Chapter 10: Summoned by Grandfather

“Might possibly be going with grandmother to the Chen family.” Luo Old Madam’s maiden family was Chen.

This was an incomparably strong and also irrefutable excuse, yet also an excuse that makes one jealous and resentful.

Luo Jing Ying restrained herself from losing her composure, and Jiang Ling Shan’s smile stiffened. However, it was clear that her level was still above Luo Jing Ying’s, and very quickly she recovered. “So it’s like that. But no worries, next time younger cousin Wan will definitely be able to receive Miss Sun’s invitation. Miss Sun is a very modest person, if she sees you, younger cousin Wan, she’ll definitely like you.”

With such familiarity and rather obvious intimate manner of speaking, she was showing off how close she was with that Miss Sun.

Before coming to the capital, Jing Wan had specifically studied the noble madams, as well as those noble daughters, of the capital. Her temporary teacher at the time was Gong mama. Although the old madam had mentioned some stuff to her before, but what she didn’t know was that Jing Wan’s understanding of the capital’s affairs even exceeded many of the locals.

This Miss Sun, Sun Yi Jia, was born high and noble, and was also very outstanding in all aspects. Even those unfavored princesses and junzhus[1], when facing her, not only had to somewhat concede, they sometimes would even fawn over her in order to live better.

Perhaps Sun Yi Jia’s temperament really wasn’t bad, but it definitely wasn’t modest either. Rather, she was the kind of person that was accustom to being held high up with everyone revolving around her. And what kind of person was Jiang Ling Shan? Her mother was merely a shu daughter of the Head Minister of Rites, and her father was only a fourth ranked official. There was too big of a gap between their status and position. This wasn’t a place where everyone was equal. As a master, addressing servants girls as sisters or becoming good friends with them and what not was practically an enormous joke.

Of course, it didn’t mean that people, who had a large disparity in status, absolutely can’t become close friends, it’s just that the odds were too low. It was obvious Jiang Ling Shan didn’t have this fortune. And Sun Yi Jia wasn’t someone that would lower herself either. Jiang Ling Shan was merely a little lackey that used every means possible to desperately squeeze herself into Sun Yi Jia’s circle, and was even the lowest ranked kind. Because there were too many people that wanted to curry favor with Sun Yi Jia, she needed to constantly pay attention to not get pushed aside by others. And on the other hand, she also needed to carefully fawn over that person as well.

She can’t go too overboard and cause the person to be disgusted with her, and also can’t be too reserved and not have any presence. Without mentioning being exhausted both mentally and physically, getting by not according to one’s wish and being unsatisfied was certain.

For her to be able to occupy a seat next to Sun Yi Jia, it was indeed a skill. For example, Luo Jing Ying also coveted that circle, yet didn’t have the capability.

Jing Wan was rather uninterested in exposing her. After all, everyone all have their own way of survival, regardless of whether it was voluntary, or forced to make that kind of decision. She and Jiang Ling Shan, for the time being, didn’t have any grudges or animosity. There was no need to tear down all pretenses of cordiality and tie a death knot. How it will be in the future? We’ll see.

Naturally, the afternoon meal was very lively. Luo Old Madam’s body perhaps was somewhat exhausted, but her spirit was quite good.

Because it was Jing Wan’s first time entering the capital, and also because her position in the old madam’s heart was extremely high, as expected, the things she received as greeting gifts were all not bad. Her little treasury once again added another mark.

Sure enough, as Jing Wan had predicted, the old madam had sent someone to pass a visiting notice card to the Chen family, and that side very shortly sent a reply. Just, the time was a day earlier than that Sun Yi Jia’s flower banquet. The trip to the Chen family, not only will Jing Wan go, her fourth uncle’s entire family will also be accompanying along too. This way, that something flower banquet, perhaps might still have a chance. After all, right now someone had their eyes on her, if that person didn’t make any trouble for her, she would instead feel it was not normal. Although she hated all kinds of scheming and all kinds of fighting, but if trouble comes knocking, she will fight back.

The things Jing Wan prepared for the various branches’ siblings were finally all sorted out and sent off. As for whether they like it or not, her own older brother and younger shu siblings, she might still somewhat care about, but the others had nothing to do with her. This is precisely the so called ‘do not worry about scarcity, but rather about uneven distribution[2]‘. The same thing naturally won’t be everyone’s favorite, so it’s inevitable to get yelled, ‘what’s this!?’. Even if she painstakingly investigated what they liked in advance, there are people like Luo Jing Ying that exist. Even when the thing is clearly something they like, but because it was different from others, or that the price wasn’t that high, they will still nitpick about it, thinking that you’re just insulting them.

After taking care of this matter, Jing Wan led some people to prune the plants and trees in her little courtyard. Apart from because there were already some places that she wasn’t too satisfied with in the first place, the other reason was because, of the people that came to her little courtyard today, there were a few that were too ‘touchy’ with their hands and wrecked quite a few of her flowers, making the overall appearance not too pleasing to look at.

The people serving close to Jing Wan’s side were all people brought over from Qi’an Fu. That’s why they were all accustomed to seeing her personally take care of the plants and trees. All they needed to do was to hold the tray, carry the watering can, and extend a helping hand when she needed it.

Actually, they all thought that their family’s miss was very impressive. Regardless of whether it was the bouquets displayed in the rooms, or the plants and trees in the courtyard, even if they continuously learn from miss how to arrange them, the result was still not as good looking as miss’s. The same thing, miss only needed to extend her jade white hands and randomly fiddle with it a few times, and the final product will appear even more beautiful.

A little servant girl came in from outside the courtyard entrance and whispered something to Gong mama, who was standing to the side. After Gong mama nodded, the little servant girl retreated back out. Gong mama then took two steps forward, “Miss, the old master sent someone to invite you to the study.”

Jing Wan slightly paused and placed the clippers and flower branch in her hand onto the tray to the side. Qing Zhu quickly let someone bring forth warm water for Jing Wan to wash her hands. After she finished washing, Jing Wan returned to her room and changed her clothes, still preferring a plain and light color. She then headed out of her courtyard with Qing Zhu and Qing Mei.

Outside the courtyard entrance a servant boy lifted his head and straightened his body, but his eyes were facing down, not daring to carelessly look around.

“Xiao Ge[3], sorry to make you wait.”

That servant boy hurriedly bowed, “Greetings third miss. This little one hasn’t waited long.”

“En, then let’s go.” Jing Wan nodded.

Towards the Luo family Manor, Jing Wan still wasn’t completely familiar with it yet.

That servant boy originally thought that Jing Wan would ask some things. After all, an inner court young lady suddenly getting called over by the head of the family, and even to the front study that they might not even be able to step into in their entire life. No matter who, they would all probably be somewhat nervous. If not in fear, worrying about whether or not they’ve committed some blunder, then they would be in excitement, wondering if they’ve received some good grace. However, third miss not only didn’t ask any questions, but was also very calm. She wasn’t just pretending to be calm, but was truly composed.

“Old master, third miss has come.”

“Come in.”

Jing Wan had her two servant girls remain outside and went in alone. Inside the study, aside from the head of the family, there was also her father and eldest uncle. Jing Wan roughly knew what was going on. Most likely she was ‘sold out[4]‘ by her father. Everyone else all ‘backstabs their father’, but when it comes to her, why was it the opposite? How about she do some ‘father backstabbing’ things to retaliate against this daughter ‘stabbing’ father?

Jing Wan flawlessly bowed to the three. Afterwards, she stood there with her eyes on her nose, and her nose pointed to her chest.

For Luo Rong Yan, he’d already seen his own daughter’s certain impressive aspects last night. Moreover, he’d always never cared about these things, so he somewhat disinterestedly sat to the side. Grandfather, Luo Pei Shan, and eldest uncle, Luo Rong Wen, were different, studying her with examining gazes for quite a while.

Luo Rong Wen’s heart felt a kind of indescribable complication. And as for Luo Pei Shan, his thoughts were a bit strange.

He’d never thought himself to be a good person, but he wasn’t someone who purely pursued after benefit and power either. Everything he did, no one in his family refuted, all believing it to be reasonable and expected. He himself was also accustomed to this. However, after hearing his second son relay those words, it suddenly provoked a feeling of being trusted, understood, and acknowledged. Seemingly, compared to others’ ‘indifference’, this kind of feeling made him happy. It was like as if a person, who was walking alone, suddenly discover that they actually weren’t alone. In a place unknown to him, the other person took all his efforts to heart, and furthermore, felt that he did well.

This kind of mentality was indeed a bit strange, especially when the one that brought him this kind of feeling was his own granddaughter.

Luo Pei Shan completely pressed back those thoughts. This wasn’t the reason why he called this granddaughter over for.

“Third girl, as a person, being able to see through things a little, isn’t a bad thing. But seeing too much, isn’t necessarily a good thing either, especially for married women of the inner manor. Because, if you see tings too clearly, you can easily get hurt, and with absolute rationality, you will lose a lot of joy.”

Jing Wan absolutely didn’t expect that her grandfather would say something like this. This wasn’t something a literary official, in a male dominant society, as the head of a family, would say. A man that could say this kind of thing, at least, wouldn’t completely look down on women, or treat women as someone who was only emotional, finicky, and stubborn. She finally lifted her eyes to look directly at the person behind the desk, seemingly once again coming to understand him a bit more. At that moment, she also felt a sense of approval towards him, beginning to regard him as her real grandfather, and not just as a grandfather in name.

[1] Junzhu – Daughters of a Qinwang (first ranked wang). Similarly translates to princess too. Usually, can be the nieces of the Emperor or even the granddaughters of the Emperor.

[2] From the analects of Confucius

[3] Xiao Ge – Literally translates to ‘little big brother’; casual way of addressing a male; I really couldn’t think of a good alternative

[4] The original word is ‘keng’ which literally meanings pit, but here it’s referring to the internet slang usage which roughly has the same meaning of ‘throwing someone under the bus’. The full slang is ‘keng die’ which literally translates to ‘to entrap your dad’. Aside from meaning getting cheated or swindled, it can also mean to be disappointed by. I think getting backstabbed is a similar concept in meaning, or throwing someone under the bus.