Jing Wan this while was still unaware of Noble Consort Su still wanting to relentlessly disgust her. Of course, Noble Consort Su herself perhaps won’t think of it as such. In her eyes, it was true that she wanted to divide out Li Hong Yuan’s love towards Jing Wan, but it was mostly still considering for her son, no? Her son was of imperial descent, so how can he just have one person by his side, how wronged would he be?
En, that’s right, she was just a consort mother that was wholeheartedly thinking for her son. Even if right now her son was estranged with her, she believed that in the future, he will have a change of heart. After all, how can mother and son have overnight grudges?
Just, if one day Noble Consort Su were to learn that the things she’d done to her foster son, that foster son of hers was all completely aware of, and the reason why he got along with her all these years was merely because she had use……..
Sometimes, just thinking about it, Jing Wan all quite looked forward to seeing that scene.
These things can be temporarily set aside for now. In any case, Noble Consort Su’s plans were bound to fall through.
As for those restlessly stirring court officials, even if facing a certain prince they supported, it was also just smilingly beating around the bush, “Wangye, you really are thinking too much.” And afterwards, deeply sighing, “There’s an unfilial child at home, their heart entirely set on Jin Qinwang, saying they’ll die if they can’t marry Jin Qinwang. What can this subject do? One can’t just watch her go die, right?” Afterwards, their expression also relaxed a little, “Wangye, actually, this matter is also beneficial towards you. Think about it, if this subject’s daughter, niece, or granddaughter becomes Jin Qinwang’s side consort, then in the future, if some conflict were to arise between you and Jin Qinwang, then perhaps they can even alleviate the situation a little from within.” All in all, it was just short of blatantly saying, ‘Wangye, this subject doing all this is all for you, this subject really doesn’t have any disloyal intentions.’
Exactly what their intentions were, actually everyone was all clear inside. It was nothing more than seeing Li Hong Yuan right now suddenly rising with influence, and they, in front of the prince they originally supported, actually were somewhat at the edge, thus producing other thoughts. If they have Li Hong Yuan supported onto the throne, then that will truly be the meritorious service of ‘following the dragon[1]‘. Reaching heaven in one step wasn’t necessarily impossible either. Based on their previous circumstances, they were unable to achieve this before. Power and wealth were truly too enticing.
This was just a gamble. If they win, then they will have everything they want. If they lose, it actually wasn’t that serious either. As the saying goes, one cannot punish the mass. Examining the past, losing the battle for the throne, the ones that died were usually just those that were the closest to the loser. When the new Emperor ascends the throne, he needs to manifest his benevolence, manifesting his grace as a ruler, disregarding past animosity, willing to ‘use’ talented people.
And who was Jin Qinwang the closest to? Wasn’t that just the Luo family.
That’s why, these people appeared to have done something stupid, even doing it blatantly, but in reality, the abacus in their heart was loudly clicking. If they win, the return was very high, and if they lose, the risk wasn’t that big. Very brilliant!
However, these people ultimately overlooked one thing, a very important point, and that was just Jin Qinwang himself.
Those that actually worked for Jin Qinwang in secret, seeing their colleague that they were still somewhat close with, their gaze was complicated, in the end, sighing, patting their colleague’s shoulder, and slowly leaving.
———-Say, why do you not want to nicely live, insisting on courting death? Is it that easy to shove people by Jin Qinwang’s side, that even you all are able to? No matter how loud the abacus, unfortunately the direction was wrong. The others perhaps would just make things difficult, but on Jin Qinwang’s side, he will really kill someone. Sadly, these words, they were unable to say out loud. Even if it was painful to hold in, they still could only hold it in.
Compare to Kang Qinwang and Gong Qinwang’s indignation, Rui Qinwang actually didn’t have any reaction. Just, lately, even if Rui Qinwang on the surface was still that gentle and well-mannered, wise-respecting Rui Qinwang, he still more or less made people feel something wrong, his spirit and complexion not good. Especially those few that were experienced and astute, clearly sensing the dark currents in the bottom of Rui Qinwang’s eyes. This clearly was being in a bad mood to the extreme. From the looks of it, should be a big problem that hasn’t been able to be resolved in a very long time.
Tsk…………
Luo Pei Shan carefreely took a trip to Jin Qinwang Manor, even getting to drink a cup of good tea. It was just delivering a message, and when leaving, he even ‘swiped away’ two of Jing Wan’s flowers. He clearly appeared to be a very graceful and elegant elderly man, yet unexpectedly, did such a thing. Something that he can just take away by opening his mouth, why insist on ‘stealing’.
(T/N: The mental image in my head is just grandpa grabbing a pot of flowers and bolting out the manor.)
Jing Wan was helpless, but her eyes also penetrated with indulgence, just like looking at a mischievous child.
The saying of an old child really was true, although in officialdom, it was still having incredible skills, being decisive and clear-cut in handling matters.
“Does Wan Wan have something you want to say?” Li Hong Yuan stood next to Jing Wan, his tone calm as he spoke.
“En? Ah Yuan is referring to the matter of the side consorts?” Jing Wan lightly smiled, “Isn’t that something within expectations? Just, never thought that it would be this soon. I originally thought that one more or less would need to wait another two days. Never thought that these people would be this impatient. However, doesn’t this just happen to prove that those people are actually very optimistic towards you wangye?” Jing Wan carried a playful tone, “Their sight is rather not bad, just a bit slow, intending to ‘deliver charcoal through the snow’, yet unfortunately, it can’t even be considered ‘adding flowers on brocade’[2]. Our Jin Qinwang doesn’t even want their help.”
The back of Li Hong Yuan’s finger rubbed against Jing Wan’s face, “So, how does Wan Wan plan on handling?”
“If it wasn’t his Majesty interfering in this matter, then it’s fine for me to handle, but if his Majesty issues a decree, I’m also powerless. That’s why, wangye, the matter this time, it’s better for you to personally handle. Actually, this wife feels, a truly good husband, not only needs to take care of his own love rivals, he also needs to take care of his wife’s love rivals, understand?” Jing Wan smilingly said.
Jing Wan’s words perhaps sounded a bit out of place to Li Hong Yuan, but it didn’t get in the way of him understanding the meaning within. His eyes narrowed as he stared at Jing Wan, just that fixedly, unable to make out any emotions. Jing Wan felt her hair stand on its end all over from his stare, just like a frog getting stared at by a snake. She couldn’t help but retreat a step. As if knowing, Li Hong Yuan very naturally reached out, slightly exerting his strength, having Jing Wan pulled back, “My love rivals? En?”
Jing Wan wanted to curse. Wasn’t the point to focus on wrong? Boss, why must you cling onto this bit and not let go every time? Jing Wan suddenly got angry, “Clearly I’m the one with even more love rivals, and even the kind that can boldly throw themselves at you. And if you’re willing, I can only smilingly watch, unable to object, and further unable to say anything. That bit of trivial matter of mine long passed by eight hundred years ago, yet you still insist on not letting go.”
“Didn’t this husband say already, those unwanted peach blossoms of mine, Wan Wan can nip as you please, destroy as you please. Even having them all killed off is fine. I won’t have the slightest objection. But, towards certain people, Wan Wan has always stopped me from doing anything.”
Li Hong Yuan wasn’t feeling guilty in the slightest, very much bold and confident. Jing Wan’s temper instantly deflated. That was a human life, can it even be treated the same as a real peach blossom, having it all kacha-ed?
Li Hong Yuan lightly massaged the back of Jing Wan’s neck, “However, Wan Wan is also right. This husband naturally wants to be a good husband, so this matter, I will take care of, absolutely won’t let Wan Wan be troubled by it.”
Hearing him say this, Jing Wan instead felt even worse inside. Letting him take care of, it can’t be that he’ll really destroy those flowers? Can we not be this violent? Those flowers are actually very delicate, unable to withstand the living Enma’s force. If by chance the beauty perishes young, then that would be too much. After all, those people only just want to be pampered and loved, not having to worry about food and clothes, and afterwards, also a bit vain. No matter where, it actually all wasn’t considered a sin. Actually, this kind of people, there were a lot of everywhere, and naturally don’t deserve to die. Of course, if those people really dare to throw themselves forward, she absolutely won’t be lenient either. There were plenty of ways to get rid of them. However, right now, they were just thinking about it, yet you just want to kill them?
“Be a bit more gentle with your methods.”
Li Hong Yuan sneered, “As expected, the benevolence of a woman. Those are people having delusions about your husband.”
Jing Wan pursed her lips. Having lived that kind of past life, unless a psychopathic killer, else who can easily disregard human life.
(T/N: Speak for yourself JW, have you not seen the transmigrated genius assassin/doctor MCs of other novels.)
In Li Hong Yuan’s past life, although he’d witnessed Jing Wan’s resolve when killing someone, her eyes not containing fear, nor hesitation, but that was because that was a true enemy, the kind that had invaded one’s country, killing one’s countrymen, destroying the happiness and peace of countless innocent people.
Li Hong Yuan in the end didn’t really want Jing Wan to become that kind of ruthless and merciless person. In reality, he never felt that there was anything bad about Jing Wan. Seeing her like this now, he slightly heartached, having her taken into his arms, kissing her forehead, “Don’t worry, I won’t kill them. At most, it’s just……….”
As Jing Wan listened, her expression naturally relaxed a little, cuddling against his chest. Just, shortly after, her face somewhat stiffened again, the corner of her mouth uncontrollably twitching, purely because Li Hong Yuan’s following words………..
“……….breaking, crippling, or disfiguring. If it’s dying, there’s just that one path, but if not dying, then there are actually plenty of paths.” Li Hong Yuan nonchalantly said, seemingly as if wanting to give Jing Wan a lecture on a thousand ways to not kill someone yet still able to make them wish for death.
Jing Wan was a bit listless. Her husband not only was ‘an expert in ruining others’, he was also a ‘pro at destroying himself’. Clearly a moment ago, he still had an imposing image, yet seconds later, he was able to become the dark demon king, the kind that couldn’t be more dark. Sure enough, she should be like those people outside, firmly believing that the living Enma was forever the living Enma.
[1] The phrase ‘following the dragon’ usually is used when referring to having helped an Emperor onto the throne. Basically for the people who managed to support the ‘right’ prince and won the battle for the throne.
[2] ‘Delivering charcoal through the snow’ is an idiom meaning to help someone in a difficult situation, while ‘adding flowers on brocade’ is like making something even better than it already was. In this context, the officials think that they are helping out a ‘powerless’ prince onto the throne, thus ‘delivering charcoal through the snow’, but in reality, they aren’t even worth it in Li Hong Yuan’s grand schemes.
