Outside the main gate, the Luo family respectfully sent off Li Hong Yuan. And at the same time, Luo Pei Shan had a box handed to Jin Qinwang. Li Hong Yuan however didn’t say anything nor asked anything, directly accepting it. And afterwards, Jing Wan also got on the horse carriage.
From beginning to end, no one gave a single glance to Liu mama, and the two little servant girls that were waiting outside by the horse carriage the whole time both looked to one another in dismay. Did something happen? Moreover, Jin Qinwang came out from the Luo family’s place!
Liu mama naturally won’t lower herself in front of the two little servant girls, her face expressionless, “Still not moving.” What was in that box?
Facing the imposing ‘heavenly stairway’[1], Jing Wan who was in the carriage naturally was preparing to choose the long winding path to the side.
Li Hong Yuan however wasn’t thinking this, two horses was precisely the genuine portrayal of his intentions.
Jing Wan looked to that horse that she’d used when they were on the road. At first, she even found it strange, the things Jin Qinwang prepared for her, when returning, how come he just took back without saying a single word, even thinking that this horse was just lended to her. Turns out, it was waiting here for her.
Jing Wan didn’t refuse. Jin Qinwang although was very indulgent towards her, but for some things, he was also very insistent on. In any case, regardless of what, there was him shielding for all things. That’s why, there really wasn’t the need to be stubborn on these trivial matters.
They can ride horses, but if the horse carriage wants to go up, it can only take the mountain path to the side, walking that winding path. And to want to arrive ahead of the people taking the straight path, they naturally needed to be quick.
Compared to Li Hong Yuan, Jing Wan’s horsemanship can only be considered a beginner level. As such, while Li Hong Yuan was carefree and relaxed, Jing Wan instead appeared somewhat careful and cautious. However, the horse was docile enough and also smart enough. After climbing a section of stone steps, Jing Wan just relaxed quite a bit, but even so, her gaze towards Li Hong Yuan was still a bit envious.
Li Hong Yuan slowed down his speed, following by her side, lightly smiling, “In the future, this prince will take you, can go anywhere you want.”
“………..Further want wangye to teach this subject how to control the horse.”
“Alright.” Since it’s learning to control the horse, then naturally it’s the fastest to teach hand by hand in his embrace.
Because they were slow enough, by the time Jing Wan and Li Hong Yuan arrived at Rui Qinwang’s courtyard, Rui Qinwang had already received news, personally waiting there with people. Seeing the two traveling shoulder to shoulder on horseback, Li Hong Ming’s expression somewhat darkened.
However, Li Hong Yuan already retracted his gentle manner from before, seemingly appearing to just be that tiny bit good to her compared to when facing others.
When Jing Wan saw Rui Qinwang, she immediately understood the reason why Li Hong Yuan’s attitude greatly differed from before, thinking to herself: ‘This was adequately an Oscar-winning level, practically just controlling his expression with ease.’
Getting down from horseback Li Hong Yuan just faintly called out third imperial brother, third sister-in-law, while Jing Wan properly gave her greetings to the side.
Towards Li Hong Yuan, Li Hong Ming smiled rather intimately, and towards Jing Wan, just perfunctorily lifted his hand, both estranged and indifferent. After Liu mama explained a few things to him, he just knew what kind of attitude to use when facing Jing Wan.
“Regardless whether it’s in the capital or outside, sixth brother, you, for the most part, never look for me to drink wine. I let your sister-in-law prepare two dishes to accompany the wine. Today, let’s nicely drink a few cups.” Li Hong Ming originally wanted to pat his shoulder, but seemingly thinking of something, had his hand retracted again.
“Presumably third imperial brother should know the reason why this prince came.”
“Of course, of course, it’s third brother, I, that wasn’t strict in governing. Sixth brother, rest assured, third brother will definitely give you a satisfying answer.”
“If so, then it’s for the best.”
Li Hong Ming nodded his head with a smile, and then turned his head, “Wangfei, take Luo third miss to go see Luo-shi. As sisters of the same family, they should have a lot to say.”
“Yes, wangye.” Rui Wangfei Liu-shi replied. After sending them away, Liu-shi warmly smiled towards Jing Wan, “Concubine Ying often mentions missing the people of her maiden family, so to be able to see her tang older sister today, presumably will be very happy.”
(T/N: I don’t remember if I’ve mentioned this before but Rui Wangfei’s surname Liu(柳) is different from Jing Wan’s third aunt’s Liu(刘) surname, it’s also pronounced differently.)
“Is that so?” Jing Wan didn’t say much. She didn’t believe this Rui Wangfei isn’t aware of her attitude towards Luo Jing Ying. Either this acting skill was already to the point of perfection, pretending to not know, not revealing the slightest discrepancy, or it was just that she’s had enough of Luo Jing Ying, and just waiting for Jing Wan to ‘help her’ vent this anger.
Along the way, Rui Wangfei appeared very intimate towards Jing Wan, almost like how she would treat her own family’s sisters. Of course, not those so-called sisters of the Rui Qinwang Manor rear court, but her real sisters.
In the Rui Qinwang Manor rear court, aside from Rui Wangfei, Luo Jing Ying’s birth should be the most honorable. Moreover, Rui Qinwang very much ‘pampered’ her. This caused the treatment she received from the start to just be slightly inferior to that of a side consort, having her own courtyard and a flock of servants.
When Luo Jing Ying learned that Jing Wan came to see her, she first was unhappy and unwilling, but shortly after, strangely got excited. Without a second word, she hurriedly returned to her room to change her clothes and groom herself. The things she used now was far better than what she used in the past. She once envied Jing Wan for having that many good things, but turns out, she was merely too shallow. Compared to what she possessed now, what did those things of hers count as.
When Jing Wan arrived along with Rui Wangfei, she saw Luo Jing Ying’s smiling face, but after her eyes circled around Jing Wan, her expression just slowly stiffened somewhat, then cracked little by little. Her entire reaction was all within Jing Wan’s expectations. Think about it, when bored, wasn’t this quite fun?
Walking closer, Luo Jing Ying also just fixedly stared at Jing Wan. That gaze was like as if wanting to have Jing Wan skinned alive. Rui Wangfei furrowed her brows. Looks like, what Liu mama said was true. Sisters under the same roof, yet why was the difference this big? However, right now, she was someone of Rui Qinwang Manor. When losing her manners, what she embarrassed was Rui Qinwang Manor’s face. “Concubine Ying——” Her tone contained a bit of warning.
Luo Jing Ying immediately came to her senses, hurriedly retracting her gaze, curtsying in greeting.
“As expected, it’s still the qinwang manor that knows how to discipline someone, just look at fourth younger sister’s manners now……….”
This wasn’t praising Rui Qinwang Manor, but rather telling Rui Wangfei, when Luo Jing Ying was in the Luo family, she didn’t have any manners.
“Miss Luo must be joking, who doesn’t say the Luo family is a respectable scholarly family, a family of etiquettes. If there’s a crooked sprout, that’s just because the sprout grew crooked on its own. Which family doesn’t have a few unsightly descendants.”
Jing Wan nodded, “Wangfei’s words are rather reasonable.”
Luo Jing Ying’s complexion, because of Rui Wangfei and Jing Wan echoing one another, was both green and pale, but in front of Liu-shi, she didn’t dare lash out. In the qinwang manor, she can belittle the other concubines, but can’t be disrespectful towards the wangfei. Wangye was one that highly regarded etiquette, and just because she once retorted Liu-shi, wangye just neglected her for several days. That’s why, she no longer dared to make the same mistake.
“Wangfei, this concubine hasn’t seen third older sister in a very long time. Can one talk with her alone?” Luo Jing Ying carried a bit of plea.
Liu-shi didn’t respond, instead glancing at Jing Wan, clearly seeking her opinion.
Jing Wan nodded her head, “Asking wangfei to grant permission.”
“Miss Luo is too serious. ——–Concubine Ying, Miss Luo is your older sister, and moreover, the future Jin Wangfei, so one mustn’t slight her.” If one were to let this one get offended here, perhaps that living Enma will have this score settled on wangye’s head. With Gong Qinwang’s example in front, she really didn’t want wangye and her maiden family to similarly meet with an absurd disaster. Because the Left Commander-in-Chief was Gong Qinwang’s greatest reliance, that’s why the living Enma acted against him. During this period of time, Gong Qinwang, in front of his father-in-law, was just like a turtle, don’t know how sullen he was. Their wangye’s greatest reliance wasn’t her maiden family, but his greatest reliance had an out of the ordinary relationship with the living Enma, so when time comes, the possibility of her maiden family suffering a calamity was the greatest.
Luo Jing Ying inwardly cursed, “Wangfei is over-worrying. Prior to marrying, this concubine’s relationship with third older sister was the ‘best’. No matter who one slights, still won’t slight her.”
Rui Wangfei deeply glanced at her, “Hope so.” Have to say, towards Li Hong Ming, there was probably no one that understood him more than her. On the surface, he appeared to care about children, but in actuality, this wasn’t the case. That’s why, the one in Luo Jing Ying’s stomach, he similarly won’t care about much.
Rui Wangfei left, and only the two sisters remained, as well as the servants that were in charge of their respective master.
Jing Wan found a place and nonchalantly sat down, looking to the gloomy Luo Jing Ying, smiling, “Fourth younger sister, having not seen in a very long time, this older sister exceptionally misses you.”
[1] This is referring to the long stairway up the mountain of the imperial residence, see chapter 191 for more details.
