Jing Wan also had similar thoughts. She originally thought that it would be a hard battle, originally even thinking of whether or not she can help out a bit, yet in the end, she just watched a play for free. She even had her elder sister-in-law shoved to her own grandmother in advance, worrying that it would affect her. Yet, in the end, she completely worried for nothing. However, Luo Old Madam’s words and actions also told them, relatives weren’t easy to screw over either. It wasn’t good to go to the extreme with relatives, but also easier to go to the extreme with. Some things, towards outsiders, perhaps one would still have some misgivings, for instance today’s matter, if switched with others, Luo Old Madam probably wouldn’t have handled it this simply and crudely either.
“What is Wan Wan thinking about?”
“The matter just now, the results were within expectation, just this process………”
Luo Old Madam helplessly smiled, “Grandmother today will just tell you one thing, when able to borrow power, don’t hesitate, and when able to grasp someone, don’t be lenient, and further don’t be softhearted. Even if once your loved ones, once you are thinking about grasping them, it already shows that they aren’t worth you sacrificing for. As such, no need to be polite. Jin Qinwang is a pretty good shield.”
How come in a blink of an eye just connected onto Jin Qinwang? Alright, Jing Wan also admitted, Jin Qinwang, this giant shield, was very easy to use. And he should also be very willing to let her use. Grandmother is right, when needed, it’d be a waste to not use.
When returning to the western gardens, Sun Yi Jia was sitting by her grandmother’s side, a bit fretful and restless, repeatedly looking back at in the direction of the stairs. The play on the stage, never mind earnestly watching, afraid didn’t even hear a single word of. Seeing Jing Wan and Luo Old Madam appear, she just shot up, walking over in a rather quick pace. “Grandmother, little sister Wan………”
Luo Old Madam nodded her head and just walked ahead alone.
Jing Wan also knew she was worried, and thus briefly whispered a few words by her ear.
Sun Yi Jia slightly widened her eyes, the corner of her mouth faintly hooking, “Grandmother is impressive.”
Jing Wan smiled but didn’t speak. En, she also thought this too.
Everyone here were all perceptive people. Seeing Luo Old Madam leave and seeing Sun Old Madam sending someone to have Sun Yi Jia called to her side, they just sensed that something must have happened in the Luo family. However, to be able to smile this happily now, probably wasn’t anything major, and after taking a glance, they just no longer paid attention. Which family didn’t have troubles. In the entire capital, it’s not like there weren’t families with rear courts that were lively every day.
After consoling Sun Yi Jia, Jing Wan began skillfully traveling back and forth among the various noble madams, with this one pulling her to say a few words, that one pulling her to praise a few words. Although she was able to completely handle, her face was already stiff from smiling. It wasn’t genuinely smiling out of happiness either, so it wasn’t just the face that was tired, but also the heart. Jing Wan felt, those with a natural born smile on their face, in this kind of situation, would be a great weapon, however that kind of person, in tragic situations, most likely will very easily get criticized by a lot of people. It’s better to not envy.
Fortunately, when Jing Wan felt she was about to reach her limit, the banquet feast finally started.
And at the same time, quite a few officials, after leaving the yamen, also came to the Luo Manor.
After a round of drinking and chatting, although there were still quite a few things left on the table in the end, especially on the female guest side in the rear court, the hosts and guests were still greatly pleased. Aside from some small blemishes, the rest can all be considered perfect.
As the guests left in succession, Zhou Ying Shuang as the zanzhe, as well as the yousi, all helped send off the guests, having Yuan Qiao Qiao also intentionally or otherwise kept at the side. Of course, there was also that younger sister, who outsiders thought, was completely disregarded by Jing Wan, Luo Jing You. Jing Wan felt, Luo Jing You’s personality was a bit timid and wooden, so wanted to wait until after Sun Yi Jia married over, and let her, this second branch’s eldest sister-in-law, help her instruct. The times Sun Yi Jia looked after her weren’t many, mostly still just Sun Yi Jia’s mama instructing Luo Jing You, but after several months, there was still quite an improvement. At least when facing people outside, she was much more relaxed and natural. By next year, when she starts discussing marriage, probably won’t need to worry about the in-law family anymore.
On this bit, Ji Yiniang was very grateful towards Jing Wan. Because she knew Jing Wan doesn’t like yiniangs, she’s never voluntarily appeared before her, and on normal days, helped Zhang-shi look after the second branch. Right now, she also didn’t want a son anymore. She can be considered to have thoroughly understood, as long as her two daughters don’t get spurned by their di older sister, in the future, they all won’t be worst off.
Third miss perhaps doesn’t like the shu born younger siblings, she just didn’t like this status of theirs, and towards them, she really didn’t have too much malice. As long as they don’t provoke her, she also won’t do anything to them, and when necessary, would even help them. For the sake of not causing trouble for her own children, Ji Yiniang already became an invisible person in front of Luo Rong Yan, and Ping Yiniang who’d given birth to a son, in this aspect, has always blindly followed Ji Yiniang’s example. In the entire second branch, she was already an invisible person.
When the Grand Elder Princess was preparing to leave, Yu Yao Wenzhu made a scene again, refusing to go home, and the Grand Elder Princess also just indulged her, letting Jing Wan look after her for few days. Yu Yao Wenzhu wasn’t the youngest in the Grand Elder Princess Manor, but her place in the family hierarchy was high. And because her mother didn’t like her sister-in-laws, even if those below her were only a year or two younger than her, they still won’t play together. Yu Yao sometimes was a bit mischievous and would play pranks, but in reality, didn’t bring about any real harm, yet her nieces, nephews, as well as sister-in-laws, all treated her like a little demon king. Yu Yao pursed her lips, she wasn’t even willing to pay attention to them.
The Grand Elder Princess rather amicably looked to the girls before her, “You are all good children, when there’s the chance, come with Jing Wan to the Grand Elder Princess Manor to play.” This was ‘loving the house and its crow’, and also support in disguise.
The young misses were somewhat overwhelmed by the favor, hurriedly expressing their thanks.
The Grand Elder Princess then instructed Jing Wan a few words.
The ones to stay until the end, for the most part, were just the friends and family of the Luo family. Even Sun Old Madam didn’t stay too long. Today, coming to the Luo family, it was just her alone. The rest of the Ding Duke Manor were directly issued a prohibition order by her. According to her, she knew Sun Yi Jia was very well in the Luo family, this is enough.
For Jing Wan’s coming-of-age ceremony to be this grand, it was enough for some people to enthusiastically discuss about for a period of time.
Everything else aside, as soon as Rui Qinwang and Rui Wangfei returned to Rui Qinwang Manor, they were immediately informed by the servants that Concubine Ying was making a ruckus about her stomach again.
Rui Wangfei glanced at Rui Qinwang. The other party didn’t change his expression, nor said anything.
Rui Qinwang originally didn’t want to bother with her, but seemingly as if thinking of something, “Isn’t she just a bit younger than Luo third miss?”
“Seemingly just a day younger.” Rui Wangfei replied.
“A day? Just a day, born under the same roof, the same surname, eating the same kind of rice, yet one was in the heavens, the stars cupping the moon, and one was on the ground, deserted by friends and family.” Rui Qinwang was seemingly talking to himself, yet it was obvious, the greater the disparity between Luo Jing Ying and Jing Wan, the deeper the feeling of unresigned was in his heart. “She probably still doesn’t know today was her third older sister’s coming-of-age ceremony. Send someone to go tell her, letting her also be happy for her third older sister.”
