Transmigration: The Little Chef Calls The Shots
Chapter 1277 - 166, Adopted Daughter

Chapter 1277: 166, Adopted Daughter

Lady Meng was no different, for her estate also had its fair share of concubines and concubine-born children; the situation was truly akin to the meaning of the verse.

"What a way to capture the essence of melancholy," Lady Meng, despite her questionable intentions, was a woman of talent, and couldn’t help but sigh softly.

"Ah! On such a joyous occasion, why speak of such gloomy matters?" A very amiable-looking woman quickly steered the conversation elsewhere, smiling at Lin Yuan, "Miss Lin is so talented, may I also inquire about someone?"

When this person spoke, her gaze was clear and pure, remarkably better than that of Lady Meng and her cohort. Lin Yuan, finding her not particularly displeasing, smiled and nodded.

"After just hearing you discuss so many people, I wonder which of these talented women Miss Lin admires the most?"

Lin Yuan pondered for a moment and then smiled, "Each of these ten talented women is extraordinary, with some being great lyricists of their own era and others fallen daughters of wealthy families who became prostitutes. However, if I must choose my favorite, it would still be Zhuo Wenjun."

Oh? Several Madams couldn’t help but prick up their ears, eager to hear Lin Yuan’s insights. Even Lady Liu turned her head and listened attentively.

Lin Yuan went on to say, "To be frank, like me, Zhuo Wenjun came from a merchant family, but compared to me, her fate was fraught with hardship. She had barely married when she became widowed. After returning home, she fell deeply in love with the Great Talent Sima Xiangru at first sight. Unfortunately, her father, Zhuo Wangsun, strongly opposed their relationship, leaving them no choice but to elope and live by selling wine. Despite their difficult life, nothing could prevent their affection from growing deeper each day."

It was indeed a love story full of twists and turns.

However, in Lin Yuan’s view, the bold pursuit of true love by these two, was utterly unacceptable to the noblewomen, as it flagrantly defied conventional proprieties.

Sure enough, as soon as Lin Yuan finished speaking, a few women began to gossip critically, saying all sorts of things. Words like impropriety, lack of chastity—all were disparaging remarks about Zhuo Wenjun.

Lin Yuan watched them with furrowed brows and a cold laugh in her heart; these people preached high-sounding principles, but if they were to become Zhuo Wenjun, widowed at seventeen, perhaps they would not speak so.

Knowing she had nothing in common with these women, Lin Yuan chose not to say more.

Lady Liu, however, sighed softly and said, "That Master Zhuo really lacks compassion. His own daughter was widowed at such a young age. Had he truly cared for her, he would have allowed her to choose a man she liked to start anew, rather than letting his concern for meaningless reputation hinder his daughter’s lifelong happiness."

Lady Liu’s voice was very soft, and Lin Yuan almost believed that in the midst of the clamorous room, it would fail to garner everyone’s attention. Yet, as soon as Lady Liu finished speaking, those fervently critical women fell silent.

Indeed, they were judging others, but what would they do if Zhuo Wenjun were their own daughter? Would they confine her to a room for life to remain widowed or support her remarriage?

The expectations for women in this era were not overly harsh; they were permitted to divorce and remarry.

Suddenly finding themselves in the same position, the group of women ultimately had nothing more to say, and those who had been loudly decrying Zhuo Wenjun’s lack of propriety were now blushing with embarrassment.

Lin Yuan glanced coldly at the group, scoffing internally. People were always so selfish, righteous when criticizing others from their high ground, yet indulging in double standards when the same issues fell upon themselves.

Standing up, Lin Yuan looked at the perfect sunlight outside and said to Lady Liu, "Mother, let’s go to the garden for a breath of fresh air."

They would leave the stifling atmosphere of the parlor to those women.

Not wishing to remain in the parlor any longer, Lady Liu promptly stood up with a smile and followed Lin Yuan out.

Seeing the two preparing to leave, the woman who had earlier asked Lin Yuan to share the tales of talented women paused, then quickly spoke up, "Miss Lin, please wait."

Curious, Lin Yuan turned around.

The woman seemed to realize her own abruptness and smiled awkwardly, asking, "I haven’t yet inquired where one might purchase ’Laughing at the Worldly Affairs’ that recounts the stories of the ten great talents? I don’t believe I have ever seen such a book before."

So she was inquiring about the book.

Lin Yuan couldn’t help feeling a bit guilty. Could she admit that such a book didn’t even exist?