Chapter 51: Ruthlessly Being Harsh

The people serving by Jing Wan’s side all had somewhat ugly expressions. Rather, it was Jing Wan that was unaffected, “I have a guest here, if she has something, let her come again some time later.” Her tone was indifferent, but she wasn’t polite in the slightest.

“But…” The little servant girl still wanted to say something.

“What, third big sister’s guest is so noble that this younger sister can’t meet her?” Luo Jing Ying wore an entirely white attire, even appearing somewhat elegant. She gracefully walked over with a gentle smile on her face.

Jing Wan saw the multiple people following behind her. Amongst them there was even the old servant woman that watched over her courtyard gates. The old servant woman, at the moment, had a slightly angered expression, and her clothes and hair were even somewhat messy. Jing Wan didn’t even need to think to know that she had tried to stop Luo Jing Ying from entering, but Luo Jing Ying forcibly entered with her people.

Anyone could tell that there was something wrong with her words. Although Sun Yi Jia was the Ding Duke Manor’s only di daughter, she still had a bunch of shu born sisters at home, and not to mention even more tang sisters. Despite having the most respectable status, she still couldn’t stand those who constantly tried to win her favor. Because of this, her relationship with them were about the same as with strangers. Although she rarely got involved in these matters, she was still aware of how tiresome they were. However, since the matter was little sister Wan’s family affairs, she just sat to the side, remaining silent. Her face once again returned to her usual cold aloofness.

“It’s not that you can’t meet, but rather I don’t want you to meet, that’s all.”

Luo Jing Ying’s smiling face stiffened. She didn’t expect that in front of an outsider, Luo Jing Wan was still this blunt. “Third big sister, these words really hurts this younger sister’s heart.”

“If your heart is injured, then go find a doctor to prescribe some medicine. My place doesn’t have a doctor.”

Sun Yi Jia nearly laughed out loud, but she quickly used her handkerchief to cover her mouth. So even someone as good-tempered as little sister Wan also has times where she’s sharp tongued.

Luo Jing Ying repeatedly warned herself that she needed to say calm, and her mother’s words also echoed again and again in her head. But her mother simply didn’t know, Luo Jing Wan was precisely someone who didn’t play according to convention. You want to maintain ‘peaceful relations’ with her, but she never cooperates. Words that others won’t say because of misgivings, she completely wasn’t concerned with. Often times, she would just directly stab at your heart. No matter how good tempered a person was, they would still all be angered by her, let alone someone like her(Luo Jing Ying) who wasn’t a good-tempered person.

“Third sister don’t get angry, this younger sister just admires Miss Sun’s learning and talents, yet all along had no fate in becoming friends with Miss Sun. Today I learned that Miss Sun came to the manor to find third big sister, and momentarily, couldn’t suppress my yearning heart. And that’s why I shamelessly came over.” When she turned to look towards Sun Yi Jia, her eyes were somewhat passionate, greeting her in an upright manner.

Sun Yi Jia nodded her head, “Miss Luo praises wrongly, that bit of talent of mine is nothing, merely just messing around. Rather, Miss Luo’s poetry is clever and graceful, excellently written.” This is why, even if she was cold and aloof, one shouldn’t underestimate her abilities in dealing with people. In the capital’s social circles, the noble daughters that far didn’t reach her level, even if she’d only occasionally met them once or twice, she was still able to remember them and know this person’s talents in certain aspects.

And sure enough, Luo Jing Ying exposed a pleasantly surprised expression, “Miss Sun has also seen my poetry before?” Even if she tried to slightly put away her surprise and modestly smile, she still couldn’t cover up that pleased look in her eyes. “I’m only proficient in the aspect of poetry, I can’t possibly compare to Miss Sun, who’s mastered the four arts^[1]. However, speaking of which, third sister isn’t lacking in these areas either. After all, grandmother dotes on third sister the most. These past few years in Qi’an Fu, she must have hired great masters to come teach third sister. With third sister being on such good terms with Miss Sun, if you two were to collaborate some time, perhaps it will be a beautiful tale.”

“Oh, then I’ll really have to let you down. It’s not like fourth sister doesn’t know that big sister, I, is just a common person. I don’t even recognize that many big words, so naturally I’m unable to play with those elegant things.”

This was exactly the reason why Luo Jing Ying always wished she could rip her mouth off. Clearly it was such embarrassing words, yet she was always able to say it without the least bit of concern, indifferently and calmly. It originally should’ve been her that needed to be too ashamed to show her face, but coming from her mouth, it sounds like these things clearly were just trivial matters. It’s not that she couldn’t, she was just unwilling to learn.

“There’s no need for third sister to be modest like this.”

“In front of fourth sister, this big sister has never known how to write the word modest.”

Jing Wan wasn’t a harsh person, but when she was harsh, she was practically ruthless. Regardless of how skillful or smooth you were, she was still able to effortlessly let you choke on your words and be unable to say anything. However, up till now, she has only ever been harsh towards Luo Jing Ying alone.

“This younger sister just wanted to get closer with third sister, why must third sister be hurtful like this every time.” Luo Jing Ying lightly bit her lips, making a pitiful look. Her words and actions all relaying how vile Jing Wan is.

“Our birthdate characters don’t match. It has been like that since childhood, you should have long been used to it by now. Clearly knowing that you’ll get bullied by me every time, yet still don’t know to keep away, running to me every few days. Those who knew, naturally all understand that fourth sister is good all around, and instead it’s this older sister that’s mannerless, acting unacceptable, and arrogant. And those who didn’t know would only think fourth sister is lacking something in your bones, feeling uncomfortable all over if you don’t get bullied by me.”

Luo Jing Ying’s face was deathly pale, not at all surprising, but even so, she still didn’t leave. From Sun Yi Jia’s perspective, this was practically a perfect testament to Jing Wan’s words. Sun Yi Jia’s gaze towards Luo Jing Ying even carried the tint of looking at something unusual, seemingly saying, ‘So there’s even this kind of person in the world?!’ However, when she looked to Jing Wan, she unwittingly ended up carrying a trace of respect in her eyes. So it turns out, towards people you don’t like, you can even be like this. En, next time take it back home to try it out.

Jing Wan was somewhat dumbfounded. She seemed to have unintentionally taught a perfect noble daughter something bad.

The most uncomfortable was still Luo Jing Ying. Clearly it was all Luo Jing Wan’s fault, yet Sun Yi Jia didn’t see her vileness, and even treated her words as the truth. As expected, what cold and aloof beauty, what flower of the high peaks, it’s also nothing more than a facade. Inside, she was actually the same as that whore, Luo Jing Wan, skillfully putting on an act to deceive everyone. Should really let the world see what rotten personalities they both had. Luo Jing Ying subconsciously marked a grudged against Sun Yi Jia as well. There will be a day, where she will let these high and mighty noble ladies all kneel under her feet.

Luo Jing Ying knew, if she continued saying anymore, the one getting humiliated will only be herself, so she chose to shut her mouth. Jing Wan and Sun Yi Jia also no longer bothered with her. If she was not willing to leave, then they’ll just pretend she’s not there. Because Sun Yi Jia was inconvenienced, they just quietly talked.

“Miss, not good, Bai Yiniang had a miscarriage and is noisily shouting it was Madam that harmed her. Madam wants you to go over…..” A sudden incoming voice shattered this tranquility.

Even Sun Yi Jia, at the moment, felt somewhat awkward. This kind of scandalous matter noisily brought in front of a young lady like this, and even let the young lady go look, how was this appropriate? What rules could even still be said? Further making someone suspect if this family’s entire rear court was all like this? If this got out, who would still dare to let their own daughters become friends with this family’s daughters. What if their own family’s daughters were led astray?

Moreover, this old servant woman didn’t come in from the outside, but from the Elegant Haitang Residence’s side gate. Generally speaking, with this kind of layout, everyone all knew that the other side was definitely connected to the courtyard of someone intimate. Just who, it goes without saying. And this old servant woman’s words were a very resounding slap to the face.

Luo Jing Ying covered her mouth, unusually shocked. Then looking again to Sun Yi Jia, she put on a ‘too ashamed to show her face’ look, as if letting her hear this matter had dirtied her ears, “Miss Sun, really sorry, didn’t think that……”

Jing Wan swept a glance over, clearly still indifferent, yet Luo Jing Ying felt somewhat alarmed and fearful, and unconsciously shut her mouth. Even the exhilarating feeling inside from rejoicing at another’s misfortune, as well as from seeing Jing Wan lose face, all quickly plummeted.

“My mother usually doesn’t bother with anything, so she probably doesn’t even know that her own courtyard has someone this ignorant of the rules. Mama, take this old servant woman down, and properly teach her the rules.” Jing Wan’s voice dully sounded.

That old servant woman immediately cried out. From the moment she appeared and started brainlessly shouting out those words, Gong mama was already prepared. Two rough labor old servant women immediately went forward, covered her mouth, and dragged her down. Gong mama also followed after them.

Jing Wan then looked towards Luo Jing Ying again, “Since you’ve already achieved your purpose here, you can get lost now.”

“What is third sister saying, I was just because of Miss Sun…..”

“Luo Jing Ying, whenever you’re able to deceive yourself with your own lies, you can then come and deceive me. Third aunt taught you for this many years, but it’s a shame you still don’t get her teachings. She’s probably very disappointed with you right? Does she know that you’ve come to my place? If she knows, then I’ve overestimated her. But if she doesn’t know, then when you go back, you’ll probably get punished by kneeling.” Jing Wan said, neither lightly nor severely.

[1] Four Arts – Qin, Go, calligraphy, and painting