Chapter 48: Visiting, Being Upset Together

Luo Old Madam’s face suddenly turned solemn, “Hurry up and invite the person in.” Sun Yi Jia’s status was noble, and moreover her etiquette was thorough. There was no reason to have her come back another day. She then glanced to Jing Wan again, “Directly lead the person to Elegant Haitang Residence.”

“Grandmother, third brother is still at my place.” Jing Wan lowered her voice and said, following which, returning to her usual manner of speaking, “How about letting Miss Sun directly come here then? Based on Miss Sun’s conduct, there’s no reason for her to not come pay her respects to you. Just, might have to inconvenience older cousin Min to hide away for a bit.”

Luo Old Madam nodded, “Alright, just do as third miss said. Min boy has also been out for some time now, go look for your paternal great-uncle (in-law). Tonight, just stay a night at the Luo Manor, it’s not too late to go back tomorrow.”

Chen Zheng Min although was reluctant, but regardless whether or not there was a visitor coming, it still wasn’t appropriate for him to continue staying. Thus, he bowed and took his leave.

And on Gong mama’s side, without even needing Jing Wan to say anything, found an excuse to return to Elegant Haitang Residence to ‘kick out’ a certain someone.

“Why did that Miss Sun come looking for Wan Wan?” Luo Old Madam was rather confused.

Jing Wan recounted what had happened at the flower market. “Big sister Jia looks to be a little cold and aloof, but actually, she’s probably just lonely at the top. She herself is actually a very good person. After getting acquainted, she also very easy to get along with.”

Previously, Luo Old Madam only knew that the flower market had caught on fire, and Jing Wan fainted from getting injured. All other things she didn’t know about, yet she didn’t expect that there was even such a matter mixed in as well. She regrettably sighed, “This fate truly is miraculous. In the capital, how many noble young ladies all want to get along with that Miss Sun. But in the end, none were able to have their desires fulfilled. As expected, it’s still our Wan Wan that’s the best. And didn’t Wan Wan from the first meeting already felt pity for her, perhaps you two were destined to be close friends.”

“En, probably this was just fated.”

Everyone all carried a purpose in approaching her. It can’t be said to be insincere, but it was still like covering a layer of cloth over that sincerity. Jing Wan wasn’t the same, she only felt sorry for her, and purely just wanted to console her. Yet, she didn’t expect that she would just so happen to touch upon Sun Yi Jia’s heartstrings.

Luo Old Madam mostly thought about how after coming to the capital for the first time, Jing Wan was already able to make such a friend. It’ll be much easier for Wan Wan to assimilate into the capital social circles now. Rarely will there be people that will shun her and find trouble for her. However, where there’s pros, there’s also cons. It’s not like Sun Yi Jia didn’t have enemies, and moreover, each and every one all had high and noble status. In the usual days, no matter how much they went against Sun Yi Jia, because of the Empress, at most it was just moving their mouths and won’t really do anything. But for Wan Wan to suddenly get close with her, perhaps those people will take their anger out on Wan Wan. If Wan Wan were to suffer a grievance at their hands, even the Luo family wouldn’t be able to seek justice for her.

Jing Wan saw that her grandmother wanted to say something but hesitated. What Luo Old Madam could think of, naturally Jing Wan could think of too. “Grandmother, even if it’s money, not everyone will all like it. I’ll just avoid as much as I can.”

That’s right, for all things, there were gains and losses, one can’t because of fear of losing, forever chose to not want.

“Then, Min boy….”

Jing Wan slightly nodded her head. As a result, her and Chen Zheng Min’s marriage was pretty much settled. Next was to walk the formal procedures and have everything made public.

Sun Yi Jia wasn’t able to see Chen Zheng Min, else perhaps she might have asked, and perhaps would have had some suspicions. Otherwise, she would’ve long warned her own fifth brother, and not end up having Sun Yi Lin be in a daze for a very long period of time afterwards, after hearing the news.

Perhaps it was a habit, but when Sun Yi Jia walked in, Jing Wan’s first thought was: ‘Indeed a flower of the high peaks—-beautiful, cold, high above all, and unreachable.’ This was the real thing, that ‘little chatterbox’ from this morning seemed like a facade, no, that’s not right, that was a side of her not known to anyone. A side she doesn’t even easily show her family.

“Giving my greetings to old madam.”

“Quickly rise.” Perhaps because Jing Wan’s impression towards her was different, Luo Old Madam, who originally didn’t have any particular thoughts towards Sun Yi Jia, at this moment, appeared even more affectionate and gentle.

“Greetings big sister Jia.” Jing Wan smilingly said.

“Greetings, little sister Wan.” The originally cold face distinctly put on a smiling expression. Even her eyes glistened a bit, “Seeing that you’re fine, I finally feel relieved.” This morning, Sun Yi Jia truly was frightened. Without seeing Jing Wan, she wasn’t able to put down her suspended heart.

When Luo Old Madam saw Sun Yi Jia being close and natural with Jing Wan, not putting on an aloof attitude, her last bit of worries were finally put to rest. She casually asked a few words, like how Sun Old Madam is doing and such.

In the Ding Duke Manor, Sun Yi Jia and Sun Yi Lin were both the most favored by Sun Old Madam. However, towards them, Sun Old Madam was equally not like a normal family’s grandmother, who would always carry a smile on the face. She further didn’t carry any caring words of concern in her mouth at all times. Their grandmother was always strict and solemn, and whenever she let out a smile, it was always faint. As for that kindness towards outsiders, Sun Yi Jia never minded, because she knew that her grandmother wasn’t being sincere.

Sun Yi Jia had always thought that at least the grandmothers of high official and noble families all must be the same as her own grandmother. Looks like it wasn’t like this. Turns out, little sister Wan’s grandmother, in private, furthermore treated her like the meat of her heart. That natural intimacy can’t be faked, that was through habit. It wasn’t false that her own grandmother loved her and fifth brother quite a bit, but compared to the warmth of these two before her, their family appeared cold. A faint trace of envy inevitably emerged in her eyes. And facing Luo Old Madam’s ‘loving the house and its crow[1]

‘ kind of affections, Sun Yi Jia’s smile also increased a bit. And Luo Old Madam’s way of addressing Sun Yi Jia also changed to Jia’er.

When Gong mama returned, even bringing Qing Lan and Qing Mei, these two first ranked servant girls, Luo Old Madam said, “Jia’er, it’s really boring being in the same place as this old woman. Just go and play together with Wan Wan.”

“How can that be, to be able to talk with old madam is this one’s fortune.” These words weren’t false. After all, these feelings right now, she wasn’t able to experience in her own home.

Luo Old Madam heartily laughed, “Enough, this little mouth of yours is just the same as Wan Wan’s, good at making one happy.” After a few more words, she sent the two off together.

The two, neither quickly nor slowly, walked arm in arm towards Elegant Haitang Residence. Cheerfully chatting along the way, like a delicate flower and a refined jade, charming and bright, making onlookers all feel comforted, like as if the stress in their hearts all seem to disperse.

Because Sun Yi Jia’s status was special, in a short time, the entire rear court of the Luo family all knew she was here.

Everyone all had their own thoughts. As for the pretending to be calm and collected Luo Jing Ying, she once again shattered and tore apart two handkerchiefs. Unwilling to believe, she wanted to go see. Perhaps because of some special reason, she didn’t believe that Luo Jing Wan would really be that fortunate.

T/N: Jen does not support violence against handkerchiefs in any way, shape, or form.

Have to say, Luo Jing Ying sometimes really was just someone who loved to be oppressed. Clearly knowing that every time she faced Jing Wan, nine times out of ten it was always her hitting a wall and suffering in anger in the end, yet she just loved to charge forward. Like now, seeing the situation completely different from what she’d anticipated. This kind of Sun Yi Jia was furthermore unheard of and unseen of before. Compared to the hundred of thoughts and effort she’s used on Sun Yi Jia, yet still unable to get a word from her, this was practically making one vomit blood.

“Miss, Jiang family’s biao[2] miss came.”

Luo Jing Ying, who was tearing apart her handkerchief just like as if she was ripping apart Luo Jing Wan, upon hearing this, suddenly exposed a strange smile, “Older cousin really came at the perfect time. Have her invited directly here.”

In that circle of Sun Yi Jia’s, second paternal aunt family’s Jiang Ling Shan could still come near the edge, but she was also a bitch, saying that she was in good relations with herself, yet never willing to help introduce her to Sun Yi Jia. Always making excuses like she didn’t have a say in anything, and never not showing off through her words, saying what kind of rare thing she saw at the Ding Duke Manor again, or what good thing she got from the Ding Duchess. That bit of intention of hers, who didn’t know. Yet, she also couldn’t fall out with her, they were ‘good sisters’ after all. To have a fall out because of this small matter, wouldn’t that appear as if she, Luo Jing Ying, was narrow minded? Did she still want her reputation or not?

Jiang Ling Shan wanted to show off herself being superior in front of others. She wanted to satisfy her own vanity, and Luo Jing Ying was the best target. Luo Jing Yin wanted to enter Sun Yi Jia’s circle, and the only step-ladder she could rely on was Jiang Ling Shan. This was precisely the way how these two ‘good friends’ interacted, to the extent where outsiders all felt that their relationship was very good.

On one hand, she felt her resentment deepening even more, while on the other hand, she was waiting to see what kind of distort expression Jiang Ling Shan will have when she sees this scene. The more she thought, the more excited she got. Luo Jing Ying, whose inner heart was at two different extremes, was completely unaware of how twisted she herself has become.

[1] Idiom meaning when you love someone you love everything related to them as well. Thus, Luo Old Madam likes Jing Wan, so she’ll like Jing Wan’s friends too.

[2] Biao – Cousins that don’t share same surname; the servants of a family usually would refer to the relative miss as such, I just find wording it was cousin-miss to be too awkward.