Chapter 568: The Heartless Li Hong Yuan
Jing Wan mockingly tugged the corner of her mouth. Never mind that nothing happened between her and Sun Yi Lin, even if something did, a certain someone’s anger would all just be directed at Sun Yi Lin, as well as those people behind him. No matter how terrifying of a thing he does, he still won’t hurt a single hair on her.
This kind of absolute trust, appearing just like as if unable to tear apart no matter what, in Sun Yi Lin’s eyes, was nevertheless very piercing to the eyes, exceptionally loathing, producing the impulse to want to destroy. Why can’t it just belong to him? The hand that landed on Jing Wan’s head slid down along her hair to her neck, slightly exerting strength.
Jing Wan’s expression grew increasingly cold, directly meeting Sun Yi Lin’s gaze without the slightest fear. Towards the scar on his face that once again squirmed and expanded, she also thoroughly ignored.
Sun Yi Lin suddenly let go, burying his head, heavily gasping for breath. When lifting his head again, the scar on his face once again expanded a little, but the squirming stopped. Aside from this, there was nothing else. “Wan Wan, sorry, I don’t want to hurt you, really don’t want to, don’t blame me, don’t blame me………..”
Jing Wan didn’t say a single word.
Sun Yi Lin withdrew from the horse carriage. Clamor once again sounded outside. Jing Wan lifted her head for a look. The light rays that casted down from the sun roof have dimmed quite a bit. Presumably, it was already nearing night fall. She didn’t know where they were, and didn’t know where her husband was, but knowing that he was near, her heart just settled down. And at the same time, the longing pressed at the bottom of her heart also erupted, to the extent that the corner of Jing Wan’s eyes were somewhat moist, but in the end, she didn’t let that tear fall down, reaching out to wipe away. She self-mockingly laughed, sure enough once one had someone to rely on, one would just become delicate. The warm and gentle nest[1], how was it just aimed at men. Women actually were even more likely to be absorbed in it.
When Jing Wan climbed down from the carriage, only a bit of glimmer could be seen in the sky. As for the areas below the trees, one could only see a vague shadow. Nearby, a few torches were lit, but the light all weren’t very strong.
Solely based on this kind of surrounding, Jing Wan wasn’t able to determine their approximate location. However, regardless whether it was the climate, or the roughly calculated total distance traveled, one was all able to determine that they were certainly still within Qi Yuan’s borders, and moreover, still far from Southern Qi. This was inconsistent with her initial predictions. As such, she was increasingly certain that these people were directly targeting Li Hong Yuan.
Jing Wan originally thought that they were going to spend the night here, just never thought that after resting a little, they just continued on their way. However, they abandoned the horse carriage, seemingly planning on traveling by horseback or on foot.
Jing Wan’s riding skills currently have improved, so even if rugged paths, as long as it wasn’t spurring the horse and galloping, then there wasn’t any problem. As such, she rejected Sun Yi Lin’s intent to carry her. However, her stomach will be five months soon. In addition to entering winter, her clothes were quite thick. As such, when mounting the horse, Jing Wan slightly furrowed her brows.
Hei Mei carried a large baggage that was almost half her size on her back, worryingly standing next to the horse, raising her head, “w.a.n.gfei, how about let this servant take you?”
Jing Wan shook her head, “No need, it’s fine.”
Jing Wan seamlessly stroked her lower abdomen, thinking inside, ‘Baby, endure for the time being. Once this matter is over, should be able to settle down.’ Jing Wan’s two hands grabbed the reins, her eyes and expression cold. Her thoughts inside naturally weren’t just these. She figured, what will end probably won’t just be this matter, but also the matters in the capital. Speaking of which, in this period of time, if there weren’t a bit of storm stirred up in the capital, then Jing Wan would even start questioning their IQ. In reality, in her view, these two matters simply just complemented each other.
Hei Mei was worried about Jing Wan, unwilling to leave Jing Wan’s side no matter what. Relying on her st.u.r.dy body and martial arts, she insisted on personally pulling Jing Wan’s horse. During this journey, Hei Mei didn’t get bullied any less, but quite a few all got settled by her in a simple and crude manner. In any case, she just relied on the fact that these people won’t do anything to w.a.n.gfei, so didn’t hold back in the slightest. Afterwards, when she got surrounded by a few people, she further just fought like a madman, clearly having the stance of ‘if they really want to do something to her, then she certainly will drag a few down to cus.h.i.+on the fall’. Towards the end, these people could only give her the cold treatment, and at the same time, even need to guard against her from ‘stealing’ Jing Wan away———–Obviously, in their eyes, Jing Wan didn’t come out voluntarily, and will certainly want to escape given the chance.
At present, the goal was within sight, even having a horse, so naturally they further can’t let this master servant pair be in one place. Thus, for a moment, both sides were in a deadlock.
“Enough, quickly head out. For you all, if anymore mishap occurs, then can just end yourself to apologize for the offense.”
Perhaps they were indignant inside, but Sun Yi Lin more or less still had a bit of authority among these people.
TN: All
Thus, Hei Mei led along the horse in the middle, while the others, either on horseback or on foot, surrounded all four sides. All in all, it was greatly having the stance of not letting a single housefly fly in. Jing Wan took it in but declined to comment, completely not taking seriously.
Along the way, they were for the most part advancing at a jogging pace, although the more they ran, the more they strayed from the road. Even if the surrounding was all filled with torches, one was still unable to distinguish the direction.
In this way, they traveled for more than two hours, and along the way, it was also constantly turning left and right………..
If it continues like this, Jing Wan really won’t be able to withstand, “Stop, not moving anymore.”
When her voice sounded, Hei Mei immediately just pulled the reins. It can be said to be strictly complying with her words.
But, how could the others be willing. For a moment, all kinds of unpleasant words sounded one after another. Jing Wan simply didn’t take seriously, holding Hei Mei’s hand, and directly dismounted the horse. These people’s opinions were never within her scope of consideration.
These days, she could also tell, on the surface, although it appeared as if it was Sun Yi Lin suppressing, but in reality, there was another reason why these people didn’t dare to touch her. As for what, that was just clear and easy to see———–she still had enormous value. And on her husband’s side, it was obvious, these people completely didn’t succeed.
Jing Wan didn’t arrogantly give orders, but if she wants to rest, it was also doing it quite rightfully.
Shortly after, Hei Mei swiftly found a place to the side, quickly tidying up, and then loosened the large baggage on her back. Turns out, it was all thick and warm things inside, this while spreading out for Jing Wan to use. Not only so, she even quickly entered the forest, and not long after, just collected a huge pile of dried branches and dry gra.s.s, lighting a camp fire.
She even took out some appliances on her own, first boiling some hot water for Jing Wan to warm the stomach and body.
It can be seen that Hei Mei’s abilities in wilderness survival was absolutely formidable.
Even if in the middle of nowhere, because she was getting taken care of properly, Jing Wan very quickly recovered, appearing somewhat sleepy.
And during this time, Hei Mei already used the things available in the forest to build a simple small hut for Jing Wan.
Jing Wan inwardly sighed. Her servant girl can become an expert in wildness survival.
The others weren’t this lucky. Just a bunch of rough men, so their ability to take care of themselves was quite limited. To be able to drink plain water and have something over their heads was already not bad. Originally, for the latter half of the night, they actually can have a good rest, but unfortunately, getting disrupted by Jin w.a.n.gfei like this, there was nothing now. Thus, this resentment naturally was even heavier.
However, Hei Mei just frowned and glared back, guarding outside like a cold face female yaksha, greatly having the stance of ‘whoever dares to come up, she will just fight them to the death’.
And on the other side, in a mountain cavity, there was a simple peasant lodging, roughly just three houses, yet all brightly lit. Jin Qinw.a.n.g, Li Hong Yuan, was in one of them, casually sitting there with his eyes closed, appearing cold and emotionless, his entire person all penetrated with chilliness coming from the bones. And the two people next to him standing guard like door G.o.ds, even their breathing was all very slow.
A person dressed in black entered from the outside, “Master, w.a.n.gfei has already reached the forest ten li[2] from here.”
Li Hong Yuan opened his eyes. However, it was as dark as an abyssal pool, completely bottomless, yet didn’t have the slightest tenderness that would naturally reveal when hearing about Jing Wan.
[1] This line is referencing the idiom, ‘a warm and gentle nest is a hero’s grave’. The original usage and meaning for this idiom actually means to describe a woman’s beauty and gentleness making men indulge to the point of forgetting their aspirations and sharpness. Although the author’s usage is using a different interpretation meaning a comfortable and warm environment, but nothing is stopping you from interpreting it as Jing Wan calling LHY a soft and gentle beauty. A lot of idioms in general are relatively flexible in usage.
The idiom 温柔乡 (a warm and gentle nest) is an idiom on its own as well. It comes from an historical anecdote of Zhao Fei Yan, one of the four great beauties of ancient china, although ironically the idiom wasn’t used to describe her. She was the Han dynasty, Han Cheng Emperor’s Empress. The story the idiom comes from is about how Zhao Fei Yan recommended her younger sister, Zhao He De, to the emperor. She described her younger sister as someone whose beauty is even able to surpa.s.s hers, so the emperor ordered to have her brought into the palace. The emperor was completely enamored upon meeting Zhao He De and slept with her that night. Afterwards, he became very addicted to her body, describing it as a ‘warm and gentle nest’, cause her body was so soft. And that’s how the idiom came to be. The funny thing is he eventually also died in Zhao He De’s bed. His death is quite mysterious as well, because he was still strong and healthy, and had been completely fine the day before. He was only 45 at the time of his death, dying of a sudden stroke. Zhao He De was forced to committ suicide because of this, while Zhao Fei Yan became the Empress Dowager.
Tbh Zhao Fei Yan’s backstory is quite interesting as well that I wanted to separately write about it. When she was born, her parents didn’t want to raise her so they abandoned her, but seeing that she didn’t die after three days, they took her back to raise. Afterwards, under the status of a humble family daughter, she entered Yang Ah Princess Manor as a songstress, and studied song and dance. Because her dancing was like swallows flying, she received the name Fei Yan (飞燕 ‘flying swallow’). It was also in Yang Ah Princess Manor where she met the emperor. She was very favored by the emperor, who even conferred her father into Cheng Yang Marquis, just so he can let her become the empress. Although this was after Zhao Fei Yang took down the original Empress Xu. Empress Xu’s older sister got discovered using witchcraft to curse the pregnant consorts of the imperial harem, so Zhao Fei Yan took the opportunity to accuse Empress Xu and her people of trying to curse the women of the inner palace. The Empress Dowager was greatly angered by this news and after investigating, Empress Xu was abolished. You have to understand, Cheng Han Emperor didn’t have a single child that survived to adulthood, so this was a very serious matter at the time. In fact, he was actually succeeded by his nephew, since he never had a heir of his own. This nephew was even someone suggested by the Zhao sisters to the emperor, because the nephew’s grandmother, Empress Dowager Fu had bribed them with a lot of gold. (Note that Cheng Han Emperor’s mother was Empress Dowager w.a.n.g.)
After Empress Xu was abolished, the emperor wanted to let Zhao Fei Yan become the empress, but the Empress Dowager disdained her low birth, so the emperor conferred her father into a marquis. Although the Zhao sisters were very favored by the emperor, they never got pregnant. According to an unofficial biography on Zhao Fei Yan, she and her sister were taking a muscle tightening medicine to preserve their beauty, which caused them to be unable to become pregnant. After Cheng Han Emperor’s death, his nephew Dingtao w.a.n.g, Liu Xin, inherited the throne as Han Ai Emperor, and to thank Zhao Fei Yan for helping him become the Crown Prince, he honored her as the Empress Dowager. She didn’t have a good ending though, mostly due to her bad blood with Han Cheng Emperor’s mother Empress Dowager w.a.n.g Zheng Jun (later the Grand Empress Dowager) and the w.a.n.g clan behind her. When Han Ai Emperor suddenly died, the w.a.n.g clan rose in power again. The Grand Empress Dowager w.a.n.g Zheng Jun then issued a decree to reduce Zhao Fei Yan and Han Ai Emperor’s Empress Fu to commoners, and had them sent to the imperial tombs to guard. On that day, the two of them both committed suicide.
It’s been a while since I wrote a super long TN, mostly my history ramblings, tho there hasn’t been much to expand on until now. Sometimes I find the plot of a lot of novels very out there, but in reality, history is even crazier than a lot of novel plots. A lot of historical novel tropes really are just born from actual history. And there’s also a lot of writing materials in actual history.
[2] An ancient measurement of distance, 1 li = approx. 500m