Chapter 128: Not Knowing Shame

By obstructing on all sides, will one be able to hinder, or even prevent, Luo Pei Shan from taking control of the Ministry of Appointments? Setting Luo Pei Shan's own abilities aside, just based on him having that someone as his soon-to-be grandson-in-law, that was just like using a cheat. The entire Ministry of Appointment's situation, he already understood more or less seventy eighty percent. You think when he inquires something and the people below decline from answering, he won't be able to know anything? Not going to tell him, fine, heheh, Luo Pei Shan didn't express anything either. Just give him two days to slowly get familiar with everything. When time comes, don't say he's 'the newly appointed official with three bundles of fire'[1], burning the top of their heads.

Rather, there were those few that kept feeling this immediate superior's gaze towards them was a bit strange, seemingly carrying a bit of significance. There were those who were upright and plainspoken that were rather calm, but there were also those who harbored sinister motives that couldn't help but suspect whether or not their secret was discovered. In any case, it was very terrifying.

Luo Pei Shan actually wasn't thinking of doing anything. Just, each and every one of these people all acted rather well, each showing off their remarkable abilities for their respective 'masters', but in reality................Thinking back on it now, at certain times, they were actually screwing over their 'master'. As expected, those mingling in officialdom, not one was simple.

Aside from this, there was actually one other person that wasn't all that comfortable, and that is Luo Pei Shan's eldest son-in-law, Yuan Qiao Qiao's father. Originally, if one's father-in-law was one's immediate superior, he should be rising with the wind and waters, but he was someone from Rui Qinwang's faction. He once thought about having his father-in-law pulled over to Rui Qinwang's faction, but unfortunately he wasn't able to succeed, so in order to avoid arousing suspicion, he very rarely visited the Luo Manor. In the past, when his mother-in-law wasn't present, his wife also very rarely returned to her maiden home, but now, his situation was becoming awkward. The most noticeable bit was that ever since the previous Head Minister of Appointments retired, Rui Qinwang has alienated him quite a bit.

(T/N: Remember in the earlier chapters, how Yuan Qiao Qiao's father was always 'too busy with work' to come visit the Luo Manor.)

This half day at the office of the Ministry of Appointments, Luo Pei Shan finally got through. Moreover, he was even very leisure and happy.

Luo Pei Shan's attitude made others increasingly confused, unable to make sense of it. Over the course of one day, he should've already sensed the entire Ministry of Appointments' rejection towards him, yet he wasn't the least bit flustered. Was he really this composed? Or is he aware that his current position is very awkward, thus abandoned himself to despair?

Kang Qinwang, who got reprimanded by the Empress again, rather reluctantly put down his face to come look for Luo Pei Shan. Unfortunately, he didn't have any sincerity, only perfunctorily saying a few words. Thus, Luo Pei Shan also neither saltily nor dully replied to him half-heartedly. Kang Qinwang was unbearably angry. In his eyes, it was Luo Pei Shan who wasn't loyal to him first, and now that he was still willing to use him, that was giving him an enormous face. He should be deferentially expressing his loyalty towards him, yet in the end..........."Imperial mother said, Sir Luo is one who heavily values sentiment and honor, regarding one's family as important, but from the looks of it, this isn't completely the case. Sir Luo is the same as a great majority of people, no, that's not right, should be far inferior than them. After all, they at least would still think about whether their family's daughter is living well or not in the husband's home, as for Sir Luo, heh............."

Luo Pei Shan smiled, yet his eyes carried a bone-chilling coldness, "So wangye means to say, before this old subject's granddaughter even enters the Ding Duke Manor's gates, you are already the same as your maternal aunt-in-law (mother's brother's wife), already plotting to sort her out? All say the (outer) nephew resembles the maternal uncle, but when it comes to wangye, this is the nephew resembling the maternal uncle's wife?"

These words were malicious. To put it lightly, Kang Qinwang's conduct was just like that of a back manor woman, and to say it more severely, this was suspecting who Kang Qinwang's birth mother was, or even implying that he was 'stolen' over and switched at birth by the Empress from the Ding Duchess, and not Le Cheng Emperor's son.

"Luo Pei Shan——" Kang Qinwang directly waved his fist towards Luo Pei Shan.

Fortunately the people to the side were quick to react, blocking in time, else if this punch connected, at Luo Pei Shan's age, who knows how much he'll suffer, perhaps it was all possible for him to never be able to get up again.

Luo Pei Shan's face thoroughly went cold, and Kang Qinwang's face was even more ashen, "Sir Luo, as expected of Sir Luo———" Kang Qinwang stormed off in anger. This time, afraid he'll never put down his face to come 'make peace' again.

And thus, the words 'the nephew resembling the maternal uncle's wife' very quickly spread. Have to say, this Sir Luo really was extraordinarily daring.

(T/N: I really feel bad for the Empress sometimes, the ones screwing over her plans are always her own family and son.)

However, even more people felt Sir Luo was indeed just stating the truth. Even if you are a wangye, if you want to rope someone in, never mind not having the least bit of sincerity, the other party's granddaughter haven't even married over, yet you are already threatening her, how are you not just like that maternal aunt-in-law of yours.

These kind of words, unless someone deliberately passes them on, otherwise, they won't fall into Le Cheng Emperor's ears. However, this wasn't the case for others. Li Hong Yuan, who was cooped up in his Jin Qinwang Manor, after hearing what was said, didn't comment on Luo Pei Shan's words, regardless whether his words were the first layer of meaning, or the second layer of meaning, because it involved Wan Wan, how could he let Li Hong Yi off the hook this easily. In other words, Kang Qinwang is about to suffer another 'mysterious' misfortune again.

As for Li Hong Ming, when the servant came to report, he who had only taken a stroll around the Ministry of Appointments before returning to his manor, at the moment, had a beauty in arm, and it was none other than Luo Jing Ying. She donned a magnificent gown, adorned with expensive accessories from head to toe, leaning in Li Hong Ming's embrace, and most importantly, the corner of her eyes carried seductive charm. This appearance of hers, if seen by someone with a discerning eye, they will undoubtedly be able to guess what happened. Luo Jing Ying already lost her purity.

Li Hong Ming saw his personal attendant nearby and gently whispered a few words by Luo Jing Ying's ear, and under Luo Jing Ying's passionate gaze, Li Hong Ming got up and left. "What's the matter?"

The personal attendant had the words passed in from the outside thoroughly relayed to Li Hong Ming.

"The nephew resembling the maternal uncle's wife?" Li Hong Ming laughed rather amusingly, "That idiot probably didn't even think of the second layer of meaning at all, else he wouldn't have given up that easily. However, unfortunately, regarding this matter, we can't use it as information against the other side. But Li Hong Yi having Luo Pei Shan pushed even further away, for this prince, is actually an enormous favor." Li Hong Ming casted a glance at Luo Jing Ying. Because the most intimate thing happened between the two of them, Luo Jing Ying no longer concealed her gaze. Li Hong Ming gently smiled on the surface, but in his mind, Luo Jing Ying was no different than those prostitutes from the brothels. A proper young lady already learning the techniques of the bedroom, really is extraordinarily lowly.

That's why, men like him were just like this, clearly taking pleasure in it himself, yet still feel the other party isn't chaste enough, not fighting for her honor.

"You can withdraw." Towards Luo Pei Shan, at the moment, they rather don't need to immediately go recruit him. They still need a steady process, preferably after Luo Pei Shan goes through a series of struggles, discovering that he can't take control of the Ministry of Appointments. It isn't too late to give a helping hand when time comes. Rather, they can just keep watching Li Hong Yi continue to make a fool of himself.

Before Li Hong Ming turned away, another person attendant came to report, "Wangye, just now, wangfei and Concubine Wu[2] came, both just waited a little before leaving."

"No need to be concerned." Towards the matters in his own rear court, Li Hong Ming was still very confident. What they should do, what they shouldn't do, each and every one were all very perceptive, and also very sensible.

However, this half a day spent on Luo Jing Ying, while feeling tiresome, at the same time, it was also truly wasting away his time. Li Hong Ming walked to Luo Jing Ying's side, sitting down. Luo Jing Ying very naturally squeezed into his embrace.

Li Hong Ming rubbed her face and gently spoke, "Ying'er, this prince will let someone send you back."

Luo Jing Ying blankly stared, "But, but this one doesn't want to go, this one is reluctant to part with wangye."

"This prince is also reluctant to part with you, but if you return late, what will happen if your family finds out?"

"Wangye doesn't want to let this con....this subject's family know?" She lifted her head to look at Li Hong Ming with tears in her eye wishing to cry.

Li Hong Ming hurriedly kissed her eyes, "Of course this prince wants to, but this prince doesn't want Ying'er's reputation to suffer, and further wants Ying'er to openly enter the Rui Qinwang Manor. Ying'er, give this prince some time, this prince will definitely let Ying'er grandly enter Rui Qinwang Manor."

"En."

Luo Jing Ying's servant girl served her in changing back to her original clothes. Even though she didn't change her inner garments, Luo Jing Ying still felt her original clothes were uncomfortable to wear, and couldn't help looking to that gorgeous gown. When will she finally be able to openly wear it out? But she should've considered, even if she enters the Rui Qinwang Manor, and even if Li Hong Ming bestows her the title of side consort, that is still just a concubine, lacking even the qualifications to return to her paternal home, and without Rui Wangfei's bringing her, she can't even leave the Rui Qinwang Manor's second gate, yet she's still thinking of wearing it out to show off? And prior to entering Rui Qinwang Manor, no matter how many good material Li Hong Ming gives her, she still didn't have the guts to wear them out. Sure don't know whether or not there was a hole in her brain.

The servant girl serving her was exceptionally deferential in her manner, yet inside, she looked down on Luo Jing Ying very much. She'd never seen such a short-sighted person before, nor has she ever seen such a shameless one either. In reality, the servant girls of Rui Qinwang Manor, very few wanted to scheme to crawl into Li Hong Ming's bed, because anyone who had an understanding of Li Hong Ming's true personality would all know, even if they succeed in crawling into his bed, there still wouldn't be the wealth and honor they yearned for. That's why, for a proper official family's young miss to do something like this, what difference was there from those brothel girls? Heard she was even the newly appointed Head Minister of Appointment's granddaughter. The Luo family was a scholarly family, hundred years of clean reputation. If Sir Luo were to find out, having such a family reputation ruining granddaughter, don't know whether or not he'll directly beat her to death?

Luo Jing Ying quietly returned to the manor from the back gate. That gate guarding old servant woman's wildly beating heart finally settled back down. An unmarried girl secretly going out, one can already assume it wasn't for anything good. If found out, she will be the first to suffer.

Luo Jing Ying's caretaker mama calmly and nonchalantly received the large bundle from Luo Jing Ying's hand. The weight was quite hefty. One has to know, when Luo Jing Ying went out, her two hands were empty. This harvest was quite plentiful. Turning around, she wanted to take Luo Jing Ying back to the third branch.

That gate guarding old servant woman grabbed her at once, "Just as we agreed earlier, just this one time." If not because this old hag had dirt on her, how could she dare to do this kind of thing.

The caretaker mama brushed off her hand, taking out an ingot of ten taels of sliver from her sleeve and throwing it to her, "Next time, will still have to trouble you."

The old servant woman was so angry her liver ached, but she really didn't dare to backstab.

Luo Jing Ying took it all in, but didn't utter a word.

The caretaker mama led along Luo Jing Ying, specifically picking secluded paths to take, going in a big circle, before finally turning to the third branch. Fortunately, they didn't encounter anyone the whole way. Luo Jing Ying finally relaxed.

"Fourth younger sister, what is with this attire? Returning from the outside?"

Suddenly hearing Jing Wan's voice, Luo Jing Ying was violently startled, both guilty and terrified, "Luo Jing Wan, what are you doing here?"

"Directly calling out one's older sister's name, what kind of upbringing is this, fourth younger sister?" Sun Yi Jia looked to Luo Jing Ying and said in dissatisfaction.

Luo Jing Ying was both angered and agitated. Perhaps because in the past, the influence Sun Yi Jia had on her was too deep, she momentarily didn't dare to retort.

"This servant greets third young madam, third miss. Fourth miss.........."

Jing Wan waved her hand, "Third sister-in-law, let's go." Clearly not wanting to listen to their excuses.

Once Jing Wan disappeared, "How come they came to the third branch?"

"Second miss will be marrying tomorrow, presumably came to add to the dowry."

[1] This idiom comes from the 'Romance of Three Kingdoms'; it means a new person in charge doing something major or impactful to show off their might.

[2] Concubine Wu - The Wu in her name means dance; she's the female dancer that Li Hong Ming asked Li Hong Yuan for back in chapter 20-ish

T/N: It's rather interesting that Yuan Qiao Qiao's father is someone from Rui Qinwang's faction, it adds more depth to the already complicated web of relationships, but also it is actually quite realistic, as historically there were plenty of examples of people from the same family on different sides of the court.