Chapter 310: Only Even More Underhanded

As a large influential family, unless declining, or like the Pei clan, having special circumstances, otherwise the people serving the imperial court in the family all won't be just one or two. The so called influential family precisely emphasized on high rank and hereditary benefits. Without power to rely on, one can't really be called as an influential family, and will also be suppressed by others, rapidly decaying. As with the Pei clan, preserving for nearly a hundred years, truly was a rare exception. However, although still appearing grand right now, in reality, they've already reached a perilous step.

If the Pei clan is unable to find a feasible way, in less than ten years, they will inevitably collapse entirely, and their collapsing speed will even far surpass that of ordinary declining families. In Li Hong Yuan's past life, although he had the Pei clan, this big tree with many branches and lush leaves, trimmed very thoroughly, how was this not necessarily saving the Pei clan from being uprooted. At the time, Li Hong Yuan's birth mother's background had gotten exposed, so even if he didn't like the Pei clan, that was still his maternal clan. If others were to casually throw stones down a well, who knows whether or not it will make him displeased. For some things, one can do whatever one pleases, but others can't touch in the slightest. Especially when facing Li Hong Yuan, this kind of indefinitely moody person, one further needed to be careful. That's why, regardless of what happens to the Pei clan, others all indifferently watched from the side.

Never mind people of an influential family, any family members of an official family with a certain status, encountering this kind of situation, to want to ride the 'tailwind' really was common. And under normal circumstances, it wasn't worrying that the journey was unsafe either, though indeed much safer and more convenient. Rather, it was mostly expressing a kind of attitude, reverence towards the imperial family, and acknowledgement towards its power.

As such, for someone to want to travel along, Jing Wan wasn't all that surprised, but for her husband to show this kind of attitude, then there was certainly a problem.

Jing Wan leisurely sat there, slightly lifting her chin, smilingly looking to Li Hong Yuan, her face just short of writing: 'I'm waiting, quickly, explain clearly.'

"Someone is thinking too highly of themself, having themself viewed too importantly, believing that all things will all carry out according to their predetermined direction."

Although she didn't know what happened, Jing Wan practically just understood in an instant who he was talking about. Since these two were connected, then it was clear and easy to see, "The Pei clan?"

Li Hong Yuan smiled but didn't speak. The answer was obvious.

"Can't be the Pei clan leader, so a certain important member of the Pei clan?"

"The Pei clan is trying to use me to let their clan rise again. After learning that it won't be that easy to achieve, yet there was no longer a second path to take, they naturally want to use other methods to influence or even control this husband. Say, towards a man, when making threats and promises all won't have any effect, what methods will be used?"

Jing Wan naturally just thought of a certain possibility first thing, her complexion instantly just darkening, opening her mouth with a sarcastic smile, "For Jin Qinwang, this peach blossom really is blooming wherever one goes."

However, Li Hong Yuan's eyes instead seeped with a smiling expression, "That's why, Wan Wan will have to work hard. You, this proper peach blossom, need to have those rotten peach blossoms all extinguished."

With Li Hong Yuan like this, that bit of rising annoyance of Jing Wan's instead dissipated in an instant. Regardless of how many potential love rivals there were, as long as this man's heart doesn't change, then there won't be any threat. Since that's the case, for her to bicker about it here first, it was truly just bringing trouble upon oneself. "As a qualifying husband, your own love rivals, you need to take care of yourself, and your wife's love rivals also need to take care of too, understand?"

Although Jing Wan's words were very strange, Li Hong Yuan still understood her meaning. His love rival? Heheh, "Wan Wan sure you want this husband to take care of everything? This husband rather doesn't mind being laborious. On the contrary, as long as you nod your head, this husband will be quite willing, guaranteed to handle cleanly."

That trace of vicious current and blood thirst was hardly concealed. Jing Wan's heart shook. How come she just forgot this bastard's nature? Just as he's said, as long as she nods, he definitely will take care of very very cleanly, clean to the point where there won't even be ashes remaining. Never mind people like Sun Yi Lin, even those girls that are purely enamored with him, their 'crimes' don't amount to death either. "As husband and wife, naturally can't just let one's husband work hard. Ah Yuan has thousands of affairs to tend to daily, still having one's hands full with the main matters, so this bit of trivial matter, no need for you to worry about, I will fully take care of."

"This way is also very good. This husband quite look forward to Wan Wan's performance."

The little person in Jing Wan's heart uncontrollably streamed with tears. Grasping her 'weakness', didn't this man precisely have her thoroughly eaten? Who can tell her, where this man's weakness is at, so she can pinch too.

If others were asked this question, that answer most likely will make Jing Wan dig a hole and have herself buried.

"Since it's the beauty the Pei clan leader prepared, then certainly a divine beauty. Aside from this, afraid even talent and beauty coexisting. At the water fort, he has seen Ah Yuan's deep feelings and strong passion, so if not one that's stronger than me in all aspects, how can she have me, this main consort, pushed aside and occupy your side, and even the most important position in your heart, thereby smoothly swaying you through pillow talk?"

"Since Wan Wan has occupied all the favorable conditions, should take the opportunity to blow some more pillow talk. As long as it's something you want, I absolutely won't have an objection."

"Jin Qinwang very much has the potential of a muddled ruler." Jing Wan said lifting her brow.

"This prince also simultaneously very much have the potential of a tyrant." Li Hong Yuan followed up with a vague smile.

Jing Wan's brows jumped. Appearing like a joke, yet Jing Wan felt his words couldn't be more true. This kind of nature that was revealed from time to time really made one very alarmed and apprehensive. The rumors regarding Jin Qinwang were numerous, and although Jing Wan has never gone to confirm anything before, right now, she was still certain that a portion was absolutely true, and moreover not at all exaggerated in any aspect. Looks like, in the future, need to tie up a little tighter. If able to bring less disaster, then just bring as little disaster as possible. Actually, Jing Wan was very puzzled, this temperament of his, exactly how did it form? Arrogant and despotic, condescending with no one in his eyes, this kind of situation was still easy to explain. After all, his background was sturdy and also favored, but this cruel and sinister, what's up with this? Ordinarily, this kind of situation, wasn't it formed from having suffered terrible treatment? Le Cheng Emperor and Noble Consort Su, towards him, can be considered without comment, aside from..............Wait, Noble Consort Su did two things, erasing all her good. According to him, once at ten years old, and once at thirteen. Both times, he all avoided. At the time, his temperament can be considered far from mature, yet he was also intelligent, and learning the truth of the matter, he thus just from then on corrupted? Seemingly made sense.

"What is Wan Wan thinking about?"

"Want to see what the beauty the Pei clan leader prepared looks like."

"Since you want to know, then just call over to have a good look. Just treat it as looking for amusement. If unpleasant to the eyes, then just directly throw into the river."

Jing Wan's brows directly jumped. Can we not just casually demand someone's life? "Having a look is doable, but aside from this, just forget it. What about wangye, want to also meet? However, since wangye knows who the other party is already, then presumably already met before."

"Actually, haven't met before, but roughly can guess. Otherwise, it's just looking in a mirror, perhaps can also visualize somewhat. But, does the other party have enough qualifications to make this prince waste this energy?"

Might have a bit of resemblance with you? What the hell was this? Wait, two completely unrelated people in this world resembling one another all wasn't impossible, but under the circumstances of never meeting before, making such remarks, there just exist one kind of situation, blood relation. Older (male) cousin and younger (female) cousin, and what not, heheh, wasn't she and Chen Zheng Min also the same? Although compared to closely related di cousins, they were actually a bit more distant. "Then again, makes sense. Ah Yuan's birth mother, in those years, was known as Jiangnan's number one beauty, and Ah Yuan also further resembles one's mother, so presumably such a beauty, possessing both talent and good looks, and also easy to control, who else better than the Pei family's main line, especially the directly related descendants. Moreover, daughters of illustrious clans, when cultivating them, afraid have long been brainwashed to dedicate everything to the family clan." Jing Wan said, not at all lacking sarcasm. "All say this Pei clan main family's di daughter won't serve as a concubine. This is after breaking the vow of not having involvement with the Li imperial clan, hitting their own mouth again? Or is it that this Pei clan leader actually wants to let his own granddaughter take this wangfei's place?"

"Take your place? That old thing perhaps has this kind of thought, but he still needs to be wary of your grandfather, no?"

"That's why, he never considered whether I'll become a hinderance? And also never considered whether you'll disagree?"

"Wan Wan, that kind of person, I understand better than you. What happens to women is never within their scope of consideration."

"As such, this 'younger cousin', further need to meet. Even if unable to learn even more things, purely looking at a beauty is also a delightful matter."

"Younger cousin? Who told you it's a younger cousin? It's a niece, the Pei clan main family's head branch's eldest di granddaughter, that old thing's great-granddaughter. And also their main family's first child of the fourth generation." Li Hong Yuan gave Jing Wan a 'you're still too naive' look.

This time, Jing Wan really turned cold. Although it's said that in the emperor's harem, there was no lack of aunts and nieces coexisting, but that place didn't pay attention to family hierarchy the most. However, as the number one illustrious clan, to also do this kind of thing, truly was a bit too disgusting.

T/N: Basically this girl is Li Hong Yuan's maternal uncle's granddaughter, or can also be said as Li Hong Yuan's older male cousin's daughter, so all in all his niece. I need to make the point that this is very much inappropriate and looked down upon in ancient chinese culture, because of how seriously family hierarchy is viewed. For instance, this girl is the Pei family's fourth generation, while Li Hong Yuan is technically someone from her father's generation. Even for ancient people this is considered pretty messed up and not acceptable. Well, you'll see in the , it explains the problems pretty well.

Between cousins of different surnames, it's okay, because they are peers or in the same family generation, but when it crosses into the different generation/hierarchy of the family, it's not okay. This is pretty much called 乱伦 meaning 'disorder of human relationship'. Additionally cousins of the same surname, or literally anyone within the same clan, aka having the same surname, is considered incest by ancient standards.

Also for the last case about the aunts and nieces in the emperor's harem, it's technically different because the Emperor isn't the one blood related to them, although still just as messy.