in2ebook Chapter 108 The Old Story of the Wang Family
Chapter 108 The Old Story of the Wang Family
At twenty, he was already a Xiucai (a successful candidate in the county-level imperial examinations), and he might even pass the Juren (a successful candidate in the provincial-level imperial examinations) this year. Moreover, he was from an official family. Qin Yizhen truly felt that these conditions were quite good.
Although his father died young, there are still connections to him. If he becomes an official in the future, he can help him out.
In retrospect, Zhao Rufang was actually marrying above her station.
Zhao Rufang listened attentively, but finally asked, "What is his family background like?"
"Family background?" Madam Min was taken aback by the question for a moment, then thought for a moment and said, "It's not good, it's not bad either. We're doing alright. There are quite a few people in the family, just a widowed mother and an unmarried younger sister."
Judging from this, his situation is probably similar to that of the Zhao family. After all, when Zhao Rushan returned home, Cheng Yan gave him a lot of money, and he also had income from running a martial arts school, so his life wasn't bad.
Zhao Rufang touched the silver-gilt magnolia hairpin in her hair, feeling somewhat unwilling.
This is not the life she wants. She wants wealth and a peaceful life, to enjoy happiness, not to suffer.
Zhao Rufang was the type to say whatever came to mind, and her dissatisfaction was clearly visible on her face. Anyone with eyes could see it. Madam Min paused for a moment, then fell silent.
Lady Changting smiled and said, "I do have a recommendation. It's the second son of my third sister-in-law's family. Their family is in business. They're rich, but they lack ambition. I'm afraid that's how their lives will be."
They had money, but no power. You have to understand that merchants had a low social status these days, being the lowest class, and even a merchant's wife was looked down upon.
Zhao Rufang was reluctant to give up her wealth and status, but she hesitated. After all, during her time at the Pingxi Marquis's residence, she had witnessed firsthand what immense wealth and power truly meant.
Lady Changting smiled and said, "If Miss Zhao is willing, she can meet him. If not, I will think about it again in a few days and see if there is a suitable one."
Seeing that Zhao Rufang was indeed unwilling, Qin Yizhen said, "Then I'll trouble you, Madam. If things go well, I'll give you a thank-you gift."
Lady Changting waved her hands repeatedly: "Oh, it's nothing, how could I accept the princess's thanks? If I can help bring about a marriage, that would be a meritorious deed for me, wouldn't it?"
"Does the princess mean that she wants to keep all the merit by giving me this gift as a token of gratitude? I won't allow that."
This lady always spoke in a humorous way, and Qin Yizhen laughed: "Alright, alright, then I won't give you a thank-you gift. Let you accumulate merit. May you accumulate countless merits and live a long and worry-free life."
"I like to hear that. Thank you for your kind words, Princess."
After exchanging a few jokes, the group temporarily put aside the matter of arranging a marriage for Zhao Rufang. They then listened to a storyteller while drinking tea and chatting. As they talked, they began to mention the lantern festival on the night of the eighteenth.
Lady Changting was furious when she talked about it: "I also took my husband to see the lantern festival that night and asked him what he thought. Princess, do you know what he said?"
"What did you say?"
"He looked disgusted and said, 'What's so interesting about these lanterns? Aren't they just for illumination? Bah! I want to smash the lantern on his head and give him a good glare.'"
Everyone present laughed when the Lady of Changting said this.
Lady Changting was truly baffled: "I just don't understand. The Changting Marquis's family has reached its third generation. How can a scion of a prestigious family be so uncouth?"
Finally, she asked Qin Yizhen, "Princess, what kind of person is the Marquis at home?"
"What kind of personality does he have?" Qin Yizhen thought for a moment and said, "Sometimes he's quite domineering, forbidding this and that, and unreasonable, but other times he's quite reasonable."
"When is he unreasonable, and when is he reasonable?"
"When they're angry, they become unreasonable."
Upon hearing this, everyone laughed again.
Lady Changting was well-informed and knew a lot. Today she was in a good mood and even told Qin Yizhen some private gossip.
It is said that a certain censor of the Censorate was deliberately retaliated against and had his pants pulled down in the street. It is also said that a certain official married his mentor's daughter. On the surface, they were a loving couple, but in reality, he kept a mistress who had several children with him.
"How much do you know about the Wang family?"
"The Wang family? Which Wang family?"
"It's Wang Xianrong's maternal family, the Wang family. How much do you know about their family?"
Qin Yizhen eventually found out that Wang Xianrong didn't want to live anymore, but this time she wasn't foolish enough to let Cheng Yan go and offer his condolences.
Although Qin Yizhen felt sorry for Wang Xianrong, she also felt that Wang Xianrong had brought it on herself. Since it was her own choice, she should bear the consequences. She was not Wang Xianrong's parent, so how could she possibly wrong herself for Wang Xianrong's sake?
Back then, she always wanted to push Cheng Yan to Wang Xianrong, but it was only because she felt that her relationship with Cheng Yan was like that, and she hoped that Cheng Yan would have a suitable person by his side.
Now that she and Cheng Yan are husband and wife, and Cheng Yan himself has no such intention, she will not hand over her husband to someone else.
Of course, she would also be willing to help in other ways to give Wang Xianrong the will to live.
It was a life after all.
Lady Changting did indeed know some things. She sighed softly and began to recount some old stories about Wang Xianrong's mother.
"When I married into this family, Madam Wang was still alive. She was said to be just the daughter of a scholar. However, Madam Wang was exceptionally intelligent and well-read. Later, she met the head of the Wang family at Qushui Lake. The two fell in love at first sight. At that time, the head of the Wang family, who was still the eldest son of the Wang family, overcame all difficulties to marry her."
"This was considered a beautiful story at the time. The two enjoyed a period of loving happiness together, but unfortunately, it didn't last long."
“In a prominent family like the Wang family, there are many people and many things to deal with. Madam Wang had never learned these things before, and she was exhausted from dealing with them. The Wang family already had a problem with her, and when she failed to handle things properly time and time again, they forced the head of the Wang family to divorce her.”
"The head of the Wang family also has many things to do. When she returns home, she has to deal with these clansmen. In addition, she is a woman who is sentimental and melancholic. She is saddened by flowers and sheds tears by the moon. She has to be coaxed. After a while, it is natural to get annoyed."
"The once loving couple has ended up with nothing but silence between them, becoming a resentful pair."
"I heard that Madam Wang committed suicide."
"Suicide?" Qin Yizhen was startled.
"Yes, some say she was forced to her death by the Wang family, while others say she was heartbroken and committed suicide by swallowing gold after seeing that the head of the Wang family had changed his mind and that her former lover was no longer there."
Qin Yizhen's expression hardened slightly. If it was the former, that would be fine, but if it was the latter, Wang Xianrong was like her mother, someone who loved to the death and could not live without love. What should she do?
Qin Yizhen asked her, "Madam is very knowledgeable. If someone is determined to die, how can you save her life?"
"Seeking death?" Lady Changting paused for a moment, probably realizing who Qin Yizhen was referring to.
So she smiled and shook her head, "Everyone chooses their own path. Since she's determined to die, let's grant her wish. It'll save the lives of the living from being ruined by her, won't it?"