and asked, neither humbly nor arrogantly.

“Are your eyes blind?!” seeing Fu Qiuning’s less than deferential attitude, Qiu Xia spat. “This is our Second Madam.”

“Second Madam?” Fu Qiu Ning frowned, “The cousin of the Young Marquis, who is now his wife?”

At Jiang Wanying’s cold snort of agreement, Fu Qiuning [2] could only privately scold Jin Fengju in her mind: You good-for-nothing plague bringer! You came twice on a whim and look! Just look what nuisance you brought to my door? Aren’t you the reason this weasel is now visiting my courtyard? What to do, ah? I can lower my head and keep out of sight but I will never let others trample over me, ah. What Second Madam? Want me to kneel before you? Better stop dreaming.

While Fu Qiuning was still busy trashing these ancient people and their customs, Qiu Xia noticed that this Fu Qiuning was still standing there quietly even after knowing that she was facing their Second Madam. She grew agitated, stamped her feet and shouted, “Have you no manners at all? How dare you not kneel in the presence of Second Madam?”

As soon as she was done speaking, Xu’Shi and Huo’shi [a], who were standing just behind her quickly lowered their heads and snickered quietly to themselves. However, neither said anything.

Sure enough, Fu Qiuning frowned slightly. Then, in an inquiring voice, she said, “Kneel? Whatever for? If I recall correctly, your madam is just a secondary wife, isn’t she? Although I did not receive the Young Marquis’ favour all these years, no one had brought news that the Young Marquis had divorced me or rescinded my title as Official Wife to someone else.” She smiled at Jiang Wanying, “Little sister, have you heard anything of the sort?”

Jiang Wanying almost choked on her mouthful of anger. However, she also knew that it was Qiu Xia’s unstoppable mouth that resulted in her loss at the opening move. She glared at her trusted maid, causing Qiu Xia to shrink back her neck in fright. However, still determined to win some face back for her mistress, Qiu Xia stiffened her neck and said, “So… so what of it? The Young Marquis has left you out in the cold for so many years, how could you be compared to our madam? Naturally, you should kneel before her.” [3]

“Nobility and peasantry must be separated [4], I dare not break the rules.” Fu Qiuning gave a little ‘hehe’ laugh [5], “I’ve never heard of such a statement. If the status of a person depends solely on a man’s favour, wouldn’t it be a mess? It might be fine within our Marquisate as I heard that the Young Marquis doted on the Second Madam very much, but what of other noble houses? With so many wives, concubines and lesser concubines running about all believing themselves to be most favoured, what would happen? Are you saying that the official wife should salute them just because of ‘favour’?”

Qiu Xia wanted to say more, but her mistress gave an angry, “Shut your mouth.” Jiang Wanying turned to Fu Qiuning, took several deep calming breaths before squeezing out a smile to say, “Elder sister, don’t listen to the servants and their wagging tongues. They are ignorant and don’t understand the big picture. It is this younger sister’s fault for not educating them well and showing a foolish side to elder sister.”

Although she said a lot of things to this effect, she did not make Qiu Xia apologise, nor did Fu Qiuning expect any from these people. What she wanted to know was why these women had come to her place.

[Gumihou: Awards Qiu Xia the plaque for ‘No.1 Hole Digger’]

Pill Bug TL Notes:

[1] The family tree is getting really big…

Gumihou: Which is why Gumi has taken the time to make the Jin Family Tree

[2] Clarified whose thoughts. The original text did not have her name, leading to much confusion on my first read when I thought it was Jiang Wanying’s thoughts.

[3] Wow Qiu Xia, 6 feet not deep enough? Trying to dig until bedrock?

[4] 尊卑有别 from the idiom 尊卑有别，长幼有序 which means: There should be a differentiation between the noble and the lowly, and there should be an order between the young and the old. Priority should be understood. AKA ‘Know your place!’

[5] 傅秋宁呵呵一笑 Author actually put in a ‘huh huh’ laugh there! Should I put in an Ojou’s ohohoho snooty laugh here?

Gumihou: ‘Gave a little hehe laugh’, although I’ve seen translators used ‘hehe-ed’

[a] Gumihou noted here: “Yue Lan? Shouldn’t it be Huo’shi? The second pair of the duo who always indulged in schadenfreude?”

Just put it as Huo’shi