Cheng Yibo was not very capable. Although he had a job, it was a sinecure, the kind where he didn't have to show up for duty. His son was in a similar situation. The family had fallen into such a state that they were trying to find a way to make a living.
The legitimate daughter, who had grown up under his care, was reluctant to part with him. However, he later discovered the beauty of the illegitimate daughter and began to have designs on her.
Now that the illegitimate daughter is eight years old, if she is raised for another five or six years, she can be sent to the mansions of high-ranking officials and nobles. For example, the Earl of Chengyi has his eye on the power of the Prince of Ping's mansion.
The Prince of Ping has just gotten married, and his wife is the daughter of the Marquis of Jing'an. Cheng Yibo knows that woman is rude and uncouth, lacking any of the gentleness a woman should have. No man could tolerate her. Even with the Marquis of Jing'an as her backer, she is unlikely to achieve great things in the future. Moreover, he knows that the Prince of Ping and his wife do not have a good relationship.
Although there were rumors that the Crown Prince of Ping had acted rashly for the sake of a woman, Cheng Yibo was more inclined to believe that this was merely a cover-up, a way to make the marriage between the two families look better and to cultivate the image of the Crown Prince's feelings for his future wife.
After all, this was a marriage that hadn't even been granted by imperial decree.
Given the prestige of both families before the Emperor, the fact that their marriage was not officially approved speaks volumes about their dissatisfaction with the arrangement.
When the time comes, he will send his illegitimate daughter to the Prince of Ping's mansion. With her looks and those golden lotus feet worth a thousand gold pieces, she will surely be pampered. What the Prince of Ping's heir could not get from his wife, he will surely get from his illegitimate daughter. If she can give birth to a son and become the new heir of the Prince of Ping's mansion, that would be even better.
What man wouldn't like a woman who relies on him wholeheartedly? How could he possibly be interested in a strong woman? In a few years, the Prince of Ping will surely get tired of his current wife who is still showing her face in public. That will be their chance to become the Marquis of Chengyi!
Moreover, his useless illegitimate son, Li Wenfeng, is now in contact with the heir apparent of Prince Ping, making it very convenient for him to send his illegitimate daughter, Li Wenruo, there in the future, without having to find any other way.
Cheng Yibo was making all sorts of calculations, but he never expected that his abacus would be smashed today.
"Master, what should we do now?" Madam Chengyi hurried over, looking very anxious.
I heard that someone in the court today impeached an official for frequenting brothels and having a fondness for harlots. The Emperor was furious. The Empress Dowager then issued an imperial edict to take care of the daughters of officials and nobles. Now everyone knows that having a harlot in one's home is the mark of a sycophantic and ruthless villain.
The Marquis of Chengyi's household still has some face to maintain!
Although the illegitimate daughter was raised in front of her, Lady Chengyi had little affection for her and only used her as a tool to pave the way for her son.
But what can we do now? If the news gets out that they've made their daughters bind their feet, not only will their daughters' reputations be ruined, but they themselves will also lose all face!
Her daughter has only been married for less than two years, her granddaughter is still young, and her grandson will be getting married in a few years. If she has such a reputation, it will definitely have an impact.
Moreover, when the time comes, others might not say anything about Cheng Yibo, but only that she, as his stepmother, is unkind.
For Lady Chengyi, the most important people were her two children, and no one could influence them.
Without the Empress Dowager's decree, they could have easily let Li Wenruo die of illness, and naturally no one would have known about it. But the Empress Dowager's decree came down at this time, clearly indicating that it was pre-arranged with the Emperor. They were cooperating with the Emperor, fearing that some officials and nobles might disregard their daughters' suffering and bind their feet, and would directly allow their daughters to...
What should we do?!
The Earl of Chengyi paced restlessly in the hall. He was the one who least wanted the Chengyi family's reputation to be damaged. Even though they had declined, they were at least not completely destitute. If this matter were to be exposed...
"Where's that unfilial son of yours? Tell him to get over here!"
The second son, Li Wenfeng.
Hongluo was accompanying Li Wenruo. She had been at the mansion for two or three days and had been taking care of the young girl's health and treating her foot problems. Unfortunately, several years had passed, and it would be very difficult for her to recover to a normal appearance.
Seeing Li Wenruo's feet, Hongluo finally understood why her daughter was under immense pressure to insist on making this matter a big deal.
For the sake of all the women in the world.
So that women of future generations will not suffer endless torment.
Just as the girl said, this is only a minority at present, but if it cannot be stopped, what about in the future?
The story of King Chu's fondness for slender waists, which led to many starving to death in the palace, is different in some ways, but essentially not much different, except that it was the men of the world who were affected instead of King Chu.
“Sister Hongluo? Mother said I don’t need to learn the rules today, I can go back and rest.” Eight-year-old Li Wenruo already showed signs of beauty, her face was indeed like a lotus flower in clear water, but she was too young and very thin.
—That's inevitable. How can you gain weight if you're suffering from pain in your feet all day?
Li Wenruo greatly admired Hongluo.
She thought Hongluo was really amazing.
She knew her brother was working hard for her, and she knew what he was doing. As for whether she would be afraid to leave the manor with her brother in the future, Li Wenruo was not afraid at all.
There is nothing more terrifying than this mansion; it would be best to leave if possible.
Hongluo thought that with the Empress Dowager's decree, at least the Chengyi Earl and his wife should not harm Li Wenruo. However, she did not expect that the Chengyi Earl and his wife were even more vicious than she thought.
They came up with a great idea.
To usurp someone else's place and pass off the real thing as the real one.
For the sake of the Earl's reputation, Li Wenruo, this illegitimate daughter, absolutely cannot be allowed to live. Otherwise, the Earl's family's prestige for generations would be ruined. However, with the Empress Dowager's decree in place, the Earl and his wife are worried that if Li Wenruo were to "suddenly fall ill" and die at this time, it would attract people from the palace to investigate her body.
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