CH 125.2

Jin Wang Dotes on His Concubine Ch 125 Pt. 2

Translated by gingercat

Edited by gingercat

Fucheng watched Jin Wang leave for work, on foot, holding a bag in his hand

Although Jin Wang Manor wasn’t that far away from the Ministry of Works, located on Qipan Street, it still took a quarter of an hour to walk there. But this was still walking! And holding a bag no less!

Sigh, when has His Highness ever suffered like this before? This Mistress Su sure could inconvenience others.  But the key point was that His Highness was willing! This kind of intimacy between young couples wasn’t something that Fucheng could understand. However, it didn’t prevent him from ordering people to follow Jin Wang.

His Highness wouldn’t let him go, but he didn’t say that others couldn’t follow.

So, Xiao Shunzi took a carriage and followed Jin Wang, from a distance, all the way to the Ministry of Works.

It was very probable that he would be spending the entire day cooped up inside the carriage, waiting. But those who accomplish great things pay no attention to trivial matters. If one wishes to be a good servant, naturally, they’d need to endure hardships for their master.

Isn’t it just a scorching temperature? Isn’t it only the heat? He, Xiao Shunzi, is not afraid!

The Six Ministries office was located on Qipan Street in Zhengyangmen. Not only were the Six Ministries located there, but also the Court of Imperial Entertainment, Bureau of Astronomy, Institute of Imperial Physicians and other officials’ offices. 

Since it was time for everyone to arrive at work, the street was bustling with people rushing to their office. Although everyone was in a rush, they proceeded towards their destination in an orderly manner. When giving way was necessary, they’d give way. Otherwise, the scene would’ve been much more chaotic.

From time to time, one could see blue sedan chairs on the road suddenly stop, and move to the side. Not long after, a green sedan chair would hurry past the stopped blue sedan chair.

Sedans were also differentiated according to the rank of the owner. The green sedans were for those officials who were the third rank and above, while the blue sedans were for those who were below the fourth rank. So whenever a green sedan chair was on the road, without even waiting for any signals from the other party, the blue sedans would move out of the way. 

The street had always maintained a state of peace. Even if new officials weren’t aware of the conventions, the bearers who carried the sedan would be aware. As for those who didn’t sit in sedan chairs, they were the most trivial existences in the world of officials. They all knew to stay to the sides of the street without being reminded by others.

But today, something strange happened. There was actually someone who was ignorant and chose to walk in the middle of the street. He wouldn’t even move to the side to avoid incoming sedan chairs and horses, forcing everyone behind him to slow down.

Everyone was curious, wondering from under which rock did this dunce pop up from. But as officials who paid attention to decorum, it was out of character to yell and hurl insults while out on the streets. Not only did this apply to themselves, but all their servants as well, lest their reputations be ruined. In the end, the only thing they could do was move around him. When they turned around to look at who the man was—

Some people recognized him. Immediately, they cupped their hands at him from their sedan chairs before turning around and hurrying off. Chaotic thoughts arose in their minds, rendering them speechless for the time being. As for the others who didn’t recognize him, they wanted to shoot fierce looks of hate at him. Yet when they noticed his handsome but chilling face, they could only bury those thoughts in their heart. Feeling misfortunate, they could only curse inside. The next time they meet this ignorant small official, they vowed to make him suffer a bitter taste.

Although they couldn’t recognize the man’s face, they noticed the mandarin square on his uniform that marked him as a sixth rank official. A sixth rank official was such a minor existence in the capital that making his life difficult would be as easy as eating and sleeping.

From the distance came the crisp clacking of horseshoes, followed by the sound of carriage wheels.

At this time, in this kind of place, the people whose status allowed them to use carriages were definitely not loafers. One after another, the officials parted the curtains on their sedans and signalled to the people carrying them to move to the sides of the road. When they saw that the man was still ambling down the middle of the street like a snail, their hearts were full of ridicule.

Since you’re so full of yourself, then continue walking in the middle of the road! Although we won’t bother to quibble with you, that big official definitely will! 

Ah, youngsters these days. As an official, one must have good character first. If one couldn’t even be a decent human being, naturally, they would be the ones that end up suffering! 

Yet before their thoughts could continue, the spectators’ complicated mood was interrupted by the harsh sound of a carriage braking. The carriage had suddenly stopped in front of the young man dressed in the azure official uniform.

If one took a close look, despite the carriage not being particularly eye-catching, it clearly had the emblem of Lu Wang Manor on it!

Eh? Was the person sitting inside His Highness Lu Wang?

“Fifth brother!”

A hand brushed the curtains to the side and a surprised face could be seen. It was Lu Wang.

According to Lu Wang’s usual habits, he’d choose to ride a horse instead of a carriage. But his aides all said that he was now a civil official, and civil officials use sedan chairs while only the military officials use horses. In the current dynasty, civil officials were more valued by the emperor than military officials. This was why Lu Wang was more interested in garnering the support of the civil officials, which means he has no choice but to get along well with them.

Lu Wang’s Manor also prepared a sedan chair for him, but after sitting in it for a short while, Lu Wang was unable to bear it. As a man who was tall and big, the sedan was way too small and cramped for him to be comfortable. Because of this, he became furious and delayed quite a bit of time. Seeing that he was about to be late, he hurriedly chose a carriage and left.

Lu Wang felt that he had already lowered himself enough, yet he didn’t expect that there was still someone else who lowered themselves even more. His fifth brother was actually travelling by foot!

“Fifth brother, are you so poor that your Jin Wang Manor can’t even afford to have a carriage? If you really don’t have one, I’m willing to give you one.”

Jin Wang couldn’t be bothered with him.

Old sixth was an annoying one to deal with. His mouth had no filter and he dared to speak whatever he wished. The biggest catch is that he endlessly harasses others and those who get entangled with him, usually end up shedding a layer of skin.

He looked at Lu Wang and lightly said, “Ate too much for breakfast, need to digest.”

Lu Wang laughed and he was tempted to call out Jin Wang’s bluff. The problem was that the other party’s expression was too serious, so he didn’t know what to say.

At this moment, a blue official sedan stopped not far from the two of them.

“It’s quite early.” 

The curtains of the sedan chair opened from inside, revealing An Wang’s smiling face.

He looked at Lu Wang and then Jin Wang. “You two brothers are chatting here so early in the morning. What a loving brotherly bond.”

Lu Wang was about to make a jab at An Wang when another blue official sedan stopped beside them.

“Second brother, fifth brother, and sixth brother.” It was Yong Wang. “What are you all talking about? Even from far off, I could see you all stopped in the middle of the road. With the number of people blocked by you all, it seems that many officials would be late today.”

Jin Wang glanced back.

Yong Wang’s words were not an exaggeration. There were lots of sedan chairs stopped on both sides of the street behind them. Many of them were unaware of the situation up front so they decided to push forward, only to end up stopped and stuck.

“Then I’ll make a move first.” Jin Wang cupped his hands then walked away.

The three of them looked at his back as his figure moved further and further away.

Yong Wang asked, “What is old fifth doing?”

No one answered him. An Wang’s sedan chair soon left, followed by Lu Wang. Lu Wang was beginning to have feelings of regret. Not to mention Jin Wang, but both An Wang and Yong Wang were travelling in sedans. He shouldn’t have chosen to use a carriage. But it was too late for regrets, and it wasn’t like he could go back.

Once all the brothers left, Qipan Street resumed back to its previous traffic flow. The nearby officials were all so shocked that their jaws hung open for a long time and cold sweat broke out on their foreheads.

That wooden block, that dunderhead, that ignorant small official… 

It turned out to be His Highness!

Oh, thank god they didn’t ignorantly come forward and yell at him. No wonder there was an old saying that one had to keep their eyes open but mouths shut while travelling on Qipan Street. One had to be humble because it’s unknown when they’d meet someone they couldn’t afford to offend.

And today happened to be their lucky day!