Chapter 428.2: Wishing to Visit, Imperial Villa

Regarding Grandmaster Liao Chen, this person, it was indeed difficult to come to a conclusion. No one knew exactly how many years he has lived. His reputation was resounding, yet his character was very low-key. However, he nevertheless was genuinely an enlightened high monk, and not someone that was fishing for fame.

In this world, there seemingly wasn’t anything that he couldn’t see through and didn’t know.

Returning to Jin Qinwang Manor, Jing Wan was nestled on the recliner reading a book. Hearing the movements, she lifted her head to see Li Hong Yuan come in, feeling a bit surprised, “Ah Yuan, how come you just came back this soon?”

“It was merely taking a stroll through, not like there’s anything important, so how long can it take.”

Indeed, that was just going through the motions and strolling through, “Then how’s the situation?”

“The specifics, don’t know, went a step too late, so was just too lazy to inquire. However, imperial father wasn’t in a good mood, so it can’t be anything good.”

“You deliberately arrived a step too late, didn’t you? If going too early, were you planning on pleading, or not pleading? If you plead, then you’ll feel sullen, but if you don’t plead, imperial father will have to suspect whether or not you’re really cold-blooded and heartless. Going after everything is taken care of is just right, just needing to go through the motions.” Jing Wan had a ‘long had you seen through’ look.

Li Hong Yuan helplessly laughed, sitting down by Jing Wan’s side, having her taken into his arms, stroking her hair, “It is whatever Wan Wan says it is.”

Towards this kind of attitude of his like coaxing a child, Jing Wan was too lazy to even roll her eyes, curling up in his arms, preparing to continue reading.

“By the way, Wan Wan, in a few days, we’ll be taking a trip to White Dragon Temple.”

“Going to White Dragon Temple at this time, is there something important?”

“Need to look for Grandmaster Liao Chen for a bit of something. The specifics, I will tell you in the future.” If there’s anything that Li Hong Yuan has still kept from Jing Wan, it was probably just his rebirth. It’s not that he didn’t want to say, or that he can’t say, but rather, in his eyes, it wasn’t the right time yet. At least, should wait until Wan Wan escapes her ‘death fate’, and everything all settle. Moreover, Li Hong Yuan was also a bit petty. Didn’t his darling also not tell him about her special origins yet either? That’s why, matters related to this naturally can only be pushed back.

Just like yesterday when her husband let her leave to speak with Shu Consort Qin alone, Jing Wan at this moment also didn’t have any thoughts. Having one or two small secrets didn’t mean there was no trust. Just, “Going to White Dragon Temple at this time right now, is it okay? After the Emperor’s birthday celebration, the other countries’ emissaries will probably stay for at least another ten days or so before leaving the capital.”

“This husband is merely an idle person, everything is all unrelated to me, so what problems can there be?”

That’s why, this really was an endlessly convenient excuse.

“Alright, then how long will we be staying? I’ll let someone prepare the things.”

“For the time being, still uncertain. If things go smoothly, probably can just return the same day. If it’s rather troublesome, then it’s very difficult to say how long. Just randomly bring some things along. If it ends up taking more time, then just let someone send more over.” In White Dragon Temple, he had his own courtyard, but it was a temple after all. Even if White Dragon Temple’s incense fire was prosperous, it still can’t change the fact that they were simple and austere. If possible, Li Hong Yuan naturally didn’t want to let Jing Wan endure hardships in the middle of winter.

Something that even the living Enma wasn’t sure of, Jing Wan really was a bit curious.

The next day, Jing Wan, dressed in relatively flexible clothes, draped with a cloak, headed out for her appointment.

With the emissaries from Cang Jin, they’d arranged to meet at an imperial villa. That was a place where scholars frequently gathered. Of course, quite a few noble family daughters also liked occasionally meeting there to stroll around. The environment was beautiful and secluded, even having quite a few collection of books.

Jing Wan wanted to learn about Cang Jin’s culture, and the people of Cang Jin naturally also wanted to learn more about Qi Yuan, especially that emissary that was quite interested in Qi Yuan’s culture.

Under normal circumstances, if it’s just them alone, even if able to go in, they still won’t be able to borrow the books. However, with Jing Wan present, it certainly won’t be the same. As long as it wasn’t certain special ones that can’t be shared with outsiders, for the most part, all can be borrowed. Additionally, in that place, being open and magnanimous, it won’t attract others’ suspicions.

The horse carriage Jing Wan used was relatively low-profile, but the Jin Qinwang Manor emblem was still there. The people by her side weren’t many, but the servants were capable and experienced, and the guards were also first class.

Immediately upon entering the villa’s gates, Jing Wan just encountered a few women. Two were a certain junwang family’s daughter-in-law, one was an imperial family xianzhu[1], and the other two were young ladies from official families. One of them was from the Head Minister of Works’s family. That man that became a first rank high official just in his early forties, in Jing Wan’s eyes, was definitely a capable one. Of course, this EQ certainly was also formidable. Mingling in officialdom, if the EQ cannot keep up, it was also no good.

Seeing Jing Wan, they all hurriedly greeted, “Greetings to wangfei.”

“You may rise.” Jing Wan gathered up her cloak as she lightly smiled, “In such cold weather, running into you all is rather unexpected.”

The group also smiled back, “Isn’t wangfei also the same, did your Highness also come to this Four-Way Villa to admire the plum flowers?”

“This actually isn’t the case, just a bit interested in Cang Jin’s culture, thus invited the Cang Jin emissaries. As for this Four-Way Villa’s plum flowers, previously didn’t know about.”

Everyone’s eyes all slightly lit up. Truthfully speaking, for anyone that had somewhat of a knowledge of Cang Jin, the men aside, for the women to not be interested, really was very difficult, especially these noble madams and noble young ladies. However, they didn’t dare to openly express it.

“Your Highness hasn’t resided in the capital for long, so not knowing isn’t that strange. Speaking of which, this Four-Way Villa’s plum flowers can be considered a scenery of the capital, especially in the winter. Quite a few people come here just to admire the flowers. Although for the most part it’s all white plum flowers, the grade is nevertheless quite good, all a pretty good choice for poetry or painting.”

“Since that’s the case, then need to nicely have a look today. However, speaking of plum flowers, heard from grandfather that Head Minister Zhong family has the most complete collection of plum flowers, having quite a few rare and valuable breeds. Whenever winter comes, Miss Zhong must really have a feast for the eyes.” Jing Wan’s gaze landed on the girl dressed in pale yellow.

“Your Highness overpraises. The plum flowers that father grew are indeed many, but father is truly quite stingy. For our family, to be able to see once every three to five days is already not bad. And don’t even think about breaking off a branch to put in a vase. A few years ago, I once secretly snapped off a branch, and as a result, got my palm struck and even had to kneel for an hour. Every time winter comes around, our family’s brothers and sisters all want to invite one’s good friends over to hold a plum flower viewing banquet, yet it never goes through. They even think that we’re being stingy, but in actuality, my father simply won’t allow it, having those plum trees viewed more importantly than us, these descendants. All say the youngest son and the eldest grandson are favored, but in our family, that eldest nephew of mine, his position in my father’s heart all need to rank behind those plum trees.” Miss Zhong very much unhesitantly had her own old man’s shortcomings exposed thoroughly.

Everyone all covered their mouths and laughed, but that was the Head Minister of Works after all, so it naturally wasn’t good for them to follow-up.

Jing Wan neither quickly nor slowly headed inward, and these people also all circled around her side, not having the intention to leave. Jing Wan also roughly understood their intentions. At least, it wasn’t convenient for them to openly say. Meeting with the emissaries of Cang Jin wasn’t anything shameful either, so having a few more people listening along, presumably, wasn’t a problem. Thus, Jing Wan didn’t say anything, chatting and laughing together with them. Previously they’d mentioned the plum flowers, so borrowing this topic, this while, they naturally just talked about things in this regard.

[1] 县主 – Xianzhu, generally the title given to a daughter of a junwang, similar to how the daughter of a qinwang is a junzhu.

T/N: The Head Minister of Works’s plum flowers have been mentioned as early as chapter 32, back when grandpa Luo was still eyeing other families’ rare flowers. Feels like it wasn’t that long ago when I started translating, but it’s almost two years already.