Chapter 61: Once again playing dirty tricks behind the back

Liu-shi’s nails nearly sank into her flesh. The third branch didn’t have much money. She had been living her days frugally, yet Luo Rong Ping was the same as a great majority of men, wasting money left and right. And now he also wanted to recklessly spend on a woman. Good, truly just too good! And this woman, she indeed can’t underestimate in the slightest either. In this short exchange for the first time, she’d already let her(Liu-shi) suffer a crushing defeat. For as long as Liu-shi has been alive, she’s never lost this miserably before. By all means, this woman better not fall into her hands!

With Luo Rong Ping being this unrelenting, Liu-shi didn’t want to lower herself either. Retracting her smile, she put on a cold expression “Naturally whatever master says goes, however, Wan Niang? It’s still best if this name is changed. Regardless of which character it is, it’ll conflict with third girl’s name. If mother finds out, she won’t be happy. This wife bids farewell.”

Luo Rong Ping’s expression changed and had all the servants kicked out. Pulling the woman’s hands, he neither lightly nor heavily massaged her hands, “In the future, how about I call you Huan Niang?” In actuality, it really had nothing to do with Jing Wan, but Liu-shi was right. Luo Old Madam would care. Even if he didn’t like it, it still needed to be changed.

“It’s merely an address, master can call me whatever you want.” Huan Niang leaned on his shoulder, “To be able to receive master’s sincere treatment, even if this concubine has to immediately die, this concubine would be willing.”

“Don’t say nonsense. Our days in the future are still long, and there’s also our child. —-I already told you before, with Liu-shi, it’s just a surface level relationship. If she does anything to you, you don’t need to yield to her. She’s a proud one, so she won’t let her own matters get leaked out. You don’t need to watch her face and live cautiously.

“Madam is the wife, this one is the concubine. Even if madam does something, that is also within reason. In the end, it’s not good to make a ruckus. Precisely the so called, ‘paper can’t wrap fire[1]‘. If by chance someone finds out, it’s not good for master’s reputation. This is something this concubine is absolutely unwilling to see. Moreover, in a way, it’s this concubine that stole master from madam, so it’s also understandable that madam is upset. That’s why, this concubine won’t clash with madam. However, won’t let myself be at a disadvantage either, so master can rest assured.”

“You ah, what are you saying, what stealing, this master is just yours.” This gentle consideration like an ‘understanding flower[2]

‘, Luo Rong Ping very much enjoyed.

Huan Niang delicately smiled and called out in a sweet voice, “That’s right, master, the third miss madam mentioned just now…….”

“My second brother’s di daughter. Old madam likes her a lot. Don’t go near her, she’s influenced by the old madam and doesn’t like concubines. If you make her unhappy, even I can’t save you.” Luo Rong Ping said.

Have to say, Luo Rong Ping wasn’t exactly fearful of Jing Wan. From his perspective, she was just a girl, and sooner or later, she’ll be married off anyways. Even if she suppressed his own daughter, and he was unhappy inside, he didn’t think too much of it either. On this bit, Luo Rong Ping was rather very open-minded. As for that di daughter of his always striving to go against her, he once did say a few words to her before, but afterwards he was too lazy to say anymore. However, his own concubine was different. If anything were to happen, just one word from the old madam and she can be killed off. So to avoid far far away was the best option.

In a place hidden from Luo Rong Ping, Huan Niang’s gaze flashed, “This concubine understands.”

In any case, leaving aside the huge tantrum Liu-shi threw after she went back, the news that Luo Rong Ping brought someone pregnant back, for the most part, everyone in the Luo family all knew. After all, there were quite a few people present. If the third branch could insert spies into the other courtyards, then their own courtyard naturally also had other people’s spies. Gong mama was very aware of all these twists and turns, and usually heard about three parts of it. Even if she didn’t personally go ‘listen to the walls’, she was still able to guess the other seven parts. This way, Jing Wan was able to know more details than the others.

Jing Wan lied on the soft recliner and had a servant girl give her a massage. Although her skills weren’t as seasoned as Gong mama’s, it wasn’t bad either. Gong mama had an injury on her leg, yet she still circled around her during the say. Although she already confirmed that it was more or less healed, Jing Wan was still unwilling to let her continue tiring herself out. Since she was unwilling to go back and rest, Jing Wan could only let her sit to the side and watch.

Jing Wan listened to Gong mama speak in a low and soft voice. Originally she was a bit drowsy, but now she was somewhat awake, and rather skeptically opened her mouth, “For third aunt to have bullied our second branch in such a way, I was still thinking of how to return the favor. Yet, unexpectedly someone already offered a pillow. Really is an unusual timing. Moreover, it was even that most impossible person.”

“It’s probably a coincidence. That woman most likely has long been raised on the outside by third master. Probably noticed just today that she was pregnant and took advantage of this opportunity to let third master bring her back. After all, shu born children, in addition to being born on the outside was even more unpleasant to the reputation. According to third master’s level of concern towards that woman, along with blowing some wind in the ears, it wouldn’t be hard for her to accomplish her goal of entering the Luo family.” Gong mama said.

“En, probably really is a coincidence then. If it was deliberately done by someone, wouldn’t they have long been scheming against third uncle and the third branch? Third uncle isn’t even worth the time for people on the outside to scheme against him as such. And as for in our own family, third uncle isn’t a threat to eldest uncle, so eldest uncle naturally won’t waste this level of effort. And my father really doesn’t even have third uncle in his eyes. For now, let’s just observe. If third branch is lively enough, then we can just watch. If it’s not lively enough, rather we can add some firewood.” Jing Wan said as her voice gradually softened, seemingly about the fall asleep.

Gong mama had a somewhat indescribable expression. Right, Luo Rong Ping wasn’t worth outsiders to scheme against, but that one can’t stand seeing Miss, you, getting bullied. Those that bully you, without you doing anything, he will help you retaliate by hundred-fold. He knows that you don’t get along with the third branch, so long before you came to the capital, he already began making arrangements. For Luo Rong Ping to have not brought the person back at any other time, yet just happens to have brought them back today, it really wasn’t a coincidence. After all, can’t anger Liu-shi this much at any other time, right?

Speaking of Li Hong Yuan, he was currently absentmindedly flipping through the things he got from his so called third brother and fourth brother. If these things were to be tossed out, it would definitely be enough to let them greatly suffer for awhile. However, to want to directly topple them, it was still far from enough. But, regardless whether these things’ affect was big or small, Li Hong Yuan still lacked the interest. After he finished flipping through them, he randomly threw them to the side.

Eunuch Mu replenished a cup of tea for him, and afterwards lowered his head and stood to the side like a wooden pillar.

“Wan Wan’s engagement with Chen Zheng Min for the most part has been settled?” Li Hong Yuan asked as he seemingly contemplated, getting lost in his thoughts momentarily.

That tone was faint and unusually calm, like as if he was speaking of something completely unrelated to himself. However, Eunuch Mu could tell, this was actually the most abnormal. Miss Luo was about to get engaged to someone else, master should be all kinds of gloomy. Thinking of every possible way to put Chen Zheng Min to death should be the normal state. The more calm he is, the more terrifying it is, alright? Eunuch Mu couldn’t help reaching out to wipe the empty sweat on his forehead. Regarding Miss Luo’s ‘big matters’, there isn’t anything master didn’t know, but even if this was the case, Eunuch Mu still didn’t dare to not reply. But will his answer make master immediately go berserk and directly wring his head off? “Replying to master, that should be the case.”

“Sun Yi Lin gifted a purple wei to Wan Wan?” Li Hong Yuan continued to ask.

“Replying to master, yes.” Eunuch Mu’s back began to sweat. Who can come save him?

“Sun Yi Lin’s status is somewhat passable, Chen Zheng Min’s really just too low. For the preliminary round of the imperial examination this time, pass a message to that side, as long as Chen Zheng Min’s standard is still passable, at worst need for him to be third place.”

“……Yes.” Master, just what do you want to do? Are you giving up on Miss Luo? Else, why not only not have the man that’s about to become her fiancee kicked down, but even expend the effort to lend him a helping hand?

The three people of the first class rank[3] are sometimes personally picked by the Emperor. To want to influence his Majesty’s decision, the difficulty is extremely high. If Chen Zheng Min just happens to enter his Majesty’s eyes, then naturally there’s nothing better than this, but with your words just now, they can’t just sit around and wait. For assurance, need to think of a way to let Chen Zheng build some presence in front of his Majesty in advance. Sounds easy enough, but too difficult to actually do. It really is just one word from master and the subordinates need to break their legs from running.

“Since Sun Yi Lin has already entered officialdom, how does he still have the time to stroll the flower market, really neglecting his proper duties.”

—–Isn’t the one that neglects one’s proper duties the most you master? If you want to give him more work and not have the time to get close to Miss Luo, just say it clearly.

“Isn’t Chen Zheng Min either at the Chen Manor or going to the Luo family, does he plan on becoming a bookworm?”

—–In the few months Gentleman Chen has been in the capital, the times he’s gone to the Luo family can be counted on one hand. Although he doesn’t participate in scholar gatherings or meet with friends every few days, he still isn’t just blindly studying all day. And he’s only met with Miss Luo at the Luo Manor today.

[1] Idiom meaning truth can not be contained

[2] Understanding Flower – A beauty who’s good with words, but like in virtuous and soft-spoken way.

[3] Top three scorers of the Imperial Exam