Chapter 552: The Inside and Outside of the Manor Two Different Sceneries

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How his wife was, setting aside for now, Li Hong Yuan was still analyzing even more matters.

This Changping Marchioness was Changping Marquis’s second wife after his first wife died, but in reality, she was blood-related sisters with Wei-shi. The two of them were both ‘the peach replacing the dead plum’. In other words, the original Wei-shi and Changping Marchioness have probably long died, their corpse thrown to don’t know where. If the ones that killed them had a bit of conscience, perhaps they would roughly bury, but if not the least bit humane, then the corpse most likely already got fed to the wild dogs to the point where there weren’t even bone shards left.

Changping Marquis belonged to one of the former four dukes and nine marquises, originating from the Cui clan. The Cui clan was also a large influential clan, developing pretty well. Just, the Changping Marquis Manor had long started declining. If not for the Cui clan backing them from behind, they probably would’ve already thoroughly perished. Just, the current Changping Marquis, outsiders perhaps don’t know, but the people in the clan were very clear, that was just a complete moron, not having any abilities and even having no improvements, believing himself to be infallible. Originally, aside from an empty title of Changping Marquis, he didn’t hold any actual post, yet even blamed the heavens, giving him an excuse to indulge in a drunken life of luxury. Never mind this, he won’t even listen to others’ advice, obstinately clinging to his own course, having long made the clansmen be thoroughly disappointed. Moreover, he even favored the concubine and eliminated his wife, making the Changping Marquis Manor fill with a foul atmosphere.

This marquis position was also bestowed by the Great Ancestor[1] to the branch of the Cui clan that had assisted him the most back in the day. Moreover, he even directly stated, only the direct descendants of this branch can inherit the noble title, even if an adopted son from the clan, it also won’t do. If not for this, this noble title probably would’ve long gotten stolen away by the others in the Cui clan. A noble title, for an influential clan, still had quite the impact. If managed well, it can bring in endless benefits. That’s why, no matter how useless Changping Marquis was, they still can’t let him lose the noble title, putting their hopes on the next Changping Marquis.

Of course, speaking from the entire family clan’s interest, this marquis, either need to be very capable, able to hold up half the sky alone, and lead the entire clan towards better days, or just need to be an obedient puppet, having all things grasped in the clan’s hand. The kind that was mediocre, their dislike level was probably just second to the current Changping Marquis.

“How’s the investigation regarding the Changping Marquis Manor?”

“Replying to master, the Cui clan clansmen originally wished to support Changping Marquis’s eldest di son onto the position, but this person just got suppressed too ruthlessly since childhood, originally having a bit of cleverness, yet didn’t learn anything that should be learned, so at present, very mediocre. Speaking of which, he actually still matched the others of the Cui clan’s criteria, just Changping Marquis wholeheartedly wants to have the position left for his second son born from his beloved concubine. Does master remember, a few years ago, at the imperial summer residence, during the poetry gathering prior to departing, an incident had occurred?”

Li Hong Yuan thought for a moment, still somewhat remembering a little, “What of it?”

“At the time, master once stated that Changping Marquis has a mess of a backyard, favoring the concubine and extinguishing the wife, using the shu to take the place of the di, so want to let someone else sit in the position of Changping Marquis. Just, before even returning to the capital, Changping Marquis just made a ruthless move, letting his own eldest son have problems, becoming crippled. That way, the only one able to sit onto the position of Changping Marquis is just his second son. Thus, this matter in the end just ended up unsettled.” Speaking to here, An Er was somewhat nervous inside, because this matter seemingly didn’t get reported to master.

It wasn’t deliberately hiding thus not reporting, but rather, even if letting master know, he probably won’t specially go change anything either. Additionally, there was another matter at hand, so inadvertently just had this matter forgotten. Just, in the end, it was still their oversight.

For better or worse, a descendant of a meritorious founding minister, that bit of mess in Changping Marquis Manor still wasn’t to the level of needing to seize his nobility. In addition to the Cui clan helping out on all sides, the current Changping Marquis was nevertheless still that degenerate.

Towards this matter, Li Hong Yuan indeed didn’t have any impression of, but after pondering slightly, he also roughly understood what happened. Since it was that long ago, he was also too lazy to look into their mistake. For the people by his side, as long as they’re aware of their mistakes, having an understanding inside, then there was no need to severely punish every time. In the way of governing, one should have a good balance of tension and relaxation.

Li Hong Yuan recalled how ruthlessly Changping Marquis’s eldest di son had beaten who he originally thought was his di younger sister, but in reality, was actually the shu-born that took his younger brother’s place back then. His words at the time, for him, can be considered a kind of backing, but in reality, it just made him sink even deeper into the mud. Having accumulated over ten to twenty years of resentment, at that time, afraid even he got hated by him.

Whether others hated him or not, Li Hong Yuan has never cared. In any case, there were plenty of people that hated him.

But, this kind of person that harbors hatred, usually can do unexpected things.

If he was that Changping Marchioness, then clearly will nicely make use of this person.

“Have Changping Marquis’s eldest di son investigated in detail, including his wife, wife’s clan, as well as the people of the Cui clan, the more detailed, the better.”

TN: All

“Yes, master.”

In reality, going to investigate now clearly was a bit late, but since it was possible, then naturally can’t overlook. Just like for example, a spy from several decades ago, that even developed into a family clan, could it be that just because they’ve already sent out many information, even if seizing them, it can’t undo the matter, that’s why just ignore? What a joke. As the saying goes, ‘to mend the pen after the sheep are gone’, it’s never too late.

When Li Hong Yuan returned, Jing Wan was awake. Just, she didn’t make any noise, so the servant girls standing watch in the outer room all didn’t know. Without the familiar scent by her side, she wasn’t able to sleep too well, just having her eyes opened in the dark. Hearing the sounds outside, she sat up holding the blanket. As the door curtains got lifted open, a faint light followed in.

Approaching closer, from the breathing, Li Hong Yuan more or less can make out Jing Wan’s current situation. Thus, he just reached out and uncovered the cloth covering the night pearl inlayed in the bedside. And just as expected, he met with Jing Wan’s bright eyes.

“Have you been awake for very long?” Li Hong Yuan reached out to caress her hand. It rather wasn’t cold.

“No. Ah Yuan, you’re very busy lately.” Jing Wan was just simply stating a fact.

“I’ll avoid going out at night as much as possible, and even if going out, I’ll also return as quickly as possible.”

“It’s not that serious. Right now, I get sleepy relatively easy. Actually, I feel, if we sleep separately for a few days, I can be like before, sleep alone on a big bed, flipping and turning however I want. In any case, you’re also busy, so how about we just sleep separately?” Jing Wan quite sincerely suggested.

“Does Wan Wan know what this husband’s condition was like prior our marriage? Light sleeper, easy to wake, and often dreaming. What do you think is the difference between a person under this kind of condition, and the person that sleeps with you every day?” Li Hong Yuan rather calmly said.

Jing Wan blanked. Truthfully speaking, after getting used to this man, she was also able to sleep very well, even rarely waking at night. Moreover, whenever she would wake up, he for the most part would also wake up along with. But, whether or not a person slept well at night, it can completely be reflected in a person’s mental state. This man clearly was just vigorous and lively, his body very good. Was this the state of someone that wasn’t able to sleep well at night?

“Wan Wan, without me, you can just adjust in a few days, but without you, this husband completely can’t get used to. That’s why, are you sure you want to sleep separately? If yes, then I also don’t have any objections. After all, it’s still my wife’s request that’s the most important. Just, without me by your side, you best take it easy. What if you accidentally were to flip onto your stomach? Losing this little bastard isn’t that big of a deal, but having a miscarriage, you will also suffer.”

Jing Wan watched him nonchalantly go from being pitiful to shifting into another strange style. She didn’t know whether to laugh or cry, “What nonsense are you saying, who would curse their own son like this. Even if pretending to be pitiful, you’re also quite half-hearted, but forget it, our living Enma that’s always willful and overbearing also has a rare moment of ruining one’s own image, so this bed, will also continue sharing half with you.”

Although saying it as such, Jing Wan was actually very clear inside, he wasn’t lying, so she couldn’t help but heartache for him.

Li Hong Yuan rather declined to comment, extending his hand and resting it over Jing Wan’s slightly protruding stomach, “How do you know it’s a son, what if it’s a daughter?”

“Didn’t you say it’s that little bastard, making use of every opportunity, and regardless of what, all must come to this world?”

“Pinching the time that precisely, if not him, then who?” Li Hong Yuan coldly said.

“If it’s really him, then it’s also you that gave the opportunity.” Every time speaking of this, they would just ‘argue a few words’. Actually, majority of the times, Jing Wan all felt that he was just being dishonest about his feelings, expressing how much he disdained, yet inherently still looked forward to that child.

“Indeed, I gave the opportunity. That’s why, I now regret it, wanting to choke him to death, what to do?”

“The possibility of it not being him is even higher. Wouldn’t this just be implicating the innocent?” Jing Wan reached out and directly embraced his neck.

Li Hong Yuan carefully supported her body, “Even if it’s not, still want to choke to death.”

Jing Wan kissed him on his lips, and afterwards, just stuck to him just like that, “Giving birth will be very arduous. If you really do that, then wouldn’t I have suffered for nothing? Ah Yuan, can you bear?” With that said, she directly kissed him, the tip of her tongue easily sliding open Li Hong Yuan’s lips, prying open his jaw, the most direct and deepest entanglement.

Even though his wife was seducing him because of that unborn little bastard, Li Hong Yuan still unhesitantly accepted.

It was already past the first three month, so certain restriction were lifted again. Of course, although lifting the restriction, the frequency certainly will need to greatly reduce. Moreover, for the most part, it will just be once.

Just once, and moreover, it’s very long since the last time, for the living Enma, it wasn’t even enough to pick at, merely just an appetizer, completely unable to have his fill. Rather than this, he often felt that one might as well not eat. But, an appetizer for better or worse can still satisfying the craving. If one doesn’t eat, then really can only continue starving. That’s why, when having the opportunity, it’d be a waste to not eat.

Jing Wan also only learned after starting again that seemingly, her body after getting pregnant became even more sensitive. As such, it was also even easier for her to feel pleasure, so more or less forced a certain someone to ‘drive faster’. It was obvious, a certain someone’s face just darkened even more. Thus, for the sake of letting this man not record that many debts on the unborn baby, Jing Wan could only use other ways to serve him. It can be said that what they didn’t do before was all brought out and done. Moreover, she was even unprecedentedly ‘diligent’, her level of embarrassment completely off the charts. However, as the saying goes, unfamiliar the first time, familiar the second time. After three four times, she also just didn’t feel anything of it anymore.

Jing Wan endured serving a certain someone twice tonight. Afterwards, she just directly collapsed. So tiring!

And a certain someone that had padded his stomach, held Jing Wan, kissing her somewhat sweaty temples, letting someone prepare the water. After cleaning up, he refreshingly fell asleep holding her.

[1] Great Ancestor – Posthumous title for the founding emperor of a dynasty.