Chapter 57: Coincidentally Solving the Problem 3
Chapter 57: Coincidentally Solving the Problem 3
Liu’er’s face went pale. Her words just now practically showed that she had a guilty conscience. And in a moment of desperation, she’d confessed without being asked.
Liu’er wanted to explain, but Jing Wan didn’t give her the chance. She let someone draw water, then went to get some plum flower petals that were previously gathered from the Falling Plum Residence.
Liu’er hands were violently pressed into the water for a wash. The clear water became somewhat muddy. It can be seen just how much thick powder was applied on those hands previously. Seeing that pair of hands covered in light red spots, Jing Wan let out an ‘as expected’ look. She then let someone rub the plum flower petals on Liu’er’s arms, neck, and even face.
“Don’t, don’t….” Liu’er struggled with all her might, as if that flower petal was a venomous snake or ferocious beast, making her extremely afraid.
The others all looked to each other in dismay. Jing Wan still just observed with a cold look, and didn’t let out any other expression just because her prediction was correct.
Very soon, patches of rash appeared all over Liu’er’s body. Liu’er screamed out, “It hurts, it itches.” Probably because she was afraid of injuring that delicate and tender skin of hers, she didn’t dare to scratch. However, in the end, she wasn’t able to endure it. Once she started, she no longer cared about anything else. Streaks of bloody marks appeared, looking very terrifying.
“If you don’t stop her now, that face might really be ruined. When that time comes, you all won’t be able to sell it for a good price anymore.”
Jing Wan’s words made Liu’er’s family snap back to reality, quickly rushing forward to hold down Liu’er.
Since it has come to this point, who still didn’t understand that Liu’er can’t come in contact with plum flowers. Just think, if certain things can bring harm to oneself, then this kind of thing should rightfully be hated. Yet, towards that kind of thing, someone instead expresses their extreme fondness of it, regardless whether it was true fondness, or just pretending to like, there naturally must be a reason why.
“Sure didn’t expect that in our Luo family, it’s not just one that likes self torture.” Jing Wan casted a glance at Liu-shi and faintly spoke.
The former, Luo Jing Ying, that was mental self torture. And the latter, Liu’er, that was physical self torture. Actually Liu-shi should be counted among them as well. Not willing to live her days properly and insists on finding unhappy things for herself, afterwards dragging others to be unhappy together with her.
Liu-shi just happened to see Jing Wan’s seemingly meaningful glance. Her heart unconsciously jumped. She always felt that Jing Wan could see through her, and had this feeling of her blood running cold. However, thinking about it, it shouldn’t be likely. Even the old madam only knew some things on the surface about her. She’s just a little girl, no matter how capable, she was only just that. Liu-shi proceeded to press down the uneasiness in her heart.
Jing Wan didn’t need to continue to do anything afterwards either. Naturally there was the mama at Zhang-shi’s side to step in to take care of it.
Secretly coveting the male master, persecuting a yiniang, and framing the main wife, clearly vicious like a snake, yet dared to boast shamelessly, saying it was for the sake of the main wife, truly heartless. In order to have Zhang-shi removed from this matter, she naturally couldn’t give Liu’er the chance to refute. The mama one by one pointed out some little things from Liu’er’s everyday, such as liking to embroider plum flowers on the things she used, yet never plucked any, saying something like having it blooming on the branch, everyone can see it. Rather than being cheerful alone, it was better for everyone to be cheerful together. And it just so happens that these remarks were even coincidentally heard by second master. Also some hanging ornaments, words and conduct that didn’t seem important at first, but once the connections were made, the intention was abundantly clear. Liu’er simply had no way of refuting.
Zhang-shi’s mama, at first was only doing it for the sake of helping Zhang-shi, but the more she said, the more furious she got, because she wasn’t making any of it up. So it seems there were already signs from the start, yet she didn’t notice and even left such a vicious snake by madam’s side.
Zhang-shi didn’t dare to believe. To think that the final result of the matter was actually like this. She’d always believed that her treatment towards the people at her side, although couldn’t be considered magnanimous like the mountains, she could still at least pat her chest and guarantee not to treat them poorly. She had never asked for them to repay her, yet instead her kindness was repaid by betrayal. For a moment, she felt as if her heart had turned to ashes.
Decades of habit, her innate nature, wasn’t something that could be changed overnight. To really let Zhang-shi change into a qualified back manor madam, she won’t be herself anymore. Her happiness, and even her feelings with Luo Rong Yan from before, will all be wiped clean. Jing Wan sometimes wished that her mother could change, but in actuality, she’d never attempted to do anything about it. Even if sometimes she and Zhang-shi’s roles were switched, she didn’t mind either. She didn’t hope for Zhang-shi to do anything for her, and she didn’t need it either. Jing Wan’s inner thoughts were, ‘Just like this was fine, just let her forever maintain this nature. There’s always a way to protect her, and let her live safely and healthily for her whole life.’
Before, she hadn’t paid any attention to Zhang-shi, but at this time, she walked forward, “Mother, don’t think too much, it’s fine as along as you can look into your own heart and see a clear conscience.”
That weak and fragile heart of Zhang-shi’s was instantly comforted. Although she still felt sorrowful over Liu’er’s actions, she didn’t continue making a disheartened[1] expression anymore. Her daughter was right, she had a clear conscience. She wiped away the tears in her eyes, straightened her back, and returned to being a graceful and elegant madam.
Without a comparison, there was no clear distinction to draw on. Never mind that Zhang-shi doesn’t fulfill the duty of a mother, she was even cared for by her own daughter in all kinds of ways, so far as to shielding her from the winds and rains. Then thinking again to their own daughters, even Wang-shi’s already married daughter still needed Wang-shi’s all kinds of worrying, let alone Liu-shi, who had a daughter like Luo Jing Ying. Not only scheming and strategizing for her all day, she even needed to clean up after her mess from time to time. Just how much time could she actually spend on herself? There was further no hope for the other party to turn around and take care of her!
Just why does Zhang-shi have that good of a life?!
Even Wang-shi felt endlessly sour inside. Wu-shi also thought whether her own daughter in the future will also be this caring. And Liu-shi, on the surface, still didn’t bat an eyelid, but inside, she was already gnawed full of holes by that demon called jealousy. She didn’t know when she might thoroughly waste away, losing her mind, and do something even more crazy.
The matter can be said to be full of twists and turns, but the perpetrator was indeed Liu’er. This bit rather didn’t need to be doubted. For the matter to be settled just like that, naturally wasn’t possible. Jing Wan won’t allow it. She needed to use this opportunity to have Liu-shi’s spies thoroughly removed.
And for people like Luo Old Madam and Wang-shi, with this bit of ‘advice’ from Jing Wan, they naturally surmised that there’s most likely still another secret hidden within. After all, this kind of somewhat cunning little girl like Liu’er, in the end, still possessed a limited worldview. On normal days, she had always known her place and her little tricks were also very obscure. Otherwise, even if Zhang-shi didn’t notice, there was no reason for the people by her side to not know anything either. But for Liu’er to suddenly act vicious, perhaps someone had said something to her, or perhaps had promised her something.
Jing Wan looked to Luo Old Madam, and Luo Old Madam just happened to also look over. After seeing the other party slightly nod her head, Jing Wan immediately understood. This was grandmother wanting to help her get to the bottom of it. Jing Wan lightly nodded in response. Her grandmother’s protectiveness, she naturally was grateful for. After all, it was one thing for an unmarried noble daughter to spectate, but to completely interfere was a whole other matter.
Some families clearly need a capable daughter-in-law, but before acting as a matchmaker for their own family’s child, if they were to hear that the young lady was very impressive during the time in her boudoir, then they won’t like it either. It was really just as contradicting as such. Jing Wan was aware, although her own marriage was more or less settled, it was still best to not pass on an ‘impressive’ reputation. Jing Wan has always believed that she herself was a gentle young lady, that’s right, such is the case.
Although Liu’er was being pressed down, her face was already scratched up. Even though the wound wasn’t considered deep, but if not properly treated, it will leave a very ugly scar. Appearances to a woman was truly too important. Besides, Liu’er’s appearance belonged in the upper middle class, and she also possessed her own ambitions. One can imagine, just how much she cared about her own face. Having her face ruined was practically even more severe than taking her life.
After the initial suffering passed, Liu’er lost the will to live, just she wasn’t even able to end her own life. Then afterwards, when she looked to Jing Wan, deep resentment was carved in her eyes. She opened her mouth wanting to curse, but her family naturally won’t let her do as she pleased. They quickly went forward to cover her mouth. Since things have reached this point, this daughter of theirs didn’t have any worth anymore, but they can’t because of her, throw in their whole family’s lives.
Jing Wan turned a blind eye to her resentment. Some people were just like this, never looking at themselves for the cause. If it weren’t for her acting maliciously first, even if she had some thoughts that she shouldn’t have, who would’ve paid attention to her?
Jing Wan knew, never look down on someone with a low status. Regardless whether it was in the history of her previous world, or the history of this world, people who’ve fallen at the hands of small figure can be found everywhere. However, for someone like Liu’er, a household-born servant, who lived her whole life in the back manor, it’s not that Jing Wan viewed her lightly, just, even if by chance she doesn’t die after this matter, she still wouldn’t be able to raise any waves either.
Moreover, Jing Wan slightly lowered her head and restrained her eyes, her own grandmother was someone who didn’t leave any future troubles. Although she never did anything vicious in front of her, Jing Wan still understood this.
[1] The original phrase is an internet slang. Meaning along the lines of ‘no point of living anymore’. Below are some my fav pics I found googling this phrase: