Princess Anping's heart moved slightly and she slowly put down her hand.
There was silence in the room for a moment, and then Zhou Yuncheng said in distress: "Then what do you think I should do? If I obey my mother, I will definitely lose you. If I don't want to lose you, I will definitely become enemies with my mother. Living is painful, and dying is unfilial. Why doesn't anyone think about me?"
Princess Anping could feel her son's desperate struggle through the door, and she felt an indescribable bitterness in her heart.
Then Miss Zhao Si said, "This world is full of regrets. You are a man, so you naturally have to bear more responsibilities. Your sister is still young, and your father is far away in Jiangzhou. Your mother can only rely on you. If you are unwilling to understand her difficulties, how miserable she will be. Although I am in love with you, as a woman, I can't bear to hurt a mother's heart. Just think that we are not destined to be together, forget me, and go back to accompany the princess well!"
"What about you?" Zhou Yuncheng asked.
Zhao Lanzhi said, "Since I have given my heart to you, I will be yours for the rest of my life. I will not marry, nor will I commit suicide. I plan to cut off my hair and become a nun, dedicating the rest of my life to the Buddha, and pray that the Buddha will bless us to be reborn in a world without prejudice against family background in the next life, and then we can continue our relationship."
After he finished speaking, he paused and said faintly, "Take care, young master. I'm leaving first."
"No, don't leave, you can't leave..." Zhou Yuncheng shouted hurriedly, as if he was holding Zhao Lanzhi, and Zhao Lanzhi whispered, "Sir, please let go. If someone sees us, we won't be able to explain ourselves..."
Princess Anping was afraid that her son would lose control of his emotions and do something inappropriate, so she was about to push the door open when she heard hurried footsteps behind her.
Princess Anping looked back and saw a charming woman with two maids walking towards her. She scolded the maids as she walked over: "I told you to look after the young lady, how come you disappeared in the blink of an eye? If anything happens to the young lady, I will skin you alive!"
The woman was so busy scolding the maid that she didn't even look in Princess Anping's direction and just walked past like a gust of wind.
At this moment, Zhao Lanzhi shouted again from inside: "Master, you can't do that!"
The woman who was walking past suddenly stopped and asked the maid, "But is it the young lady's voice?"
The girl nodded timidly and said, "It seems so..."
Before she finished her words, the woman turned back, pushed Princess Anping aside, and pushed open the door with a bang.
The door opened wide, and Zhou Yuncheng was seen pulling Zhao Lanzhi's hand into his arms.
"Fourth Miss!"
"Fourth Miss!"
The two maids covered their mouths and screamed. Princess Anping's head buzzed and her heart sank.
The woman also cried out in surprise, and walked towards the two people who were pulling each other, and shouted, "Mr. Zhou, what do you mean by this? What are you doing pulling my daughter into the room in broad daylight?"
Princess Anping was afraid that her son would suffer, so she hurriedly followed him in, and the guards also rushed in.
The woman was startled, and seemed to have just noticed Princess Anping and the others. She was in a daze for a moment before she said, "It turned out to be Princess Anping. The princess knew that Master Zhou was inside, but she didn't come in to stop him. Was she keeping watch for her son?"
Princess Anping almost choked to death after hearing this. She wanted to get angry, but her son's hand was still tightly holding the girl.
"I just got here too." She said depressedly, "Aren't you the fourth concubine of Marquis Dingyuan? When did you become the mother of the fourth young lady?"
"I have no children, and the Marquis' wife took pity on me and adopted the fourth daughter under my name." The fourth concubine explained, and then her face turned serious, "The princess should pay more attention to Master Zhou right now. Even though the family members are here, he still holds my daughter. Does he think that we are of humble status and can be humiliated at will?"
Princess Anping was mocked by her aunt unceremoniously. Her face was burning with anger and she scolded her son, "Why don't you let him go quickly!"
Zhou Yuncheng seemed to have just reacted and let go of his hand awkwardly.
The fourth concubine sneered: "Don't you think it's a little late to relax now?"
"What do you mean?" Princess Anping immediately became alert and pulled her son to her side to protect him.
The fourth concubine said, "The eldest son saved our fourth daughter a few days ago. Although there are many rumors in the streets, the princess has not expressed her opinion. We can't repay kindness with hatred and force our daughter to your family. Therefore, even if our daughter's reputation is damaged, we have not mentioned it to the princess. But since the princess doesn't want to marry into our family, she should take good care of her own child. Are you planning to just lock her up in the room and make trouble for no reason?"
Princess Anping was so angry that she fell backwards. She defended herself by saying, "How do you know it wasn't your daughter who took the initiative to ask my son to come in?"
The fourth concubine sneered even more: "Just because the princess is of noble status, can she slander the reputation of her daughter at will? If my daughter had taken the initiative, no matter what she shouted just now, I'm afraid that the scene we saw when we opened the door would not be like this."
“…”Princess Anping was speechless.
Zhou Yuncheng said: "Mother, it's my fault. I accidentally saw the fourth young lady coming to the temple, and I couldn't help it, so..."
"Shut up!" Princess Anping shouted.
The fourth concubine said, "At this point, the princess still wants to pretend that nothing happened? If so, we will return to the city and go to the government office to beat the drum to complain and ask the officials to do us justice. My daughter's reputation has been ruined, and we can't let some lustful people have a good end!"
"Who are you calling a lecher?" Princess Anping said angrily, "Although you are a concubine, you are at least a concubine from a wealthy family. Why do you act like a scoundrel?"
"Let the princess know that I grew up among ruffians and have been hanging around in brothels for many years. Reputation is of no use to me. For my daughter, I can do anything!" said the fourth concubine.
“…” Princess Anping had never dealt with such a person before. She was so angry that she was shaking all over. However, for the sake of her son’s reputation, she had to grit her teeth and endure it.
But if she really had to give her son to a concubine's daughter for the sake of reputation, she would be extremely reluctant.
The two emotions were entangled in her heart, making her feel caught in a dilemma. She was filled with grief and anger and even wanted to die.
Xie Nanjia watched secretly from the side, and when he felt that the time was almost right, he silently poked the fourth young lady from behind.
Zhao Lanzhi stepped forward and said, "Master, Auntie, please go out first. I want to talk to the princess alone."
Zhou Yuncheng was worried that she would suffer at the hands of her mother, so he hesitated and refused to go out.
Zhao Lanzhi winked at him, and he reluctantly followed the Fourth Aunt and her group out.
Princess Anping felt frustrated that she could make her son behave well with just a look. She stared at the little girl in front of her with a sullen look, trying to read her thoughts from her face.
However, Zhao Lanzhi behaved unusually calmly and composedly, which was completely different from the way she looked when she was beaten and humiliated at the welcoming banquet for Princess Jinping that day.
Princess Anping could not help but look her over carefully from head to toe. She was attracted by the unique flowers and butterflies on her plain dress and could not help but take a few more glances.
To be honest, this girl is really pretty and has a slim figure. Her overall temperament is gentle and quiet, which is set off by her simple yet bright clothes. Not to mention the men, even she, a middle-aged woman, is a little dazed.
But so what? No matter how good she is, she is just a concubine's daughter.
Zhao Lanzhi seemed to understand her heart, straightened her chest, and said neither humbly nor arrogantly, "It is human nature for the princess to look down on my background, but in my opinion, the difference between legitimate and illegitimate children is just an empty title for girls. It is useless except for giving face to the husband's family when getting married. After getting married, how you live your life still depends on your character and ability to manage the household.
Although I am a concubine's daughter, my father has never treated me badly. He let me go to school with my sisters. From the first day of school, I have been diligent and hardworking, and I dare not slack off for a single day. I have mastered everything the teacher taught me, including music, chess, calligraphy, painting, the Four Books and the Five Classics, cooking, sewing, household management and accounting. In terms of character and appearance, I am no worse than anyone else. Do I become worthless just because I am not a legitimate daughter
To be frank, the current Empress Dowager was born as a concubine's daughter of the governor of Kyoto, but she assisted the previous emperor in overthrowing the previous dynasty and is now the most noble woman in the world. The previous imperial concubine was the eldest daughter of the prime minister, but she ruined the country because of her seductiveness. What is the destiny of the legitimate and illegitimate?"
Princess Anping was very shocked. She didn't expect that such a weak and delicate girl could be so eloquent. Although her tone was a little arrogant, every word she said made sense and could not be refuted.
In fact, Zhao Lanzhi did not give her time to refute, and continued: "The princess may think that what I said is too arrogant, but I want to ask the princess, are you willing to see your son marry a legitimate daughter he doesn't like and let the couple live a life of separation
What's more, given the eldest son's stubbornness, it is still unknown whether he is willing to listen to the princess and marry someone else. If he is determined not to marry anyone, what can the princess do to him? How can the Zhou family's incense continue
Princess, don't think I am exaggerating. I'm sure you heard it yourself just now. The eldest master wants to die.
As far as I know, the princess has always wanted the eldest son to study hard and get a good reputation, but the eldest son has no interest in this and wastes his time all day. If the princess is willing, I dare to make a military order with the princess. As long as the princess can help me and the eldest son, I promise to make the eldest son pass the imperial examination next year. If he fails to pass the first place, I will ask for a divorce, leave the eldest son, and never return to Beijing. Princess, do you dare to try?"
Princess Anping felt a little dizzy. The little girl's dense words came to her like waves, one after another, leaving her no time to breathe or think. But when she heard her promise to help her son pass the imperial examination, she felt a little moved.
Zhao Lanzhi's palms were sweaty. She looked at Princess Anping's expression and knew that she had listened to her words. She breathed a sigh of relief.
Xiu'er said that Princess Anping's greatest wish was to let her son pass the imperial examinations, but she couldn't persuade her son, so she had always wanted to find a daughter-in-law who could tame her son and urge him to turn back to the right path. If she could guarantee that Young Master Zhou would study hard and pass the imperial examinations, she would definitely be able to move the princess's heart.
Therefore, she was taught to talk as much as possible at the beginning and not to give the princess a chance to react, and then to release the bait suddenly at the last moment, and the princess would definitely not be able to resist it.
Coupled with Zhou Yuncheng's previous foreshadowing of "dying for love" and the fourth concubine's threat to take him to court, if the princess did not want to lose her only son and did not want her son to be criticized, she would definitely take the initiative to make concessions.
Sure enough, after being stunned for a moment, Princess Anping nodded slowly: "Okay, go call your aunt in!"
Zhao Lanzhi's tears almost burst out. She bowed and walked out with her weak legs.
"Wait!" Princess Anping suddenly called out to her, "Did you really slap my son just now?"
Zhao Lanzhi was startled and shook her head quickly: "The eldest master just clapped his hands."
Princess Anping raised her lips uncomfortably: "Sure enough, sons are all ungrateful. They forget their mothers after getting married."
…
Princess Anping and the fourth concubine talked in the room for a while, set a date for the marriage proposal, and then returned to the city with her son.
Zhou Yuncheng got what he wanted and was overjoyed. On the way, he solemnly promised his mother that he would study hard after returning. He also sincerely asked his mother to hire some of the most strict and knowledgeable teachers for him.
When Princess Anping left the temple and was blown by the cold wind, she slowly came to her senses and realized that she had been deceived by everyone, including her son and Abbot Wuchen. The counseling, the threats of death, and the catching of an adulterer in the room were all a play they had acted out together. Even the Fourth Miss's lengthy speech might have been a pre-written script.
But now that things have come to this, it is too late for her to understand. Considering that her son took the initiative to ask for a teacher to study, she can only swallow her anger.
I hope the Fourth Young Lady will not let her down and will urge her son to pass the imperial examinations.
After Princess Anping left, Xie Nanjia and her group also set off for home. Compared to the princess's mixed feelings, they were simply happy, excited, and relaxed.
The Fourth Aunt smiled all the way, as if she had won a great victory. She said she had never dreamed that she would get such an outstanding son-in-law right after having a daughter.
The fourth young lady felt weak in the knees, and was filled with fear when she recalled the battle of wits and courage with the princess. She didn't know where she got the courage from at that time. She said that if she were asked to do it again in the same way now, she would definitely not be able to utter a word.
Xie Nanjia smiled without saying anything. While listening to them talk, she was thinking in her mind that once the fourth young lady's marriage was finalized, she could start to settle accounts with the Qin aunt and nephew.
(End of this chapter)