Chapter 410: As Long as You’re Happy
That’s why, the living Enma was just the living Enma. Once his temper rose, he didn’t care who you were! If switched with anyone else, including Le Cheng Emperor, all won’t do this kind of brash thing, yet he did it, and even so boldly. However, even the Qi Yuan people that hated him the most also felt that there wasn’t anything wrong with this. Le Cheng Emperor’s mood further improved by quite a bit. After all, this son was just defending his prestige. He also rather wanted to have these people directly thrown out, but due to his status, he can’t do that. No matter how high one’s position was, one would still be somewhat restricted.
Getting said by Li Hong Yuan as such, and moreover even phrased this bluntly, the Former Wei first prince was still a bit more rational, but the people of West Xiongnu didn’t have this good of a temper. That gaze was like as if wanting to tear apart Li Hong Yuan.
Just, would the living Enma be frightened by this kind of gaze? Li Hong Yuan’s eyes emotionlessly stared back. Gradually, the dark currents surrounding him spiraled around, like as if solidifying. That gaze clearly didn’t change by much, yet it made one alarmed and apprehensive. That West Xiongnu West Valley Li w.a.n.g even uncontrollably retreated two steps.
And because of this movement, that West Valley Li w.a.n.g’s complexion was increasingly unsightly, but for some reason, he no longer continued las.h.i.+ng out. How should it be put, the feeling that Qi Yuan’s Jin Qinw.a.n.g gave him was that if he doesn’t stop right now, this Qi Yuan w.a.n.gye will have his life. That kind of ‘getting viewed as a dead person’ gaze was truly too obvious. ————The things that others cared about, this w.a.n.gye won’t care about, and the things that others didn’t dare to do, this w.a.n.gye dared to!
Since even the West Valley Li w.a.n.g all held in his anger and sat back down, the other Xiongnu people naturally didn’t dare to bicker either, including that person in charge on West Xiongnu’s side. His status wasn’t as high as the West Valley Li w.a.n.g, but because his mouth was nimble, and moreover, it wasn’t going to war, having someone like him in charge naturally was better. His gaze swept over the West Valley Li w.a.n.g, landing on Li Hong Yuan, similarly not saying a word.
Li Hong Yuan retracted his gaze, continuing to watch the play, like as if it attracted all his attention, and the matter just now was further like as if it didn’t happen.
The dark currents on him came quickly but also went quickly. For the others in surrounding, some even couldn’t help but pat their chest, each returning to their respective places, yet their eyes still from time to time glanced towards Li Hong Yuan.
There was only having the wrong name, but never having the wrong nickname. The living Enma on full blast was truly too scary. Looking at it as such, in these last two years, he truly has restrained himself quite a bit.
The play on the stage continued performing, and the audience quietly watched on as before. Today’s matter, for the ones that weren’t affected in the slightest, there really weren’t many.
As the time approached dusk, snow began floating down from the skies again. However, at this time, the time arranged for the play for the most part has come to an end. That’s why, the old heavens today really did give Le Cheng Emperor face very much.
There was about an hour of ‘free time’, and afterwards, it was the evening banquet.
Jing Wan used this time to go see Luo Old Madam again, fearing that she would freeze. After all, the north was truly much colder than the south. Moreover, the palace wasn’t the same as the home. At home, there were still people serving by the side. Even if going out for a stroll, one doesn’t need to stay outside for too long either.
Towards the younger generation’s care, Luo Old Madam naturally enjoyed, pulling along Jing Wan’s hand, “Don’t worry about me. In the past, before it’s even winter, you just think of all kinds of ways for me to stay warm, hating that you can’t squeeze a body of sweat out of me in the middle of winter. Wasn’t it perfectly fine last year, besides, grandmother for better or worst was still born in the capital. Having lived in the capital for more than ten years, how can I not get use to in the slightest.” Luo Old Madam carried a warm smile, “As for you, you absolutely mustn’t catch a cold. It isn’t good for the body.”
Luo Old Madam’s hands were actually nice and warm, so Jing Wan just relaxed a little, “This is the palace, having stayed outside for long, the hands and feet will all easily freeze.”
Luo Old Madam smiled, carrying a bit of mischievousness, “There’s still Jin Qinw.a.n.g after all, so those palace servants naturally attend to me appropriately.”
Getting teased by her own grandmother, even if Jing Wan’s face was getting thicker and thicker, at this time, she still couldn’t help but blush.
“Wan Wan ah, you just think of your grandmother, how come just don’t see you show concern for grandfather?” Luo Pei Shan stood to the side, his tone slightly sour.
“Even if the emperor’s birthday isn’t celebrated every year, but every year, there will always be a couple of various palace banquets, not lacking ones in winter, so isn’t grandfather long accustomed to them? Moreover, your body is healthy and strong, so naturally don’t need for me to worry over, no?” Jing Wan lightly laughed.
Sir Luo sighed, “All say children that know how to cry will have candy. For the elderly, it’s needing to have bit of minor illness or misfortune in order to receive care.”
“What nonsense are you saying, quickly shut up. How many people want to have a good body, yet all unable to ask for. At this age, having obtained a benefit, yet still acting clever? Shameless.” Luo Old Madam was very much blunt.
Sir Luo expressed that his old face was somewhat unable to hold up, “In front of the children, for better or worse, leave me a bit of face.”
“The face is earned by oneself.” Luo Old Madam gave him a side glance.
Sir Luo surrendered, not daring to say another word. Sigh, right now, in front of his own madam, that was really not having any position at all, the husband lacking in authority.”
The others of the Luo family silently laughed to the side. Although their three views might crack a little, but this kind of harmonious atmosphere was indeed rare in other families.
The grandness of the evening banquet didn’t lose to the daytime. Moreover, because it was brightly lit, it further added a festive atmosphere. Although right now it still wasn’t completely dark yet, the atmosphere still unable to reach the optimal effect, but during winter, the sky darkened rather quickly. Don’t look at how it was still considered bright right now, going dark was merely a matter of a split second.
After everyone all took their seats, Le Cheng Emperor slowly arrived. Following by his side was the grandly dressed Princess Yi Ning, no, right now, should address as Xian Consort.
Previously, Xian Consort Wei, had been dressed in clothes with an exotic bearing. Now that her status was different, her attire naturally just changed. Donning the traditional clothes, suddenly coiling up the hair into a tall hairstyle, that face just completely stood out, especially that pair of eyes, appearing increasingly moving.
Regardless what kind of history Xian Consort Wei had, and regardless whether or not Le Cheng Emperor liked her right now, one can’t deny that she was young and beautiful. Men all have the root of sin in their nature. That’s why, no one dared to guarantee whether or not one day in the future Le Cheng Emperor will just start liking. As such, for the ordinary imperial concubines to be jealous, it was also something natural and expected.
After all, in such a place like the imperial palace, one can only adhere to one man. The imperial harem had three thousand beauties, all fighting for this one person’s favor. When one person is favored more, the others will have less. Some people get to eat meat, while the rest perhaps won’t even be able to have soup to drink. In the imperial palace, the ones that can survive without relying on Le Cheng Emperor’s favor, it was just those countable few. Even so, they still won’t have Le Cheng Emperor’s favor pushed away.
Jing Wan didn’t know what kind of mentality Xian Consort Wei had after the incident, but looking at her now, she seemingly adapted to her new ident.i.ty quite well. At least, on the surface, one was unable to make out the slightest reluctance, nor was there the slightest worry. Jing Wan leaned closer to Li Hong Yuan, lowering her voice, “This Xian Consort Wei also appears to be one that isn’t simple. Just don’t know whether it’s perfectly covering up her own emotions, or that as long as she can stay in Qi Yuan, who it was with, it actually didn’t matter. If it’s the latter, then doesn’t that mean that our Jin Qinw.a.n.g’s charm really isn’t as big as one imagined?” Her tone carried a bit of teasing.
“Just liking because of a face, how shallow. It’s still Wan Wan that’s best, seeing a person’s true nature clearly before letting the heart be moved.”
It really was catching any opportunity to stick gold to one’s own face.
Le Cheng Emperor’s mood seemingly also improved a little. For a man, taking in a beauty, and even an enemy country’s princess, no matter what, there will be a feeling of a sense of superiority. In addition to being at such an age, after the initial anger, to say he was carrying a bit of high-spirits, it all wasn’t an exaggeration. ———-Le Cheng Emperor lifted the wine cup as he stood up, carrying a bit of excitement as he said a few high-sounding words. Afterwards, he just let everyone enjoy themselves as much as they like.
There were two more hot dishes in the evening than in the daytime. This kind of continuously heated dish naturally will change in flavor during the heating process.
Jing Wan didn’t have an appet.i.te, causing her spirit to not be that good along with.
“What’s wrong, not feeling well?” Li Hong Yuan lightly frowned, his eyes subconsciously dyeing with a bit of worry.
“No, just a bit regretful, that’s all. Really shouldn’t have present it up.”
Although her words were a bit unclear, Li Hong Yuan still understood her meaning, “No need to think that much. In the end, it’s just a painting, she may not necessarily mind.”
“Indeed, saying these right now was also very unreasonable. After all, I’m even the main culprit, no?” It was her scheming against the Former Wei Princess Yi Ning. While reminiscing about the Imperial n.o.ble Consort, Le Cheng Emperor accidentally slept with another woman, and his anger only lasted for that bit of time.
For Jing Wan to be angry right now, how was it not necessarily ‘having obtained a benefit yet still acting shameless’.
“Wan Wan, some things, you should also be very clear of inside.”
Indeed, she was very clear. Never mind men under the present backdrop, even in her past life, certain men, while repeatedly vowing their true love, still won’t stop their body from cheating, turning the red waves with other women, let alone an emperor of a feudalistic society. For them to be able to remember a dead woman for more than twenty years, it can already be said as being deeply in love, but to let them guard their body like jade, that is an enormous joke. While clearly knowing this, yet still being bothered about it, she was also a joke.
Thinking to here, the chopsticks under her hands uncontrollably sped up, nothing more than just turning her grief and anger into appet.i.te.
Li Hong Yuan watched her angrily eat, strangely carrying a bit of childishness. In his eyes, no matter what, it was all very lovable. The Imperial n.o.ble Consort was his birth mother, but a woman that he has never met before, to want someone like Li Hong Yuan to produce feelings towards her, that was really a fantasy. That’s why, what Le Cheng Emperor was like, he simply didn’t care, and whether or not it was blasphemous towards the deceased Imperial n.o.ble Consort, he also didn’t care. What he cared about was only ever Jing Wan.
Li Hong Yuan turned his head, waving his hand towards Mu An. Eunuch Mu hurriedly and diligently came forward, “Master.”
“Let the imperial kitchen bring an antique soup over.”
Upon hearing this, Jing Wan lifted her head, “Why are you asking for that?” Antique soup was actually just the hotpot of Jing Wan’s past life. Because when the food was thrown into the boiling water, it would make a ‘gu dong’ sound, and it was thus named as such.
(T/N: This is sort of a pun, as the word for antique 古董(gu dong) is p.r.o.nounced the same as the onomatopoeia 咕咚(gu dong), but it sounds fancier to call it antique soup than gu dong soup.)
In Qi Yuan, antique soup actually wasn’t all that presentable. Moreover, in this kind of occasion, Jin Qinw.a.n.g, can’t you slightly restrain yourself a little?
“This prince suddenly wants to eat, does Wan Wan have any objections?” Li Hong Yuan hooked his lips into a smile.
Jing Wan slightly retracted her line of sight. In public, under numerous eyes, can you not break the rules like this? “As long as you’re happy.”
Just, unexpectedly, this meal nearly caused another incident.
T/N: Yes, hotpots already existed thousands of years ago, no need for modern mcs to ‘invent’.
Hotpots actually originate from the commoners, and later spread to the n.o.bles and upper cla.s.s, hence why Jing Wan mentions that the hotpot isn’t something that presentable, because it was essentially what the poor would eat. It’s been around since the early Han dynasty, and probably existed even earlier than that. Unfortunately the oldest vessels that have been unearthed are mostly from the Han dynasty. Below are some pics of ancient vessels used for it. The overall design for hotpots haven’t really changed much since ancient times. The last one is pretty unique in that it was Emperor Ganlong’s personal hotpot.
Ganlong Emperor’s Personal Pot