Chapter 153: Poisonous Tongue, Nitpicking
Ruan Fang Fei slightly raised her head. At this time, no matter who, all wouldn’t think she was maintaining her pride, but rather it was that veil’s ‘weight’ pressing down on her face making her raise her head. The blood from her face also rapidly drained, and in an instant, her face was as white as a sheet of paper.
Even those that were originally watching for entertainment, at this time, all raised a trace of pity in their hearts. Jin Qinw.a.n.g’s words really were too malicious. If nothing else, for better or worse, she was still considered your half-fiancee, you shouldn’t………….Alright, perhaps precisely because of this layer of relation, Jin Qinw.a.n.g thus would act as such. Those that had no relations to him, he wouldn’t even spare a glance. Who didn’t know Jin Qinw.a.n.g l.u.s.ted after beauties. For her to still receive his favor after ruining her beauty, now that would really be strange.
Sun Yi Jia also raised pity towards Ruan Fang Fei. Right now, should she be glad that towards herself, Jin Qinw.a.n.g was actually still considered merciful with his words? However, even if he wasn’t merciful with his words, it didn’t matter either, she really didn’t care. Recalling some of her guesses towards Ruan Fang Fei, that bit of pity of hers instantly disappeared without a trace.
During the Dragon Boat Festival, little sister Wan got schemed against. She had only asked little sister Wan who all she encountered during that time, and what all did she do, and the greatest suspect was precisely her, Ruan Fang Fei. Moreover, Ruan Fang Fei also had a motive to scheme against little sister Wan.
Sun Yi Jia looked to Jing Wan, her expression strangely apathetic. This didn’t match with little sister Wan’s inherent nature. Little sister Wan didn’t have feelings for Jin Qinw.a.n.g, and just based on this starting point, she won’t have an opinion of Ruan Fang Fei. It can be seen, for little sister Wan to have such an att.i.tude, there definitely must be another reason. Between Jing Wan and outsiders, regardless who is right or wrong, Sun Yi Jia naturally will forever stand on Jing Wan’s side. Moreover, little sister Wan isn’t one to pick a fight first, so the root must undoubtedly be on Ruan Fang Fei. That’s why, Sun Yi Jia casted a glance at Ruan Fang Fei, serves you right————–
Ruan Fang Fei’s inherent nature was malicious, yet her temperament was far from the point of being able to conquer everything. Have to say, in this world, someone who is capable of making her nearly crumble with just a few words, aside from Li Hong Yuan, there was no other candidate.
There was probably nothing more hurtful than the person one admires humiliating oneself in public.
Li Hong Yuan was narrow-minded, and won’t tolerate anyone harming Jing Wan. People that have lost their worth, he will unhesitantly discard, but if this kind of person ‘isn’t perceptive’, then don’t blame him for stomping a few more times. Don’t ever count on him having a trace of benevolence.
If before this, Ruan Fang Fei still believed that Li Hong Yuan cared about her, then at this very moment, if this ruthless slap still wasn’t able to let her wake up from her daydream, then she will really be the world’s number one fool. Thinking back to every time they met in the past, when has he ever once given her the tiniest bit of gentleness? Could it be that just because he didn’t have her mercilessly expelled, in her eyes, this was having become different from others in his heart? She’s never believed she’s made a mistake, this wasn’t false, but this did’t mean that her head wasn’t sober.
Probably because her life really has always been smooth sailing, what she wanted, she has never been unable to obtain. In her eyes, she had talent and beauty. Never mind the entire capital, even in the entirety of Qi Yuan, one was unable to find someone equal to her, so men she has her eye one on should just become infatuated with her. Just, men like this, there were too many, so she has always been successful in her endeavors. She believed, even if Li Hong Yuan wasn’t the same, the final outcome still wouldn’t have any changes. Turns out, this wasn’t the case……………….
However, since she has her eye on him, then he must be hers. If she can’t have him, then she’d rather destroy, then to give to someone else.
Ruan Fang Fei raised her head, seemingly wanting to have her tears forced back. Unfortunately, it didn’t have any affect. The tears still tumbled down like a shattered string of pearls. That appearance truly made one grip their heart in pain.
During the Dragon Boat Festival, Gong Qinw.a.n.g got his face ruthlessly slapped by Li Hong Yuan, and even now, he hasn’t dispelled his anger. If not for having to out of etiquette, he really didn’t want to invite him. Originally, he thought that he would not attend like in the past, but who knew what he was high on today, not only coming, but even causing trouble everywhere. If not for worrying that he will cause a disturbance, or more precisely, worrying that he will give him a green hat to wear, otherwise, who would be so patient as to follow him around like an attendant. And now, the beauty was shedding tears. Alright, without looking at the injury, she was indeed still a beauty, and truly resolutely invoked the desire to protect deep in his heart, “Sixth brother, aren’t your words too much?”
Li Hong Yuan paused his steps, turning his head, “What position are you in to say these words? What relation do you have with her? Then again, her old man is the Head of the Cabinet Ministers after all. All of you, each and every one, all want to rope him in. Towards this daughter of his that has the greatest marriage value, you all naturally drool over. Does this prince have grounds to suspect, you two have long made ties in private? If not you, then someone else, or perhaps, Ruan Rui Zhong is casting a wide net, and you all have a share?”
Gong Qinw.a.n.g thought to himself, if this really was the case, then it’d be great.
Rather it was Ruan Old Madam who was ashen in complexion, on one side pacifying Ruan Fang Fei, while shooting a glare towards Jin Qinw.a.n.g like daggers, “w.a.n.gye mustn’t spit malicious slander.”
Li Hong Yuan coldly laughed, “Did this prince say something wrong? Already sixteen, yet never mind still having not married, she has never even discussed a single marriage before either. If there isn’t something fishy going on, who would believe? If Ruan Rui Zhong really is upright and proper, then it’s just you, this daughter, that has problems. This prince has no power, no influence, yet imperial father strangely had the person shoved to me. Do each and every one of you all really think this prince is easy to bully, and a fool?”
This place was already relatively close to where the other female guests were at to begin with, so this while, it naturally drew in quite a few people’s attention. That curiosity, everyone all had. The ones nearby directly p.r.i.c.ked up their ears, and those that were farther away, seeing this situation, also moved closer in succession. Li Hong Yuan didn’t lower his voice at all. Once his words came out, it caused a bit of a disturbance. What Jin Qinw.a.n.g said seemingly really made a lot of sense.
Aside from those child marriages, these girls, the earlier ones, even at seven or eight years old, their families will have already started looking for a match. And the later ones, at the latest, it was still just thirteen or fourteen years old. Cases like Ruan Fang Fei’s, there really were none. Previously, Sun Yi Jia’s situation was somewhat similar to hers, but although Sun Yi Jia never got matches, she had Kang Qinw.a.n.g, this publicly known candidate. Only Ruan Fang Fei alone didn’t have any movements at all. Once the seed of doubt was planted, when looking to Ruan Fang Fei again, those gazes just became exceptionally dubious.
Have to say, no wonder Jin Qinw.a.n.g didn’t show any interest in this beauty previously, even delaying indefinitely to have the person married back. If replaced with any other man, afraid they would also do the same.
For women, no matter how beautiful, no matter how talented in learning, once this reputation was ruined, that was all useless.
Ruan Old Madam gritted her teeth in anger. Why her daughter has never discussed marriage before, others may not know, but he clearly knew, yet actually still said something like this. If those that fall for him are all blind, then this stubborn daughter of hers was the number one fool. “Where has our Ruan family offended w.a.n.gye, for w.a.n.gye to humiliate us as such?”
“Just seeking the truth from the facts, that’s all. If Ruan Old Madam feels this is insulting, then just let it be then.”
“Li Hong Yuan——-” Ruan Fang Fei suddenly opened her mouth, her voice carrying a piercing sharpness, and her eyes containing hatred, “You will regret it, you will definitely regret it.”
“Directly calling out this prince’s name, this is the etiquette taught by the Ruan family?” Li Hong Yuan coldly spoke.
“w.a.n.gye please forgive, my daughter was just momentarily angered, and wasn’t deliberately being disrespectful towards you.” Ruan Old Madam hurriedly apologized. This kind of accusation, to put it severely, can be said as Ruan Rui Zhong not educating his daughter properly, and will be more than enough to impeach him on misconduct, and to put it lightly, it was just Ruan Fang Fei not having etiquette. And if one were to come across those that were strict on etiquette, then she won’t be able to avoid getting slapped in the mouth.
“Seeing on Ruan Rui Zhong’s behalf, this prince can disregard this. However, this prince will wait, and see how you all are going to let this prince regret.” This time, Li Hong Yuan really left, just leaving the crowd a black rear view.
Regardless of how prideful Ruan Fang Fei was, and regardless of what kind of mental construction she did prior to coming, this while, she was unable to continue staying any longer, turning to leave, her back directly facing Li Hong Yuan’s. She straightened her back, maintaining that bit of dignity and pride she had left.
Afterwards, another family just happened to enter from the outside, and seeing Ruan Fang Fei’s appearance, they all couldn’t help moving to the side. And once the people of the Ruan family left, they all couldn’t help looking to one another in dismay. What happened here? Turns out, the rumors were true, Ruan Fang Fei really ruined her beauty.
Afterwards, when they saw Sun Yi Jia, oh my, this makeup is quite pretty. And shortly after, they finally recalled, she was also a disfigured one. What’s wrong with this year, the two beauties of the capital both had their appearance ruined.
From start to finish, Jing Wan just indifferently watched, because the target of Jin Qinw.a.n.g’s poisonous tongue was her enemy, she more or less felt pleased inside. But to say how intense that feeling was, it really wasn’t that strong. Regardless of what kind of suffering Ruan Fang Fei endures, it still won’t make her feel anything. Giving any kind of overly strong feelings for her was all a waste.
However, Jing Wan actually felt Jin Qinw.a.n.g’s actions were somewhat strange. Since his temperament was cold and ruthless, then not liking was just not liking, and this can be done in an even more simplistic and rougher way. He seemingly completely didn’t need to use such a roundabout way————-Comparing the two sides, the former damaged his reputation even more, and the latter, the most obvious was probably just Ruan Fang Fei getting surrounded by rumors and slanders, becoming the people of the capital’s topic of idle conversation over tea———–‘The former beautiful reputation, now just a tainted name’———How high she was praised by others in the past was how miserable she will fall now.
Just like a sheet of white paper suddenly getting splashed with dirty water, it would be very obvious. And if one was just a sheet of jet-black paper to begin with, then even if one has it soaked in ink, then picked up again, it would still be the same. The former was just like Ruan Fang Fei, and the latter was just like Li Hong Yuan. That’s why, Jin Qinw.a.n.g’s bad reputation was tainted to the point that it can’t be more tainted, so getting another stain was of no consequence. Yet this time, he didn’t do this.
Since she couldn’t figure it out, Jing Wan also just stopped thinking about it. Not needing to constantly guard against Ruan Fang Fei’s evil schemes naturally was for the best.
Gong w.a.n.gfei’s birthday wasn’t nearly as lively as the Grand Elder Princess’s. After all, aside from those important few, the rest that were invited were all people of Gong Qinw.a.n.g’s faction.
Before starting the feast, there were just those few activities, if not some simple games, then it was just reciting poetry and so on, quite boring.
Have to say, right now, Jing Wan was the one that received the most attention, so naturally there were also those that want to let her partic.i.p.ate. Jing Wan naturally refused without any exceptions. Since it was things that one wasn’t good at, then why the need to slap one’s face to make one look imposing.
“If Luo third miss isn’t good at it, then just pick one that you’re good at. Play a piece, just treat it as helping Gong w.a.n.gfei celebrate her birthday.”
Today’s performers for the celebration seemingly were all the Gong Qinw.a.n.g Manor’s female entertainers. Suddenly wanting her to play the qin, this was someone wanting to pick a fight? But why did she need to entertain them? “Your Highness, please forgive, this subject’s hands hurt today.”
Gong w.a.n.gfei suddenly put away her smile, “Luo third miss, this is not giving this w.a.n.gfei face?”