Chapter 212.3: Punishment, Promise

“Changping Marquis, this prince doesn’t need to make up something to charge against you either, not fixing the bamboo screens[1], pampering the concubine and exterminating the wife, using the shu to take the place of the di, these are all enough to let someone else become the Changping Marquis.” This can be considered to just make the final decision in one blow.

Even if these things were all just Gong mama’s one-sided statement, but so what? Since Jin Qinwang already said it was true, then it definitely must be true. If Changping Marquis was marquis with resounding authority, then naturally it won’t be over just like this. Even if convicting him of a crime, it also needed evidence, and even someone like Li Hong Yuan probably won’t easily say these kinds of words either. However, he was just someone holding onto a marquis title, and additionally even held a sixth rank official post. Unfortunately, it was all empty. As for the rest of the Cui clan, in reality, they probably were vaguely aware inside. By staying far away from Changping Marquis, their future prospects perhaps can become even broader.

And that Cui second young master that was frightened to the point of wetting himself, don’t know whether or not he was really ‘taken care of’, but in any case, he didn’t appear again.

The remaining matters had nothing to with them. Whether it was removing the noble title, reducing the noble rank, or switching with someone else, that was all Le Cheng Emperor’s matter.

Li Hong Yuan waved his hand, letting them all respectively scatter, going to do what they should be doing.

Even towards Sun Yi Jia, that look of ‘wanting to drive away’ couldn’t be more obvious.

The corner of Sun Yi Jia’s mouth couldn’t help twitching, “Jing Bo, what were you drawing just now, can I have a look?”

“Still haven’t finished drawing, how about you come with me. You can’t stand for too long, so I’ll just let someone add a seat for you to the side?” Even if Luo Jing Bo was a ‘lump of elm wood’, it’s not like he wasn’t completely oblivious. Furthermore, he’d long sensed that ‘not allowing for other’s to disturb’ atmosphere between his younger sister and future brother-in-law. If one were to forcibly stay, it would just make one’s heart and liver ache from getting stabbed.

“Alright, still haven’t seen you draw outside before.” Want to drive her away? She didn’t even want to say here.

Outside the pavilion, Chen Zheng Min and Sun Yi Lin, these ‘brothers in hardship’, still haven’t left yet either.

Sun Yi Jia pulled on her own older brother, and Luo Jing Bo directly hooked Chen Zheng Min by the neck, having the person dragged away.

Since they didn’t want to arouse other’s suspicion, attract unnecessary rumors and gossip, they actually just left along with the two of them, just their steps were somewhat heavy, and their face didn’t have a smile.

For things like feelings, no matter how much one urged, it was all useless, still needed for them to walk out on their own.

Afterwards, the servants also withdrew farther away.

In the end, they were still outside, so Li Hong Yuan wouldn’t go as far as to get touchy, just turning his head and staring at her, seemingly as long as he stared at her like this, he’ll be perfectly content.

Without something to distract herself with, getting stared at like this for too long would very easily become awkward. It was better to just be intimately hugging together in private. Jing Wan actually very much wanted to rudely have him slapped aside, but in that case, she’ll probably be troubled. In private, he indulged her, and on the bed, she was further allowed to freely scratch and bite him as she pleased, but on the surface, it won’t do. If she were to slight him in the slightest on the surface, everything else aside, just on Noble Consort Su’s side, it’ll probably be difficult to get by.

Li Hong Yuan however has always been secretly versed in the skill of ‘obtaining an inch and wanting a mile’, and was further skilled in grasping someone’s weakness. Because he knew she had misgivings, he thus was even more unrestrained, and knowing it wasn’t good to touch her, he also just allowed her to get up and sit on the other side of the table.

Li Hong Yuan turned his body, propping against his chin with one hand, leisurely continuing to looked at her. Probably because he was completely facing against the irrelevant people, his gaze was increasingly unbridled, tender and inseparable, yet also carried undisguised desire.

That look was also if having her clothes stripped completely, “Can wangye not stare at this subject like this?” Jing Wan smiled, however only Li Hong Yuan knew that she was gritting her teeth.

“Actually, this husband very much want to see, in this kind of place, what kind of beauty Wan Wan will be when not abiding by etiquette.”

Jing Wan’s face flushed red, both embarrassed and vexed. “Pervert!” She angrily blurted.

Li Hong Yuan’s smile was very enticing, “Wan Wan just learned today that this husband is a pervert? Originally thought that on the seventeenth of the fifth month that day, you should’ve already known. However, Wan Wan can’t blame this husband either, can only blame Wan Wan for being too delicious. Moreover, to this day, this husband still haven’t eaten full, sigh, how come Wan Wan doesn’t feel sorry for this husband.”

Jing Wan’s complexion was just like the color blending palette. She thought that her own mouth was still considered nimble, but encountering this kind of talk, she still could only suffer in defeat. “Shut up, also, you’re still not a ‘husband’ yet.”

“Fiancee is also ‘husband’.”

(T/N: In chinese fiancee ‘未婚夫’ translates to ‘yet to marry husband’.)

“Heh, is that so?” Jing Wan insincerely smiled, “In that case, you’re also just the third ‘husband’.”

Jing Wan, in a slip of tongue, just regretted right after saying, seeing a certain someone instantly become gloomy, the temperature seemingly all dropping several degrees, even feeling as if one was about to fall into an ice pit, his face turning faster than the turn of a page. She didn’t forget the reason why he went crazy last night, and the one to suffer in the end would still be her. This one really would kill someone in a moment of disagreement, and it definitely wasn’t a joke. Encountering this kind of individual that viewed human life like weed, it really was unusually tiring.

“Ah Yuan……….” Jing Wan softened her tone.

Li Hong Yuan actually smiled again, however gloomily.

“Ah Yuan, Ah Yuan, I’m also just your eighth ‘wife’, so we’re even, ah?!”

“Even? Those ones in front of you won’t continuously think about me, but the ones in front of me, their thieving intentions towards you won’t die, can that be considered even? Last night just said not allowed to meet them, but today…………..”

“Hey, it’s unfair like this. This kind of situation like today’s, can it be confused with another matter? Could it be that in the future, places where they exist, I’ll just have to stay far far away from, based on what?” It’s not like she did anything shameful.

“It indeed shouldn’t be you avoiding them. They don’t have that qualification, then can only……………..”

“Not allowed to randomly kill people.” Jing Wan immediately said.

“What kind of position is Wan Wan using to say these words? Even imperial father telling me ‘not allowed’, it all may not necessarily be effective.”

Jing Wan pursed her lips and didn’t speak.

Li Hong Yuan’s coldness rather vanished a little. As expected, to want to let her be completely unrestrained and have no misgivings towards him, it was still too early. Some words, one still can’t say it too overboard. In a moment of carelessness, she probably will shrink back again, becoming self-disciplined and abiding by etiquette. “Don’t worry, I won’t easily take their life.”

In other words, probably also won’t easily let them off either. In the end whether it was his possessive desires acting up or just eating vinegar, perhaps there was both. “Just don’t go too overboard, and towards them, I was merely just engaged to them once, that’s all.” This man, she really can’t just wantonly argue with.

Jing Wan weakened her stance, and Li Hong Yuan knew when to stop. Arguing because of outsiders wasn’t worth it. “Suppose, it’s at most another ten days before returning to the capital. Afterwards, it’s the mid-autumn festival. Wan Wan, why don’t you hold your coming-of-age ceremony prior to the start of the new year, then next spring, we’ll get married?”

Don’t know whether or not it was because at this very moment, his expression was too gentle, his eyes containing too much expectation, Jing Wan strangely just nodded her head, “Alright.” And after answering, she just blanked, but shortly after, she smiled in relief.

There wasn’t a rule where one must hold the coming-of-age ceremony after reaching fifteen. Her birthday was in the second month, and on the second month of next year, she’ll be fifteen. Holding the coming-of-age ceremony the few months before or after all wasn’t a problem. Although the wedding date hasn’t been set, it should still be in the spring of next year. The summer was too hot, and this one probably won’t let her delay it until the fall either.

Seeing Jing Wan respond, the negative emotions on Li Hong Yuan all dispersed, revealing a gentle and unimaginable smile.

A crowd of servant girls who were first-rate in appearance slowly appeared carrying all kinds of fruits and desserts………………….

[1] Meaning the family is messed up