Chapter 176.4: Selfishness
During this time, Sun Old Madam already learned from the servants’ mouths the entire situation. Every word the Ding Duchess said just made her palm somewhat itch again. After all, that slap just now was too light. Just listen to what all she said. She was actually talking about how she treats her daughter-in-laws, right?
The Ding Duchess has married into the Ding Duke Manor for several decades already. Sun Old Madam perhaps was strict, and perhaps for a very long period of time held onto the main authority of the inner manor, not letting go, but she really has never treated the Ding Duchess harshly before, and further never beat her before. This was getting slapped in public at middle-age, and can be considered to have lost all face.
The amount of people from the Ding Duke Manor that came out this time weren’t considered few. Who let the manor have an abundant of idle people and nothing else, not doing anything productive, yet still have a body full of shortcomings, can’t be too hot, and can’t be too cold. Even a single loose thread from their clothes was all able to scrape against their skin and hurt them. And for the things that entered their mouths, if the material used is slightly inferior by a little, it’ll all be able to ruin their appetite. Sun Old Madam sometimes can’t help but coldly sneer. If you ask her, just have them all tied up and let them starve for ten days. By then, they’ll even be able to eat tree roots. Then, in the middle of winter, have their clothes stripped. When time comes, never mind clothes with loose threads, even dry grass will all be able to pile on the body.
However, Sun Old Madam was too lazy to bother with them. Each and every one all in a drunken dream, unable to see the Ding Duke Manor’s decline, unable to see his Majesty’s discontent towards the Ding Duke Manor, only seeing that there was still an Empress standing there, and only seeing that Kang Qinwang was his Majesty’s eldest di son, thus the rightful and legitimate heir to the throne. How laughable. Just wait, there will be a day when they wander the streets destitute. Of course, this was actually still a good scenario. The new Emperor ascending the throne, seizing the entire family and banishing three thousands miles away wasn’t a joke to scare others. If her life is long, perhaps she can still live to that time, but if her life is short, then probably won’t have anything to do with her anymore.
This while, a bunch of people were here watching a joke, then taking advantage of the opportunity to seize power, and snatch over some benefits. Otherwise, it was just throwing stones at someone who was down. Sun Old Madam also didn’t crease her brow once. She just looked to the Ding Duke, her eldest son, but that look wasn’t like looking at a son either, cold and indifferent, “Personally send some medicinal ingredients to the Luo family. I just hope you won’t be stupid like your wife.”
Speaking of which, when Sun Old Madam truly put on the airs, never mind the people of the Ding Duke Manor, even the those clan elders of the entire Sun clan with the highest seniority, all needed to respect her. For the others, it was just trembling in fear, pulling back their heads and pretending to be a quail.
As such, even the Ding Duke, this while, also had no choice but to deferentially oblige.
And don’t know due to what intentions, Sun Yi Bin also followed the Ding Duke to the Luo family.
The one to receive them was Luo Pei Shan. Luo Jing Bo this while needed to accompany his wife, so didn’t have the spare time to deal with them.
Seeing the pile of things they sent over, Luo Pei Shan actually chuckled, just the ins and outs of his words were all mockery, cursing someone without using dirty words, making the father and son pair flushed with anger, steaming with smoke. But they were unable to find the words to retort, and if you retort one line, he can return you ten. Moreover, it was even neither quickly nor slowly, very much having a gentleman’s elegance. And if one were to ignore the contents of his words, it would even make one feel as if bathing in the spring wind. Speaking of which, it’s not like the Ding Duke has never witnessed Luo Pei Shan’s impressiveness in court before. Just, at the time, it wasn’t aimed at him, so he didn’t experience it that deeply, sometimes even listening with great interest. But now…………..In the future, he will no longer make fun of those that were left speechless by Luo Pei Shan’s ‘scolding’, and will no longer feel they were incompetent.
No matter how angry he was inside, he could only endure, and can’t even lash out, else he’ll certainly be swept out the door. When time comes, that will really be tying a death grudge.
At last, he really couldn’t endure anymore, proposing to take his leave. However, because he recalled his old mother at home, he actually asked about Sun Yi Jia’s condition.
However, the most miserable was probably still Sun Yi Bin. He came carrying ulterior motives, but in the end, aside from the greeting in the very beginning, he actually wasn’t able to say a single word. When leaving, his entire face was all wooden. However, one can’t blame him either. He still didn’t have the qualifications to enter the imperial court, and completely haven’t witnessed Luo Pei Shan’s prowess before.
(T/N: Although Sun Yi Bin has an official post, not all officials can attend the morning court sessions. You can think of it like those big company board meetings, where not all employees can attend.)
They returned to report to Sun Old Madam.
Sun Old Madam didn’t say anything, glancing at Sun Yi Bin, who carried a bit of melancholy mixed with anger, but mostly appeared somewhat withered from having received a blow. Sun Old Madam didn’t express an opinion, this grandson’s heart has been twisted since childhood, not walking the proper path, instead specifically walking the crooked road. If he can straighten his heart, would he be like this now?
“Mother, Yi Jia getting pregnant, that is a big happy occasion. Are we going to separately send some other things over?”
“This, you don’t need to worry about. Just go on with whatever you should be doing.”
The Ding Duke choked, tugging the corner of his mouth, “Yes, then this son will take one’s leave first.” As the cornerstone of the Empress and Kang Qinwang faction, at a time when the Empress and Kang Qinwang are both not present, one should be even more active, and must not let the people of their faction lose morale, firmly having them tethered.
And Sun Yi Bin naturally also needed to actively rush about for the sake of stabilizing his position, because if he can’t even obtain the position of heir to the Ding Duke title, then to want others to endorse him, he naturally needed to ‘respect the wise’ even more, expending even more blood.
Of course, right now it wasn’t early anymore, and they were also tired from the trip, so all things still have to wait until tomorrow.
Rather, it was Sun Old Madam, who after using the evening meal, just went to see her daughter-in-law the Ding Duchess. One has to know, all the people by her side, not a single one didn’t get beat with the rod. But because the Ding Duchess’s side cannot lack people, they still could only serve her carrying injuries. This while, seeing Sun Old Madam, that was just like the mouse seeing the cat.
“All of you go out, I have words to say to your madam.”
Each and every one all hurriedly curtsied, and in a blink of an eye, just disappeared completely.
The Ding Duchess was leaning against large pillow, her eyes flashing, seemingly considering whether or not to get up to bow.
Sun Old Madam rather didn’t care at all, just sitting down next to her, “I know that thing of yours you’ve always carried on you. Take it out, and give it to Yi Jia. Consider it as your compensation towards her.”
The Ding Duchess’s lips squirmed, not uttering a word.
Sun Old Madam was calm and composed. Just based on spirit and appearance, the her right now was even younger looking than this daughter-in-law of hers. “If you don’t take it out, tomorrow I’ll just let someone send you back to the capital. Of course, you will also be carrying a letter of divorce with you, then have your glorious achievements shared with the world.”
The Ding Duchess’s pupils shrunk, “Mother, you actually want to divorce me?”
“What, not going to pretend anymore? Touched the Luo family third miss, and worrying that you’ll meet with Jin Qinwang’s retaliation, so just thought to smear the Luo family’s reputation? For the sake of your own selfishness, you can disregard your own daughter, and further disregard the child in her stomach. Someone like you, divorcing is only rightfully so. I’ll say it one last time, take the thing out. At the time, you were unwilling to use it to get rid of Yi Jia’s engagement with Jin Qinwang, so giving it to her now isn’t bad either.”
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