Chapter 22: Ding Duke Manor’s Old Madam

To be able to become the Ding Duke Manor’s eldest daughter-in-law, meant that she herself was extremely exceptional. In addition, she has been molded and refined for nearly ten years in this Ding Duke Manor’s inner court, assisting the mother-in-law in managing the household. Her means and abilities were even a cut above many of her elders. She had a pair of sharp eyes that can be said to be discerning. Towards an ordinary young lady, what kind of personality they had, she only needed to meet just once or twice to be able to know most of it. The times Luo Jing Ying has come to the Ding Duke Manor could be counted on the fingers. She’d seen her once before, but with just that one time, she already clearly understood after just a few words. The same as a great majority of the young ladies, impatient and reckless, coveted after vanity, and futilely attempt to climb up higher. Her inner qualities were inferior to the talent she presented on the outside.

The Luo family, although wasn’t a family that made people particularly pay attention to, they couldn’t be ignored either. If it wasn’t for the fact that her mother-in-law really couldn’t step away, it should have been her mother-in-law that personally came to welcome them. Of the young ladies in the Luo family’s grandchildren generation, only that already married eldest miss, was able to let this noble young madam take a fancy to. Yet today, she was somewhat surprised. She seamlessly glanced to Jing Wan a few times, then looked to Luo Old Madam. Her bearing noble and poised, her eyes bright with spirit, not appearing the slightest bit sluggish, but with ample vitality. She was nothing like how the rumors were, saying she was recuperating from illness the whole time thus didn’t enter the capital.

Should say, as expected of the granddaughter personally raised by Luo Old Madam?

She’d heard yesterday that this one had entered the capital, and even heard from the old madam some rather unexpected things. That year, if it wasn’t for this one choosing to marry down on her own, right now, this Ding Duke Manor’s inner courtyard old madam nine times out of ten would be her. Just thinking about it was shocking.

Luo Old Madam’s decision that year made a lot of people all very surprised. One side although was the flower snatcher[1], whose family background was also considered clean and noble, even once having a cabinet minister, but of the former dynasty. When Luo Pei Shan had entered the capital, the Luo family, for the most part, didn’t have any roots in the capital city. And on the other side was the Ding Duke Manor’s heir. If switched with an average person, how they would choose, simply don’t even have to think about. At the time, who knew how many people secretly ridiculed her for having water enter her brains?

However, for those who knew a bit of the political situation at the time, probably all wouldn’t think that there was something wrong with the decision the Chen family made. Yes, in their eyes, that was the Chen family’s decision, and not this one’s own decision.

Have to say though, the Ding Duke Manor’s old madam, ever since the old Duke passed away a few years ago, for the most part, stayed deep within the residence, very rarely ever meet with outsiders. Even today, only a very small number of people were able to meet her. If not those wangfeis, or jun-wangfeis[2], whose status were noble, then it was those old madams, whose relationship with her was pretty good in itself. And Luo Old Madam, who in many people’s eyes was just a complete stranger, instead received the same level of treatment as them. Of those who saw, not one wasn’t guessing, just which family was this one from to be able to have this kind of special privilege, also thinking in their hearts how they should interact with this one in the future.

Luo Old Madam was also very surprised that this Sun Old Madam wanted to see herself. Just getting seen by her like this will probably result in all of them becoming the target of multiple arrows. Perhaps, it might even let people mistakenly assume that the Sun family wants to rope in the Luo family. For the Luo family, the harm was greater than the benefits.

Nevertheless, Luo Old Madam wasn’t the slightest bit panicky, countering soldiers with arms, water with earth[3]. In the battle for the throne, how many times can one have everything go accordingly and not see blood. It was very difficult for the Luo family to completely stay out of it.

When she found out that they were going to go see Sun Old Madam, Wang-shi’s heart was somewhat tense. The current political state, she more or less knew some. Although her thoughts were not as incisive as Luo Old Madam’s, she still knew that this meeting might cause an affect on the Luo family.

As for Luo Jing Ying, she was nervous and excited. She has never seen the Sun family’s old madam before, but the old madam’s revered position in the Sun family, who didn’t know. If she could enter into her eyes, perhaps she might even be able to marry into the Ding Duke Manor?!

What Luo Old Madam could think of, Jing Wan naturally could also think of. However, her thoughts were also the same as Luo Old Madam’s. When you can’t avoid, then just naturally face the problem head on. She didn’t think too much either, even leisurely admiring the scenery along the way. Pavilions and flowing streams, a scenery every ten steps, roughly just as such. The Sun family’s grandeur really wasn’t just talks.

Sun Old Madam didn’t have many people at her place. It was just her two old sisters, as well as the few youngsters they brought. Those wangfeis and jun-wangfeis had already left. The one they really wanted to get acquainted with was probably the Ding Duchess. This old madam’s body wasn’t all that well in itself either, so once the formalities were done, it was enough.

Going by status, Luo Old Madam naturally needed to perform the formalities.

“Quickly rise.” Sun Old Madam hurriedly called someone to help Luo Old Madam up.

Luo Old Madam didn’t think much of it. She and Sun Old Madam also had somewhat of a friendship in their youth, although it wasn’t very deep.

However, Sun Old Madam’s heart wasn’t that calm, especially after seeing Luo Old Madam looking much younger than her. But clearly she was a bit older than herself though. Rather, it couldn’t be said to be jealousy, just she was very regretful.

As they reminisced about the past with one another, the atmosphere was very harmonious. Their relationship, seemingly appeared even better than in their youth.

Jing Wan saw that several times, Sun Old Madam wanted to say something, but hesitated, seemingly having something too difficult to say. Eventually, she wasn’t able to hold in it anymore and opened her mouth, “That year, was it really your decision, or was it Old Cabinet Minister Chen’s idea?” She didn’t have any misgivings about her other two old sisters being present. It can be seen their relationship really was extremely good. And as for the younger generation, thinking that they wouldn’t know what she’s asking, she naturally didn’t mind.

Luo Old Madam was slightly startled. Didn’t think that Sun Old Madam would actually ask this? And she even looks rather serious?! She was already at an old age, so there wasn’t anything too difficult to say either. Smiling, she said, “Naturally it was my own decision.” The Ding Duke heir that year had a handsome appearance, and was also talented and well-learned, but she just didn’t take a fancy to him. Luo Pei Shan’s family background was far inferior, but she just found him pleasing to the eyes. Her family had wanted for her marry down. Aside from because of her elders love for her, and Luo Pei Shan himself being very outstanding, the political situation at the time was also one of the factors. However it wasn’t the main reason for her marrying down. Even if there wasn’t Luo Pei Shan, it would also be someone else. She absolutely wouldn’t have married the then Ding Duke heir no matter what.

“You’re someone with courage.” Sun Old Madam said.

The Ding Duke Manor, how honorable of a position was that? Just how many people were there that could reject that glory? Everyone all said, she had good fortune. Her family background wasn’t the best, and she wasn’t the most outstanding either. In fact, she couldn’t even be considered a candidate. Yet, in the end, she got a huge cheap advantage.

But was it really cheap though? Who would know, what kind of feeling it was becoming a mother right after marrying in? And who would know, what kind of feeling it was when her husband brought in his sweetheart not even three months into their new marriage? The Yiniangs’ scheming, her eldest son nearly losing his life, she painfully struggled like she was in a swamp. She became vicious, became unscrupulous, taking in new concubines one after the other for her husband. If they were to say virtuous, who could compare to her? Shu sons came one after the other; she all properly raised them. Even if she won in the end, lasted till her husband died, till her son became the duke, and she became this inner court’s most noble person, but so what?

Since the moment she entered this Ding Duke Manor, she’d never been truly happy before.

Luo Pei Shan only had one shu son, and he wasn’t favored. Luo Old Madam, for many years, wasn’t by his side, yet there weren’t any favored concubines by his side either. Who didn’t know the Luo family’s family teachings were strict and that Luo Pei Shan deeply respected his wife.

This was good fortune!

Luo Old Madam understood in her heart, yet smiled and didn’t say anything.

“Your family’s young ladies all look beautiful.” Sun Old Madam finally attentively looked to Jing Wan and the others.

Jing Wan didn’t really want to deal with these seasoned old madams, so she timely lowered her head to express her shyness. In contrast, Luo Jing Ying seemingly felt that she finally got a chance and faced Sun Old Madam with a beautiful smile, “Old madam has overpraised, who in the capital doesn’t say big sister Sun is the best of the best.”

Ding Duke has eight brothers, yet only two were Sun Old Madam’s son, and Sun Yi Jia was the only di granddaughter. She was pretty, smart, and witty, so naturally she was very fond of her. Hearing someone praise her, she naturally was happy, even if the intentions of the person praising was abundantly clear.

Sun Old Madam’s gaze slightly paused on Jing Wan’s body, and also simply asked a few questions, somewhat less than what she asked Luo Jing Ying. Then it was Luo Jing You’s turn. “Why not have them all go play. It’s quite boring to stay here accompanying us, a bunch of old women.”

Luo Old Madam knew this was her wanting to leave her to talk. When she saw her before, perhaps it was due to certain attachments, but leaving her behind now, there was probably a deeper meaning to it. Thus, she echoed Sun Old Madams words.

Jing Wan and the others, including Wang-shi, all bowed and left.

[1] Flower Snatcher – Title for third place in the Imperial Examination

[2] Jun-wangfei – Similar to the wangfei being the main consort of a wang, jun-wangfei is the main consort of a junwang, wang of second rank. Qinwang’s title is usually just simplified as wang, however junwangs are always specified.

[3] Idiom meaning to adopt different approaches for different situations.