This chapter has been brought to you by me, Adnana, and Vivie.
Chapter Sixty-Two: Chu Yu
While theirs mothers did not have a very good relationship, nevertheless Hua Xi Wan and Hua Chu Yu, as di daughters of the Hua Family, had been together many times during their childhood. They had a deep sisterly relationship. So Hua Xi Wan quickly realized that Hua Chu Yu did not seem to feel much anticipation about the marriage to the shizi of He Wen Marquis. Rather than say she was being smart, it would be more accurate to say that she seemed resigned.
The people present were those who were close to the Hua Family, but some things were not appropriate to say in public. After Yan Jin Qiu and the other men went with her father to the study, Hua Xi Wan said with a smile, “It has been long since I returned to the fu. Is Second Tan Jie willing to accompany me on a walk in the fu?”
Such a cold day with the snow blowing—what reason was there to walk?
Everyone present knew this meant that the two girls had private things to say. Perceptively, they did not break the illusion. Lu shi said with a smile, “The yard has been changed recently. You sisters can go see. But it is snowing outside, so take care not to get cold.”
Hua Xi Wan smiled and allowed Bai Xia to help her into her fox fur cape. She held a handstove and walked out of the inner hall with Hua Chu Yu.
Almost all of the younger generation had left, and those present had children, so they changed the topic to daily matters. But because Hua Yi Liu was present, no one mentioned how to raise their children to avoid reminding the other of hurtful matters.
“Wang Fei has a good relationship with the second miss of our family.” Yao shi was a person who was slightly selfish. However, when she saw Hua Xi Wan’s closeness in treating her daughter, she said with a smile, “In the past, the two of them always liked to stay together. Now that Third Miss has become Wang Fei, the two still seem like in the past.”
“That is so true. In the past, Third Girl had to be on bedrest for a long period of time after she rescued Second Miss from drowning, and then ended up with this vulnerability to the cold. It has finally faded these past two years. Can average people compare to this relationship?” The reason why Lu shi was at odds with Yao shi was primarily because of this matter. She had felt pained at what occurred when her daughter rescued the child of the third master Hua, but she would not blame the child. But what Yao shi had done in the past was just repaying a boon with hate.
Yao shi was definitely one of the people who had spread rumors in the past about Hua Xi Wan. Even Zhang shi had done a lot in the shadows. She really did not know what her two sisters-in-law intended when they did this. They also had daughters—could they not put themselves in someone else’s shoes?
If it wasn’t for the actions of Eldest Miss and Second Miss’ mothers, Lu shi had a high opinion of Second Miss. Eldest Miss had talent and beauty, but her personality was not steady. She was not as vicious as required and not as kind as needed. She did not have enough breadth of mind and skill. As a woman, one could not have beauty, or the best figure, but what they required was a presence of mind.
Second Miss had this mother who was slightly muddle-headed, but Yao shi was truly good to her daughter. Second Miss also inherited the personality of Third Master Hua: she had both talent and appearance as well as a clear mind. This was a rare good girl.
If the women in the world could become officials like men, how many wondrous and mythical women would appear in the world? It was a pity that no matter how talented the women of the world were, they could only submit to residing in the inner compound, their spirits ground down by the daily affairs. If they married a man who was of good virtue and conduct, that was good fortune. But if it was like Eldest Miss… Lu shi sighed. Regardless of what the court situation was like, she only hoped that Second Miss would not end up like Eldest Miss and encounter a beast in clothing.
“Let’s sit up there.” Hua Xi Wan pointed at the Moon Viewing Pavilion in front. She was walking shoulder-to-shoulder with Hua Chu Yu, with a string of servant girls following them. A jade-ribbed ink umbrella was held on top of her head and caused her to feel slightly depressed.
The two sat down in the pavilion. The servants put out pastries, coal stoves, hot tea, and then retreated out of the pavilion.
“It is snowing outside; you should go seek shelter in the room. Just leave two people to serve in the pavilions.” Hua Xi Wan felt there was no need to torment so many people just to maintain her presence, so she had these people wait in the room. Even her personal servant girls were by the fire in the pavilion.
The servant girls heard this and were very happy as they left. Only Bai Xia and Hong Ying remained, as well as a personal servant girl of Hua Chu Yu.
There was tea boiling in the little red-date pot, the steam of which spread through the air as it bubbled.
The tea already was over-boiled but no one cared. Hua Xi Wan said as she held the hand-warmer, “Just now, I saw that Second Jiejie is not very happy. Is something wrong with the shizi of the Lin Family?”
Hua Chu Yu looked at Hua Xi Wan’s pale yet hale face. She shook her head with a faint smile. “There is nothing wrong, it is just how it is. As a woman, what would determine the quality of my life is my husband and my children. With a fate that is dependent on relying on others to gain anything else, there is no need to have so many delusions.”
Hua Xi Wan looked dazedly at Hua Chu Yu and suddenly thought of the words Xu Wang Shizi Fei had said, as well as Sheng Junwang Fei’s crazy actions after she could not have a child. She felt slightly uncomfortable. In this world where men held all the power, if women had any thoughts that were not to their benefit, the women would end up with the crime of “not abiding by the womanly path.”
Men always praised “women without talent are virtuous.” That was just because they were afraid that if women knew more, and their mind would be broadened, they would not serve men with all they had. So they would be like defenders who would suggest many things to women that were beneficial to the power of the man, while they whiled away their time at pleasure houses and brothels. As long as they had some respect towards their wife, they would receive the title of gentleman and could generously state that concubines were only playthings and the wife was the true path.
Hua Chu Yu saying this to her meant that she felt unwilling but had to compromise because she could not change anything. Hua Xi Wan felt sorrow for these exceptional women and also sighed for herself.
Of the women whom she knew, all had their unique traits. Even the Empress who was at odds with Yan Jin Qiu was a women with great skill. Yet how many of these exceptional women lived freely?
Even her mother who had a fiery personality was just slightly so in her speech and conduct. In reality, she still stayed in the small space that was the inner compound and received her reputation as a shrew because her father did not have concubines. What was worse was that most of the people who laughed at her mother behind her back were women.
“Why does Second Jiejie think so?” Hua Xi Wan sighed. “No matter how unfair the world is, as long as you are alive, you can think of ways so that you can make your life better. People have to leave some hope for themselves.”
“The outside says that Xian Wang and his wife have a love as deep as the sea. Meimei is admired by all the women in Jing—do you not have anything to regret?” Hua Chu Yu looked at the snowflakes flying. “From young, you were a special person, or rather, in my eyes, you were different from other females.”
The snow grew heavier. The pavilion was silent and the sound of boiling water in the little red clay pot seemed unusually loud.
“I’m just a common person.” Hua Xi Wan smiled. “I will compromise some things in order to let myself live better, and will do some things that I once did not like.”
Hua Chu Yu smiled as she looked at Hua Xi Wan. Her expression was exceptionally warm. “If a compromise makes your life better, than the compromise is worth it. To be able to bend and rise as needed is something you are good at, but I might not be able to reach your level.”
Hua Xi Wan looked at Hua Chu Yu’s smile. At this moment, she did not know what to say. There were some questions that did not have answers, and she was not a smart person who was seen once in a millennium.
Seeing that Hua Xi Wan did not speak, Hua Chu Yu continued, “He Wen Marquis Fu is the paternal family of the Crown Princess. I heard that the Crown Princess is the daughter of the second wife while the shizi is born of the original wife. The Lin Family is not very close to the Crown Prince, which is why the Empress is so dissatisfied with the Crown Princess.
After hearing this, Hua Xi Wan’s expression did not change. She wanted to know why Hua Chu Yu was saying all this to her.
“After I marry into the Lin Family, I will try to have the Lin Family distance themselves from the Crown Prince further.” Hua Chu Yu put down the teacup and grasped Hua Xi Wan’s hand. “Xi Wan, of us three sisters, at least one of us should have good days.”
Hua Xi Wan’s hand shook. She looked at Hua Chu Yu and thought of that day eight years ago when she jumped into the water to save Hua Chu Yu, what Hua Chu Yu had said.
“Meimei, it is I who burdened you.”
Hua Xi Wan had never expected that the other would say such a thing to her after so many years.
What was required, and what was not required?
“We should all live well.” Hua Xi Wan gripped Hua Chu Yu and looked hard at her eyes. “Second Jiejie, remember—think more for yourself. A lifetime is just a few decades; do not let your life be a misfortunate trip.”
Hua Chu Yu laughed lightly. “Jiejie will remember what Meimei has said.”
Hua Yi Liu held up an umbrella as she looked at the two people conversing harmoniously in the pavilion. She said with an unfathomable expression to the servant girl behind her, “Tell the two misses that the banquet is about to start soon.”
After the servant girl walked to the Moon Viewing Pavilion, Hua Yi Liu expressionlessly turned her gaze away. Of the three sisters, Hua Chu Yu and Hua Xi Wan were forever the two who were the closest, and she was just their hanger-on. Her beauty was not as good as Hua Xi Wan’s, and her talent was inferior to Hua Chu Yu’s. Maybe, in their eyes, she was just a joke.
Just as she turned and prepared to leave, she saw His Highness Xian Wang walk over with a black-ribbed umbrella with a painting of Jiangnan. Her steps stilled and she made a formal bow to Xian Wang.
Xian Wang only made a faint sound of acknowledgement and then walked in the direction of the Moon Viewing Pavilion.
She turned back to look and saw Hua Xi Wan step down from the stairs to the pavilion. Just as she took one step down, Xian Wang took her hand and the umbrella in his hand moved towards her.
The two of them under the umbrella were like a pleasing drawing. Anyone who saw it would feel admiration.
Hua Yi Liu felt that there was something in her heart that almost could not be suppressed.
Translator Ramblings: More relations by marriage. The empress’ brother’s wife and the crown princess are either aunt and niece or something similar.
*“Xi Wan, of us three sisters, at least one of us should have good days.”*
I really do like her. She seems like the type of girl who could survive through grit. Also someone who takes things seriously despite the almost cavalier way she talks to her closest cousin. They like each other and it’s not just fake. I hope she’ll be fine. Chu Yu is another smart lady that might end up in a bad situation but I hope not.
—
*Of the three sisters, Hua Chu Yu and Hua Xi Wan were forever the two who were the closest, and she was just their hanger-on. Her beauty was not as good as Hua Xi Wan’s, and her talent was inferior to Hua Chu Yu’s. Maybe, in their eyes, she was just a joke.*
Instead of being angry, I felt pity for her. I finally realize that her image of herself is a reflection of how her mother has always seen her. That hurts. To be thought of as not beautiful and not someone with enough talent. In her mother’s eyes, she was always lacking and it has carried over to how she lives her life. Is it any wonder then that she’s jealous of her two cousins? It’s so self-destructive. I’m glad that at least her father and her brother care for her.
—
This chapter made me sad for the ladies. This novel really shows how the women are so powerless in this era. To be pawns of men in power.
Thank you wyhcwe, Adnana, and Vivie. This was wonderful 🙂 I hope you have a good day!
You’re probably right. The other two have supportive mothers that don’t think of them as a resource for another child.
Their familial relationship is like this (◎_◎;)…
If one family (Clan) was to be punished until 9th relationship, just how many of them have to die??
Anyway, I love it when you used the Chinese term (Biao and Tang) since it was easier to remember from which side the cousin come from~
I kept refreshing your page for the third chapter 🤣🤣🤣
Let’s hope Chu Yu’s days are better than Yi Liu’s. BTW, is CY implying that should gives her support to YJQ?
She is Implying that she’d try not to burden HXW with her family. HXW cares for her as sister so if her husband go against Xi’an Wang, it would put HXW in a difficult situation.
To make sure everyone is allright is better to stay away from the fight over the throne, be neutral is the safest move ever because no matter who win the throne, they will be safe.
I’m low-key freaking out OMG … Thirds chapter like.. really ?… I’m shocked for a while there …. Hahaha I’m happy
Thank you for the chapter <3
Thanks for reading
Thanks for the update. I really like this story. I have read the raw story, but it has many grammatical errors. So, thanks for translating this story.
“Hua Yi Liu felt that there was something in her heart that almost could not be suppressed.” I’m scared that something terrible will be born from HYL’s feelings of isolation and insecurity , I’ll feel that she has been through enough and should not make her life any harder then it already is — please be smart HYL !!!
She’s smarter than her mother, don’t worry.
That’s not saying much.
Too right. Her mother is untouched by wisdom, lacking intelligence. HYL knows her desire for Xian Wang is all she can have with, from, or for him. She knows her youngest female cousin is not antagonizing her, and has even been kind.
I sort of hope to get to see HYL grow as a person, and possibly get a happier ending.
I live in a society that’s only a few generations removed from what’s described in these chapters – complete with men having multiple wives – so my heart really hurt for Hua Chu Yu, and for Hua Yi Liu. The power men have over women is a sober reality.
Thanks for the chapter.
I live in a society where the social structure described here, especially men having multiple concurrent wives has been illegal and considered immoral for more than a thousand years. My cultural heritage (the most traceable parts) does include a few hundred years ago some men being allowed to sell their wives at the market fair. Then again, the same culture has allowed wife-initiated divorce for hundreds of years.
The power men have over women is only what the women as a whole give them. If women were/are willing to give up the time to nurture and/or be taken care of, they may hold the “power” of the family instead. Power sharing is hard, but mutually beneficial. It still takes both genders to reproduce humans; don’t step on your allies if you want the species to survive.
Never forget that the patriarchal societies often came from matriarchal societies. When women allowed the men to wage war, and have the greater portion of the better food, that’s when women started to give up their rights. When women started taking their rights back it was through conversation, coercion, logic, and going back onto the battlefield.
I am sad despite there’s no tears in this chapter
“…almost could not be suppressed.”
This other sister needs someone who she can really rely on before she commits something she shouldn’t. But that mother of hers is not helping at all!
And another sister going into the battle >~~<
Three chapters! What a treat. Thank you for your hard work!
Oh I’m afraid of what HLY thought at the moment..
Thanks for the 3rd chapter of this week..
See… That Yao shi is annoying lol Lu shi is the best
Thank you for the chapter~
Aw, I like her.. I hope she marries someone who treasures her. I suppose that’s the most we can ask for considering the societal norms at the time. It’s really pitiful that strong, intelligent women were reduced to using their prowess to scheme against each other. Sigh.
Do press that something in your heart, Hua Yi Liu. She’s so stubborn and looks like she’ll become shameless too in the next chapters. Oh well, I was hoping she would keep her head since she has suffered much but hope is squashed.
Thank you so much for the chapters <3
the empress must really want to tie the Lin Family, perhaps for some benefits
thank you!
Thank you so much for all the chapters. Glad I finally caught up 😀
I’m in love with this story. Every character is well-developed and has a good backstory. I think we could even say this is quite a feminist story. It shows different types of women leading their life on different paths. And it shows how far we have come as a suppressed gender. With my own 21st century mindset, it is really hard for me to imagine spending my life with someone I despise. It was and still is really hard to be a woman.
That being said, I really hope it’s a happy ending story as in good people got good karma and bad people suffer lol
Unless one is a sociopath, it’s not entirely easy to be a man. I try to see things as objectively as possible, though from my own experience, adult female is a tough gig.
I absolutely know I would never stay legally tied to a spouse I couldn’t at least respect. I come from a long line of women who wouldn’t – and the subsequent single-parent households and blended families.
I do like to see characters who “know” gender equality, especially if they can manage to help the down-trodden with it. Life is hard and precarious, why limit anyone’s possibilities in such a non-productive way? The world has certainly managed to more than maintain human population levels even with both genders doing the working, fighting, caring, child-rearing, learning, etc. Any argument for the suppression of either gender has a modern day counter-example all over the globe. (With the rare exception based on biological possibility, such as gestation and breast-feeding.)
*end rant*
This is certainly a good novel for seeing the various women’s points of view on life, and their varying circumstances. The main character is too lazy to be a feminist, but she may become an active one if it would really alter the life paths of those she cares for and/or about. Or she may not bother. She is now living in what she considers history, why fight if it will happen anyhow, eventually?
Ehhhh I think we have a different opinion on what is a “feminist”
I think what you describes is actually an “activist”
Possibly. I don’t necessarily classify anyone as an anything-ist unless they are willing to act on their -ism. The action doesn’t need to be big, just living by one’s beliefs, as much as possible. Some -isms don’t really require much action to be sincerely held beliefs, but if you are a feminist who is perfectly happy to watch women be subjugated by men, unwilling to lift a finger stop it or voice to at least call it bad, then you do not sincerely believe in feminism, and thus are not a feminist. An -ist is an adherent to a particular belief or set of beliefs. One must perform some action to adhere to any belief.
Thank you for the extra chapter 😗
“I’m just a common person.” Hua Xi Wan smiled. “I will compromise some things in order to let myself live better, and will do some things that I once did not like.”
I like HXW personality. She seems doesn’t care with the surrounding, i mean she has same personality with QQJ. Just enjoy your life and do what you should do. Try to get your happy life but don’t take other happiness.
Hua Yi Liu felt that there was something in her heart that almost could not be suppressed
Wow i feel like HYL jealousy turn on. She doesn’t like the happy marriage between HXW and YJQ. Maybe she has other plot to disturbing their relationship?
You can’t fault her for being a bit envious right now. She just came out of a bad marriage, and sees one cousin happily married and another about to get married to someone of relatively high status.
Even resenting them a bit would not be out of bounds…
I do pity her for her bad luck.
The stupid thing for her would be trying to be a ‘homewrecker’ by trying to enter Xian Wangfu xd
But at this point she doesn’t seem to be that despicable.
May I bother you to update the Table of Content for 8TT? It’s easier for me to navigate via that page.
I normally read this blog on my phone while I’m on the train/bus so I thought the story was on hiatus when I reached Chapter 48 which was posted more than a month ago. Didn’t realize there were more chaps till I logged in to my computer lol.
Man… this chapters bothers me on such a fundamental level.
At least one of the three should be happy? I don’t think this is what HWX would want at all, and if it’s not what she wants, would anyone truly be happy?
*shrugs* Not my place to really say I guess, although I will say that this revelation really makes the heart feel lonely and pained for these poor people. Even the “best” outcome is basically nothing but pure luck considering nothing really went into putting the MC and ML together other than luck really. (or manipulation of facts, but given that she was unresigned in the beginning, still more luck than that.)
So much of this story is about how women suffer from the prevalent attitude of their time, of being subordinate to and worthless without their husbands. Or falling victim to vicious scheming, or having their worth reduced to their ability to bear children, etc.
This story is in dire need of some Modern Values ™. In fact, I kind of wish Hua Xi Wan would take this chapter as the last straw and finally deviate from her Path of Laziness towards a Quest, e.g. improving the lot in life of the suppressed and downtrodden (including but not limited to women, the poor, etc). If seeing her beloved sister’s resignation towards her whole adult life is not enough to affect HXW, is there anything that will?
Or put differently, I wish the culture clash between HXW’s original modern values and the values of this ancient patriarchical world would imbue her with some ambition to change whatever she can – which may not be much, because she lacks power… but given that the story will presumably culminate in her becoming Empress at some point, she would certainly have the power to change some things then.
“The power men have over women is only what the women as a whole give them. ” I agree, whole heartedly.
i hate the fact that even after 62 chapters the feeling FL gives her sister is still “i can only put up with it, what can I do with no power?”, when she is the one that refused MLs pleas to help in the fight for power, the fuck is with this shit? she does nothing but sleep all day and she dares to say shit like this, I feel like the author has a very weird view on empowering woman; especially after reading author’s modern novels; in the author’s eyes the male always has to slave away for the female, that’s not what relationships are dude.