Chapter 352.1: Should Go Put to an End
That’s why, our incomparably esteemed Jin Qinwang, in these servant girls’ eyes, in a certain sense, that was just a paper tiger, appearing ferocious, but in reality, didn’t have any might.
Even if the living Enma, one should still silently offer up a sympathetic drop of tear for him.
Jing Wan’s following days were for the most part like this……………
Following Li Hong Yuan from one fu to another fu, and after stopping over, rest for one night, and afterwards, start receiving those official madams. To put it bluntly, it was just starting to accept ‘gifts’. Because she’d accepted too many, towards the end, for many things, she didn’t even spare a glance, directly inventorying. And once she accumulated more or less enough, it was just nicely sealing up and sending back to the capital, directly presenting to Le Cheng Emperor. Of course, because Jiangnan’s matters still weren’t over with, to avoid beating the grass to scare the snake, causing certain people in the capital to collude with the ones in Jiangnan, reducing Jing Wan’s ‘income’, what they presented up was temporarily just the list, letting Le Cheng Emperor have an understanding inside, mull over which ones ultimately needed to be sorted out, and also know exactly how many things will fall into his pockets in the end.
———As for the gold and silver in the government treasury, Li Hong Yuan actually benevolently left behind a bit, while the rest all entered the capital to fill the state treasury.
This kind of situation at most just took two days. Afterwards, it was just sightseeing time. Of course, this was only the case if there were places worth visiting inside or outside of the city. If not, then once these two days passed, after accepting the gifts and taking care of the treasury, it was just dusting one’s hands and carefreely leaving. As for whether or not those that still haven’t sent a gift will because of this suffer a calamity, heheh, what did this have to do with Jing Wan. In any case, the one worrying won’t be her.
Whether or not one sent gifts, and whether or not one will be sorted out, actually didn’t have the slightest correlation at all. In contrast, if one were to send a lot, then the possibility of getting sorted out will only be greater.
But, the more nonchalant Jing Wan behaved, the more anxious certain people became. In fact, it increasingly floated onto the surface, to the extent that towards the end, on the second day of arriving, there were already people fighting to visit first, each gift more generous and more valuable than the last. Unbeknownst to them, after they leave, a certain someone’s complexion became increasingly cold.
Since his wife was unhappy, Li hong Yuan naturally needed to coax. And every time he coaxed, he would just record a stroke on certain people. This debt was becoming increasingly thick.
The true magnificent mountains and rivers actually weren’t located near the city usually. Once Bai Shao and Fu Xiao were able to freely move around, Li Hong Yuan unhesitantly began taking detours. The fu city and whatnot, all go to hell. Since they made his wife unhappy, then naturally it was just unhesitantly giving them mental pressure.
Jing Wan expressed, won’t this be not so good? And moreover, Bai Shao…………..
Li Hong Yuan stroked Jing Wan’s hair, “Wan Wan, towards you, I can limitlessly indulge, but this doesn’t mean that because of others, I will also have to continue enduring. Because of two mere servant girls, deliberately changing some of the itinerary, even holding up the time, because of you, this prince all won’t argue over. But now, the masters going out the play, yet still need to take into consideration whether or not the servants have completely recovered, is this appropriate? Also, don’t say something like Bai Shao only got schemed against because of me. As a servant, even if dying for the master, that is also natural and expected. You’re softhearted and kind, especially towards the people by your side, but just have a look, which family’s servant girl can be as carefree and happy as the ones by your side?
For the way of governing, there also needs to be a good grasp between relaxation and tension. Blindly being benevolent and kind will only make their hearts grow increasingly big. In fact, there are even those that are unable to see their own place clearly, even thinking that they can stand and sit as equals with their master. Right now, because of me, you are receiving monetary gifts in large amounts. Can you guarantee that they won’t have the slightest thoughts inside? Can you be certain that in the future, they won’t rely on your backing, even using your name, to wantonly rake in money outside? When that day comes, and I have these people by your side that you’ve poured too much feelings into all switched, it’s best if you don’t get angry with me.”
Jing Wan lifted her head, dazedly staring at him for a moment, and afterwards, reached out to hug him, having her face buried in his chest A moment later, she finally let out a stuffy voice, “Understood, the following itinerary, all listen to your arrangements.”
In the end, it was still because she’d lived in another completely different civilized society for more than twenty years. Her personality and character can be said to have been molded at that time. If she were to completely deny or forget, then she was actually just denying and forgetting herself.
(T/N: Jing Wan’s age from the modern world is never specified in the novel. It only mentions that she has graduated from college for about a year or two, so in her early twenties.)
That kind of exceptionally harsh and distinct notion of social class, no matter what, she was all unable to completely fit in with the current backdrop. Her close family aside, the people close to her side, if their moral conduct is bad, or do something wrong, she won’t show mercy. But, if they know their place, sparing no effort in serving her, then she will unavoidably be a bit more considerate towards them, looking after them more.
Human nature, this kind of thing, really was difficult to say. Just like for example, Bai Shao right now believes that as long as she serves Jing Wan well, wangye won’t do anything to them. Then, in the future, will she believe that even if she commits an offense, with wangfei shielding, wangye similarly won’t do anything to them? With small mistakes getting easily forgiven, the guts will just grow increasingly big, and will have the possibility of committing a great offense that might implicate Jin Qinwang. When time comes, even if wanting to remedy the situation, it would all be too late.
Don’t say something like, the servants committing an offense has nothing to do with the master. In reality, the servant’s mistake, the master further needed to shoulder the bill. How many people, precisely because of ‘not strict in governing’, have themselves thrown in.
The first-rank servant girls by her side, for her, were indeed important people, but in comparison, can they be more important than Li Hong Yuan? Can they be more important than her loved ones of the Luo family? Although in certain matters, there just exists one kind of possibility, and right now, there wasn’t the slightest signs, but precisely as the saying goes, ‘be on guard before it happens’.
After thinking through these, Jing Wan also knew what to do in the future. As for going out the play, and whether or not it will have any influence towards the Jiangnan officials, truthfully speaking, whether or not they were well really didn’t have anything to do with her at all. If they truly don’t have a guilty conscience, then they won’t, because of their ‘pressure’, just produce fear inside.
Li Hong Yuan lightly stroked Jing Wan’s back, “It’s also just saying, far from reaching that stage. Even if there really is such a say, there’s me for everything.”
Jing Wan carried a bit of clinginess that even she herself didn’t detect as she cuddled against Li Hong Yuan’s embrace.
Li Hong Yuan half-narrowed his eyes, expressing that he was very satisfied with this current outcome.
That’s why, don’t look at how he said it that high-sounding, in essence it was just overturning the vinegar jar. Because it wasn’t good to have the person taken care of, he could only use roundabout tactics. Those reasons he mentioned, in his eyes, simply weren’t anything serious. If someone really were to do such a thing, he naturally also had ways to have himself and have Wan Wan preserved. And if unable to, then it was just letting those that want to punish them and able to punish them shut up. And if they don’t shut up, then it was just thoroughly ‘shutting up’ forever.
Our living Enma, for the sake of letting our Enma consort only have him in her eyes and heart can be said to have gone through painstaking efforts, meticulously calculating.
Even on proper matters, one all didn’t see him put in this much effort.
On the surface, it was Jing Wan having Li Hong Yuan firmly grasped in her palm, but in reality?
If Li Hong Yuan had the intention, secretly having the people by Jing Wan’s side slowly disposed of cleanly, without even arousing Jing Wan’s suspicions, it really wasn’t something impossible.
His wife throwing herself into his arms, Li Hong Yuan naturally won’t be like Liu Xia Hui[1]. His hand that was lightly stroking Jing Wan’s back gradually just changed in taste, and the sensitive spots on Jing Wan’s body, she herself perhaps didn’t know, but Li Hong Yuan was very clear. For him to want to arouse Jing Wan, it was truly too easy.
Jing Wan naturally sensed Li Hong Yuan’s ‘restlessness’, but she didn’t resist. As for it being broad daylight right now, after hanging out with a certain someone for long, what did daytime count as? There were plenty of ways they messed around in. In the very beginning, one was originally just inexperienced and sensitive, but in these last few months, one gradually leveled up completely, even blossoming in Li Hong Yuan’s ‘hand’, to the extent that a certain someone grasped the degree very precisely, causing Jing Wan to basically be unable to refuse him, unless a special circumstance. Besides, a certain someone for the most part also won’t give her the chance to refuse. He was already unbearably hot and bothered to begin with, yet still enduring, waiting for his wife to make the move first, this kind of situation, should just leave for when there’s ample preparation.
[1] Liu Xia Hui – A historical figure that lived during the Spring and Autumn Period. His original name was Zhan Huo, and is known as the originator of the Zhan(展) and Liu(柳) surname. However, he has a very famous historical anecdote called ‘坐怀不乱’ (sitting in embrace and not falling into disorder), where he and a young girl hid into a worn down temple to avoid the rain. At night, the girl wakes up from the cold and curls into Liu Xia Hui’s embrace for warmth. And so, despite having a girl in his arms for the entire night, Liu Xia Hui didn’t have a single improper thought. There’s a few versions of this story, but roughly the same with just a few details different. Liu Xia Hui is pretty much historically known as a true gentleman that abided by the traditional values of virtue. Confucius referred to him as ‘the forgotten virtuous gentleman’, and Mencius honored him as the ‘harmonious sage’.
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