Chapter 163.2: No Value Alive

In the Luo family, for each men’s concubines, the public funds only provided for three. Those with more will have to raise on their own. Speaking of which, Luo Rong Ping clearly didn’t have the money to raise, yet insisted on raising this many. Once that fresh feeling passed, he just threw them aside without care or concern? It’s also no wonder Liu-shi, this main wife, was this ruthless towards them. As for why she didn’t have them sold off, instead wasting money to raise them, and feeling annoyed by their presence, perhaps this was the so called ‘if the old doesn’t go, the new won’t come’. Liu-shi probably just want Luo Rong Ping to see, there’s already this many at home, if you bring more back, where are you going to raise them? How are you going to raise them? If from the start, he’s already unable to bring out anything presentable to win over the beauty, then based on his personality of willing to go through hell for the sake of keeping up appearances, slapping one’s face to make it swell, he will probably feel too embarrassed to bring more home.

As for letting him sell them himself? Don’t joke, this kind of face damaging thing………

Then, it was just to give them away, and can even make connections———–Just, he’ll probably get beaten to death by Luo Pei Shan.

Seeing Jing Wan, Zhang-shi quickly went forward, “Wan Wan, I heard just now that the manor doctor came over from your place, where do you feel unwell? How come you didn’t tell mother?”

“Mother, I’m fine. Probably because last night I was greedy and used a bit of ice. The manor doctor has already examined, don’t even need to take medicine. Originally was going to go tell you, but didn’t have the time yet.”

Zhang-shi, upon hearing this, sighed in relief, “I know you have summer pains, but right now, there’s still some time until the hottest period, so one mustn’t use the ice basin this early, otherwise when the hottest period comes, one will definitely be hot if too few ice basins are used. For a young lady, coming in contact with too much cold air ultimately isn’t good.”

“I know mother, won’t use anymore.”

Zhang-shi still wanted to say something, but Jing Wan lightly pinched her hand. Thus, she had the words at the tip of her tongue swallowed back down again.

Jing Wan properly greeted the others.

Luo Old Madam naturally didn’t need to be mentioned, and Wu-shi has always quite liked Jing Wan. Wang-shi, because of little Wang-shi’s matter, harbored gratitude towards Jing Wan. So naturally each and every one all hurriedly called for her to rise. In the Luo family, to have such treatment, aside from her, there was no one else.

Jing Wan sat down next to Luo Old Madam, “Grandmother, how’s the situation?”

Luo Old Madam’s complexion was cold and solemn, “Much worse than predicted. The manor doctor doesn’t have any assurance. But, even if a divine physician came, the best case scenario would still just be paralyzed on the bed, and the worst case scenario……………”

The unspoken words, no need to say, everyone was all clear. One misstep, and the Luo family will be holding a funeral.

Jing Wan also never thought that her third uncle would end up in today’s situation. Although Luo Jing Ying didn’t get along with her, and Liu-shi was deep into schemes, unable to bear seeing others be well, and Luo Rong Ping had strong ambitions, unscrupulously wanting to climb up, all of them unlikable, but Jing Wan just didn’t like them, that’s all, and wouldn’t go as far as to detest them. One has to know, hating a person also required mental effort. Jing Wan was too lazy to have her energy wasted on them. That’s why, she never thought of wanting for them to die. In her past life, there was a saying, what was it called? ——-If they are living unhappily, then I’ll be relieved———Jing Wan had a bit of this kind of attitude. And these three people, if not already having reached the ‘bad’ destination, then it was just on their way towards this goal.

Jing Wan won’t go against her true feelings and say how sad she feels towards her third uncle’s encounter. In the end, she just felt it was somewhat lamentable. However, third branch’s three little beansprouts were all present, with only the sole di son, Luo little eight, nowhere to be seen. As for the eldest son, Luo Jing Ming, he should still be at the Imperial Academy attending class, “Where’s little eight, is he still at the home study[1]? Best let someone bring him back.”

Luo Old Madam nodded, “Indeed should have him brought back, else if by chance……..And also Jing Ming, head to the Imperial Academy and tell him to quickly return, and second girl’s side, also go inform.”

The people of third branch, at the moment, all were unable to step away, so Luo Old Madam directly sent her own people. The people that went to pick up Luo little eight returned rather quickly. Just, seeing that appearance of his, Luo Old Madam couldn’t help getting angry. Never mind that he was dirty head to toe, he was even drenched in snot and tears from crying. This child was already nine, not three, so how did he end up like this? “What exactly happened here? Where are the servants? Where did they die off to?”

Towards the third branch’s children other than Luo Jing Ying, Luo Old Madam all quite liked. Liu-shi’s treatment of her two children can be said to be polar opposites. Not only did she not let this son be infected with the slightest filth, she even had him raised somewhat overly pure, even carrying a bit of delicateness like a daughter. Apart from this, his temper was also pretty good, and quite a lot of people liked him. For him to end up like this in one’s own home, how can one not be mad?

The servant boy practically tumbled in from behind, and without a second word, directly kneeled down, heavily kowtowing and begging for forgiveness.

This servant boy’s age was also just two three years older than Luo little eight, and this while, he was quite frightened.

There was definitely something going on here. Jing Wan quickly got up to pacify the sobbing Luo little eight, going together with Gong mama to take him to go wash up and change. Just, as soon as they stepped out of the door, they ran into his servant girl and wet nurse, who were hastily rushing over. Seeing Luo little eight’s appearance, they even forgot to greet Jing Wan, each blurting out, “Little ancestor, how did you end up like this?”

Jing Wan coldly watched from the side, and didn’t care whether they were genuinely concerned or just acting, “Quickly take him to wash up.”

Meeting with Jing Wan’s cold gaze, the servant girl and wet nurse uncontrollably trembled, hurriedly responding.

Jing Wan narrowed her eyes, “Mama, you go with them too.”

Gong mama also understood Jing Wan’s intention. There was a little demon by eighth young master’s side. Exactly who, they didn’t know. Towards Liu-shi’s matters, Jing Wan was too lazy to question, but now that they’ve encountered something, and moreover, Luo little eight’s surname was Luo, also a master, would they just watch him get bullied by some demons? “Yes, miss.”

Jing Wan turned back. Hearing the servant boy’s account, he was indeed attending class at the home study originally, just for some reason Luo little eight suddenly wanted to return. Because Luo little eight has always been obedient during class, when he asked the teacher to be excused, the teacher also agreed. But as soon as he entered the third branch’s courtyard, the servant boy urgently needed to pee, and thus left for a moment. Just, after returning from this leave, he couldn’t find Luo little eight, so he pulled a passerby to question and then hastily rushed over. When they met again, his master was already like this. In other words, he also didn’t know what exactly happened during that time he was gone.

The servant boy’s leave, exactly just a coincidence, or a deliberate act? Since he didn’t take good care of his master, leaving without permission, then that was just a crime, but seeing on behalf his young age, they gave a lighter sentence, just giving him ten beatings with the rod.

Speaking of which, Liu-shi naturally cared about her son more, and inside the room, she was just sitting there the whole time. Hearing that something happened to her son, she hurriedly came out. Just, when she saw Luo Old Madam’s cold face, she hurriedly retracted her impatience. Women needed to view one’s husband as the sky. This while, her husband’s life or death was still unknown, yet because of her son’s tiny matter, she just disregarded her husband. No matter what, this all couldn’t be justified.

“Mother……..” Her lips trembled, not knowing what to say.

“Would I even let my own grandson suffer a loss?”

“Mother, I didn’t mean this…………then will be troubling mother.” She very unwillingly turned back.

When Luo little eight was brought back again, aside from his eyes still being somewhat red, one couldn’t see any other problems.

“Old madam, just now, while changing eighth young master’s clothes, this servant saw that there were scrapes on eighth young master’s hands and knees, so this servant decided to ask. Eighth young master said, when his servant boy went to the toilet, he originally was about to go look for third madam, but suddenly got pushed by someone. Not only falling down and getting scraped, he even got pressed onto the ground. That person told him, third master is gone, and third madam doesn’t favor you either. And in the future, in the Luo family, he’s just a pitiful bug anyone can bully.”

Luo Old Madam smoothed her cuffs, “Really quite daring.” It wasn’t that heavy of a line, but even Wang-shi, who’s been managing the household for many years, upon hearing this, subconsciously tensed up. Luo Old Madam beckoned Luo little eight over, “Little eight, come over here.”

“Grandmother.” Luo little eight ran over. “Is my daddy really gone? Do you really not like me anymore?”

“Don’t listen to those people talk nonsense, your father just accidentally got hurt, he’ll be fine. Our little eight has always been a good child that listens, why would grandmother not like you? Tell grandmother, who was it that said those things to you, and also who was it that pushed you?” Liu-shi normally appeared impressive, yet now can’t even manage her own courtyard?

“Grandmother, this grandson doesn’t know. This grandson got pushed by someone from behind, seems to be a servant girl in a green dress.”

“Aside from the ones in this room, as long as it’s a servant from the third branch, have them all gathered. Eldest one’s wife, this matter, you go take care of. Anyone that’s fishy, no need to be polite, just have them all sold off as criminal servants.”

“Yes, mother.”

“Eldest aunt, this niece has a small suggestion, don’t know if one can say it?” Jing Wan called out to Wang-shi.

“What’s there that can’t be said, feel free to just say it. Third girl has always been smart, and perhaps will be able to find the culprit very soon.”

“Eldest aunt is overpraising me. Just have all of them separated, then find some extra helpers, and inquire them at the same time, asking what they did during this period of time, who all they met with, and even what all have they said. Have all of this recorded one by one………….”

[1] I’d like to think that this was what I had originally translated this term as in the early chapters. Basically this is referring to the teaching hall set up within their own manor for the children to attend ‘school’.

T/N: Remember how I once said that my favorite character of the third branch was actually the second young master, Luo Jing Ming. Well, you’ll know why .