Chapter 231.1: Visiting for the New Year, Retaliation

“Double Third Festival?” How come it was arranged on that day?

“Don’t like?” Li Hong Yuan’s fingers lightly brushed over her cheeks, similarly somewhat cold.

“No, not really.” Just, for weddings, seemingly it was normally picking even number dates, so picking a double odd number date was a bit strange. However, this for Jing Wan was rather irrelevant. She wasn’t that picky to begin with. Moreover, the date was decided on after a series of selection and wasn’t randomly picked. Could it be that this bastard would even pick an inauspicious date to get married? But, if she were to say she didn’t like, he will definitely let someone pick another date. However, it will only be shifted to an earlier date, and won’t be pushed back.

But, this wedding date was just directly told to her like this? Seemingly her family still isn’t aware yet.

“Want to walk around? Standing here for a while will get cold.” Li Hong Yuan lowered his and glanced down. On her feet were special shoes, specifically little leather boots, with wool added inside, and on the surface, there were additional decorations. Although for the time being, it won’t be cold, but when outside, if one doesn’t move around, it’ll definitely very quickly freeze into ice-cubes.

Jing Wan very much wanted to say, wangye, this is in the imperial palace. Under your old man and mother’s eyelids, can we not be a bit more low-key? All those people in the heated room all heard that it was Noble Consort Su that wanted to meet her. And now, this overtly using your foster mother as an excuse, is it really good? However, looking at his expression, she just knew, in his eyes, there seemingly wasn’t anything wrong. Jing Wan deflated.

Li Hong Yuan, seeing Jing Wan with a look of helplessness towards him, overflowed with a smiling expression in his eyes, “Let’s go.”

And thus, Jing Wan just strolled around with Li Hong Yuan, walking neither quickly nor slowly, idly chatting, not having the slightest misgivings. Regardless whether it was the coming and going palace attendants or the imperial guards inside the palace, they all clearly saw. And that somewhat overly long cloak on Jing Wan, one didn’t even need to look at the style to know who it belonged to.

They didn’t dare to say anything with their mouth, but they couldn’t help but mutter inside, was this really that indefinitely moody and ruthless Jin Qinwang? Those who didn’t know would even think they were a married couple slowly taking a walk, and moreover, even the kind that had a very good relationship. Alright, that hairstyle that obviously belonged to unmarried young ladies of Luo third miss’s very clearly told everyone, they weren’t a married couple.

Speaking of which, the shameful secrets in the imperial palace were the most numerous, and the most secretive, but the things that weren’t concealed also spread the fastest. Even Le Cheng Emperor very quickly heard of the matter, let alone Noble Consort Su that had gotten ‘used’.

Since Jin Qinwang did it so boldly and confidently, not the least bit ashamed or guilty, Noble Consort Su just helplessly smiled. However, in her heart, a peculiar feeling that only she herself was aware of rose up. As for what kind of reaction the others had after hearing, no one paid attention. In any case, no one would call Jing Wan over to reprimand.

“Oh, it’s snowing.” Jing Wan suddenly discovered the numerous falling snowflakes, little by little……………

This naturally was the first snow of this winter. In reality, the snow from a few days ago still haven’t completely melted.

(T/N: I translated this line as is, but I’m assuming the author means the winter of the new year.)

“Then why don’t you go back.”

Jing Wan nodded, most likely it was more or less time.

When they were still halfway, Eunuch Mu just swiftly fetched over an umbrella.

Jing Wan glanced at Eunuch Mu. I know you’re a good lackey that wholeheartedly considers for your master, but no need to be such an eagerly attentive lackey to her too. Your master is standing over there, you openly ‘betraying your master’ like this, is it really okay?

Li Hong Yuan took the umbrella, lightly sweeping Eunuch Mu a glance. Eunuch Mu although was being attentively to Jing Wan, his eyes were still observing the ground, his ear listening in all directions. Seeing his own master’s gaze, he quivered, seemingly having accidentally gone overboard. In front of master, letting Luo third miss take note of him, was it wanting to die, or wanting to die? He quickly withdrew to one side.

It’s not like the two of them never shared an umbrella before, in addition to the difference in height, Jing Wan didn’t express that she wanted to hold the umbrella either. Never mind the hand being tired from holding, the umbrella above, compared to Li Hong Yuan, was even a bit short, very much a hinderance.

When Li Hong Yuan had Jing Wan sent back, the people in the heated room just happened to come out. Obviously this was preparing to go greet the Empress for the new year.

Seeing the two of them come over shoulder to shoulder, quite a few people were all somewhat stupefied. And when Luo Old Madam bowed to Li Hong Yuan, everyone finally came to their senses, hurriedly greeting.

Jing Wan had the hand furnace in hand handed to Li Hong Yuan, and then removed the cloak on her, returning it to him, “Wangye, why don’t you go back.”

Li Hong Yuan looked to her, their eyes meeting momentarily. In the end, he didn’t refuse, taking the cloak and causally tying it on. Afterwards, he just turned and left, walking away resolutely. As for the hem of the cloak flipping up, as well as his back view, it all appeared somewhat cold, as if the warmth just now was all a facade.

Everyone had their gaze all gathered on Jing Wan, clearly having curiosity and questions in their eyes.

Jing Wan was rather calm and composed as she walked to Luo Old Madam’s side. This kind of thing, there was nothing to explain, practically just the more one explained, the more shady it would seem. It was better to not say anything at all. Turning her head, she also just immediately forgot about it.

Jing Wan was an unmarried young lady, thus didn’t have a rank, so naturally stayed together with the other unmarried young ladies.

Batch by batch, they entered the main hall of Kunyi palace. Inside, there wasn’t just the Empress sitting high in the main seat, the other imperial consorts that were an imperial concubine (嫔) rank or higher were also all present, separately sitting on the two sides, receiving everyone’s formal bow. At this time, it wasn’t just the Empress that was graceful and dignified, the others were also not much different, sitting upright with their two hands folded over and placed on top the lap.

(T/N: I have the ranking of the imperial harem written out in the historical notes page.)

Speaking of which, it has always been the children kneeling to the parents, the younger generation kneeling to the older generation, yet only in the imperial family, this wasn’t the case. When it comes to the Emperor, aside from the directly related elders, the other paternal uncles, and even paternal great-uncles, they all needed to kneel down. And when it comes to the imperial consorts, even their own parents and grandparents all needed to kneel down and kowtow. This was precisely imperial power!

Ordinary people perhaps won’t have any thoughts, but replaced with those shu daughters that weren’t favored at home, even getting deliberately tormented by the di mother, only turning over a new leaf after entering the palace and obtaining favor, seeing the di mother kneeling at their feet, they most likely would feel very elated inside.

Today, the palace won’t have a banquet, so after collectively paying their respects, for the most part, they can just return to their respective homes, swiftly getting lost.

Actually, towards this kind of custom, Jing Wan was quite speechless. Say, messing around like such, enduring hunger and suffering from the cold, what use is there? Those titled madams with high ranks perhaps can still promote their existence, but what about those low in rank, so much so that they can only kowtow outside?

However, even so, Jing Wan still felt many people were quite happy. Then again, to be able to enter the palace to pay one’s respect, that was just a kind of honor, showing off one’s status and position. In other words, how many people want to suffer, yet in the end, still don’t have that chance.

After everyone finished paying their respects, they just idly chatted a few words in groups of twos and threes. There were even a portion of people that just began leaving the palace.

Jing Wan was preparing to leave the palace together with Luo Old Madam, yet got informed, Noble Consort Su wishes to see her. Jing Wan paused in her steps. Presumably this time, it really was Noble Consort Su inviting. Jing Wan slightly lowered her eyes. Previously when Jin Qinwang let someone have her called away, Noble Consort Su wouldn’t have not known that he’d borrowed her name. Then, looking for her now, generally speaking, wouldn’t have let someone directly say it out loud.

Right now, probably quite a few people will think, this Luo third miss really is deeply favored by Noble Consort Su, calling over again and again, really is treating like a treasure. As for whether this was genuine or mocking……….

Noble Consort Su was actually just as gentle and amiable as usual, saying that son of hers has a bad temper, always willful and reckless, and that it was her, this mother, that didn’t teach him properly, hoping Luo third miss to pardon him more and so on. And if he wants to do something, just let him be, no need to bother with him.

Jing Wan on the surface just smilingly responded, but inside…………

Without a doubt, Jing Wan obtained bestowments from Noble Consort Su again. Exiting the palace, Jing Wan got on the horse carriage. Luo Old Madam was precisely waiting for her, seeing Jing Wan indifferently have the small box placed on the table, “Grandmother, let’s go back.”

Luo Old Madam nodded.

The carriage driver outside received the order and waved the whip. The horse steadily began running.

Luo Old Madam was like an old well without any ripples on the surface. The others perhaps can’t tell, but Jing Wan was very clear, her mood wasn’t that good, “Grandmother, don’t be angry, nothing happened.”

“What did Noble Consort Su say to you?”

Jing Wan rather unconcernedly had Noble Consort Su’s words roughly narrated.

Luo Old Madam hooked her lips into a smile, yet it was very cold. Regardless whether she was a real caring mother, or a fake caring mother, Luo Old Madam nevertheless knew that Jin Qinwang wasn’t a real filial son. Based on his care towards Wan Wan, would he let others ‘bully’ her for no reason? Jin Qinwang probably won’t do anything to Noble Consort Su, but her actual son Rui Qinwang……………

Prior to his Majesty sealing the brush, Rui Qinwang has had an endless stream of troubles. To say that no one was scheming against him behind his back, who would believe. As for who, a certain few all felt it was them, to the point that seeing Rui Qinwang suffer misfortune, they were just endlessly happy in the dark. But in reality………….Since she touched the meat of his heart, then naturally don’t blame him(LHY) for inserting a knife in your heart.

Li Hong Yuan who’d learned about the matter was indeed very unhappy.