Chapter 149.1: Just the Start

Because Luo Jing Ying got reprimanded by Luo Old Madam, she was unable to restrain her anger inside her heart. She was a young lady after all, so naturally also needed face. Getting reprimanded in front of this many people, with not only the big and small masters of the Luo family present, but also a crowd of servants, she nearly wished to die from humiliation. These people have always believed in ‘flattering the high and stepping on the low’[1]. As the one who even if isn’t in charge of the household in the back manor, still has the final say, Luo Old Madam’s attitude practically can determine a person’s honor and disgrace, and even life or death.

Luo Jing Ying only cared about her own feelings, even wishing she could disappear, and it was also because of this, she didn’t notice that she was actually already being shunned by the Luo family. Aside from still having the Luo family name, the treatment she received in the Luo family was already no different from that of someone that has been expelled from the clan.

And once she enters Rui Qinwang Manor, this bit will gradually magnify and become more obvious. From the start, she’s relied on Rui Qinwang’s pampering, being extremely arrogant and condescending, considering everyone else to be beneath her. But once the people of Rui Qinwang Manor realize she’s actually more or less the same as an orphan girl, then Rui Qinwang will immediately take back his pampering towards her, and might even because of the Luo family’s attitude and things not reaching his expectations, have all the fault blamed on Luo Jing Ying’s deception.

As long as he turns cold, without needing to say anything, and without needing to do anything, Luo Jing Ying will just fall into hell. According to that EQ and IQ of hers, she’ll most likely get schemed to death. However, Li Hong Ming probably won’t let her die. No matter what, she was still a daughter of the Luo family. If she dies, Luo Pei Shan, for the sake of the Luo family’s reputation, also won’t brush it aside. Even if he doesn’t want to become enemies with him, afraid he will still ‘become enemies’. This naturally wasn’t something Li Hong Ming was willing to see.

The Luo family can completely disregard this fourth miss just as long as it’s not known to outsiders. That’s why, as long as she carries the Luo family name, then she’ll need to be consciously prepared to be thoroughly squeezed dry of her worth. Once she loses her value, then she’ll be not far from death.

Luo Rong Ping already was aware, using his daughter’s marriage connection wasn’t really reassuring. Although he didn’t want to admit, for Rui Qinwang to ‘highly regard’ him this much, it wasn’t because of his talents, but rather because his old man was Luo Pei Shan, this fact alone. A person that was completely disliked by the targeted person was just a useless person. At the moment, Luo Rong Ping needed to think of a way to construct a kind of ‘even though Luo Jing Ying isn’t Luo Pei Shan’s most beloved granddaughter, she’s still not lacking’ facade. Otherwise, he was worried that he will also become useless.

Luo Rong Ping was lost in thought, deeply contemplating about something, while Liu-shi had her head lowered, occasionally tearing her handkerchief. They were somewhat incompatible with the lively atmosphere. From beginning to end, Luo Pei Shan had everyone’s reaction all taken in and didn’t speak.

Luo Rong Ping for better or worse was still his son. He similarly had spent quite a deal of effort and energy on him before, but Luo Rong Ping repeatedly ignored his urges, agreeing overtly but opposing in secret, and further because he didn’t help him further advance in his career, he has since then harbored hard feelings. And right now, he even went as far as to deviate from the family. Sometimes, Luo Pei Shan even thought of just having him expelled from the Luo family, solving all troubles once and for all, but his rationality ultimately remained. This kind of thing can’t be done casually as one pleases. Moreover, Luo Rong Ping’s conduct can’t even be displayed on the surface. However, there was one thing he nevertheless needed to do, and that was to not let him continue bouncing around. Just, how should this specifically be handled?

Of the remaining things, Jing Wan just let someone pick out ones that appear to be pretty good. Even if she won’t use herself, she can still use as gifts for others, or as rewards in the future. And as for the rest, they were taken care of rather simply and crudely. The gold and silver items will all be melted down, and the other precious stones and such will all be dismantled, used to make into other things.

Jing Wan’s way of handling things, under normal circumstances, was the most common way of handling old items. But, these things were all given by Jin Qinwang after all, so was it okay to handle it like this?

Jing Wan just smiled and didn’t say a single word.

During the lunch banquet, although everyone didn’t all gather together, the things were still prepared by each family for each family. However, every year at this time, Le Cheng Emperor would always have bestowments. Aside from things like zongzi[2] and such that are essential for the Dragon Boat Festival, there would also be some other dishes bestowed down.

Often times, during this kind of special day, it just reflected which officials of the court were in the Emperor’s heart. Of course, Le Cheng Emperor, due to consideration from various aspects, won’t completely act according to his personal likes and dislikes. But from some of the small nuances, everyone usually was able to guess pretty accurately. Vainly trying to guess the Emperor’s intention, that was a great crime, but as a subject of the imperial court, if you completely don’t go and think about the Emperor’s thoughts, then you will probably end up eliminated.

The Luo family got bestowed six dishes, and were all even dishes with pretty good implications[3]

. And as for the zhongzi, there were more than a hundred, with various kinds of flavors. Just, wasn’t the amount of zhongzi a bit too much? One has to know, what the Emperor bestowed was food, so it all needed to be eaten, and one can’t even bestow them to the servants either. That would be viewed as looking down on the imperial might.

Luo Pei Shan waved his hand, leaving behind a portion, and then having the rest all sent out. Every family that was related by marriage all had a share, including the Chen family. This way, each family actually all didn’t get much. That was something bestowed by the Emperor, how many people want yet can’t obtain. Thus, after learning the origin of these zhongzi, not a single one wasn’t exceptionally happy. Even a single zhongzi was divided over and over again, and what reached each person’s mouth was just a small piece, yet it made the person eating feel as if it was the most delicious delicacy in the world, very much enjoying it.

Even if it was already the fifth month, the dishes bestowed down still couldn’t escape the fate turning ice-cold. Moreover, there also wasn’t the saying of ‘one needed to eat cold food on a hot day’. Jing Wan especially paid attention to food. That’s why, towards these few dishes, she wasn’t very interested.

“Father, last year it was just two dishes, yet this year it was twice as much, isn’t this………..”

Luo Pei Shan waved his hand, “Getting promoted to the position of Head Minister of Appointments, adding a dish is only proper and to be expected. The additional three dishes, those are all for third girl. Don’t assume that the high regard your old man has received from his Majesty has already gotten to the point where no ordinary person can surpass.”

Alright, he all understood. However, these weren’t clearly indicated who they were for, so Luo Pei Shan waved his hand again, having them all divided.

Two hours after the afternoon meal, Le Cheng Emperor led the imperial consorts and concubines, as well as the princes and princesses, back to the palace. As for the murder case’s perpetrator, right now they still haven’t found any clues, making Le Cheng Emperor somewhat irritated. And from this aspect, it also proved that this incident wasn’t really an ordinary murder. But what exactly could the reason be? In the end, no one was able to say anything substantial. Additionally, towards his sons, as well as the officials, mutually making bets in private, and with this ‘new grudge’ and old hate adding together, he naturally rose in anger again, and it even rapidly shot up. A certain good son of his, because of losing, just let someone have the people that participated in the race all beaten half dead, and afterwards, directly let someone have them dragged away, inquiring no further. One misstep, and these people all might lose their lives.

Le Cheng Emperor hated that he couldn’t have the person dragged over, and ruthlessly skin them. Such a moron, don’t you know to take care of it in private?

That’s right, in Le Cheng Emperor’s eyes, his mistake wasn’t having the people beaten up, but rather the time and place in which he beat up the people wasn’t right, easily getting denounced by others. Just watch, by tomorrow, they will certainly be accused of misconduct by the imperial censor.

All knew that Le Cheng Emperor’s mood right now wasn’t good, so naturally no one came looking for suffering.

Others won’t go look for trouble, but the heavens continued to give Le Cheng Emperor more hardship.

[1] Flattering those that are higher in status and stepping on those that are lower in status.

[2] Gluttonous rice with fillings wrapped in leaves

[3] Aside from dishes getting auspicious names, the ingredients and how its cooked factor into the implied meaning of a dish. Just think of it as food puns, except they take very seriously. The only example I can think of right now is longevity noodles.