Chapter 358: Choking You to Death
Jing Wan smilingly spoke, “This daughter-in-law greets consort mother, great fortune to consort mother.”
As the saying goes, ‘an outstretch hand does not hit a smiling face’. Moreover, having yet to return in a long time, one should also be happy. Even if feeling stifled inside and irritated, in addition to the ‘new and old grudges’, one still can’t lash out at this time, unless n.o.ble Consort Su wants to from hereon rip apart the perfect image she’s maintained for thirty years.
As such, n.o.ble Consort Su’s face hung a smile, yet the corners of her eyes unconsciously raised up. n.o.ble Consort Su’s eyes were relatively special to begin with, so raising the corners of her eyes just gave off an indescribable sense of sternness. When she was younger, she was rather ostentatious, frequently making the corners of her eyes more prominent, but afterwards, she gradually weakened it, causing her entire mannerism to all soften. However, this didn’t mean that her heart also softened along with. Occasionally when losing control of her emotions, or deliberating a.s.serting dominance, that kind of feeling perhaps would become very prominent.
“You’re excused.” n.o.ble Consort Su rather half-heartedly waved her hand.
Jing Wan got up, turning towards Rui w.a.n.gfei, “Greetings third sister-in-law.”
Rui w.a.n.gfei neither quickly nor slowly returned the etiquette, “Sixth sister-in-law, you all have finally returned at last. Consort mother has been constantly mentioning every day.”
“w.a.n.gye also thinks of consort mother every day.” Just opening the mouth and wasting some breath, who doesn’t know how to say pleasant words.
“Don’t mention these pointless things, it has already been half a year. It’s good that you all have returned. Speaking of which, Yuan’er really is one to pamper his wife. Towards you, afraid there are many things he doesn’t bear to refuse. Just, as the wife, to be able to obtain the husband’s deep affections, one should further be considerate and think for the other party. Don’t you think so, old six’s wife?” n.o.ble Consort Su’s smile didn’t change, just like an elder that was attentively teaching a child.
Jing Wan’s eyes slightly glimmered. This was saying that she relied on favor to be arrogant, not knowing propriety, and more importantly, went against the three obediences and four virtues? Jing Wan felt it was quite funny. To put it unpleasantly, n.o.ble Consort Su was also just a concubine, and only in the imperial family, was it like so. In other families, the legitimate mother-in-law was also just that one. However, in the end, the status was different. En, she’ll just obediently listen. As for whether or not she understood, and whether it was really not understanding or pretending to not understand, of course, only she herself knew, no?
Jing Wan’s smile also didn’t change, even carrying a bit of naivety within like she was not versed in the affairs of the world, “Consort mother is right. w.a.n.gye deeply loves this wife, so this wife naturally listens to w.a.n.gye for everything.” It was your son that wanted to take me to Jiangnan, and for that large sum of bribe, it was also your son that let me collect. I even threw away my own reputation for this. Who else can be a more obedient wife than me?
The air flow in the heart was already uneven to begin with, so naturally it was even easier to block up. As a matter of fact, it immediately just got blocked up by Jing Wan. She didn’t believe Jing Wan didn’t understand. Clearly it was just pretending to be naive and empty-headed, so how can it not make one angry? But with her replying like this, one was also unable to pick out any fault. n.o.ble Consort Su was furious inside. Since this girl can’t understand when speaking in a roundabout way, then she’ll just be a bit more direct.
She lightly sighed, “This trip to Jiangnan, Yuan’er was going for official work, and moreover, the matter was of great importance. Old six’s wife, even if you don’t understand the severity within, you should still have awareness. Everything else aside, men going out, there’s just no reason for women to follow. Even if Yuan’er lets you go, you should also advise against him.”
Jing Wan furrowed her brows, “Consort mother’s meaning is to let this daughter-in-law disobey w.a.n.gye? How can that be okay!?” The last few words were rather righteous.
n.o.ble Consort Su nearly vomited blood.
She picked up the tea cup to mask her anger, relaxing a little before continuing, “Not disobeying, but rather appropriately persuading within a reasonable scope. As long as it’s correct, saying a few words naturally isn’t a problem.”
“Consort mother is right. However, w.a.n.gye was raised by you. What kind of personality he has, you’re the most clear. Do you think that for something he has decided on, he will listen to this daughter-in-law’s persuasion?” Jing Wan, regardless whether it was her expression or tone, all penetrated with a bit of helplessness.
n.o.ble Consort Su choked again. This time, it was recalling Li Hong Yuan’s bad temperament. Ma.s.saging her throbbing temples, “Yuan’er not having a good temper, as the spouse, as a virtuous wife, you should further constantly urge.”
Jing Wan’s face revealed a bit of confusion, hesitantly opening her mouth, “Consort mother, you raised him for twenty some years. w.a.n.gye’s current temperament……….” That was all raised out by you, “Besides, occasionally saying a few words still work, but to constantly………….Isn’t it said that once married, obey the husband?” This voice towards the end was a bit weak.
What did this mean? This was criticizing her for not having her son raised well?
n.o.ble Consort Su looked to Jing Wan, the hostility in her eyes almost unable to be concealed.
Endure, endure some more, relax, slowly relax………….
n.o.ble Consort Su just felt Jing Wan was deliberately going about in circles with her. The ‘three obediences four virtues’ and persuading against, between these two, there seemingly indeed exist contradictions. To want to handle well, one naturally needed to find the balance within, but if one really were to debate, one simple was unable to do it cleanly. If they were to continue, this Luo-s.h.i.+ certainly will still continue making up nonsense with her. She suddenly discovered, this old six’s wife was much more difficult to deal with than old three’s wife. However, right now, towards the Head Minister of Appointments, his Majesty was increasingly valuing, so her att.i.tude towards Luo-s.h.i.+ all need to be deliberated. Moreover, she also needed to consider Yuan’er. Yuan’er appear to indeed have a bit of feelings towards this girl. “All in all, in the future, when encountering this kind of matter, don’t follow along again.”
“Next time? w.a.n.gye still has a chance next time to leave the capital on an a.s.signment?” Jing Wan was somewhat puzzled, and also bit a distressed.
This time, it further choked n.o.ble Consort Su to the point of speechlessness. Jin Qinw.a.n.g’s situation, that was known by the entire capital city.
Rui w.a.n.gfei who was to the side, becoming one with the background again, didn’t change in expression, yet on the inside, she couldn’t help but inwardly click her tongue. This sixth younger sister-in-law was also quite impressive. It was true that consort mother was a kind mother-in-law, but whenever she faced her, she was nevertheless quite scared, yet this sixth sister-in-law dared to act naive, choking her to the point of speechlessness, unable to even lash out.
“Since you two were in Jiangnan for that long of a time, why don’t you tell this consort, what all you’ve encountered.” n.o.ble Consort Su somewhat forcibly s.h.i.+fted the conversation.
“Interesting matters, hard to say, but did obtain quite a few good things. The ones prepared for consort mother, some are even personally picked by w.a.n.gye.” Jing Wan turned back to let someone have the things sent in. It wasn’t considered much, but for the most part, all rare and valuable. The anti-aging pill was still the main act.
n.o.ble Consort Su sure enough revealed a relatively sincere smile, “Yuan’er has heart, and you are also a filial one.”
Jing Wan humbly said a few words, at this time, appearing graceful in bearing again. Just, standing like that, it nevertheless felt exceptionally easy-going.
This before and after change was very obvious, yet Jing Wan didn’t cover up in the slightest.
n.o.ble Consort Su already didn’t want to bicker over this anymore. Placing down the anti-aging pill, her expression also faded quite a bit. After all, according to her knowledge, this daughter-in-law received quite a few good things in Jiangnan, and these that were for her, perhaps all weren’t bad, but certainly, not a single one came from those things. Her expression turned serious, full of solemn, “Old six’s wife, this consort heard that in Jiangnan, you’d wantonly accepted bribes. This matter, inside and outside the imperial court, have all been abuzz. Is this matter true?”
Jing Wan’s expression didn’t change, “Yes, it’s true. The ready-made gold and silver, in addition to the gold and silver banknotes, and also the various rare treasures, adding together, there’s about several tens of millions of taels.” Her tone was dull, still faintly carrying a bit of smile, even having a bit of nonchalant.
n.o.ble Consort Su was quite startled by this amount, and soon after, just smashed the teacup, “How dare you! To actually dare incur disaster for Yuan’er like this.”
Jing Wan, like as if knowing in advance, aptly retreated, and just the hem of her clothes got splashed with water droplets. Looking to n.o.ble Consort Su, she calmly opened her mouth, “Isn’t consort mother misunderstanding something? It’s true that this daughter-in-law accepted things, but this matter was also tacitly approved by imperial father. All the things have been made into lists, and have long been presented before imperial father to look over. Later, after organizing these things, they will all have to enter the state treasury.”
n.o.ble Consort Su’s seemingly genuine and seemingly fake anger was like as if getting splashed with a basin of ice water. She unconsciously trembled. She was an extremely smart person, so just slightly contemplating, she immediately was able to have the connections within pieced together. Then, recalling previously, that most intense period of time when the court officials were accusing Yuan’er and his wife of misconduct, his Majesty’s att.i.tude truly was very strange. That bias was already crooked to the point of disregarding the entire country’s interest. Turns out, the reason was actually here. Even in this kind of weather at present, she still couldn’t help but break out in cold sweat.
“Turns out it was consort mother misunderstanding you. Why don’t you tell this consort, what exactly was going on with this matter?”
Jing Wan looked to n.o.ble Consort Su, fixedly staring for a moment, before slowly opening her mouth, “This daughter-in-law is surprised. Consort mother should further be concerned with w.a.n.gye’s safety. After all, it was repeatedly meeting with a.s.sa.s.sination attempts, yet consort mother unexpectedly didn’t ask a single word of.”
n.o.ble Consort Su blanked, seeing Jing Wan’s faint gaze, actually having a bit of getting completely seen through kind of chilly feeling, “That’s because………..”
“Because w.a.n.gye was completely unharmed after all, so as timed pa.s.sed, consort mother also just forgot.”
T/N: I always think of that one saying, ‘conversation is an art’, when it comes to chapters like this. Although personally, Li Hong Yuan’s conversations with Le Cheng Emperor are still my favorite to translate.