Chapter 429: Accepting Quite Well
The others mutually looked to one another. It was obvious, they didn’t believe that Jing Wan would not know their meaning. Judging from her att.i.tude, clearly it was tacitly agreeing. Thus, they just silently smiled understandingly.
“Speaking of raising plants and flowers, it’s your Highness that has the most authority to speak. My father not just once praised endlessly, willingly admitting defeat, especially after seeing the record of flowers that he’d ‘borrowed’ from Sir Luo. There was even a period of time where he practically had all his free time poured into it. According to my father’s words, to want to borrow a copy of a record of flowers from Sir Luo’s hands wasn’t easy. If he doesn’t quickly finish reading and return it, then don’t count on there being a next one. I also secretly glanced over a few times, truly compiled really well, and the drawings inside also exquisite.” Miss Zhong’s gaze landed on Jing Wan. That meaning couldn’t be more obvious.
(T/N: See chapter 104 part 3 for how Luo Pei Shan got his beloved books tragically stolen.)
Have to say, things that came from a woman’s hand won’t easily leave the inner manor. However, those in the end were just elders. Moreover, the booklets went out from Luo Pei Shan’s hands, and after going out, it was even returned in its original form. As such, there wasn’t anything to avoid out of taboo.
Jing Wan modestly replied, “If Miss Zhong likes, later, I’ll gift you two copies.”
That Miss Zhong was pleasantly surprised. Due to her old man’s influence, towards this area, although can’t be said as obsessed, she indeed very much liked. However, she was still a little hesitant. One has to know, the record of flowers that came from Jin w.a.n.gfei’s hands, within a certain scope, were quite popular, easily unable to obtain. Borrowing for a look and making a copy were all far inferior to the original. For a perfectionist, after seeing the original, no matter what, all don’t want to produce an inferior copy. “Just, your Highness has meticulously created………..”
“Not really, on normal days, there’s quite a lot of free time. Moreover when raising those plants and flowers, it’s all a habit to have the process organized out and compiled into a booklet.”
“Then many thanks your Highness.” Miss Zhong beamed with joy. Later, she can show off to her old man. When time comes, it’ll be her father that will be jealous. If he doesn’t give enough goodies, then she won’t even give him a glance, and even if he gives enough, still won’t give to him.
“You’re welcome.” Jing Wan lightly smiled, such an innocent and bright girl, it’s good that she didn’t get thrown to Kang Qinw.a.n.g. Although because of this, her marriage will inevitably get delayed, but even if it’s a year or two late, it was still better than jumping into that fire pit.
(T/N: The Head Minister of Works’s young daughter was originally the Empress’s choice for her son’s second w.a.n.gfei after the plan to marry Sun Yi Jia fell through. In chapter 267, because of an incident in Kang Qinw.a.n.g’s rear court, the Head Minister of Works used it as an excuse to reject the Empress.)
Speaking of Jing Wan’s abilities in this aspect, the others also more or less heard of before. When it comes to raising plants and flowers, although not everyone would all like very much, but for people like them, raising a pot or two, that was also something that couldn’t be more normal, so this while, they naturally just started inquiring Jing Wan.
Jing Wan also wasn’t stingy, telling them everything she knew, teaching them some little techniques. Although she didn’t say much, the listeners nevertheless learned a lot.
Because they’d long arranged the place to meet, Jing Wan although wasn’t familiar with this place, but randomly calling on a staff of the villa, she will be able to be led over. However, right now, there were people available to lead the way for her.
In the middle of winter, it naturally wasn’t suitable to stay outside.
Based on Jing Wan’s status, reserving a private room wasn’t a problem. This kind of place, although normally had a lot of people, but there was always places set aside for the high officials and n.o.bles. Jing Wan’s status was more than enough for one.
The private rooms here naturally were different from the ones in restaurants and such. It wasn’t completely sealed off, but rather used large shelves to separate, occasionally also using a screen, then placing some other items to decorate, appearing elegant and charming. When seeing for the first time, Jing Wan was even slightly amazed inside.
The people from Cang Jin had already arrived. Three had came.
Jing Wan went forward, and the people that came together with her perceptively went to the side. It was fine to just ‘eavesdrop’, there was no need join in.
Have to say, during the Emperor’s birthday banquet, Jing Wan can also be considered to have greatly ‘stood out’, in various senses. As such, when facing the emissaries of Cang Jin, there naturally wasn’t the situation of asking ‘who are you?’
“Greetings to your Highness Jin w.a.n.gfei.” When the three of them saw her, they hurriedly got up to greet.
In Cang Jin, they were also just subjects, and towards the people of the royal family, they were also extremely deferential, so in front of Qi Yuan’s qin-w.a.n.gfei, they naturally didn’t dare to put on airs either.
“The three emissaries are too polite.” Jing Wan also returned the etiquette. Shortly after, she removed her cloak and handed it to a servant girl.
The four of them took their seats one after another.
“Because of my selfishness, to have presumptuously disturbed the emissaries, hope that I didn’t cause any trouble for you all.” As Jing Wan said this, she studied the other party.
Cang Jin’s apparel, compared to Qi Yuan’s, was much simpler, the embroidery also possessing its own unique characteristics. In Jing Wan’s eyes, it was relatively similar to a certain ethnic group in her past life. On their head, there also wasn’t that many accessories, but rather a square hat inlayed with gemstones. And their age also didn’t appear to be that old either. Even the person in charge should all be less than forty. As for the other two, one appeared relatively tender looking, just don’t know whether it was really because of being young in age, or just looked young. And the other one, based on the greeting just now, was a tall and lengthy one, her skin color more dark, her hands also appearing more rough and strong. If her guess is correct, this one should be a military official, the kind that even held a high status.
“Your Highness is too serious. The female emissaries of Cang Jin visiting the various countries are the most idle.” The person in charge for Cang Jin unconcernedly smiled.
“Being idle has its benefits, just like now. The other countries don’t have this good fortune.” The tender-looking woman to the side said, even smilingly taking a sip of tea. It was obvious, towards this tea, she probably very much liked. The Four-Way Villa reportedly had quite a few good teas.
That woman that was possibly a military general also agreed along with.
Jing Wan also smiled. She could tell, these three were all very laid-back. At least, it was like so on non-official matters.
“Indeed, in this kind of weather, it’s naturally nestling in a warm place, drinking some tea, reading a book, and whatnot, really can’t be better.”
Because the atmosphere in the beginning was relatively relaxing and cheerful, the conversation afterwards naturally was increasingly smooth and unhindered. And that tender-looking woman probably was just the faithful lover of studying Qi Yuan’s culture, coming precisely for the books in the Four-Way Villa.
Jing Wan waved over the maid serving at the side, letting her take this one to look at the books.
Meanwhile, the remaining three people began exchanging the customs and cultures of the two countries, neither too fast nor too slow, having a kind of happy and content feeling inside.
And the two from Cang Jin also discovered, this Qi Yuan qin-w.a.n.gfei seemingly was a bit different. Reasonably speaking, the two countries’ culture and background differed greatly. Because of Cang Jin’s internal problems, women each had their own way of living. Ones like Qi Yuan’s where they completely adhered to men also weren’t in the minority. As such, towards the women of Qi Yuan, there wasn’t anything they couldn’t accept. But conversely, Cang Jin’s certain ideology, for the women of Qi Yuan, should greatly conflict with their own. Even if curious, and even if yearning for, by having one’s own deeply rooted views, it shouldn’t be that easy to accept. However, on this w.a.n.gfei, they truly weren’t able to tell in the slightest. She was able to accept quite well, not having the least bit of awkwardness, lightly smiling and cheerfully chatting along, letting them mistakenly believe that they were facing a woman of Cang Jin’s royal clan that harbored even broader thoughts like them.
The two of them looked to one another. It was obvious, in the other’s eye, they saw the same meaning.
Without a doubt, this kind of person, regardless of what, all further made one like.