Chapter 212.1: Punishment, Promise

As soon as the words dropped, the young madam that had gotten slapped earlier, as well as a young man, frantically scrambled out, kneeling onto the ground. Speaking of which, clearly knowing this was a disaster, if possible to avoid, probably no one would want to come out. But, to be out of luck and get implicated, can you still deny that you’re not someone from Changping Marquis Manor? If you don’t come out, even if just hesitating for a moment, afraid will immediately be ‘sold out’ by the onlookers’ gaze. “This subject, Changping Marquis Manor Cui-shi, pays respect to wangye, may wangye live for thousands of years.” With that said, he curled up on the ground, not daring to lift his head, not daring to speak either. Their slightly trembling body betrayed their true feelings.

(T/N: Changping is the title meaning ‘lasting peace’, while Cui is their family’s surname, I didn’t want people to be confused thinking it’s the woman speaking; Cui-shi just means ‘of the Cui clan’.)

“Changping Marquis Manor?” Li Hong Yuan faintly muttered, “Changping Marquis Manor is a declining household, but the Cui clan in the end still has a bit of foundation. Even without the substance, should still put on an outer appearance. This is not even wanting the face anymore, raising such a thing?”

With just that girl’s conduct just now, it wasn’t the least bit like the reserved manner that someone born from a meritorious noble family should have. Even if declining, lacking in materialistic aspects, it still shouldn’t be the character lacking along with. The Cui clan’s face can be considered to have cleanly swept the ground.

Li Hong Yuan has never been polite with his words, not knowing what it means to be tactful. Slapping someone’s face and jabbing at their wound, that was all viewed as normal. However, his status and position was displayed there. Even if getting one’s scar peeled open by him, dripping in blood all over from getting stabbed, one can only endure, not daring to utter a sound. Ordinary people…………alright, ordinary people wouldn’t be able to cultivate this kind of behavior like his either.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

The two kneeling on the ground, their faces were thoroughly flushed red, but what can they do? That was all their old man’s handiwork.

“Wangye, Changping Marquis Manor’s matters, this servant knows a thing or two about.” At this time, Gong mama suddenly opened her mouth.

If an ordinary servant, Li Hong Yuan naturally won’t pay any attention to. However, ordinary servants wouldn’t dare speak at this time either. Li Hong Yuan glanced at Jing Wan, seeing her seemingly a bit curious. Forget it, since is wife was curious, there was no harm in hearing about it, and he can also openly look at her more, no? “Speak.”

At the time, before Gong mama left the capital, for the sake of paving the road for Jing Wan, she naturally researched the situation of the respective families in the capital in advance. And towards Changping Marquis Manor, probably because of coincidence, she even understood very much in detail. “Changping Marquis Manor’s current marchioness is actually the second wife. Reportedly, ill on the bed year round, with the yiniang in charge of the household, and only when necessary would the marchioness appear. That year, Changping Marquis’s first wife died from a difficult birth, and afterwards he married this current wife. She has been married to Changping Marquis for more than ten years, yet has been said as a hen that can’t lay eggs. And Changping Marquis took pity on her weak body, unable to bear letting her suffer the hardship of childbirth, actually gaining a favorable reputation.” Speaking to here, Gong mama let out a mocking smile, “But in reality, this marchioness is nothing more than just a decoration. Not appearing on normal days isn’t because her body is unwell, but rather having been confined in a small courtyard in the marquis manor. Although she wasn’t treated harshly, it’s still just plain dishes and praying to buddha year round. It’s not she’s unable to lay eggs, but rather, till this day, she’s still a virgin…………..”

The crowd was in an uproar! Towards Changping Marquis, this person, the outsider’s evaluation of him were half bad and half good. Some say his ears are soft[1], his temper weak. But there are also people who say he’s one to value feelings and righteousness, having tender feelings towards the fairer sex, yet turns out, this simply wasn’t the case at all?

However, seeing the few people of the Changping Marquis Manor with a deathly pale face, this matter perhaps was true.

Li Hong Yuan twirled his fingers. Towards irrelevant people, he has never cared about, “Continue.” He nonchalantly opened his mouth.

“Changping Marquis has a beloved woman. This person, aside from a good face, has no other good points…………”

Aren’t these words describing Jin Qinwang? To really dare say! Everyone carefully swept Li Hong Yuan a glance. However, seeing him with the same expression as usual, they couldn’t help but silently curse a few words inside.

“………However, Changping Marquis was completely infatuated with her, entirely losing his soul. For the first wife to have died of a difficult birth, the main reason was that on the same day, that woman also gave birth. All the midwives and doctors were all occupied by that side. However, don’t know if it’s having a strong fate or what, the mother died, yet she properly lived. Seemingly, it’s precisely this miss.” Gong mama glanced at that Miss Cui who was in an exceptionally sorry state, unable to read her emotions, “That woman’s fate seemingly wasn’t that good. With that many people watching over, yet the child she gave birth to died prematurely…………”

Everyone mulled over these words, seemingly the more one pondered, the more it didn’t seem right.

Especially the young man that was still kneeling on the ground, his complexion exceptionally unsightly, even having a deep hatred. He didn’t know that his own mother actually died like this. How can his father be this ruthless, that was his original wife?!

“This beloved concubine of Changping Marquis suffered in pain from losing her child, so towards the child left behind by the first wife, she produced a shift in affection, pleading Changping Marquis to let her temporarily raise this child. Changping Marquis took pity on his beloved concubine, and also pitied the child for having lost her mother at birth, thus nodded his head in agreement. And so, this child left behind by the first wife was just given to a lowly concubine to raise just like that. For a while now, the mother and daughter have always had deep feelings. Even if that woman gave birth to another child, this bit has never changed. And this young miss has always called her ‘mother’. The child raised by a woman with no good points, not knowing the rules, not having propriety, not knowing shame, and not abiding by etiquette, this is rather understandable.”

Quite a few people all had their line of sight placed on Gong mama. This level of skill in stepping on people was also impressive.

“Originally, with the first wife, that obstacle, gone, everything was all perfect. However, a dignified marquis, still less than thirty, how can he not have a wife overseeing the marquis manor. A lowly slave of unknown origins naturally can’t be promoted to a marchioness, but if he remarries, what if the new wife makes things difficult for his beloved concubine? So, he very carefully selected one that was willing to be a puppet, and the reason why Changping Marquis’s second wife is willing is all because of being forced to repay a favor. This young miss acknowledged a thief as a mother, disgraced her di older brother by slapping her di sister-in-law in public, but towards that thieving mother’s child, she was still a bit like an older sister.” Gong mama’s gaze landed on the young man kneeling on the ground again, “As a marquis manor’s eldest di son, any random servant was all able to trample on him, and when reaching marriageable age, his old man, for the sake of money, engaged him to a merchant’s daughter, even glorifying the cause, saying that that was his former benefactor, and as a person, one can’t be heartless and cold. As such, he didn’t disdain the other party’s status and position, even for the sake of displaying his benevolence and righteousness, letting his di eldest son take the other party’s daughter as wife. Under normal circumstances, a merchant’s daughter wasn’t qualified at all to even be the concubine of a marquis manor’s eldest di son.”

The two kneeling on the ground, oh, Changping Marquis’s eldest di son and eldest daughter-in-law. If earlier, it was because of fear, then now, it was just unwillingness to resign and pain, and also the humiliation and shame of getting their wound uncovered.

“………..And this merchant’s daughter was even just an unfavored shu daughter, appearing to have a large dowry, but not a single copper went through her hands. After all, that was just a transaction between Changping Marquis and the merchant. After giving up money to buy the path one wanted, how could one still give up a beloved daughter to a man that completely didn’t have a future to speak of? Fortunately, this merchant’s daughter, aside from having a timid nature, only knowing to submit to humiliation, in other areas, she was still considered passable. The husband and wife supported one another, and can also be considered harmonious.”

Tsk, this was practically countless times more brilliant than the plays on stage.

“Changping Marquis’s second son came from the beloved concubine, and right after birth, was just recorded under the second marchioness’s name, raised in the name of a di son. Reportedly said to be accomplished and elegant, remarkable in literary talent. Reasonably speaking, in this kind of occasion today, he shouldn’t have not come.”

Everyone looked around everywhere, “Here.” Don’t know who shouted this, but shortly after, a path was paved in that direction.

“Nothing to do with me, nothing to do with me…………” Probably because he was in the period of his voice changing, it was a male duck voice, even carrying the sound of sobbing. Someone seemingly wanted to have him pushed out, but for him to have not appeared until now, one probably can guess what state he was in right now.

However, this time, without needing for Li Hong Yuan to instruct, a bodyguard already went forward, having the person dragged over.

Appearing to be just a fourteen year old youth, yet this while, had his head firmly held, shouting and bawling, “Nothing to do with me, I’m not someone from Changping Marquis Manor, I’m not……………”

[1] Meaning he’s gullible and naive; credulous

T/N: Btw, this isn’t the end, there are more shocking matters to this drama. See how many cliche cnovel plot points this side story hits. I find that when cliche troupes aren’t all piled on the main characters, but spread out among side characters, it tends to have a better effect.