Chapter 175.1: Malicious Scheme
Although it was another body of sweat, Jing Wan’s spirits were actually pretty good.
Taking advantage of the time, Jing Wan went to give her morning greetings to her grandparents. Not long after, Luo Jing Bo appeared bringing along Sun Yi Jia.
Days like these, where she was able to see her grandfather every morning when she went to give her morning greetings, and even say a few words, then use the morning meal together, it was truly hard to come by. Because the Luo family only just have five masters coming along in this trip, they didn’t have the male and female seating divided, instead sitting together. And when talking, they also didn’t strictly abide by the etiquette either, appearing quite intimate.
Over these last few days, Sir Luo even had that tiny thought of retiring from his post and stay at home to enjoy the pleasure of family love. But, these words, as soon as they came out, were immediately choked back by his madam. Sir Luo stroked his beard. His madam was becoming more tyrannical the older she got, increasingly less gentle, and his position in her heart was also becoming increasingly inferior.
“Grandmother, did something happen last night? There seemed to have been a period of clamor.” Sun Yi Jia suddenly asked.
“Was there? I didn’t seem to hear anything.” Luo Jing Bo skeptically asked.
Sun Yi Jia rolled her eyes at him. Sleeping like a dead pig, unmovable by thunder, with just that bit of noise, how could he have heard. His wife right now was becoming increasingly blunt. Luo Jing Bo embarrassingly rubbed his nose.
“Perhaps, but we still don’t know yet. If something really happened, we should be able to learn about it later.” Luo Old Madam said.
The old couple glanced at one another, possessing a tacit mutual understanding. Last night’s matter should’ve startled quite a few people, but his Majesty didn’t announce or summon, so for things one shouldn’t get involved in, no one went to join in on the ‘fun’. Presumably, it shouldn’t be a small matter.
Just as expected, prior to setting out, some rumors circulated through. One has to know, Ruan Fang Fei going from Jin Qinwang’s side consort to becoming Zhong Qinwang’s side consort, how could it be kept a secret? However, because they didn’t know the specifics of the matter, it was all kinds of rumors flying around everywhere again. For things involving this kind of matter, the so called guesses naturally won’t be good.
Although not everyone is able to ask about the truth of the matter, there were always those few that possessed this special privilege, for instance, the princes. After inwardly taking pleasure at Li Hong Yuan’s misfortune, they began contemplating whether or not they would be able to obtain benefits from this matter. As for Ruan Fang Fei, heheh, to say it unpleasantly, just a broken shoe, and for them, didn’t have the slightest value at all.
Rather, for Rui Qinwang, after a period of silence, directly went to look for Noble Consort Su.
Noble Consort Su, at the moment, was that dignified and virtuous Noble Consort again, her manner in drinking tea, graceful and honorable, appearing to be enjoying herself. Compared with that ‘harsh and malicious when speaking, extremely protective of her children’ Noble Consort Su from last night, she was like a completely different person.
Li Hong Ming paid his respect to her.
Noble Consort Su let him sit down, “You heard?”
“Yes, just this son has one thing that’s unclear, consort mother saying those words, won’t it have Sir Ruan severely offended? If he were to bear grudges because of this, and cast himself under someone else, it’ll be very unfavorable towards us.”
“Ming’er, how old is Sir Ruan now?”
Li Hong Ming blanked, seemingly understanding somewhat, “Consort mother is saying……..”
“He previously already injured his waist, and seeing him last night, one can clearly sense that his movements are somewhat sluggish. In addition to that kind of blow last night, if he was still young, he would probably be fine, but he is already old, his heart having become weak, so his ability to endure will naturally weaken. Perhaps for the time being, he still hasn’t collapsed, but the root of ruin has already been planted. Prior to Ruan Fang Fei’s matter, he perhaps can still stand for a few more years, until the day the new Emperor ascends the throne, but now, after returning to the capital, if he can still attend morning court, then that would be considered impressive.”
That’s why, for the Head Cabinet Minister, this capable person, without that worth to rope in, it was also needless for one to fear him, so who cares if one offends him.
Li Hong Ming hooked his mouth, “Is that so, presumably it’s also just human nature. If this matter’s impact towards him isn’t that big, then it can only mean that his wife and daughter’s position in his heart wasn’t that high. According to his usual style, he would’ve certainly weighed the pros and cons, and continued with his neutral position. And even towards consort mother, he perhaps would’ve just dropped the matter with ‘won’t bicker with women’ as an excuse.”
“This kind of possibility you speak of doesn’t necessarily not exist, but judging from his appearance, this possibility might be just a fraction of a fraction.”
Li Hong Ming nodded. The Head Cabinet Minister cared about his wife and daughter very much, and it can also be considered obvious to all. “Although, Ruan Fei Fang, along this trip, has been repeatedly targeted against, previously getting frightened to the point of nearly losing her soul, so last night’s matter afraid isn’t simple either. Speaking of which, her mental state wasn’t good to begin, so would she voluntarily go fool around with a man? No matter who, all won’t believe.”
“Since she’s unwilling to talk, then all the rumors and slanders, she can only bear herself. As for who is targeting her, who knows? According to Yuan’er’s previous attitude, his suspicion is rather the biggest, but he has always been outspoken, his likes and dislikes clearly displayed on the surface, disdaining this kind of method, also……………he doesn’t have that ability to do this.”
Words regarding Li Hong Yuan, Li Hong Ming directly ignored. “This kind of thing, even if one tells the truth, one probably can’t win any favors either. Everything else aside, just based on Imperial Uncle Zhong’s statement, he perhaps was just a ‘scapegoat’. Ruan Fang Fei ruined her beauty and lost her chastity, and Imperial Uncle Zhong doesn’t hold actual power, nor strived for anything, so Sir Ruan can’t hold him by the elbow either. Once Ruan Fang Fei enters Zhong Qinwang Manor, won’t she just be grasped in Imperial Uncle Zhong’s palm? And if she offends Imperial Uncle Zhong, the one to suffer will also just be her.”
“Saying it like this, for her to stubbornly keep her mouth shut, the reason perhaps isn’t that complicated either.”
Afterwards, they actually just idly chatted, no longer discussing this matter.
Meanwhile, the Grand Elder Princess was also idly chatting with Le Cheng Emperor, “…………Originally promised Zhong Qinwang to find for him another young and beautiful, gentle-tempered and virtuous, new wangfei. This Miss Ruan although has flaws, and not a completely good fit, but since she’s just a side consort, it’s also not too bad. Imperial brother should still keep an eye out for him.”
Le Cheng Emperor slightly lifted his brow, “Imperial younger sister seemingly had a pretty favorable impression towards this Ruan family girl in the past, how come this while…………”
“Imperial brother, someone that’s overly perfect, appearing very outstanding in all aspects, may not necessarily attract one’s fondness.”
Le Cheng Emperor nodded, indicating that he understood.
That’s why, as experienced people, even if unable to see anything wrong, it didn’t mean that they won’t sense something off, and didn’t mean that they won’t suspect.
The Grand Elder Princess perhaps indeed liked Ruan Fang Fei in the past, but only she herself knew how much of this fondness was genuine.
Ruan Fang Fei, when disguising herself, perhaps was able to deceive everyone, but for people that have come from the imperial palace, to want to deceive someone’s eyes, or mess around with someone, how simple of a task was that.
Under the circumstances of not having any entanglement, the Grand Elder Princess perhaps won’t mind giving that bit of like.
In the end, Ruan Fang Fei just disguised herself somewhat too excessively. There’s a saying called, ‘too far is as bad as not enough’. When one doesn’t pay attention, one probably won’t think anything of it, but once one noticed, one will just feel out of sorts. And for Ruan Rui Zhong and his wife, who were both cunning people, to not detect anything, can only say that those involved are easily muddled. Otherwise, Ruan Old Madam probably would have raised her in another manner.
T/N: Sorry for the slowish updates this week, I’ve actually been sick, although it’s just a normal cold, so don’t worry, I know it’s scary times to be sick right now, but I’ve mostly recovered. My medication was really strong so it’d make me really sleepy and I’d zone out during the day, and because of that I haven’t been able to get much done this week, but I’ll try my best to catch up today and tomorrow.
Updated from fr𝒆ewebnov𝒆l.(c)om