Who Cares

ord by word, “The Ye family died because of you; the second aunt was dragged to death because of you; grandmother’s life has been shorten because of you; mother was forced to reconcile because of you; daddy was forced to have a home but could not return because of you.
Are you satisfied? Are you going to drive your son, the only one who cares about you, crazy? Why don’t you die in the palace? You bitch should die in the palace!”

Zhao Wangshu, who was kneeling in the pile of ruined porcelain, was already frightened and dumbfounded.
He looked at her with his mouth open, and tears gradually soaked into his eyes.
It was not that he couldn’t feel his mother’s paranoia and madness, or that he felt he wasn’t as strong as he wished to be and unable to move.
He just couldn’t let go the blood ties.

He called “sister” full of hope, hoping that she could stay in the East Mansion and give him some support and encouragement, but after she vented her grievances, she left without looking back, leaving only an indifferent sentence, “If you’re still persist going on the wrong way, you will die in Ye Zhen’s hands sooner or later.”

This seemed to be a curse, but it didn’t seem to be, making Zhao Wangshu cold to his bone marrow.

—–

At the same time, the main entrance of Xu Mansion was full of guests.
After the literary gathering, Xu Guangzhi invited all the disciples to come to his house to socialize.
The huge courtyard was full of people inside and out, and there were even some busybody lying on the wall to watch the fun.
He sat in the middle and talked eloquently, his every move was in the style of a great scholar, made people fascinated.

Xu Yayan stayed in the inner house with her mother Lin shi, looking out through a bamboo curtain.

“This is the article you wrote at the literary gathering.
Your father quietly put it away and asked me to burn it quickly.
As a woman, how can you show your face and compete with others? It can’t be like this in the future.” She took out a manuscript from the bag and reprimanded.

“But other women have also written articles, why am I the only one who can’t write? Am I inferior to them?” Xu Yayan’s face was full of grievances.

“On the contrary, it is precisely because you are better than them that your father doesn’t allow you to associate with them.
Women should be chaste and virtuous and keep their duties, and they should not show their faces easily, otherwise they will look lowly.
Look at that Guan shi woman, one moment make this trouble, one moment make that trouble, the rumors in Yanjing is all about her, the result? Isn’t she reconcile? In the future, even a decent husband cannot be found, can only stay alone at home for a lifetime, desolate until death, this is exactly the ending of a restless woman! If she is honest and abiding by women’s morality, she should take Madam Ye in and take the initiative to be an equal wife.
Madam Ye originally is the di first wife, one head higher than her, could it be she still feel wronged? Look at now, Madam Ye is sick, Old Madam Zhao is also sick, Zhao Luli never returns home, leaving the two children alone, this is all the fault of that Guan woman!”

Xu Yayan was a little conflicted in her heart, and asked back, “Mother, if you encounter this situation, will you take the initiative to back down and ask  to become an equal wife with Madam Ye?”

“Naturally.
Women should be faithful unto death, regards their husbands as heaven.
A husband’s first wife should be respected, whether she is dead or alive.
Of course, the daughter of our Xu family can never be a concubine.
You have also reached the marriageable age, this is the manuscript left over by your grandmother, which is full of the summary about the principle of being a daughter, a wife, and a mother.
You take a look at it.” Lin shi opened the wooden box on the table and took out a stack of yellow papers.

Xu Yayan took it cautiously, flipped through the two pages, and a bright light appeared in her eyes.
Lessons for Women? Female virtue? Great word! There was an urge in her heart to summarize it and write it into a book.
Didn’t Guan Suyi say that virtue is heavier than talent? Men have the virtue of a gentleman, and women should also have the virtue of a lady.
If looking at her words and deeds, how could it be worthy of the four characters “Mingde Weixin”?

She read a paragraph carefully, as if gained the most precious treasure.

Seeing this, Lin shi was very pleased, opened the money box, locked the things sent by the students, and said in a low voice, “Your father has really turned things around this time.
The silver sent by the disciples alone is more than a thousand, not to mention silk, antiques, jade and other items.
In the future  you no longer need to copy books at night and sell them.
I heard that Grand Astrologer and Supervisor of Attendants, those two masters, want to recommend him to preside over this imperial examination.
Even if he cannot be the chief examiner, still can also get a deputy post, and later on, he will become a true high-level official.”

“The examiner? I’m afraid it won’t work, right? The Emperor Teacher and Chief of Ceremonies are on top, so it’s not father’s turn yet.” Having said that, Xu Yayan was extremely unwilling.

“What do you know? First push as the main examiner, and after being rejected by His Majesty then push to become the deputy, the chance of being appointed will be greater.” Lin shi smiled disapprovingly.
In her opinion, it was already very good for her husband to have a half-official position, and he must not be too greedy.

“That’s true.
If father can participate in presiding over this imperial examination, he can attract many students, and when they become officials next year, they will be able to help father.
When climbing in court, the network is the most important thing.
Our family has no background, fortunately father can think of this way.” Xu Yayan admired her father very much, and there was a bit of pride in her tone.

“That’s not it.
Master Yun only accepts children from noble families, and Guan’s father and son only accept outstanding talents, but how can there be so many noble families’ children and outstanding talents in the world? Where should the rest of the students go for advice? Your father as the model of this generation and a worthy teacher, will be widely praised and famous all over the world in the future.”

Xu Yayan pointed to the lively scene outside, and said with certainty, “Mother, you are wrong, father is already the gate wall of peach and plum*, famous all over the world.”