34 The Matriarch’s Love Story (1/2)

Yao Ling walked along the matriarch and Madam Wang, following the path to the matriarch's room. She could see the affection between the matriarch and Madam Wang. They seemed to get along in harmony. The other proof also could be seen by the way the matriarch treat the concubines. She treated them coldly. Maybe she would ask them about it if she had the chance.

When they arrived at the matriarch's room, they sat on the small table near the matriarch's bed. The decoration inside the matriarch's room was in contrast with the mansion design. It was pretty simple without excessive and expensive things to display. It seemed like the matriarch didn't really like extravagant things. Yao Ling was wondering why but didn't ask about it. It was a personal choice, but it certainly made her admire the matriarch.

The matriarch noted Yao Ling's reaction. She knew that Yao Ling was confused with the plain decoration inside her room. ”Are you thinking why the decoration inside my room is so plain and simple?”

Yao Ling never guessed that the matriarch would understand her though and brought the subject herself. Naturally, she would ask to satisfy her curiosity. ”En~”

The matriarch laughed softly at her honest response. Usually, people would feel bad and lie through their teeth that they didn't think that way. ”I used to live an extravagant lifestyle. However, when I fell in love with your grandfather, we started from the bottom. Your grandfather was only a poor merchant. After getting married to him, of course, I'd have to follow his humble lifestyle.”

The matriarch's eyes were staring at a blank space. It seemed like she was reminiscing the past. ”We started from the bottom, so I lost my pampered lifestyle. I didn't mind, but I could see how it broke your grandfather's hard. He kept feeling sorry for me. However, those times were the times I was really happy about being in love and being loved in return. We didn't have much but we lived in harmony.”

”Grandmother, I've heard that you are from a noble background. How come Grandfather didn't get married into your family? Or maybe asked for their help?” Yao Ling asked curiously.

The matriarch laughed at her silly question. ”You are really naïve. Of course, I couldn't ask for their help. They didn't give us a blessing so we ran away together. Only the Empress, my sister, gave us her blessing. But that was way before she became an Empress. So… she also had no power to help me at that time. Besides, your grandfather was a proud person. He wanted to prove that he could become successful without help.” The matriarch turned to Yao Ling and laughed, ”You know… men…”

Yao Ling giggled at the way the matriarch said it. Yes, we did know that men are always prideful. The matriarch looked around her room, slightly smiling. ”This is how our room looked like at that time. It feels like he was here with me, so I won't feel lonely. I can always imagine what happened back then and how our love blossomed inside that room.”

Yao Ling could see the sadness behind her smiling face. She never thought that the matriarch was a romantic person. She wanted to be basked with her lover's love forever and chose to decorate the room this way. She could feel their love and somehow it made her feel in awe.

Yao Ling didn't miss Madam Wang's admiring look towards the matriarch. She could also see a slight envious feeling. What woman wouldn't feel touched with such a sweet love story? The matriarch even bravely abandoned everything for the so-called love.

”Is it worth it?” Madam Wang asked softly. Then, she gasped in surprise. She probably didn't think she accidentally blurted out the question. Yao Ling couldn't help but felt sorry for Madam Wang. She probably had a bitter feeling with the concubines' presence.