Chapter 5 FCADW? IRTBTMOTMM
FlamingoBees
Translating Chinese Historical Dramas for your enjoyment... and mine! :)
Favoring Concubines and Destroying Wives? I Refuse to be the Mistress of this Marquis' Mansion
Chapter 5:
Inquire
"Teacher, I apologize for being presumptuous; I have been unable to attend your birthday for many years. Please don't be upset," Lin Yunwan apologized upon seeing Lady Guo.
Lady Guo promptly helped her up, saying with a smile, "You, this child, my birthday every year, have you ever forgotten? Still talking to me about such formalities."
"Come over and sit."
Lin Yunwan, gently holding Lady Guo's hand, sat beside her. Calculating based on this life, she and Lady Guo might have only not seen each other for a few years, but in reality... it had been more than a decade.
Lady Guo's hair had already turned white by now, but having never married, she appeared spirited with a healthy complexion. Her eyes were gentle and indifferent, indicating a person free from troublesome matters.
"Yunwan, what are you looking at?"
Lin Yunwan smiled and said, "Nothing, just thinking that living a lifetime like my teacher wouldn't be bad."
Lady Guo observed Lin Yunwan from left to right, realizing that this child seemed quite different after just a few years.
Lin Yunwan quickly smiled and said, "This time, I came to visit with something to inquire about."
Madame Guo immediately shifted her attention, smiling and asking, "What is it? Speak freely."
Lin Yunwan said, "In the Lu family, there is a woman who wishes to divorce her husband. However, given her status, divorcing might not be easy. I remember hearing you and grandmother discussing it in the women's chamber in the past. You mentioned that you had a female student whose sister divorced her husband and remarried. Moreover, that female student came from an extraordinary family."
Although the court allowed women to remarry, aristocratic families rarely permitted women to divorce or be cast aside, especially families like the Marquis Mansion, which would never allow a woman to return to her natal family.
"I understand this is a private matter, and if it's inconvenient for you to tell me, it's okay," Lin Yunwan added.
Lady Guo felt relieved. She had inquired for the sake of the Lu family woman. Holding Lin Yunwan's hand tightly, she said, "There's no harm in telling you. The father of that student was originally a third-rank official, and her sister's husband came from a scholarly family. However, despite his refined background, he was prone to violence. The student's sister endured it for three years until she couldn't take it anymore. Only then did she inform her natal family about the situation."
Lin Yunwan was somewhat surprised. Although there were cases of men from aristocratic families resorting to physical violence, what she knew usually involved pushing and shoving during arguments, not situations where someone risked being beaten to death.
"Did the student's natal family propose a divorce, and did the husband agree directly?"
"Ah, it's not that simple. While her natal family proposed a divorce and petitioned her husband, it was of no use. Her husband adamantly refused to let her go. The court's laws are clear; once a woman is married, she must die in her husband's household. Her natal family had no way to handle it."
Lin Yunwan curiously asked, "So, how did the divorce finally happen?"
© translations belonging to flamingobeestranslations.blogspot.com. If you read this somewhere else instead of flamingobeestranslations.blogspot.com then the translations has been posted WITHOUT permission of translator.
Lady Guo lowered her voice and said, "Her family endured for another year. Later, after the Empress Yuan passed away and a new empress was crowned, my student became the empress. It was only then that the emperor intervened, compelling her sister's husband to agree to the divorce."
Lin Yunwan was shaken by this revelation. Under the heavens, how many women could have the emperor personally handle their divorce?
It was something she couldn't possibly achieve.
Lady Guo continued, "Although the emperor intervened to allow the empress's elder sister to divorce, she could only marry far away from the capital to quell the controversies. Even so, she couldn't return to her natal family for several years. Despite leaving her abusive husband, she still faced the sorrow of being separated from her parents and siblings. It's truly an unfortunate situation."
Such was the way of the world; regardless of the reasons for a woman's divorce or dismissal, the one who suffered the hardships was always the woman.
Lady Guo then inquired with concern, "Why couldn't the woman from the Lu family get along with her husband?"
Lin Yunwan hesitated to answer. If it weren't for the outcome of her past life, where she ended up as the wife of the heir to the Marquis of Wu Ding, and in the eyes of others, merely lacking the sincere affection of her husband and having no children of her own, there would be no reason to propose a divorce.
Fearing that her teacher would be worried, she smiled and said, "Perhaps it's just a woman's complaints, and it may not necessarily reach the point of divorce."
Lady Guo understood in her heart that Lin Yunwan had come specifically to inquire about something more complicated than mere "woman's complaints." However, Lin Yunwan was now the matriarch of the Marquis Mansion, and there were difficulties she couldn't divulge in detail.
Madame Guo spoke a few words of sincerity, "A woman's life is not easy. Take me, for example; I never married because my parents passed away early, and I had no close relatives. With no brothers or sisters to care for me, and distant relations with my extended family, no one bothered about me. Besides, I am strong-willed and have some ability to support myself, seeking no one's help and causing no trouble to anyone.
"To speak bluntly, how many women in this world are as 'fortunate' as I am?
"Ordinary women, once married, can lead a decent life as long as they don't face insurmountable difficulties. If they focus on adjusting their feelings toward their husbands, take good care of their children and manage the household, they can get by."
Lin Yunwan lowered her head slightly and replied, "What you say is true."
The two continued chatting about various matters, and Lin Yunwan expressed genuine concern for Lady Guo's health and recent circumstances.
© translations belonging to flamingobeestranslations.blogspot.com. If you read this somewhere else instead of flamingobeestranslations.blogspot.com then the translations has been posted WITHOUT permission of translator.
Lady Guo felt a warmth in her heart and smiled gently, "My health remains the same. It improves on sunny days and worsens on overcast days. There's not much to keep me busy on regular days, just books and incense."
As they spoke, they glanced at the beast-patterned bronze incense burner on the small table, where wisps of fine smoke rose, delicate and misty like clouds.
"It's still the old sandalwood," remarked Lady Guo.
Lin Yunwan could discern that this was the incense her teacher usually favored.
Lady Guo nodded with a smile.
Lin Yunwan suddenly gazed at Lady Guo and asked, "In recent times, Teacher, have you delved into Buddhism or Daoism?"
"No," replied Lady Guo, finding it quite strange. "You know, I don't believe in gods or Buddhas. I seldom even offer prayers or perform rituals."
Lin Yunwan appeared contemplative. It was somewhat peculiar; in her previous life, her teacher...
"Lady Guo, an esteemed guest has arrived."
A maid suddenly entered to announce. Since the maid was a long-time attendant, she would only interrupt if the guest arriving was more distinguished than Lin Yunwan, Lady Guo understood this well.
Lin Yunwan gracefully stood up and said, "Teacher, I've troubled you for quite a while; it's time for me to take my leave."
Lady Guo warmly held her hand, saying, "I'm just an old woman with not much to do. I'm usually at home. Feel free to visit again when you have time."
Lin Yunwan agreed with a smile. As if casually mentioning it, she added, "By the way, I'd like to ask Teacher for a copy of the character copybook you used to teach me when I was young, 'Bamboo Branch Copybook.'"
Lady Guo readily agreed and sent someone to fetch it for Lin Yunwan. However, sensing something amiss, she casually inquired, "This copybook is for teaching young children. I recall there are no children in the Marquis's mansion who need to start learning, right?"
The maid handed the copybook to Lin Yunwan, who, unable to bear the affection of her elders, accepted it. Lowering her head in embarrassment, she said, "The child adopted by the Lu family was placed under my name; it's for the child."
Lin Yunwan paid her respects and left.
Lady Guo looked astonished. Lin Yunwan was just in her twenties; how could she have adopted a child? Could it be that the woman from the Marquis's mansion seeking a divorce was Lin Yunwan herself?
"What's going on, Lady Guo?"
A distant, slightly cold voice echoed. Lady Guo snapped back to reality, offering a courteous greeting, "His Royal Highness, Prince Huan, is here."
Lady Guo's distinguished guest was the most favored Prince Huan, also the only legitimate son of the current Empress, Qi Lingheng.
© translations belonging to flamingobeestranslations.blogspot.com. If you read this somewhere else instead of flamingobeestranslations.blogspot.com then the translations has been posted WITHOUT permission of translator.
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