Free Web NovelChapter 1262: Chapter 1251: Illegitimate Son
In the deep of night, Ye Sihui awoke from a nightmare, and only after she saw the familiar decorations within the room did she let out a long sigh of relief.
"Miss, what happened?" the little maid attending her asked cautiously.
"Nothing, you go on and rest, there’s no need to stay here waiting." She slowly closed her eyes, scenes from her past life flashing through her mind until finally a genuine smile graced her lips.
She couldn’t understand why such godly and ghostly matters happened to her, but being able to live once more, Ye Sihui was truly grateful to the heavens. Perhaps it was because her previous life had been so miserable that her prayers at her death were heard.
She was only fifteen this year, and not yet promised to anyone, the tragedies had yet to begin, everything was still timely.
In the morning, Ye Sihui went to the main hall to pay her respects to her mother as usual, seeing her mother’s loving smile, a complex expression flickered in her bright eyes, but it was only for a moment, and the Li Family did not notice it.
"Why have you come so early today? Don’t know to wear more clothing in this chilly weather? I think these maids need a good reprimand." Li Family lovingly pulled her daughter to sit down and immediately ordered the servants to prepare a hand warmer.
"It was I who told them not to, Mother, don’t blame them." Ye Sihui said with a slight smile, in her past life what hardships had she not endured? A thin blanket in the harsh winter was manageable, what was this in comparison?
"Indeed you’ve grown up, lately I’ve been feeling you’ve matured a lot." Li Family sighed lightly, "You used to call me ’mother’, why suddenly changed to calling me ’Mother’?"
Ye Sihui’s heart tightened, thinking her recent behaviors had already aroused suspicion, but soon she relaxed again. If such godly matters hadn’t happened to her, who would believe it? Moreover, she was still herself, some small habits hadn’t changed, her mother couldn’t possibly suspect.
She then gave a playful smile: "Mother, didn’t you always wish for me to grow up? Now that I’ve become sensible, you dislike it."
Li Family helplessly tapped her daughter’s head: "You, now that you say you have grown up, when the shopkeeper comes later today to settle accounts, don’t avoid it, follow me and learn more, so you won’t be easily tricked once you’re married."
Ye Sihui nodded earnestly: "Mother, I will learn diligently."
The Li Family smiled contentedly: "You really have grown up, know your priorities, if your brother could be as sensible as you, I wouldn’t have to worry."
Speaking of her brother, Ye Sihui lowered her head slightly, she knew no matter how sensible she became, in her mother’s heart, her brother would always be the most important.
This she understood well, after all, for a woman to live a stable life, a son is the everlasting guarantee, but what made her feel imbalanced was that her mother forced her last life to death for this incompetent brother.
She equally understood her mother was compelled in pressuring her to death, but should she have met her end? It was her parents who betrothed her to that man, whether he succeeded was beyond her control, wasn’t she a victim too?
Ye Sihui found it hard to envision the days she lived in the past life, so upon returning, she immediately thwarted her father’s intention of sending her into that man’s harem, although she knew her father was power-hungry, wouldn’t easily give up, hence she could only push Ye Jing up.
She harbored a certain guilt towards Ye Jing, but recalling Ye Jing was the concubine daughter, was also sent by her father to be another Prince’s concubine in the last life, died young from premature birth, in this life why not let her marry Prince Kang instead.
Although Prince Kang was destined to fail, a lifetime of seclusion was better than losing one’s life, wasn’t it? Moreover, she even secured more dowry for Ye Jing, entering Prince Kang Mansion as a third-rank concubine, wasn’t better than a sixth-rank concubine? At least she could enjoy a few years of wealth and nobility, wasn’t it?
Thinking like this, Ye Sihui gradually felt no psychological burden, even feeling this act was a form of charity towards Ye Meng.
"Mother, Father seems particularly persistent in marrying me to one of the Princes, could Mother try persuading Father, I don’t want to vie for this so-called wealth and nobility." After much hesitation, Ye Sihui ultimately spoke up, almost pleading.
"You know your father well, not everyone can persuade him." Li Family was both troubled and heartbroken, then, in turn, persuaded, "Weren’t you not opposed to it before? Why the sudden change in thought?"
Ye Sihui lowered her head, eyes flashing a hint of sarcasm, speaking despondently: "Nothing, just suddenly feeling that no matter how wealthy the person I marry, what does it matter, given our family’s standing, I couldn’t be the official wife anyway, wouldn’t I still be at others’ mercy?"
"How could it be the same? Even the least favored Prince is far stronger than our family, should he manage to ascend to that position, wouldn’t it be soaring high? Then your brother’s future wouldn’t be a concern." Li Family spoke as if it were natural.
Upon hearing, Ye Sihui’s heart was even colder, no matter what, even if her mother held her in her heart, it could only rank second, exactly like the past life.
Simply because she bore that man’s child, her mother feared that the child in her belly would incite displeasure from the new Emperor, fearing implications for her brother, she decisively forced her to death.
"Even if of rank, it is a concubine, being a concubine in the back courtyard is hard, doesn’t Mother know? Just from our family alone it’s clear, haven’t the three concubines been easily manipulated by mother? Even Father’s illegitimate sons and daughters must call Mother, unknowingly I wouldn’t let the child I’d bear endure that too, I don’t want a child from my belly calling me ’mother’ and unable to address me as such." Ye Sihui still wouldn’t give up advising. frёewebηovel.cѳm
"How can it be the same, your father’s illegitimate sons and daughters cannot be compared with Princes and Imperial Grandsons? Besides, no matter what, it’s yours, a mere form of address, what difference does it make, listen to Mother, in these times only power matters, Mother is the official wife, birthed from an aristocratic family, though born in a secondary wife’s room, your father had no real power, what’s the result? Not only no face when returning to her family, but must salute whoever she meets, isn’t it scarcely better than the concubines in families with power?" Li Family had her calculations, was not receptive to persuasion.
Ye Sihui bitterly smiled: "But at least Mother needn’t pay daily respects, needn’t learn manners isn’t it? Daughter doesn’t want wealth and nobility, only wishes for a life of peace and smoothness."
"Utter nonsense." Li Family said sternly, "Without power, where comes peace and smoothness? Do you intend to pay respects to that concubine sister when you return home? Even if you’re willing, I wouldn’t allow it, marrying Prince Kang what’s bad about it? Just happened that your father had that gateway, entering as a second-rank concubine, above only a main wife, such a grand opportunity given to Ye Jing that dead girl, truly absurd!"
