Chapter 100.5: Silenced, Jing Wan’s Mischief

“This is a good idea. Someone, go prepare wooden plaques, and send them to that side. And let the various young masters have their names written on there. Those that are unwilling, no need to force them, just tell them, those that perform well today, this princess will directly have their names submitted to his Majesty.”

This time, most likely not many will be unwilling.

The servant girls carried the wooden plaques and brush over, and divided into a few teams, starting together, though it didn’t take much time.

And on this side, under Jing Wan’s suggestion, they began drafting up punishments.

“What good ideas does big sister Luo have?” Yu Yao tugged on Jing Wan’s clothes, very much excited.

Jing Wan was full of smiles, but everyone all sensed that mischievous little intention of hers. “How about a belly-dance?”

Belly-dance? However, they suddenly recalled, this was punishment for the male side. Each and every one first looked to one another, trying to imagine that scene, seemingly very interesting. The Grand Elder Princess was greatly amused and directly agreed.

“And then, cross-dressing?” This was good.

“Appoint another gentleman to drink a jar of wine?” This was good too.

“One bowl of special beverage.” Afterwards, Jing Wan calmly told them how to prepare.

Once Jing Wan finished explaining, each and every one all stared at her in disbelief. This was too mean. Jing Wan faintly smiled, this was nothing. One has to know, because of the many taboos, the truly bad ones, she all didn’t dare to say out loud.

Perhaps having been enlightened by Jing Wan, the others’ mischievous ideas also came one after the other.

Because this side was laughing too cheerfully, the male guest side felt endlessly confused, and why did they feel a cold breeze behind their back?

On the male guest side, everything was mostly finished. “What about this prince?”

The servant girls looked to each other and then to Li Hong Yuan, “Wangye, that…….”

“What? In your eyes, is this prince not a gentleman[1]?”

They could only have the things passed over as they trembled. Li Hong Yuan was rather quite carefree in writing his own name.

Li Hong Ming suddenly smiled, “How about this prince also play? Although this prince has already married, that shouldn’t hinder anything right?”

Thus, with these two in the lead, the other princes, regardless whether they were married or not, all added their names.

When the servant girls returned with the wooden plaques, their hands and feet were still somewhat trembling. After questioning, they learned of the cause. Now, how are they going to play?

The Grand Elder Princess dispatched a servant girl again, “Have the contents of the punishment all told to the various wangyes and princes. Then, pass on this princess’s words, if a coward, feel free to take back your own wooden plaque, if you don’t take back and look for trouble after the fact, then don’t blame this princess for entering the palace and complaining to the Emperor.” That’s why, it was still the Grand Elder Princess that was the most aggressive and formidable.

Although it was just passing on a message to Le Cheng Emperor’s various sons, but the other young masters also turned pale in the face. Unfortunately, the Grand Elder Princess didn’t even give them the chance to be a coward.

In contrast, Li Hong Yuan rather became the most nonchalant one.

Game start.

However, they changed the thing used to hold the wooden plaques, using a cloth bag instead of a tray, first shaking it up, then reaching in to pick one.

It was no longer the noble personages picking wooden plaques, but rather changed into the young ladies picking one by one.

Those princesses and junzhu were all long eager to try. In the palace, there wasn’t anything as fun as this, so this while, they naturally were no longer reserved.

The first to get picked was actually an eleven twelve year old chubby little boy. When the news was passed on to the other side, everyone roared with laughter.

The chubby little boy sullenly walked to the female guest side, “I don’t know anything, so I’ll just directly received the punishment then.”

Everyone was greatly amused, and the Grand Elder Princess also waved her hand in agreement.

The little fat wonton probably felt that no matter what, it was all the same. On normal days, he didn’t embarrass himself any less after all. Thus, he casually picked a penalty pouch, and then waited for his ‘fate’s ruling’.

The little servant girl opened it up, and then covered her mouth laughing, “Master, it’s eating four chicken drumsticks.”

The little fat wonton first blanked, following which his eyes lit up, “Is it really just eating four chicken drumsticks?”n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

“Aiyo, aiyo, for a chubby little boy like you, how is this a punishment.” The Grand Elder Princess laughed so hard that she couldn’t straighten her waist, “At home, your family normally restrain you from eating too much, so today, this princess will add for you two more drumsticks.”

This time, the little fat wonton was overjoyed silly, and soon after, diligently went back carrying his six chicken legs.

Everyone on the male guest side, seeing the little fat wonton smiling to the point that his eyes narrowed into a line, gnawing as he walked, directly smirked. Naturally, there were also those elderly officials watching on happily. Aiyoo, to be able to eat well was a blessing.

Only the wonton’s own grandfather sighed. To be able to eat well was indeed a blessing, but eating eight meals a day, that stomach was just like a bottomless pit, unable to be filled up. If he keeps eating like this, although not worried that he’ll eat the family into poverty, but rather worry that he’ll become the second Zhong Qinwang heir. Peh, peh, that right now was a dead person, bad luck. However, right now, he also just couldn’t stop him from eating either!

“This youngster’s luck is quite good. For others, a couple of chicken legs can definitely be considered a punishment, but for him, this can be considered an enormous benefit.”

Before this side even finished discussing, the other side had already drawn the second name.

Even those that were calm on the surface, more or less still felt somewhat restless inside. It can’t be helped, even if one was a modeled scholar, one still wasn’t omniscient and omnipotent. What if they draw one that they don’t know, then they would still be penalized.

So who was the second unfortunate soul or lucky bastard?

“Sun Yi Lin.”

Actually, Sun Yi Lin and Luo Jing Bo had just returned not long ago. Of course, having disappeared for this long, they naturally didn’t just talk about Sun Yi Jia’s matter. So it can be said, while unclear of the circumstance, the two had written down their names on the wooden plaques. After learning about the situation, Sun Yi Lin just helplessly shook his head, while Luo Jing Bo appeared to be indifferent.

Sun Yi Lin didn’t expect that his name would be drawn this soon.

Everyone looked to this ‘renowned throughout the capital’ Gentleman Lin. Speaking of which, this one’s probability of getting punished shouldn’t be too high. However, there were many that wanted to see him make a fool of himself. Rather, it wasn’t completely out of malice, purely just wanting to see what it’s like for this one to embarrass himself.

Seeing Sun Yi Lin appear, the young ladies on the female guest side were all a little excited. This one was known to be noble like jade, peerless in the world. The four arts, literature and poetry, seemingly all proficient in. To want to see him display his talents under the public eye wasn’t easy, but definitely a great pleasure. But, they further wanted to see him get punished, what to do?

Even Sun Yi Jia was muttering next to Jing Wan’s ear. She was also a ‘wishing for the world to be in chaos’ type.

“Grand Elder Princess, it seems the young ladies all hope to see our Gentleman Lin get punished. How about just directly punish him?” A wangfei in the same generation as the Grand Elder Princess jokingly said.

Sun Yi Lin repeatedly bowed with his hands cupped in front, begging for mercy, “Asking everyone to please be lenient.”

“Lenient or not isn’t on us, need to see how good is your own luck. Enough, quickly pick one.”

Sun Yi Lin could only pick an embroidered pouch.

The servant girl opened it, “Master, it’s archery.”

Sun Yi Lin very obviously relaxed a breath. Although his archery wasn’t as good as others, it wasn’t considered weak either.

“Gentleman Lin, don’t rejoice too early, this archery isn’t as simple as ordinary target practice. If you don’t perform well, you similarly need to received the punishment.” A certain princess ‘kindly’ reminded.

Although he was already prepared inside, Sun Yi Lin’s heart still was a bit apprehensive.

He had a rather large range of bows to choose from, and not something already set by the rules. Taking the bow, he ascended the stage.

Afterwards, a bunch of ‘fully armed’ little cats and dogs were brought out, each one all with a red or green fruit fastened on its head, having them confined in a set area on the lakeshore, requesting that in half a incense’s time, hit all the green fruits. If a single arrow was to land on the animal’s body, then it will be considered a failure.

There were only three of the green fruits. Logically speaking, this wasn’t considered difficult. But Sun Yi Lin looked to the arrow that has been altered in order not to injure the small animals, and also to those little things that were running around all over the place as soon as they were let go of. Looks like today, the heavens want to end him.

However, he wasn’t allowed to think too much. The incense had already been lit.

[1] The address ‘gentleman’ (gong zi) is generally reserved for sons of officials or nobility, but in certain context it can also mean an unmarried young man.

T/N: I really don’t know what to say when people who choose to read historical fictions get upset at a story for being accurate to the social and cultural aspects of ancient history ?????? like sorry the world setting isn’t pandering to your modern progressive ideals but it’s not like history can be changed based on one’s preference. God forbid ancient people in this novel act like how they did in actual history.

Besides this novel has always criticized a lot of the ancient ideologies in history through MC, but you can’t change an entire society’s way of thinking, that’s just unrealistic to real history. Understanding historical and cultural context is very important imo. If you think things in historical fiction are offensive to your modern ideals, wait till ya open a real history book, you’d be shook. I do hope people are aware that these novels were originally written for a chinese audience, there’s really only so much I can supplement in my footnotes.

On another note, every time wordpress changes the backend UI randomly for no reason, I die a little on the inside.