Chapter 178: Mountain Valley
Then, in his past life, where did that gold plaque go? Obviously, for Li Hong Yuan, this also could only become a mystery.
Of course, at the time, the Emperor was him, Li Hong Yuan. Even if that thing appeared, it still won’t have any effect. Those that needed to be killed, he will definitely kill, and the rest, completely just depended on his desire. If he wants to leave them, then they’ll be spared, if not, then no matter who pleas, it was all useless, let alone just a dead object. Don’t say he didn’t respect his ancestors. Using a person who’s been dead for don’t know how many years to suppress him, exactly how naive of a person would do something like this? But, in his past life, there really was such a person, bringing his ancestral laws over to tell him that he shouldn’t do this and that. And afterwards, what did he do? He didn’t do anything to the person that ‘offered advice’, seemingly just, whatever they didn’t let him do, he just specifically did, all the way until no one dared to rashly speak about this again.
Li Hong Yuan, he was precisely a tyrant that didn’t respect the ancestral teachings!
However, if this death pardoning gold plaque is in Wan Wan’s hands, then it’ll probably be a different story. If properly handled, it’ll become another hidden card in her hands. In the current state of affairs, a piece of death pardoning gold plaque that’s not being avidly wanted back by the ruler, even if there’s just one last chance remaining, it’s definitely still a fragrant steamed bun, letting others scramble after like ducks. And with him overseeing from behind, don’t even think about trying to forcibly snatch over. If one wants the gold plaque, how can one not pay the price with some blood? Just, at this moment, it far wasn’t the time to let others know whose hand the death pardoning gold plaque was in. Of course, at the same time, Li Hong Yuan also won’t let Jing Wan as well as the Luo family have the chance to use it. If even this bit can’t be achieved, then he can just go……….directly commit regicide and kill his father, overturning the imperial power. Doing that was satisfying but………….
Even if at the imperial summer residence, and enough officials were left behind in court to handle the majority of governmental affairs, the things Le Cheng Emperor needed to take care of were still a lot. Every day there was someone spurring the horse full speed to have some copied out memorandums sent over. Although compared to when at the capital, this was still less than half, but this half, for the most part, were all serious matters. Memorandums such as for paying respect to him and wishing him good health were very few. It can’t be helped, who let him not trust his son all that much———–even if that son didn’t have any power in hand. The so called supervising the country, majority of it, was just a type of symbolic meaning——-the power must be held in hand for one to be able to be at ease, and further can’t because one was away from the capital for two month just be cut off from matters of the world. However, while he himself was still struggling in hardship, towards the officials that came with, he was relatively lenient. When there wasn’t any significant matter to handle, they just needed to go in the afternoon for roll call, and perhaps promote their existence in front of Le Cheng Emperor. As such, during this period of time, the officials, majority of the time, were all very idle. Of course, because they were close to the imperial summer residence, when encountering urgent matters, they need to appear immediately.
Speaking of which, at the Chengde Imperial Residence, because the climate was pleasant, it caused many plants and flowers to also grow relatively well.
In the idle time, Luo Pei Shan also couldn’t help fiddling with plants and flowers again. Such an excellent opportunity, he naturally would pull Jing Wan along too. Although this kind of thing, when in the capital, also happened quite often, but in the end, the opportunity was relatively rare.
Thus, Jing Wan went out with Luo Pei Shan.
Towards the imperial summer residence, the courtyards built leaning along the imperial residence, as well as the area within a ten li radius, places where there were a variety of rare flowers, Luo Pei Shan all were very familiar with. Aside from those that were specially planted, the wild flowers were actually the main focus.
To the west of the imperial summer residence, a place roughly three to four li away, there was a strip of valley that wasn’t considered big, yet possessed a not all that grand spectacle, and because this place’s geographical location was extremely excellent, for a very long period of time, one was all able to see a waterfall reflecting the sunlight, appearing particularly fascinating. This kind of little waterfall perhaps can’t even be considered a waterfall, yet it made Jing Wan, who was standing below at the edge of the stone pond, gaze upon it for a long time. In the surrounding, various plants and flowers grew in clusters, not necessarily how exuberant, but not a single one wasn’t full of vitality. Including on the cliff, those few small pine trees all were striving to extend their branches, and because of the impact from the water vapor, as well as the caressing wind, it was just like a dancing fairy.
Beautiful!
“Wan Wan likes this place?” Luo Pei Shan, seeing her entranced, rather wasn’t in a hurry to call her to leave either.
“En, like, very much like.” Jing Wan nodded.
“If there are no mishaps, we’ll be here for two months. If you like, you can come over every day to look.”
Jing Wan was speechless. No matter how beautiful of a scenery, there was still no reason to come look at it every day.
Yet, Luo Pei Shan was like as if he didn’t see her expression, stroking his beard, as he spoke with deep feelings, “For beautiful sceneries, when the frame of mind is different, the feeling will certainly be different, and with different people accompanying at one’s side, the feeling will also be different. You can actually come every few days with different people accompanying each time, believe even if you see the same scene every day, it’ll still be a different kind of beauty. Definitely won’t get bored.”
Jing Wan was left speechless once again. Grandfather, you a great literary scholar turning into a philosophy master in seconds really isn’t necessary. “Then grandfather can bring grandmother here for a look. Change into one set of outfit today, then change into another set tomorrow, there will certainly be a novel experience.” Although it’s rather unfortunate that the styles of clothing were just those few. The so called ‘many changes on the surface but no departure from the original model’ wasn’t like in her past life that myriad. However, just imagining her grandparents wearing that kind of ‘bizarre clothing’, that image was too…………..not beautiful. Quickly have the image thrown out.
“This suggestion of yours is actually not bad, indeed need to bring your grandmother out for a walk more.”
Jing Wan casted him another glance. Speaking of which, what happened to the restraint of a scholarly official, abiding by etiquette? At an elderly age, bringing a little girl, that was called the romantic heart not aging, bringing an old woman, that was called, alright, that was called deep love of a jian[1], a loving married couple, holding hands till old age. Jing Wan kept feeling, she had inadvertently gotten shoved a mouthful of dog food by her own grandparent’s display of affection.
In Jing Wan’s eyes, between the old married couple, they’ve long lost the passion, but that tacit understanding, where just a single glance, a single gesture, can all let them understand one another, perhaps won’t let others watching blush and heart race, but it definitely will make one sweet in the heart. Between grandfather and grandmother, in their youth, they’ve also had someone inserting a foot before, and also had a time where they were estranged, but at old age, to be able to walk to this point today, and not like many people that way, becoming like strangers, where the old master as if going through the motions, strolling a circle in the rear court, then later immediately go hold a young girl to prove that they were actually still vigorous in old age, while the madam becoming a vegetarian and praying buddha all day, the heart like still water, the six roots[2] tranquil, was also very rare.
Unfortunately, when she died in her past life, she didn’t drink Grandma Meng’s soup[3], carrying a body full of ‘problems’ with her into her new life. If there’s someone inserting a foot into a marriage, then for her, there was definitely no possibility of ‘growing old together with them’[4]. That’s why, sometimes, it truly was ‘ignorance is bliss’? Alright, this kind of ‘ignorance’, this kind of ‘bliss’, Jing Wan rather didn’t want. After a brief moment of melancholy, she began envying her grandparents again. Afterwards, she threw everything to the back of her mind, “Grandfather, let’s go.”
“What are you walking that fast for? Slower, slower, a young lady needs to be more reserved.” Luo Pei Shan flusteredly shouted from behind.
Jing Wan was in a good mood, her spirit ample, and this while, it was impossible to be reserved even if one wanted to. Thus, she just indulged herself for a rare change. In any case, it was just their own people around, so it all didn’t matter. As a result, Jing Wan followed along the stream formed by the stone pond and started moving even faster. In a blink of an eye, her figure was already blocked by the dense trees.
Luo Pei Shan was even somewhat dumbstruck. Speaking of which, this one that was leaping like a little monkey right now really was that well composed, having good bearing, steady and imposing in speech and conduct, dear granddaughter of his? Just, seeing the two servant girls following by her side also leaping on the small and large rocks by the stream and also quickly disappearing after her, Luo Pei Shan finally returned to his senses. Aiyoo, patting his old heart, he quickly let two guards follow after. These places although have already been cleared up before, and won’t have any ferocious beasts appearing, there’s still no lack of accidents.
“Grandfather, quickly come.”
Hearing that voice, it seems she has already gone even farther.
His granddaughter, who usually never lets others worry, instantly became someone that made Luo Pei Shan exceptionally headache. Could it be that it really matched that saying, ‘someone that didn’t cause trouble, when causing trouble, all caused big trouble’? This dear granddaughter of his has always been quiet and gentle. And once done being quiet and gentle, it was just directly turning into a wild monkey? At least give him a heads-up in advance, so as to let him have somewhat of a mental preparation.
Luo Pei Shan wanted to catch up with her, so naturally walked rather urgently. The servant boy looking after him was scared witless, hurriedly lending an arm to support him. Never mind Luo Pei Shan being unable to hop around on the rocks with those arms and legs of his, even his servant boy wasn’t able to either.
Slightly shaking, they went around from the side, and along the way, even needed to push aside the blocking tree branches. By the time Luo Pei Shan appeared in Jing Wan’s line of sight again, his hair was all somewhat messy, his appearance rather sorry. This kind of Luo Pei Shan, Jing Wan was similarly seeing for the first time, and thus, looked to Luo Pei Shan laughing, not holding back at all.
Luo Pei Shan promptly tidied his appearance, ‘angrily’ stating, “Bad girl, whose fault was all this?”
Jing Wan had the fruits in hand washed again, and then followed along the rocks as she leapt over. Luo Pei Shan’s old heart violently jumped again from watching her, incessantly shouting for her to slow down. Jing Wan had a green skin fruit handed over, “Grandfather, no need to worry, I have propriety.” As she said this, she took a bite of the other fruit in hand, “Taste pretty good. Grandfather, quickly have a taste.” She chomped down again twice.
Luo Pei Shan disapprovingly frowned, “How can the fruits outside be recklessly eaten?”
“It’s fine, I stole this from a monkey. I saw that they really liked eating it, so it should definitely be fine for people to eat.” Jing Wan smiled somewhat craftily.
“Nonsense, you’re a young lady from a respectable family, to actually steal food from an animal is practically……….wuu……….”
Jing Wan had the fruit shoved into his mouth. The fruit wasn’t considered big to begin with, so this shove, more than half went in. “Talk too much.” She giddily laughed.
Having the mouth open with something shoved in it was a bit stupid looking, so Luo Pei Shan hurriedly took it down, “This girl, you’re becoming increasingly outrageous.”
Jing Wan however ignored him, having already turned and left. As she walked, she even turned back to tease him, “I heard grandmother say, when grandfather was young, the immoral things you did were quite a few. It’s unfair for grandfather to be this way, ‘just allowing the prefecture official to set the fire, but not allowing the commoners to light the lanterns’[5].”
Luo Pei Shan’s old face reddened. Speaking of the mischievous and shameful things he did, those were all prior to marrying. How did that wife of his know? And now, even his granddaughter knew. However, just now, his teeth had bitten through the skin of the fruit, the taste seemingly not bad. Thus, he took another bite.
[1] 鹣 – Jian, a mythical bird with one eye and one wing and need a pair to be able to fly
[2] Referring to the six desires in buddhist teaching
[3] Grandma Meng’s Soup – also known as ‘five-flavored tea of forgetfulness’; in ancient chinese folklore, it’s a kind of tea soup that is given to departed spirits so that they can thoroughly forget their current life’s memories before going to reincarnate. So Jing Wan is saying that when she died in her past life she didn’t drink the soup that’s why she ended up carrying her memories with her as she reincarnated into her new life.
[4] This is the latter half of the famous line ‘holding your hand, growing old together with you’; this line comes from the Book of Songs, one of the Five Classics of Confucianism
[5] Added this to historical notes since repeat idiom; I don’t want to type a giant paragraph explanation again.
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