be punished
Zhao Fanghua was confident that the Queen Mother would grant her the divorce. Firstly, as Shuyu said, the Queen Mother loved her very much. Secondly, Ruan Chen Xiujin was so despicable that he was clearly trampling on the royal family's reputation. The Queen Mother would definitely grant her the divorce, and maybe even punish Shen Xiujin and then appease her.
With this mood, Zhao Fanghua exaggerated what happened today to tell the empress dowager, hoping that the empress dowager could make the decision for him.
"Ridiculous!" As expected, the Queen Mother flew into a rage and slammed the table.
Zhao Fanghua was gloating, waiting to see Shen Xiujin get into trouble, but was shocked by the Queen Mother's next words.
"Since you have been granted marriage to the Shen family, you must naturally put the Shen family first in everything! Shen Xiujin will be your husband in the future. A woman should obey her husband after marriage. How can you disobey your husband in public?"
"What?" Zhao Fanghua suspected for a moment that he had heard it wrong.
The Queen Mother continued, "Although the princess is marrying down and her mother-in-law is of the same generation as the princess, she is still your husband's mother. Legal principles are nothing more than human feelings. You should respect her as you would your own mother."
Zhao Fanghua's worldview was completely shattered. Where was the feudal era where imperial power was paramount? It turned out they were just teasing her.
The Queen Mother continued, "As for that concubine, since she has a child, bring her back to the Princess's residence immediately and give her the status of a concubine. Raise her well and don't let her be known as jealous. If you really can't stand her, then keep her far away and don't let her come into your presence and bring bad luck to you."
Zhao Fanghua interrupted the Queen Mother in disbelief: "But Shen Xiujin and I haven't even gotten married yet, and he's done this to me. Where can I put my face?"
The original novel said the hero wasn't a philanderer, but it didn't mention he had such a childhood sweetheart! They weren't even married yet, and he was already keeping a mistress behind her back, using her money to do so. She was beginning to wonder how many more traps were waiting for her in those places not mentioned in the original novel.
Zhao Fanghua didn’t know whether her uncle and aunt could tolerate it, but as a person who received modern education in the 21st century, she certainly couldn’t tolerate it at all.
The Queen Mother disagreed, "Since that's Shen Xiujin's child, it's naturally yours too. He'll have to call you mother from now on. If you like him, then raise him. If you don't, then just do your duty as a mother and ignore him. Why are you being so fussy? You and the Emperor aren't my children, but didn't I raise him and treat him like my own?"
Zhao Fanghua still didn't understand.
The Queen Mother said earnestly, "As a married woman, isn't it your duty to be filial to your mother-in-law, take care of the household, and raise children for your husband? I see that Shen Tanhua's literary talent and knowledge are first-class, and he will soon be promoted to the throne. If you behave yourself and be a good wife, what good will you have in the future? Why bother to fight for this moment?"
Zhao Fanghua now understood that the Queen Mother was not his support.
As the Queen Mother said, I am not her biological child. As the Queen Mother, she can tolerate me, so of course I should tolerate any cat or dog giving birth to Shen Xiujin's child.
"You've always been kind, but now you're so bold and reckless. I'm afraid someone around you is secretly instigating this. I'll order An Rou to go back with you this time."
Zhao Fanghua looked at the empress dowager with a complicated expression, and a feeling of powerlessness came over her. Even in her original modern society, there were still many families who raised daughters-in-law for their husbands instead of daughters, not to mention this feudal society.
There was another reality she had to accept. Even though she was the eldest princess, the Queen Mother's words could easily determine her fate.
She suddenly became curious. Was the original owner's virtuous wife and mother like that by nature, or was she forced to be that way by the times?
If Zhao Fanghua looked like a triumphant winner when he entered the palace, he was as dejected as a defeated rooster when he returned.
Ruan and Shen Xiujing were worried after hearing that Zhao Fanghua had entered the palace. Later, they heard that Zhao Fanghua had brought back a maid from the palace. They were worried that she was there to support Zhao Fanghua and punish them. They were even more afraid of angering the empress dowager and being charged with disrespect.
Ruan knew what was going on. She could say whatever she wanted and make a fuss as usual, but she was the princess after all, the emperor's elder sister. Now she was extremely panicked and was pacing around in the front hall anxiously.
Shen Xiujin also blamed her, "Mother! Why did you say such harsh words just now? Zhao Fanghua is a princess, how could she bear such an injustice? This time he went to the palace to complain to the Queen Mother. Look, the Queen Mother is here to support him."
Ruan Shi became furious when she heard this. She grabbed Shen Xiujin's ear and scolded him, "You unfilial son, ungrateful wolf, who am I doing this evil for? Am I not doing all this for you? If I don't suppress her all the time, who knows how she will climb over your head and bully you in the future. You are a man who stands tall and proud, how can you be controlled by a little girl?"
The two were arguing when Zhao Fanghua and his group led Aunt An Rou to the front hall.
Ruan and Shen Xiujin immediately stopped fighting. Ruan even stepped forward with a fawning look on her face. Just as she was about to bow to Aunt Anrou, she saw that Aunt Anrou had bowed to Ruan first and said in a very respectful manner, "Old Madam, Shen Tanhua. This time, it was the eldest princess who was wrong. The Queen Mother specifically ordered this servant to come and apologize to you two on her behalf. It was her fault for not raising her daughter well."
Ruan and Chen Xiujin looked at each other in disbelief at first, but when they saw Zhao Fanghua lowering his head and looking like a quail, they immediately put their hearts at ease.
Shen Xiujin stepped forward and said respectfully, "This matter is also your fault. It was your words and actions that were inappropriate. I apologize to the princess and hope that she will forgive me."
An Rou smiled slightly upon seeing this, "This is what husband and wife should be like."
Then he turned to Ruan and said, "It is the Queen Mother's fault for not disciplining you this time. I hope you will forgive me. However, the Queen Mother also said that since Your Highness will be marrying into the Shen family soon, you will naturally be disciplined by the old lady of the Shen family."
Ruan asked tentatively, "Then may I ask, Auntie, who has the final say in this mansion?"
An Rou said, "The elders are respected, so naturally the old lady is the one who makes the decisions."
Zhao Fanghua found it absurd. She, the eldest princess, couldn't make the decision in her own Princess's Mansion? And Ruan, an outsider, could actually bully her?
Upon hearing this, Ruan's face immediately lit up with smiles. She held her head high and said proudly to these ignorant servants, "Everyone has heard today, right? Who is the boss in this mansion? Don't recognize the wrong master and do the wrong thing in the future. Don't blame me for being ruthless when the time comes."
Everyone below looked at each other and nodded in agreement.
Ruan was proud for a moment, but the burning pain on her face reminded her of the insult she had received before. She slapped Zhao Fanghua in the face with her backhand. Fortunately, Shuyu was quick-witted and took the blow for Zhao Fanghua. In an instant, Shuyu's face became swollen.
"Shuyu!" Zhao Fanghua screamed and stepped forward to check the injuries on Shuyu's face. Not only was her face red and swollen, but there was even blood oozing from the corners of her mouth. Although Ruan was a woman, she had been doing rough work since she was a child, and her hands were no less strong than men's. What's more, Shuyu was Zhao Fanghua's personal maid, with delicate skin and tender flesh. How could she withstand such a slap with full strength?
Zhao Fanghua looked at Ruan fiercely, her silver teeth gritting, wishing she could eat Ruan alive. If Shuyu hadn't blocked the slap for her, the slap would have landed on her face!
Ruan Shi was still not satisfied when she saw that she hadn't hit Zhao Fanghua. She wanted to go forward again, but Shen Xiujin, who had been standing by and watching for a long time, called out to her, "Mother! No!"
Ruan Shi also came to her senses immediately. She smiled at An Rou, turned to look at Zhao Fanghua, and said sarcastically, "Your Highness is a princess, I cannot hit you, but I cannot leave you unpunished. The master is at fault, and it was all instigated by these wicked servants." Then she pointed at Shuyu and said viciously, "Give me twenty slaps on the face!"
An Rou immediately said, "Madam, the palace rules are that you don't hit someone in the face. Shuyu was born a palace maid, so please change the way you punish her."
Ruan, who was about to assert her authority, was interrupted by An Rou. She was extremely dissatisfied, but she had to give the Queen Mother some face. She smiled at An Rou and said, "Aunt is right. It's my fault. In that case, drag this Shuyu away and give her twenty lashes!"
"You dare!" Zhao Fanghua pulled Shuyu behind him and shouted at Ruan.
Ruan looked at An Rou and said with embarrassment: "Aunt, this..."
An Rou turned and saluted Zhao Fanghua, saying, "Your Highness, this is the Empress Dowager's order. Please do not disobey her orders." She winked at the guards around her, "Why don't you act quickly? Do you think the Empress Dowager has to come in person to order you around?"
Zhao Fanghua could only watch Shuyu being dragged away by the guards. The board hit Shuyu's buttocks one by one, and Shuyu's cries of grief also fell on Zhao Fanghua's heart.
Ruan raised her head, her tone very proud: "Everyone has seen what happened today. I remind you again, don't forget who is the mistress of the house now!"
She looked at Ruan and Shen Xiujing, who looked smug, and clenched her fists tightly, her knuckles even turning white from excessive force.
Zhao Fanghua laughed out of anger. Is this the life of the heroine in the original novel who was only mentioned briefly?
The so-called filial piety to mother-in-law means to endure her abuse, beatings and scoldings and still praise her for teaching you well.
The so-called spreading out means being generous and accommodating to your husband's childhood sweetheart, as well as possible future beauties and other women who just flirt with you.
The so-called raising children means raising your husband’s children equally, whether they are your own or not.
The so-called virtuous wife not only has to endure all this, but also has to act gentle and virtuous, and continue to take care of the inner house for her husband regardless of past grudges, so that he can show his talents in the court.
As long as Zhao Fanghua follows the trajectory of the original novel and does all the above things well, perhaps she will really become a mother-in-law after many years of being a daughter-in-law, be awarded the first-class imperial edict, and be proud of herself from then on, just as the original novel says.
This may be excellent.
But Zhao Fanghua didn't want to.
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