The door of the woodshed creaked open, and the dazzling sunlight outside shone directly onto the person squatting in the corner.
Madam Liu no longer possessed the delicate beauty of a weeping willow, for she had brought such scandalous gossip upon the Duke of Zhuang’s estate. The Duchess had her beaten severely and locked her in the woodshed.
Madam Liu was grateful her child had not suffered such a fate.
She looked up and saw several people standing at the entrance of the woodshed.
“Madam Liu, these two are mamas sent from the palace to care for you. His Majesty has decreed a marriage between you and the Second Young Master of Zhuang. You have finally made it and will become the Second Madam of the Zhuang family.”
Hearing this, Madam Liu’s heart skipped a beat. She felt no joy at the prospect of becoming the Second Madam of the Zhuang family.
“Then… then what about the Princess?” she asked, her voice hoarse after a long silence.
“The Princess has divorced the Second Young Master of Zhuang. Congratulations to you, the future Second Madam of Zhuang. The Empress is kind-hearted. Knowing your humble background, she has specially sent two mamas to look after you. Aren’t you going to express your gratitude?” The speaker’s voice was sharp and laced with mockery.
“Thank you, thank you, Your Highness the Empress.”
It was truly over. She had never imagined she would gain such a status. After all, the Second Young Master was a consort; how could he possibly take a concubine?
Now, because of her, the consort and the Princess had divorced. She was taking the position of the Second Madam, so how could she possibly live long?
The Duchess of Zhuang disliked her immensely. If she were truly to become her daughter-in-law… she suddenly understood why these two mamas had been sent. She wondered how long the royal family would permit her to live.
She didn’t need to live too long. Just long enough to see her child grow into adulthood would be enough. If she could see her child reach adulthood, she would be content.
“Alright, come out with me. You are about to be a bride, so you need to recuperate properly!”
Thus, Madam Liu was led out of the woodshed. The dazzling sunlight made it difficult for her to open her eyes, but at this moment, she had no energy to think of anything else.
She had to find a way to survive.
Although the events at the Duke of Zhuang’s estate were significant, they seemed not to have disturbed the Princess Fu’an’s residence.
Zhao Hao and Lin Yan sat opposite each other, playing chess in a pavilion in the garden. Light curtains shielded them from the wind, but more importantly, from prying eyes.
“The Duke of Zhuang’s family has truly lost a wife and a soldier. However, it was also wise of the Eldest Princess to make such a decision. It’s best to cut one’s losses promptly when faced with such matters.”
“Does Yan Ge agree with the Eldest Princess’s actions?”
He didn’t quite understand. Everything he had been taught told him that a woman’s life in this world was exceedingly difficult, especially if she were to leave a man after marriage, with little hope of survival.
This was particularly true for widows and those who were cast aside. Not only was their life arduous, but they also faced constant criticism.
Since the Eldest Consort had promised to return, and with so many people advocating for her, surely that person would not dare to betray her again. Why was she so resolute?
People always advised reconciliation rather than separation, especially since the Eldest Consort and the Princess had once been so loving.
“Of course. If one hesitates to act when one should, one will be plagued by trouble. If this Eldest Consort could betray the Princess when she was at the height of her power, what would he do to her when she was in decline?”
“How could the Princess be in decline?”
“Why not?” Lin Yan said with a smile.
Zhao Hao thought of their plans and did not argue further.
“One’s own siblings can be sacrificed for the sake of the royal family, let alone those not of the same mother.
In other words, if the Eldest Princess were your child, our daughter, would you advise her to return?”
“Impossible!” The moment he spoke, he understood Lin Yan’s meaning.
“Pain is not felt until it is inflicted upon oneself. While our Emperor is cruel to others, he is quite doting towards his own children.”
At least he didn’t force the Eldest Princess to endure this humiliation for the sake of the royal family’s reputation.
“Does Yan Ge mean he will have a daughter with me?” Zhao Hao suddenly realized the implication of Lin Yan’s words.
“I was just saying,” Lin Yan did not take the bait.
“Reputation is not as important as family. It’s just that people in this world often fail to see clearly.”
“So Yan Ge intends to publicize this matter?”
“With a royal princess as an example, at least some capable individuals will be encouraged to take that step bravely.”
She had dispatched many people to guide public opinion on this matter, not for the royal family, nor for the Eldest Princess, but in the hope that people in this world would be slightly more tolerant towards women.
“It will certainly come true as Yan Ge wishes.” He would also strive to help Yan Ge achieve her wish, to truly live freely in this world.
Having lived as a woman for so many years, he understood the hardships women faced. Although he had not experienced much due to his status, it was enough to make him comprehend the difficulties women endured.
At least with a royal princess taking the lead, coupled with public opinion, those men who acted excessively would surely face repercussions from their wives’ families.
Even if not all, a few would be good.
The wedding of the Second Young Master of Zhuang and his paramour arrived quickly.
There were many onlookers on this day, but the Duke of Zhuang’s family did not wish to host a grand affair, primarily because they were too embarrassed.
Compared to the magnificent wedding with the Eldest Princess, this wedding was extremely shabby.
The bride had no dowry to speak of, only a few chests to make up the numbers. The wedding procession was almost non-existent, far less extravagant than that of a man taking a concubine.
At the wedding ceremony, the groom’s family could not even muster a forced smile. Their stern faces made it seem as if they were not celebrating a joyous occasion.
For someone of such standing to marry into the Zhuang family as the main wife made many within the Zhuang household unable to hold their heads up.
This wedding was presided over by the Young Master’s wife. Thinking that she would have to share the same familial relationship with a woman of such background, the Young Master’s wife wore an expression of disdain. She wished she could be like her mother-in-law and simply ignore everything.
However, as a daughter-in-law, she had no choice but to grit her teeth and go along with it. Despite their displeasure, this was a marriage decreed by the Emperor, and two mamas sent by the Empress were specifically overseeing the ceremony.
Yet, realizing that they would soon be leaving the capital, the Young Master’s wife felt a little better.
However, the thought that her younger uncle’s disgraceful actions might implicate her own husband caused her to glare resentfully at the Young Master, who was helping to receive guests on the other side.
After learning that his brother had kept a mistress, she had investigated her husband as well. Fortunately, he was not as unreliable as his brother.
Thinking of what her parents had told her, her heart felt even heavier. Why should her in-laws hide in their rooms while they, the couple, were forced to endure this public humiliation? The Young Master’s wife tore another handkerchief.
She threw the torn, frayed handkerchief to a nearby maid and forced a smile to entertain the guests who had arrived.
She knew perfectly well that they were here merely to witness the Duke of Zhuang’s family’s disgrace, but they were guests, and she could not turn them away.