LWSL Chapter 47

After Wu Ruo had given some instructions, Hei Xin brought him, Hei Gan, and a few bodyguards, as well as Wu Shi, Wu Bo, and Manager Yu, who had been captured, to the Wu estate.

When they arrived at the Wu estate, Hei Xin left Wu Shi, Wu Bo, and Manager Yu in the horse carriage. Then, he ordered four bodyguards to keep watch over them. Following that, he went together with Wu Ruo and the rest to Shuqing Garden.

Wu Qianqing and Guan Tong saw that Wu Ruo had brought so many people along, and couldn’t help being struck dumb: “Xiao-Ruo, this is…”

Wu Ruo looked at Hei Xin.

“This old one greets the Qinjia Master and Madam¹Two things in this one sentence/footnote. Again, Hei Xin is referring to himself as 老奴 (lao nu).



Second thing: Hei Xin is specifically referring to them as 亲家老爷 (qin jia lao ye) 亲家夫人 (qin jia fu ren) where we already know laoye is one of the ways to refer to a master of a family, and furen refers to the wife/spouse married into the family.



The difference is the qinjia prefix, which refers to them as in-laws of the Hei family. Master/Madam-in-law sounds ridiculous, but there’s really no other way to indicate this specific relation, so I’ve opted to simply leave the qinjia prefix where it’s been used by Hei Xin..” After he bowed to them, he took out the Dragon Bone Nail and Imprisoned Ghost Flute for Wu Qianqing and the rest to take a look at: “Has the Qinjia Master seen these two weapons before?”

Wu Qianqing looked at them closely, shaking his head: “No, I haven’t.”

“Are you sure you’ve never seen it before?”

“Absolutely sure.”

Hei Xin then said: “Would it be possible for Qinjia Master to let this old one take a look at the list of betrothal gifts we sent to Madam²Just to highlight, there’s no qinjia prefix here. Hei Xin is referring to Wu Ruo. that day?”

Wu Qianqing glanced at Wu Ruo, saw him nodding, so he instructed their head steward Wu Xu to take out the betrothal gift list.

Hei Xin received the list. Abruptly, he narrowed his gaze. Although he had already heard from Shi You before about the Wu family having privately taken some of the betrothal gifts but he hadn’t thought that the gifts would be reduced by so much. In addition, a portion of the betrothal gifts had been switched out by someone.

“I’ll have to trouble Qinjia Master and Qinjia Madam to go meet your Wu family’s head of house with this old one.”

“Is there something wrong with the betrothal gift list?” As Wu Qianqing asked him this, he glanced at Wu Ruo, who had remained silent the whole time.

Hei Xin returned the betrothal gift list to Wu Qianqing, letting him carry it with him: “Once we meet the family head, this old one will explain everything.”

Wu Qianqing saw Hei Xin’s cautious expression, and nodded his head, leaving Shuqing Garden together with Guan Tong, Hei Xin, and the rest.

On the way there, Hei Xin asked Wu Qianqing to find some servants to inform Wu Xuanran, Wu Qianjing and the rest, as well as their wives, to make a trip to Bojin Garden.

When Wu Bofang, who was just preparing to take his afternoon break, got news about Hei Xin’s arrival, he couldn’t just carelessly refuse to meet him. After all, Wu Chenzi had told him to treat the people of the Hei family hospitably.

When he arrived at the main hall and saw that Hei Xin had gathered a whole group of people, standing in the center of the main hall, an uneasy premonition immediately planted itself in his heart.

Wu Bofang smiled as he entered the main hall: “Head Steward Hei, I’m honored by your presence in my humble abode. What matter could there be that would trouble you to personally come down to look for this old man³In contrast to Hei Xin, Wu Bofang refers to himself as 老夫 (lao fu). It’s basically a term used by old men to refer to themselves. He’s also speaking pretty politely towards Hei Xin. Although Hei Xin is technically a ‘servant’, he’s pretty much the highest-ranked servant within the Hei household, kind of like the head butler.



For regular non-urgent/unimportant matters, it’s more common to send a regular low-ranked servant to pass on a message. Hei Xin oversees much of the household management, so it wouldn’t make sense for him to tear himself away from that just to deliver a message that’s of little consequence.



The fact that Hei Xin has shown up means the matter is important enough that he would set aside his household management duties to make his way to the Wu estate. And to do that he would need permission from the head of house A.K.A Hei Xuanyi (either direct permission/instructions from Xuanyi, or the matter being something that Xuanyi has told him is important enough that Hei Xin must handle it personally and not leave it to a low-ranked servant).



Essentially, Hei Xin personally appearing is a sign that the matter is huge because he is representing the Hei family and/or Hei Xuanyi when he shows up.?”

Hei Xin politely bowed to Wu Bofang before he said: “Clan Leader Wu, when everyone has arrived, I will explain my purpose for coming in detail.”

Wu Bofang raised an eyebrow: “There are still others on their way?”

“Yes, sir.”

Wu Bofang invited them to sit down.

Hei Xin was a servant and wouldn’t forget his status just because Wu Bofang had treated him like an equal. He stood respectfully by Wu Ruo’s side.

Wu Bofang took the opportunity before the others arrived, and gazed at Wu Qianqing, Wu Ruo, and the rest, inquiring about the reason for Hei Xin’s visit.

Both father and son shook their heads minutely, indicating that they didn’t know.

After not much time had passed, Wu Xuanran, Wu Qianjing, Wu Qianli arrived at Bojin Garden along with their wives. Even Wu Qianbin and Wu Qiantong, who had gone out early for an inspection, had hurriedly rushed back.

When they saw Hei Xin, Wu Qianqing, and the rest of them all at the main hall, they were dumbstruck.

Hei Xin smiled slightly: “Clan Leader Wu, everyone has arrived.”

Wu Bofang asked amiably: “So Head Steward Hei can tell us the reason for your visit now?”

“Before I speak of my reason for visiting, I have something I would like everyone to see.” Hei Xin took out the two weapons, the Dragon Bone Nail and the Imprisoned Ghost Flute, and placed them on the table: “I wonder if all of you recognise these two weapons?”

When Wu Qianbin, Wu Qiantong and their wives saw these weapons, they were shocked in their hearts and almost jumped up from their seats.

Weren’t these the weapons that they had stolen from Wu Ruo’s betrothal gifts? How come they were in Hei Xin’s hands?

The others all had the same blank expression as they looked at the weapons on the table.

Wu Bofang’s eyebrows twisted: “This is…”

• 1
  Two things in this one sentence/footnote. Again, Hei Xin is referring to himself as 老奴 (lao nu).
  
  
  
  Second thing: Hei Xin is specifically referring to them as 亲家老爷 (qin jia lao ye) 亲家夫人 (qin jia fu ren) where we already know laoye is one of the ways to refer to a master of a family, and furen refers to the wife/spouse married into the family.
  
  
  
  The difference is the qinjia prefix, which refers to them as in-laws of the Hei family. Master/Madam-in-law sounds ridiculous, but there’s really no other way to indicate this specific relation, so I’ve opted to simply leave the qinjia prefix where it’s been used by Hei Xin.
• 2
  Just to highlight, there’s no qinjia prefix here. Hei Xin is referring to Wu Ruo.
• 3
  In contrast to Hei Xin, Wu Bofang refers to himself as 老夫 (lao fu). It’s basically a term used by old men to refer to themselves. He’s also speaking pretty politely towards Hei Xin. Although Hei Xin is technically a ‘servant’, he’s pretty much the highest-ranked servant within the Hei household, kind of like the head butler.
  
  
  
  For regular non-urgent/unimportant matters, it’s more common to send a regular low-ranked servant to pass on a message. Hei Xin oversees much of the household management, so it wouldn’t make sense for him to tear himself away from that just to deliver a message that’s of little consequence.
  
  
  
  The fact that Hei Xin has shown up means the matter is important enough that he would set aside his household management duties to make his way to the Wu estate. And to do that he would need permission from the head of house A.K.A Hei Xuanyi (either direct permission/instructions from Xuanyi, or the matter being something that Xuanyi has told him is important enough that Hei Xin must handle it personally and not leave it to a low-ranked servant).
  
  
  
  Essentially, Hei Xin personally appearing is a sign that the matter is huge because he is representing the Hei family and/or Hei Xuanyi when he shows up.