This time, all the young men on the male guest side, even if there was the enormous risk of losing face, afraid would still wholeheartedly hope for their name to be drawn.

“It would be rude of this lower official to refuse.” Sun Yi Lin picked an embroidered, and then sincerely clasped his hands at Jing Wan, “This one thank miss on behalf of the ten gentlemen.” This was having the gratitude genuinely tagged onto Jing Wan.

Jing Wan quickly dodged, “One is not worthy of gentleman’s thank, it is all the Grand Elder Princess’s effort. This one merely just said a few words.”

“You are worthy, how are you not worthy.” Sun Yi Lin had the intention, so how would the Grand Elder Princess not have the heart.

Only households with a nobility title are able to pass on their position to their descendants[1]. Other families, even the elders of the cabinet ministers, all can only rely on their offsprings’ own hard work to make progress. And once they enter officialdom themselves, only then, can their forefathers assist them. Moreover, each and every family all want to fish for benefits for their own family. The competition is quite intense. The reward this time just might let ten people struggle ten twenty less years. And if, after coming out of the Grand Elder Princess Manor, it lands into the hands of someone from a poor and humble family, then that further was an opportunity to soar into the skies. Then, people that will owe Jing Wan a favor won’t be just one person alone, but rather, an entire family, or even an entire clan. This wasn’t just an assumption, in this place that places extreme importance to clans and family honor, it was very possible for it to come true.

Jing Wan previously probably just thought up of the idea last minute, and didn’t think this far, just feeling that some people perhaps aren’t that good at studying, but actually do have talent. It would be a shame to bury them. To be able to help one perhaps might even dig out a great talent for the Qi Yuan dynasty. She just mentioned this one line, and who knew, the Grand Elder Princess just agreed. Right now, not only was it directly ‘exposing’ her, it was further asserting her contributions, making Jing Wan rather helpless.

Seeing her like this, she most likely already understood the stakes involved. She wasn’t complacent, nor immeasurably self-satisfied. The Grand Elder Princess’s eyes further added a trace of smile. A young girl that could see things clearly, think clearly, yet was also rational, not easily becoming muddled in the head by benefits was truly too hard to come by, and not wasting her efforts in breaking her usual custom, explicitly expressing her fondness towards her. “Don’t worry, even if the sky collapses, there’s still someone tall to shoulder it.”

Jing Wan helplessly laughed. Since it has already happened, then there was indeed no need to keep thinking too much.

Seeing her recover her composure this quickly, the Grand Elder Princess couldn’t help but nod inside, “Alright, Luo girl, this prize, you also take one.”

“That won’t do.” Jing Wan hurriedly refused.

“Why not? This princess just said, you’ll both be rewarded, just based on that good idea of yours. Besides, that qin performance earlier, this princess still haven’t rewarded you yet. Just treat this as being rewarded altogether.”

Since it was already said to this point, Jing Wan could only pick an embroidered pouch, “Thanking Grand Elder Princess.”

Before Sun Yi Lin even returned to the male guest side, the matter of the ten embroidered pouches already spread all over.

As expected, quite a few young gentlemen were all very excited and eager, no longer nervous and tense like before. After seeing Sun Yi Lin indeed returning with an embroidered pouch in hand, each and every one were all exceptionally worked up.

Sun Yi Lin seemingly just noticed the atmosphere, having the embroidered pouch slipped into his sleeve.

Have to say, Luo Pei Shan finally knew why Head Magistrate Diwu keep ripping his beard. Right now, he also wanted to rip out his beard. One’s own child standing out, this was a good thing, but being too outstanding put one at a disadvantage. How come, unknowingly, something like this happened again? Those ‘bitter’ little gazes of his colleagues continuously piled on him, very pleasant yet also very uncomfortable.

“Sir Luo has raised a good granddaughter.” Head Magistrate Diwu faintly said, adding to the fire.

Luo Pei Shan glared at him, this effeminate old bastard. “That’s just the Grand Elder Princess giving each family a chance.”

“If not for your family’s child mentioning, would the Grand Elder Princess give out this kind of prize?”

“Our family’s girl merely just happens to be there at the right time. It would be the same if replaced with anyone else.” Old bastard, still not shutting up.

“But it wasn’t someone else, that girl’s surname just happens to be Luo. Moreover, someone else, even if it’s someone that frequently appear in front of the Grand Elder Princess, has never been seen being favored by the Grand Elder Princess. This kind of banquet hasn’t been held just once or twice either, how come never seen anyone mentioning before? Not being able to think of it is one thing, but even if one thinks of it, they probably don’t have the guts to say it out loud either. Also, this kind of good thing that benefits everyone, for us old fools, we only think about benefiting our own family, never considering for others.”

Head Magistrate Diwu appear to be jealous and envious, but how was he also not warning the others. This kind of thing, Jing Wan was actually the key person. Although in the end, this stairway to heaven needed to be built by Grand Elder Princess, but without Jing Wan’s crucial first step, where would there be the following matters. That’s why, the people that will benefit in the end need to bear this favor.

“Sir Diwu is thinking too much, our family’s girl didn’t think that much.”

“These words of yours, if it was someone else, I would still believe, but this girl, I’ve personally met before. To say she didn’t even think of this……..” Head Magistrate Diwu stroked his beard and smiled, “I don’t believe in the slightest.”

Luo Pei Shan gritted his teeth as he lowered his voice, “Enough already.”

Head Magistrate Diwu stroked his beard and nodded. En, more or less enough.

“Sir Luo, don’t know whether your noble residence’s third miss has been betrothed to anyone yet?” Li Hong Ming suddenly asked.

“Old three, these words are too improper.” Li Hong Yi immediately retorted back.

Although Li Hong Yuan that bastard’s engagement with younger cousin still haven’t been cancelled, it was already something set in stone, and younger cousin marrying into the Luo family has also become a reality. Under this kind of situation, he already had the Luo family integrated into his own faction. Right now, with such a young miss who might be connected to favors from many sides appearing, how can he let Li Hong Ming win them over.

“Eldest brother, what are you this worked up for? The saying goes, ‘one family’s good daughter, sought after by hundreds of families’. This is also something very normal, no?”

That’s right, this indeed was something very normal. As long as she still hasn’t been betrothed to anyone, and as long as one’s own family has a son of suitable age, then all can ascend the gates to propose marriage. Even his Majesty has no right to interfere.

Li Hong Yi angrily glared at him.

“Many thanks for wangye’s deep affections, this subject family’s third girl is already betrothed to someone. The engagement has already been set.”

Don’t know how many people inwardly sighed in pity. Marrying back such a young lady, that was hundreds of benefits and zero harm.

“Oh, don’t know which family’s son?” Li Hong Ming swept a glance over the young masters and gentlemen present.

“Wangye, no need to find, they’ve yet to come to the Grand Elder Princess Manor.”

Didn’t come, or didn’t have enough qualification to come?

The former’s probability was actually rather small. Unless suddenly falling ill or something similar, otherwise, this kind of setting, for the most part, no one would refuse. Then, it was not having the qualifications? Sir Luo picked for his granddaughter someone of such low family background? However, recalling Sir Luo’s second son, that person was actually somewhat similar in personality to Jiang-fuma. This way, letting his granddaughter marry low wasn’t impossible either.

Really is letting that guy pick up a huge advantage!

Li Hong Yuan propped his chin up with one hand, his entire person appearing lazy. Just, someone was stabbing his sensitive spot again. Really want to have all the people peeping at his Wan Wan slaughtered.

Wan Wan, in the past life, how come didn’t see you create such a big disturbance? However, it doesn’t matter, no matter how big of a disturbance you cause, this prince will all take care for you. No matter how much talent you have, just show off to your heart’s content. Whoever dares to stretch out their claw, this prince will chop them up.

In reality, not just the people on the male guest side were moved, even the people on the female guest side were moved too. However, because someone had previously already known about Jing Wan being engaged, there was no need for Luo Old Madam to explain again, and very soon, this news was also spread all over. Chen Zheng Min’s identity naturally also got dug out. Especially those madams that were previously stifled by Luo Old Madam, their voice were the loudest.

The people that originally were still endlessly bitter and jealous because of Jing Wan standing out, this while only left behind mockery and ridicule.

The young ladies of the inner manor, prior to marrying, what they competed in was nothing more than family background. And after marrying, what they competed in was none other than their husbands. They would only have bright and beautiful things brought out to show off, and those bitter hardships and pain would only be buried in their hearts, left to rot and mold.

Have to say, these people were truly a bit too bored. Their materialistic life was fulfilled, but unfortunately their spiritual life was too lacking. That’s why they would ‘hear the wind and believe it’s rain’[2], and won’t give up until they spit out a few nasty words.

Jing Wan’s friends and family originally were still worried that she might feel upset, but she appeared to be awfully calm. It was precisely this composure that many people were all unable to compare to. Moreover, “Actually, I feel, it’s not too late to say these twenty years later.”

She appeared to be just like a lump of dough, neither retorting nor explaining, even smiling, but once she starts retorting, it was this sharp and vicious, drawing blood at the first prick.

“Some madams present, twenty years ago, probably must have also heard quite a few good or bad words before too. Then, how many can boldly and confidently say, they are the same as twenty years ago, sweet on the surface and even sweeter in the heart? Believe, there are also people that can slap back those that once said all kinds of bad things to you in the past, proudly telling them that you are more than great.”

Jing Wan’s voice wasn’t loud at all, and didn’t even turn her head around, but the people in the surrounding all heard, all becoming mute one after the other. Even those little misses that didn’t know what suffering meant, all didn’t dare to say another word. Among them, quite a few have heard their own mothers talk about how grand they were when they were younger, but after marrying, it was all kinds of discontent, having pain in the heart, difficult to describe.

Luo Old Madam, who was sitting together with the other old madams, at first was also somewhat worried, but right now, she was awfully happy. This was her granddaughter, the granddaughter that she raised singlehandedly!

[1][荫恩]– This is referring to a very specific succession system. Instead of inheriting a similar or equivalent position from one’s father or brother, the inherited title is usually lower than the previous generation, unless special exceptions are made. For example, if the Ding Duke were to pass on his title to his son, it would become Ding Marquis. This systems applies to the wangs as well, with qinwang -> junwang. The phrase translates to ‘shade(shadow) grace’.

[2] Idiom meaning to easily believe in rumors

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by lotustale.com