The Chengde Imperial Residence wasn’t considered far from the capital, probably just two hundred some li[1]. However, because the advancing speed was relatively slow, it’ll probably still take two to three days, or even longer, before arriving. In this kind of weather, eating in the wind and sleeping outdoors definitely won’t be pleasant, but who let this party consist of if not people of the imperial family, then it was just high officials and noble personages. With a pile of people serving, never mind eating, drinking, sleeping, and other nature calls, even if bathing eight times a day, it also can still be adequately taken care of. Of course, this was just saying, even the living Enma wouldn’t be this crazy. ———-Compared to when at home, it was actually more or less the same in all aspects. However, this was just Jing Wan’s opinion. Along the way, there were quite a few complaints of all sorts.
Fortunately, quite a few things were all taken over in advance by the family servants, thoroughly putting in order the residence near the imperial summer residence, and at the same time, having everything properly arranged. Otherwise, afraid it’ll make one even more annoyed.
The masters from the Luo family heading to Chengde Imperial Residence for the summer holidays this time could be counted on one hand.
For the first branch, because little Wang-shi was about to give birth, Wang-shi naturally can’t leave, and her husband Luo Rong Wen, who held an official post, wasn’t listed to accompany. As for Luo Rong Wei, he currently also has an assignment. And Luo Rong Ping naturally didn’t need to be mentioned. With him like that, it was better to just stay at home. Liu-shi, on the surface in name, needed to take care of him, so also stayed behind. And so, it was just Luo Rong Yan who held a temporary post that was relatively idle. However, seemingly having been provoked probably, he currently was also beginning to make an effort to become strong. Even if he disliked those things in officialdom, he still forced himself to slowly accept it. And Wu-shi was the same as Zhang-shi, both unwilling to part with their husband. Thus, the eight of them in this generation, not a single one went. And naturally, with Luo Old Madam present, yiniangs and whatnot further didn’t have a chance to go.
And among the younger generation, aside from Jing Wan, Luo Jing Bo, and Sun Yi Jia, the rest all didn’t come. The reason was very simple, if their respective parents aren’t coming, then if they go, wouldn’t Luo Old Madam need to look after them? Luo Old Madam’s body appears to be in pretty good shape, but after Luo Pei Shan learned that a few years ago, she nearly passed away, he no longer dared to let her exhaust herself in the slightest. That’s why, aside from the ones that didn’t need to be worried about, the rest all obediently stayed at home. And of those that completely didn’t need one to worry over, and also could step away, only Jing Wan, as well as Luo Jing Bo and Sun Yi Jia remained.
Luo Old Madam although didn’t say anything, en, this way was also not bad, leisure and carefree.
Thus, along the way, the Luo family can be considered the most relaxed family.
Jing Wan although tried to assimilate into this world as much as possible, not using the ‘everyone is equal’ view to regard the people under this feudalistic society under imperial power, but at many times, she still considered for the people serving at her side as much as possible. If even they, who were being served, all felt tired, then the servants serving them must be even more exhausted. Even if at present, whether it’s being served or the one serving, one’s status already determined everything, with this being viewed as rightly so, Jing Wan still was unable to completely follow along their ideology.
With Jing Wan following by her side for that many years, Luo Old Madam more or less was also somewhat influenced by her. However, she didn’t deliberately do anything, and just naturally conducted herself. Seemingly, seeing too many people repeatedly appearing in front of her actually made her even more annoyed.
Sun Yi Jia, having been together with Jing Wan for a long time, was also subtly influenced.
Thus, while other families’ servants were covered in sweat, busying all around, the Luo family’s during this period appeared relatively quiet. The servants even had time to stay in the horse carriage to enjoy the cool air and chat with one another. Even if there was something to be done, there weren’t any indications of being frantic and disorderly either.
Sun Yi Jia’s servant girls were together with Jing Wan’s, “Has third miss always been this way?” They somewhat curiously asked.
“En?” They didn’t understand their meaning too well.
Thus, the other party pointed to the family following behind the Luo family. The carriages were advancing, yet the servants needed to run back and forth, their clothes long drenched in sweat. And the ones in charge of running around, their status, among the servants, were all relatively low, appearing all to be some twelve to thirteen year olds.
Jing Wan’s servant girls all couldn’t help laughing, “Our miss has always been very good, good-tempered, and towards us, also very generous, never getting angry. Even towards us servants, she’s also very considerate. If we have some minor illness or minor aches, she would even give us days off. On normal days, she’ll also let us take turns taking a day off. I reckon, there’s no master that’s easier to servant than miss.”
This bit, they have always known, but there was no experience more profound than now.
Hearing their words, Sun Yi Jia’s servant girls also felt somewhat envious inside. However, their miss was actually very good too. Moreover, right now, there was further the tendency to lean towards third miss. To be able to serve this kind of master, it was their good fortune.
However, a certain mama that just happened to also hear these words thought of even more. If one really just had this one lenient and amiable side, afraid, wouldn’t have been able to raise these well self-disciplined servant girls. Even Qing Ju, who appeared carefree and lively, towards the things she needed to handle, wasn’t the least bit careless.
The carriage fleet, at this time, came to a stop. It was Le Cheng Emperor ‘making a ruckus’ again.
Qing Zhu extended her head out for a look, seeing the wet nurse coming down from the carriage in front and walking in this direction. She hurriedly waved her hand, expressing that she knew and no need to come over, “I’ll go check on miss first, you all prepare a bit of iced fruits for miss, and then go inquire how long we’ll be stopping for. If the time is long, then just find a place outside, and have the umbrella propped up.” Qing Zhu said, and soon after, got down from the horse carriage alone.
The others also swiftly began moving.
Because the time spent in the carriage was somewhat long, Jing Wan was somewhat carriage-sick again. However, she similarly just quietly stayed still, not tossing and turning, giving others trouble. Fortunately, prior to leaving, Gong mama and them had already prepared for her quite a few things, especially paying attention to food. These things rather benefited Sun Yi Jia. She was currently pregnant, and was more exhausted to begin with, but when previously preparing these things, Jing Wan just let them prepare her share too. From the looks of it, her spirit was rather good, much better than Jing Wan.
Luo Jing Bo and Sun Yi Jia both were grateful at heart. This little sister was truly too considerate. Jing Wan just smiled. She herself needed to use anyways, so for her elder sister-in-law, it was just in passing. But, whether or not it was in passing, they were very clear inside. She completely can inform them in advance, letting them prepare themselves, but in reality, among the things Gong mama and them prepared, a portion was even specially prepared for Sun Yi Jia.
Actually, Jing Wan really just felt letting her older brother and sister-in-law prepare another share was too troublesome. Since they all needed to prepare anyways, preparing more all at once will simplify matters, and what was specifically prepared for Sun Yi Jia really wasn’t that much.
Sun Yi Jia’s wet nurse and them all took it to heart, similarly very much grateful. Ever since the mama that specialized in this aspect got driven out, they’ve been studying, but in the end, the time was short, and they were still inadequate in many areas. Moreover, seeing Gong mama, this caretaker mama, completely knowledgable and capable in this area, at this time, they no longer bothered about that much anymore, hurriedly asking her for guidance. Gong mama naturally wasn’t stingy either.
Sun Yi Jia boldly stayed in Jing Wan horse carriage, because Jing Wan’s horse carriage, not only was comfortable, it also wasn’t that bumpy. In reality, when leaving the capital, Jing Wan already prepared to yield out half to her, even if she didn’t stay herself, Jing Wan would still make her stay.
Comfortably leaning against the carriage, she napped a little just like that, “Looking at it now, Jin Qinwang isn’t that bad either. Little sister Wan, don’t you agree?”
Jing Wan, who had her eyes closes, nonchalantly let out an ‘en’.
Sun Yi Jia couldn’t tell whether she was really agreeing to her words, or purely just responding half-heartedly. Sun Yi Jia, seeing her suddenly becoming this ‘delicate’, also felt quite distressed, “Little sister Wan, the carriage has stopped, so how about going down for a walk?”
“Wait a little, see how long we’ll be stopping for.”
Hearing this, Sun Yi Jia also didn’t move. Seeing the decoration on the ceiling of the carriage, she suddenly became interested, carefully sizing up the arrangement inside the carriage. Many things appear common, but if one carefully pays attention, one will discover, not a single thing was ordinary. Ivory mats, this kind of thing that even in the Ding Duke Manor was all considered very extravagant, was directly being used to pad the floor of the carriage. When she first entered, she didn’t notice, but when she noticed, the corner of her mouth uncontrollably twitched.
(T/N: Obviously ivory trade is illegal now, so there’s no actual image of an ivory mat, but just imagine if the material in the pic below is made from white ivory. These types of mats are used for cooling, nowadays most commonly made from bamboo. During hot summer days, resting on top of these would be like sitting on a block of ice.)
And this couch, don’t know what was used inside the cushions, was soft and cool, and beneath the cushion, Sun Yi Jia reached out to touch, the edge polished very smoothly, but because it was covered, Sun Yi Jia also didn’t know what material it was made of, well, might as well, lift it open from below for a look. Afterwards, Sun Yi Jia silently set the cover down.
Cool jade, it was actually the cool jade that was even more rare than warm jade. The entire piece below the couch was all cool jade.
The rest, Sun Yi Jia already didn’t want to continue looking. If she continues looking, then even she, this young lady that grew up in a nest of wealth and honor, will all be jealous.
Should say, as expected of the most wealthy and most wasteful Jin Qinwang? Just these things on the surface, Sun Yi Jia slightly evaluated for a moment, heavens, the value was already beyond million taels of silver.
That’s right, this horse carriage, Li Hong Yuan had let someone send over a day prior to setting out. Looking from the outside, it really was quite ordinary, and also in line with Jing Wan’s status, but the inside, for those who didn’t know what’s what, it was still okay, but for those who knew, they just felt their eyes were about to go blind.
[1] Li – ancient unit of measurement; 1 li is approx. 500m
