Chapter 4: Rushing to Die?

There was already a doctor waiting inside the Luo Manor, thus the doctor came very quickly.

Because he was a white haired old doctor, there was no need to avoid gossip.

Separated by a handkerchief, the old doctor carefully checked Jing Wan’s pulse. Because the old madam had already sent someone to inform him to come check third miss’s pulse at a later time, and knowing that Jing Wan was favored, he naturally didn’t dare to slight her in the least.

“Third miss’s foundation is very good. Her body doesn’t have any major problems. Just need to recuperate for a bit.” Actually, towards Jing Wan’s body’s degree of healthiness, the old doctor was very much amazed. Even though she looked thin right now, she was still sturdier than most young ladies.

Hearing this, Zhang-shi was finally at ease.

Afterwards, under the watchful eyes of everyone, Bai Yiniang[1] forced herself to extend her hand to let the doctor check her pulse. From an outsider’s perspective, Jing Wan making the old doctor check Bai Yiniang’s pulse can be considered a great honor. After all, this old doctor had came from the imperial physicians court. Don’t say a Yiniang, even those proper masters that don’t have any status or position in this manor aren’t even able to move him. If she dared to say even half a word of refusal, she’ll be considered ungrateful.

Since she couldn’t hide it anymore, then she could only calmly confront it. After all, she herself wasn’t very sure either. Her period wasn’t very accurate, so it was also good to check, so as to avoid being scared and on edge all the time. “I’ve troubled you.”

Once the old doctor pinpointed the vein, it was pretty much certain. However this kind of thing, there must not be the slightest mistake. He changed his hand, then stroked his bread. “Congratulations second master, second madam, this Yiniang is pregnant. About a month and a half.”

Zhang-shi blanked, then immediately after, smiled, “This is really a happy occasion. Our second branch hasn’t had an addition to the family in many years. This might even be a white and chubby little guy. In a bit, I’ll inform mother of this happy matter, let her also be happy.

Shortly after, she let the head mama send off the old doctor.

Luo Rong Yan was somewhat surprised. There was joy, but not much. After all, he already had five children. Compared to his close friend’s family, who didn’t have any children even after praying to all the gods and buddhas, seeking out all the doctors, and eating all kinds of home remedy, he was definitely considered to be plentiful in children. However, people all say, more children more happiness. Luo Rong Yan softened a bit towards Bai Yiniang, “Since you’re pregnant, properly take care.”

“Yes.” Bai Yiniang, seeing Luo Rong Yan’s attitude, distinctly became a bit bashful, her happiness even more evident. It was very difficult to not be moved by this handsome in appearance and elegantly graceful man. Originally, she was just an unfavored shu[2] daughter. Towards her own husband, she’d long not held any hopes for. When that maternal uncle in name gave her away, her heart had practically turned to ashes. However, after meeting the Luo family’s second master, she suddenly felt that the heavens still took pity on her. She’d thought of every way possible to get pregnant with this child. As expected, it was right to do so.

Ji Yiniang loathingly gritted her teeth. All these years, she’d always wanted to get pregnant again, wanting to have a son, but it was a shame there wasn’t any movements. Her body was clearly very healthy, but she just couldn’t get pregnant. And now, this whore actually got pregnant first. Looking again to see their very indifferent master being a bit more caring towards this whore, her heart nearly died from jealousy.

Bai Yiniang suddenly glanced at the silent Jing Wan, who had her eyes lowered, and for some unknown reason, she suddenly opened her mouth, “Really have to thank third miss for today. Else, this concubine wouldn’t even have known. If by chance master’s child was accidentally injured, then this concubine really wouldn’t be able to atone even in death. Wonder whether third miss likes a younger brother or a younger sister? Before, one has always heard that third miss is a good elder sister.” Now, she no longer hid her movements and caressed her stomach. Her gaze towards Jing Wan carried a traced of provocation.

Jing Wan could tell, her mother, because of Bai Yiniang’s pregnancy, was really unhappy, but she also hid it very deep. Even she herself couldn’t detect any emotional stirrings. As a woman, as long as she had the slightest trace of feelings towards her own husband, then towards her own husband having children with other women, she definitely wouldn’t be completely unconcerned. Her mother’s heart has her father, and was fully packed.

She was just an unmarried girl. Regarding the topic of having children, it can’t come from her mouth, so she could only silently console her mother, even if the other party didn’t understand her intentions.

Originally, exposing Bai-shi was simply giving her a warning, but why did this person just want to rush forward seeking death?

Jing Wan looked to her, then suddenly tilted her head, smiling like a flower, innocent and beautiful, but the words that came out of her mouth, instead made the people who understood instinctively tremble in their hearts. “Well, my daddy and my mother’s children, regardless if it’s a younger brother or younger sister, I’ll like.”

As long as her father doesn’t lean to Bai-shi’s side, leaving the child and eliminating the mother and what not was just too simple.

Quite a few amongst them felt Bai-shi was a clever person, not lacking in beauty nor tricks. But how come once pregnant, the brain broke? Really think that now that you’re pregnant, you have the power to step on third miss’s head? Ten months carrying the child, and it hasn’t even been two months yet. Even if in the future a son is safely birthed, so what? Third miss has a full-blooded elder di[3] brother and her parent’s love. Even when she’s married, she wouldn’t need to rely on your shu son. On the contrary, if you win her over, there’s even endless benefits.

Ji Yiniang coldly sneered as she pulled on her handkerchief. Jealousy was still jealousy. Yet, towards Bai Yiniang, she carried three part contempt.

“Master….” Bai Yiniang seemed as if she’d suffered an enormous grievance. Facing Luo Rong Yan, she tearfully sobbed. That pitiful appearance made those who saw exceedingly want to gather her into their embrace and pamper.

But unfortunately, most of the time, Luo Rong Yan was never someone that had tender feelings for the fairer gender. Especially since he was someone who didn’t understand the twists and turns of the rear court. He felt that Bai-shi had strangely cried for no reason. Clearly it was just fine before and everyone was all happy, are you looking for bad luck? Moreover, the situation was somewhat peculiar, and was even related to his eldest daughter. However, he was certain that the source of the matter was on Bai-shi. He wasn’t interested in getting to the bottom of it and directly creased his brows, “What are you crying for?”

Bai-shi choked. Her complexion went from green to white, making those who were not pleased with her, directly stifle their laughter.

“Alright, go back and properly take care, don’t raise the child into a tear bag.” Luo Rong Yan stood up and dusted his gown. As the male master with the highest position in this courtyard, when he got up, the others naturally wouldn’t continue to sit. Luo Rong Yan looked towards Jing Wan, “It’s not early anymore, you should head to the main courtyard to pay your respect to your grandfather.”

Jing Wan nodded in agreement.

The head mama retraced her steps, not knowing what had happened, just feeling the atmosphere was somewhat strange. Because the masters wanted to go to the main courtyard, she didn’t say much either. After respectfully sending them off with a bow, she looked again to the deathly pale Bai-shi, “Bai Yiniang best return to rest soon.”

Since entering the Luo family, Bai-shi had never suffered this kind of anger before. She angrily gritted her teeth, then turned to leave, clenching her handkerchief.

Ji Yiniang fanned herself with a handkerchief like it was fan and rather pleasingly returned to her own little courtyard.

Following after was the always like a wood block Ping Yiniang.

Luo Rong Yan and his wife brought along the four children and a crowd of servants and majestically headed towards the main courtyard.

Jing Wan looked around the Luo Manor that was not at all luxurious yet appeared elegant in all respects, her thoughts somewhat adrift.

The Luo family has continuously, for two to three hundred years, been a family with a literary reputation. Although they couldn’t be considered an aristocratic family, their reputation was nevertheless not small. The current head of the family, Luo Pei Shan, was currently the Head Minister of Rites. Although he wasn’t comparable to the cabinet ministers as well as the Head Minister of Appointments in power, he was still a true and honest important minister of the imperial court.

Additionally, Jing Wan’s second great-uncle was a well-known great scholar in the recent twenty years. He has countless students, and it could even be said that his students filled the world. It’s just this great-uncle’s temperament was somewhat peculiar. Not mentioning still being unmarried[4]

till now, he actually didn’t have any children either. Grandfather wanted to have him stay at the Luo Manor to enjoy his later years, but he refused. Afraid, apart from grandfather, no one else knew what corner of the world he’s nestled in nowadays.

However, he has numerous disciples, so they didn’t worry about him not having anyone to take care of him.

As as for the Head Minister of Rites, Luo Pei Shan, the times Jing Wan has seen him was not at all much. Even if they’d once lived under the same roof, it was normal to be unable to see him for months in succession. However, in Jing Wan’s eyes, this person’s whole life can also be considered legendary.

The Luo family’s roots were in Guang Yuan Prefecture’s Qi’an Fu. And Luo Pei Shan could be said to be full of political wisdom. At the age of twenty, he brilliantly placed third in the imperial examination and caught the attention of the then di granddaughter of an old cabinet minister, and the now Luo Manor old madam. The Luo family at that time wasn’t prominent, but could also be considered honest and noble. When Luo Old Madam was still unmarried, she was very much pampered, and thus Luo Pei Shan was ‘kidnapped into being the son-in-law’[5].

Luo Pei Shan was someone who had ambitions. He wasn’t willing to only rely on his wife’s connections and influence to stay in the capital. Instead, he personally asked to be appointed to a post outside the capital. And Luo Old Madam firmly stood by him, no matter how poor and simple their life was, she accompanied by his side from beginning to end.

No matter where he was at, Luo Pei Shan’s achievements were always exceptional. And in the capital, he also had his wife’s family’s upmost support. Truly can be said to have climbed up step by step. Not long after Jing Wan was born, her great-grandparents passed away one after the other. The whole family returned to Qi’an Fu to observe the mourning period. And grandfather, Luo Pei Shan, was in mourning for his parents for nearly six years[6]. In officialdom, this unstable and treacherous place, don’t say six years, even two or three years were very fatal. Basically, there wasn’t any chance for one to rise up again. Yet, Luo Pei Shan crawled up and even step by step got to the position of Head Minister. Jing Wan even faintly believes that he probably still has the ambitions to move forward even further.

As for Luo Old Madam, because of the arduous early years, as well as injuring her body when she gave birth to the youngest daughter, for the most part, stayed in Qi’an Fu recuperating. Because grandfather was in a high position, up until three years ago, aside from Luo Old Madam, Jing Wan, as well as Jing Wan’s fourth uncle’s family, Luo Pei Shan and the others all entered the capital in succession. In the beginning, Jing Wan stayed behind. Aside from because of Luo Old Madam, she herself also really liked Qi’an Fu, because Guang Yuan Prefecture’s Qi’an Fu was in the south, and she in her past life was also someone from the south.

“Third big sister…”n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

Jing Wan’s thoughts were interrupted.

[1] Yiniang – Form of address for the concubines in the family.

[2] shu – Children born from a concubine

[3] Di – Legitimate children born from the legal wife.

[4] Wanted to point out that men could have a bunch of concubines and still considered unmarried as long as he doesn’t have a main wife. Only the wife is ‘married’ in, concubines are ‘taken’ in; hence why it’s considered surprising that he doesn’t have children, despite knowing he’s not married.

[5] The original phrase here was ‘Bang Xia Zhuo Xu’, which loosely translates to ‘from the list of successful candidates catch a son-in-law’. It refers to a marriage culture during the Song dynasty, where the entire family of the various wealthy and upper class families would set out to pick and literally fight over the successful candidates from the imperial examination to be their son-in-law.

[6] Common practices for the mourning of the death of one’s parent was a mourning period of 3 years, this is like the height of filial piety, and so since both passed away 3 years for each parent so 6 years of mourning. This affects his political career because one usually has to return to their hometown to mourn and can’t work.