Chapter 118: Accompanying, Visiting
T/N: This chapter is too short to divide but kinda long as a whole ;;;v;;;)
Regardless of how things are on Luo Jing Ying’s side, over on the bridal chamber side, it was unusually lively. Sun Yi Jia’s veil has already been lifted, and this while, was currently being ‘teased’ by a bunch of people. However, because Luo Old Madam was present, even if they saw the scar on Sun Yi Jia’s face, at most, just muttered a few words in their heart, not daring to say anything out loud. After all, they didn’t have the same backbone as those people from the Ding Duke Manor as well as the Sun clan. If their mouths were to slip, they would offend Luo Old Madam. This definitely wouldn’t be a wise thing.
As the bride, she only needed to lower her head and act bashful. No matter what others say, all don’t need to pay attention to, just having their words treated as the wind by one’s ear, thus it wasn’t anything unbearable.
Luo Jing Bo had already been dragged out, and the people bothering Sun Yi Jia also gradually lost their interest.
When the crowd scattered, Sun Yi Jia somewhat relaxed, using her hand to touch her own face, still feeling a little dim. When she was still at the Ding Duke Manor, no matter how unpleasantly others spoke, she still wouldn’t furrow a single brow, yet she cared about others talking about Luo Jing Bo because of her. That was the man she admired, the one that has already become her husband.
The people at Sun Yi Jia’s side also knew her sore spot, and seeing her movement, they all didn’t say anything, fearing that the more they say, the more upset she would be inside. Today was a day of jubilation, one mustn’t do anything that one shouldn’t do.
“Elder sister-in-law.” A soft voice pulled Sun Yi Jia back to her senses.
Sun Yi Jia saw Jing Wan walk in with a heartwarming smile, and couldn’t help but let out a smile too, “Little sister Wan.” After becoming Jing Wan’s sister-in-law, this address seemingly felt even more intimate.
Ever since Sun Yi Jia and Luo Jing Bo’s marriage was determined, Jing Wan has already ‘teased’ her not just once. This while, she naturally won’t tease again. In addition, Sun Yi Jia’s skin has also ‘thickened’ since.
Jing Wan moved a little stool over, sitting by Sun Yi Jia’s side. She looked to Sun Yi Jia and suddenly sighed.
“What’s wrong?” Sun Yi Jia was a bit perplexed by her.
Jing Wan shook her head, “Just feel this thing called fate really is miraculous.”
Sun Yi Jia deeply shared the sentiment. It was indeed very miraculous. She always felt, the ten some years of her life until now actually weren’t nearly as exciting and wonderful, as well as unrestrained and turbulent, as the days she spent after meeting Jing Wan. Yet, this ultimate ending was also this unpredictable, and at the same time, also so beautiful that she once didn’t even dare think about. “Turns out, little sister Wan is still my benefactor.” She always felt, if not for Jing Wan, then there wouldn’t be the her today.
“Naturally so.” Jing Wan shamelessly agreed.
“Third miss have some tea.” A soft and sweet voice suddenly sounded to the side.
Jing Wan turned her head. It was a very beautiful servant girl, especially that pair of eyes, naturally born containing passion, like it would hook the soul. Jing Wan had never seen her before, and since she wasn’t someone that came with the dowry yesterday either, then she must be one of the four first-ranked servant girls that came with the marriage sedan today. Jing Wan swept a glance around the room again. As expected, there was another unfamiliar face. In that moment, Jing Wan understood why two of Sun Yi Jia’s first-ranked servant girls were dismissed and replaced. The Ding Duchess really was putting in a lot of painstaking effort, preparing for her elder brother two tongfangs that were delicate as a flower and refined as precious jade.
Rather than letting him go fool around with the vixens outside, it was better for one to prepare in advance. With the slave contract[1] in hand, they won’t be able to cause any waves. ———-Sometimes, Jing Wan felt this kind of thinking really was very strange. In her eyes, there’s no need to urge a fickle man to stay. Having the people at one’s side given to him, compared to him looking for one outside, would distance the feelings even more, right?
(T/N: It’s a pretty common practice tbh, one of Jing Wan’s father’s concubine was also her mother’s servant girl previously, and her grandfather also had a concubine that was once her grandmother’s servant girl.)
“Put it down, I don’t want any.” Jing Wan indifferently spoke.
“Then does third miss want some dessert?”
“No need, you can withdraw, if there’s anything I need, I will say it myself.” For better or worse, she was still Sun Yi Jia’s first-ranked servant girl in name. Reprimanding her now would only sweep Sun Yi Jia’s face.
What this person was thinking, Jing Wan was very clear, nothing more than firmly believing that she will become her(JW) ‘sister-in-law’. Having Jing Wan won over, there would only be benefits and no harm. Just this brain, isn’t it a bit too ‘simple-minded’, not understanding the situation at all before rushing to court her favor? However, when the Ding Duchess was selecting, she probably just picked according to the standard of a flower vase, not needing them to have any skills or brains.
“Why don’t you all go outside and wait. If we need anything, we’ll call for you.” Sun Yi Jia plainly spoke. And when there was only she and Jing Wan left in the room, Sun Yi Jia finally smiled faintly, “It was I that didn’t discipline them well, letting little sister Wan see a joke.”
Jing Wan didn’t say anything, but she already had a plan inside.
Afterwards, Jing Wan just stayed with Sun Yi Jia, idly chatting about this and that the whole time.
Outside, the banquet feast started, and a small set of dishes were also sent into the bridal chamber.
Without a second word, Jing Wan directly had Sun Yi Jia pulled up to eat together.
Sun Yi Jia had the intention to refuse, and even Sun Yi Jia’s wet nurse, servant girls, and such all felt this was inappropriate, going against custom. As the bride, one needed to be mentally prepared to starve for an entire day. Moreover, from the moment one sat down on the bed, all the way until the groom returned again, and finish drinking the shared nuptial wine, during this period of time, all can’t leave the bed. Rather, it was Gong mama who had a ‘long used to seeing, not surprised at all’ look, and after Jing Wan sat down, she just began filling Jing Wan’s bowl. Speaking of which, on normal days, when eating in her own courtyard, Jing Wan would usually just eat alone. But right now, her actions were just for the sake of making clear her stance.
“Elder sister-in-law haven’t even eaten breakfast yet, aren’t you hungry right now? It’s still too soon before my third brother comes back. Quickly eat.” Jing Wan leaned in closer, “The customs are dead, people are the ones living. This was prepared by my third brother, so even he doesn’t mind. Moreover, we’re all one family, outsiders won’t know, could it be that someone would even go gossip?” Jing Wan’s words made everyone that wanted to say something all shut their mouths.
Towards Luo Jing Bo’s consideration, and Jing Wan’s understanding, Sun Yi Jia very much enjoyed.
Speaking of this banquet feast, that really was a ‘flowing banquet’[2], taking several hours. And if someone deliberately wanted to get the groom drunk, for the most part, there weren’t many that won’t collapse. Jing Wan felt, the possibility of her third brother not collapsing today was too small.
As expected, midway through, Luo Jing Bo just directly collapsed.
However, Luo Jing Bo still had a bit of awareness and didn’t let someone directly have him supported back to the bridal chamber, but rather, went to the next room.
Have to say, this action made Sun Yi Jia more or less a little heartbroken.
Jing Wan, however, understood her older brother’s intention, “Third brother probably doesn’t want to exhaust elder sister-in-law today. Moreover, if by chance he were to throw up, it would dirty the bridal chamber. The time is still early, let him stay there for a while to sober up.”
After consoling Sun Yi Jia, Jing Wan felt that since her third brother already returned, it wasn’t appropriate for her to continue staying.
As soon as Jing Wan stepped out, that servant girl from before who was serving Jing Wan tea and dessert, at the moment, was holding the wine sobering soup and standing in front of the room that Luo Jing Bo was currently resting in. However, she was blocked by Luo Jing Bo’s servant girl. One insisting on entering, and one firmly not yielding. Sun Yi Jia’s wet nurse’s complexion was ashen. The first night haven’t even passed, yet already wanting to cause trouble. Just because of Ding Duchess’s one line, ‘properly serve your miss and her husband’, you dare to ‘wave a chicken feather as a token of authority’? Yet of all days, it wasn’t convenient to lash out today.
Reasonably speaking, Jing Wan shouldn’t interfere, nor was it proper for her to. Unfortunately, she was someone who cannot tolerate a single grain of sand in her eyes. In the past, when encountering these kinds of annoying matters, it was inconvenient for her to meddle in, but now, she really is just gonna extend her hand into her elder brother’s backyard.
She directly went forward, “Give it to me.”
Luo Jing Bo’s servant girl hurriedly bowed in greeting and pushed opened the door, and afterwards, moved to the side. Rather, it was that other servant girl that was still hesitant, “Third miss, this kind of trivial thing........”
“Give it to me.” Jing Wan’s complexion turned cold, her voice becoming sterner.
That servant girl was frightened and quickly let go.
Jing Wan went in, seeing the ‘lifeless’ Luo Jing Bo laying on the recliner. From far away, she already caught whiff of the unpleasant alcohol smell. One can well imagine, just how much he was forced to drink. Jing Wan walked closer, “Third brother, third brother, wake up........”
Luo Jing Bo fuzzily heard a woman’s voice. His first reaction was recalling his own younger sister’s ‘teachings’, “Get lost——–” He subconsciously blurted out without second thought, and even followed up with a kick with his leg.
Jing Wan wasn’t too close, so naturally didn’t get kicked. She smiled. Her third brother previously wasn’t like this. This meant that her ‘teachings’ were very successful. “Third brother, it’s me, quickly wake up.” Jing Wan continued trying to wake up Luo Jing Bo.
Luo Jing Bo lifted his head and fixedly stared for a moment, before finally seeing clearly who it was, “Oh, little sis.”
“En, it’s me.” She went forward to help him up, “The sobering soup, quickly drink it.”
Luo Jing Bo drank from Jing Wan’s hands and gulped it clean. “Little sis, your sister-in-law.........”
“Don’t worry, I told sister-in-law already.”
“To have troubled you.”
“Not at all, quickly nap for a bit.”
“En.” Luo Jing Bo laid back down again.
Jing Wan went out and had the empty bowl handed to the servant girl, “Properly guard the door, no one is allowed to go in.” Afterwards, she said to Sun Yi Jia’s people, “If it gets late, and third brother still hasn’t come out, will just have to trouble mama to wake him up and send him back to the bridal chamber to sleep.”
“Third miss is too polite, serving young master and young madam is us servant’s duty to begin with.”
This move of Jing Wan’s was also just to make her stance and attitude known.
Since there was nothing left for her to do here, and Jing Wan didn’t plan on going to join the festivity either, she just directly returned to her Elegant Haitang Residence.
historical
However, as soon as she entered her courtyard gates, she noticed something wrong. Her wet nurse was somewhat fretfully waiting at the entrance.
“Wet nurse, what’s wrong?” Jing Wan rather puzzlingly asked.
“Miss, Jin Qinwang has been here for a long while now, seemingly not intending to leave anytime soon, and he didn’t let this servant go look for you either.”
Jing Wan lightly furrowed her brows. This great buddha, how come came to her place. “I’ll go have a look.”
Li Hong Yuan stood in front of that pot of purple wei, his expression gloomy, seemingly as if looking at his greatest enemy, wanting to have this peony chopped into pieces.
Jing Wan paused her step before finally going forward, “Greetings wangye.”
Li Hong Yuan turned around and saw her, with her upright posture and slightly hanging head. That smooth fair neck clearly reflected into his eyes just like that, and that scar, appearing even more jarring to the eyes. However, recalling that scar’s initial wound, Li Hong Yuan’s eye couldn’t help darkening again. “You may rise.”
Jing Wan straightened up, “Don’t know for what reason has wangye come to visit for?” Her voice somewhat cold. Today, there were many guests in the manor. If someone were to see, she won’t be able to come clean even if she jumped into the Yellow River.
Getting disdained by Wan Wan once again, Li Hong Yuan really wanted to nicely ‘sort her out’, “This prince has yet to see a single haitang in this courtyard of yours, so why is it called Elegant Haitang Residence?”
[1] Basically for servants, it’s the contract that states they have agreed to sell themselves into slavery. This is considered a legal document, and with this, you pretty much control your servant’s fate.
[2] A banquet where guests arrive at various times and are served food as they arrive
T/N: Today is TWBW 1 year anniversary, it actually doesn’t feel like it’s been that long. I’m glad that I’ve been able to continue translating this novel, and a lot of it is thanks to all the support I’ve received in this past year. Also thank you everyone who’s left me really nice supporting messages, it’s been a great motivation for me to continue. I even screenshot the nice reviews people left on NU and saved them to read whenever I’m down ;;v;;)
Although I’ve only reached 136 out of 657, less than 25% of the whole novel in chapters, counting the chapter parts, since they are all the same length as early full chapters, I’ve translated about 266 chapters this year just for TWBW. Hope next year is also a productive year.
I dusted off my tablet one last time before the end of the year to actually draw something proper this time, enjoy my chicken scratch. Also bonus chapter to celebrate this 1 year ani.