HCB Chapter 228 The Righteous Way (17)
Chapter 228 The Righteous Way (17)
"Why are you telling me all this, Fourth Sister?"
"Third sister, you are a smart person. You should be able to see Gu Ji's intentions. Can you expect a man who flirts with other women before getting married to settle down for someone after getting married?"
"It's too early to talk about this now. Since ancient times, marriage has been a matter of parents' orders and matchmaker's words. Everything depends on the wishes of my father and mother."
After Bai Xingke finished speaking, he adjusted the cloud pattern on the edge of his sleeves, lowered his head, and no one knew what he was thinking.
"Don't you have any ideas of your own? If Dad really wants you to marry Gu Ji, this playboy, are you willing?"
Bai Xingke asked back: "Do I have a choice?"
Lu Changqing said, "Daddy cares about his reputation the most. You would rather die than obey. If he hangs a piece of white silk at the door, does he really dare to force you to death?"
"The current dynasty places the greatest emphasis on filial piety. If I really do this, and my reputation as an unfilial person spreads, who would dare to marry a girl from our house?"
"Still talking about reputation. Have you never thought about what I said? If the court really values a woman's reputation, how could Empress Zhangxian have been the empress? The royal family doesn't care about this, so do you think other people would care?"
Lu Changqing was so angry that he wanted to slam the table. "After all these years, have you really not felt that there was something wrong? You have clearly been out of the house, and you have clearly seen those women working in the fields, those women selling goods on the streets, and those matchmakers and midwives walking the streets. They walked everywhere and participated in various activities. Do you think that in an environment where women can participate in commercial labor, the strict isolation policies or some strange disciplines for women envisioned by those sour Confucian scholars can work?"
Bai Xingke said: "But we are different. They are forced by life to participate in those physical labors."
"We are of course different from them. Our families are richer, our lives are more affluent, and we don't have to worry about making a living, so we have more leisure time, which means we can do more things and have more fun. Logically speaking, we should be subject to fewer restrictions."
You can even play polo. In a society that is really harsh on women, let alone riding a horse, your feet will be tied so tightly that you can't even walk.
"Besides, our dynasty has always encouraged women to have children. Otherwise, there would not be a rule that women must marry at the age of thirteen. If the court really values women's reputation so much, why would it encourage women who have divorced or whose husbands have died to remarry?"
Seeing Bai Xingke start to think deeply, Lu Changqing continued, "Think about it carefully. Think about the housekeeping skills and the so-called ways of being a proper wife that you have learned over the years. Think about the world outside the mansion and the court's propositions. Think about it carefully and see if it's awkward."
On the one hand, they require women to marry and have children early, and on the other hand, they attach great importance to women's reputation. They often make it difficult for unmarried girls in the family to get married. Isn't this awkward?
"Third sister, you don't have to live so cautiously. There is no need to endure some suffering or sin. When people marry us, they don't look at our reputation, but at the power of our family."
Lu Changdao said: "I have said so much to tell you that you don't need to live like a dead tree. There are many ways to live. Some people struggle to survive, some people beg for mercy, some people take advantage of the wind and let it take them to the sky, and some people do not make progress and just go with the flow. It all depends on your choice."
"What about the fourth sister? What will you choose?"
"I once told my father that I wanted to enter the palace as a lady-in-waiting, but he refused. I plan to tell him again."
"Aren't you afraid that Daddy will reject you again?"
"He won't this time."
"why?"
"Third sister, lower your status in Daddy's heart, stop over-beautifying his image, and accept the fact that he doesn't love us daughters. Then you will immediately understand why he agreed to let me enter the palace."
Seeing that Bai Xingke still couldn't figure it out, Lu Changqing said bluntly: "Brother is no longer able to support our Bai family in his current state. My brother is not good at studying. Even if my sister-in-law gives birth to a boy, it will take more than ten years to raise him up."
Lu Changqing pointed at herself and said, "Female officials are also officials, and can bring honor to the family. Besides, my entry into the palace will not hinder my father from training the next heir to the family."
Bai Xingke said: "So you chose 'Good wind helps me soar to the sky', right?"
"Yes, since I have such a background and a reputation as a talented woman, why not use these conditions to embark on a path of success?"
"I didn't expect that Fourth Sister actually has such lofty ambitions." Bai Xingke forced an ugly smile, "I used to think that the books you read were just for the sake of singing about the wind and the moon and pretending to be cultured, and that you just wanted to raise your status and marry into a good family."
"Third sister, if you are really studying classics and history books and learning poetry and songs just to show off your knowledge, what will the officials in the court say? Aren't they just people who are seeking fame and reputation?"
Lu Changqing stood up and prepared to leave. She had actually already self-destructed, but Bai Xing didn't notice it.
But before leaving, she still gave her a sincere advice, "Whether it's being a housekeeper or studying, there's no distinction between high and low. If Third Sister likes being a housekeeper, she should read more books. The principles in books are sometimes more useful than what the mistress has taught her by example."
Lu Changqing went to see Bai Shiyuan again. Bai Shiyuan did not refuse Lu Changqing's request to enter the palace, but he did not agree immediately either. He just said he would consider it.
Haha, this shows that he still has expectations for Bai Mingzhou and is still giving him a chance.
Lu Changqing didn't expect that Bai Shiyuan would use her desire to enter the palace to provoke Bai Mingzhou. Bai Mingzhou was so angry that he ran to her with a jar of wine and scolded her in a sarcastic way.
Who is Lu Changqing? He bears a grudge if he loses, and seeks revenge immediately if he wins.
The main feature is the ability to bend and stretch freely.
Bai Mingzhou is already a waste, does she still need to pamper him?
"Stone can be broken, but its hardness cannot be taken away; cinnabar can be ground, but its redness cannot be taken away. Big brother's will is too weak. Sima Qian wrote the "Records of the Grand Historian" after being castrated. Why should big brother give up on himself so quickly?"
"You!" Bai Mingzhou was so angry that he almost vomited the wine in his stomach. "What are you so proud of! With your half-baked appearance, you can only do cleaning work in the palace!"
Lu Changqing covered his lips and chuckled, looking like a smug person. "I don't know whether I will do the cleaning work or not. If big brother comes with me to the palace, I can directly go to the Ministry of Internal Affairs to do the cleaning work."
Being called a eunuch, Bai Mingzhou was so angry that he jumped up and down, and slapped Lu Changqing on the left cheek with a shaking hand. Lu Changqing grabbed the other's wrist, twisted Bai Mingzhou's little finger and flicked it downwards.
"You are a useless thing who only knows how to bully women! The mistress and the eldest sister-in-law worship you, but I won't worship you!"
Bai Mingzhou knelt on the ground and screamed in pain, his right hand was shaking so much that Lu Changqing could hardly hold it.
When the people following Bai Mingzhou saw the two people fighting, they hurried over to stop them, but because of Lu Changqing's identity, they didn't dare to really attack her. They could only keep begging her to let Bai Mingzhou go.
Lu Changqing did not make things difficult for the servants and let go of their hands.
Bai Mingzhou covered his hands and got up from the ground, and fiercely shouted to Lu Changqing, "Just wait!"
"Are you going to complain to daddy? Are you going to let him decide for you?" Lu Changqing was fearless. "Brother, can you still hold a pen? An heir who can't hold a pen, let alone a sword, do you think he is still worthy of being noticed?"
Bai Mingzhou raised his hands in astonishment, his eyes widened, and he looked at his trembling palms in disbelief.
He clenched his hands hard, trying to stop the shaking, but it only got worse.
Bai Mingzhou finally collapsed and screamed, pushed away the servants beside him, staggered and turned to run away.