Chapter 462.3: The Cruelty of the Innocent?
Handling matters in the home of a married daughter, if there’s no elders, the people of the maiden family coming to help, that was also something that couldn’t be more normal. Even if the elders and brothers were all present, the maiden family doing something for the sake of their daughter also wasn’t anything inappropriate.
In the imperial family, it naturally was a bit special. Once the princes came of age, they will just get ‘divided out’ one by one. If something comes up, they naturally can’t count on their parents to arrange. Between brothers, that was also an extremely esteemed status, at most just receiving the other brothers or uncles in the imperial clan. For the other guests, it was absolutely unreasonable for them to personally step in. As such, the great majority can only choose the people of the Internal Affairs Department. As for letting the w.a.n.gfei’s maiden family help, they still need to be presentable first, able to be brought out. And it was obvious, the Luo family completely didn’t have any problems. Based on Luo Old Madam’s status, receiving those old w.a.n.gfeis was all doable.
Starting from the Luo family’s arrival, there will be others arriving one after another.
At this time, there naturally was also an emphasis on order of arrival.
For Jing Wan, this kind of occasion wasn’t considered her first time either, so naturally handled smoothly. After all, the majority of people she just needed to greet, then let someone lead to the reception pavilion or garden, and afterwards, don’t need to bother with them anymore. These people, regardless whether old or young, young ladies that were in the middle of discussing marriage, or just a few years old child, they themselves were just able to find the place they need go. Socializing seemingly was just their natural ability, and the ones that needed for her to accompany were very few. There were even a portion of people that didn’t even need Jing Wan to personally greet. Sending a servant girl or mama was enough.
On Li Hong Yuan’s side, it was even more simple. The majority of people were still at the yamen[1], not yet time for them to drop in. Besides, even if they come, Li Hong Yuan just sitting there and not budging, his brothers and imperial relatives, all not going to receive, no one can do anything about it. Even if displeased inside, they still can only hold it in.
Carefully thinking about it, Li Hong Yuan personally welcoming guests, this seemingly was even a first.
Jin Qinw.a.n.g Manor, despite having been established for several years, has never arranged anything before. The first time was even Li Hong Yuan’s wedding. At that time, there were plenty of people helping him receive guests and handle various matters. What he needed to do was just go through the wedding process, and afterwards, during the banquet feast, drink a bit of wine. Everything else, he didn’t need to bother with.
However, Li Hong Yuan today was doing for the sake of Jing Wan. The people that he should personally welcome, he all went to welcome, and precisely because of this, those that saw him, including those brothers of his that had nothing better to do thus came relatively early, each and every one were all overwhelmed by the sudden favor. Some were even greatly frightened. That scene really was a bit funny.
Jing Wan originally was just casually asking about the situation on the other side. Learning this situation, she was somewhat between laughter and tears. All these people really did get used to being ‘abused’ by the living Enma. The living Enma merely did something that a normal person would do, yet the reaction was this big.
This kind of thing of course won’t have anyone caring about, and for someone like Jing Wan, it was all treating as entertainment.
After that relatively crowded wave of guests, Jing Wan also sat down.
The people present, that was just aside from those in the palace, the most esteemed group of people in all of Qi Yuan.
Carrying an appropriate smile, saying words appropriate to the occasion, regardless whether it was drinking tea, or occasionally eating a bit of something, it was all extremely graceful. Their every word and conduct can all be considered a prime example. These people perhaps were accustomed, so didn’t feel there was anything wrong, but if placed in the eyes of an outsider, especially those that were relatively carefree, merely just watching, one would all feel awfully tired. Jing Wan, as the host, even from time to time, got up to move around under the excuse of receiving guests. En, she adapted quite well.
Jing Wan’s first birthday in Jin Qinw.a.n.g Manor naturally needed to be as perfect as possible. For the tea and desserts, what all preferences these people had, and what they didn’t eat, it was all thoroughly taken into consideration. The rest, from the elderly elders, down to the babbling infants, special preparations were all made for them. Even if right now Jing Wan was an esteemed w.a.n.gfei, the notion of status still wasn’t able to have her a.s.similated. It was obvious, she considered a lot for others. Previously, even if she didn’t personally prepare anything for today’s banquet, whenever she thought of something, she would still pa.s.s on her instructions. Especially in the entire manor, there were people arranged pretty much everywhere, absolutely putting an end to certain matters from happening, such as tricking someone to a certain place to carry out certain shady matters.
As such, even if nitpicking, at most it was just finding some negligible blemishes.
Even if not saying anything, quite a few people inwardly acknowledged the Luo family daughters’ upbringing.
Setting aside whether or not men will like this kind of women, these madams, especially those that have reached a certain age, just particularly liked. Marriages at present, many were all cla.s.sified as attraction from the same s.e.x, for instance, the mother-in-law looking at a daughter-in-law, or a father-in-law looking at a son-in-law. As long as they felt it was good, it was just decided. Their children’s opinion, it was completely ignoring, and whether or not their children will like, also ignoring. As for what kind their children liked, it was further ignoring.
While they were happily chatting, a servant girl from the manor hurriedly rushed over, “w.a.n.gfei, the Grand Elder Princess Manor’s little wenzhu got into a fight with Kang Qinw.a.n.g Manor’s second young master, and Gong Qinw.a.n.g Manor’s heir.”
Before Jing Wan could even react, the Grand Elder Princess, as well as Kang Qinw.a.n.g’s side consort, and Gong w.a.n.gfei changed face first.
Regardless of the reason, Yu Yao was an elder and even a girl, and those young masters were from the younger generation and also boys. Speaking from this bit, the latter was just greatly in the wrong. Kang Qinw.a.n.g’s side consort and Gong w.a.n.gfei glanced at the Grand Elder Princess’s somewhat dark expression. Even Gong w.a.n.gfei who was used to being arrogant all couldn’t help but inwardly grieve, let alone Kang Qinw.a.n.g’s side consort————-In front of a bunch of old and young w.a.n.gfeis and princesses, she could only disappear into the background as much as possible. Kang Qinw.a.n.g didn’t have a w.a.n.gfei, but they couldn’t let a bunch of children come to Jin Qinw.a.n.g Manor alone, so she could only take up the responsibility. After coming, it naturally was just incomparably awkward.
(T/N: Yu Yao is in the same generation as Li Hong Yuan in terms of family hierarchy, so Kang Qinw.a.n.g and Gong Qinw.a.n.g’s sons are a generation below her.)
The two of them hurriedly apologized to the Grand Elder Princess.
The Grand Elder Princess simply didn’t pay them any attention, taking along Jing Wan and heading to the place of the incident.
What kind of personality her own daughter had, the Grand Elder Princess had an understanding inside. After all, she was already ten years old. To say she was small, yet it wasn’t considered small, and often times, she would all pose as an adult, feeling it was beneath her to argue with small children. Her etiquette and upbringing was also not bad, very much a proper young lady. Unless having a reason, how could she fight with her own younger generation.
(T/N: Btw when Yu Yao first appeared in the novel, she was just eight. I’m so thankful for the author keeping all the ages and order of events consistent in the novel.)
When they rushed over, although the children have already been pulled apart, the scene was still messy, the sounds of crying endlessly a.s.saulting the ears. Jing Wan also discovered that the ones that partic.i.p.ated in the fight probably also included her own younger brothers and sisters. And the little young masters that came from qinw.a.n.g manors seemingly weren’t just two either. Yu Yao, on the contrary, wasn’t crying, just her hair was messy, her clothes also somewhat messy and dirty, having her head lowered, holding in her arms a b.l.o.o.d.y and lifeless little tiger, making one’s heart can’t help but panic.
Seeing the adults come, seemingly as if seeing a pillar, she just broke down, going forward, wanting to complain.
“Stand properly, how is this appropriate.” The Grand Elder Princess’s tone wasn’t heavy, but each and every one all became obedient.
The Grand Elder Princess didn’t rush to defend her own child either, not even going forward to console a few words, instead glancing at Jing Wan. Obviously, it was wanting to have the matter handed to Jing Wan to take care of. After all, this was Jin Qinw.a.n.g Manor, and Jing Wan was her adopted daughter. If switch with other manors, it naturally won’t be like this.
Jing Wan tacitly understood, “Swiftly invite the manor doctor over. ——-Bai Shao, exactly what happened, why don’t you explain.”
Bai Shao stood out, curtsying, “w.a.n.gfei, it’s like this, wenzhu and the two Luo family young miss were playing with the little tiger, feeding it food. Kang Qinw.a.n.g Manor’s second young master and Gong Qinw.a.n.g Manor’s little heir also wanted to play, but wenzhu was unwilling to give, thus the two sides got into a verbal argument. Under the servants’ persuasion, the matter was temporarily settled. Just, not long after, the second young master and the little heir gathered their two manors’ as well as two junw.a.n.g manors’ young masters, and forcibly stole the little tiger, afterwards just having the little tiger violently smashed onto the ground. Seeing that it was still alive, they just picked up again and smashed onto the ground. Gong Qinw.a.n.g’s heir even said as he smashed, ‘things that this heir cannot have, others don’t even think about obtaining’. Because there were a lot of people, and the little tiger was also surrounded in the middle, we servants didn’t dare to forcibly go forward, worrying that the young masters would get injured. The little tiger in the end got thrown before wenzhu by Gong Qinw.a.n.g’s heir, full of blood, on its last breath. Wenzhu’s eyes redden from anger, pouncing forward and getting into a fight with the little heir. Afterwards, wenzhu ruthlessly bit the little heir, and the little heir called the second young master to help. The second young master started pulling wenzhu’s hair. The two Luo family young miss saw wenzhu getting bullied, thus just went forward to help. Afterwards, it’s just the other young masters separately going forward to help, all rolling into a ball.”
Setting aside the details, this cause and effect was already very clear.
However, Bai Shao still mentioned a few details. Just, these details were all about Gong Qinw.a.n.g’s heir.
The Grand Elder Princess’s gaze coldly swept towards Gong w.a.n.gfei.
Gong w.a.n.gfei’s face was deathly pale. It’s not that she didn’t notice the Grand Elder Princess’s gaze, but she forcibly pretended to not see, angrily going forward, “You, a lowly slave, dare to slander a qinw.a.n.g’s heir!” She lifted her hand, wanting to fan a slap.
Just, Bai Shao was someone that practiced martial arts, so how could she easily get hit. Moreover, she wasn’t making up nonsense. If this slap lands, although it was nothing for her, it will make her master lose face. That’s why, she unhesitantly retreated a step.
Gong w.a.n.gfei’s slap landed in the air, thus her complexion naturally became even more unsightly, “You even dare to dodge?” Lifting her hand again.
“Qin-s.h.i.+——-” The Grand Elder Princess’s complexion was ice-cold. She was also someone that was used to being prideful. Aside from Le Cheng Emperor, no one was able to make her lower her head. This niece-in-law not only dared to deliberately ignore her, with her son having done something wrong, to not discipline, and even dared to be aggressive, how could one not be angered, “Slander? She, a servant girl, dare to say lies in front of this many people? You think everyone is blind? Raising such a cruel and overbearing son, you also aren’t anything good.”
[1] Yamen – Government offices in feudal China
T/N: Hard to imagine that Gong w.a.n.gfei is Shu Consort Qin’s niece.