Chapter 151: Wild Goose

Although they possessed this kind of doubt, Liu mama didn’t really ask it out loud. Situations like this, where not a single person is brought along, for the qinwang manor, it was actually even better. The servants will all be based on their arrangement. Then that way, from the start, all the deciding power will be controlled in their own hands, and this person will also be freely controlled in their palm. That way, everything regarding her, and how her actual circumstances are don’t need to mind. Whether she’s well or not, all just a word from Rui Qinwang Manor.

And Luo Jing Ying although a bit stupid, she still didn’t want to let the people of Rui Qinwang Manor see that she wasn’t liked by her family. That would make her appear too pitiful. Although she believed Rui Qinwang won’t dislike her because of this, having a good relationship with her family was probably a little better. Luo Jing Ying was ‘confident’ to the point of conceitedness, but she was actually ignoring the unease in her heart the whole time. Showing strength while weak inside, she repeatedly acted arrogantly towards others, openly and discreetly showing off how she will be ‘indescribably noble’ in the future. But how was this not her just using this kind of method to hypnotize herself over and over again. Only by doing this would she be able to preserve her own ‘pride’.

Because each harbored their own thoughts, after Luo Jing Ying reservedly and modestly greeted them, she just directly got on the sedan, and didn’t say anything else.

After the sedan curtains were put down, Luo Jing Ying no longer was able to maintain the smile on her face.

She very much looked forward to the Rui Qinwang Manor, this bit didn’t need to be doubted, but sitting in this tiny little sedan right now, where even the people outside separated by a single layer of cloth were all strangers to her, she strangely produced a feeling of panic and subconsciously turned sideways, lifting open the window curtains and watching the gradually shrinking gate.

Liu mama subconsciously wanted to reprimand, but seeing Luo Jing Ying’s longing expression, as well as her enduring to hold back her tears, she ultimately didn’t open her mouth. Perhaps this will be her last time seeing, so there was no need to be that strict.

As for Rui Qinwang, he actually invited his brothers for dinner today. Although it was just lifting in a concubine, he still couldn’t contain his happiness. In any case, between the brothers, they often gathered together with this and that kind of excuse to ‘bond’. But after learning this new concubine’s identity, it became very obvious, this wasn’t just looking for an excuse to ‘invite them for a meal’. His true purpose was actually to show off.

Under this kind of situation, for Li Hong Ming to be able to soundlessly have a daughter of the Luo family lifted back to the manor, to say there wasn’t a problem here, no one would believe. Especially Kang Qinwang, his gaze towards Li Hong Ming was just like as if Rui Qinwang stole his person.

Li Hong Ming’s smile was still the same, even containing a trace of provocation. He indeed stole his ‘person’.

And Kang Qinwang nearly smashed his cup in anger. Luo Rong Ping, how dare he. He had pointed to the heavens and vowed to be loyal to him, yet he had his daughter given to his greatest nemesis?! In any case, even if having ‘friendly and respectful feelings between brothers’, it was still just occasionally putting on an act in front of Le Cheng Emperor. Kang Qinwang directly stormed off in a huff. And the brothers that belonged to Kang Qinwang’s side also found excuses to leave immediately after.

Li Hong Ming just sent them off with a smile, not having any intention of keeping them. It was enough for him to achieve his goal, so there was no need to care about the rest. As for how Luo Rong Ping will pacify his good eldest brother’s anger, that was his(LRP) own matter. If he can’t even take care of this bit of trivial matter, then what else is there to discuss.

After Kang Qinwang returned to his manor, without a second word, he directly summoned Luo Rong Ping, even with somewhat of a fanfare.

The intention for this was actually more or less the same as Li Hong Ming’s.

Thus, the originally just a pea-sized trivial matter was practically made into a big scandal by these two brothers.

However, because this concerned the problem of the Luo family’s standing, it was also full of many twists and turns. The others at the moment didn’t express their opinion towards this matter.

Besides, they actually further wanted to know, when did the Head Cabinet Minister offend the Head Minister of Appointments. After all, Luo Pei Shan’s conduct in targeting Ruan Rui Zhong was truly too obvious. Aside from some matters that completely didn’t need consideration, every time Ruan Rui Zhong mentioned his thoughts, Luo Pei Shan would always support a completely opposite opinion. Additionally, including Ruan Rui Zhong’s disciples, they were also implicated by Luo Pei Shan. Everyone and everything that was related to Ruan Rui Zhong, or have a close relationship with him, were all the main target of Luo Pei Shan’s ‘bullying’. Thus, regardless of whose faction these people belonged to, the signs of danger lurking in every corner appeared again.

Ruan Rui Zhong was someone who has mingled in officialdom for decades after all, so those that were intimately close with him weren’t just his friends and family, but also his numerous students. And these people all strangely got into trouble because of him. Even if Luo Pei Shan handled everything in a strictly business-like manner, he didn’t target anyone else, and just had to target him. Immediately after discovering that something was wrong with the situation, Ruan Rui Zhong went to look for Luo Pei Shan. This was precisely the so-called, ‘even if dying, one still needs to die understanding’.

Unfortunately, what he go in exchange was just Luo Pei Shan’s cold mockery and scorching ridicule. As for the specific reason, he didn’t get a single word of. Even for the Head Cabinet Minister, no matter how astute he was, under the circumstances of not having the slightest hint, he was unable to guess the reason.

However, Luo Pei Shan’s moral character, Ruan Rui Zhong still knew. Even if an old fox of officialdom, some principles, he still maintained, and some bottom lines, he still preserved. His nobleman old ways didn’t change. And it was also because of this, Ruan Rui Zhong temporarily chose to bide his time. Since he was unable to obtain the reason from Luo Pei Shan’s mouth, then he’ll just have to investigate from other places. However, this matter definitely needed to be quick, else once Luo Pei Shan submits some ‘proof of crime’ to Le Cheng Emperor, he will suffer an immeasurable loss. Even if he stood in the neutral faction, in the imperial court of Qi Yuan, it was definitely difficult for a lone tree to sustain itself.

Kang Qinwang has never been one with a good temper. Upon seeing Luo Rong Ping, he just directly shot his foot over. If not for others advising against him, even if Luo Rong Ping didn’t die, he would have still lost half his life.

And the excuse Luo Rong Ping gave Kang Qinwang naturally was to have everything all pushed onto Li Hong Ming, saying Rui Qinwang abducted his daughter, and towards the matter of his daughter entering Rui Qinwang Manor, he also just learned of two days ago. At that time, he had come to look for Kang Qinwang———-It was you that didn’t meet me, that’s why, this matter simply didn’t have anything to do with me.

Kang Qinwang also learned from the gatekeeper, Luo Rong Ping indeed came looking for him before, and he’d indeed refused to meet him. Li Hong Yi refused to believe, Li Hong Ming’s smugness today didn’t also have a portion of this reason within it as well.

Li Hong Yi although let Luo Rong Ping leave, the suspicions in his heart didn’t disappear, or rather, should say, after Luo Rong Ping’s daughter entered Li Hong Ming’s rear court, there was no possibility of him completely trusting Luo Rong Ping ever again. Marriage connections were the most popular method for roping in relations. Thus, Kang Qinwang issued an order, tightly keep an eye on Luo Rong Ping. Once evidence of his betrayal is discovered, Kang Qinwang definitely won’t let him go.

From the start, Li Hong Ming already knew, once Luo Rong Ping’s daughter enters his rear court, he will also just be a chess piece to pin down the Luo family. Even Luo Pei Shan who occupied that kind of high position was all able to get distrusted by that good elder brother of his because of his discord sowing scheme, let alone Luo Rong Ping. That’s why, becoming a spy in his hand inserted into Li Hong Yi’s faction, as well as being invisible and what not, was completely just an enormous joke. He completely didn’t mind Luo Rong Ping getting sorted out by Li Hong Yi. In fact, he even hoped that Li Hong Yi is able to be even more ruthless.

As for Li Hong Yuan and Jing Wan’s marriage arrangements, under Noble Consort Su’s supervision, very quickly selected the auspicious day for sending the selected gifts.

Because Li Hong Yi was the eldest di son, at the time when he married, the things used, regardless in which aspect, naturally were all the best. And the remaining princes would all more or less subtract a little from this foundation. And for princes such as, Li Hong Ming and Li Hong Yuan, who had a favored and high status mother, at most, it was just subtracting one level.

Towards preparing the selected gifts and whatnot for Jin Qinwang, the Internal Affairs Department were long familiar with, just preparing in accordance with before. Their speed was rather quick, but just when they thought all things were prepared, the living Enma personally paid a visit, glancing at the things, and then just one line———change it. Afterwards, he directly had his personal attendant left behind.

Eunuch Mu smilingly watched the people of the Internal Affairs exchange the things, exchanging them once, twice, three times, and so on. Eunuch Mu kept shaking his head. The people of the Internal Affairs were very irritated, yet weren’t able to vent out a single word. They could only try to fawn over in various ways, hoping for Eunuch Mu to give directions. Afterwards, Eunuch Mu benevolently gave one line———Wangye doesn’t lack money, and further doesn’t lack good things.

Understood, wasn’t it just disdaining the fact that the amount of things they prepared weren’t enough, and the quality not adequate. But precisely because they understood, they further wanted to curse him. It couldn’t be helped, this kind of thing wasn’t something they can decide on, so they just reported to the Empress. The Empress was naturally very lenient, waving her hand and saying, just let Jin Qinwang do as he pleases.

With these words, they could finally relax, and exchange the things one by one, the amount increasing one-fold, two-fold, three-fold. When Eunuch Mu finally nodded in satisfaction, the people of the Internal Affairs Department were practically about to collapse. But, when they saw the final list of items, their hands trembled and their hearts shivered. This was probably more than the amount of selected gifts of all the other wangyes added together. Thinking it over, in the end, they once again had the list handed to the Empress. When the Empress saw, even she fell silent for a long time. According to that living Enma’s personality, if one doesn’t satisfy him, was it that he’ll prepare the things himself? If an esteemed qinwang were to end up preparing his own selected gifts, then the Emperor won’t need his face anymore. But these things were truly a bit too much. Just based on worth, it even surpassed that of a qin-wangfei’s betrothal gift. In the end, she had the list handed over to Le Cheng Emperor. Towards this kind of matter, Le Cheng Emperor naturally won’t care. In fact, he didn’t even glance at the list.

Actually, even Noble Consort Su all felt it was somewhat inappropriate. Moreover, this son of hers, for what reason did he do this for? Was it really just because he’s taken a fancy to Luo third miss? Or was there some other reason?

On the auspicious day, the people of Jin Qinwang Manor sent over another pair of wild geese. Not only were they in full spirit, their size also surpassed ordinary wild geese, and their feathers glossy and soft. Then looking again to the two pure gold wild geese, no matter how gorgeous, they were still just inanimate objects, not lively in the slightest. As such, the pure gold wild geese were naturally abandoned.

The Luo family asked the wedding people[1] to have the items for the ceremony laid out in the front courtyard. When the Luo family saw these things, they were speechless for a good while.

As the saying goes, when one has money, one can be willful, but willful to Jin Qinwang’s degree was truly rare.

Jing Wan faintly felt there seemingly was something currently going out of control.

However, since the things were already lifted in, could it be that they can still send it back? Even for Luo Old Madam, she also could only harden her head. Sigh, encountering Jin Qinwang, this kind of grandson-in-law, it was indeed worrying. Luo Old Madam understood from experience Sir Luo’s feelings.

[1] The professionals responsible for the rituals and ceremonies during the marriage process.

T/N: You can just understand the selected gifts as gifts for the engagement ceremony.