Chapter 29 Loyalty and Righteousness: The Yan family has never treated me well, so why should I treat them well...?
Li Yunru never imagined that a single sentence she and Yan Ning exchanged in private, a threat or provocation between husband and wife, would so quickly become a dagger aimed at her.
She was angry, hateful, and resentful...
Countless emotions surged within her chest, and she had a thousand words to say, but in the end, she couldn't utter a single word of explanation.
"Yes, it was me. I did everything. I'm shameless. I deliberately seduced her. I would do anything for the safety of my Li family!"
She gave up entirely, laughing maniacally as if she were insane, scanning the hypocritical men before her, and finally, as the Yan family wished, she admitted to the matter.
"Not just him, anyone here who can help the Li family can become my intimate guest."
She took all the blame and, in her own name, extended invitations to everyone at the banquet, as well as to the young men from various families in the capital.
Those people at the table were all extremely hypocritical, and their private lives were utterly filthy. But when you were truly open and honest, they dared not accept it.
The person didn't come. But those young lads did.
That makes sense.
After all, who wouldn't want to catch a glimpse of the once stunningly beautiful and charming Princess Liyang in the capital?
Despite their disdain, her title of princess did have some use, adding another romantic chapter to their reputation for romance and talent.
Such events were countless. Whether in the capital or Jiankang, banquets of this kind were held one after another. These self-proclaimed noble families had always liked to use famous young women to adorn themselves.
See how they lowered their proud heads, prostrated themselves at his feet, and were conquered by him.
...
Li Yunru teased the myna bird that had been brought over. It was very lively and had been chirping and chattering since it entered the room, saying many auspicious words. When it heard Shu Yun call her "Princess," it would also call out "Princess" along with her.
It is truly an interesting and intelligent bird.
"Need not."
She refused.
Yan Ning treated her well and did protect her in many ways. However, this matter concerned the Yan family, and what he valued most were his parents and relatives.
She didn't want to gamble on this anymore.
This is an unsolvable problem.
Choosing either side will not yield a satisfactory result.
Although their marriage had ended, they had shared a bed for over a year and still had some feelings for each other.
The Yan family is the Yan family, and Yan Ning is Yan Ning. They cannot be confused. The Yan family wronged her, and she used him to deal with the Yan family and fight for herself. Let's consider the grudges settled and never have anything to do with each other again. Let this matter be considered as her doing this for him and to preserve the last bit of dignity for the Yan family.
Li Yunru didn't want to hear too much about the Yan family at this moment, so she changed the subject and asked, "Shuyun, do you like going to the capital?"
Shu Yun, not wanting to offend her master, did not bring it up again.
Puzzled by her sudden question about going to the capital, she paused for a moment before reacting. Relying on her instinct as a maid to read people's expressions, she replied ingratiatingly, "This servant has no preferences. Everything I have belongs to the princess. If the princess likes it, then this servant likes it too."
Li Yunru smiled, a bitter smile, and asked, "What if one day I, the princess, am gone?"
Shu Yun: "..."
The two of them understood each other without saying a word.
Princess Li Yunru won't be a princess for long.
This is due to the circumstances of the time, and no one can change it.
She sighed and said wistfully, "With your skills, if you set up a shop in the capital, I imagine many high-ranking officials and their families would be willing to patronize it."
Shu Yun has skillful hands. She can style many beautiful hair buns and make many beautiful pieces of jewelry. Ordinary things can come to life in her hands.
She is a true artisan.
As long as you're alive, a craftsman will never starve.
"Princess, are you trying to send me away?"
Realizing Li Yunru's true motives for saying this, Shu Yun panicked. She knelt down and pleaded, "Princess, please don't send me away. I don't want to comb the hair of any high-ranking official. I only want to stay by your side and serve you for the rest of my life."
She spoke sincerely, her eyes bloodshot and tears welling up.
Li Yunru also felt helpless.
If she could, why wouldn't she want Shu Yun to stay?
Shu Yun was born into a poor family. It is said that her mother was a maid who was driven out of a noble family. When she was about to die, she was found by a fishing farmer. The farmer took her in, and the two became husband and wife. Several months later, she was born. However, due to her damaged body, she could not have children. She was bullied by her mother-in-law in every way and passed away when she was three years old.
Later, her father found another fertile woman who gave birth to three younger brothers in succession. However, the family was poor, with only a few acres of meager land and an unstable fishing income. How could they support so many people? Fortunately, she inherited her mother's appearance. Although she was thin, she was pretty and charming. So, her father decided to sell her to a brokerage firm for ten taels of silver. Later, she was spotted by Li Yunru, who happened to be passing by, and she stayed by his side to serve him ever since.
Over the years, although they were nominally master and servant, their relationship was no less than that of relatives and friends. Shu Yun would make her beautiful headdresses so that she would always look radiant. She would say many sweet words to coax her, and she would even cover for her when she was naughty and sneaked out of the palace, suffering the consequences herself...
She said she was just a girl, and that she had given herself this life, and that she would risk everything for her at any time.
It is an honor for a person to die for their lord.
But everyone has a heart, how could she possibly be indifferent to people?
Her days in the Yan family wouldn't last much longer, and having lost her status as a princess and the Yan family's daughter-in-law, no one knew what the future held.
Li Yunru thought that she could still make some decisions for her now, so she should take advantage of this time to find a good way out for her, so that her time with her would not have been in vain. However, she did not expect her to react like this.
Shu Yun was a loyal servant.
Unfortunately, it was too late.
...
Just as the master and servant were worrying about this, an uninvited guest arrived at the door.
It's Cui Wan.
She wanted to see Li Yunru, but Chen Jingsheng stopped her at the door.
"My lord said that no one is allowed to meet with the princess in private without his order."
Cui Wan was turned away by a servant and felt a little embarrassed, but she didn't lose her composure and continued to talk to Chen Jingsheng in a polite manner.
Unfortunately, people are stubborn and unwilling to be tolerant.
This angered her maid, who started cursing and swearing, and a commotion broke out.
Li Yun and Cui Wan were like two peas in a pod, disliking each other but not having much real conflict, except for the conflict over Yan Ning.
Even so, after yesterday's incident, the only person who showed her respect and upheld her dignity was her.
Therefore, Li Yunru was willing to give her this respect.
She told Shu Yun to go out and then brought the person in.
"His men, however, listen to you." Cui Wan said as she entered the room, her tone tinged with bitterness.
This was the first time, apart from that day in the Yan family's backyard, that Li Yunru had so clearly felt Cui Wan's emotional reaction.
The girls from these aristocratic families were raised from a young age to follow many rules: they could not be arrogant, angry, cry, or make a fuss.
In short, one should not be unrestrained in being oneself.
Even if the sky were to fall, she would still maintain the dignity of a noblewoman.
Although Cui Wan was only sixteen years old, her upbringing from childhood had taught her exceptional manners. She was a tea enthusiast, but in most situations, she remained calm even in the face of a collapsing mountain. She was an outstanding young lady from a prominent family.
The only person who could make her make such an exception was her third cousin.
“His master and I are husband and wife, so it’s only natural that he would listen to me.”
"Are you showing off to me?" Cui Wan said.
Li Yunru said, "I am merely stating the facts."
Cui Wan smiled, but there was no joy in her smile, only sarcasm.
"What a statement of facts. Do you know that your cousin was locked up in the ancestral hall again because of you? He didn't have to be punished, but he said that everything you did was his fault for not disciplining you properly, and he was willing to take the punishment in your place."
Unless someone deliberately concealed something like last night, keeping it tightly under wraps and giving instructions, everything that happens in this mansion will spread like wildfire to every corner of the Yan family in no time, so she is naturally aware of that.
"You know the details of yesterday's events. He did it for me, but it was also to atone for the mistakes of the Yan family."
Li Yunru is so patient.
Normally, she wouldn't be so easy to talk to a woman who always coveted her husband and wanted to push her out of the picture.
Last night, when everyone was saying she was wrong and relentlessly pressuring her to admit it, only Cui Wan noticed her disheveled state and was the only one willing to offer her a piece of clothing to preserve her dignity in front of everyone.
I will not offend others unless they offend me. If people respect her, she will naturally respect them in return.
“Li, you are truly heartless!” Cui Wan rebuked.
He was being punished for her mistakes, yet he remained so nonchalant, showing no sadness or heartache whatsoever.
ruthless?
Yan Ning also said the same thing about her.
Li Yunru smiled.
"If I am heartless, then what about the Yan family, who imprisoned me when my father was seriously ill, and who rushed to bring you into their home before I had even divorced Yan Changjun, and you, who are eyeing my position with covetousness?"
"The Yan family has never been kind or loyal to me, so why should I be kind or loyal to them?"
Cui Wan said, "Emperor Xuan betrayed the aristocratic families, and in return, he was betrayed by them. It is the cycle of cause and effect. As for what you said about being eyeing him covetously, that is utter nonsense. It is only natural for a man to have three wives and four concubines. But you, relying on your status as a princess, are arrogant, jealous, and selfish, and you do not allow him to be near anyone. Today's difficult situation is of your own making. What does it have to do with others?"
"hehe!"
"Truly worthy of being a noble lady raised in a prestigious family, you truly possess the demeanor of a principal wife. However, Miss Cui, isn't it a bit premature for you to utilize your virtues and magnanimity?"
Li Yunru had no interest in listening to her rules as a model wife. Her face turned cold, and she said sternly, "I am the legitimate wife of the Yan family, brought in by eight sedan chair bearers. Until I officially leave this house, I always will be. How I, the princess, should conduct myself is not for a woman without a title to teach me!"
She stood up and ordered the guests to leave, saying, "Considering the kindness you showed me yesterday, I, the princess, have given you face. Now that you've finished saying these useless things, you may leave."
Cui Wan didn't try to keep her, but she still said something sarcastic before leaving.
"Li, you are not worthy of Yan Sanlang at all!"
He would rather punish himself than not protect this person, but the person was completely unmoved and showed no interest whatsoever.
"I will not give up on Sanlang. One day, this position will belong to me."
What a blatant and overt provocation.
Li Yunru laughed out loud, "Madam Cui is really confident. Are you so sure that your third cousin will want you?"
Cui Wan said, "I grew up with him. We share the same upbringing, knowledge, interests, and are well-matched. We can write books together, talk about wine and farming. If it weren't for you, we would have been a perfect match."
"A good match?"
Li Yunru savored these two words, words that had accompanied her ever since she married into the Yan family.
Yan Ning and this Cui family girl are truly a match made in heaven...
She knew this would become a reality in the near future, but she didn't want to lose face at this moment.
The man retorted sarcastically, "What you cherish so dearly, and are willing to risk your reputation for, is perhaps less valuable to me than a paving stone on the water. If you like it so much, take it. I wish you all the best in getting what you want!"
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Author's Note: The next chapter will be released around 11 PM Thursday.
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