Tyrannical Wang's Beloved Wife

Chapter 116.1: Public Declaration of Love

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Alright, this third problem was clearly meant for the groom, so the others, even if they wanted to help, there was nothing they could do.

The crowd, including everyone that came to help him escort the bride, not one wasn’t guessing, what exactly was this groom going to reveal? Have to say, what Luo Jing Bo was most famous for right now was naturally painting. Will he paint on the spot? Thinking of this possibility, everyone all couldn’t help but become a little excited. That gongbi style, many people had only heard the name, yet to see its shape. Just, for those that have seen it before, rarely would they not praise.

Luo Jing Bo was rather calm, seemingly having prepared in advance. He reached behind him, and a certain thing that was wrapped in red silk was placed into his hand. From the looks of it, it should be a rather large booklet-like thing. Could it be a painting?

Luo Jing Bo unraveled the red silk little by little, and unexpectedly, it really was a booklet inside. What did he want to do?

(T/N: I should have posted a picture earlier, but this is what ‘booklet’ is referring to, it’s a specific type of book bound in a specific way.)

Luo Jing Bo presented the booklet before Sun Yi Lin with both hands, “Elder brother-in-law, please kindly accept this offering.”

Afterwards, everyone finally understood, this was the groom’s way of showing off? Heavens, he’s actually directly bribing? This is too devious! However, please take note, this elder brother-in-law of yours isn’t an ordinary person, what good things has he not seen before. You want to bribe him with just two booklets, aren’t you thinking a little too optimistically?

Sun Yi Lin probably didn’t expect that he would run into one that didn’t follow common conventions. A proper ‘battle of talents’, letting you show off, you just need to follow along, yet you actually found a loophole instead!? But, can you say he’s wrong? You definitely can’t.

Sun Yi Lin stared at the booklet in Luo Jing Bo’s hands, his brows furrowing, seemingly very conflicted. Those inside the Ding Duke Manor that were here to watch the excitement began jeering, telling Luo Jing Bo to not do this kind of boring thing, and to quickly do something decent.

Luo Jing Bo didn’t mind, only smilingly looking to Sun Yi Lin, “Whether elder brother-in-law will accept or not, please give an answer.”

What kind of person was Sun Yi Lin, the wind that cleared up the moonlit sky^[1], how could he because of two little booklets have his younger sister easily married off? He firmly……………..he could. Besides, his younger sister wanted to marry anyways. Sun Yi Lin reached out, about to accept the booklets.

At this time, Luo Jing Bo suddenly had the booklets pulled back, “If elder brother-in-law accepts, elder brother-in-law will have to yield the way.”

Even someone like Sun Yi Lin all couldn’t help but clench his teeth. For someone that looks to be carefree and simple-minded, he actually also had such cunning moments. Sun Yi Lin had the booklets seized over at once, and with a light shake of his wrist, had booklet covered again with the red silk. Turning around, Sun Yi Lin motioned his hand behind him, “Open the gates, make way.” That expression and tone wasn’t all that good.

This outcome really was greatly out of everyone’s expectations. This number one gentleman of the capital was ‘bribed’ this easily?

“Jing Bo, exactly what book did you give Gentleman Sun?”

“Could it be an unique sole copy that even Gentleman Sun is unable to refuse?”

Chen Zheng Min slightly narrowed his eyes and contemplated for a moment, “Older cousin Jing Bo gave him a record of flowers?”

Luo Jing Bo smiled, obviously tacitly approving Chen Zheng Min’s guess.

That’s when everyone finally realized, that’s right, this Sun Yi Lin was an infamous flower fanatic. “Shouldn’t be an ordinary record of flowers, right? Ordinary record of flowers, our Gentleman Sun won’t take a fancy to?”

Of course it wasn’t an ordinary record of flowers, that was the record of flowers made by Jing Wan. As long as it was someone who loved flowers, not many would be able to refuse, let alone Gentleman Lin who ‘harbored ulterior motives’ towards Jing Wan. When Sun Yi Lin saw the little gongbi drawing on the cover and also the words ‘Record of Flowers’, he for the most part was already certain whose hand this book came from. He’d long heard that two extraordinary record of flowers had leaked out from Luo Pei Shan Head Minister Luo’s hands, and were very shamelessly divided up by the Head Cabinet Minister and Head Minister of Works. Regardless whether it was out of the ordinary, or from Jing Wan’s hands, it was impossible for Sun Yi Lin to not be moved.

(T/N: Btw the author alternates between calling Sun Yi Lin, Gentleman Sun and Gentleman Lin but they both are referring to him.)

No matter how he made things difficult for his sister’s soon-to-be husband, his sister will still have to marry, so why not take the benefit, his younger sister will also understand.

When the ones waiting in Sun Yi Jia’s courtyard learned that the groom has already made it to the outside of the little courtyard, even Sun Yi Jia who was worried that Luo Jing Bo would be ruthlessly embarrassed all thought to herself, ‘How come it was this quick?’ According to Sun Yi Lin’s abilities, there was no reason for him to be defeated this quickly, else why would there only be two obstacles? That was placing very high hopes in Sun Yi Lin, and also very much trusting him.

After they finished listening to the servant girl relay what happened, each and everyone all fell silent. Just two booklets had the person brushed off, was it that our Gentleman Lin was a bit too easy to brush off, or the opponent’s skills were too great? Exactly what book was it?

“No one saw the cover, but someone guessed it was a record of flowers.”

When the servant girl’s words fell, laughter sounded the room. “Turns out, in Gentleman Lin’s eyes, his own younger sister is worth less than two ordinary record of flowers.” Seemingly as if they were criticizing Sun Yi Lin, but who couldn’t tell this was mocking Sun Yi Jia. Outsiders all say, Gentleman Lin loved his di younger sister the most, but in reality, it was nothing more than this.

Sun Yi Jia who was covered in the red veil however was smiling. Fifth brother is probably quite angry with Jing Bo. However, recalling the person that’s about to become her husband has already arrived outside the little courtyard, she couldn’t help but began feeling nervous, her palms faintly sweating.

Blocking outside the little gate, for the most, were all the womenfolk of the family. In contrast, these people were actually even more troublesome to deal with.

Because there were those that said to have come join the fun, but in reality were just here to deliberately nitpick. Yet on such a big happy occasion, it wasn’t appropriate for you to lash out at them.

The groom’s side got made fun of and embarrassed in all sorts of ways. All the ‘red money’^[2] they had on them were all scattered, yet someone still brazenly disdain, saying how Jia’er had that much dowry, but this groom was too stingy. Even the smile on Luo Jing Bo’s face was gone, let alone those brothers that came with him, each and every one all infuriated. But this was a bunch of womenfolk, so they couldn’t do anything to them. However, a certain few just pretended to not see their expressions, still holding a ‘smiling’ look.

This ‘obstruction’ continued for nearly an hour, and very soon, it will pass the auspicious time to set out.

Sun Yi Jia was unbearably angry. In the past, they’ve always looked for trouble, but seeing that it was nearing her big day, she endured it all. But today, this was wanting to cause her to be unable to leave? This debt she will remember. Once today passes, she will slowly settle the debt with them.

However, these people didn’t really dare neglect the time. Making things difficult was one thing, but going overboard, that was a separate matter altogether. When the Ding Duchess comes to settled the account after the fact, afraid it will be enough for them to drown.

“Sigh, forget it, looks like our groom really is……..hehe……..”

Quite a few also covered their mouths and began laughing.

“However, we are willing to let you pass here, just don’t know whether the groom has moved our Jia’er’s heart or not?”

Hearing Luo Jing Bo get made fun of, several times, if not for the mama lightly pressing on her shoulder, Sun Yi Jia would’ve already stood up herself. She was the bride, thus needed to be reserved, and can’t act impatiently, else don’t know how she will be gossiped. Today, she will remember each and every one…………

“Second brother, give me the qin.”

Luo Jing Ming had the qin case on his back taken down, opened up, fetched out the qin, closed the qin case, had the qin placed on top, and with another person, separately propped up the two ends, temporarily serving as a qin stand.

Everyone could tell what he was going to do. Playing the qin at this time wasn’t unprecedented, but was still rather rare. However, the crowd was all curious as to what song he will play.

Luo Jing Bo, at the moment, was very calm on the surface. The fury in his eyes have already faded. Slightly hanging his eyes, he looked to the qin strings. He suddenly felt, his younger sister was actually very right. If previously he was still a bit embarrassed, then at present, his heart was actually particularly calm. His own bride getting bullied, he naturally needed to earn back the face for her.

He recalled those small number of times he met with Yi Jia. Perhaps his younger sister was exaggerating a little, but he couldn’t deny, Yi Jia was indeed a very good young lady. Moreover, he seemingly has also inadvertently fallen for her.

His fingers began sliding along the qin strings, faint music began pouring out in currents. And accompanying the qin sound, his lips opened and closed………..

有一美人兮，见之不忘；

There is a beauty, unforgettable at a glance;

一日不见兮，思之如狂；

To not see in a day, one’s thoughts madden in longing;

凤飞翱翔兮，四海求凰；

The (male) phoenix soars through the four seas, seeking the (female) phoenix;

无奈佳人兮，不在东墙；

Unfortunately the beauty isn’t at the eastern wall;

将琴代语兮，聊写衷肠；

Having the qin substitute speech, writing out one’s inner feelings;

何时见许兮，慰我彷徨；

When allowed to meet again, console my anxious heart;

愿言配德兮，携手相将；

Hoping my virtue is a match for yours, to be together hand in hand;

不得於飞兮，使我沦亡……

Unable to fly together with you, causes me to perish………

That very sentimental qin sound, and that very much straightforward, bold, harmonic verse……….

This famous piece, everyone present for the most part all knew, ‘Feng Seeks Huang’^[3].

But that verse, who wrote it, isn’t it too too too………..

(T/N: Feng Seeks Huang originally existed purely as a qin piece, but later on in history many people wrote verses/lyrics for it. This poem here is from the Ming dynasty, from the ‘Romance of the Western Chamber’. There’s many different versions of Feng Seeks Huang poems, but this version of Feng Seeks Huang is probably the most well known. Also, what’s written here isn’t the full poem, just the first half. I like the second half but I don’t want to translate it. It was relatively easy to find a video on it as an example; there’s also instrumental only versions on yt too. )

[1] This is an idiom used to describe a person that has elegant bearing, high taste, and magnanimous attitude.

[2] Money given out during weddings

[3] Feng is male phoenix and Huang is female phoenix.

T/N: So the reason I kept the original chinese so that you can see the original structure of the poem. Traditional poetry is really hard to translate because so much gets lost in translation, form is usually the first thing to go. Also this character (兮) is a particle used to divide up the two four character verses(?) in each line, it’s an archaic character similar to the modern ‘ah’ (啊).