Chapter 120.1: Luo Family First or Jing Wan First?

However, even if Jing Wan knew, she probably would just smilingly pat Luo Jing Bo's shoulder, "Third brother, it's time to put you to the test." By all means, don't let me be disappointed, alright?

Setting aside how Luo Jing Bo will be in the future for now, at present, after chatting with that painting expert, the painting expert gave out his words of evaluation: 'The younger generation will surpass us in time'. Luo Jing Bo hurriedly voiced his shame. Indeed he was ashamed. Little sis had already predicted that there would be today's scenario, so she'd already thought of many problems for him, and regarding gongbi style itself, she also very attentively and very thoroughly explained everything to him. If even like this, he is still unable to pass, and even let someone notice a loophole, then he probably can just go die for his offense.

On Luo Jing Bo's side, things were still considered pretty good. By taking this one step today, things will probably become increasingly smoother in the future.

However, on Sun Yi Jia's side, things weren't going that smoothly, how to put it———

In the preceding ten some years of her life, the types of people that Sun Yi Jia came in contact with were all the most noble bunch of Qi Yuan. Moreover, in the past, her personality was always cold, and only because of Jing Wan was she able to open up her heart, gradually coming in contact with even more people. But, this didn't mean that she was also able to easily accept anyone. This bunch that she was currently meeting with had upbringing completely different from what she received. Sun Yi Jia had just interacted with them a little and already subconsciously had herself wrapped in cold arrogance. In her eyes, their flattery and fawning annoyed her, and moreover, their manners were vulgar, those eyes further just openly staring at her. If not on her accessories, then it was on her face.

And in these people's eyes, she was just a disfigured girl marrying into the Luo family. What are you pretending to be noble and virtuous for? Moreover, she was even someone from a noble family, not tactful in the least. For the sake of being able to have a footing in the Luo family, shouldn't she voluntarily take out her good things and pay respect to them? After numerous attempts to subtly hint, she actually pretended to not understand? Who does she think she is?

Their upbringing, philosophy, and what they pursued, were all completely different from her own. They were people of two different worlds, unable to become friends.

Sun Yi Jia held a cold expression. In this world, someone like little sister Wan, as expected, there was only just one.

At this time, she also realized, she once made a mistake, an enormous mistake. She very naively wanted to pursue the ordinary, but those with the same upbringing as her that she was able to accept, how many had families that were ordinary? These people present probably were all ordinary, but the result? Sun Yi Jia felt somewhat cold all over. She was very glad she was able to encounter Jing Wan, and was further glad that she was able to marry into the Luo family, this ordinary yet not ordinary family. This place had everything she wanted, yet didn't conflict with everything she once had.

"Jing Bo's wife, why don't you go back first." Luo Old Madam, after coldly watching from the side, faintly spoke.

Sun Yi Jia glanced at Luo Old Madam. She seemingly wasn't angry at her. Sun Yi Jia sighed in relief, "Yes, this granddaughter-in-law bids farewell."

A mama by Luo Old Madam's side sent Sun Yi Jia off, "Today's matter, third young madam doesn't need to take to heart. Old madam's purpose is just to let you have an understanding inside. Towards those people, just need to give a bit of face on the surface. For some people, if you take them too seriously, they would instead increasingly not take you seriously."

Sun Yi Jia understood. "Many thanks for mama's guidance."

That mama smiled, "Third miss is the meat of old madam's heart, and the treasure of her palm."

"Little sister Wan is worthy of having the best in the world." Sun Yi Jia sincerely said.

However, if Jing Wan were to hear these words, she perhaps would roll her eyes. Each and every one all brainwashed!

On the way back, Sun Yi Jia finally recalled, Luo Old Madam at the time also had an honorable status. Compared to the current her, she wasn't that far off, yet she married down to the Luo family. At the time, the Luo family although also had backing, they didn't have any background. In the Luo family at the time, there was no one to help back her. The circumstances she encountered, afraid were much more difficult than what she currently just encountered. However, she still firmly walk to this step today. She didn't get assimilated, maintaining her dignified noble bearing, and also that wisdom, accumulated over the decades, not lacking in comparison to her grandmother, yet had an extra layer of human warmth that her grandmother lacked. But most importantly, she was so much happier than her own grandmother————-But at the time, Luo Old Madam merely married a third place candidate in the imperial exam, while her own grandmother married the Ding Duke, whose power and influence overflowed the heavens. However, the Luo family relatives, not a single one, dared to not respect her, and was even wholeheartedly deferential to her.

(T/N: In case anyone forgot, in the early chapters, it was explained that Luo Old Madam's grandfather was once the Head Cabinet Minister. Her status back then was high enough to marry a Duke. A Head Cabinet Minister is roughly equivalent to a prime minister position.)

Luo Old Madam was using her own method to properly give Sun Yi Jia a lesson.

Not long after, a certain someone also learned of Jing Wan asking for Sun Yi Jia's servants, but the final outcome just stirred up little splashes, and very soon, things returned to normal, no longer anyone mentioning.

And Jing Wan's old man, Luo Rong Yan, just as he himself had predicted, after Luo Pei Shan sent away the guests, had him called to the front study. Luo Pei Shan, rather, didn't scold him and just peacefully looked to him. Luo Rong Yan for the first time realized from experience that sometimes, tranquility was even scarier than the violent storms. His scalp was numb, and his back cold, the cold air spread from the bottom of his feet directly upwards. Rather than hanging sharp blades over his head, it was better to just directly give him a stab. "Father........"

"What you brothers want to do, as long as it doesn't harm the Luo family, I've never forcibly demanded anything before. You don't like officialdom and prefer being carefree with no restraints, you want to be like a roaming immortal, the clear moonlit sky[1], I've all allowed you to do as you pleased. In the past, you would spend all day immersing in romance with your wife, and now, all you think about all day is those precious metal playthings of yours, never once properly educating your children, and never once considering for your children's sake. Since that's the case, then it's best for you to continue not bothering in your children's affairs."

Luo Pei Shan's tone wasn't heavy, but it still aroused Luo Rong Yan's deepest guilt for the first time, "Father........"

Luo Pei Shan waved his hand, "I don't want to hear you say anything. Among your brothers, you are the most talented in all aspects, but you don't want to walk into officialdom. Your eldest brother right now is just a fourth rank official. Even if I want to retire from my post, I'm unable to. Once I leave, afraid, in this lifetime, he all won't be able to climb onto the third rank and higher. Unfortunately, right now, the state of affairs is special, and isn't a good time to let him advance. In addition, you two are just brothers after all, without me, no matter how high he climbs to, the glory and honor would only belong to his wife and children. How much benefit can your children get out of it? Third girl right now, in those people's eyes, is just a piece of fragrant meat, everyone all wants to eat into their own mouth. If you, as her father, is able to be a little more reliable, allowing her to have someone to depend on, for what reason would she only be able to quietly wait for others to choose?"

Luo Rong Yan's lips trembled, yet he was unable to say anything.

"I've always worked hard so as to let our family be able to continue residing in the neutral position in this struggle for the throne. But that is a very difficult thing to achieve. Even if Jing Bo's wife didn't marry in, the Luo family would still get drawn into the mud sooner or later. This Head Minister position, no matter how insignificant, is still the head of a ministry. Right now, on the surface, we've already stepped into the Empress and Kang Qinwang's faction. Noble Consort Su and Rui Qinwang won't just leave matters as is, and will undoubtedly think of a way to have third girl dragged into their hands. One mishap and third girl might get ruined by them." Those in high power all think the same, important chess pieces that can't be used cannot be allowed to fall into someone else's hands. The best way was to just let this chess piece disappear completely.

Luo Rong Yan deeply inhaled, tightly clenching his fist. Because he didn't pay attention, he never once realized that his daughter has already sunk into such a dangerous situation. "Father, what should we do now?"

Luo Pei Shan casted him a glance, seemingly saying, 'Just you? What can you do?'

This time, Luo Rong Yan's handsome face flushed red.

"If that matter didn't happen to Min boy, would there be the need to go this far? Otherwise, if that incident were to have happened prior to the Grand Elder Princess's birthday, and third girl didn't step into the limelight.........In the end, it's just the will of heaven toying with people." Luo Pei Shan sighed, "So, what thoughts do you have? Even if you didn't advance in officialdom, in this aspect, you still shouldn't be a complete block of wood."

With his father not holding back in the least today, even if Luo Rong Yan got stabbed, he could still only endure. After a moment of deliberation, "Either completely lean towards the Empress and Kang Qinwang's faction, or stand into Noble Consort Su and Rui Qinwang's faction, balancing the two sides to continue maintaining neutrality."

This was equivalent to not saying anything. However, those people won't give them a third path to walk either.

"Then, specifically, how should we choose?"

"Does father want to prioritize the Luo family first or Wan Wan first?"

"This old man is asking you!" Luo Pei Shan suddenly violently roared out.

This was the crucial point of the problem at hand. Regardless whether it's the Empress or Noble Consort Su, in order to show enough sincerity, and moreover needed for them take the initiative, who to pick for this political marriage, Luo Pei Shan for the most part still was able to guess. Considering from Jing Wan's perspective, under the circumstances of having no other choice, the best option was to pick from among them the one that was best for Jing Wan, and that person, aside from Sun Yi Lin, there was no other candidate. But, towards Kang Qinwang ascending the throne, Luo Pei Shan wasn't all that optimistic. In the future, if someone else were to ascend the throne, as people from Kang Qinwang's faction, they will certainly be purged. The Luo family will inevitably suffer misfortune, and the Ding Duke Manor will most likely perish, so Wan Wan naturally won't be better off.

———-The Luo family or Wan Wan? To look at the present, or consider the future?

[1] An expression describing someone who has high and elegant taste.

T/N: This is practically the trolley problem in disguise. I actually quite like a lot of these ethics thought experiments, as long as it's only in theory lmaoo. And if you don't know what the trolley problem is, it's basically you are on a trolley with no brakes, on the two splitting tracks there's a lot of people tied down on one track, and one person tied down on the other track, do you kill one to save many, or kill many to save one? There's also many forms of this question too, like what if that one person is a loved one? I feel like this problem is a lot more prevalent in every day life than one would imagine, especially for people who work in ER and rescue workers.