Aggressive to No End
Li Hong Yuan glanced at her, taking back the cup and retracting his line of sight. That meaning couldn’t be more obvious.
Le Cheng Emperor strangely felt a bit stifled. His words, he still dared to sneer at, although inherently, it wasn’t really sneering at him, this old man, but his wife’s one line, he just immediately shut up, cleanly putting away his attitude. Le Cheng Emperor indeed didn’t know Noble Consort Su’s thoughts, else this while, he most likely would somewhat empathize. However, in the end, he didn’t say anything. If he were to continue ‘reprimanding’, perhaps this bastard will just refuse to settle down.
Setting aside what the others thought, the Former Wei fifth prince was definitely severely angered. If not for a certain Sir Hu sitting at the table behind him secretly curbing, then perhaps he would’ve just exploded on the spot. Just, going berserk in front of the living Enma probably won’t be comparable to getting beaten by He Shi Hai to the point of being unable to stand yesterday. Even if the situation was a bit lighter, prior to leaving Qi Yuan, afraid he all won’t be able to climb down from the bed. However, although he didn’t lash out, that gaze nevertheless was like as if wanting to devour someone.
However, the amount of hatred Li Hong Yuan has incurred in the past was enough to fill an ocean, so this glare, for him, completely didn’t hurt nor tickled. As such, he wasn’t even on guard at all.
Thus, the Former Wei fifth prince just angrily glared for half a day, but aside from making himself increasingly angry, in addition to making his eyes uncomfortable, there wasn’t any effect at all.
To be able to make someone of the enemy country annoyed, for the people of Qi Yuan, that was definitely a delightful matter. Especially the ones that have once suffered at Li Hong Yuan’s hands, seeing others suffer in the living Enma’s hands, they can’t help but take pleasure at another’s misfortune, strangely finding a sense of balance and joy.
For Qi Yuan’s side to have this kind of mentality, it wasn’t strange, but the Former Wei first prince was also very satisfied inside. This idiot that caused more trouble than helped out, serves him right for getting humiliated.
Afterwards, the performance continued. The Former Wei fifth prince however wasn’t as lively as before, and the Former Wei first prince gradually occupied the spotlight, similarly toasting from time to time and saying a few words. However, on Li Hong Yuan’s side, because he was unable to grasp the other party’s attitude, from beginning to end, he never once tried to start a conversation with him, so as to avoid getting humiliated.
Towards this kind of occasion, Li Hong Yuan really was lacking in interest. However, at present, for better or worse, he still needed to give Le Cheng Emperor a bit of face, else he most likely wouldn’t have appeared. The others for the most part all sat upright, yet he lazily propped up his chin with one hand, while his other hand pinched a nut from the table. That hard shell was just like pinching a peanut shell in his hand, appearing very effortless. However, the kernel inside, he didn’t eat, all placing into the little dish by Jing Wan’s hand. Jing Wan occasionally would eat one, and afterwards, quietly chat with the seventh wangfei at the table to their right.
Because Li Hong Yuan was on the side closer to the emperor’s seat, this posture of his right now was just like as if he was admiring the dance, but in reality, this wasn’t the case.
When Jing Wan turned back to pick up another piece, the little dish was almost full, “Wangye, it’s enough.”
Li Hong Yuan nonchalantly met with her gaze, “This prince is bored.”
Those who don’t know probably would think that the meaning of Li Hong Yuan’s words were, ‘it wasn’t specially peeled for you, don’t think too highly of yourself’.
Jing Wan inwardly sighed, really not knowing what to say about him. However, based on her understanding towards him, in the beginning, it was indeed peeling for her, and him being bored more or less was also true.
Speaking of which, never mind him feeling bored, Jing Wan also felt quite bored.
Originally, this kind of occasion was also for giving a good impression, roping in connections, or striking one’s enemy, and then conveniently express to that one on the throne one’s brotherly love and good relations, but these things had nothing to do with Li Hong Yuan. He wasn’t interested in doing these and also didn’t need to do. That’s why, things that others perhaps were happy to see, he would just find boring.
“The people of the Bureau of Entertainment are also increasingly useless. What is all this that they’ve taught, old-fashion, dull, and no novelty. Back and forth, it’s all just these. Most importantly, even if repeating the same thing, the places that should stand out are also lacking in taste.”
TN: All
For the Bureau of Entertainment to spare no effort, consuming countless energy, the teachers racking their brains to make arrangements and the women below also painstakingly training day and night, it wasn’t just for the sake of letting those in power be satisfied and thus get rewarded. It was mostly to avoid making a mistake and meeting with disdain, getting punished as a result. After all, the people in the Bureau of Entertainment were for the most part all the wives and children of criminal officials. These people, compared with many of the ordinary palace maids, were even more inferior in status. Moreover, the Bureau of Entertainment didn’t lack those with twisted personalities. Towards these former high and mighty nobles, after falling into their hands, they just liked torturing in all kinds of ways, obtaining joy from within. The more beautiful and the more widely known one was in the past, the more one would get tormented. Seemingly, by having these former nobles stepped on under their feet, they would just become more esteemed.
(T/N: The Entertainment of Bureau is mostly made up of women, including those in charge. The they and their used here is the feminine version.)
It’s not that no one wanted to borrow this status as a Bureau of Entertainment dancer or songstress to obtain the one on the dragon throne’s attention, breaking free from the Bureau of Entertainment, that dreadful place, but this kind of person was very rare. Aside from having the looks and talents to attract those in power, they also needed to have enough endurance, further needing to understand how to read others. Most importantly, one needed to have oneself placed low enough. To want to achieve one’s goal, one at least needed to survive and preserve one’s appearance, and these things all weren’t simple.
“This wife feels it’s not bad, wangye is just too picky.” Jing Wan said with a smile.
“It’s wangfei that’s not picky at all. As long as it’s not unbearable to the eyes, then everything is all good.”
“Yes, yes, yes, it is whatever wangye says it is.” Jing Wan said with a laugh, “However, if this wife has to say, it’s wangye that has seen too much, so naturally just bored with it. However, this wife isn’t the same. In the past, back in Qi’an Fu, listening to songs and admiring dance, this kind of thing, was very rare.” Jing Wan somewhat teasingly said.
Li Hong Yuan clicked his tongue, thinking to himself, indeed it was becoming fed up.
Originally, for someone like Li Hong Yuan, after the initial notice, very few will have their attention stopped on him. After all, never mind that there weren’t any benefits, one might even attract trouble for oneself. But, even so, the great majority of people’s attention was still on him. He was too special, so one can’t even not pay attention.
“Since that’s the case, when free, just let the Bureau of Entertainment send people to the manor. After the birthday celebration, there will be plenty of idle time. Even if it’s every other day, after continuously for a year or so, it’s not too late for wangfei to then come tell this prince your thoughts.” Li Hong Yuan idly suggested, wanting to let his own wangfei understand his feelings sooner.
“Wangye is being deliberate, right? In this way, even if not fed up, one would still become fed up. After becoming fed up, what will one use to while away the time?”
“Aren’t there still entertainers in the manor? The male acting troupe, the female acting troupe, or the mixed troupe. If not, then just go invite one from the outside. In the capital, there are plenty of famous and no name troupes. If still not enough, then just add in the various street performers. Otherwise, it’s just looking for some storytellers, letting them all wait in a line for you to pick as you please. Whether it’s one every day, or blending together, whatever makes you happy.” The living Enma calmly said, saying it as if these were all their own, able to do whatever they want.
Jing Wan had a bit of a helpless look, “Setting everything else aside, just those famous ones in the capital, one needs to book at least a month or two in advance, so how can it be however I please?”
Li Hong Yuan looked to Jing Wan, suddenly straightening up, “If this prince wants them, who dares to snatch from this prince? If this prince orders for today, who would dared to delay until tomorrow?” Although he was indifferent as usual, the aggressiveness within was obvious to no end, even boldly tyrannical like it was natural.
Even Jing Wan choked at his words, let alone others. No wonder he was the entire capital’s ‘enemy’, having no friends. With this personality, it’d be strange to have friends.
In reality, even if Li Hong Yuan’s personality wasn’t this terrible, he probably wouldn’t have friends either, because he was a young shell with an old core. With people around the same age as his shell, their level was truly too far from his. Those people, in his eyes, were just like small children. And with those that were the same age as his core, he for the most part was still at least a level higher than them. Afterwards, he believed that his body was young and his heart wasn’t old either, so naturally unable to get along with those old relics either. Thus, what was placed in front of him was just small children or old men, and he just happened to exist in the middle, so it’d be strange for him to be able to have friends.
Of course, in Li Hong Yuan’s eyes, regardless whether it was his shell or core, his wife was always the closest to him. All in all, he firmly refused to acknowledge that he was an old cow eating tender grass.
Jing Wan didn’t say anything, just intentionally or otherwise sweeping a glance at the one on the throne.
Li Hong Yuan turned to look towards Le Cheng Emperor, “Indeed, there’s still imperial father that can snatch.”
The blue veins on Le Cheng Emperor’s forehead popped out again, nearly just smashing the cup in hand, “This old man isn’t that idle.”
Setting aside Le Cheng Emperor being busy with handling political affairs all day long, impossible to indulge in pleasure, how can the people outside the palace casually enter the imperial palace? Even if it’s a certain acting troupe entering the palace, that’s still needing to receive very strict inspection. There was just a pile of things to handle. Don’t look at how he was the esteemed emperor, in this regard, he wasn’t nearly as carefree as the people outside the palace.
Li Hong Yuan looked towards Jing Wan again, “The only one able to snatch simply won’t snatch, so wangfei can greatly rest assured, and just do as you please.”
Jing Wan just wanted to seal a certain someone’s mouth. This was not only pulling in animosity for oneself, but also pulling in hate for her?
