For Better or Worse, Punishing, Leaving the Capital (2)
Jing Wan didn’t need to look to know what Sun Yi Jia was thinking. This wasn’t a gap between ages, but rather a gap separated by space and time. Thinking about it sometimes, she still felt quite lonely. Jing Wan got a tiny bit sentimental for a moment.
She slowly peeled the lychee shell. Eating these things, it was still more interesting to do it on one’s own, and in her own territory, she also didn’t need to worry about her manners and appearance. “Oh, to put it bluntly, it’s just showing off. How boring is it to just show off clothes and jewelry, if one needs to show off, then just show off one’s husband. It doesn’t count to just say with the mouth, need to let others see, see one’s own husband’s care towards oneself that’s neither fake nor false, genuinely and truly placing one at the tip of the heart. Only that way can it really make others admire and envy. And no matter how much vinegar they leak out, and how much sour words they say, one will only feel increasingly refreshed.” En, precisely this way. Among those ‘nobles’, no matter how great something is, it all can’t compare to a good husband.
Sun Yi Jia understood Jing Wan’s meaning. As expected, little sister Wan had a stomach full of naughty ideas, however she also very much liked. As for ‘dog abuse’, she roughly understood, but having those people all compared into dogs, wasn’t that not too good? Whatever, in any case, outsiders can’t hear either way. Since little sister Wan said they’re dogs, then dogs it is.
“Miss, second miss and her husband came over.”
“Oh? Second sister returned from offering sacrifices to the ancestors[1] already?” The day Luo Rong Ping got injured, they’d already sent word to Luo Jing Qiang. However, reportedly, the couple had just so happened to have returned to the old residence to offer sacrifices to their ancestors. Fortunately, it wasn’t considered far, so one roundtrip was also just a few days’ time. In addition to the specifics of Luo Rong Ping’s situation being uncertain at the time, they thus didn’t urgently send someone to deliver the message, letting her rush back. However, coming to one’s own sister’s place, how come even brought along her husband? Wasn’t second tang brother home too? “Let second brother-in-law (older sister’s husband) go to third brother’s place then?” Jing Wan glanced at Sun Yi Jia, seeing her also nod her head. “En, then just this way, invite second sister in.”
Jing Wan’s servant girl nimbly had the fruits on the table that weren’t suitable to appear, as well as the fruit pits, all cleared away.
Luo Jing Qiang, under a little servant girl’s lead, neither quickly nor slowly entered, the corner of her mouth carrying a shallow smile. When she saw Jing Wan, her smile unconsciously brightened even more. Compared to before marrying, Luo Jing Qiang’s changes really weren’t small. It can be seen, her days at her in-laws’ place were pretty good. “Second sister, quickly come sit.”
In any case, all were one’s own sisters, and it wasn’t Luo Jing Ying, that bothersome one, so etiquette can also be excused.
Luo Jing Qiang didn’t have reservation either, “Third sister-in-law, third younger sister, it seems I’ve disturbed you two.”
“It’s nothing.” Jing Wan waved her hand.
Sun Yi Jia also unconcernedly smiled at her. This smile rather made Luo Jing Qiang somewhat startled by the sudden favor. The Sun Yi Jia in her memories was still that high and lofty, proud noble young lady, and not the third sister-in-law, who has already married into the Luo family, and in actuality, whose temperament and personality were all pretty good. Sun Yi Jia just treated it as if she didn’t see, casually having the fruit plate by her hand pushed over, “Have some.”
“Thank you third sister-in-law.”
Sun Yi Jia nodded. Have to say, even now, when others were present, her temperament was still somewhat aloof.
“Second sister went to see third uncle?” Jing Wan asked.
“En, saw already.” Towards that man, she didn’t have any feelings. Seeing him turn from being strong and healthy, to being paralyzed and weak on the bed, there wasn’t the slightest ripple in her heart either. If not out of filial piety, and if not in the Luo family, there were still people she cared about, she probably wouldn’t have returned. However, Luo Jing Qiang, in a certain corner of her heart, was actually quite grateful towards him. If not for his accident, she wouldn’t have been able to return to her maiden home this legitimately. Although her husband’s family actually didn’t mind at all her returning to her maiden home, even hoping that she returns from time to time to keep in touch, but regardless of which aspect to speak from, this matter all can’t be overdone. Rather, it was the di mother’s attitude that was abnormally beyond her expectations, like she’d changed into another person entirely. “Fourth younger sister had sent someone back to visit father, said to be Rui Qinwang Manor’s steward. Right now, the third branch just has second brother, this one male, so mother let him look after the person.”
This explained why she had her husband brought over. However, Luo Jing Ying sent someone back? It was probably Rui Qinwang. This really wasn’t Jing Wan belittling her. She had headed alone to another completely unfamiliar manor’s rear court. That bit of what she assumed was solid backing was actually even thinner than a sheet of paper. Whether it will become increasingly thicker, or thoroughly disappear in an instant, completely depended on Luo Pei Shan’s attitude. A steward, and even a male, afraid she has never even met before. Luo Jing Ying was able to, in this short period of time, rope them in for her own use? Even if one was joking, it all wouldn’t be like this.
Rui Qinwang still hasn’t completely given up on Luo Pei Shan, else there wouldn’t be today’s matter. However, presumably, it’ll be soon. When that time comes, Luo Jing Ying’s ‘good days’ will also come to an end.
TN: All
“My husband, he is one that likes drawing, and towards third brother, who is able to invent the gongbi style, he very much reveres, and has always wanted to ask him for guidance. Just now, on the way here, he was just like a little kid, both excited and nervous.” Luo Jing Qiang said with a smile.
Sun Yi Jia teasingly glanced at Jing Wan.
Jing Wan ignored her, motionless like a mountain. Gongbi style was her third brother’s invention, this bit, didn’t need to be doubted.
“Coming back this time, will you be staying for a few days?”
“En, mother already let my yiniang have the place I originally lived in tidied up. My husband has also been arranged to stay in second older brother’s courtyard.” That’s right, the most surprising thing for Luo Jing Qiang was that her yiniang, who was originally locked in confinement this whole time, has actually already gotten her confinement lifted in the third branch now. This completely wasn’t like the di mother’s style. In her eyes, everywhere was filled with oddity.
Originally, at the time, her di mother had schemed against second aunt (Zhang-shi), but failed in the end. Nevertheless, she had long found her yiniang to be the scapegoat. Yiniang got locked in confinement by grandmother, and was even ordered to move to the estate after she married off. When she returned home three days after she married, grandmother instead let her meet with her yiniang, and the punishment that she’d issued herself seemingly was forgotten. And don’t know as for what reason, her di mother unexpectedly didn’t mention this matter either. Until now, her yiniang was like as if nothing happened.
“This way is also not bad.” Jing Wan nodded.
“Third younger sister, when I was coming over, I’d asked the rear court steward that came together about fourth younger sister’s situation. Fourth younger sister seems to be living very comfortably in Rui Qinwang Manor, with thin silk and satin, exotic delicacies, others all yielding to her, and servants at her beck and call. Rui Qinwang also extremely dotes on her. From entering the manor until now, seemingly more than half the days were all spent resting at her place. And twice, when Rui Qinwang was resting at another place, she let someone go invite, and Rui Qinwang all complied with her. Moreover, one of the times, it was even at Rui Wangfei’s place. It can be seen, she really was pampered into the bones, and Rui Wangfei has also been very amiable with her. From the sounds of it, she seems to be very impressive.”
Jing Wan raised an eyebrow. Looks like, even this second sister all sensed something wrong inside. This was trying to sell her goodwill to her? However, this bit of trivial matter was also harmless. “Fourth younger sister lack neither talent nor beauty, for Rui Qinwang to pamper and cherish her, it isn’t all that surprising either.” Just, Luo Jing Ying has continuously believed firmly that Rui Qinwang, towards her, was true love. Her days now, afraid, will make her even more giddy, getting carried away. To dare snatch the person from Rui Wangfei’s hands, even Jing Wan all wanted to praise her, truly was very daring.
However, Rui Qinwang was also rather hard working. For the sake of achieving his goal, to be able to go this far, he can also be considered an alternative type of a true man.
All say, everything needs to be contemplated three times before acting. Regardless of what, it’s best to always leave an escape route for oneself. Could it be that Luo Jing Ying has never thought of before that even if Rui Qinwang really likes her, can this like continue for a lifetime? Yet, even Rui Wangfei, she dared to thoroughly offend. Liu-shi had taught her quite a bit, so she shouldn’t be stupid to this extent?
Could it be that she has something to rely on? Or could it be that she really got pregnant?
What kind of luck was this? Running into several one-shot jackpots, including the one in Sun Yi Jia’s stomach. Jing Wan even suspect, it was already there during the wedding night. Wasn’t it said that quite a few people, for many years, all couldn’t get a child?
[1] Also known as ancestor worship, Luo Jing Qiang most likely went with her husband’s family to worship their ancestors. This involves traveling to the ancestral home, or wherever the family’s ancestral tombs are located. I don’t want to get into the details, so just know that there are complicated procedures involved. Aside from going during certain holidays, usually after marrying, the couple will go to ask for the ancestor’s blessing.
