Chapter 119.3: Serving Tea, Right and Wrong
As the new wife, Sun Yi Jia originally needed to wait upon her mother-in-law in dining. But since Wang-shi wasn’t present, Zhang-shi would be the one serving Luo Old Madam, and then afterwards, she serve Zhang-shi. However, Luo Old Madam didn’t even want to let Zhang-shi go through the motions, just letting them eat on their own. And Zhang-shi further didn’t need to be mentioned, she has never even let the yiniangs of the second branch serve her before, let alone her daughter-in-law.
Thus, this morning, Sun Yi Jia never once even had to go through the motions. Recalling those older sister-in-laws of hers (older brothers’ wife), when they married in, they served her mother at every meal, carried the tea and poured the water, and after using the morning meal, they even had to listen to her mother’s various teachings. Sun Yi Jia was also aware, among the upper class wealthy households, there weren’t many that weren’t like so. The Luo family for better or worse was still a two to three hundred year old scholarly family, do they not know these rules? Of course not. In reality, in certain aspects, the Luo family was even stricter than the Ding Duke Manor.
That’s why, Sun Yi Jia told herself that she needed to appreciate her good fortune.
Seeing on behalf of his grandson’s new marriage, Luo Pei Shan allowed him a three day break.
And what to do in these three days? As a newlywed, it was naturally keeping his wife company.
On the way back to the second branch, Sun Yi Jia abandoned her newly wedded husband and pulled along Jing Wan, unwilling to let go. Jing Wan was forced to be a giant light bulb[1]. However, in this place, even if they’re a married couple, if they are too intimate outside, they would still be criticized. That’s why, Jing Wan, this lightbulb, was still quite carefree.
“Yesterday, Ying Shuang didn’t come. Originally thought that she would be among the young ladies to send off the bride.”
“The Head of the Imperial Academy’s madam fell ill.”
Jing Wan instantly understood, this was valuing love over friends[2].
The courtyard they now reside in was close to Jing Wan’s. Sun Yi Jia rather wanted to have Jing Wan dragged to their place, but Jing Wan firmly refused. However, “Elder sister-in-law, these two pretty servant girls of yours, I rather like, so just give them to me.”
Sun Yi Jia never imagined Jing Wan would raise such a request. If they were normal servant girls, she naturally would give them away without a second word, but these two had devious intentions, what if they were to lead little sister Wan astray. “This…….”
“What’s wrong, not willing?” Jing Wan smilingly asked.
“Not that, just…….”
“Third miss, the two of us were picked by Ding Duchess for………”
“When your master’s speaking, how can a servant like you just butt in. Besides, since you’ve entered the Luo family, then you belong to the Luo family, and as elder sister-in-law’s dowry, your life and death are decided by her. As servants who can’t even figure out what your own master wants, what use is there to still keep you.” Jing Wan retracted her smile, speaking exceptionally coldly.
How could Sun Yi Jia still not understand. Little sister Wan clearly knows what these two servant girls were for. This was wanting to help her eradicate future worries. As the little sister-in-law (husband’s younger sister), asking the elder sister-in-law for two servants, at most would just be said to be spoiled and domineering, but aside from this, you really can’t say anything to her, even the Ding Duke Manor would have no reason to argue. Even if everyone all knew the purpose of these two servant girls’ existence, and that Jing Wan shouldn’t have ask for them, but, are you able to openly explain it to her?
“Third miss, please forgive, this servant just……..”
“Enough. ———Yi Jia, it’s just two servant girls, just give them to third little sister.” Luo Jing Bo spoke. He perhaps may have not known previously, but with his brothers all saying one after another how good his luck with women was, no matter how slow he was, he would still come to realization. It was better to have these two given to little sis. He has never felt that his little sis wouldn’t be able to control them.
Sun Yi Jia looked to the two siblings, seemingly understanding something. Thus, she very candidly nodded her head in agreement. “To be able to serve little sister Wan is your good fortune. In the future, spare no efforts in serving, and if you make any blunders, you will be punished according to the rules, I definitely won’t say a single word. ———-Little sister Wan, later, I’ll let someone have their slave contracts sent over.” Completely disregarding a certain someone with reddened eyes and ‘unwillingness’ written all over.
Jing Wan nodded, “Then I won’t be seeing off third brother and third sister-in-law.” Her smile containing a bit of tease.
Sun Yi Jia wanted to wring her.
“Yi Jia, you go back first. I have a few words to say to little sis.”
Sun Yi Jia left ahead of him, and Jing Wan also had the people at her side sent away, “What does third brother want to say?”
“It’s about the gongbi style, as well as the verses of ‘Feng Seeks Huang’, I want to tell your sister-in-law. Little sis, aren’t you always telling me, between husband and wife, there needs to be honesty? I want to let your sister-in-law know the truest me, even if I’m not as outstanding as she’d originally thought, and will make her disappointed with me, I all won’t hesitate.” Luo Jing Bo said, and then chuckled, “Also want to let her know, how good you are to her, good to the point that even I, this full-blooded older brother, all can’t help but envy.”
“Third brother, if you feel this is what should be done, then I naturally won’t object.”
“Thank you little sis.” Luo Jing Bo was unprecedentedly solemn, “Although very lacking, but, I can’t do anything for you either, so can only just say these two words.”
Jing Wan wrinkled her nose and nodded, pretending to be serious, “I accept.”
Luo Jing Bo smilingly rubbed her head.
The image of a certain man rubbing her head yesterday suddenly flashed across her eyes, Jing Wan immediately pushed away his hand, “Not allowed to touch.”
Seeing that cute little appearance of hers, Luo Jing Bo couldn’t help extending his claws again, quickly rubbing twice, and then swiftly walking away. Hearing Jing Wan’s flustered and exasperated voice, he very amusingly laughed out loud.
Jing Wan laughed in spite of herself. Having things like this right now was also pretty good. As for how her future will be, she has never once thought about.
However, it seems the matter of Jin Qinwang coming to her courtyard yesterday didn’t become known to anyone, else how could there not be any sound at all. Turning around, she stepped into her own little courtyard.
“Miss, how should these two be taken care of?” Her wet nurse asked.
“What are your names?”
“This servant is Hong Lian.”
“This servant is Lu Yi.”
Hong Lian was precisely the one that has been restless since yesterday. In contrast, Lu Yi was very taciturn the entire time. Even if Jing Wan had asked for the two of them from Sun Yi Jia, there wasn’t the slightest ripple in her eyes. This was Jing Wan’s first time hearing her voice. If Hong Lian’s eyes were the most enticing, then for Lu Yi, it was her voice. The Ding Duchess’s decision in choosing these two really can be said to be painstaking. “Hong Lian will go to the kitchen tend the fire, and in the remaining time, help clean the courtyard.”
“Third miss——–”
“If you’re unwilling, then go to the main kitchen.” Jing Wan coldly said.
Hong Lian shut her mouth. In the entire Luo Manor, there weren’t many little kitchens. The main kitchen was in charge of the meals for the entire Luo Manor. To say the fire needed to be tend to all day wasn’t an exaggeration at all. Being sent there by miss will ruin her.
“Lu Yi……….” Truthfully speaking, the Elegant Haitang Residence’s manpower was quite plentiful. It really wasn’t easy to make arrangements.
“Miss, at the Ding Duke Manor, this servant was in charge of taking care of the flowers in the garden.”
Jing Wan narrowed her eyes, “Why did you become third sister-in-law’s dowry servant girl?”
“Fifth young master said this servant was meticulous in tending to the flowers, thus rewarded this servant. This servant’s voice is unique, and when thanking for the bestowments, got heard by someone.” Lu Yi calmly explained.
Lu Yi’s voice, even if she spoke with a cold expression, all sounded like she was deliberately seducing someone. Approaching Sun Yi Lin, no wonder she would get suppressed and schemed against. For the time being, Jing Wan won’t ask whether or not things were the same as what she’d imagined. The part about Sun Yi Lin praising her should be true, thus her being meticulous in taking care of flowers, this bit, didn’t need to be doubted. “Then, for the time being, just take care of the flowers. As for the rest, we can discuss in the future.”
“Yes.”
After Luo Jing Bo returned, he directly had Sun Yi Jia pulled into the study, saying he wanted to teach her how to draw.
Seeing their relationship this good, the servants naturally all tactfully retreated outside.
Luo Jing Bo stood behind Sun Yi Jia, one hand holding her waist, one hand holding her hand, “Yi Jia, you know, gongbi painting, actually belongs to little sis. The hundred birds facing the phoenix painting was also suggested by her for me to bring as a betrothal gift. It was also her that asked me to perform ‘Feng Seeks Huang’, and those verses were also written by her. I’m far inferior to the rumors outside, and that glory actually all belong to little sis.”
Sun Yi Jia quietly listened. For a moment, she didn’t have any reaction. Luo Jing Bo’s hand on her waist tightened. To say he didn’t care about Sun Yi Jia’s thoughts in the slightest, that was impossible. She had already crept into his heart. She was the person that he was going to spend a lifetime with.
Sun Yi Jia turned around, “Jing Bo, I’m very happy that you told me these things, really, although there was that tiny bit of regret, but I believe, when you did those things, it was definitely from the heart. What I truly care about is you as a person.”
Luo Jing Bo relaxed a breath inside, and shortly after, began smiling, using his forehead to press against hers, “You’re very happy?”
Sun Yi Jia nodded smiling.
“Then let me tell you something else that’ll make you even happier.” Seeing her expectant gaze, Luo Jing Bo couldn’t help kissing her, “I promised little sis, in this lifetime, I will only have you alone, even if in the future, I don’t have an heir, I would rather adopt from a relative, than to touch a second woman. This life, for an entire lifetime, just the two of us.”
[1] Chinese saying for ‘third wheel’
[2] I could be mean and just make everyone reread chapter 92 for the context ahahhaa but basically Zhou Ying Shuang is engaged to the Head of the Imperial Academy family’s son, and during the period when she was blind from her injury, she developed a crush on her fiancee.
T/N: I forgot about this, I found image of what is pretty much the exact image of how I imagined Li Hong Yuan to look like, it also matches how he appears on the novel cover. These are dolls made by Loong Soul Doll.
Updat𝓮d fr𝙤m fre𝒆webnov(e)l.com