Chapter 165.3: Pig Leader, Rumors Filling the Skies
After morning court, Le Cheng Emperor flew into a thundering rage, nearly overturning the imperial desk, cursing ‘moron’ after every other word. Kang Qinwang’s conduct, how was it just having his own people pushed out, he clearly even peeled this old man’s face altogether. Even he, this esteemed son of the heavens, all had this matter determined as an accident, yet this son of his unhesitantly tore down his stage.
Sun Yi Lin was just to the side, his brows lowered and eyes restrained, appearing increasingly upright. He’d long realized already that regardless how ambitious that Empress paternal aunt of his was, in this lifetime, afraid, she has no hope of achieving her goal. The one holding her back was truly too strong. Even with others pulling in cooperation, they all weren’t able to pull him back.
The Ding Duke Manor right now was also in a mess. His strong emergence inhibited his eldest brother’s development. But it can’t be helped, because he wasn’t just striving for himself. More importantly, he was striving for the future of the Ding Duke Manor as well as the Sun clan. If he doesn’t do a bit of something, he was worried that the Ding Duke Manor as well as the Sun clan will all be thoroughly eradicated by a certain living Enma. He lost the woman he loved, and also needed to shoulder his family clan’s fate alone, and from time to time, even needed to face his Empress paternal aunt’s ‘intimacy’. At many times, Sun Yi Lin all felt very tired.
At times like these, he would always sit among the flowers for half a day, by himself, quietly, not wanting to be disturbed by anyone.
Kang Qinwang once again got called over by the Empress, pointing out the stakes to him. However, Kang Qinwang was unconcerned. There were plenty of people loyal to him, a few less made no difference. He was the eldest di son, the proper lineage, no one had the right to fight with him.
The Empress waved her hand, letting him leave, even too lazy to give him another affection holding ‘idiot’[1] look.
In this moment, the Empress genuinely began considering separately supporting another prince up, one that would be one hundred percent obedient to her. But, this candidate was somewhat difficult. The ones that were too young weren’t suitable. The fight for the throne has more or less already reached a climax. By the time the little ones mature, ‘the dishes will have already grown cold’[2]. But of the ones that already possessed the qualifications for this battle, not a single one made her feel certain that she would be able to firmly have them controlled in her hand. Right now, she somewhat regretted, in the earlier years, why didn’t she adopt a prince to raise at her side in case of a possible need? That son of hers, in his youth, was actually still quite smart. Even just a few years ago, he seemingly still appeared quite good. How come the more he experienced, the more incompetent he became instead?
The Empress massaged her painfully swollen temples. Switching the person now really wasn’t that easy to work with. Perhaps she should make double the preparations. Previously, she was even thinking that just finding an obedient second wangfei for him was good enough, but looking at it now, this move wasn’t appropriate, still need to have an intimate, yet have definite views, and also understands how to speak eloquently, advising him from time to time. Looks like that Luo third miss was indeed a very fitting candidate, unfortunately…………If she’d long known there would be today, then she would’ve long fought for his Majesty’s approval, even if it means letting Luo Pei Shan continue to stay on the position of the Head Minister of Rites, and giving Yi Lin some compensation. But now, she was Li Hong Yuan, that living Enma’s fiancee. Stealing from him really isn’t a wise decision. However, perhaps can take advantage of his ‘wife cursing’ reputation and do a bit of something. There were too many cases in front. Just, right now, the Emperor and Noble Consort Su both had Luo third miss guarded tightly, so it won’t be that easy.
Empress Sun half narrowed her eyes and quietly contemplating, and at the same time, calculating in her heart, if this matter doesn’t succeed, then who would be suitable. In her mind, she had all the young ladies of the capital waiting to be married enumerated through.
As for whether or not Jing Wan will have thoughts in the future, that wasn’t within the scope of her consideration. For women, once married, their heart will naturally wholeheartedly lean towards their own man.
Yet, the Empress never considered, has her heart ever wholeheartedly leaned towards Le Cheng Emperor before?
In the Luo family, with Luo Rong Ping as the victim, the Luo family rear manor naturally learned of this matter first thing.
Jing Wan and Sun Yi Jia were currently eating fruits, fruits sent by a certain living Enma, starting from the day before yesterday, every day in unbroken succession. Some that were relatively easy to preserve and transport naturally got sent more of, and for some that were rarer, there were naturally fewer of. When Sun Yi Jia saw, she was even endlessly amazed. In past years, even in the palace, these were extremely hard to come by. And this also confirmed what Li Hong Yuan once said.
Jing Wan fell silent, and afterwards, firmly decided to keep them private. Ones there were more of, she divided some out, but for the fewer ones, aside from sending a little bit to Luo Old Madam’s place, the rest, she all kept to herself, even her mother didn’t get any. It couldn’t be helped, her mother was one that can’t keep secrets.
Doing this was nothing more than trying to avoid attracting trouble. After all, even the palace didn’t have these, yet you’re able to eat it everyday, what’s this all about? Even though Jin Qinwang didn’t mind it becoming known to others, but to not even offer it as tribute to the palace, wasn’t that being greatly unfilial? Jing Wan, as someone who’s benefiting from this, naturally needs to help cover it up. Thus, the Luo family only knew that Jin Qinwang had sent Jing Wan quite a few fruits, and only a very few people knew what all specifically.
Sun Yi Jia couldn’t help but tease Jing Wan. As expected, she was different from the mass. Even that living Enma, who has gone through countless beauties, was all that meticulous towards her. In the past, she never heard of any one of his past fiancees having this kind of treatment.
“Even food can’t block your mouth, huh?” Jing Wan slanted her a glance.
Sun Yi Jia hurriedly shut up. Because she heard Jing Wan say, eating more fruits was good for the baby, aside from those that will easily give one internal heat[3], she didn’t eat any less fruits. However, those that were relatively few in quantity, even if she craved them, she still just ate a tiny bit. If she really listened to little sister Wan and ate them all, aside from the people serving by little sister Wan’s side being unhappy, the old madam will definitely have thoughts too. And more importantly, if that living Enma finds out, perhaps he’ll skin her alive.
She was also quite baffled. Prior to finding out about her pregnancy, her appetite was bad, but after finding out, her appetite gradually improved instead, though when smelling some relatively unusual scents, she would still feel nauseous.
“Those from before, probably the timing wasn’t right, and as for you, elder sister-in-law, you’re a special case.”
Sun Yi Jia first blanked, and then afterwards, understood what Jing Wan was saying, “Who knows. After all, Jin Qinwang had his first fiancee at sixteen. Until now, it has been six years already, so who would pay attention to those. It’s true that I’m a special case, but definitely the one he dislikes the most.” Towards this bit, Sun Yi Jia especially didn’t care. Who cares whether that living Enma likes or not. If he really cares about little sister Wan, and be a little good to little sister Wan, then Sun Yi Jia’s complaint towards him perhaps will even lessen.
“Oh right, elder sister-in-law, shouldn’t you have a mama that specializes in this area serving by your side?” Jing Wan, as if pointing, glanced at Sun Yi Jia’s stomach, “But by your side seemingly……….” An upper class noble daughter like her, having someone similar to Gong mama, for the most part, should be the standard, right? Otherwise, there wouldn’t be cases of ‘having eaten something bad’, this kind of unexpected mistake.
Sun Yi Jia paused for a moment, and afterwards, unconcernedly said, “Last year, during the twelfth lunar month, she got driven out by my mother. She had a daughter that wanted to climb onto my fifth brother’s bed. Fifth brother was very angry, and thus their entire family all suffered my mother’s wrath.”
Jing Wan laughed, “It’s not just me saying, but your mother seemingly has your fifth brother regarded too heavily. In the future, she’ll definitely be at odds with your fifth sister-in-law like fire and water. Right now, I’m quite glad that I cancelled my engagement with your fifth brother, really.”
Seeing her not having any misgivings towards this matter, it can be seen, she really didn’t care. Sun Yi Jia couldn’t help sighing for her fifth brother inside. As for being like fire and water, the premise has to be that there was such a person. However, judging from her fifth brother’s situation, it was very worrisome. She was even worried that her fifth brother all won’t be able to walk out from it for a lifetime. “Indeed, it’s quite good that it got cancelled.”
“Better than marrying into Jin Qinwang Manor?” Jing Wan teased.
“Who knows, based on Jin Qinwang’s current attitude, he shouldn’t be too cold towards you. And after marrying over, there’s no one above you suppressing you either. Even if there are side consorts and concubines, they can’t surpass you, so if you want to sort them out, there’s plenty of ways to deal with them. But if you have an unreasonable mother-in-law above you, you can only sulk.” Sun Yi Jia calmly said.
[1] This part was a bit hard to translate because chinese is really flexible in noun modification. To avoid the line being too convoluted, I’ll just explain it here. The expanded version would be: ‘carrying the colors of affection in her eyes while saying with her eyes “idiot”‘.
[2] Figuratively meaning too late
[3] This concept is a bit hard to explain without going into traditional chinese medicine, but just know that certain food are classified as for ‘cooling’ the body, and some as for causing ‘internal heat’, which is not good for the body.
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