Chapter 144.3: Poetry Gathering, Double Fifth, Falling for a Trap

Jing Wan very inelegantly rolled her eyes at him, “If there’s really someone that lecherous, just directly tell them, these two were given to me by the Grand Elder Princess, older sister-in-law was worried about you, so borrowed them from my place for you to take out. This way, those people should understand, and in the future, probably no one will gift you beauties anymore. As for those that approach on their own, are you not able to take care of yourself?” With a banner in sight, it’d be a waste to not pull[1]. She believed her adoptive mother won’t bicker with her either. In any case, if something happens, she will still back her up. After all, right now, she had half a wenzhu title. If she were to randomly let someone sweep her face, perhaps the Grand Elder Princess might even be disappointed with her. A person’s status determined many things. Blindly being good-natured, others will just feel you’re weak and easy to bully, and it’ll also undermine the dignity of the people behind you. Deep down, she was never one that only knew to shrink back to begin with. Right now, she further ought to be unyielding.

Sun Yi Jia looked to Jing Wan, “Little sister Wan, this is making a violent wife reputation for me?”

“Give and take, only by giving up can one gain in return. If Luo third young master has a rouge tiger at home, and Luo third young master also fears his wife like a tiger, then nine out of ten people will also all settle down. What are you still worried about your reputation for?” Jing Wan unconcernedly said.

“I don’t mind, just……….”

“Little sis’s words are very right. Yi Jia, you’ll just have to endure it.” Luo Jing Bo gently chuckled. As for him fearing his wife and whatnot, he didn’t mind in the slightest, taking the two stunning beauties and leaving nonchalantly.

Towards Luo Jing Bo’s such ‘open-mindedness’, Sun Yi Jia was also rather speechless.

Jing Wan stroked Sun Yi Jia’s head, just like consoling a child, smilingly opening her mouth, “Older sister-in-law rest assured, grandmother doesn’t even bother with matters in her own sons’ courtyard, so how would she interfere in her grandson’s? Grandfather is also the same. In contrast, if something like favoring the concubine and neglecting the wife were to happen, he would even be ruthlessly beat up. My mother also won’t bother with how her daughter-in-law handles things, and as for my father, even if he has an opinion, he would still keep it to himself. If he dares to lecture you, I’ll let grandmother sort him out.”

Sun Yi Jia really ‘admired’ Jing Wan’s mentality, “You’re practically just rebelling against social norms, disobeying one’s elders and unfilial.”

Jing Wan snorted, completely not taking it seriously.

“Good little sister, these words are fine in private, but you mustn’t say these outside.”

“What are you foolishly worried for, would I not have even this bit of propriety?”

Meanwhile, after Luo Jing Ying returned back, she applied medicine to her wrist, but it didn’t seem to do anything much. She was rather adamant about not wanting to go look for Liu-shi, but she ultimately couldn’t bear it. When she found Liu-shi, she couldn’t help shedding tears in streams, just feeling unbearably wronged. Even when suffering such a huge grievance, her mother was all able to not care about her.

Liu-shi momentarily softened up, but it was only just a moment. This was just a white-eyed wolf. No matter how good you were to her, she will never remember.

“Mother, it hurts……”

“Endure it even if it hurts, that is all your own fault.” Luo Jing Ying ran to Elegant Haitang Residence again, always forgetting the pain after the scar heals. She has never beaten Jing Wan before, yet still never learning to avoid, charging around violently like an idiot. No matter how much she suffers, it was all deservedly so.

“Mother, how can you be like this, I’m your biological daughter.” Luo Jing Ying couldn’t help roaring out.

“Biological daughter?” Liu-shi coldly laughed, “You want me to be a good mother, but have you ever been a good daughter? Others being good to you, that is just rightfully so, and if they’re not good to you, you’ll feel wronged like it’s the end of the world, feeling everyone all owe you. Luo Jing Ying, how big is your face? Get lost.”

“Alright, mother, you better not regret it.” Luo Jing Ying turned and ran.

Liu-shi quite regretted, regretted having her raised into this behavior. One has to know, right now, her days also weren’t good. Some things, although weren’t very obvious, she still sensed it, especially her son, actually daring to talk back to her because of that Huan Niang. She was so angry her liver ached. If she doesn’t think of a way to remedy the situation, then she’ll really become alone in solitude in her elderly years. Under such circumstances, still thinking of the Liu family’s glory, those delusions? Taking care of the present before her eyes was the most important.

That’s why, ultimately an experienced person. Liu-shi wouldn’t go as far as to be the same as Luo Jing Ying, unable to wake up from beginning to end, unable to see clearly.

What Luo Jing Bo took part in can be considered the double fifth literature gathering, and it was rather grand. Every single young scholar in capital, for the most part, were all present. Such a good opportunity to rope in people, a certain few wangyes naturally won’t miss out on.

The literature gathering was set up in a patch of rubble stone forest in the southern outer area of the imperial city. Although said to be ‘rubble stones’, the stones here actually all have different shapes, possessing unique form and aesthetic. There was no human sculpting, but rather a natural masterpiece even more exquisite than human sculpting. In addition to some restless trees mix in between, and after meticulous trimming and tending, then transplanting some flowers, having some of the scattered stones cleared away, and sculpting some natural stone tables to place in between, this place became one of the most beautiful natural scenery.

(T/N: Below are examples of a stone forest; these stones are naturally formed by nature.)

This place was tacitly agreed upon to be the place of scholars. Practically everyday there were people coming to visit. And relatively large-scaled literature gatherings, for the most part, were all at this place.

Because Luo Jing Bo had to wait for Jing Wan to put on makeup for the two beauties, it’d taken quite some time, leaving much later than anticipated, so naturally he’d arrived late. Those heavenly noble descendants have already all gathered. As such, Luo Jing Bo who appeared with two beauties instantly attracted numerous gazes.

Even though Luo Jing Bo had already predicted this, he still paused his steps. Afterwards, he nonchalantly went forward to greet the noble personages.

Having gotten used to seeing fair skinned beauties, towards Hei Mei, this kind of unconventional beauty, everyone all couldn’t help casting extra glances. Especially since she possessed a shred of unruliness, different from ordinary beauties, very easily evoking certain people’s desire to conqueror.

Thus, there really were those shameless few that began to stir.

“Jing Bo has such good luck with women, where did you get these two peculiar beauties?” The one who spoke was precisely Kang Qinwang.

Luo Jing Bo looked to Kang Qinwang’s lustful gaze, practically wanting to glue onto Hei Mei’s body. Luo Jing Bo felt unbearably disgusted inside. In the past, he wasn’t able to come in contact with this circle. Those that he’d came in contact with before, although didn’t lack the lustful type, they weren’t this shameless. For better or worse, you’re still a qinwang, do you have any less beauties at your side, even revealing such a look. Wasn’t it rumored that he was deeply in love with his wangfei? Oh right, that was already the former Kang Wangfei, just a dead person. Shedding that layer of shackles, so what if he lets himself go a little.

Thus, Luo Jing Bo directly threw out his killer move, having Jing Wan’s words brought out. “They were given to this one’s younger sister by the Grand Elder Princess. Today’s occasion is grand, and certainly will also have beauties circling around. If this commoner were to come alone, won’t one appear shameful? As a result, Yi Jia borrowed two people from this one’s younger sister for the occasion.” Luo Jing Bo carried a bit of nonchalant as he spoke.

This time, never mind Kang Qinwang, the others’ gazes also successively froze.

Who was Luo Jing Bo’s younger sister? This simply didn’t need to be asked. Oh, you say he still has two younger shu sisters? Really sorry, probably more than ninety-nine percent of the people present all didn’t know there were still these two people.

Speaking of Jing Wan’s current status, the Grand Elder Princess’s adopted daughter, Jin Qinwang’s fiancee, regardless whether it was the Grand Elder Princess or Jin Qinwang, those were all people they can’t afford to offend. As such, these two beauties, don’t even think about having crooked thoughts towards.

[1] This is referencing war banners, like pulling out the enemy’s banner in battle. The saying just means it’d be a waste to not do something when presented with the opportunity.