The next day, Lanqin summoned the three princesses and Bechuk to the main hall of Changchun Palace. She also specially asked Baoqin and Yuxiao to prepare four tables and chairs and a small blackboard, turning the main hall into a classroom.
The three princesses walked in cautiously, looking around. Bechuk, quite used to it, found a place to sit down. Lanqin walked out with a smile, and the three princesses quickly bowed and greeted her. Lanqin gestured for them to sit down one by one.
Lanqin picked up a pointer with an air of importance and paced back and forth in front of the blackboard, pondering what to teach for the first lesson. The three princesses sat upright in their seats, not daring to move, their eyes fixed on Lanqin.
Lanqin's eyes lit up, and she asked, "The three princesses will all get married in the future. Can you tell me how to conduct yourselves in your husbands' families after marriage?"
The three women exchanged bewildered glances. They had expected Lanqin to teach them about female virtues and classical poetry, or perhaps literature and calligraphy. They were surprised by this question and blushed with embarrassment, lowering their heads in silence. Lanqin said urgently, "I need to understand your true thoughts first before I can design a good learning plan for your future life on the grasslands..."
Bechuk stood up and encouraged the three of them, "Just speak your minds boldly. My Empress Mother has plenty of ideas and will guarantee that you will benefit immensely..."
Princess Qing'an mustered her courage, stood up, glanced timidly at Lanqin, and said softly, "After marrying into my husband's family, I will naturally obey their arrangements and put my husband first in everything..."
Lanqin was taken aback and asked, "What if... what if your husband isn't here?"
Without hesitation, Qing'an replied, "Of course, I want to have children as soon as possible, and then follow my son's arrangements..."
Lanqin shook her head in disappointment, pointed at Princess Qingshun, and asked, "And you?"
Qingshun bit her lip and said shyly, "My father taught me that a woman should be a good wife and mother in her husband's home, uphold the virtues of womanhood, live in harmony with her husband, and never overstep the boundaries..."
Lanqin retorted quickly, "If your husband had three wives and four concubines, how could you expect to live a life of mutual respect and harmony?"
Qing Shun was shocked and said in a panic, "Qing...Qing Shun will follow her husband wherever he goes, even if he's a chicken or a dog. It's natural for a husband to have multiple wives and concubines. Qing Shun doesn't ask for exclusive love, she only asks to grow old together with him..."
Lanqin's vision went black for a moment, and she finally understood what it meant to be utterly hopeless...
Lanqin was anxious, so she took a deep breath and asked, "Alright, how do you plan to live well in your husband's family?"
Qing Le stood up confidently and said, "I know that. It's about giving birth to a son as soon as possible to solidify my position in my husband's family..." Qing An and Qing Shun nodded silently in agreement. Lan Qin was speechless, slapping her forehead and saying, "What if you can't give birth to a son?"
This problem stumped Qing Le. After thinking it over and over, she lowered her head and muttered, "No... I must give birth to a son..."
Lanqin sighed, "Didn't you ever think about making a living on your own?"
Qing Le, Qing An, and Qing Shun all looked at Lan Qin. Bie Chu Ke shook his head helplessly and said, "My mother taught me from a young age that men and women are equal! What men can do, we women can do too. Even after marriage, we should have the ability to live independently in our husband's family and not rely on others for everything..."
Lanqin said earnestly, "Biechuk is right! I don't want you to place all your hopes on your nanny, your husband, or your children in the future... Always relying on your husband's favor makes it easy to lose yourself. Do you really want your lifelong happiness to be in someone else's hands?"
The three princesses looked at each other in bewilderment when they heard such words for the first time.
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