Accompanying Luo Pei Shan was also the Right Commander-in-Chief, Shen Shu Han.
Because when the servants had reported to Luo Pei Shan, they still didn’t know the specifics yet, he rather wasn’t in a hurry to return, coming back around the same time as usual. Shen Shu Han, however, was different. Although he’d received the news much later than Luo Pei Shan, he who was unable to hold it together rushed over immediately. And the two of them more or less ran into one another outside the Luo Manor gates. Luo Pei Shan mockingly chuckled, “Right Commander-in-Chief’s family’s young miss, not bad, really not bad.”
How could Shen Shu Han not hear the mockery in Luo Pei Shan’s words, but he didn’t dare refute. One reason being that he knew he was in the wrong, and can’t help but weaken his stance, the second reason was that he had witnessed Luo Pei Shan’s impressiveness firsthand in court. If he dared to retort, perhaps he’ll be spat into a dog by Luo Pei Shan without even a word of obscenity. That’s why, the entire way in, he was all very cautious.
Speaking of which, Shen Shu Han was the same as his madam, calculating how much benefit they can fish up from the Ding Duke Manor. However, right now, settling Luo Pei Shan’s anger towards their Shen family was the most important. Compared to possibly becoming the target of this Sir Luo’s ‘attack’ in the future at anytime and anywhere, he’d rather not want those little benefits. For that unfilial daughter to do such a thing, it was suffocating to even think about.
As the saying goes, the men managed the outside, the women managed the inside. Reasonably speaking, this matter of marriage normally was all taken care of by the women of the inner manor. But once it involved the reputation of several families, as well as the issue of interests, and even the battle between factions, then this wasn’t something the women of the inner court can have the final say in.
In the wake of the two main master’s arrival, the atmosphere changed again. And from the looks of it, the Ding Duke Manor seemingly appears to be somewhat lacking.
“Madam, what sort of situation is this, why don’t you explain to this husband.” Luo Pei Shan spoke to Luo Old Madam.
Luo Old Madam first indicated for the manor’s doctor to check Miss Shen’s pulse. Afterwards, she roughly had the matter explained once through.
“So it’s like this.” Luo Pei Shan stroked his beard, his gaze somewhat meaningfully sweeping over the Ding Duchess, “Then there’s nothing left to say, just withdraw the engagement.” A straightforward and clear-cut final decision.
Never mind the other two families, even the people of the Luo family were all very astonished. After all, at most it was just Sun Yi Lin taking that Miss Shen as a concubine, and the Shen family offering an apology to the Luo family. It wouldn’t go as far as to affect Sun Yi Lin and Jing Wan’s marriage arrangements, right?
Aside from Luo Old Madam, who was still just quietly sitting there, among those that weren’t surprised in the slightest was also Sun Yi Lin. In reality, when he first heard of this matter, he already had this kind of premonition. How much the elders of the Luo family treasure Jing Wan, he was very clear.
The words his younger sister said to him, he remembered every single word, and the promise he gave out himself, he further wouldn’t forget. But, in just this short period of time, reality already ruthlessly gave him a slap.
Sun Yi Lin’s body staggered, don’t know whether his legs gave out or what, in any case, he directly knelt onto the ground, “Sir Luo, is there truly no way remedy this situation?”
No matter who, all was able to sense his pain and despair at this very moment.
The Ding Duchess practically was about to go crazy. Her son was a ‘proud son of the heavens’[1] since birth. And even when facing the Emperor, he was all neither servile nor overbearing. When has he ever been in such a sorry state like this before, to even lower himself, all because that little slut from the Luo family. Never mind him getting forced to break his bottom line again and again, he even put himself in such an unpresentable state countless times. The Ding Duchess went forward a few steps, angrily glowering at Luo Pei Shan as she hauled Sun Yi Lin’s arm, wanting to have him pulled up. “Isn’t your Luo family too intolerable?”
Luo Pei Shan mockingly laughed, but those eyes were as cold as ice, “So the Ding Duchess also know the phrase ‘too intolerable’.” When you were bullying my dear granddaughter, how come you didn’t think of this phrase? Right now, we didn’t even do anything to your son, yet already ‘too intolerable’, do you truly think the Luo family is easy to bully?
Sun Yi Lin brushed aside the Ding Duchess’s hand, “Sir Luo, I can leave the Ding Duke Manor, I can establish another family branch.” In reality, after hearing his younger sister’s words, he already thought of taking Jing Wan and live independently outside after marrying, just he didn’t think to go as far as to establishing another family branch, that serious of a degree. It can be seen, right now, he was coerced into desperation. Originally he thought, he still had two years time to plan this matter, but his happiness didn’t even last a full ten days before the heavens decided to thoroughly sever his path.
If Luo Pei Shan’s words made people astonished, then Sun Yi Lin’s words definitely were shocking. However, a majority of the people didn’t understand, how come this matter involved establishing a new family branch? And only a small number of people that had this matter seen through clearly knew just how desperate Sun Yi Lin has to be for him to be able to say these kinds of words. This time, he really did get buried alive by his own mother.
The Ding Duchess was further trembling in anger after hearing Sun Yi Lin’s words, raising her hand and giving him a slap, “Unfilial child, for the sake of a woman, you actually dare say such unfilial words. All these years, I’ve raised you for nothing.”
Sun Yi Lin turned his head, a trace of blood appearing on the corner of his mouth. It can be seen, just how hard the Ding Duchess’s angry slap was. However, he didn’t give the Ding Duchess even a single glance. This was his mother, otherwise……but precisely because she was his actual mother………….
Luo Pei Shan stared blankly, completely disregarding the Ding Duchess. Looking towards Sun Yi Lin, his gaze warmed up again, sighing, “Don’t say such foolish words. You should know, this is impossible, no one will allow it.” If he really were to do that, the Ding Duchess most likely will stir up a storm. Never mind third girl not having anymore peaceful days, the entire Luo family will all be in a great commotion. “You’re a good child, just………..” unfortunately, have such a burdensome mother. The rear court was under the women’s rule. If his dear granddaughter were to marry into the Ding Duke Manor, she will inevitably receive the Ding Duchess’s deliberate torment. And if his dear granddaughter were to dare resist, once the label of being greatly unfilial comes down, even if it isn’t third girl’s fault, it would still be her fault. According to the Ding Duchess’s current attitude, for other things, she perhaps still knew not to let the family shame spread outside, but if third girl is ‘unfilial’, she will definitely let it be known to all. In this way, how will she be able to establish herself in the future.
The Ding Duchess mockingly looked to Luo Pei Shan, “Sir Luo sure knows how to speak, just it’s only this mouth that’s nimble. Towards the upbringing of the younger generation, there’s really nothing good to be said about it, raising a young miss that’s just like a vixen, never mind having my son seduced like this, she’s even a jealous woman, not tolerating in the slightest………..”
This time, even Luo Pei Shan couldn’t help but get angry, enduring with all his willpower to not directly fan her a slap. If he as a grown man were to hit a woman, and even someone from another family, a titled madam of the imperial court, even if he wasn’t in the wrong, it would still be his fault.
But Luo Old Madam didn’t have that many misgivings. She has been enduring silently this whole time. Just as the saying goes, ‘when at the end of one’s patience, needless to continue enduring’. Getting up, she went forward and raised her hand, fanning a slap over.
The Ding Duchess was directly slapped silly. From birth until now, she has never suffered such a loss before, lifting her hand, wanting to hit back.
Never mind that Luo Pei Shan won’t allow it, Sun Yi Lin also stood up immediately to block the Ding Duchess.
The Ding Duchess was just like a madwoman, wanting to push aside Sun Yi Lin.
Luo Old Madam stood behind Luo Pei Shan, those eyes sharp like blades, “Someone come, have her beaten out.”
“Beaten out? I rather want to see which one of you all dares to.”
“Enough.” Sun Yi Lin coldly raised his voice.
The Ding Duchess looked to her own son in disbelief. His own mother suffering a loss, he not only didn’t help, he even dared to say such words? “What did you say?”
“I said, enough.” Sun Yi Lin stood in front of the Ding Duchess. He was more than a head taller than her, and in his eyes, there weren’t the slightest warmth as he looked down at her. The Ding Duchess blanked, suddenly somewhat at a loss for what to do.
Sun Yi Lin grabbed her wrist, forcibly dragging her outward. His mother’s slander towards Jing Wan made him unable to bear, and if she really were to get beaten out, it really would be embarrassing.
The Ding Duchess wanted to struggle free from Sun Yi Lin’s hand, yet they were like pinchers, ruthlessly trapping her, unable to struggle free no matter what.
Sun Yi Lin walked very quickly. Having such a mother, he was ashamed to be standing on the Luo family’s land. The Ding Duchess was unable to keep up with his speed, somewhat staggering along, appearing to be in a very sorry state, just feeling, all her face was all lost completely today.
Exiting the Luo family gates, without needing the Ding Duchess to say anything, Sun Yi Lin directly threw aside her hand, taking his horse and flipping onto its back, leaving with a wave of his whip.
At this time, the Ding Duchess’s hair was all somewhat scattered. In addition to that burning red hand print on her face, her appearance really made the people outside that saw very much astonished. No matter how angry and resentful the Ding Duchess was right now, she still didn’t dare to continue lingering, hastily climbing onto her horse carriage.
And as for the servants that the Ding Duchess had brought along, at this time, they all didn’t dare to breathe too loudly, wishing that they could find a crack to squeeze into.
Inside the Luo Manor, the people of the Shen family were still awkwardly sitting there. Probably no one thought that things would end up like this.
“Sir Shen best take your noble madam and young miss back. Just, how you all are going to fight with the Ding Duke Manor, that is your business, rather no need to continue involving our Luo family.” Luo Pei Shan indifferently sent out the guests.
Shen Shu Han repeatedly offered his apologies, and even expressed that he will definitely visit another day to make amends.
Luo Pei Shan waved his hand in annoyance.
[1] Can’t remember if I explained this expression before, but it means he’s very noble and prideful, naturally born honorable and esteemed.
T/N: When I think about Sun Yi Lin’s situation with his family, and especially his mother, I think about all those dead mothers of protagonists, who were all the ‘true love’, but all died miserably, or ended up suffering a lot of hardship. Also Luo Old Madam has slapped a lot of people so far.
It should be clear by now that the Ding Duchess’s scheme was never really to break the engagement, which is why the scheme feels really ‘easy’ or ‘half-baked’. The whole purpose was to just use it to make Jing Wan lose face. Again she really wasn’t thinking that deeply. In a way the Ding Duchess is just like a child that never grew up and is just throwing a tantrum here. She doesn’t care about the consequences, she just wants to satisfy herself in making JW lose face. It’s just as Sun Old Madam said in chap 134, the Ding Duchess doesn’t think her actions will cause the engagement to break because who would want to break an engagement with her outstanding son that everyone is after. So in her head, no matter what she does to Jing Wan it won’t ruin the engagement.
As for LHY, this incident as a whole will implicate and damage both the Ding Duke Manor and the Shen family, the two strongest forces in Kang Qinwang and Rui Qinwang’s faction. Also do note, Jing Wan has only been in the capital for less than 2 months, this fact will be important later on.
Tbh, the truth is less important than you think. In this matter, the purpose and the aftermath brought about by it is far more important than the truth. Oh and one last thing that might have been overlooked, Ding Duchess’s commentary in chapter 134: “As for that child in her stomach, illegitimate and disgraceful, nothing more than a bastard. As for saying it might not be her son’s, she rather didn’t believe such a situation would appear.” Of course, this is just the Ding Duchess’s perspective on this.
