Hua Xi Wan and Hua Chu Yu's mothers did not get along well, but as the di daughters of the Hua Fu, they had interacted frequently when they were young and their sisterhood was not shallow. Therefore, Hua Xi Wan quickly found that Hua Chu Yu did not seem to have high expectations of marrying the heir of the He Wen Marquis fu. Rather than saying she was rational, it was more like she had accepted her fate.
While everyone present was close to the Hua family, there were many things that were not suitable to be said in public. After Yan Jinqiu and the other male guests were led to the study by her father, Hua Xi Wan smiled and said, "I have not returned to the fu for a long time. Would Second Tang Jie be willing to accompany me for a walk around the fu?"
It was such a cold day with fine snow floating down. What was there to walk about?
Everyone present knew that the two had private female matters to discuss and perceptively did not expose them. The Lu Clan smiled and said, "Some new things were found in the yard a few days ago. You two sisters can go take a look. But it is snowing outside. Do not catch a cold."
Hua Xi Wan smiled and accepted. Bai Xia helped her put on the fox fur cloak. She held the hand warmer and walked with Hua Chu Yu out of the inner hall.
Almost all of the younger generation had left. Everyone present had sons and daughters, so the topic turned to family matters. However, since Hua Yi Liu was still present, no one brought up the matter of raising their children to avoid rubbing salt on the other's wound.
"Wang Fei has a good relationship with our family's Second Miss." The Yao Clan was a petty person with some power. But seeing Hua Xi Wan's closeness to her daughter, she said with a smile, "In the early years, the two sisters liked to hang out together. Now that Third Miss has become Wang Fei, the two of them are still the same."
"Isn't that so. In the past, Third Miss had to lie in bed for a long time to save Second Miss who had fallen into the water. These years, she had developed the problem of being afraid of the cold. In the past two years, she finally recovered. How can ordinary people compare to this kind of friendship? " The main reason why the Lu Clan didn't give the Yao Clan any face was because of what had happened back then. Her daughter had saved the child of her third son. Although she was heartbroken, she wouldn't blame the child. However, the things that her third son's family did after that were simply biting the hand that fed them.
The Yao Clan must have been one of the people who slandered Xi Wan behind her back. Even the Jang Clan must have contributed a lot. She didn't know what the two sisters-in-law were after. They had daughters of their own. Couldn't they put themselves in Xi Wan's shoes?
If they didn't consider the actions of the First Young Lady and the Second Young Lady's mother, the Lu Clan was more optimistic about the Second Young Lady. Although the First Young Lady's appearance and talent were good, her temperament was unstable. She wasn't ruthless enough, but she wasn't kind enough. Her methods and vision were also lacking. As a woman, it was fine if she didn't have the appearance or the most beautiful posture, but she couldn't lack the mentality.
Although the Second Young Lady had a somewhat muddle-headed mother from the Yao Clan, the Yao Clan treated the Second Young Lady well. The Second Young Lady's temperament was similar to the Third Young Lady's. She was talented, beautiful, and had a clear heart. She was a rare good girl.
If women in this world could become officials like men, who knew how many extraordinary women there would be in the world? It was a pity that no matter how amazing the women in the world were, they could only live in the inner courtyard and gradually grind their intelligence and talent into household chores. If the man she married was a man of indomitable spirit and upright character, it could be considered a blessing. If he was like the First Young Lady …
The Lu Clan sighed. No matter what the relationship in the imperial court was like, they only hoped that the Second Young Lady wouldn't be like the First Young Lady, encountering a beast dressed in human clothing.
"Let's sit in the front." Hua Xi Wan pointed to the Moon Viewing Pavilion in front of them. She walked side by side with Hua Chu Yu, followed by a long line of servant girls. The jade-boned splash-ink umbrella was held above her head, making her feel a little depressed.
The two of them sat down in the pavilion. The servants lit charcoal basins for them, poured hot tea, and prepared snacks for them, then retreated to the outside of the pavilion.
"It's snowing outside. You all should go inside and hide. Only two people will be enough to serve in the pavilion." Hua Xi Wan felt that it was unnecessary to trouble a group of servants just to put on a show, so she simply let them stay in the room. The few personal servant girls who served her were warming themselves by the fire in the pavilion.
When the servant girls heard this, they were very happy and retreated happily, leaving only Bai Xia, Red Tassel, and Hua Chu Yu, a personal servant girl, to serve in the pavilion.
Tea was boiling in the small red clay stove. White steam rose in the cold air and the sound of boiling water could be heard.
The tea was overcooked, but no one cared. Hua Xi Wan held the hand warmer and said, "Just now, I saw that Second Older Sister didn't seem very happy. Is it because that shizi of the Lin Family is inappropriate?"
Hua Chu Yu looked at Hua Xi Wan's white and rosy cheeks. She smiled faintly and shook her head. "What inappropriate? It's just that. As a woman, in the end, only her husband and children can decide whether she will live a good life. It's fated that she has to rely on others to have other fates. Why should she have so many delusions?"
Hua Xi Wan looked dazedly at Hua Chu Yu. She suddenly thought of the words that the shizi fei of Xu Wang Fu had said, and Princess Sheng's crazy behavior after she was unable to have children. She felt slightly uncomfortable. In this era of men's power, if a woman had any thoughts that were slightly against their interests, she would only end up with the crime of "not being a woman."
Men always boasted that "a woman's virtue is to have no talent." Wasn't it because they were afraid that if a woman knew too much, she would open up her mind and not serve them wholeheartedly? That was why they were like moralists and put forward many demands that were in line with men's interests. On the other hand, they could indulge in wine and pleasure. As long as they showed some respect to their official wife, they could be called a gentleman. They could also generously express that concubines were just playthings and wives were the right way to go.
Hua Chu Yu's words to her showed that she was unwilling but had to compromise because she couldn't change anything. Hua Xi Wan felt sorry for these outstanding women and also sighed for herself.
Of the women she knew, each had their own unique characteristics. Even the Empress, who didn't get along with Yan Jinqiu, was a very skilled woman. But how many of these outstanding women lived their lives to the fullest?
Even her shrewish mother was only slightly more generous in her words and actions. In reality, she was just guarding the inner compound. Because of her personality and her father didn't have any concubines, she was given the nickname of the Lioness of Hedong. But most of the people who laughed at her mother behind her back were women.
"Second Sister, why do you think so?" Hua Xi Wan sighed. "No matter how unjust the world is, as long as you live well, you can always think of ways to make your life better. People have to leave something for themselves."
"Everyone outside says that Xian Wang and his wife's love is as deep as the sea. Meimei, you are the envy of all the women in Jing. Don't you have any regrets?" Hua Chu Yu looked at the flying snow outside the pavilion. "You have been a special person since you were young. Or rather, in my eyes, you are different from other women."
The snow was getting heavier and heavier, making rustling sounds. The pavilion was silent for a moment.
Because of this, the sound of boiling water on the small red clay stove was exceptionally loud.
"I am actually just a common person." Hua Xi Wan smiled. "I will compromise some things to make my life better. I will also do some things that I didn't like before."
Hua Chu Yu looked at Hua Xi Wan with a smile. Her expression was particularly gentle. "If compromise can make your life better, then compromise is worth it. You are special to be able to submit and stand tall. But I may not be able to do that."
Hua Xi Wan looked at Hua Chu Yu's smile. For a moment, she didn't know what to say. There were some questions that had no answers. She wasn't a rare smart person.
Seeing her not speak, Hua Chu Yu continued, "Marquis He Wen Fu is the Crown Princess's maternal family. I heard that the Crown Princess is the daughter of the second wife. This shizi is the son of the first wife. The Lin Family and the Crown Prince's bloodline are not very close. So the Empress is dissatisfied with the Crown Princess."
After hearing this, Hua Xi Wan's expression didn't change. She wanted to know why Hua Chu Yu was telling her this.
"When I marry into the Lin Family, I will do my best to keep the Lin Family away from the Crown Prince's bloodline." Hua Chu Yu put down the teacup and held Hua Xi Wan's hand. "Xi Wan, one of us three sisters should live better."
Hua Xi Wan's hand trembled. She looked at Hua Chu Yu. She suddenly thought of something that Hua Chu Yu had said to her eight years ago when she had jumped into the water to save Hua Chu Yu.
"Meimei, I am a burden to you."
She hadn't thought that after so many years, she would say such a thing to her.
What should she do, what should she not do?
"We should all live well." Hua Xi Wan held Hua Chu Yu's hand and looked steadily into her eyes. "Second Sister, remember, think more for yourself. Life is only a few decades. Don't let your life be in vain."
Hua Chu Yu laughed softly. "Meimei, I will remember your words."
Hua Yiliu held the umbrella and looked at the two people chatting happily in the pavilion not far away. She looked down with an unfathomable expression and said to the servant girl behind her, "Go tell the two misses that the banquet is about to start."
After the servant girl walked towards the Moon Viewing Pavilion, Hua Yiliu looked away expressionlessly. Among the three sisters, Hua Chu Yu and Hua Xi Wan were always the closest. She was just a foil to them. Her appearance was not as good as Hua Xi Wan's, and her talent was not as good as Hua Chu Yu's. Maybe in their eyes, she was just a joke.
When she turned and prepared to leave, she saw His Highness Xian Wang walk over with a Black Bone Misty Rain Jiangnan Umbrella. She paused in her steps and bowed to Xian Wang.
Xian Wang just gave a faint hum and walked towards the Moon Viewing Pavilion.
She looked back and saw Hua Xi Wan walk down the stone steps in the pavilion. As soon as she walked down the first step, Xian Wang caught her hand. The umbrella in Xian Wang's hand also moved a lot closer to her.
The two of them shared an umbrella, and it was like a pleasing painting. Anyone who saw it would feel incomparably envious.
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