Even the usually proper and solemn Gong mama’s complexion changed like a color blending palette because of her words.
Miss, if you look for a husband according to your standards, you might as well never marry your entire life.
However, recalling a certain living Enma eyeing covetously, Gong mama suddenly very much wanted to know, whether or not he was able to do as miss said? If he is able to go this far for miss, then towards the things he’s done in the past, Gong mama can just let bygones be bygones. In fact, when he comes to find miss again, she can even make things easier for him.
For a man to be able to have a woman pampered to this degree, no matter how unsightly he is in other areas, in this aspect, he can’t be criticized. Of course, for those old-fashioned people that adhere to old ideas this was precisely unacceptable behavior, lacking in the principle of the husband[1].
Jing Wan merely had the modern version of the ‘three obeys and four virtues’[2], after eliminating some things that absolutely can’t exist here, then randomly mixing in some other things, some that perhaps sounded inconceivable and very improper, yet if you were to look into it, can’t find any fault in it either, all recited to Luo Jing Bo.
Luo Jing Bo, in this aspect, was actually still very pure, and for the most part, never touched upon these things before. On normal days, Luo Rong Yan also very much ‘neglected his duties’, so he never told him these things before. And precisely because of this, it was thus convenient for Jing Wan to brainwash him.
While his head was still spinning, he was dragged back to continue painting by Jing Wan again. Since it was to brainwash him, then naturally one time wasn’t enough.
Just like that, Luo Jing Bo was repeatedly tormented in both body and mind by Jing Wan.
By the time Luo Jing Bo left, his entire person was a little dispirited.
Everyone that saw him all looked to one another in dismay, what happened? It wasn’t appropriate for the servants to ask, but his old man naturally didn’t need to hold back.
Fortunately, Luo Jing Bo also knew that his younger sister’s words were a bit shocking to society, thus didn’t directly say it out loud, “Nothing, just this son doesn’t have anything presentable, so need to prepare something special at least as a betrothal gift, thus a bit tired.”
Luo Rong Yan couldn’t help laughing, “You brat, the person still hasn’t married in, yet you’re already this meticulous?”
“She’s my future wife, someone I’ll spend a lifetime with, so shouldn’t I be meticulous towards her?” Luo Jing Bo strangely asked back.
Luo Rong Yan never thought that one day his son would make him choke on his words.
That’s why, Jing Wan’s brainwashing still had that bit of an effect. At least there was one thing that he thoroughly remembered, that is the person that will spend a lifetime with you. Parents have their own days; they will gradually age and pass away. One’s children will gradually grow up, and either marry off, or take a wife, then give birth to their own children. Only a married couple are the ones that are together the longest time.
After Luo Jing Bo left, Gong mama looked to Jing Wan, wanting to speak but hesitated.
“I know what mama wants to say. On pair, all eternity, his heart only having me, and my heart also constantly thinking of him, this kind of life, I’ve never delusionally hoped for. I won’t go live out my life according to this kind of standard, and further won’t waste time on an impossible dream. I was just thinking, if there is such a pair by my side, and can live out this kind of life, then there’s nothing to regret.”
Actually, Gong mama was long aware that her miss was full of hope and expectations towards other people’s life, yet towards her own, she never placed too much hope. In this aspect, she always held a doubtful, cautious, and rational attitude.
Gong mama heartached for her, “Miss, don’t think like this, you will definitely be able to live that kind of life.”
Jing Wan smiled, but didn’t reply.
When Li Hong Yuan received Gong mama’s letter, “Turns out Wan Wan isn’t just a vinegar jar, that simple, even an especially greedy one. However, so what if things go as you wish?”
Have to say, while the Luo family was busy without an end, there were two other matters worth mentioning.
Ruan Rui Zhong had carried a pot of flower back home, carefully and cautiously taking care of it. Ruan Fang Fei felt it was strange and thus asked about it, learning its origins. Furthermore, for the first time, she heard her father praising another young lady, letting her have a taste of what’s it like to hear about ‘that other family’s child’. She really wanted to have her chopped up, and then watch the wild dogs have her swallowed bite by bite.
She stared at that flower, her expression dark. Lowly things will forever be lowly, where was it worth such meticulous care. When the Head Cabinet Minister is away, just pour a cup of hot water into the roots, and by tomorrow morning, it will probably have died.
On the other side was actually Sun Yi Jia’s dowry matter. Because the status of the person she was marrying differed greatly from the previous one like the heaven and earth, someone wanted to have her dowry reduced. And not just reduce by a little, but rather reduced to only one-tenth of the original. “Even if it’s just one-tenth, it’s still a lot more abundant than an ordinary young lady’s.” Sun Yi Bin explained. In his eyes, the things of the Ding Duke Manor were all his. To be able to give a completely useless younger sister one-tenth of dowry was already greater than the honors of heaven.
Sun Yi Lin coldly watched on, while the Ding Duchess directly had the teacup smashed at him. If not for him dodging in time, it would’ve smashed a hole into his head. “Sun Yi Bin, let me tell you, the dowry I prepared for Yi Jia, if you dare to touch a single thing, I will have all those disgusting things you’ve done all revealed to the public. Don’t tell me things like ‘family shames must not be aired out’ and whatnot, having such an unfilial son like you, what face do I still need! I rather want to see, when time comes, what will you rely on to become the heir, and based on what will you get the Ding Duke Manor?”
Sun Yi Bin’s complexion was pale, but this indeed was his weakness. He thought, based on his previous preparations, once he obtains his father’s memorandum requesting to confer him as the heir, he’ll be able to become the heir, legitimately taking hold of the Ding Duke Manor. But unexpectedly, after the memorandum was submitted, there wasn’t the slightest movement. And those patting their chest pledging to help him seize power all pulled back without exception. At that moment, he finally realized, he’d tore down relations with his family a little too early. Right now, he had no choice but to ‘refrain from shooting the rat for fear of breaking the vase’.
He angrily swung his sleeves and left. When he reached the door, he turned his head again and looked to Sun Yi Lin, “I’d underestimated you, however, let’s just wait and see. Hmph——-”
He thought that it was Sun Yi Lin playing tricks from within, letting Le Cheng Emperor not grant the request.
Sun Yi Lin didn’t pay him any attention. He will let his good eldest brother know, the true play has yet to start. Anything he does will all become increasingly unfavorable, and increasingly more people will leave him.
In reality, Sun Yi Jia’s dowry indeed needed to be deducted some. After all, some things can be taken into the imperial family, but weren’t suited to be taken into a court official’s family, and also, some of those rare treasures were passed down from their ancestors. Originally, they were forced to be given to Li Hong Yuan as compensation, but now, they naturally can’t be taken away. However, with just those that remained, it was still the amount that a Ding Duke Manor’s di daughter should have, and still very abundant. In the Ding Duke Manor’s rear court, don’t know how many people tore apart their handkerchiefs, and smashed a roomful of things. A disfigured and beauty-less girl marrying such a no family background, no status, and talentless nobody still gets such an extravagant dowry? Based on what, based on what, based on what………….
What was further irritating was that even the Ding Duke didn’t say anything.
In the following days, the Ding Duke Manor finished taking care of the final arrangements with the imperial family, and finally began walking the formal procedures with the Luo family.
For the selected gifts[3], the things were just those. Because it was the Ding Duke Manor, even if the Luo family prepared for the best as much as possible, it was still inevitable to get nitpicked. However, the Luo family was able to look into their hearts with no shame, and Sun Yi Jia didn’t mind either.
They exchanged the birthday cards, matched the eight characters, and obtained a true and honest ‘match made in heaven’.
As the time gradually crept closer, in another three four days, it was the spring metropolitan civil service exam. And the date set for sending the betrothal gifts to the Ding Duke Manor was precisely on the first day of the spring metropolitan civil service exam.
Luo Jing Bo had his grandfather as well as his father all invited to his younger sister’s Elegant Haitang Residence.
These days, aside from the times when he was needed, for instances, for trying on clothes and such, he had his head completely buried in the Elegant Haitang Residence. They only know that he was preparing a special betrothal gift. As for the specifics, they all didn’t know what he was doing exactly.
[1] I tried a lot of ways to translate this with more meaning to it but it all ended up sounding weird, so I’m stuck writing a footnote. The ‘principle’ mentioned here is referring to the ‘three principles and four virtues’ of Confucianism. The three principles, specifically, ‘the ruler guides the subject, father guides the son, and the husband guides the wife’. The line above is referring to the third principle, where the wife must obey the husband; it’s unacceptable for the husband to bend to the wife. Basically a lot of the sexist ideas in ancient times can be attributed to Confucius teachings.
[2] This is one of those nearly impossible to translate puns. So the original is ‘three obeys and four virtues’ [三(san)从(cong)四(shi)德(de)], meaning in ancient times, a woman must obey three people in her life, obey one’s father, obey one’s husband, and obey one’s son; the four virtues is explained in the Female Commandments book, you can look at footnotes in one of the earlier chapters for this, it’s too long to explain again, but you get the idea.
The modern version of this is what chinese women came up with for their boyfriends. Because how chinese characters are structures to make words it’s really easy to make puns. The three ‘obeys'[三从] are, to follow[跟从], to accompany[随从], and to listen/obey[听从]. All these three words have the character [从] in them, this character has multiple meanings depending on context.
The four ‘virtues'[四德] originally uses the [德] character meaning virtue, but the modern version uses the character [得(de)], which is pronounced the same but means ‘to get/to obtain’, but has other meanings when coupled with other characters. I couldn’t translate this so I just left it as ‘virtues’. The modern four ‘virtues’ are, need to remember[记得] birthdays, need to endure[忍得] when angry, need to be willing[舍得] to spend money, and need to understand[懂得] worries. There’s actually a lot more other demands too, but I already have a headache writing out this long footnote.
[3] See chapter 92 part 1 footnotes for details of this, back when Jing Wan got engaged. Footnotes for this chapter already too long.
