Chapter 277.2: Kaiming Fu, Various Wonders
After her excitement, Jing Wan became reserved again, beginning to idly chat with the living survey map, once again forgetting a certain someone’s ‘minefield’, “Living…….” She immediately paused, “Still don’t know sir’s esteemed surname.” If she really called out living survey map, then that would be rude.
“Wangfei is too polite, this lower official’s surname is Shi.” The living survey map hurriedly replied.
Jing Wan felt he seemingly was a bit nervous, “So it’s Sir Shi. Speaking of which, this time, because of me, wangye is ‘privately using a public tool’. Hopefully, we won’t be holding up Sir Shi’s official work.”
“Wangfei is too serious, to be able to exhausts one’s meager strength for wangfei, this lower official feels extremely honored.” These words weren’t false. In the entire party, the rest of the people were all determined by others, and only he alone was personally picked by Li Hong Yuan. Originally, he was indeed busy with the matters in hand, and also because ‘his body of knowledge’ had a place to utilize, he was preparing to fully display his capabilities, yet he suddenly needed to go on an ‘official trip’, so this mood wasn’t that wonderful. Just, unfortunately, he simply had no right to refuse, and could only sullenly follow along the journey. But, after learning that Jin Wangfei, this benefactor, was also present, this kind of feeling finally reduced a little.
And earlier, further because of learning that Jin Wangfei will be setting out, needing him to lead the way, that last bit of sullen feeling also thoroughly disappeared.
“Speaking of which, wangfei’s favor is like having been given a new lease on life, so one has long wanted to directly express one’s thanks to wangfei. Unfortunately, this one has never had the chance. And deeply fearing that one would be rude to wangfei, this one didn’t dare to visit the home. Having this opportunity truly is the fortune of three lifetimes. If there is anything wangfei wants to know, this lower official will certainly tell all that one knows.”
“Sir Shi rather doesn’t need to be like this. At the time, it was also nothing more than being present at the right time. My original intention was also just contributing bricks and tiles for the Qi Yuan dynasty, just hoping for Qi Yuan to be glorious and flourishing. If not you, it will also be someone else. That’s why, Sir Shi really doesn’t need to mind.” Regardless of what the pretext was, as long as it touched upon the word ‘feelings’, towards unrelated people, Jing Wan didn’t want this ‘feeling’ to be too deep and heavy. She couldn’t afford to shoulder.
(T/N: This is very important for context, but the chinese word ‘情’ meaning feelings or emotions is a very flexible word depending on the characters it’s paired with, for example it can mean friendship, romantic love, familial love, etc. So this word on its own is sort of just used to signify that there’s a relationship or ‘bond’ between two things, like a connection in a way.)
“For wangfei, it may be nothing, but for this lower official as well as one’s family, it’s all very extraordinary. To tell wangfei the truth, this lower official, for the sake of one’s fondness, did’t return home for several years. This one wasn’t a good son, wasn’t a good husband, and wasn’t a good father. In the beginning few years, this one finally realized one’s error and repented, but this lower official, aside from memorizing the mountains and rivers of Qi Yuan, didn’t have anything else, and didn’t know how to do anything at all. This one wanted to learn a bit of something, yet was a useless one, all unable to learn no matter what. Never mind the family being disappointed, the clan being disappointed, and further don’t need to mention taking a career in officialdom, practically everyone’s gaze towards this lower official was just like looking at a useless trash. This lower official for a time was depressed, abandoning oneself to despair. If not for wangfei’s people visiting, exhausting all efforts, that embroidered pouch, no matter what, all won’t be able to fall into this lower official’s hand, so how can one be able to enter the Ministry of War.
This lower official getting put onto an important position, one’s parents are gratified, one’s wife is delighted, and this lower official can further confidently tell one’s child about the magnificent mountains and rivers of Qi Yuan. There will no longer be anyone that think those are useless things, and will only say ‘really incredible’. And my child’s gaze towards me also carry admiration. At the same time, my family’s position in the clan has also risen with the tides. The things that even myself has denied, it was wangfei that first acknowledged, and further regarded this as a way to walk onto a completely different life. Such favor, how can one forget? Not just this lower official, one’s entire family all hope to be able to kowtow to wangfei directly and voice our gratitude. After all, wangfei was already honorable when in the boudoir, and now, further so. Aside from thanking, we’re truly unable to return the favor.”
The living survey map spoke very sincerely and emotionally. Jing Wan lightly sighed, also not knowing what to say.
In reality, regarding this one’s situation, Jing Wan knew a little. At the time, for the sake of more reasonably make use of those embroidered pouches, these things naturally needed to be understood clearly. Just, she’d only heard from Gong mama, and all just the overall situation. Looking at it now, at the time, merely letting the embroidered pouch change owners all wasn’t that easy of a task. Then again, for a chance to appear before his Majesty, and the possible benefits, it wasn’t that easy to be able to yield. That’s why, the person Gong mama sent to go persuade, that was also a talented person.
Li Hong Yuan lightly pinched Jing Wan, and then opened his mouth, “Whatever wangfei says is whatever it is. The rest, all don’t need to say anymore. For this trip to Jiangnan, if you can let wangfei happily play around, this prince will regard that as a great merit for you.” Li Hong Yuan no longer hid his goal in the slightest.
Nearby, Yu Zhong Qing and Li Su Yan had their heads lowered, holding the handle of the blade on their waist, standing perfectly straight, just like a wooden pillar, like as if they didn’t hear anything at all.
“This lower official will certainly give one’s all.”
For the sake of playing to one’s heart content, Jing Wan firmly demanded light clothing and simple travel. If still that grandiose bunch of people, as soon as others see, they’ll just know they’re not ordinary. Even if they don’t clear the area, it would still be equal to clearing the area, and it won’t have that kind of atmosphere anymore. Of course, Jing Wan also knew their status was special, so it was impossible to really be the same as ordinary commoners. Her request was also just letting them look like a wealthy family’s young master taking his wife out on an outing. The bodyguards in the dark definitely can’t be missing. She was very clear, this trip to Jiangnan, her husband blocked many people’s paths. If he really were to be ‘strictly impartial and incorruptible’, many people will suffer a calamity. Who can guarantee that these people won’t take a risk out of desperation. Compared to Li Hong Yuan’s life, being able to play around wasn’t important at all.
Something that Jing Wan can think of, Li Hong Yuan naturally can also think of. And further because he had Jing Wan by his side, he naturally needed for everything to be absolutely safe. Moreover, towards Jing Wan’s sightseeing, it can’t have the slightest influence, having everything arranged very thoroughly. No matter how relaxed on the surface, one still can’t deny those things he did in the dark.
Letting someone take care of the people keeping watch around the villa, the party went out from the back door.
It goes without saying, if one were to let those officials find out, not long after going out, they’ll be able to act out play after play of ‘random encounters’, and the sightseeing will have to be given up on.
Not only did they prepared a horse carriage, but they also prepared horses, though not because of worrying that Jing Wan will feel unwell sitting in the horse carriage for too long. When it comes to sightseeing, they naturally won’t be staying in the horse carriage for long. Rather, for some places, traveling on horseback was more fun.
At this time, the horse carriage as well as the servants all followed behind the two walking hand in hand, and the guards to the two sides slightly opened up a path for them.
That living survey map, Sir Shi, resided two steps away from Jing Wan’s left and right side, explaining to Jing Wan the distinguishing features of Kaiming Fu’s culture and history. As Jing Wan walked along, her attention practically all got drawn over. The living Enma expressed he was unhappy, but he had to admit, the living survey map was indeed impressive in this aspect. To call him a living survey map was actually all ‘wronging’ him. Even Li Hong Yuan himself all got drawn over, so he also just suppressed that bit of unhappiness, multitasking as he listened on one hand, and on the other hand, led the way for his wife that was too enthralled, to prevent her from walking the wrong way.
Speaking of which, the food was also a component of a region. Sir Shi just specially introduced two kinds for Jing Wan. Other places perhaps had it too, but it definitely wasn’t as delicious as Kaiming Fu’s. Jing Wan got her cravings aroused. This bit of thing, since she wanted to eat, naturally it was just buy, buy, buy.
Jing Wan let someone buy some more so that everyone can all have a taste.
At the nearby teahouse, they rested their feet for while. Just, when the person buying the things returned, they could only buy one kind. The other kind, the amount every day was limited, saying that they’d already sold out. Rather, they can use their status to pressure the other party, letting them immediately make, but setting aside the fact that wangfei won’t allow it, it will also expose their tracks. “…………..This subordinate was incompetent.” Having not taken care of the matter well, the guard begged for forgiveness.
“Nothing to do with you.” Jing Wan took matters into her own hands, letting him withdraw.
The guard didn’t even check Li Hong Yuan’s reaction, just retreating to another table.
Jing Wan let someone have the majority divided down. This was just her habit, but in other people’s eyes, it was a bestowment. And for those experiencing for the first time, they even felt somewhat overwhelmed by the sudden favor.
This wasn’t her first time coming across such matter. And in the very beginning, Jing Wan was still a bit helpless, but as the number of times increased, she also got used to it, just waving her hand.
Jing Wan took a bite. It was very delicious, and moreover, also relatively unique. “Don’t know what that Kaiming Crisp taste like, really a pity, can only try some other time.”
“Speaking of which, for them to sell out this quickly, it’s actually somewhat unexpected. After all, comparatively speaking, Kaiming Crisp’s price isn’t considered cheap. Ordinary commoners very rarely can afford to eat it. The time right now is also still early. If not having gotten bought out by a certain wealthy family, it shouldn’t have sold out this quickly.” Sir Shi followed up.
“Is that so? Then it can’t be helped. However, we won’t just be staying in Kaiming Fu for a day, so waiting another day isn’t a problem either.”
“This prince’s wangfei, for what reason, be this wronged? Later, let someone go to the villa to make it.”
Never mind the people serving Jing Wan, even Sir Shi, Yu Zhong Qing, Li Su Yan and them all believed this to be natural and expected. Indeed, an esteemed qin-wangfei, eating a bit of your thing, that is an enormous honor. To actually want her to wait another day, what reason is this? For Jin Wangfei to not want to make things difficult for them, that’s because she’s benevolent.
Jing Wan wanted to say something but thinking about, it was better to give up. This was a problem of ideology, something brought about by the societal background, not something that can be explained clearly in a few words. Moreover, if she says too much, others probably won’t feel she’s quite right, but rather feel she’s ‘rebelling against orthodoxy’, associating with the commoners, losing her dignity, being reduced to a weirdo.
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