Chapter 144.2: Poetry Gathering, Double Fifth, Falling for a Trap
Luo Jing Ying’s sorry appearance was all taken in by the servants ‘pa.s.sing by’. Even they all felt Luo Jing Ying’s brain had holes. Regardless of what kind of marriage arrangement third miss has, as long as she was still in the Luo family, then she’s still the Luo family’s most n.o.ble young miss. Moreover, no matter how terrible Jin Qinw.a.n.g’s reputation was, third miss marrying over, that is still as an incomparably honorable w.a.n.gfei. Regardless of how she will be in Jin Qinw.a.n.g’s manor, when outside, she’ll still be revered by everyone. How can you, a mere concubine, be able to compare? As for whether or not third miss will be cursed by Jin Qinw.a.n.g. For things that have yet to happen, no one is able to make bold guesses.
That’s right, the entire Luo family were all aware that Luo Jing Ying will soon enter Rui Qinww.a.n.g’s manor as a concubine. From the start, Luo Old Madam has never thought of keeping it a secret, because this kind of thing, one simply was unable to conceal. Once the person enters Rui Qinw.a.n.g’s manor, Rui Qinw.a.n.g will also make it known to everyone, announcing to the world his ‘intimate’ relations.h.i.+p with the Luo family. Since that’s the case, there was no need to cover it up.
No matter what, she was still a young miss of a Head Minister Manor. With her grandfather’s support, it was the perfect time to pick a good marriage. Even if it can’t be those top families, slightly inferior ones completely weren’t a problem, with a whole slew waiting for you to pick from. The old master’s body was still very healthy, so no matter what, he would still be able to sit on the position of Head Minister of Appointments for several years. As such, when marrying into one’s husband’s family, they will all have you wors.h.i.+pped. But in the end, you want to enter a w.a.n.g’s manor as a concubine, lowering yourself, no matter who hears, would all find it very inconceivable.
Even as a concubine, for better or worse, at least be a side consort, yet instead, she was a completely irrelevant one. Moreover, she hasn’t reached marriageable age yet, but was already this ‘eager’. As long as one had a bit of brains, one should be able to figure out that there’s something fishy in here. The specifics, the youngsters perhaps wouldn’t know, but the old veterans were all sarcastically laughing inside. Then recalling fourth miss ‘falling ill again’ during this period of time, they for the most part, all had an understanding inside. However, this kind of thing, it was enough for one to just have a tacit understanding inside, one absolutely mustn’t say it out loud. Even if as gossip, it still needed to depend on the matter, else just wait to be sold off.
Under such circ.u.mstances, anyone with brains will know to curry favor with third miss, and in turn win the old master and old madam’s favor. That way, with the old master as support, after entering the qinw.a.n.g manor, at worst, it would only be three part less. Even if there were unsolvable ‘grievances’ with third miss, one should still ‘walk with the tail between one’s leg’[1], but the reality just so happens to be the opposite, even daring to go trouble third miss. Such insolence, if not looking to be humiliated, no one will sympathize with her.
Speaking of which, Sun Yi Jia recently was also in a bad mood because of Jing Wan’s marriage arrangement. In the Luo family, it wasn’t appropriate for her to lash out towards the others, but towards Luo Jing Ying, she didn’t need to hold back in the slightest.
As more and more gongbi painting booklets get released, Luo Jing Bo became even more busy than before. Not only was he busy with drawing and continuing to organize the booklets, there was also the increasing number of invitations outside, so naturally he didn’t have that much time to keep Sun Yi Jia company. Fortunately, Sun Yi Jia also didn’t mind, although the people by her side all worried about Luo Jing Bo getting seduced by the little demons outside. After all, when those scholars gathered together, ordering prost.i.tutes as company, that was all said to be ‘refined activities of the intellectuals’. Even if young master doesn’t have the intention, one still can’t guarantee that there won’t be those shameless ones that insist on approaching. And if by chance he were to get drunk, won’t he just be ‘freely taken advantage of’?
To say Sun Yi Jia wasn’t worried at all was false. If it’s just a short-lasting spring dream, that rather isn’t a problem. She was just worried about him getting deliberately schemed against, and when time comes, have no choice but to bring the person home. However, since Luo Jing Bo already made that kind of promise to her, these worries of hers, she could only press down in her heart. If something really were to happen, she’ll just think of a way to help him deal with the aftermath.
Just as she was thinking this, unexpectedly, Luo Jing Bo actually came looking at this time.
“Jing Bo, didn’t you say you needed to go out to partic.i.p.ate in a literature gathering, how come you still haven’t left yet?” Sun Yi Jia puzzlingly asked.
“This is third brother being reluctant to part with older sister-in-law, needing to come look at older sister-in-law again before heading out?” Jing Wan teased.
After marrying, one’s skin also becomes thicker. Not just Luo Jing Bo, even Sun Yi Jia was also able to remain unfazed.
That’s why, Luo Jing Bo just smiled, “I came to look for little sis.”
“Oh? Does third brother need something?”
“That um, wanted to borrow Hei Mei for a day from little sis.” Speaking of this, Luo Jing Bo was also rather embarra.s.sed, but he had no other way. After all, he was limited by his status. For women that voluntarily approach, he can firmly reject, but for ones that certain people deliberately send over, if he refused, he will inevitably offend them. Previously, he’d managed to get by with great difficulty, but today wasn’t the same. He was worried that he won’t be able to handle the situation. That’s why he thought of this method. It wasn’t appropriate to bring his wife, but a servant girl wasn’t a problem. If there’s a beauty at one’s side, especially a rather unique beauty, then those people will at least restrain themselves.
Without needing to explain in detail, Jing Wan understood Luo Jing Bo’s meaning and rather ambiguously glanced at Sun Yi Jia. At the moment, Sun Yi Jia also couldn’t help blus.h.i.+ng, glaring back at Jing Wan, “Just directly say if you’re willing to lend or not.”
“Yes, yes, yes, how can I not lend.” Turning her head, “Hei Mei, today, why don’t you go out with third brother.”
“Yes, miss.” Hei Mei replied very candidly, without a hint of unwillingness.
Luo Jing Bo also relaxed slightly. Although there was his little sis’s order, so Hei Mei won’t not agree, it was still better that she was willing.
Jing Wan thought for a moment, “Bai Shao, you also go too.” In handling things, Bai Shao was more efficient and unscrupulous than Hei Mei. In these last few days of interacting, she also could tell, these two sisters have suffered hards.h.i.+p, and after having gone through quite a few things, their temperament far surpa.s.sed her own four first-ranked servant girls. Today’s situation, if one wants to deal with, isn’t anything difficult either. However, the resoluteness in Hei Mei’s bones was still there. With Bai Shao following along, it was a little more rea.s.suring. Moreover, with black and white twin beauties, this setup, the people that want to approach will all inevitably feel inferior.
“Yes, miss.” Bai Shao actually was also quite worried about her younger sister going out alone.
Jing Wan stood up, “Today, I will personally pick out clothes and apply makeup for you two.”
Everyone all couldn’t help but laugh. Miss isn’t just wanting to help give third young master face, this is also getting excited herself.
Jing Wan first applied a beautiful makeup for the two, then let the servant girls comb a matching hairstyle for them, and then change into appropriate clothes. Even Jing Wan felt she was about to be bewitched by her own masterpiece. “Toward those random women that want to approach third brother, two don’t need to be polite.”
“Miss don’t worry, this servant knows what to do.”
Jing Wan nodded, “You two need to protect yourselves too. In any case, I will always s.h.i.+eld you two.”
“Many thanks miss.”
By the time the two appeared before Luo Jing Bo again, even this Luo family third young master who didn’t care about women’s appearance all that much blanked. Just, “Little sis, taking them out like this, what if they get fancied by someone. I’m worried that I won’t be able to bring them back.”
There’s precisely the saying, ‘the rarer something is, the greater its value’. For people, this was also the same. Hei Mei’s beauty was too special. Taking her out like this, she will inevitably end up on people’s minds. Moreover, Bai Shao possessed the same face as hers, thus will also appear special as well.
[1] I think this is a pretty common saying, but it roughly means being cautious and careful.