Chapter 62 (1/2)

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Chapter Sixty-Two: Chu Yu

While theirs mothers did not have a very good relations.h.i.+p, nevertheless Hua Xi Wan and Hua Chu Yu, as di daughters of the Hua Family, had been together many times during their childhood. They had a deep sisterly relations.h.i.+p. So Hua Xi Wan quickly realized that Hua Chu Yu did not seem to feel much antic.i.p.ation about the marriage to the s.h.i.+zi of He Wen Marquis. Rather than say she was being smart, it would be more accurate to say that she seemed resigned.

The people present were those who were close to the Hua Family, but some things were not appropriate to say in public. After Yan Jin Qiu and the other men went with her father to the study, Hua Xi Wan said with a smile, ”It has been long since I returned to the fu. Is Second Tan Jie willing to accompany me on a walk in the fu?”

Such a cold day with the snow blowing—what reason was there to walk?

Everyone present knew this meant that the two girls had private things to say. Perceptively, they did not break the illusion. Lu s.h.i.+ said with a smile, ”The yard has been changed recently. You sisters can go see. But it is snowing outside, so take care not to get cold.”

Hua Xi Wan smiled and allowed Bai Xia to help her into her fox fur cape. She held a handstove and walked out of the inner hall with Hua Chu Yu.

Almost all of the younger generation had left, and those present had children, so they changed the topic to daily matters. But because Hua Yi Liu was present, no one mentioned how to raise their children to avoid reminding the other of hurtful matters.

”w.a.n.g Fei has a good relations.h.i.+p with the second miss of our family.” Yao s.h.i.+ was a person who was slightly selfish. However, when she saw Hua Xi Wan's closeness in treating her daughter, she said with a smile, ”In the past, the two of them always liked to stay together. Now that Third Miss has become w.a.n.g Fei, the two still seem like in the past.”

”That is so true. In the past, Third Girl had to be on bedrest for a long period of time after she rescued Second Miss from drowning, and then ended up with this vulnerability to the cold. It has finally faded these past two years. Can average people compare to this relations.h.i.+p?” The reason why Lu s.h.i.+ was at odds with Yao s.h.i.+ was primarily because of this matter. She had felt pained at what occurred when her daughter rescued the child of the third master Hua, but she would not blame the child. But what Yao s.h.i.+ had done in the past was just repaying a boon with hate.

Yao s.h.i.+ was definitely one of the people who had spread rumors in the past about Hua Xi Wan. Even Zhang s.h.i.+ had done a lot in the shadows. She really did not know what her two sisters-in-law intended when they did this. They also had daughters—could they not put themselves in someone else's shoes?

If it wasn't for the actions of Eldest Miss and Second Miss' mothers, Lu s.h.i.+ had a high opinion of Second Miss. Eldest Miss had talent and beauty, but her personality was not steady. She was not as vicious as required and not as kind as needed. She did not have enough breadth of mind and skill. As a woman, one could not have beauty, or the best figure, but what they required was a presence of mind.

Second Miss had this mother who was slightly muddle-headed, but Yao s.h.i.+ was truly good to her daughter. Second Miss also inherited the personality of Third Master Hua: she had both talent and appearance as well as a clear mind. This was a rare good girl.

If the women in the world could become officials like men, how many wondrous and mythical women would appear in the world? It was a pity that no matter how talented the women of the world were, they could only submit to residing in the inner compound, their spirits ground down by the daily affairs. If they married a man who was of good virtue and conduct, that was good fortune. But if it was like Eldest Miss… Lu s.h.i.+ sighed. Regardless of what the court situation was like, she only hoped that Second Miss would not end up like Eldest Miss and encounter a beast in clothing.

”Let's sit up there.” Hua Xi Wan pointed at the Moon Viewing Pavilion in front. She was walking shoulder-to-shoulder with Hua Chu Yu, with a string of servant girls following them. A jade-ribbed ink umbrella was held on top of her head and caused her to feel slightly depressed.

The two sat down in the pavilion. The servants put out pastries, coal stoves, hot tea, and then retreated out of the pavilion.

”It is snowing outside; you should go seek shelter in the room. Just leave two people to serve in the pavilions.” Hua Xi Wan felt there was no need to torment so many people just to maintain her presence, so she had these people wait in the room. Even her personal servant girls were by the fire in the pavilion.

The servant girls heard this and were very happy as they left. Only Bai Xia and Hong Ying remained, as well as a personal servant girl of Hua Chu Yu.

There was tea boiling in the little red-date pot, the steam of which spread through the air as it bubbled.

The tea already was over-boiled but no one cared. Hua Xi Wan said as she held the hand-warmer, ”Just now, I saw that Second Jiejie is not very happy. Is something wrong with the s.h.i.+zi of the Lin Family?”

Hua Chu Yu looked at Hua Xi Wan's pale yet hale face. She shook her head with a faint smile. ”There is nothing wrong, it is just how it is. As a woman, what would determine the quality of my life is my husband and my children. With a fate that is dependent on relying on others to gain anything else, there is no need to have so many delusions.”

Hua Xi Wan looked dazedly at Hua Chu Yu and suddenly thought of the words Xu w.a.n.g s.h.i.+zi Fei had said, as well as Sheng Junw.a.n.g Fei's crazy actions after she could not have a child. She felt slightly uncomfortable. In this world where men held all the power, if women had any thoughts that were not to their benefit, the women would end up with the crime of ”not abiding by the womanly path.”

Men always praised ”women without talent are virtuous.” That was just because they were afraid that if women knew more, and their mind would be broadened, they would not serve men with all they had. So they would be like defenders who would suggest many things to women that were beneficial to the power of the man, while they whiled away their time at pleasure houses and brothels. As long as they had some respect towards their wife, they would receive the t.i.tle of gentleman and could generously state that concubines were only playthings and the wife was the true path.

Hua Chu Yu saying this to her meant that she felt unwilling but had to compromise because she could not change anything. Hua Xi Wan felt sorrow for these exceptional women and also sighed for herself.

Of the women whom she knew, all had their unique traits. Even the Empress who was at odds with Yan Jin Qiu was a women with great skill. Yet how many of these exceptional women lived freely?