Leaving the Palace to Visit Grandmother (1)
Jing Wan absentmindedly waited for Li Hong Yuan’s reply, forcing herself to work up her spirit to deal with the various matter, while sending the imperial physician to the Luo Manor everyday.
This kind of movement naturally can’t be kept a secret. Knowing that Jing Wan and Luo Old Madam had deep feelings that no one can compare to, everyone all understood Jing Wan’s feelings. And when someone is in a bad mood, it’s best not to provoke. That’s why, the court officials also appeared much more cautious and timid, just fearing that they will anger Jing Wan. No matter how good of a temper someone has, there are still times where there is no rationality to speak of. When time comes, don’t know what will happen.
Even if handled urgently, Jing Wan still didn’t receive a reply until about twenty days to nearly a month later.
Li Hong Yuan didn’t waste any words this time. In his past life, calculating according to the current time, Luo Old Madam should still have about three more years left.
But, according to the imperial physician’s diagnosis, whether or not her grandmother can make it past this year is all very hard to say. Exactly why, why?
Afterwards, in the letters, it was mostly the things Gong Jiu wrote. Setting aside some of the professional wordings that Jing Wan didn’t understand, the rest she actually understood.
All in all, Luo Old Madam had once been ill for a very long time, even nearly not making it. Afterwards, although she survived, her foundation still weakened. For her to be pretty well all these years, how was it not necessarily because she was worried about Jing Wan. Now that her heart is at ease, it’s like as if that breath she has been holding is gradually beginning disperse. After dispersing, perhaps………..
This kind of situation, Gong Jiu expressed that he was also powerless to turn around.
There was a breath stuck in Jing Wan’s chest for a very very long time. Afterwards, her perfectly upright body became somewhat hunched, her expression all becoming dispirited along with.
“Your Highness….” Seeing Jing Wan like this, Gong mama and the others were all very worried.
“I’m fine.” Jing Wan waved her hand. “Mama, go make preparations, this empress will take a trip out of the palace tomorrow.”
Gong mama straightforwardly responded. Mu An rather wanted to dissuade, but the words at the tip of his tongue got swallowed back down.
Jing Wan leaving the palace, although it wasn’t deliberately kept a secret, there naturally won’t be any fanfare either.
Jing Wan switched into relatively simple clothes. She also didn’t plan on bringing the little crown prince.
Speaking of which, aside from that one time where Luo Old Madam, because of having gotten provoked by Head Minister Luo, specially entered the palace to play with the little crown prince, every time seeing the little crown prince, she seemingly all wasn’t particularly close. In the past, Jing Wan didn’t think anything of it, but thinking about it now, perhaps there was a reason. Probably, she was aware of her own situation, so didn’t want to be too close, because once the feelings were close, and she were to then leave, for the other person, it was very painful. The little crown prince was still small. Perhaps he didn’t understand the meaning of death, but towards people close to him, he certainly will constantly mention. She doesn’t know how much longer she can last. The older the child, the heavier the feelings of longing. Little children shouldn’t bear this kind of burden.
As for Jing Wan, when it comes to her feelings towards her descendants, more than half have been poured onto Jing Wan. Jing Wan right now wasn’t the same anymore. She was the empress governing the country, her ability to withstand extraordinary. Even if she were to pass away, she also won’t be able to grieve for long. And towards Jing Wan, she really was at ease.
This was enough.
TN: All
The little crown prince rather wanted to go with Jing Wan, but recalling her grandmother’s possible intentions, even if the other party was tearfully looking at her, she still heartlessly refused.
This tiny little child also knew how to be angry. The little crown prince expressed that he was very unhappy, not gonna look at imperial mother anymore.
Yet, in the end, Jing Wan just patted his head, having him given to Gong mama, and afterwards, directly left with Eunuch Mu.
Getting angry not only didn’t let him achieve his goal, he even got heartlessly ‘abandoned’ just like that. The little crown prince really was heartbroken, immediately beginning to bawl loudly. However, no matter how he cried, Jing Wan all won’t turn around. Not long after, the little crown prince just pitifully leaned against Gong mama’s shoulder.
Yu Zhong Qing led a squad of slightly disguised imperial guards, escorting Jing Wan to the Luo Manor. It wasn’t considered high-key, but it also wasn’t considered low-key.
After arriving at the Luo Manor, when the gatekeeper learned that her Highness the Empress had arrived, they were quite startled, not even having time to report, hurriedly opening the gate, while someone else ran towards the rear court to report, gasping for their breath as they ran. If on normal days, running like this, they would’ve long gotten reprimanded, but today’s situation was special. Before the person even appeared, their voice was heard first, “Her-her Highness the Empress has arrived——–”
Some of the mamas in the inner courtyard originally wanted to reprimanded, but upon hearing this, they also became startled. Where did they still have the mind to reprimand, quickly going to report.
For an empress to have come from the Luo family, the glory wasn’t just limited to the masters of the Luo family. The servants also felt that they very much had face, especially when going outside, their chins even lifting a few degrees higher. If not for the Luo family being strict, not allowing them to recklessly gossip outside, and if discovered, immediately get sold off without question, then don’t know how the servants will boast outside.
In the Luo Manor, the servants would occasionally reminisce how the empress was prior to marrying, but they still can only think about it inside, absolutely not daring to carelessly say anything.
Reasonably speaking, it wasn’t too possible for them to see the empress again in this lifetime, but who knew that she would actually appear outside the door suddenly. They were delighted, but further startled.
Originally, everyone of the Luo family should all come out to greet her, but Jing Wan simply didn’t have the patience to wait, directly climbing down the carriage, heading inside the Luo Manor in a rather quick pace.
They probably never thought that Jing Wan would act as such. The people along the way all hurriedly knelt down along the two sides, “Greetings your Highness.”
Jing Wan didn’t turn her head, and behind her, Mu An and Yu Zhong Qing tightly followed after her.
The people of the various branches were originally rushing towards the front gate, but after learning that Jing Wan went to the main courtyard, they immediately changed route.
Speaking of which, the various branches of the Luo family right now pretty much have guests everyday. Today also wasn’t an exception. When learning that the empress had arrived, they were both startled and happy. One has to know, the great majority of them didn’t have the qualifications to enter the palace. And now, to actually have this kind of opportunity to see the empress, even if just looking, they can still be excited for a very long time.
Don’t say something like they’d seen Jing Wan before in the past, how can that be the same? At least, when facing Jing Wan, the mentality was completely different.
Jing Wan reached the main building’s doorway, yet still didn’t see Luo Old Madam, her heart instantly tightening. Her grandmother was someone that very much abided by etiquette. If her body is still well, then it would be impossible for her to not come out to greet. It has just been a month, yet it was already difficult for her to walk?
“Greetings to your Highness.”
“Cut the useless talk, where’s grandmother? Quickly lead the way.” Jing Wan was fretful, her tone carrying impatience.
Prior to Jing Wan marrying, the servants already didn’t dare to slight her in the slightest, let alone now, hurriedly leading her in.
That night of the new year’s eve after returning from the outside, Jing Wan thought that it would be her last time entering this place. Just, unexpectedly, she once again entered this place, the time in between that short.
Jing Wan entered the room. Seeing her grandmother not lying in bed, instead leaning against the recliner, Jing Wan slightly relaxed a breath. “Grandmother.”
Luo Old Madam let the servant girl support her to get up, but Jing Wan hurriedly went forward. “Quickly sit. It’s merely just some empty etiquette, what is grandmother bothering with this for?”
Perhaps really not having the strength, Luo Old Madam indeed just sat back down, “Not going out to welcome, it’s already extremely inappropriate, how can……..”
“Grandmother saying this, is it deliberately wanting me to feel unwell? I didn’t come see you for the sake of giving you trouble.” Jing Wan’s eyes slightly reddened. The situation perhaps wasn’t as bad as she’d expected, but her hair for the most part was already all white. Last time when she entered the palace, it’d clearly just been half. The wrinkles on her face were also even more distinct. Moreover, it was already the fourth month, yet her clothes didn’t reduce in the slightest.
“Alright, grandmother won’t say anymore.” Luo Old Madam patted Jing Wan’s hand, her hand tremblingly lifting, perhaps wanting to touch Jing Wan’s face.
Jing Wan hurriedly grasped, sticking to her own face. The tears pooling in her eyes were increasingly obvious.
Luo Old Madam’s thumb wiped under Jing Wan’s eyes, “Wan Wan, grandmother’s dear grandchild, don’t cry. Grandmother really doesn’t have anymore regrets in this life. Even if dying, it’s also a joyous funeral, a joyous funeral. Grandmother doesn’t know how much longer one can live, but what one doesn’t want the most is for you to be sad over grandmother. Wan Wan probably doesn’t want grandmother to not be able to close one’s eyes in peace in the end, right?”
Jing Wan slightly shook her head, but she still had her tears forced back.
Luo Old Madam lightly smiled, “You leaving the palace is already against the rules, but since you’re already here, then just accompany grandmother for a chat.”
“Alright.”
The grandmother and granddaughter pair leaned together, just like many many times in the past.
Outside, the people of the other branches all rushed over. From top to bottom, not a single one was missing. In addition to the visiting guests, the courtyard outside was crowded to death.
However, they all got blocked outside by the imperial guards, not allowed to set foot inside.
Facing the cold-faced imperial guards, they naturally were scared. That’s why, they could only obediently wait. Leave? Don’t joke. With the empress present, if she doesn’t come out, then no one can leave. No matter how long, they all can only wait.
Speaking of which, the second branch’s guests today were Zhang-shi’s maiden family relatives.
Originally, being related to the empress, there more or less will be benefits, let alone being the empress’s maternal family, a very close blood relation. Just, the people of the Zhang family all weren’t fit for officialdom. However, after Jing Wan became the empress, her maternal uncles and the others also rose with the tides. Regardless of what they did, there will always be people flattering them. It was impossible to not be well. And those cousins of hers, even if not close with them, not having even met much, their future prospects were also even broader. Everything else aside, aside from the Luo family, the people that wanted to have marriage ties with the Zhang family also weren’t few. Some influential families were even willing to bring out their shu sons and daughters. For a time, they were also limitlessly well-off. However, this wasn’t the case for everyone. For example, Jing Wan’s maternal aunt’s family was just out of the question. To want to curry favor with Jing Wan, one must also avoid stepping on landmines, no? The matters in the past, it was very easy to dig out again.
They’d once angered Jing Wan and even got driven out by the Luo family. If not for Zhang-shi being soft-hearted, they won’t even have the opportunity to visit again. As such, even if her Highness had forgotten, there still won’t be anyone willing to get involved with this family. That’s why, they not only didn’t rise with the tides, their days were instead increasingly unsmooth. Afterwards, the ‘family feud’ that broke out because of this also became increasingly intense. Jing Wan’s maternal uncle-in-law blamed his wife and daughter for ruining things, frequently cursing and beating, but this mother and daughter pair also wasn’t weak, similarly biting back when angered. In their eyes, it was completely that younger sister-in-law’s fault. If not for her attempting to seduce his Majesty when he was still Jin Qinwang, then how could they have ended up as such.
And Jing Wan’s maternal uncle-in-law, in the past, perhaps doted on that younger sister, but now, it was also hating that he can’t strangle her to death.
All in all, it was just chaos everyday, a complete mess. And today, they also just happened to be present. No matter what, they didn’t want to let go of the opportunity to turn around Jing Wan’s impression of them.
