Chapter 109.4: Street Parade, This Kind of Jing Wan
Chapter 109.4: Street Parade, This Kind of Jing Wan
After using the afternoon meal, Jing Wan dressed up and headed towards the main courtyard. Afterwards, she saw for the first time Luo Old Madam in the formal attire of a high ranking madam. Have to say, that feeling was still somewhat different from the usual Luo Old Madam. Even if she still had that same bearing as before, it still made her feel quite dignified and imposing.
Luo Old Madam had Jing Wan scanned head to toe, nodding in satisfaction, “Gong mama is an attentive and thoughtful one.”
“Old madam overpraises, it’s all what this servant is suppose do.”
Because the palace can’t be compared to other places, Jing Wan only brought along Gong mama alone, while Luo Old Madam also just brought along a steady servant girl.
This was Jing Wan’s first time coming to such a place like the imperial palace. Rather it wasn’t too big of a difference from those ancient ruins that she’d seen in her past life, carved rails and painted buildings, jade and gold in a glorious splendor. However, probably because those in her past life were just provided for people to tour around in, it always lacked that sense of human inhabitancy. Have to say, the most prominent trait of the imperial palace was probably its strict rules and tight security.
Outside the palace gates, one had to climb down from the horse carriage, and then walk step by step on foot, in order to show respect towards the imperial family.
But in a place this big, the youngsters perhaps were still okay, but for the elderly, having to walk the whole way to the inner palace really was somewhat enduring. What was fortunate was that it was already spring, so it wasn’t as chilly as the winters, and wasn’t as intense at the scorching summers, else it would only make one angry even more.
The imperial family only caring for their own prestige and completely disregarding human warmth, this bit, really made one unable to like.
Jing Wan’s health was great, so going faster or slower naturally were all without a problem, but Luo Old Madam wasn’t the same. In the beginning, she could still manage to keep up, but afterwards, she became increasingly slower. These last few years, for the sake for Luo Old Madam’s health, Jing Wan didn’t spare any less efforts. She can’t, for the sake of not letting those so called noble personages wait long, just disregard Luo Old Madam’s body. Thus, when Luo Old Madam wanted to increase her speed, Jing Wan instead deliberately slowed her down.
“Wan Wan……” Luo Old Madam was also at her wit’s end with this temper of Jing Wan’s. Once something concerns her body, this granddaughter of hers will just be like a stubborn mule. No matter who says what, it was all useless.
That leisurely pace was comparable to the casual strolls after meals to help with digestion. In fact, it was even more relaxed than that.
The guiding inner court attendant couldn’t help but began urging, “Faster, the noble personages………”
Jing Wan’s expression darkened, “Don’t you see that my grandmother is elderly in her years and can’t walk faster, if by chance she exhausts herself, will you be able to bear the responsibility? Or could it be that since you’ve become castrated, you’ve even forgotten your ancestors and don’t know filial piety anymore? Even if you don’t know, the words of ‘deeply respecting the elderly’ established by our founding Great Ancestor[1], are they also just empty words? The noble personages, so what if the noble personages wait a little? If they can’t wait, then they should’ve long prepared sedan chairs. Could it be that when their own mothers and grandmothers enter the palace, they also need to use their own two leg, and even rushed in a hurry?” Jing Wan got angrier the more she spoke, what all is this?
That inner court attendant’s face instantly darkened. Jing Wan’s words were indeed malicious, even pinning you a label of belittling the Great Ancestor. “You……”
“Wan Wan………” Luo Old Madam also got anxious. These words were truly blasphemous, why did she have to lose her propriety at such a time?
“You what? Looking down on the noble personages? Disrespecting the imperial family? Is twenty beatings with the rod enough? If not enough, just add twenty more.”
Jing Wan didn’t have a temper? Sorry, once that temper comes up, not even nine bulls can pull it back. Although there were only those few people nearby, but in places a littler farther away, there were palace maids coming and going, as well as imperial guards. Jing Wan didn’t deliberately lower her voice either, so each and every one seemingly all heard it. Tsk, which family’s young miss is this, aren’t her guts a little too big?
Jing Wan’s expression was pitch black. That inner court attendant also knew, this was having encountered a stubborn person, how can this be good? Give in? But for better or worse, he was still someone with a bit of status in Kunyi Palace. If he were to give in this time, then next time wouldn’t everyone all step on him? Moreover, regarding this sedan chair, if the above doesn’t order it, who would dare to casually use?
Luo Old Madam saw Jing Wan’s unyielding look, and faintly sighed, not saying anything. In the end, this granddaughter was being considerate of her after all.
Momentarily, the situation fell into deadlock.
“What happened here?” A man’s voice sounded from behind.
Jing Wan turned and looked over. Four ‘great lords’ came down from their sedan chairs. Just great, this was practically fanning the flames. “A bunch of abled grown men rather doesn’t know how to walk anymore, needing someone to carry them!”
The four lords, or rather, four wangyes, no matter how slow, could still tell that Jing Wan was furious right now. And Li Hong Ming, who’d spoken just now, further faced Jing Wan’s anger directly. Truthfully speaking, from birth until now, aside from Le Cheng Emperor and Noble Consort Su, there hadn’t been anyone that has lashed out at him before. Those that dared to lash out at him won’t lash out easily, and the rest, naturally no need to mention. In his eyes, a streak of anger flashed by. However, he still smiled in good temper. “What matter has anger Luo third miss like this?”
“Is third imperial brother blind and didn’t see, or deaf and didn’t hear?” That pleasant sounding voice of Li Hong Yuan’s sounded, but sorry, Jing Wan completely wasn’t in the mood right now. “Which palace’s inner court attendant are you, not preparing a sedan chair to welcome Luo Old Madam into the palace?”
The inner court attendant who was still glaring at Jing Wan earlier instantly became a limp shrimp, kneeling to the ground with a thud, “Re-replying to wangye, this servant, this servant is from Kunyi Palace.”
“Oh? Someone from the Empress’s palace.” Li Hong Yuan although just faintly repeated this one line, but everyone all understood the meaning in his words.
Li Hong Ming temporarily forgot Jing Wan’s ‘great disrespect’, while Li Hong Yi’s expression was exceedingly unsightly. He doesn’t believe that his imperial mother would make this kind of mistake. Walking forward in a few steps, he shot his foot over, “Lowly servant, really is quite daring, to dare casually slander the Empress. Speak, which palace are you really from?”
“Wangye have mercy, wangye have mercy, this servant, this servant really is from Kunyi Palace, really.”
“Eldest brother, don’t get angry first. Whether or not he’s someone from the Empress’s palace, in a moment, we’ll know once we ask. Rather, for now, quickly call someone to carry over a sedan chair.” Li Hong Ming turned towards Luo Old Madam and performed his etiquette, “To have let old madam suffered.”
“Wangye is too polite, this subject has not suffered.”
Li Hong Ming smiled and looked to Jing Wan, “Luo third miss’s expression doesn’t say this.”
Jing Wan gave a blank expression, “This subject isn’t grandmother, so naturally doesn’t know whether or not grandmother has suffered. However, having walked for this long, this subject rather feels sore in the legs. Grandmother is elderly but vigorous, so her body’s probably even better than this subject, that’s probably why she doesn’t feel tired. After all, nowadays, the elderly still frequently move around and exercise. On the contrary, we youngsters have all become soft in the bones, feeling tired to death after walking a few steps.”
Li Hong Ming was choked quite severely. Being openly insulted by Li Hong Yuan, that bastard, he can still pretend to not hear, but now getting indirectly scolded by a little girl, he also had to endure. “It’s all the palace attendant’s carelessness in handling matters, letting miss go through hardship. This prince will definitely properly punish them, and enforce palace rules.”
Using the person from the Kunyi Palace as a scapegoat to pretend to be a good person, what a thing! Jing Wan coldly laughed inside, her expression still stiff.
Li Hong Yuan inwardly laughed. Wan Wan really was increasingly charming. That angry little look really was just like an enraged kitten, swiping her little claws, making one’s heart itch. This mouth’s ability to mock others truly was very much a match with this prince’s. However, there will be a day, where she’ll be able to curse at anyone she wanted, pointing at the other party’s nose and having them scolded until they were drenched in dog’s blood, and the other party won’t dare say a single word. And moreover, she won’t need to speak in a roundabout way either. “The matters in the palace naturally have the Empress, and consort mother and the others, taking care of it. At present, there aren’t any court officials, so third imperial brother doesn’t need to put on an act either. You may not find it tiring, but this prince feels tired from watching.”
“Old six……..”
[1] Great Ancestor – Posthumous title for the founder of a dynasty
T/N: I always love LHY’s smooth and subtle ways at shifting the situation, with that one line he shifted the attention away from JW and pitted his two brothers against each other again since he knows the two will jump at any opportunity to drag the other down, while all still seeming completely nonchalant.