CH 135.2

Jin Wang Dotes on His Concubine Ch 135 Pt. 2

Translated by gingercat

Edited by gingercat

She worshiped Buddha all year round, but neither her husband nor her son believed in this practice. They always say men should not rely on supernatural forces or gods but be upright within their hearts. The Wang Family was a family of scholars and studied the Confucian classics extensively. For them to believe in gods or to worship Buddha was simply to invite ridicule from their peers.

But Old Madam Wang was stubborn and refused to be persuaded. Elder Wang, out of love for his wife of many years, simply let her be.

Among the younger generation, there was no need to mention the sons and grandsons. As for the granddaughters, very few of them were willing to endure this sort of suffering. Only the seventh young miss, Wang Defang, seemed to have an inherent Buddhist nature ever since she was young. Back then while she worshiped Buddha, Wang Defang would stay beside her and copy what she was doing as if to learn from her. At first, Old Madam Wang thought since she was only a child, she was probably curious and wanted to play. Until the six-year-old Wang Defang copied an entire volume of Buddhist scriptures neatly and showed it to her.

Since then, Old Madam Wang began to treat Wang Defang differently. She would often say that this child shared her nature, resembled her, and had a similar temperament as her.

Wang Defang was also the di daughter so her status already far exceeded many others. In her generation, she was the most outstanding. The favour she received from Old Madam Wang was also not lacking when compared to the males of her generation.

Since she received so much favour from Old Madam Wang, by extension, Elder Wang’s goodwill was also not lacking. Elder Wang was usually busy with the affairs of the court, but when he did have some spare time, he’d ask after Wang Defang. This was a treatment that even Wang Defang’s brothers and cousins ​​couldn’t get.

“Ai, you have already grown up so fast. Once Fang’er gets married, grandmother will be lonely.” Looking at her beautiful granddaughter, Old Madam Wang let out a light sigh.

Wang Defang didn’t even have time to worry that her pants were still rolled up as she immediately shuffled over to Old Madam Wang’s side. She hugged her arm, and whined like a pampered young lass, “Fang’er won’t marry. Fang’er will accompany grandmother.”

“Silly girl. How can there be any young woman who refuses to marry? If it weren’t for that incident, Fang’er would probably be a mother by now.” Old Madam Wang let out another sigh.

Hearing this, Wang Defang’s expression darkened. She lowered his head without speaking.

Wang Defang was turning seventeen this year. It wasn’t that there were no seventeen-year-old women from noble families that have yet to marry, but that there were simply too few of them. Especially after the Wang Family had broken off the marriage with the former crown prince heir, now Hui Wang Heir, ordinary people did not dare to propose marriage.

After rescinding from the marriage, coupled with the rumours outside, Wang Defang was placed in an extremely awkward situation. No one dared to propose marriage, making Old Madam Wang very anxious.

The old madam stroked her silky hair and said with some pity, “Fang’er even though your marriage has been delayed, don’t worry. I have already spoken with your grandfather. Your grandfather has a disciple, an outstanding young man. Your grandfather has taken a fancy to him and intends to talk to him about you. No matter what, your future won’t be delayed.”

Upon hearing this, Wang Defang became a little anxious.

But she didn’t dare to show her anxiety in front of the old madam. She could only pretend to be shy with a hint of curiosity. “Grandma, what kind of person is he? If I do marry him, will it cause any trouble to our family?” At this point, Wang Defang’s expression became very solemn. “If it will cause any trouble to the family, Fang’er would rather not marry!” 

When this matter was mentioned, the old madam’s face couldn’t help but change. Her brows became slightly furrowed as if her heart was filled with unwillingness and annoyance.

With the prestige of the Wang Family in the court and the status of Elder Wang, there really was no need to marry into the imperial family. But when Emperor Hongjing humbled himself to ask for marriage on behalf of the crown prince’s heir, the Wang Family naturally couldn’t refuse. They thought to themselves that the eldest imperial grandson’s moral character had no problems and he was also someone with good prospects. Unless something unexpected were to happen, he’d become the emperor one day while Wang Defang would be the empress. Naturally, there wasn’t much reason for the Wang Family to refuse the marriage.

But who would have thought that something unexpected did happen? The crown prince was deposed so the position of the crown prince’s heir naturally couldn’t be kept. The various princes were all remaining in the capital and the smell of gunpowder was thick in the air as they fought to be the heir to the throne. The Wang Family could no longer sit still. So they pulled a move of ‘granddaughter is spoiled, while the old madam dotes on her grandchild, so Elder Wang cries and hopes for the marriage to be annulled’.

Their thoughts were that even if Wang Defang’s reputation were to be damaged, it was still better to get rid of the marriage. The Wang Family was not interested in getting themselves involved with the fight for the throne. Yet who would’ve thought that the princes have yet to give up? Although nothing had been done yet, rumours have already been spread outside, adding fuel to the flames. Wang Defang had leapt out of the frying pan straight into the fire.

Who dared to ask for the hand of a woman the princes were vying for? Originally, several of Elder Wang’s disciples were interested in Wang Defang and wanted to marry her as their wife. But now, no one dared to make a move for fear of stirring up a hornet’s nest. The Wang Family could only rush to find a young man for Wang Defang and marry her off as soon as possible to cut off the scheming thoughts of the princes.

It was only a brief instant as many thoughts flashed through Old Madam Wang’s mind. She patted Wang Defang’s hand and said in a soothing voice, “It’s good that you have this filial piety, but our Wang Family is not weak. Those princes who are scheming for your hand, they have to ask whether your grandfather and I agree or not. Don’t worry. Since your grandfather had said so, he’ll definitely stick to it and not let you down.”

“But…”

“Although the family is a little poorer, their background is clean. Although the young man does not hold a position right now and is only a Xiucai¹, it won’t be hard for him to become an official in the future. Fang’er only needs to wait patiently and not go out to random places with your mother. It’s not that your grandmother disdains your mother but she’s not sensible enough. Despite the chaos in the capital, she’s still taking you out to places and putting you in the limelight…”

Since Old Madam Wang was telling Wang Defang all this, it means that the matter has been more or less settled already. Telling her wasn’t asking for her opinion but giving her a heads up so she’d be ready when the day comes. As for the rest of the words that the old lady said afterwards, Wang Defang didn’t hear a single one of them.

It wasn’t that she’s unaware of her current situation. Originally she was set to be the wife of the crown prince’s heir, and in the future, likely to the crown princess then the empress. But now, the crown prince was deposed and the crown prince heir became the heir of Hui Wang.

Hui Wang. He was an existence that everyone disdained like an old shoe and his future prospects were bleak. No matter how much the emperor dotes on Hui Wang’s son, since he had the other princes remain in the capital, the future was uncertain. In the end, the eldest imperial grandson was still separated by a generation, so it’d be difficult for him to ascend the throne. 

When her family wanted to withdraw from the marriage, the marriage was withdrawn, but now they want to marry her to only a small Xiucai.

Now her grandmother was coaxing her into believing that this was a good marriage. Yet she, a proper di daughter of the Wang Family, was reduced to marrying a small Xiucai. Tsk, what clean background? To put it bluntly, his family was poor. This man truly wasn’t anything good. With the way things were, very few people in the capital dared to marry her for fear of being dragged into the murky waters. Instead of saying that he had a noble character, it seemed more likely that he was someone who treads on the weak and fawns on the powerful.

Wang Defang’s heart was full of anger, but she didn’t dare to express a word. Wearing a bright smile on her face, she said this decision would be left to her grandfather and grandmother. After that, she spoke with the old madam a little longer before coming up with an excuse and leaving.

Once she left, Old Madam Wang let out a deep sigh. An old servant, who had been standing to the side the whole time, stepped forward to change tea for Old Madam Wang. She whispered: “Old Madam, I think the seventh young miss is unwilling.”

Of course, Old Madam Wang could see that. Fang’er’s disdain and reluctance were too obvious.

The old madam sighed again and said, “With the way things are, even though she’s unwilling, it can’t be helped. No matter what, the family takes priority and we can’t ruin the futures of everyone for her sake. On account of her being so filial to me for all these years, take some money from my private savings and put it in her dowry. The Pei family is poor. With some money in her hand, it’d be easier to live a better future.”

“Yes.”