Chapter 100: There is Room For the Poor Daughter
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Chapter 100: Tear Apart
Daohua felt mentally exhausted. Concubine Lin was truly relentless, never forgetting to drag her into everything. Even though her grandmother had already dismissed her, Concubine Lin, driven by her own thoughts, still insisted on involving her.
What a talent!
But in her eyes, was she really just an innocent little lamb, to be used as a pawn in their game?
Beside her, Yan Zhiyuan noticed that Old Madam Yan's patience was wearing thin. Realizing that Concubine Lin still hadn't mentioned the matter of Wangyue Academy, he intervened to smooth things over. "Mother, please don't be upset. Concubine Lin came to pay her respects with good intentions. Please give her a chance to correct her mistake."
Daohua glanced at her second uncle. With his ability to get along with the officials of the county and state, he was undoubtedly a capable person.
But if he was truly astute, he wouldn't have spoken up at this moment.
If he truly understood the situation, he wouldn’t have opened his mouth. Previously, when he tried to prevent her from making grape wine, it seemed like he simply wanted to assert his authority in the family. Now, speaking up for Concubine Lin was another sign of confusion.
He might want to help Yan Wenjie gain the opportunity to attend Wangyue Academy, which was understandable, but he could have been more direct about it. If he had done so, she might have thought more highly of him.
But instead, he chose to align himself with Concubine Lin. Didn't he know about the conflict between the wives and concubines in the first house?
He knew, but he still did it.
It was nothing more than thinking that, as an elder, he could pressure her into submission alongside Concubine Lin.
What a ridiculous and foolish thought!
Yan Zhiyuan also wanted to say something to Daohua, but when he saw the faint, mocking smile in her eyes, he found himself at a loss for words.
While he remained silent, Sun Shi had no such hesitation. She laughed, "Daohua, since this concerns your fifth brother and third sister, please don't hold Concubine Lin’s slip of the tongue against her."
So now, she was the one being considerate!
Daohua’s smile faded as she said bluntly, "Second Aunt certainly knows how to speak on others' behalf."
Sun Shi’s face stiffened. She knew that Daohua was sharp-tongued, but she didn’t expect her to be so blunt and unforgiving. She could speak casually as a second aunt, but Daohua was relentless.
Yan Yile noticed her mother being rebuked and was clearly displeased. She was about to speak when Yan Yihuan stopped her.
Yan Yihuan shook her head at her sister and whispered, "Our goal today is to send second brother to the academy. Don't make things worse."
Yan Yile, still upset, bit her lip and frowned, "Look at how capable Eldest Sister is, now everyone in the family has to watch her face."
Yan Yihuan shot a warning glare at her younger sister to silence her, though she silently agreed with her words.
Thanks to the connection with the Young Prince, Eldest Sister’s position in the family was growing stronger.
If it had been in the past, such disrespect to elders would have already been criticized by Uncle. But this time, he said nothing.
On the floor, Concubine Lin, seeing that Yan Zhiyuan and his wife were helping her, felt a wave of relief. Thankfully, her interests aligned with the second house's this time, both wanting to send their son to the academy.
Hearing the sounds of the meal being served from the dining hall, Concubine Lin dared not delay further. If she didn't speak now, there might not be another chance.
This time, she didn't direct her words at Daohua but instead turned her attention to Yan Wenxiu.
"I heard that the eldest master is going to Wangyue Academy for studies. I wish to congratulate him here. When my younger brother taught the eldest master back then, he mentioned that the eldest master has exceptional talent and is bound to succeed, making his mark in the imperial examination."
Upon hearing this, Yan Wenxiu’s brows furrowed slightly, but he quickly concealed it.
The fact that he had been taught by a concubine's brother had become a thorn in his side as he grew older and learned more about etiquette and rules. It had become a source of silent resentment towards his father.
Didn’t his father realize that this situation could embarrass him and put him in a difficult position?
If his classmates found out, how would they view him and the Yan family?
The legitimate first son being taught by a concubine’s brother—was there any sense of propriety in the Yan family?
Moreover, if he became close to Concubine Lin’s brother, he would be seen as disrespecting his mother. If he distanced himself from him, he would be accused of being ungrateful and unappreciative of his teacher.
After passing the imperial examination, he avoided meeting Concubine Lin’s brother, afraid of the gossip.
Nearby, Yan Zhigao’s face darkened when he heard Concubine Lin mention the matter of the eldest son’s education. He had been too busy at the time to personally teach his eldest son, and seeing that Concubine Lin's brother was knowledgeable, he had casually asked him to take over. Now, every time he thought about it, regret filled him.
Outside, Madam Li's face was also grim. The memory of that time weighed heavily on her heart. At that time, Concubine Lin was favored by the master, who would grant her every request. Her son being taught by Concubine Lin’s brother was the deepest pain in her heart.
Of course, she also resented her own weakness, feeling inferior because of her background. She had avoided confronting Concubine Lin, who had a scholar father, and hadn't protected her son well.
Suppressing her anger, Madam Li didn't immediately enter the room, afraid she wouldn’t be able to control her emotions.
Inside, Yan Zhigao glared at Concubine Lin. "Enough. You've paid your respects and congratulated him. If there's nothing else, you can leave now."
Concubine Lin's expression shifted. She knew that mentioning the matter of the eldest son's education would upset the master, but she needed a reason to speak up. For the sake of her son's future, she couldn't care about that anymore.
"The eldest master is certainly destined to bring glory to the family, but as the old saying goes, a single tree cannot form a forest. Over the years, I’ve seen how difficult it has been for the master in the official world," Concubine Lin said.
"Our Yan family has a weak foundation, and in the future, when the eldest master enters the official world, though he will have the connections your father has accumulated, it won’t be as stable as the mutual support of family."
Daohua listened to Concubine Lin’s words, feeling a sense of admiration.
This woman was clever—she didn’t directly ask for a position but instead went around it with such a roundabout method.
Concubine Lin's eyes reddened as she looked at Yan Zhigao, her gaze filled with a hint of pleading. "Master, you know well the talents and knowledge of Wenbin. If, in the future, he could help the eldest master, it would be my greatest wish."
As she spoke, Concubine Lin shifted her gaze to Daohua.
Daohua had been watching Concubine Lin’s performance, and when she looked over, Daohua straightened her posture, sitting up a little more rigidly. In her heart, she thought, Here it comes—after all that talking, the topic is finally shifting to me.
"Miss, I know my status as a concubine is low, and I shouldn’t stand out before you or cause any displeasure. In the future, I will stay away from you and not disturb you," Concubine Lin said, lowering her voice. "But, please, for the sake of Second Master and Wenbin, who share the same Yan family blood as you and wish to contribute to the family’s prosperity, please help them."
With that, Concubine Lin unexpectedly knelt before Daohua, which startled Daohua, causing her to jump up and step aside.
"Grandmother!"
Daohua quickly sought help from Old Madam Yan.
Old Madam Yan’s face darkened with anger. "Concubine Lin, what are you doing?"
At that moment, Madam Li stormed in, her face cold with displeasure as she glared at Concubine Lin. "Concubine Lin, are you intentionally trying to ruin my daughter’s reputation?"
Concubine Lin appeared startled, her face filled with panic as she shook her head repeatedly. "I didn’t mean to, please calm down, madam."
Compared to the furious Madam Li, Concubine Lin, still kneeling, appeared pitiful, and Daohua noticed her father’s expression softening with sympathy. Feeling both helpless and irritated, Daohua sighed inwardly.
"Father," Daohua said, stepping forward and bowing to Yan Zhigao.
"Father, Concubine Lin is your concubine, and as a junior, I shouldn’t speak out. However, nearly every word she’s said has been aimed at me, so I feel I must speak."
Yan Zhigao looked at his eldest daughter, then at Concubine Lin, and finally at his furious mother and wife. With a sigh, he said, "Go ahead."
Daohua moved to help Madam Li sit down, then stood beside her mother, her gaze coldly fixed on the kneeling Concubine Lin.
"Concubine Lin, I don’t understand what you’re really thinking. As you said, I’m blood-related to Fifth Brother and Third Sister, and we should live in harmony, but from your actions, it seems you want nothing more than for the relationship between Fifth Brother, Third Sister, and me to become even worse!"
Concubine Lin tried to deny it, but Daohua didn’t give her a chance. She continued, "As their biological mother, Fifth Brother and Third Sister will naturally protect you, but when you constantly beg, kneel, and grovel before me, do you think they don’t despise me by now?"
"Honestly, I don’t understand. What do you gain from causing a rift between me and my siblings?"
Concubine Lin began to respond, but Daohua cut her off. "You know exactly what your intentions are, but I have to ask, have you grown used to asking for things without working for them? Do you think that as soon as you ask, someone will surely fulfill your request?"
When she said this, Yan Zhigao’s face became slightly embarrassed.
Daohua ignored him, continuing, "You’re clever, knowing that bringing Second Brother into this will increase the chances of success. Even if it ultimately fails, it will still sour my relationship with Uncle and Aunt."
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This novel is translated by the Eternal Novel Hits translators. Please read it at https://eternalnovelhits.blogspot.com
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At these words, Concubine Lin’s eyes flickered, realizing that her plan had been seen through by the eldest daughter.
Daohua then turned to look at Yan Zhiyuan and Sun Shi. "Uncle, Aunt, I know you’re upset that Second Brother wasn’t able to attend Wangyue Academy, but that’s not something I could decide!"
Yan Zhiyuan quickly said, "Daohua, your second uncle doesn’t blame you, but you and the young prince seem close. Surely asking him to give Second Brother a spot wouldn’t be too hard, right?"
Daohua smiled faintly, her expression unchanged. "Yes, the young prince gave me some face because of our past help to him, but our statuses are not on the same level."
"If he’s willing to help, that would show his loyalty. But if he’s not willing, what gives me the right to ask? Haven’t you seen that even Brother Dong is careful around the young prince?"
She glanced pointedly at her father as she said this.
"Also, shouldn’t one know when to be content?"
"When grandmother, Third Brother, and I saved the young prince, he gave three spots. Isn’t that what we deserved?"
"Why does everyone think that just because I ask, the young prince will definitely help?"
"And even if he does help, what can our Yan family offer in return?"
(End of Chapter)
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