Chapter 474: The Path I’ve Chosen, I’ll Finish It Even if I Cry
Translator: End less Fantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
Speaking of this matter, Nanny Li’s expression turned sour. She said, “Master Grand Chancellor is a very cunning man. Whether his feelings were genuine or not, who knows? Lady Ruyi and Master Grand Chancellor had their eyes on each other during the Peony Banquet. Back then, Master Grand Chancellor was just a fifth-rank civil official. Later on, he came to propose to the Liang family, but Master Liang didn’t agree. He persisted for quite some time.”
“Could it be that because my grandparents vehemently opposed, it led to my mother’s rebellion, insisting on marrying him against all odds?” Liu Shimei a.n.a.lyzed from a perspective of human nature, finding this not surprising at all!
People have rebellious hearts, especially in their early teens.
Ordinary girls from typical families, bound by toxic feudal thoughts like ‘Female Precepts?’, might endure and accept their fate. But Liang Ruyi, this cherished pearl of the Liang family, didn’t receive the education ordinary young ladies did. A daughter of a military general would naturally have a rebellious spirit, which was entirely normal.
Hence, the more her parents opposed the relationship, the more Liang Ruyi believed it was true love and the more determined she became to marry him!
“Isn’t that the truth?” Nanny Li sighed softly. “Master Grand Chancellor being a scholar might be acceptable, but the Liu family has been a family of scholars for generations. In Master’s eyes, such aristocratic families are overly traditional and stifling. They’re full of scholarly rules and regulations. The Liu family has many senior members, always eager to lecture you about the Three Obediences and the Four Virtues. How could Lady Ruyi, who grew up pampered and indulged at home, tolerate that? But the more Old Master, Madam, and the elder uncles opposed, the more Lady Ruyi persisted! In the end, because of his deep love for his daughter, Old Master agreed.”
Liu Shimei could only chuckle at this!
Nanny Li continued, “Eldest Young Miss, you asked about Master Grand Chancellor’s feelings for Lady Ruyi. At first, I thought it was quite good. Right after their marriage, the couple seemed harmonious, and they even had their eldest son the following year. Life in the mansion was decent for Lady Ruyi after giving birth to the legitimate heir. However, for two consecutive years, she couldn’t conceive, and the elders in the Liu family decided to let Master Grand Chancellor take three concubines.”
“I wonder how my mother endured it?” Even though it didn’t need mentioning, the fact was evident to Liu Shimei: apart from Madam Zhang, there were seven concubines in the rear courtyard of Liu Fuyun!
So…
Liang Ruyi’s maternal family, Liu Shimei’s grandmother, was the sole favorite in the rear court. Her brothers: the first uncle, second uncle, and third uncle, each had only one wife in their rear courts, without any other women…
For Liang Ruyi, who grew up in such a family atmosphere, how did she feel when her husband took three concubines at once?
But it was already done; she had to endure it!
Nanny Li sneered, saying, “Lady Ruyi naturally couldn’t endure it. But she chose this marriage herself, what else could she do? She knew her parents and brothers strongly opposed it, yet she insisted on marrying him. She’s a strong-willed person; how could she complain to her family? She had to swallow her tears, especially…”
When she reached this point, Nanny Li’s face revealed a touch of sadness, saying, “Jealousy and rivalry were inevitable when there were other concubines in the rear court. The one in charge of the household at that time was the old madam. Even if Lady Ruyi wanted to a.s.sert her authority as the legal wife, she was suppressed…”
She lowered her voice a bit, “She was suppressed by the malicious mother-in-law.”
After all, the ‘malicious mother-in-law’ she referred to was still alive, so she di not dare to speak loudly. But the people in Leihua Courtyard trusted Liu Shimei, so Nanny Li dared to speak her mind.
Liu Shimei concluded, “In other words, my… my grandmother, after my grandfather pa.s.sed away, didn’t think highly of my mother?”