Such a crowd of people naturally attracted everyone’s attention, knowing at a glance who they came for.
Li Hong Yuan going out on normal days, the people he brought with were usually all close attendants and bodyguards. The times he brought servant girls with him were really very little. Thus, the people that have seen his servant girls definitely were countable on one hand.
Right now, collectively appearing like this, their faces beautiful, their figure graceful, each and every one all a great beauty. Just based on that face, it was definitely all above Jing Wan’s. Moreover, this bearing, truthfully speaking, wasn’t lacking either. And when it comes to dance, literature, and calligraphy, perhaps they were even better than Jing Wan. While quite a few men were pretending to be elegant, putting up a gentleman’s bearing in ‘sizing them up’, quite a few women were also looking. However, after looking at them, they had their gaze placed on the inside of the pavilion, ambiguously smiling.
Even if Jin Qinwang deeply respected the legal wife, so what? At most it was also just this. There were that many seductive beauties by the side, all of different variety, having all one needs. However, speaking of which, he was a descendant of the imperial family. To be able to deeply respect the legal wife was already not bad. Moreover, he was still different from others, not caring about his reputation at all. And with his old man backing him, even if he pampered the concubine and exterminated the wife, probably no one would bat an eye.
The higher the husband’s status, the more dignified and virtuous the legal wife needed to be. Can’t be seductive, can’t have one’s own personality, and can’t voluntarily seduce one’s own husband, else it was just not having the mannerism of a di wife, and an embarrassment to one’s man. But, after enduring the grievances, and having all these done, nine out of ten would be disdained by their man for being wooden and stiff, not having emotions. Things were just this laughable. However, how many women didn’t live like this? No one was better than anyone.
Even that bit of jealousy and envy towards Sun Yi Jia all diluted quite a bit.
As expected, one can’t compare with those better than oneself. Only by thinking of those that were worst off than oneself would the heart be at a balance.
Shi, Ci, Ge, Fu, the four close serving first-rank servant girls, as well as the little servant girls in ordinary palace attire behind them, stood still at a distance outside the pavilion, raising their voice slightly, “Greetings to master.”
Li Hong Yuan had his back to them, while Jing Wan was able to see them clearly with a turn of her head. Inside this pavilion, to be able to be addressed as master, could it have been her? She smilingly raised her chin towards Li Hong Yuan, that meaning very obvious.
Li Hong Yuan remained motionless, as if completely unaware of the people outside.
Often times, one really was unable to grasp what exactly this one was thinking. Since he didn’t respond, those servant girls also just continuously remained in their bow. One has to know, they were still holding things in their hands, but looking at these beauties, especially the four in the lead, their movements relatively unanimous, and their complexion also exceptionally calm, definitely having been trained well. Jing Wan even felt they perhaps have practiced martial arts before. After all, they more or less had areas similar to Bai Shao.
“This subject sees that they’ve seemingly brought quite a few delicious things, wangye doesn’t plan on letting this subject have a taste?” Having a bit of something to do, even if just eating and drinking, was still better than just sitting here like this. Although sitting like this wasn’t really particularly uncomfortable, but this bastard’s teasing words were too brazen. If one doesn’t divert the attention a little, really don’t know whether or not one will lose control, momentarily losing her manners and directly ‘offending one’s superior’ by beating him up. There were quite a few markings on her body, and the scars and bruises on his body were also quite numerous.
Li Hong Yuan, upon hearing this, lifted his hand, and the beauties just perceptively got up, slowly entering the pavilion, once again paying their respect, just this time, the target was Luo third miss.
Jing Wan slightly lifted her brow, though also calmly accepted.
These beauties’ movements were nimble, placing a chessboard on the table between the two, the white pieces by Jing Wan’s right hand, and the black pieces by Li Hong Yuan’s right hand. To the two sides, fresh fruits were arranged, appearing particularly tasty, and also tea. Jing Wan guessed that if one were to take a sip of the tea, it should be just right.
Near the edge, they separately propped up another low table, laying out even more fruits that have been taken care of.
During the entire process, it was all soundless, further having their brows lowered and eyes restrained, not casting a single unnecessary glance.
“This servant doesn’t know what Miss Luo’s preferences are, if you have anything you like to eat, or don’t like to eat, just tell this servant, or if Miss Luo is further accustomed to your own servants serving, just call for them to enter.” Qing Shi softly spoke.
That deferential attitude was just like as if Jing Wan actually their master, and their actual master, Li Hong Yuan, was just an outsider. This scene, how come felt a bit weird. Jing Wan however didn’t show anything strange on her face, glancing at the things that were reachable with her own hands. Setting aside the fruits, where there were many different kinds of, with each one probably all just two three bites, and moreover, towards these things, she wasn’t all that picky, the crucial point were on those fingertip sized desserts. Those were all her favorites. Don’t know her preference? Heheh……….
“All not bad, will be troubling you.”
“Miss Luo is cutting this servant’s longevity, these are all what this servant should do.”
Even if it was what they should do, that was still after she married into Jin Qinwang Manor.
However, Jing Wan didn’t say anything excessive either. Since Li Hong Yuan didn’t let them leave, Jing Wan naturally also tacitly allowed them to stay.
“Wangye wants to have a match with this subject? However, this subject’s level is very limited, probably just on the layer of knowing how to play.”
The emotions in Li Hong Yuan’s eyes, compared to when the two of them interacted privately, were much calmer, “No matter, it’s just to pass the time. Even if you don’t know how, this prince can also teach you. Wan Wan has always been intelligent, and won’t be stumped by mere qi stones.”
Jing Wan paused for a moment, “Wangye, this subject always feels, no matter how smart of a person, there should still be areas where one is inept in. And no matter how unintelligent a person, in a certain aspect, perhaps all have an extremely high natural talent.”
Li Hong Yuan hooked his lips into a smile, “Then what exactly does Wan Wan want to convey to this prince?”
Tsk, he actually didn’t directly say, ‘Wan Wan, you are referring to yourself being an incompetent one in qi?’ Turns out, Jin Qinwang also has times where he’s benevolent. “Towards qi, this subject has never studied meticulously before, so don’t know how high of a natural talent one has. If too stupid, asking wangye to not disdain too much.”
“Good or bad, it’s also just a plaything. If Wan Wan likes, then can just play a little more, if Wan Wan doesn’t like, then just set it to the side.”
Everything in everything all based on her preference? This no bottom line level of indulgence of yours, is it really okay?
The match has already started.
The pieces on the board gradually increased. Li Hong Yuan slowly explained to her, very meticulously, and very patiently, teaching her the places where she can place down a piece every time, letting her test out step by step. Sometimes, they would even go back a few steps, teaching her another method. Jing Wan followed along earnestly, and for the first time, actually felt playing qi was also this interesting.
As time passed, quite a few people came and went, all the way until afterwards, the princes that have yet to be bestowed a wang title, as well as the older princes that had just finished taking care of their business, along with their wangfeis, came one after another, the age of the crowd increasing. However, not a single one insensitively squeezed into the pavilion, including Rui Qinwang. Compared to looking to be abused by Li Hong Yuan, he naturally further wanted to get close with those talented youths. As such, although the two weren’t separated by far, they were like as if they were from two different worlds.
Rui Wangfei looked to the pavilion. She rather wanted to invite Jing Wan, but time and time again, she was unable to obtain an opportunity to privately interact. When there was more people, it was actually beneficial in certain aspects, but Jing Wan similarly didn’t give her the chance to express her goodwill. Every time, she would always get avoided by Jing Wan, and afterwards, not just her, even Rui Qinwang discovered that Li Hong Yuan didn’t wish for them to approach Jing Wan. Rui Qinwang was a bit unwilling to give up, but seeing Li Hong Yuan’s expression becoming increasingly colder, he could only give up.
All the way until it was about time, the people leaving in groups of threes and fives, did the two that were incompatible in skill finally end their match.
Jing Wan unknowingly ate quite a few things, so she didn’t feel hungry at all. Afterwards, she just clapped her hands and left, leaving behind the mess for Li Hong Yuan to clean up.
Jing Wan and Sun Yi Jia got on the same horse carriage, and seeing her seemingly not very happy, “Elder sister-in-law, what’s wrong?”
“Your third brother’s koi playing in the lotus pond painting got taken away by Rui Qinwang. That painting, I very much liked.”
Jing Wan fell silent. The other party was someone of high position with heavy power, and was even shameless. If he wanted to take, it couldn’t be helped either. However, “How about I ask Jin Qinwang to ask for it back?” In any case that bastard was even more shameless. If he wanted, suppose there was nothing he couldn’t obtain.
Sun Yi Jia blanked, then looked to Jing Wan, already carrying a bit of tease, “Rather not necessary. However, you and Jin Qinwang…………..” The unspoken words couldn’t be conveyed and could only be intuitively grasped.
Jing Wan was rather unconcerned. It was just playing qi, not like they did anything shameful.
Since it was a literature gathering, it naturally couldn’t just revolve around one or two people. Jing Wan didn’t know, but Sun Yi Jia actually saw quite a few poetry masterpieces, and some calligraphy paintings were also not lacking.
Aside from those minority few that harbored ulterior motives, the great majority of the others were all very satisfied.
Actually, Sun Yi Jia was also very content. Just like prior to coming to the imperial summer residence, when Jing Wan said to ‘show off one’s husband’, today, she really did intentionally or otherwise showed off. However, it actually wasn’t her doing anything, but rather Luo Jing Bo unconsciously doing a lot. Setting aside the fact that he was constantly carefully shielding her, even when drawing, he would glance at her from time to time, seemingly as if seeing her safely and soundly sitting by his side would put him at ease.
That attitude wasn’t putting on an act. Moreover, even if someone was deliberately putting on an act, they all were completely unable to reach his level, alright!
Don’t know how many married and unmarried girls envied to death. Jing Wan’s ‘tragedy’ all wasn’t enough to reheal the injuries in their heart.
“Oh right, today, didn’t see that Ruan Fang Fei. Reportedly, she’s already been sent to Zhong Qiwnang Manor.”
Jing Wan’s reaction was rather indifferent. Actually, she knew some of Ruan Fang Fei’s matters. As long as she was miserable, that was enough for her. In the future, she will no longer have anything to do with her.
On the fifth day after this, they received the decree for returning to the capital.
Each family began packing up again, and after two days, set out.
On the way back, it was actually very peaceful. Perhaps because they didn’t want to stop over too much and cause more trouble, it was also much quicker than when they came, using a day less to reach the capital.
After being away for two months, she quite missed this place.
