Chapter 208.2: Jealous, Properly Hold Tight
Although there were memorandums that were sent back ahead of them, this specifics of the situation still needed to be learned from their mouths. After Le Cheng Emperor finished praising and rewarding his son, he began listening to their reports one by one. It was very well-coordinated, and regardless of which faction they originally belong to, at this time, all didn’t fight for credit, each scrupulously abiding their own duties, just stating the portion that they partic.i.p.ated in.
Le Cheng Emperor was pleased, stroking his beard as his gaze finally landed on his tenth son, “Old ten, you don’t have anything you want to say?”
Tenth w.a.n.gye was somewhat embarra.s.sed, intentionally or otherwise casting a glance at his own backing, Rui Qinw.a.n.g, “This son is an incompetent one, having not been able to help in anything. At the time, third imperial brother also just said to let this son follow along to learn some things, so this son just focused on listening and watching, seeing quite a few things, and hearing quite a few……….” He picked some examples. However, his words were all very skillful, making one feel he really did learn quite a few things.
Le Cheng Emperor felt pleased inside, and towards this son, he also didn’t hold back in rewarding.
For the subjects, they needed something practical, but for his sons, it wasn’t the same. They probably further like his praises.
Tenth w.a.n.gye was unable to contain his joy, the delight between his brows becoming more genuine.
Rui Qinw.a.n.g and the others also smiled. However, that smile didn’t reach the eyes. This was just a dog that relied on him to survive to begin with. After getting married, and taking on an a.s.signment, seemingly the thoughts he shouldn’t have also emerged. However, since he was able to let him nicely live all these years, then he naturally was able to let him know, without him, what kind of ending he will have.
The matter of bestowments still needed to wait until after returning to the capital. After all, right now, the flooding in the south has yet to be appropriately taken care of.
He wasn’t able to meet Luo Pei Shan at the Luo family’s place, but after leaving from Le Cheng Emperor’s place, Chen Zheng Min was able to say a few words with him.
Several feet away, Sun Yi Lin stood for a moment, but in the end, didn’t go forward, turning to leave.
Perhaps because he was once continuously tolerating and accommodating his older brother, compared to Chen Zheng Min, who although compared to many of the same age, was much more outstanding and mature, his family status was far inferior to that of the Ding Duke Manor. However, one can’t deny the truth that he was raised cupped in the palm of the whole family, his thoughts much more pure. Even if he has experienced misfortune, rapidly maturing, Sun Yi Lin still restrained and endured much more, his temperament also steady and mature. When he’d just arrived, he didn’t necessarily not have the same thought as Chen Zheng Min. Moreover, Sun Yi Jia was at the Luo family’s place. For him to use this as an excuse to visit was completely in accordance with the rules.
Sun Yi Lin, prior to being summoned by Le Cheng Emperor, also just tidied himself up a little, and met with his idle brothers and tang brothers, noticing that their words and behavior was somewhat strange, yet unable to say anything specific. As for his grandmother and parents, he still has yet to meet with them.
Grandmother was old, so naturally it was him that should go kowtow and pay respect to her. His father should be busy with governmental affairs, and as for his mother, under normal circ.u.mstances, afraid would’ve long come out, only not seeing her when ill. Recalling his mother’s att.i.tude prior to his departure, he endure the throbbing headache. Later, when he returns and sees her, don’t know what kind of ruckus will be stirred up again.
Sun Yi Lin was never an unfilial person, but when facing his mother, he was probably further willing to face the wind and frost outside. These last two months, his body perhaps suffered quite a bit of hards.h.i.+ps, after all, prior to this a.s.signment, he was still just a tender and delicate n.o.ble young master. But to be able to do something for the country, for the people, able to reveal little by little his aspiration, his heart was unprecedentedly relaxed. On the way back, he even produced the thought of taking a turn and heading south. However, as an official of the imperial court, without an imperial order, he naturally can’t willfully interfere in other affairs, so he could only give up.
Just, in the dead of night, he would always uncontrollably think of that figure……..
Sun Yi Lin first went to pay respect to Sun Old Madam. This while, Sun Old Madam was in the middle of pruning flower sprays, her att.i.tude the same as always, seemingly as if this grandson had never left before, just having left in the morning, and returning at night to pay his respect to her.
Sun Old Madam put down the clippers, carefully sizing up Sun Yi Lin, “Got skinnier, and also darker, but this spirit is rather not bad. For a man of character, as expected, should still go out more.”
Sun Yi Lin smiled. As expected, it’s still grandmother that understood him the most. “Has grandmother been well?”
“Can eat, can sleep, there’s nothing wrong. ——-Your younger sister is pregnant…..”
Sun Yi Lin revealed a happy expression, “As expected, younger sister is one with good fortune. Later, I’ll go see her.” However, Sun Old Madam coldly snorted, directly making Sun Yi Lin’s brows jump, his expression also changing, “Could it be that something happened?”
“Nearly got lost because of your mother. It’s also fortunate that they managed to save it, else our family and the Luo family will have become enemies.” Sun Old Madam had the matters that day roughly narrated. “Right now, although haven’t gone as far as to sever all relations, but that bit of friendly relations between in-laws has become dispensable.”
Sun Yi Lin’s complexion was just like that color palette. When he’s not present, she just went to torment younger sister! Completely disregarding younger sister and smearing the Luo family’s reputation with all her might! “Her doing this, exactly what benefit would there be for her? Clearly her body’s unwell, yet still…………”
Sun Old Madam coldly sneered, “Who knows what all is in your mother’s brain. I’ve already thoroughly confined her.”
The child doesn’t comment on the parent’s fault.[1] Sun Yi Lin in the end won’t say anything too excessive, however, “Getting confined is also good.”
After leaving Sun Old Madam’s place, Sun Yi Lin hesitated for a rare moment, before going to see his mother.
Since he wanted to see the person, and had also obtained Sun Old Madam’s permission, naturally no one dared to block him.
Sun Yi Lin entered the courtyard. It was still maintained neat and orderly, and after entering the room, the decorations that one should have, not a single one was missing. Although there were fewer servants, his mother has never been slighted either. “Mother……….”
The water cup in the Ding d.u.c.h.ess’s hand shattered, violently turning around to look at Sun Yi Lin, “Yi Lin, Yi Lin, you’ve come back, it’s good that you’ve come back……….” Aside from this, the Ding d.u.c.h.ess didn’t do anything too extreme either.
Different from what he’d imagined, his mother didn’t go crazy either. But, Sun Yi Lin still didn’t know what to say to her.
The Ding d.u.c.h.ess just asked him how he was during this trip. Seemingly that graceful and dignified Ding d.u.c.h.ess had returned again. However, when Sun Yi Lin mentioned wanting to go see Sun Yi Jia, her body stiffened, not saying a single word.
——–Already at this stage yet still don’t have a single voice of apology? “This son still has some matters to attend to, so will come see you again later.”
The Ding d.u.c.h.ess watched him leave, extending her hand, seemingly wanting to keep him, but the words ultimately didn’t come out.
For the a.s.signment this time, the journey was long and distant, so along the way, they naturally experienced quite a few local conditions and customs. In the beginning, when going, they were in a rush, but when returning, it was relatively relaxed. Sun Yi Lin was the young master of a Duke’s Manor, and has always never lacked money, so he’d bought quite a few things. Moreover, quite a few were all things for young girls to use. Others even teased him whether or not he’d fallen for some family’s delicate young miss, but he just said it was for his younger sister. And it was indeed for Sun Yi Jia, just there was also that extra intention………And also don’t know whether or not it was having foresight, but he similarly bought quite a few toys for children to play with, thinking that he will eventually have a nephew one day, just this was much sooner than he’d antic.i.p.ated.
He ordered someone to have the things organized out, separately preparing a share for Sun Yi Jia, and one for the Luo family.
Seeing Chen Zheng Min, Sun Yi Jia just knew that her own fifth brother will definitely come visit too. That’s why when she heard the servants come report, she inwardly thought to herself, ‘as expected’. Since they weren’t fated, even if they meet, it was just adding to the yearning. As such, it was better to not meet. Thus, when Sun Yi Jia went to go see her fifth brother, she told Jing Wan to seriously practice the qin, so as to play for her child in the future. Otherwise, with this paternal aunt’s qin skill this bad, in the future, who would dare say she, Luo Jing Wan, once shocked all sides with a piece of ‘Ambush on Ten Sides’.
Jing Wan also roughly understood Sun Yi Jia’s intention, pitifully continuing to practice the qin.
With the intention to block, naturally something like a chance encounter won’t happen again.
[1] This phrase comes from the ‘Cla.s.sic of Rites’ meaning that it’s not proper for a child to discuss or comment on one’s parent’s shortcomings and faults. There multiple interpretations of this line though, so don’t take it too negatively.