Jing Wan seemingly heard the sound of Rui Qinwang grinding his teeth. She casted a glance at Jin Qinwang. Rather than living stuffily, currying favor with others in exchange for affection, one might as well live to one’s heart content, willfully and impulsively, suffocating others. ————–This living Enma can be considered to have reached the peak in this bit. Unfortunately, not that many people have the ability to live like him.
Just then, someone hastily rushed over, bringing two small sedan chairs, and without another word, directly knelt down and begged for forgiveness first. “Wangye, it’s all this old servant’s negligence, a moment’s carelessness, to think the people below would actually slight Luo Old Madam. This old servant is at fault, asking wangye to please punish.”
This one was Kunyi Palace’s chief eunuch, deeply trusted by the Empress. Li Hong Yi naturally won’t punish him, and just as he was about to say a few words to console him, unexpectedly, the living Enma opened his mouth once again, “Since that’s the case, then will just have this matter handed over to the Chief of the Inner Court[1] to investigate and handle. As someone from the Empress’s palace, doing something like slighting the madam of a high ranking official, do you think it can be excused by just a line of ‘a moment’s negligence and carelessness’? You all not being attentive in your work, never mind damaging the Empress’s reputation, she might even end up with a title of ‘loose in managing’. If she doesn’t have you all dismissed and replaced altogether, wouldn’t it be hard for the Empress to re-establish her prestige.”
“Li Hong Yuan, you……” Li Hong Yi looked as if he wanted to eat Li Hong Yuan alive.
“What, does eldest imperial brother have any complaint towards this prince? Or is it that this prince said something wrong?”
Jing Wan slightly raised her eyebrows. Should say, as expected of the living Enma, grabbing the weakness and directly stamping it death. Asking Rui Qinwang, these words, would he dare say? Dare to this brazenly offend the Empress? Even Le Cheng Emperor, often times, would still have to give the Empress some face, so even if someone from the Empress’s palace is at fault, they are still handed over to the Empress to take care of herself.
The chief eunuch of Kunyi Palace directly collapsed the ground paralyzed. He and the Chief of the Inner Court already had bad blood between them. This time, even if he doesn’t die, he would still have to shed a layer of skin. He really regretted. He shouldn’t have for the sake of some ‘benefits’, just freely allow the people below to backstab and scheme against each another. Of course, in the past, it’s not like this kind of thing never happened before, but as titled madams, they ultimately could only clench their teeth and persevere. And once they admit their ‘mistake’ on this side, the other side naturally won’t blurt out a word in front of their master. This kind of thing didn’t just happen in the Kunyi Palace either.
Unfortunately, of all people, he just had to encounter Jing Wan, this little ancestor, who because she heartached for her grandmother, stirred up a ruckus, disregarding the consequences. Then, falling into the living Enma’s hands, wasn’t that just completely tumbling down head first?
Kang Qinwang was furious, Rui Qinwang was happy, and Gong Qinwang, from beginning to end, pretended to be mute. They probably all thought that Li Hong Yuan was helping Noble Consort Su, but in reality, ‘to dare make this prince’s wife unhappy, just go die’. This was the real reason why.
Midway, they parted ways. The wangyes headed to see Le Cheng Emperor, while Jing Wan and Luo Old Madam directly headed towards Kunyi Palace. Presumably, this matter just now has already become known to quite a few people.
Speaking of which, there really were quite a few people in the Kunyi Palace. Never mind the few principal imperial consorts, there were even quite a few wangfeis from the imperial clan, and even a white-haired old wangye. It’s said that he’s even someone from Le Cheng Emperor’s grandfather’s generation.
The Empress was also one that was able to put down her status. After Jing Wan and Luo Old Madam bowed to her, she just directly expressed her apologies to Luo Old Madam. And towards something like her getting her chief eunuch replaced, she didn’t even bat an eye, not mentioning a word.
“You’re the Luo family’s third miss? Indeed a beautiful young lady.” The Empress gently smiled. Yet in the depths of her eyes, there was an astonishment not known to anyone. It can be said that ever since childhood, she has been raised to become the Empress, but on this young girl however was the cultivation and bearing that she’d only gotten after several years of being the Empress. And most importantly, this wasn’t fostered, but rather completely natural-born, and drawn out from the depths of her bones.
“Indeed so, this consort is also very fond of her.” Noble Consort Su smilingly opened her mouth. The corners of her eyes were completely open, charming as if made by the heavens, yet also carried a trace of valiance, causing her entire presence to be in full blast, not inferior in any respect compared to the Empress.
“So what if the noble personages wait a little? Were you the one that said these words?” The originally peaceful scene was shattered by this one line.
Jing Wan followed the voice and looked over. Heh, really is a surprise, first time seeing this kind of natural-born ‘bitter madam’ face. The corners of her eyes and mouth were drooping downward, the corners of her eyes long filled with wrinkles, and her eyes also already muddy, yet she just happened to also have a seemingly just cried look. One could also enter the imperial family with this kind of appearance? “Indeed said by this subject.”
(T/N: I’m fairly convinced that’s just another way to say ‘resting bitch face’)
“Your guts are rather big.”
“Alright, the little miss momentarily got angry and spoke somewhat irresponsibly, that’s all. Besides, people like us are idle to begin with. The Emperor hasn’t finished up on the other side, and Cheng Jun-wangfei and her daughter haven’t entered the palace yet either, so isn’t it precisely not a problem to just wait a little? Already at such old age, what are you still bickering with a little girl for?” The white-haired old wangye opened his mouth. Quite a few of his teeth had already fallen out, so when he spoke the wind leaked through. However, his composed manner revealed his superb upbringing.
“The imperial family’s prestige can not………..”
“I said, enough.” The old wangye swept a glance at that old wangfei, letting her obediently shut up.
The others, whether it’d be the sister-in-laws[2] of the same generation, or the niece-in-laws of the younger generation, all disdainfully curled their lips. Even if one had the imperial family’s prestige hung on one’s mouth all day, the only one truly able to represent the imperial family’s prestige was just the Emperor alone. His sons and Empress perhaps could still occupy a bit of influence, but the others, whose relation to him was distant, were certainly not the case. If not for her still being considered as Le Cheng Emperor’s elder, would she have the qualifications to sit here? Keep dreaming. Mainly, it was still because the scandal caused by Li Ru Yu this time was too shameful, and upon learning this matter, they couldn’t not ask about it. But in reality, they just brought their ears to listen, where would they really be able to interfere.
Shortly after, Cheng Jun-wangfei and Li Ru Yu arrived.
Jing Wan took a glance at Li Ru Yu. Her complexion wasn’t too good, and her clothes weren’t the usually ostentatious red either. This was preparing to act pitiful?
Meeting Jing Wan’s gaze, “Little…….” The vulgar words subconsciously wanted to come out, but fortunately, she realized what kind of place this was, and forcibly swallowed them back. Looks like it really was ‘the rivers and mountains susceptible to change, but one’s inherent nature difficult to alter’. One beating really was too light.
However, in the moments after, Li Ru Yu was particularly well-behaved the whole time. Not behaving won’t do. After all, everyone present all had their line of sight on her, just like knives, wanting to have her sliced up alive. Such a young girl like Li Ru Yu wasn’t able to bear it, and began trembling uncontrollably.
“His Majesty has arrived.”
Li Ru Yu was immediately thrown to the side, as everyone all rose to go welcome the Emperor.
Le Cheng Emperor entered in large strides. Behind him followed the four that Jing Wan previously encountered, and also two wangyes from the previous generation, Cheng Junwang, Luo Pei Shan, and Chen Zheng Min. Chen Zheng Min, who walked in last after entering, immediately saw Jing Wan and secretly clenched his fist. Afterwards, he released his grip and retracted his gaze, lowering his eyes.
After Le Cheng Emperor sat down in the main seat, everyone uniformly kowtowed. Le Cheng Emperor hurriedly called for them to rise, first asking that great uncle, who had a somewhat hard time moving around, about his meals, clothes, necessities, and whether or not the servants were attentive in their care.
Jing Wan could tell, Le Cheng Emperor genuinely was concerned for his elder, and not putting on an act.
After a round of idle talk, Le Cheng Emperor shifted his gaze to Jing Wan, and after sizing her up, suddenly laughed in spit of himself, “Really can’t tell, your guts are quite big, and your temper also quite big. So you also know that by disrespecting the imperial clan, one will get beaten by the rod. Say, should this Emperor beat you, or not beat you?”
“To beat or not, all based on your Majesty’s one word.” You’re the boss, you have the final say in everything.
“This emperor asked you, yet you threw it back to this emperor. However, seeing that you previously dared to say ‘if twenty is not enough, then add twenty more’, then presumably, you’re not afraid of getting beat.”
“Your Majesty, not afraid is one thing, but not wanting is another. This subject isn’t afraid of getting beat, but doesn’t want to get beat.”
“You’re even quite cunning. Considering that you’ve found for this emperor several great talents, this emperor won’t punish you.”
“Thank you, your Majesty.”
“Don’t be in a hurry to thank this emperor yet. This emperor is also seeing on behalf of your filial piety. This emperor previous also heard your grandfather say, when you were at Qi’an Fu, you personally tended to your grandmother the whole time, getting involved with everything. For you to be able to go this far at such a young age, truly is remarkable.”
“Since grandmother pampers this subject, protects this subject, treating this subject like pearl, like treasure, then this subject taking care of grandmother is all what one ought to do.”
“Then, according to you, if your grandmother doesn’t treat you well, you won’t be filial to her anymore?”
[1] Basically all the inner court attendants are eunuchs, they also have ranks and positions depending on their assigned duty. The Chief of Inner Court is basically the head eunuch in charge of all the domestic matters within the imperial palace.
[2] Zhouli – It does translate to sister-in-law but very specifically the wives of one’s husband’s brothers. So in this scenario it’s all the other wangfeis of that generation.
