Chapter 49: Who was Borrowing Flowers, Who was Presenting to Buddha

Before Jiang Ling Shan even reached Luo Jing Ying’s side, she already saw Jing Wan and Sun Yi Jia. She couldn’t delude herself into thinking that it was just someone that looked like Su Yi Jia. In order to curry favor to Sun Yi Jia, she just knew too much about her. Even if her face hung a never seen before smile, she was still certain, that was Sun Yi Jia. Just as Luo Jing Ying wanted, Jiang Ling Shan’s jealousy and resentment in that instant could even be sensed by someone standing far far away.

When Luo Jing Ying saw her, she almost burst into laughter. However, she seemed to have somehow underestimated Jiang Ling Shan, as no more than a moment later, Jiang Ling Shan put on a perfect smile and prepared to go over to talk to Sun Yi Jia. She was a very practical person. Her own family’s younger cousin was close with Miss Sun, so she herself naturally can borrow this opportunity to become even closer with Miss Sun. In order to reach her goals, she didn’t mind flattering someone she didn’t like.

“If older cousin goes over there now, aren’t you worried that not only will you not be able to appeal to Miss Sun, you might even make her unhappy? After all, anyone can tell that right now Miss Sun is in a good mood. To have her mood disturbed by someone, what that will result in, anyone can imagine.” Luo Jing Ying said with a smile.

Jiang Ling Shan stopped her feet and looked to Luo Jing Ying, “Younger cousin is right, it is I that forgot for a moment after seeing Miss Sun in high spirits. Many thanks to younger cousin for reminding.” Her smile was gentle, and her words and conduct were all very appropriate. But from the perspective of someone, who has the habit of integrating all kinds of etiquette into their life since childhood, her behavior was too excessive, too deliberate, lacking in sincerity, and appearing too fake.

“Don’t mention it. After all, older cousin has always been very good to me.” Was Luo Jing Ying really just reminding Jiang Ling Shan? She was merely just worried that Sun Yi Jia, seeing on Jing Wan’s behalf, might really become somewhat impressed with this slut. She herself was already on bad terms with Luo Jing Wan, thus undoubtedly couldn’t reap any benefits, so naturally she couldn’t let Jiang Ling Shan have it easy either. Besides, there was truth in her words, no? Who could nitpick her faults?

Luo Jing Ying’s purpose, how could Jiang Ling Shan not know. The two of them were practically an identical pair. She didn’t want to say anymore to her, “I suddenly feel somewhat unwell, so I’ll return first. I’ll come again another day to play with younger cousin.”

“That’s really such a shame, I just so happened to be preoccupied at the moment, so I won’t be sending off older cousin.” Naturally she wouldn’t mention the matter her grandfather had encountered at the flower market today. Regardless whether it was inappropriate or not, as an outer[2] granddaughter, to have come without ever going to give her greetings, this was a enormous wrong. Surely, she will learn of it very soon. And when that time comes, it won’t be something she’ll be able to cover up with an ‘I didn’t know’. Coming to one’s maternal family, isn’t going to go pay one’s respect a given?

In the past, if it wasn’t that Luo Pei Shan wasn’t home, then it was her having her formalities exempted. Gradually, this formed into a habit. And today, she truly was quite irritated to the point that she even forgot that her maternal grandmother has already started overseeing the rear court now. After going back, she will certainly be mercilessly reprimanded by her mother.

Just thinking about other people’s misfortunes made Luo Jing Ying feel happy inside. Even the anger she suffered from Jing Wan was relieved some.

By the time Jing Wan and Sun Yi Lin strolled around, and almost reached Elegant Haitang Residence, they directly ran into Luo Jing Bo. Luo Jing Bo only knew that his own young sister had a guest over, just he didn’t expect that it was Sun Yi Jia. He was slightly startled. “Greetings Miss.”

Sun Yi Jia returned the formalities.

Jing Wan laughed, “Third brother this is…..”

“Little sister, you know that third brother recently has been doing paintings, and learning that your place has a lot of paint dye, I came to see, but didn’t expect that you weren’t here. After seeing the paint dye, because of a moment of excitement, I accidentally spilled some, so I had the servant girl draw some water to quickly wash myself. Then I saw on your desk a lone-copy book. While flipping through, I got a bit engrossed. Probably because your servant girl couldn’t keep watching any longer, she thus reminded me of the time. I then finally remembered that I needed to go back to change clothes. Also, lend this book to third brother for now?” Luo Jing Bo lifted up the rolled up book in his hand.

“Third brother can just go ahead and take it.” Jing Wan said, not minding. Just, her third brother’s ‘explanation’ seemed a bit too thorough. Even if he was a little late in leaving, it still wasn’t completely necessary, right? There must be another reason in between. However, there was one thing she was certain of, and that was, he really must have been enthralled to have not left till now.

“Third brother just knows that little sister is the most considerate. Also, have someone send some of the paint dye over for me too.” Luo Jing Bo bluntly said.

“Alright.” Even with an outsider present, Luo Jing Bo was still somewhat improper as ever. Towards this, Jing Wan was rather helpless.

“Then I’ll be going first then.” Luo Jing Bo casually cupped his hand at Sun Yi Jia again, his leaving figure carried a bit of carefree confidence.

Sun Yi Jia couldn’t help glancing at Luo Jing Bo’s retreating figure again. The noble sons that she usually came in contact with, regardless if it’s her own family’s brothers, or those outside, including the princes, aside from Jing Qinwang, which one wasn’t an upright gentleman, modest and polite, not having the slightest mistake in their manners and conduct. She was very clear that in private, they undoubtedly weren’t like that. Of course, Jing Qinwang aside, he was just used to being insolent, not putting anyone in his eyes, not giving anyone face. Even his Majesty had no way of dealing with him. However, this gentleman was somewhat different. His words and actions weren’t the most careful, yet his manners can’t be said to be wrong either. Unrestrained and laid-back, this was truly his real personality. Apart from because this was his innate nature, it was probably also because there was no entanglement of interest with the Sun family. He didn’t care what kind of image he had in Sun Yi Jia’s eyes.

“Little sister Wan, he is your full older brother?”

“En.” Jing Wan led Sun Yi Jia into the Elegant Haitang Residence.

In the courtyard, she saw servants that didn’t belong to the Luo family. This was probably the reason for Luo Jing Bo’s ‘explanation’. They’d came from the lotus pond, walking very slowly, and this period of time wasn’t considered short either. However, these people from the Sun family, only saw him come out and didn’t see him go in. It’s unavoidable that they will think of some things. Even if he was her actual older brother, sometimes they still needed to pay close attention to the etiquette between male and female. Luo Jing Bo naturally was thinking for Jing Wan’s sake. Although he was unadjusted, on important issues, he would definitely never make a mistake.

Jing Wan’s attention wasn’t on those servants. Her gaze was somewhat hot as she looked to that one and a half meter tall peony that was full of vitality. It was in a giant celadon flower pot with brand new soil, clearly having just been changed.

Sun Yi Jia saw Jing Wan’s expression and laughed somewhat proudly, “It’s for you, do you like it? I’d spent a lot of effort trying to steal this from fifth brother’s place.”

Jing Wan attentively looked at it. This peony, not only was good in quality, it was even the head of the four great name breeds, purple wei[3]. In this world, it was definitely a rare treasure that can only be encountered but not sought after. Although Jing Wan liked it, she couldn’t accept it. “Big sister Jia, this is too precious. I can’t accept it.”

“What are you saying, if you weren’t someone that understood plants and flowers, I naturally wouldn’t gift it to you, but you clearly know even more than my fifth brother. With it in your hands, it definitely won’t be neglected. Furthermore, in my opinion, to be able to have you as a good friend, is more valuable than anything else.”

“But it certainly must be Gentleman Sun’s treasure of his heart, how can I…..”

“Little sister Wan, you only need to worry about accepting it, no need to think too much. My fifth brother has gathered all four of the four great name breeds of peony in his hands. This purple wei, he still has another one of, even better looking than this one. Else, even if I’m his blood-related younger sister, he definitely wouldn’t give it to me either.” Sun Yi Jia naturally won’t tell Jing Wan that as soon as her older brother had gone back, he’d immediately prepared to transplant that other purple wei to give to Jing Wan borrowing her hands. However, she had to remind him that if he really did it like that, even if she tried to ‘steal’ it from him, it was still too conspicuous. After all, who didn’t know how much he treasured these flowers. Sun Yi Lin thus had to settle on the second best.

Sun Yi Jia knew, her fifth brother this time truly had his heart set. After all, to want to get a flower from his hands, the common ones were still okay, but to want a name breed, afraid even his Majesty would even need to issue a decree to be able to get it. Of course, his Majesty wouldn’t go as far as to do something like that. For him to willingly send out his best flower of his own accord wholeheartedly, what other ways are there still that could better prove his sincerity than this?

For her own big brother’s sake, Sun Yi Jia also went all out. The usually haughty and aloof Ding Duke Manor’s di Miss, unexpectedly got off her high horse to coax and pester Sun Yi Lin, in addition to acting coquettishly, narrowly reaching shamelessness, finally having her wish fulfilled and achieving a magnificent feat that others couldn’t achieve. Also letting the people of the Ding Duke Manor witness just how much Sun Yi Jia cares for this newly made good friend.

Jing Wan was still somewhat hesitant.

Sun Yi Jia thus made a hardened move, “Little sister Wan, if you don’t want it, then I’ll immediately let someone directly burn it.”

Jing Wan looked to Sun Yi Jia and helplessly said, “Who would do it like this?”

Sun Yi Jia slightly raised her chin and humphed. That look was clearly saying: ‘This miss is precisely like this.’

Having decided to accepted it, Jing Wan wasn’t unreasonable either. She first did some tiny adjustments, then directly transplanted it into her courtyard.

Sun Yi Jia watched the entire process attentively, taking it all to heart. She couldn’t help thinking, if little sister Wan was the same as her own fifth brother, they’ll definitely have an affinity for one another. Perhaps they might even be a pair of immortal lovers. Thus, in her conversations with Jing Wan, she couldn’t help bringing up words like ‘my fifth brother this and fifth brother that’ and such. She wanted to let Wan Wan feel that her big brother was good, but she couldn’t make it too obvious. This was really painstakingly exhausting too.

[1] The title comes from the idiom ‘to present borrowed flowers to Buddha’, meaning to borrow someone else’s hand to gain favor or influence.

[2] The original term is ‘Wai Sun Nu’ which literally translates to ‘outside granddaughter’, it’s what you would address your daughter’s daughter as. In Chinese family relations, your immediate family is anyone that shares the same surname, everyone else, regardless of how blood-related they are to you, are considered outside relatives.

[3] The concept of the four great name breeds of peony is an actual thing; basically they’re just yellow, purple, green, and pink peonies. Their names respectively are, handsome yellow, purple wei, bean green, and pink zhao. As you can see none have real english common names, these are just literal translations of their Chinese name. Not gonna lie, I think the green one looks like lettuce.

Handsome Yellow

Purple Wei

Green Bean

Pink Zhao