She Became A Downfall Noble Lady
Chapter 580 - 578 Living Life Isn’t All About Romance

Chapter 580: Chapter 578 Living Life Isn’t All About Romance

Although all these actions at Wong Qiao were ideas given by Jiang Yifan, didn’t Wong Qiao, the son raised by a widowed mother, also need to be promising?

If Wong Qiao only focused on thoroughly filial obedience to his mother and conforming to her wishes, Ye Xinyan would definitely not approve of Zhou Biyao treating Lady Zhao as a joke, nor would she be willing to play the villain.

But then again, Jiang Yifan really was despicable; when he gave advice to Wong Qiao, he intended for her to play the role of the villain.

While Ye Xinyan had a good night’s sleep, Lady Zhao, with no other hopes left, also unexpectedly slept exceptionally well and comfortably.

The next day at dawn, Lady Zhao opened her eyes in bed and was surprised for a moment at the high quality of her sleep before she slowly got up.

Clearly, she was extremely annoyed before falling asleep, resenting Qi Younian for not considering the friendship with her husband, and for not showing a shred of support for the widow and orphan of his sworn brother because of a woman he had known for only two or three years.

Yet, she was able to sleep so soundly. Reluctant as she was, she knew that once she learned she could not rely on the Duke’s Mansion’s Miss Ye and Qi Younian, the Prefectural Magistrate became an existence like the sky to her, and she compromised. Therefore, this sleep was the most peaceful she had had since arriving at Clear Water Village.

Xiuqin had already woken up early and was waiting in the outer room. Seeing Lady Zhao’s face looking unwell the night before, she came over early to wait, so as not to make Lady Zhao even angrier by not seeing anyone around in the morning.

Although Lady Zhao was strict and stern, staying with her was evidently much better than suffering hunger at home, frequent beatings, and even the uncertainty of being married off somewhere to settle her brothers’ bridal payments.

Xiuqin held no obsession with marrying Wong Qiao. As long as she could leave her home, away from the beatings of her parents, away from her brothers’ bridal payments as they were about to take wives, away from that unknown future, she would be content.

Of course, being able to stay with the Qi family and continue to live such a good life would be best of all.

Hearing some faint movement in the inner room, Xiuqin tentatively called out softly, "Auntie?"

Madam Zhao, already neatly dressed, hummed in response and walked out from the inner room.

Xiuqin quickly and attentively lifted the kettle from the small stove and poured hot water into the mouthwash cup, saying, "Auntie, please rinse your mouth first."

Madam Zhao glanced at the door casually and asked, "Where is Qing Min? How come I haven’t seen her?" Was it possible that Qi Ye’s wife was annoyed with her and even withdrew the maid? She wasn’t insistent on being served by the maid of the Qi family; it was just that if she were removed from the guest room before moving out, it would be very unseemly.

No sooner had her voice faded than Qing Min responded from outside, "I’m here, does Madam Zhao have any instructions?" As she spoke, Qing Min had already drawn back the curtain and come in.

Holding the mouthwash cup in her hands, Madam Zhao smiled and said, "Nothing much, Ah Qiao has been back for two days now, and after all, we are guests here; it’s better to stay with Ah Qiao. Today I plan to ask the wife of the heir apparent when we mother and daughter will move out. Could Miss Qing Min trouble yourself to go to the wife of the heir apparent later and see when she has time?"

Qing Min quickly curtsied, "This servant has noted it down. After having breakfast, this servant will go and ask. If you have no other instructions, this servant will go and prepare washing water for Madam Zhao."

Xiuqin felt a sense of relief from the moment she heard Lady Zhao say that they were going to move out and live together with her cousin. Since they were planning to move out and join the cousin, they probably weren’t considering returning to Hezhou anymore.

While Qing Min went to fetch breakfast, Lady Zhao sat at the table on the kang bed, looking at Xiuqin and said, "You heard everything Miss Ye said yesterday. If Ah Qiao’s marriage to Miss Zhou doesn’t work out, I’m afraid Ah Qiao will see no future and can only return to the countryside to continue his life as a craftsman, earning a living through his work."

At that moment, Xiuqin was sitting askew on the edge of the kang, and hearing Lady Zhao say this, she couldn’t help but feel anxious. She carefully spoke, "Aunt took Xiuqin out of her family home, allowing Xiuqin to have enough to eat and clothes to wear. Xiuqin will listen to Aunt, and do whatever Aunt says."

Lady Zhao sighed and said, "Such a good child. If we could be mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, how wonderful that would be." While speaking, she reached out and patted Xiuqin’s shoulder, "Don’t worry, your aunt will definitely find you a good family. With the prospects and wealth of your cousin, your marriage won’t be bad. The only fear is that if your cousin were merely an ordinary craftsman, then we two would amount to nothing."

Xiuqin quickly nodded in agreement. She had lived here for over two months and seen with her own eyes that the families working for the Qi family were leading decent lives. Regardless, her aunt was related to the Qi family and her cousin was an important person here. As long as the Qi family didn’t dislike them and they could stay, they would have good days ahead.

She understood this.

"Aunt knew you were a sensible child," said Lady Zhao.

Ye Xinyan was working in the exterior courtyard’s office when she heard from Jiu Yue that Lady Zhao, looking humble, had entered Madam Yin’s room, saying she had matters to discuss with the wife of the heir apparent. First, she glanced at Zhou Biyao, then sent everyone out of the office.

"It seems Lady Zhao has conceded. What about you? Have you made up your mind to marry into Wong Qiao’s family no matter what?" Ye Xinyan asked.

By now, Zhou Biyao had lost her previous fanciful dreams about married life, and her thoughts had grown much more somber. Hearing that Lady Zhao might have conceded, the joy that flitted across her face vanished in an instant, and Ye Xinyan even doubted her own eyes, thinking the young girl had never shown any sign of happiness.

Setting down her writing brush, Zhou Biyao said, "During the New Year’s, I pretended to be uncertain and probed my mother. I asked her, what should I do if I don’t adapt well after marriage, or if I can’t get along with my mother-in-law?"

"Oh, not bad at all," Ye Xinyan looked at her and said with a smile, "The young girl has grown wiser, knowing how to subtly broach the subject with your mother. That’s progress. What did Madam Liang say?"

"Mother said that a woman’s life is hard in this world, and the few good years are those before marriage. Once married, one must always submit to the control of the in-laws and husband. With the customary practice of marrying above or below one’s station, a wife from a lower rank entering a family will always be regarded as inferior. Mother said that I’m already lucky, and even if the mother-in-law is difficult to deal with, she would still have to consider my father’s official position and influence."

Ye Xinyan nodded, "Your mother cares deeply for her children."

In this era, women’s status was low, and even daughters from official families were often married off to strengthen familial power. It was rare, like with the Zhou family, for a daughter to cry, make a fuss, and threaten suicide to get parents to agree to such a marriage proposal.

However, Zhou Bingyi had a passion for gardens, greatly admiring Wong Qiao’s talents. Knowing that Wong Qiao had Jinrong’s esteem and worked under the granddaughter of Duke An were probably some of the reasons why Zhou Bingyi agreed to the marriage.

"My mother also said that life isn’t a romantic fairy tale. Every family deals with mundane daily troubles, and even the best of emotions, after not too long, become ordinary. Therefore, there are benefits to marrying below one’s rank," Zhou Biyao continued to say.