Chapter 283.1: The Safest Place
Jing Wan’s great uncle, Luo Pei Song, although wasn’t a court academician of Kaiming Academy, and the times he has stayed in Kaiming Academy weren’t long, there was still a small courtyard that belonged to him in Kaiming Academy. It was really very small, just three buildings, with the rest of the place more or less the same size as the building.
The three buildings, one was the study, one was used for receiving guests, and one was the bedchamber. Of course, the bedroom was divided into the inner and outer room. The outer room was for the people that took care of him. Usually, it was always a disciple, or perhaps the younger generation or servant boy sent by the disciples. In any case, there was no need to worry about him lacking people at his side. Just like for instance, the person currently leading the way for Jing Wan and them, he was precisely the last disciple Luo Pei Song took in. He was taken in three years ago, and has followed by Luo Pei Song’s side for three years, similarly coming from a family clan with a several hundred year old history. In his family, although there wasn’t someone that was a high official like Luo Pei Shan, but overall, they were much stronger than the Luo family. After all, in the Luo family, it was just Luo Pei Shan’s one branch that surpassed the mass.
(T/N: With how courtyards are laid out each building is just one room, but because they aren’t interconnect from the inside but externally by outside corridors, they are considered their own ‘building’. Most likely the 1-yard courtyard, pictured below.)
Because he was the youngest son in the family, while being away from home, he didn’t need to worry about there being no one to take care of his parents. Additionally, he also didn’t have the pressing need to carry on the family line. Under his family’s request, and his own agreement, he thus followed by Luo Pei Song’s side all this time. Speaking of which, what Jing Wan didn’t know was that this person, Li Hong Yuan actually recognized. He was one of the pillars of the imperial court during his reign in his past life. Li Hong Yuan, because of his own reasons, was partial towards capable young talents. That’s why, the imperial court tend to lean towards the younger side, and not like currently, leaning towards the elderly.
Li Hong Yuan although was a tyrant, in regards to governing, there was nothing to nitpick, and moreover, he won’t restrain talented people. As long as one’s talent was acknowledge by him, never mind skipping three ranks in a row, letting you reach the heavens in one step was all possible, a day ago still fatigued by an impoverished life, and a day later perhaps just reached the highest official position, wielding great power. Of course, this kind of circumstance was still a rare case. Even so, that still was an opportunity for young people, how many people harbor ambition and far-reaching goals.
This person right now was a scholar graduate, making a name for himself at a young age, but afterwards, he nevertheless fell silent, all the way until two years later, when he finally participated in the imperial metropolitan exam together with the Luo family brothers. Not only was he the top scorer of the metropolitan exam, he was also the top scorer of the final court exam. For a moment, the wind limitless blew in his favor, and further because he was still unmarried, in fact, not even having a fiancee, he got competitively sought after by countless high officials and nobles, wishing to have him kidnapped into being the son-in-law. —————-His surname Jiang, name Wan Li, this name was also relatively simple and crude.
(T/N: His name Wan Li ‘万里’ literally just means ten thousand li, and coupled with his surname Jiang, which means river, his whole name is just ten thousands li of river. One li is about 500 meters.)
Jing Wan jokingly ask whether or not among his brothers at home, there was also a ‘Bai(hundred) Li’ or ‘Qian(thousand) Li’, and as a result, he said not just limited to this. Yi(one), Er(two), San(three), Shi(ten), those were all taken up. Jing Wan wanted to say, do your parents have grudges against the first few children? For better or worse still considered a large family clan, family of scholarly learning and etiquette, so can’t you all put in a bit of heart in naming the children? Moreover, the later ones were all ‘Qian Li’, ‘Wan Li’, yet the ones in front were Yi(one), Er(two), San(three) Li. Because they were born first, so should just be ‘out of luck’?
(T/N: This is like naming your children one kilometer, two kilometer, three kilometer, hundred kilometer, thousand kilometer, etc.)
Jing Wan also inquired about her great uncle’s situation. After all, on normal days, the ones that knew about his situation were probably just the two elders of the Luo family. Moreover, it was most likely all just very short words.
He also wasn’t young anymore, and being away from home all year round, how could one not worry?
Additionally, the times Jing Wan has seen him were very few, but in a certain sense, at the time, her relationship with him was actually much better than with her own grandfather, Luo Pei Shan. Who let Luo Pei Shan at the time had all his thoughts placed elsewhere, and moreover, also appeared to be not that easy to get close to, but this great uncle was different. Perhaps because he didn’t have his own descendants, towards his older brother’s descendants, he was all pretty good to, and towards Jing Wan, because of Luo Old Madam, it was ‘loving the house and its crow’.
When Luo Old Madam had just married in, Luo Pei Song was in the middle of his ‘rebellious phase’, and perhaps because he had his older brother sheltering, he belonged to the maturing relatively late type, letting his parents very much headache, directly having him thrown to their very responsible eldest son. And at the time, Luo Pei Shan had just taken an official post, so where did he have time to bother with him. That’s why, for this rebel to have been able to become today’s world renowned scholar, his eldest sister-in-law’s contributions cannot go unnoticed. Towards his eldest sister-in-law, Luo Pei Song carried a bit of fear, yet also carried a childlike admiration. Because the number of times Jing Wan was at Luo Old Madam’s side was relatively many, whenever he came back, he was able to meet her every time.
Perhaps seeing that Jing Wan was just being concerned about an elder, Li Hong Yuan rather didn’t ‘go crazy’.
When Jing Wan saw Luo Pei Song, he was currently playing qi with a court academician of the academy.
Despite having not seen in several years, he nevertheless didn’t change much, his spirit very good, and his eyes not muddy. And perhaps because he was out all year round, he was also darker than ordinary old men.
The courtyard although was small, the arrangement was appropriate. One could tell, on normal days, it was also carefully looked after, and didn’t, because of the owner not being present, just neglect in maintaining.
As the saying goes, ‘to not speak when observing qi’, so before the match ended, no one opened their mouth.
Towards qi, Jing Wan wasn’t considered very proficient, but she could still tell that her own great uncle was on the declining side, but seeing his nonchalant look, he was mostly unconcerned.
Luo Pei Song stroked his beard, lifting his head and glancing at Jing Wan, “The little girl has now already grown this big, time truly is unforgiving.”
“I see that great uncle is still the same as several years ago, the body in excellent condition.” Jing Wan said with a smile.
“Your mouth is still this sweet.” Luo Pei Song pretended to tap her, carrying a bit of doting, yet seemingly also carrying a bit of helplessness.
Not just Jiang Wan Li, even the court academician across from him, all were somewhat surprised. The Luo Pei Song they were aware of, although wasn’t considered difficult to get along with, he still wasn’t someone that was easy to become close with, even having some small pet peeves, frequently unable to see a smile all day long. It was entirely different from Luo Pei Shan’s old fox-like behavior when mingling in officialdom, yet never thought that he even had this kind of side.
“Already married, not a little girl anymore.” Jing Wan was still smiling.
“Never mind having married, even if already having children, in this old man’s eyes, that is still a little girl. ——-Come, come, come, help great uncle see if this match can still be saved or not.”
“Great uncle, this would really be difficult for me. My qi skills are definitely very ordinary, but………..” Jing Wan had Li Hong Yuan pushed out, “Look for your grandnephew-in-law.”
Luo Pei Song seemingly finally saw that there was still such a person present. He leisurely spun his eyes around Li Hong Yuan’s face before finally getting up slowly, and the old court academician across from him also got up along with him.
“This commoner greets Jin Qinwang.”
How could Li Hong Yuan not understand, this was clearly not liking him. However, this was quite normal. Towards those that only know his infamy, but not the rest, as long as they were genuinely good to Jing Wan, there probably won’t be any that would like him. If they really were to like him, then he would really be unhappy. As such, without neither anger nor joy, he calmly returned the etiquette, “Old teacher is too polite.”
Astonishment flashed through Luo Pei Song’s heart. This seemingly was different than what he’d anticipated. Jing Wan was one of the younger generation that he liked. Her getting married, although he wasn’t able to rush back, wanting to learn about this grandnephew-in-law was still quite easy. After all, he had this many disciples and disciples’ disciples, so wanting to inquire was still quite easy, but the results he received was practically just dreadful. Because of this, he even wrote a letter to his older brother, having that older brother that he’d always deeply respected thoroughly scolded. However, his older brother’s reply was ambiguous, the wording unclear. From within, he sensed some peculiarity, then recalling his eldest sister-in-law’s degree of love towards this girl, perhaps things really weren’t that bad. Just, this was an imperial decree issued by his Majesty after all, so even if one didn’t agree, it was still useless. Thus, he temporarily reserved his attitude. Looking at it now, the former’s possibility was bigger.
Luo Pei Song stroked his beard, “This girl has never spoken big words before, so since she recommended you, presumably you must have quite the skill. If this match is won, then everything else afterwards, all not a problem, if this match is lost…………” What will happen if you lose, that’s hard to say.
Li Hong Yuan glanced at Jing Wan. Jing Wan smilingly looked back at him, you can do it! Li Hong Yuan faintly raised his brow, his wife’s meaning is that he doesn’t need to hold back? Since it’s his wife’s wish, then sorry, don’t blame him for being relentless. Li Hong Yuan didn’t sit in Luo Pei Song’s seat either, just picking up a stone and placing it on the board.
The court academician on the other side also didn’t have any objections, placing down a piece right after, also very quick, a look of already having a plan.
The others all became observers. At first, it was still the white pieces in a disadvantageous position, but once Li Hong Yuan placed down a certain piece, the state of the board instantly reversed. Practically everyone all looked to Li Hong Yuan in disbelief. To think that this person had actually already started setting the trap when he’d landed the first piece, and not only so, he even led the other party step by step into the trap, while the other party was completely unaware. How was this just taking a step and looking three steps ahead, this was simply just taking a step and looking ten steps ahead, such meticulousness beyond comparison.
Then looking to Li Hong Yuan again, it was a bit like looking at a monster.
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