Chapter 301.1: Too Happy Too Soon
"What thoughts? Does 'using death to atone for their offense' count?" Li Hong Yuan pensively said.
Jing Wan let out a 'pfft'. If it was the officials of Shannan Prefecture, it was still okay. After all, they haven't seen Jin Qinwang's extravagance and attention to detail before, but the officials of Kaiming Fu weren't the same. That scene, they'd personally witnessed before, and now, letting this esteemed master dress this 'shamefully', wasn't it precisely a kind of 'unbearable to look straight at' feeling? To use death to atone was still unlikely, but feeling nervous inside was a hundred percent certain. After all, they still very much cherished their life, so how can they just die randomly?
"Forget about them, I already ordered them to send people into the mountains to look for people. Based on the original plan, Gong mama's party will return first. The rest, after leaving this place, slowly gather again. Most likely, once Gong mama and them return, on this side, we'll more or less also be ready. Afterwards, when reaching Chongzhou Fu, things will probably began getting busy for a period of time. Not just me being busy, you will also be very busy. Perhaps, you'll be even busier than me, but still that line, if someone gives, just worry about accepting. If you like it, just leave it, if not, take it back to give to imperial father to fill the state treasury. Presumably, he will be quite happy." Li Hong Yuan mockingly said.
"It'd be great if he can really be happy. Afraid, it's the more we give, the more he's unable to be happy."
The more they give, it just signifies the more these officials embezzled. If something used to randomly give as a gift was all this generous, then what about the things that weren't brought out, certainly will be even more considerable.
"In that case, do we collect a little more, or collect a little less? If we collect a lot, he'll be unhappy, and that is considered unfilial, but if we collect less, indulging those vermins, endangering the river[1], that is disloyal. Truly a difficult choice between filial piety and loyalty." Li Hong Yuan said with a considerably troubled look.
"Imperial father is first a ruler, then a father. When difficult to fulfill both loyalty and filial piety, naturally it's to choose loyalty and abandon filial piety. Besides, helping him stabilize the country, is that not the best form of filial piety?" Jing Wan 'consoled'.
"Wangfei's words are reasonable. This way, will just be troubling wangfei, so wangfei work hard, help imperial father collect a bit more." Li Hong Yuan said with a serious expression.
Jing Wan was the first to break into laughter. Screwing over Le Cheng Emperor this 'seriously', was it really okay? However, this was also him reaping what he'd sown, no? For the official circle of Jiangnan to be stirred up like by the various officials as well as his sons, he actually can't escape from the blame either. In the end, it was still the result of incompetence in supervising. If not for Li Hong Yuan helping him prod it out, still don't know to what degree this malignant tumor will expand to. Perhaps it'll just have the entire Jiangnan thoroughly divided up like that, to the extent that the next emperor not only won't be able to obtain tax money from Jiangnan, but will even have to spend money to go fill that hole, restoring it to normal operations before it's considered over with.
Of course, in Jing Wan's eyes, this simply was just Li Hong Yuan purging the hinderances for his own future.
Afterwards, Gong mama and them returned.
"This mama of yours is even quite attentive towards you, unable to wait even a bit longer." Li Hong Yuan indifferently said.
"What, Ah Yuan is getting jealous again?" Jing Wan lifted her brow and said with a smile.
"Probably."
Eh? Such an uncertain response was even a first.
Actually, Li Hong Yuan felt just that bit hard to describe inside. How to put it, since his birth, Gong mama has been watching over him in the dark. Of course, for a very long time in his past life, he was completely unaware. After coming back, at ten years old, he exposed her existence. Afterwards, it was always him deliberately cultivating her. No matter what, the time she has followed him was all relatively long. Yet after serving Wan Wan, she just completely turned towards Wan Wan, even having all kinds of disdain towards him. Alright, this was also precisely what Li Hong Yuan hoped for. That's why, even if having that bit of jealousy, there was nothing good to say either.
In reality, even when as female bodyguard, she already had complaints towards him. Just, because he was the master, she didn't say it out loud, that's all. Looking at the cause, it was still because she was influenced by her first master. Even if in a perilous environment surrounded by enemies on all sides, in the depths of her heart, she still hoped for Imperial Noble Consort's child to be able to be like Imperial Noble Consort, a gentle and kind person. But, she was also very clear, that was impossible. The imperial palace, that kind of human devouring place, to want to nicely survive, perhaps can have gentleness and kindness, but it absolutely can't occupy the lead. Imperial Noble Consort was actually the best example. Wan Wan further matched her preferences, not at all lacking the reason that Wan Wan's personality was somewhat similar to the Imperial Noble Consort she spoke of.
Gong mama's existence, for him, more or less still had a bit of special meaning, so his level of tolerance, in comparison with the people aside from Wan Wan, was just slightly higher by that tiny bit. However, Gong mama has always been self-disciplined, abiding by etiquette, never overstepping her place, and in serving her masters, she was also very meticulous. As such, her having complaint towards him in certain regards, he also just ignored.
"When putting on an act, it also needs to be the entire set, I'll go have a look." Jing Wan lightly smiled.
Seeing Gong mama, Jing Wan truly blanked. The matters were arranged to begin with, so it was just going through the motions, that's all, only needing to avoid the government soldiers that might enter the mountain, needless to enter too deep. Having been gone for not even twenty hours, how come they just ended up in such a sorry state? Truly was like as if they'd spent several days in the mountains. Moreover, there were even people that had indeed gotten injured.
Jing Wan hurriedly went forward, grabbing Gong mama at once, "Mama, what happened?"
"Wangfei don't worry, just encountered a pack of wolves, that's all."
Jing Wan's heart instantly just jumped to her throat. Those bodyguards of her husband's, to be able to make him hand over his trust, won't be lacking at all, yet right now, not a single one appeared to be in good condition. It can be seen, this pack of wolves' amount afraid was quite considerable. Just, Gong mama, you, a woman of the inner manor, to say it this nonchalantly, 'just a pack of wolves', is it really okay? The worry in Jing Wan's heart took the upper hand, so she didn't notice this problem. "How's mama? Did you get injured?"
"Wangfei don't worry, just got bit once. The wound also isn't deep, so not a problem." Gong mama consoled Jing Wan.
Rather, it was the bodyguards that followed behind Gong mama that had their heads lowered, feeling a bit ashamed and unable to show their face. Although at this time, the shock in their hearts has already gradually settled, but that scene, afraid they all won't be able to forget in their lifetime. Nearly twenty wolves, yet one-third had actually gotten disposed of by this silent and deadpan mama. On normal days appearing to be a very normal middle-aged woman, yet when killing, she was actually this clear-cut and firm, and also exceptionally ruthless. The her in that moment clearly was like a character that walked out from a mountain of corpses and a sea of blood. If not for personally witnessing, no matter what, they all won't believe that this person before them was the same person from that time. If one were to say they were twins of completely different temperaments, it would still be more believable. Unfortunately...........
[1] Jiangnan literally translates to 'south of the river', which historically has been a very prosperous and wealthy region, considered the most prosperous region in China due to its wealthy natural resources, so when LHY says 'endangering the river', it's a figurative way of referring to Jiangnan.