When the woman learned that her mother's condition had worsened and the situation was not optimistic, her face turned pale as paper as soon as she stepped into the door and had not yet gained her footing.
Anxiety and worry intertwined, turning into tears in her eyes: "How could my brother act like this! Isn't this a typical act of favoring a concubine and forgetting his wife?"
There was a hint of sob and dissatisfaction in his voice.
"What nonsense are you talking about! How can you speak so badly of your own brother? Even if you feel unfair, you can't just say it carelessly!"
Upon hearing this, the Duke's wife immediately reprimanded him harshly, her tone filled with unquestionable authority and a sense of instruction.
"Isn't that the truth? After all, the eldest sister-in-law is the principal wife and has the right to handle the affairs of the concubines. Even if Wen Zhu is unable to have children or is sold away, these decisions are justified. From this point of view, it can be seen that this person's intentions are extremely ulterior. He even dared to instigate my eldest brother to divorce the eldest sister-in-law. This is simply challenging the family rules."
Sheng Shuyao's words came out quickly and forcefully like a string of cannonballs.
"Shut up!"
The Duke's wife's tone was extremely harsh, practically shouting these two words at her own daughter, "Do you really think your brother filed for divorce just for Wen Zhu? People outside don't know the truth, so I won't tell you, but don't you know the real reason?"
She glared at her daughter, her eyes full of warning.
"Who can really tell what really happened back then? We can't judge the whole thing based on just one person's words. Besides, there's nothing wrong with my sister-in-law planning for her own future. At least she's always respected my brother, which is a rare virtue."
As Sheng Shuyao spoke, her spirits gradually grew higher, and the delicate but obviously heavy headdresses on her head kept shaking, as if they might fall off at any time due to the owner's excessive movements.
"Hmph! Do you think I can't see what you're up to? You're trying to curry favor with your sister-in-law, hoping she'll say something good about your husband in front of her father, thereby improving your husband's social status and getting him transferred back to the capital as soon as possible so you can be reunited, right?"
The Duke's wife stared into her scheming daughter's eyes and spoke, her tone calm but with a hidden sharpness.
Hearing these words, and realizing that her thoughts had been seen through, Sheng Shuyao's eyes instantly flashed with a hint of grievance: "Changqing is away from home all year round. Most of the time, I need to take care of the elders in the family myself, and I can't find any extra time to visit him. This long-term separation has made the relationship between us increasingly weak. As a mother, you should also understand my difficulties, right?"
As she spoke, her voice became lower, as if she was asking for the other person's understanding.
"Don't act so pitiful here. For a man, going out and gaining experience is a form of tempering and growth. After a few years of hard work, things will always get better. You should put away the idea of solving all problems through shortcuts. If you do have extra energy, it's better to use it to fully support your husband and encourage him to work harder. That's the most important thing."
Although the Duke's wife's attitude seemed much calmer when she said this, the meaning contained in it was extremely profound.
"Mom, it's not that I don't want to do this. He's already very dedicated and conscientious in his daily work, and I can fully feel his efforts. But if we can find a more appropriate way to solve the problem, why not try to find it and try it?"
Sheng Shuyao felt that she was a little wronged, and her tone was full of helplessness and confusion.
"In matters like this, the key lies in personal effort, not reliance on external support. Only by strengthening yourself can you gain recognition and help from others. A true man wouldn't let his wife go home and ask his father-in-law for help."
The Duke's wife's expression began to turn sour, and her words were full of dissatisfaction with her daughter's behavior and her trust in her son's ability to be independent.
Hearing this, Sheng Shuyao was speechless and could only lower her head and remain silent.
Then she heard the Duke's wife continue, "Your brother patrols the riverbank almost every day to ensure the safety of the levee. This often leaves his shoes smeared with mud and his clothes torn by sharp branches. Especially during heavy rains, while others rush indoors, he bravely rushes out into the rain. Even a raincoat is useless in such weather, and he often ends up soaked to the skin like a drowned rat. Even so, to avoid worrying me, his mother, he always changes into clean clothes before returning home. He never asks any of us for even the smallest help because of the hardships he endures."
"I know where my mistakes were. I ask that you forgive my recklessness and inappropriateness, mother."
After feeling her mother's stern teaching, Sheng Shuyao expressed her remorse in a low voice.
"Now that you've realized this, it's good. Sisters should get along harmoniously. Visiting each other is certainly fine, but please be mindful of your limits. Don't be too eager to please others, losing your dignity and causing them to look down on you. Also, remember, never discuss the faults of your relatives behind their backs, and don't speak anything other than good things about people of high moral character like your eldest brother to outsiders."
The Duke's wife taught her earnestly, her expression appearing extremely serious.
"Thank you, mother, for your teachings. I now understand and remember these principles. I am going to visit my eldest sister-in-law and hope to do something meaningful for the family."
Sheng Shuyao nodded in agreement, stood up and left the room, embarking on the journey to her eldest brother's house.
"Go ahead."
The Duke's wife waved her hand gently, with a hint of helplessness in her eyes.
As she walked out of the main hall, the bright sunlight shone towards her, causing her to squint slightly. The sudden brightness made her feel a little dizzy.
Although what my mother said is right, it is difficult to do in real life.
Her mother's words seemed to still echo in her ears, reminding her of many things. However, when she really put them into practice, she found that it was far from being that easy and simple.
Thinking that Ji Changqing had married another concubine outside, a complex emotion suddenly surged in her heart - she wanted to go to where he was immediately to relieve the pain of missing him, but she was tightly bound by various practical factors.
Not only did her mother-in-law firmly oppose her doing this, she was too lazy to even find a reason to go out. She simply pretended to be sick and stayed at home to prevent herself from having the opportunity to escape from this cage-like environment.
On the one hand, they are responsible for arranging and managing all household affairs and taking good care of the children's growth needs.
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