Lady Zhu's Views

"Look at your own heart?" Xiao Ruotong pondered these words, and was momentarily stunned.

No one has ever tried to persuade her from this perspective.

"Yes, it's about your heart," Zhao Ruxi said. "If you were a poor girl, destitute after a divorce, I would naturally advise you to swallow your anger. But you are not. Even if you return after the divorce, the Prince and Princess will still support you, and you can earn your own living without having to depend on others. That's why I advise you to look at your heart, to see how you view these issues. Life is short, so you must live it happily."

"You're right." Xiao Ruotong pondered for a moment, then nodded. "If I still have expectations of him, then I'll trust him one more time and give myself another chance; if not, I can always get a divorce. If I have no expectations, then we should let each other go our separate ways. I can live a carefree life; he can also remarry."

"It's good that you understand. Just one thing: don't abuse your body. Putting others aside, you have to love yourself."

These inspirational quotes, which are commonplace on the modern internet, felt fresh and relevant in ancient times. For Xiao Ruotong, they struck a chord deep within her, offering her a profound and enlightening experience.

"Xiaoxi, thank you."

Zhao Ruxi nodded and stood up. "It's getting late, so I'll head back now. I'm still studying at the academy, so I'm free around this time in the evening. If you want to talk to me, just send someone to the Earl of Suiping's Residence to let me know, and I'll come over after dinner."

"Good."

Zhao Ruxi went out and called Nanny Yun and the others in before leaving.

Back at the Earl of Huanping's Residence, Zhao Ruxi was about to return to the Tea Tasting Residence when Matron Zhou said, "Miss, Qingfeng and the others have already moved all your things to the Slender Bamboo Courtyard today."

"Yes, young lady, I've been wanting to tell you about this for a while now," Qingfeng said hurriedly.

Zhao Ruxi nodded, turned and walked towards Slender Bamboo Courtyard, saying, "Matron Zhou, you can go back now."

"Yes, young lady."

When Zhao Ruxi entered Slender Bamboo Courtyard and was led to her bedroom by Matron Yuan and others who came out to greet her, the First Madam also entered.

"Mother, why haven't you rested yet?" Zhao Ruxi asked.

"I was worried and came to check on you." The First Madam turned and instructed Dianjiang and the others to prepare bathing supplies before asking, "County Princess of Qingyang... are you alright?"

The circle of nobles isn't huge, but it's not small either. Xiao Ruotong's affairs can't be kept secret forever; they'll inevitably become common knowledge.

Zhao Ruxi didn't hide it from her mother and told her about Xiao Ruotong.

She also wanted to see what Lady Zhu thought through this matter.

Although initially the old lady and the first wife promised her that she could decide her own marriage, times have changed. Now that the first wife is her own mother, who knows if she might change her mind?

Throughout history, how many parents have interfered in their children's marriages under the guise of "for your own good"? The deeper the love, the more they want to control their children's marriages. Nobody wants an uncertain future.

But the child doesn't think that way.

Moreover, the generation gap between her and the old lady and the first lady was equivalent to thousands of years and a galaxy.

"Mother, what do you think we should do about Master Xiao's matter?"

The First Madam frowned but remained silent.

After a long while, she sighed, "This matter still needs the Princess of Zhennan to decide. However, since the County Princess can't have children, I'm afraid she'll have to swallow this bitter pill. What else can she do? If she divorces and goes home, she can't just live out her days alone. But what kind of good family can she marry into? She'll just end up as a stepmother. Being a stepmother is worse than staying in the Duke of Ying's Residence as the first wife. At least the Duke of Ying's heir left his mother and kept his son, instead of making his birth mother a concubine."

Zhao Ruxi curled her lip. "It's not that their family is nice, it's just because the Prince of Zhennan's Residence is powerful. If it were someone else, the Duke of Ying's Residence wouldn't be so timid."

The First Madam nodded, "That's true." She patted her daughter's head, her face filled with worry, "Miss Xi, I only hope that your life will be smooth sailing from now on, and that you will never suffer any more hardship."

Ever since she learned that Zhao Ruxi might be her child, the First Madam's heart ached every time she thought about it. If she hadn't been careless back then, allowing Lady Wei to take advantage of the situation, how could this child have suffered so many years of hardship? Now, all she can do is try to find a good marriage for her daughter to make up for her mistake.

Sensing the First Madam's emotions, Zhao Ruxi could vaguely guess her meaning.

However, there are some things she still needs to say upfront.

"Mother, when I came back, you and Grandmother promised me that I could make my own marriage arrangements, and now I can't go back on my word," she said.

The First Madam was taken aback, staring at Zhao Ruxi for a long time without saying a word.

Zhao Ruxi sensed something was wrong and looked up to ask, "What, is it not allowed?"

The First Madam lowered her eyes, a sad expression on her face. "No. It's just that Lady Wei treated you badly back then, so I can understand why you made this request. But now I am your own mother, and you are still so worried? I would give you my heart, how could I possibly harm you in your marriage?" As she spoke, her eyes reddened.

"Mother, it's not like that," Zhao Ruxi quickly said. "Of course you love me and plan everything for me. But what I want might be different from what you've arranged for me."

"Take the matter of Master Xiao, for example. Perhaps Princess of Zhennan, like you, thinks it's for Master Xiao good and advises her to swallow her anger. But how do you know what Master Xiao herself is thinking? The heir of the Duke of Ying once swore eternal love to her, but then secretly had a child with a maid behind her back. Maybe in her heart, she feels that even looking at the heir of the Duke of Ying feels dirty. She would rather remarry someone she doesn't care about and become a stepmother than be with the heir again. Only she knows what pain and happiness are."

"Everyone values different things. Some people are content with wearing gold and silver, and their husbands' fidelity is irrelevant to them; but others value their husbands' affection and respect for them above all else. Master Xiao came from a noble family, and wealth and power were something she was born with, so she didn't value them. What she valued was her husband's affection for her."

She wanted to tell Lady Zhu that, like Master Xiao, she valued affection above all else. In particular, she placed the issues of whether or not to take a concubine and whether or not to be faithful in marriage as her top priority.

For modern women, there is no more important question than traveling back to ancient times and facing marriage.

But she couldn't say these things too clearly to Lady Zhu, otherwise it would be like stabbing her in the heart.

After all, Zhao Yuanxun also had concubines and illegitimate daughters. Lady Zhu's marriage seemed quite happy to outsiders, but after she gave birth to two daughters, her husband began to take concubines and sleep with them, even when she was pregnant and needed her husband's care and attention the most.

Even if this was out of necessity, for the sake of the heir and the future of the Marquis's mansion, surely the First Madam still harbors a thorn in her side, knowing her husband spends every day with other women.