Chapter 144.4: Poetry Gathering, Double Fifth, Falling for a Trap
Kang Qinw.a.n.g casted his gaze towards Li Hong Yuan who was currently nonchalantly drinking wine, and let out a strange laugh, “Turns out it’s sixth brother who has good luck with women. Lately, rather haven’t heard about sixth brother pampering any one beauty. Is it concealing in the manor and not letting us know, or temporarily not having one that was to one’s liking? In any case, they’re all prepared for you, so why not directly take these two back?”
Luo Jing Bo couldn’t help frowning. Kang Qinw.a.n.g really was too much.
Li Hong Yuan faintly swept Kang Qinw.a.n.g a glance, “A dog’s mouth can’t spit ivory[1].”
“Li Hong Yuan…….” Kang Qinw.a.n.g instantly shot up, unable to restrain his anger. With this many people present, he actually didn’t give him face either? However, this kind of question, he simply wasn’t able to say out loud. Whatever he said, it would all be retorted by Li Hong Yuan.
“What, did this prince say something wrong? People that were given by imperial aunt are prepared for me? If you have that ability, directly go ask imperial aunt. Also, don’t have this prince compared to yourself, like as if you haven’t seen women in eight lifetimes.”
Kang Qinw.a.n.g nearly directly charged forward to brawl with him. However, he fortunately didn’t lose his rationality. Just, that glare was like wis.h.i.+ng he could tear Li Hong Yuan apart. Unfortunately, glares weren’t knives, towards Li Hong Yuan, it didn’t have the slightest affect.
Li Hong Yuan casually had the cup thrown on to the table, getting up to leave. Precisely because he was bored, that’s why he came out to pa.s.s time, but this d.a.m.n place was even more boring.
Jin Qinw.a.n.g has always been a willful and insolent individual, coming as he pleased, and leaving whenever he wanted. No one dared to say anything.
Sweeping his face in front of this many people, Kang Qinw.a.n.g was so angry his liver ached. Thus he vented his anger by glaring at Luo Jing Bo.
This, for Luo Jing Bo, simply didn’t hurt nor tickled. The Luo family’s current standing can be said to have more or less returned to the former neutral position. This bit, Luo Pei Shan had already explained to them. These w.a.n.gyes, they simply didn’t need to bother with.
It’s not that they’ve never thought of whether or not in the future they’ll be eliminated by the new emperor either, but since grandfather already said this, they naturally just carried on as told. For grandfather to be able to climb onto his current position, the decisions he made, naturally have all gone through careful deliberation, and certainly will be the most beneficial for the Luo family.
Quite a few people used a dubious gaze to size up Kang Qinw.a.n.g. Although they knew Jin Qinw.a.n.g was difficult to deal with, but as the eldest brother, with great power in hand, for him to still end up in such a sorry state, he really was quite useless. If such a person were to become the emperor, getting hollowed out by the high officials, the possibility couldn’t be more higher.
Rui Qinw.a.n.g just silently watched from the sidelines. The crowd’s reaction, he all took to heart. This was precisely what he wanted. Have to say, for him to have been able to cultivate this sort of endurance skill today, that good sixth brother of his played a big role in it. Facing Li Hong Yuan, it was best not to provoke him. If one were to accidentally provoke him, the only way to handle it was just one word———-endure. Otherwise, liver pain from anger was all light.
The so called literature gathering naturally can’t lack things like verses and poetry essays, and further can’t lack the accompaniment of musical instruments, and the sound of lingering notes.
From somewhere came the familiar ‘Feng Seeks Huang’, perhaps carrying a hundred twenty percent deep pa.s.sion, even entangled in sentiments. And shortly after, came the verses of Feng Seeks Huang. It wasn’t recited out loud in a modulating tone, but rather sung out by a clear and glossy female voice.
Just as expected, Luo Jing Bo became the focus of the crowd again. Without even needing to think, one just knew that was directed towards Luo Jing Bo. Their gazes towards Luo Jing Bo, if not carrying dubiousness, then it was just admiration, envy, and resentment.
“This voice sounds like Huaiqin Pleasure Boat’s head courtesan Lin Chu Chu.”
“Not like, it simply just is.”
“Lin Chu Chu only sells her talent and not her body. How many people have wanted to redeem her contract[2] for her and take her as a concubine. In fact, there was no lack of relatives of the imperial family and sons of high n.o.bles, but she rejected them all. Seeing her actions today, she seemingly has fallen for Gentleman Luo?”
“This Lin Chu Chu is a first-cla.s.s scholar girl, her sights are high. However, for her to have taken a fancy to Gentleman Luo, seemingly isn’t that surprising either. Just, originally thought she was Jin Qinw.a.n.g’s person.”
Speaking of which, as the head courtesan of a pleasure boat, to actually only sell one’s talent and not one’s body, yet still be able to be safe and sound after rejecting that many people, to say she didn’t have a powerful backing was definitely impossible. It’s rumored that the Huaiqin Pleasure Boat’s owner was Jin Qinw.a.n.g. The beauties inside, according to the rumors, all needed to wait until he finished picking, before finally being able to come out and receive patrons. This rumor has never been verified, but the possibility was very high.
When the song finished, Lin Chu Chu who was hidden behind the ‘rubble stones’ showed herself. She was dressed entirely in a white chiffon dress, her face covered in a thin veil. Her gaze was very firm, her target very clear, as she leisurely walked towards Luo Jing Bo.
The people in the surrounding all produced a kind of ‘as expected’ feeling.
And the people around Luo Jing Bo all very respectfully got out of the way.
Even though quite a few people were jeering, Luo Jing Bo’s mood actually wasn’t all that great. This kind of luck with women, he really didn’t like all that much, especially when the other party used the piece from his wedding to convey their admiration towards him. There was a sort of getting tainted feeling.
In reality, one can’t blame Luo Jing Bo for having this kind of thought. Women from places like brothels and pleasure boats, they all belonged to the lowest professions. The world was just this way. And for Luo Jing Bo who was born and raised in a family with a literary reputation, and also wasn’t l.u.s.tful, places like brothels, he occasionally have been to before, but only just for a sit. That’s why, one can’t blame him for similarly looking down on these women.
“Chu Chu greets Gentleman Luo.”
Luo Jing Bo in the end still possessed a very good upbringing, so he was unable to do something like wantonly putting on an unsightly look, “No need to be so courteous miss.”
Lin Chu Chu straightened her body, looking to Luo Jing Bo, “Chu Chu admires gentleman, and is willing to redeem one’s own contract to serve gentleman.”
(T/N: Basically she’s willing to pay off her contract herself to become his concubine.)
Quite a few people were in an uproar. What’s that, this was ‘willing to lose money instead of being paid’. The capital’s number one pleasure boat’s head courtesan is willing to lose money for Luo third young master?! Seemingly even the capital’s number one gentleman Sun Yi Lin didn’t encounter this kind of treatment before. This time, countless eye daggers flew towards Luo Jing Bo.
Luo Jing Bo furrowed his brows, “Miss, apologies, this one cannot accept.”
A faint surprise penetrated through Lin Chu Chu’s eyes, but even more so feeling deeply hurt and heartbroken. “Can Chu Chu ask why?”
Why? Of course it’s because this young master doesn’t like, and further because this young master’s younger sister doesn’t like.
While Luo Jing Bo was conflicted on how to reply, Hei Mei stood out, “Does this question still need to be asked?”
“Hei Mei, you mustn’t be rude.” Luo Jing Bo lightly reprimanded.
“Third young master, this servant just saw that you were troubled. Prior to leaving, young madam had instructed us sisters to ‘take care of’ young master well.” Hei Mei lightly smiled, raising her eyebrows, particularly emphasizing on the words ‘take care of’.
Luo Jing Bo let out a rather helpless smile, also carrying a bit of indulgence. “You two are both little sis’s people.”
“Since young madam borrowed us, during this period of time outside, naturally need to prioritize young madam’s wishes.” Bai Shao added with a smile.
How could Lin Chu Chu still not understand. Said to be brought along to complement the occasion, but in reality, it was to prevent other women from approaching. Perhaps out of resentment, or perhaps due to her unwillingness to resign, “One of the ‘former’ twin beauties[3] of the capital is actually a ‘rouge tiger’?
[1] Should be a pretty self-explanatory insult, pretty much saying that he doesn’t know how to talk properly
[2] Women of brothel are essentially similar to slaves, they have been sold into brothels or sold themselves into the brothels and thus need to buy back their contract to redeem themselves.
[3] Referring to Sun Yi Jia and Ruan Fang Fei’s previous status as the top two n.o.ble young ladies of the capital.