Chapter 473: Birthday Present
However, muddled emperor or not, for Li Hong Yuan, it really didn’t have any influence. In any case, he’d already been a tyrant, but he was very confident that even if a muddled ruler, as long as he doesn’t deliberately go play, Qi Yuan’s mountains and rivers won’t collapse. However, with Jing Wan by his side, wanting to give her a flourishing golden age, how could he go crazy and mess around with Qi Yuan’s mountains and rivers.
In the following days, the two of them can be said to be ‘paying no attention to outside matters, just wholeheartedly having each other’s company’. For Jing Wan, aside from spending half the time preparing Li Hong Yuan’s birthday present, the other half, that was just the two of them hand in hand, painting together, raising flowers together, riding horses together, and so on. After witnessing the rare beast park a certain someone went all out in building it truly was the ones in the sky, the ones on land, the ones in the water, everything that there should be, all present. This super park, if found out by others, the memorandums accusing Jin Qinwang of misconduct, perhaps will bury Le Cheng Emperor’s imperial desk.
Jing Wan more or less was a bit worried. No matter how much Le Cheng Emperor favors this son, in the end, he was still the emperor.
Recalling a certain emperor from the history of her past life, it was merely building a Leopard House[1], and although others also have built tiger city, elephant house, pigeon house, hawk house, and such places to raise animals, the amount also limited, yet he was all about to be condemned into a dog. Alright, reportedly, those were places of pleasure, but they similarly got pinned with a label of being excessively extravagant. Those things, compared with this rare beast park right now, completely wasn’t on the same level.
Li Hong Yuan however was unconcerned, “The people that headed to the various regions to search for these things were all asked from him by me at the time, completely having gone through the public channels. No matter how they accuse me of misconduct, it’s also nothing more than the crime of being extravagant. Using this to accuse me of misconduct is completely meaningless. Who doesn’t know that Jin Qinwang is extravagant by nature.”
Alright, certain worries were indeed very excessive. Since a certain someone dared to do, then there certainly won’t be any problems. Even if there’s a problem, it certainly can be solved.
Completely having no worries of the future, free and unrestrained, it truly was playing to one’s heart content.
Of course, Jing Wan was determined to not let her brain become stupid, so starting from that day, everyday, unshaken by thunder, she would handle a portion of the affairs. And because it was ‘relatively peaceful’ lately, Jing Wan practically took on all of Li Hong Yuan’s matters alone.
Switch with others, seeing one’s wife being this ‘ambitious’, perhaps they would just think it was harboring evil intentions. However, Li Hong Yuan was instead happy to relax. While Jing Wan was ‘burying herself in work’, he would leisurely hold a book, steep a cup of tea, or prepare some fine wine, even pairing some side dishes with the wine. Occasionally, he would even order the musicians to play some relaxing tune outside, and afterwards, comfortably lean against the recliner, appearing exceptionally content.
Just looking at him made Jing Wan grit her teeth in anger, especially when encountering some relatively frustrating matter. It was truly wishing to strangle him to death, for a time wanting to go on strike. Why should she work herself to death, while a certain someone was all leisurely and carefree. These things, speaking of which, were even his matter. However, every time it was like this, Li Hong Yuan would always lightly cast her a glance, “When handling matters, one should see things through to the end, and not give up halfway. At the time, it was Wan Wan that asked for this on your own, so how can you just give up because it’s hard? No matter how much this husband indulges you, this matter absolutely won’t do.”
Jing Wan wanted to vomit blood. Was she afraid of it being hard? This simply wasn’t the case alright!? It was just that the contrast was too obvious, feeling severely imbalanced inside. Jing Wan also coldly sneered, “Then asking wangye to please change locations, and don’t bother me here.”
“Look at what Wan Wan is saying, this husband, one, isn’t speaking, and two, isn’t disturbing you, so where does the word ‘bother’ come from? This husband merely sees that Wan Wan is working hard, so wanted to do the same as you usually would, accompanying by the side. Every time Wan Wan did this in the past, this husband would all feel very happy inside, thus thought that if this husband did the same, Wan Wan would also be happy. Yet now, hearing Wan Wan say it as such, it really breaks this husband’s heart.”
What was called saying nonsense with a serious face, this was the prime example. Yet, Jing Wan was unable to return the favor using the same method, because this simply was useless against him. If you relax, he will just relax with you, not the least bit worried that matters won’t be finished in time. This was just the difference.
Unable to kick the person out, and unable to extinguish him, Jing Wan could only continue miserably working, and avoid looking in his direction. If the eyes do not see, the heart is not disturbed, having all her thoughts immersed in the matter at hand. Thus, a certain someone’s existence was also just inconsequential.
As Jing Wan focused on working, Li Hong Yuan also no longer looked at the book, just fixedly staring at her.
Once she finished handling the last portion, Jing Wan felt a bit stiff all over, but before she could move around, Li Hong Yuan was already standing behind her, lightly massaging her shoulders.
Jing Wan let out a sigh, grabbing Li Hong Yuan’s hand, comfortably nuzzling against. Afterwards, she realized something in hindsight, “Eh, wait, Ah Yuan, at the time, I clearly said that regardless of how much, I will only take care of half.”
“En, is there a problem?” Li Hong Yuan’s expression didn’t change.
“But these were all handled by me!” Jing Wan ‘resentfully’ said.
“Because only half was sent over. The other half, I’ve already taken care of.” Li Hong Yuan calmly said.
Jing Wan lifted her head for a look, seeing a certain someone smiling nonchalantly. Forget it, this face, in any case, she has long witnessed the level of shamelessness before, so why expose the matter of her IQ not being as good every time. Getting up, “Tired, going back to sleep. Today, need mama to properly loosen my muscles for me, wangye can go rest first on your own.”
Li Hong Yuan twirled his fingers, helplessly smiling. This was getting indirectly kicked out the door by his wife?
However, a certain thick-skinned person expressed, never mind indirectly, even if directly, it was still impossible to have him kicked out.
The days were just this carefree and painstaking, yet also idle and rich.
The twentieth of the third lunar month was the Imperial Noble Consort’s death anniversary, and Jin Qinwang’s birthday. Perhaps because of knowing that the Imperial Noble Consort was still ‘in the mortal realm’, Le Cheng Emperor this year didn’t become abnormal like as if on edge. However, in certain people’s eyes, perhaps it was becoming even more unreasonable. At least, these last few days, Le Cheng Emperor all didn’t attend court, holding the Imperial Noble Consort’s portrait all day long, talking to himself, saying some trivial matters, even hoping that the Imperial Noble Consort can possess the painting.
Afterwards, the frequency of the word ‘Yuan’er’ increased more and more from his mouth, making some people’s liver shake from hearing, their guard against Li Hong Yuan becoming more and more deep, the intent to kill growing by the day. But, it was very obvious, at this time, they didn’t dare to act blindly without thinking either, because once discovered, even if on the surface, they won’t get put to death, it was still possible to die suddenly in private.
There was also Noble Consort Su who was in an unprecedentedly irritable state, although still appearing normal on the surface. Then again, it couldn’t be helped. She’d believed that everything was within her grasp, yet in the end, there was a mishap, and her own son even got inflicted with a similar poison. And precisely because it was the exact same thing, it made her begin to feel paranoid, believing that it was the Imperial Noble Consort’s revenge.
It’s not that she didn’t have other suspicions. However, it was truly too coincidental, so the thought of ‘revenge’ always gained the upper hand.
As such, there was no one that hoped for the Imperial Noble Consort’s ceremonial ritual to fail more than her, and her attitude towards Li Hong Yuan also changed inherently. However, she still, the same as past years, let someone prepare a table of dishes to send over to Li Hong Yuan.
However, this year, the ones thinking of Li Hong Yuan certainly won’t just be Noble Consort Su this one consort. Shu Consort Qin also let someone prepare things in private. In past years, she was unable to, but now that the mother and son pair had already recognized one another, how can the Imperial Noble Consort still be indifferent. Of course, doing this while Li Hong Yuan was still at the heart of the storm, one might accidentally attract trouble, but Shu Consort Qin didn’t refuse. There was no one more clear than her just how anxious the Imperial Noble Consort inside her body felt.
Additionally, the Grand Elder Princess and the two elders of the Luo family also sent presents for Li Hong Yuan.
The ones that should be stored away were stored away, and as for that table of dishes, it was casually passing down the order, having it bestowed to the people below.
It goes without saying, Noble Consort Su won’t be so stupid as to do something to this. That’s why, Jing Wan bestowed it down without any pressure.
Li Hong Yuan glanced at Jing Wan, but didn’t say anything. It was precisely making a move when others feel it was impossible to make a move for the rate of success to be higher. Moreover, this table of dishes had gone through numerous hands. It was possible for a problem to occur at any segment. Right now, there were plenty of people that wanted to do something to him, and Noble Consort Su, as the consort mother, her attitude towards Li Hong Yuan was known to all, so her suspicions, no matter what, were unable to be big.
Besides, Noble Consort Su was able to get her hands on infertility powder, that kind of poison where under normal circumstances was unable to be detected, so it was hard to say that there won’t be a second kind.
Of course, it was also possible that this table of dishes didn’t have any problems.
However, these things, Li Hong Yuan was too lazy to care about.
Right now, his wife said that she was going to give him his birthday present. Having been mysterious for that long, it was finally time to uncover the veil. Right now, aside from this, he wasn’t the least bit interested in anything else.
The hot spring behind the main courtyard, there was an open-air one, and naturally there was also a covered bath.
The size of the entire bath was very big, and because it was on top of a hot spring, there was completely no need for an earth dragon.
At this very moment, the muslin curtains in the surroundings were all let down. There was also no water in the bath, but it was warm enough, while also not having the foggy mist. The large area next to the bath was originally paved with white marble, and at this time, there was also a deep-colored rug spread over top.
Li Hong Yuan looked to luohan bed that was placed there. A small jade table was placed on top, along with fine wine and delicious food. Li Hong Yuan lightly hooked the corner of his mouth, neither quickly nor slowly walking over. The luohan bed was spread with a soft cushion, with large pillows placed on top.
Such wonderful intentions, how can one betray. Li Hong Yuan sat down, slantingly leaning against it, relaxed and languid, even no longer that rigid. Tugging his color, certain air about him instantly rose.
Li Hong Yuan poured a cup of wine, as music sounded by his ear.
Directly in front, a silhouette appeared behind the muslin. Judging from the figure, it was without a doubt his wife.
Two sounds softly sounded from outside, and the music by his ear accordingly changed along with.
The cloak on Jing Wan that had her tightly wrapped up slid down. Just, she still had a layer of transparent white muslin on underneath. Following the music, Jing Wan had one hand propped on top of her head, one hand spread open, pushing aside the curtains as she went forward step by step…………..
Li Hong Yuan’s eyes slightly narrowed. Although he’d already predicted that it was probably related to dance, but when actually seeing, he was still quite surprised, and also quite delighted.
The white muslin although was wide, but because it was transparent, everything inside was similarly all viewable at a glance.
A gorgeously decorated chest covering? Should be considered a chest covering, just it was like two flower petals, tightly binding the snowy peaks. The flexible waist, not having a trace of excess flesh, a perfect body line, the navel also pasted with a gemstone……..
The wide lower belt wrapped around the hip at a slight incline, the outside even having a net of pearls, relatively fine. Inside the belt, it was similarly a transparent low waist white muslin skirt, and inside, the close-fitting undergarment similarly was clear to see.
Walking barefoot, her ankles similarly hung with chains, and because the rug’s color was dark, the contrast was very distinct, and also exceptionally beautiful. Li Hong Yuan instinctively sat up, his body slightly leaning forward.
Between Li Hong Yuan and Jing Wan, although they were intimate to the point where they couldn’t be more intimate, getting stared at by this kind of burning gaze will still make her somewhat uncomfortable. However, her own body having great attractiveness towards her own husband seemingly was also something worth being happy over. That’s why, Jing Wan endured, spinning around, moving in a dance, the wide veil flutter in the breeze.
Swaying the hips, the veil lifted open at a certain time, revealing an exquisite appearance. The music suddenly sped up, and Jing Wan’s waist also rapidly swayed along with, carrying along the accessories on her, appearing exceptionally dazzling.
[1] Leopard House – This was the name for the place where Zhengde Emperor, the 11th Emperor of the Ming dynasty, kept his pet leopards. Although it’s only known due to the historical records left behind by the Qing dynasty, the dynasty that overthrew the Ming dynasty, and we all know how later dynasties view their predecessors. Speaking of which the Qing dynasty also had their own version, known as Yuan Ming Yuan. It was essentially the emperor’s ‘backyard’, but like if your backyard was the size of a mountain or two. But, Zhengde Emperor was also quite infamous, there’s not a lot of good things written about him in history. Tbf, he was just 14 when he ascended the throne.
This place at first was indeed just a place for him to raise and play with his pet leopards, but later on, it became a place for him to fool around in, while avoiding the ministers his father left behind to keep an eye on him. It got worse in later years where, allegedly, he would sneak out with his subordinates at night and kidnap people back to his Leopard House, but because he was the emperor, even the court officials were powerless against him. And if you’re curious, he died at the age of 29 from falling off a boat while drunk.
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