Chapter 9: Pitfall Digging Behavior That Can Be Seen Everywhere

When Jing Wan was born, the old madam’s eldest daughter had already married. Towards this eldest paternal aunt, Luo Rong Hui, she’d only seen once or twice. Because she’d married in the capital, and Jing Wan since birth had always remained in Qi’an Fu, separated by quite a distance, it wasn’t that easy to visit one another.

By the time Luo Rong Hui and bunch entered, Jing Wan distinctly felt that the woman in the lead, although strongly restraining herself, still appeared staggering in her steps as she stepped through the door. “Mother!” She’d practically thrown herself before the old madam.

The old madam immediately held her in her arms, “My child, my child….”

The old madam was someone who’s experienced the storms after all. Although her eyes were somewhat moist, her tears didn’t fall.

When Jing Wan saw that it was about time, she went forward to console.

Perhaps because she’d cried in front a younger generation, Luo Rong Hui felt somewhat awkward, so she went with someone by the old madam’s side to go wash her face and redo her makeup. When she reappeared, she was once again a dignified and graceful noble madam.

Luo Rong Hui’s husband, because was busy, needed to wait until the next day off, before he can come to pay his respects to the old madam. The one that came together with her was her only daughter Yuan Qiao Qiao. And at the moment, she was currently talking with Jing Wan. Have to say, Luo Rong Hui’s whole life was relatively smooth sailing, all except on the matter of heirs, that didn’t go as she’d liked. After being married for four to five years, she finally became pregnant with the first child and got a daughter. Afterwards, there was no more movements. Who knows how much medicine she’s eaten, and how many gods she’s prayed too, the incense money given to the temples every year was always more than the previous year, but the results were still the same.

She had no choice but to take in concubines for her husband. But those concubines, although also got pregnant, all only gave birth to daughters. The numbers didn’t live up to people’s expectations either. Others all say she was malicious; she herself was a hen that can’t lay eggs, yet didn’t let others give birth either. She was truly wronged to death. Right now, at home, there was still one that was pregnant. The doctor said that eight or nine times out of ten it was a son. She was practically holding that Yiniang up on a pedestal, worshiping like an ancestor.

Luo Rong Hui pulled Jing Wan over, admired her for a while, then gave her a greeting gift. Afterwards, the old madam let Jing Wan take her older cousin to her little courtyard to play. The mother and daughter pair wanted to have a private talk. And Jing Wan was originally preparing to take her leave on her own anyways.

Outside the main courtyard, the two ran into the others. They’d probably heard that Luo Rong Hui had returned, and thus came over to greet her.

After Jing Wan greeted her third aunt, she looked to her own younger shu sister, “Shouldn’t you be in class at this time, how come you’re here?”

Luo Jing You was the opposite of her full younger sister. She was much more taciturn. Being caught skipping class by her di older sister, her face turned red, and she stammered, not knowing how to explain, “Third big sister, I, I….”

“Third big sister, fourth big sister said, eldest paternal aunt returned. We, as the younger generation, should come pay our respects.” Luo Jing Wei looked to Jing Wan, her little face carrying a bright and beautiful innocence. It was unknown whether she was just telling the truth as it is, or had other intentions.

Jing Wan faintly nodded her head. Sure came rather quickly, “Go back to class. Right now, grandmother and paternal aunt are currently talking, don’t go disturb them. If you want to come, come again a little later. Second paternal aunt and third paternal aunt will probably come back too. It’s fine to just come at a later time to pay your respects.”

Hearing Jing Wan’s words, those that were urged by Luo Jing Ying to skip class, including sixth, seventh, and eighth miss, anyways aside from Luo Jing Ying herself, everyone else all turned back.

Jing Wan turned to Liu-shi and curtsied, then walked away. Upon seeing this, Yuan Qiao Qiao, who was next to her, was somewhat surprised, but also followed after her example.

“Mother, look at that Luo Jing Wan. She actually doesn’t even put you in her eyes.” Luo Jing Ying was so angered that her eyes turned red.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

Liu-shi pulled on her handkerchief, her gaze darkening, “Go back to class then.”

“Mother?”

“Ying’er be good. We indeed didn’t come at a good time right now.” Only because that eldest sister-in-law’s husband is from the Ministry of Appointments, and since her father-in-law was also unwilling to support her husband, she was wholeheartedly thinking about trying to curry favor with this eldest sister of her husband, thus for a moment forgot about everything else. Being reminded by her niece was like getting slapped on the face. Especially since of the four brothers’ wives, only she was standing here. Who knows how the servants will laugh at her.

That Luo Jing Wan wasn’t just a curse to Ying’er, but was also a curse to their third branch.

Luo Jing Ying followed by Liu-shi’s side, lowering her voice, “Mother, is that beeswax wrist beads on Luo Jing Wan’s wrist from eldest paternal aunt?”

“Probably.” Liu-shi absent-mindedly replied

Luo Jing Ying muttered in jealousy about how Luo Jing Wan got another good thing. All kinds of vicious cursing came from her mouth, completely lacking in the upbringing of a noble daughter. When Liu-shi came back to realization, she deeply looked to her own daughter. This daughter of hers was outstanding both in learning and appearance, but sometimes she had to admit, she really couldn’t compare with Luo Jing Wan. “Ying’er, mother has told you many times before, some things can’t be said.”

“I’m just saying it to you mother. When I’m outside, I definitely won’t make careless remarks.”

Liu-shi was helpless. Why did this daughter of hers just doesn’t understand her meaning?

“Wan Wan, this Elegant Haitang Residence of yours sure is beautiful.” The path was paved with pebble stones. There was also a small stream cutting through, with koi fish living in it, and also clusters and clusters of water lilies. A small bridge was also erected. Every kind of flora picturesquely decorated the small courtyard in an unusual fashion. There was even hanging orchids hanging under the corridor. It was currently the season for flowers to bloom. The flower fragrance filled the air.

“It’s all arranged by my mother.” It was arranged according to her preference at Qi’an Fu. She lead Yuan Qiao Qiao to the swing under the flower arch.

Gong mama very quickly had people bring over tea and desserts. And the tea that was served was her personally produced scented tea[1].

Slowly swaying on the swings, eating the delicate and delicious desserts, and drinking the fragrant and slightly sweet scented tea, there was nothing more blissful.

“Wan Wan, you sure know how to enjoy yourself. After I go back, that small courtyard of mine, I’ll also have my mother arrange like this. Also, pack some of this scented tea for me. Compared to other teas, this tea of yours suits my taste the best.”

“Alright, I’ll also give you the recipe for it too. You can make it yourself.”

“Aiyaa, Wan Wan, why are you this good.” Yuan Qiao Qiao gave Jing Wan a big big smile, “I’m starting to feel embarrassed.”

“It’s just a recipe, not worth much. Older cousin doesn’t need to be courteous with me.”

Yuan Qiao Qiao discovered that she got along very well with Jing Wan. Clearly Jing Wan was younger than herself, but it felt like she herself was the one that was being taken care of, yet she didn’t dislike it. On contrary, she quite enjoyed it. She had quite a few younger and older female cousins from the Luo family, but there really weren’t any that were close in age with her and that she wanted to talked with previously.

“Wan Wan, you and fourth younger cousin…..”

“We were born a day apart one after the other, so it’s inevitable that we would quarrel and have some trivial conflicts.” Jing Wan unconcernedly spoke.

Seeing Jing Wan like this, Yuan Qiao Qiao suddenly covered her mouth. She quietly laughed to herself, and didn’t ask any further. Besides, that person, Luo Jing Ying, was short-sighted and would often put on an act. Every time she came to the Luo family, Luo Jing Ying would always stick to her and didn’t even know how to read other people’s expressions, annoying.

Just as Jing Wan predicted, in less than an hour, the other two paternal aunts also came one after the other.

Second paternal aunt, even though was a shu born, because her birth mother had died when she was born, was raised by Luo Old Madam. Compared to the other two biological daughters, she actually only differed in status. That’s why she was equally intimate with the old madam. It’s just, whether this kind of intimacy came from the heart or was just on the surface for appearances, since Jing Wan never came in contact with it before, she didn’t make a guess.

Not long after, more people came to Jing Wan’s place. In addition, since Luo Old Madam allowed everyone over at the home tutor side to end class early, even more people showed up at her Elegant Haitang Residence. All the younger and older sisters present, how very lively.

Including the Luo family sisters, it was everyone’s first time entering this little courtyard, not one didn’t praise it in admiration.

Perhaps Liu-shi had said something to Luo Jing Ying, or perhaps because there were ‘outsiders’ present, Luo Jing Ying unexpectedly didn’t do anything inappropriate. Instead, for once, she acted as a proper little master. That’s right, with a beautiful smile, she acted as the master of the Elegant Haitang Residence.

Jing Wan completely didn’t mind. Instead, she bonded with these older and young female cousins that for the most part, she’d never seen before. Now that she’s entered the capital, she needed to start assimilating into this circle. Right now was a pretty good start.

“Younger cousin Wan, in two days, the Sun family’s young lady will have a flower banquet. Why don’t you also come?” Second paternal aunt’s family’s eldest daughter, Jiang Ling Shan looked to Jing Wan full of smiles, her eyes faintly provoking.

All say ‘birds of a feather flock together’, towards a girl that was able to have a close relationship with Luo Jing Ying, Jing Wan didn’t feel her temperament would be much better either. “I’ll see when the time comes.”

“If younger cousin Wan is worried about not having an invitation, I can help.”

“It’s not the problem of the invitation.”

“Then does younger cousin not like Miss Sun’s flower banquet?” Cautiously inquiring, yet in the depths of her eyes flashed a strange excitement.

Always digging pitfalls for others in their words and what not, as expected, was the most annoying. Did they really think she didn’t know who that Sun family young lady they spoke of was?

The founding Duke’s Sun family, precisely because they had the advantage of being an aristocratic family for many generations, have risen and fallen, yet still remain a Duke’s family till this day. In fact, compared to when the country was founded, they were even more glorious now. The current Empress had came from the Sun family. And this Miss Sun was precisely the current Duke’s only di daughter. And she had deeply gained the favor and affection of the Empress. The son of the Empress, the eldest prince, Kang Qinwang’s wife has been bedridden with a lingering illness for a year or two now. This Miss Sun was practically the publicly known second candidate for the wangfei[2] position. In the future, she might possibly even don the phoenix gown and become the world’s most honorable woman. If this kind of young lady, whose pride was as high as the sky, heard that Jing Wan didn’t like her flower banquet, what would that result in?

[1] Tea made from flowers

[2] Wangfei – ‘Princess consort’ in a way; the legal wife of a wang

T/N: I’ve made a family tree and character list for the characters that have appeared, thus far, some names that I’ve included might not have been mentioned yet, but the character have been introduced somewhat.