While waiting for Li Ru Yu to speak, those with complicated and difficult describe feelings perhaps were far more than just two people.
For Luo Pei Shan, he really didn’t know that he nearly lost his old wife three years ago. He was always aware that he owed his old wife a considerable amount, and was also fortunate to have third girl, such a clever and lovable granddaughter, accompanying her the whole time, taking care of her, else…………In the future, need to be even better to his precious granddaughter. Not just because of his old wife, but just as that girl said, feelings go both ways. Moreover, this girl was one where if you are a bit good to her, then she will be good to you by tenfolds. On Luo Jing Bo’s matter, wasn’t that the best testament?
He also wanted to experience the feeling of being wholeheartedly cared for by his precious granddaughter. Thinking about it now, that year, when his parents passed away, and he had to observe mourning for them, why didn’t he properly get along with his dear granddaughter then? Why didn’t he ever think of sparing some more time to accompany his sick wife? However, speaking of this, it was also strange. According to his old wife, third girl was often at her side, but how come the times he’s seen her could be counted on one’s fingers? That shouldn’t be!
Li Hong Yuan also sunk into silence. Prior to Wan Wan entering the capital, he although in the later few years paid close attention to every little aspect of her life, but what the shadow guards reported back were just fragments. How could it contain the thoughts and feelings of the people involved. He believed himself to be a cold-hearted bastard, someone who has already seen through everything in his past life. He even questioned, if in his past life, Wan Wan didn’t die, and he was able to have his wish fulfilled in the end, then when his life repeated once more, he might still want to have Wan Wan as his wife, but he probably won’t have that deep of an obsession. But in reality, after hearing Luo Old Madam’s words, he feels his obsession would only be even deeper. He’s already said, in his past life, it was true that he was the final winner, but he won too tragically, with internal struggles and foreign aggression, spending many years to consolidate. But by the time the country stabilized, his body was already on the verge of death. If Wan Wan was at his side, she definitely would’ve also been constantly at his side, meticulously taking care of him, neither abandoning nor giving up. With ten years like one day, taking care of your heavily ill body, would you just give up on her once you obtain a healthy body? Of course not, you would only have her grasped even tighter in your palm, monopolizing all her love and care, too stingy to share even a tiny bit with others.
(T/N: Tbh I don’t really like translating 执念 as obsession all that much. It is the closest in meaning, but not exactly accurate. It’s sorta a word that fits between obsession and attachment, and pretty much a sliding scale depending on context. It’s a fairly neutral word, like soul, fate, etc. It’s often used to describe a departed soul’s attachment to the mortal world or regrets in life.)
The feelings Wan Wan stirred up in him far surpassed what he’d imagined. If in this life, he can’t fulfill his wish, he probably will really go crazy.
Moreover, he’d always thought that Noble Consort Su’s treatment towards him, aside from those one or two things, was all wholeheartedly sincere. But it was clear, this was not the case. True wholeheartedness definitely won’t have the various bad things mixed in.
As for the others present, especially those elderly old wangyes and old wangfeis, in the past, they always thought that their own family’s children were very filial, even showing off and flaunting about them outside from time to time. Fortunately, they’d never encountered anyone like Luo Old Madam, else, wasn’t that just waiting to be slapped in the face? All say ‘without comparison, there’s no distinction for good and bad’, and contrasting with Luo Old Madam’s words, they even begin to suspect whether or not those of the younger generation were putting on an act. And the most impactful line——–‘how can servants compare to one’s loved ones?’ Thinking back, how was this not correct. Being surrounded by servants, and being meticulously and attentively taken care of by the servants, you probably would still feel vexed, rarely having a smiling face. But if one’s loved ones accompanied by one’s side, then even if it was just very casually chatting, one would still feel pleased.
Those filial sons and filial grandchildren, as expected, not a single one was was truly diligent. Else, how could they not know what an elder truly wants. After doubting, they became somewhat angry, and after anger, they began envying again. How come they didn’t encounter such a good grandchild? This Luo Chen-shi’s life was a bit too good.
Thus, this bunch of living ancestors, after returning, just began nitpicking. In the past, everywhere was all good, but now, everywhere was all unpleasant to the eyes. Yet, these living ancestors just had to throw a tantrum too, unwilling to say where exactly their descendants were lacking in. In their mind, that other family’s granddaughter was all able to think of it, could it be that you all are made of wood, unable to think? They had each and every descendant burned from head to toe. Those that were genuinely filial, when being lectured, repeatedly begged for forgiveness, and those that really were just putting on an act, being suddenly caught off guard, all thought that they’d exposed themselves, and in a moment of carelessness, panicked, truly exposing themselves this time.
Just great, the treatment they wanted, they temporarily didn’t get, instead having these ‘insincere fake feelings’ blown out first. And for those that discovered they’d actually pampered a white-eyed wolf, they naturally were indescribably furious.
Jing Wan probably didn’t realize either that she’d inadvertently ‘screwed over’ that many people.
Returning to the present, Li Ru Yu stammered and stuttered for a long while, unable to speak properly. At the same time, Cheng Jun-wangfei’s heart was already like dead ashes after hearing Luo Old Madam’s words, and after Le Cheng Emperor spoke, she thoroughly went numb. That’s why, when Li Ru Yu looked towards her for help, she didn’t have any reaction.
“Ru Yu, you don’t need to look at your mother. His Majesty is asking you, just have everything explained clearly and thoroughly.” The Empress calmly spoke. There weren’t any harsh words or stern looks, but the women of the harem all knew, she has thoroughly given up on Li Ru Yu, completely not planning on extending a helping hand. They inwardly muttered in their hearts, as expected, she was a heartless one. However, if it was them, under this current state of affairs, they would also unhesitantly abandon Li Ru Yu. Just, unfortunately, they can’t use this matter to attack the Empress. However, the Empress can also be said to have suffered a great loss today.
Li Ru Yu’s tears began falling in streams.
Speaking of which, in the imperial harem, Le Cheng Emperor has seen plenty of women cry before, whether it be pitifully lovely, or like raindrops on a pear blossom, or obstinately feeling wronged. But those were all his women, and when he was in the mood, he would coax a few words. What did Li Ru Yu count as, merely just a tang-niece[1]. He was already busy with governmental affairs to begin with, but still had to come take care of this troublesome matter. Moreover, with Jing Wan, that jade pearl[2] in front, seeing Li Ru Yu like this now, he was even more annoyed. “Enough, if you don’t want to talk, this emperor can let you never speak again in the future.”
“It’s not my fault, it’s not my fault……..” Li Ru Yu cried as she repeated this line, and it was precisely this line that seemingly had herself convinced, “It’s all Luo Jing Wan that little slut’s fault, if not for her, big brother Lin wouldn’t not like me. She stole the person I like, so why can’t I steal her fiancee……….”
The more she spoke, the more she felt she was right, up until the end, where she even loudly roared out.
Everyone all looked to one another in dismay because of her.
Luo Old Madam’s complexion was deathly pale. She just thought that Wan Wan had dropped Li Ru Yu’s face, yet unexpectedly, it was actually for such a groundless ‘crime’.
“Wait, Ru Yu, who is the big brother Lin you speak of? There’s even a fourth person involved in this matter?”
“Your Majesty, Ru Yu is speaking of Yi Lin.” The Empress cleared up the confusion for Le Cheng Emperor.
“Luo family’s girl stole Yi Lin? What nonsense is this again?”
“Your Majesty, Ru Yu Junzhu is outright slandering. When this subject had just entered the capital, this subject took one’s granddaughters to Ding Duke Manor for a visit. Because third girl is one that has loved flowers to the point of obsession since young, while discussing flowers with her friends in the Ding Duke Manor, she was inadvertently heard by Scribe Sun. This one heard that Scribe Sun is also one that extremely loves plants and flowers, so probably because of this, said a few words. At the time, Ru Yu Junzhu was also shouting about beating and killing, not having the least bit of upbringing and decorum of a young lady. Ru Yu Junzhu insulted her first, and had also injured someone as well. My granddaughter, in a fit of anger, didn’t leave her any face. Ru Yu Junzhu, because of similar matters, has attacked quite of few young ladies before. Towards this behavior of hers, Scribe Sun has long bitterly detested, and voiced his thoughts on the spot, even if he had to leave home to become a monk, he still wouldn’t marry Ru Yu Junzhu as his wife. Yet unexpectedly, Ru Yu Junzhu instead had the responsibility blamed onto this subject’s granddaughter’s head, practically impervious to reason.” Luo Old Madam sharply glared at Li Ru Yu.
A young lady’s purity was greater than the heavens, how could one casually let someone damage it.
[1] Tang Niece – Hopefully people still remember that tang means relatives of the same surname. In this case, she’s called his tang niece because she’s not his direct niece (aka a daughter of his brother). Li Ru Yu’s father is probably Le Cheng Emperor’s tang brother (aka cousin of the same surname).
[2] Jade Pearl – Not sure if this term needs to be explained but it basically means Jing Wan is like a rare treasure in comparison.
T/N: My laptop is acting really weird lately, I legit have a heart-attack every time it freezes, it did crash once last year and I had all my data wiped. Super paranoid about losing my files again that I’ve been backing up my stuff every other day, I have way too many important files on here. I should probably look into a new one soon, but I’ve had this one for about 6 years now and I’m really attached to it ;;;v;;;)
