“Miss, old madam is in the pavilion by the lotus pond, letting you go over to accompany her.” Qing Lan entered the room and softly said.
Jing Wan paused for a moment. She lifted her head and glanced to the focused Luo Jing Bo, and then to Gong mama, whose walking posture was already no different from an ordinary person’s, but she still prepared to call her wet nurse to go with her. However, Gong mama spoke first, “Miss, this servant really is fine. That medicine really is very effective. Although it was terribly painful at first, but now for the most part it doesn’t hurt anymore.” Before when she was told to rest, she still insist on serving by Jing Wan side.
Seeing that Gong mama really didn’t seem to be forcing herself, Jing Wan hesitated for a moment, before nodding, “Then mama can come just come with me, everyone else stay behind and serve third young master well. In a while, let him rest for a bit, don’t tire him.”
On the way, “Does Gong mama think that older cousin Min is considered a suitable husband?” Jing Wan asked very calmly, completely lacking the bashfulness an ordinary girl would have when speaking of these things. She wasn’t asking for Gong mama’s opinion, but rather just for asking Gong mama’s opinion of Chen Zheng Min only.
“Gentlemen Chen is handsome and talented. This servant although doesn’t know how deep his learning is, but to be able to receive old master’s recognition, he certainly must be a young talent. And looking at how his character is also not bad, it can be surmised that he’s considered a good husband material.” Gong said, but as for her inner thoughts, regardless of good or bad, regardless of whether he was a good husband or not, Miss, you definitely won’t be marrying him anyways. This way, no matter how much is said, it’s of no use. And as for what that one will do, Gong mama wasn’t interested, and further didn’t have the power to interfere.
Jing Wan smiled and didn’t say anymore.
Sure enough, Luo Old Madam wasn’t in the pavilion, only Chen Zheng Min alone was there, half leaning on the railings, throwing fish food into the water. The few people by Luo Old Madam’s side were waiting outside the pavilion. The servant girls’ greeting attracted Chen Zheng Min’s attention.
Jing Wan stepped into the pavilion alone. Gong mama also was left outside at a not close but not far distance, so others wouldn’t misunderstand anything when they saw. And the two inside spoke in a normal tone, so that those outside wouldn’t be able to hear anything either. Of course, Gong mama was an exception. “Greetings older cousin Min.”
Chen Zheng Min hastily returned the greeting, “Greetings, younger cousin Wan.”
Perhaps because the two were alone, Chen Zheng Min was somewhat reserved. He was indeed pure and innocent. Jing Wan went forward, grabbed some fish food also, and threw it into the water. The fish all rushed forth one after the other, fighting over the food. Perhaps because it seemed amusing, Jing Wan scattered more in again.
“Younger cousin, don’t scatter anymore. In a moment, they’ll end up overturned on their stomach.” Chen Zheng Min hurriedly stopped her.
“Isn’t that right, a bunch of greedy and gluttonous little things, have to be kept in line by the people feeding them.” Though Jing Wan didn’t continue scattering anymore.
Chen Zheng Min felt there was another meaning in her words, but because there was no heads or tails, he was unable to guess. Looking at the current situation, he didn’t know why paternal great-aunt still haven’t arrived yet. It’s not that he’s never been ‘alone’ with a girl before. He has before, both at his ancestral home and at his great-uncle’s residence, but that was only just a few times, and those were all having been blocked by the other person. If not a bold girl shyly and meekly telling him they admire him, then it was the persistently bothering him type. The former he would gently and politely refuse, and the latter he would firmly dismiss without offending. However, right now, he was somewhat at a loss for what to do. He wanted to say his goodbyes and leave first, but inside, he also felt faintly reluctant.
Jing Wan idly spoke with him and didn’t look to him either.
Chen Zheng Min felt, younger cousin Wan was already this natural and relaxed, yet he himself lost his bearings being like this. Thus, his feeling of helplessness gradually disappeared.
Moreover, he discovered that this younger cousin knew about a lot of things. Although she wasn’t extensively well read, she can be said to be knowledgable and wise in another kind of sense. Don’t know how well read she is in classics and history, but there was one thing that can be certain, she has read a lot of travel notes before.
Also, younger cousin was very ‘daring’, occasionally leaking out some harmless jokes in her words, leaving him somewhat off guard. Yet he increasingly enjoyed this kind of ambience. Seemingly as if no matter what was said, the other was able to follow up and not be left in silence. Seeing her brilliantly glowing eyes and that radiant smile that came from the heart, Chen Zheng Min inevitably became somewhat infatuated.
Jing Wan didn’t treat the other person as her ‘marriage interview’ partner, but rather just as a normal friend. Perhaps there was a tiny tiny bit of probing, but she definitely didn’t carry the intention to closely examine him. And from Chen Zheng Min’s words, she learned that he’d once travel studied for a year or two before, and those experiences were actually what Jing Wan was most interested in, as she listens on with great interest.
Luo Jing Ying was standing behind the bushes in the distant, watching the two having a cheerful conversation. She tightly wrung her handkerchief, but seemingly as if she’d thought of something, she instantly returned to normal. Just in the depths of those eyes, hidden from others, seemingly held an endless darkness. Turning around, she left with her servant girl.
When it comes to these inner courtyards of large residences, aside from one’s own family’s brothers, very rarely can one encounter a same age young man. Even outside, during banquets or during spring hikes and such, one could only look from afar. Close range interactions were also just for a short time, sometimes not even being able to say a word. For the most part, aside from listening, it was still just listening. It was true that she had a bit of fame, but of those that pursued her, almost none were actual gifted scholars or noble young masters.
It was exactly in this kind of a situation, when someone, who in all other aspects aside from status surpassed a majority of the noblemen of the capital, appeared, it was very difficult to not be moved. After all, those people she was unable to catch, but this one was much more easier to catch in the palm of her hand.
Luo Jing Ying, borrowing the excuse of being his younger cousin, had interacted with him before twice. But before she could do anything, she was ruthlessly dragged aside by her mother. There was only one reason, his status was too low. If she were to marry over, she would only suffer with him.
In Liu-shi’s eyes, her own daughter was good everywhere, and even if there were some small blemishes, she can have them wiped out too. And not just once did Liu-shi say to her, never mind the noble young masters in the capital, even the descendants of aristocrats and the imperial family, her daughter was worthy of. Her daughter is also a descendant of a founding duke after all, she deserves to have glory, splendor, wealth, and status, a life of luxury, high above all, receiving the praises of others. Perhaps because she’d heard it too many times, Luo Jing Ying also gradually began to believe that she deserved that kind of fate. And that she herself wasn’t ‘not interested by anyone’, but rather that her fated marriage has yet to come.
Towards those that secretly say they want to marry her, the highest was no more than a fourth ranked official’s di son. She has always disregarded them.
“Nothing more than just picking up something this Miss didn’t want.” Luo Jing Ying indifferently smiled, but the smile didn’t reach her eyes.
She won’t admit that Chen Zheng Min, when facing her, treated her no different than other girls he was unfamiliar with. He was a modest gentleman; he wouldn’t casually glance at a girl’s body. In fact, till this day, he still doesn’t even know who she is.
“Old madam, it’s fourth miss.” A servant girl walked over from the direction where Luo Jing Ying was at just now.
“No need to bother with her.” A perfectly good girl was raised into such by Liu-shi. Luo Old Madam wasn’t interested in moving her back either.
Because Jing Wan still never went to the home study in all this time, Luo Jing Ying, since two days ago also began to gradually stop going. In her eyes, there was already nothing to learn from over at home study. Before, everyone all went, including before Luo Jing Qiang got engaged, it was as such. Fourth uncle’s children, aside from those who weren’t old enough to go, all started class a few days ago too. Only Jing Wan was a special case. No matter mentality it stemmed from, Luo Jing Ying became uninterested in going as well, and her parents actually both agreed. After Luo Pei Shan and Luo Old Madam found out, they both indifferently nodded their heads, not saying a words. They perhaps had nothing to say, but some people probably assumed that this was not caring.
“Let’s go, said to let them come accompany this old woman, if I don’t go now, they’ll get worried from waiting.” Luo Old Madam, supported by a servant girl, headed towards the pavilion.
Towards Luo Old Madam’s late arrival, Jing Wan smilingly welcomed her. And Chen Zheng Min, who’d originally hoped for her to arrive a little sooner, at the moment, instead felt somewhat peculiar.
Chen Zheng Min’s that bit of skill in Luo Old Madam’s eyes naturally still was a little lacking. A young man’s admiration, let alone with someone like Wan Wan. In any case, Luo Old Madam has never considered the idea that Chen Zheng Min wouldn’t take a fancy to Jing Wan. Unless he already had deep rooted feelings for another girl, else it was sooner or later that he would fall for Wan Wan. Looking at it now, it really was unusually fast. However, Luo Old Madam didn’t feel this was strange. In her eyes, Jing Wan was just the best. For all the outstanding men in the world to fall for her at first sight was also considered normal to her.
Towards Luo Old Madam’s incomparably strong ‘confidence’, Jing Wan was also helpless. However, she didn’t have a way to correct it. How is this not the same attitude Liu-shi has towards Luo Jing Ying? Under the skies, out of ten people, at least nine all were like this. It’s just the good in their eyes, all have different standards, that’s all, regardless whether it was determined by the younger generation themselves, or by their elders.
Perhaps because she was thinking to let Jing Wan and Chen Zheng Min get along some more, Luo Old Madam took the two of them to sightsee around the garden for an hour in high spirits. Since entering the capital, Jing Wan really hadn’t had the chance to properly stroll around the Luo Manor yet. There really were quite a few places that one must not miss.
“Old madam, third miss.” A mama hurriedly rushed over and bowed.
Luo Old Madam saw the exceptionally exquisite and good-looking card made from special material in her hand, “To bring this now, whose is it?”
“Replying to old madam, it’s Ding Duke Manor’s Miss Sun. She wants to see Miss. Right now, she’s still waiting outside the manor.”
T/N: I actually quite enjoy Liu-shi and Luo Jing Ying as characters, because there’s a lot to analyze about them. From how they’re written you can clearly see why they’ve ended up the way they are. Like Liu-shi not wanting her daughter to marry someone with too low status probably stems from her own unhappy marriage, and her obsession with her family’s former glory. A part of me kinda sympathizes with her a bit too, because she was probably bullied and mocked growing up due to her family’s declining status, similar to how Fu Yun Ting’s family members were being treated.
