IBTSOME Chapter 76 Part 1

I BECAME THE STEPMOTHER OF MY EX-HUSBAND

 

Chapter 76 Part 1: Han Shi

 

^^

 

Lin Wei Xi's expression was faint, her voice was clear and cold, colder than frost colder than snow, high above difficult to reach. At the end of the sentence, when she said "This is the way in Duke Yingguo Mansion", her intonation gently moved upwards. It was definitely a reproach, but for some reason it made people feel comfortable. It seemed that as long as it could attract her attention, it's okay to let her scold a few more words.

 

Han shi's hand paused, and the earnest smile on her face instantly froze, looking strange and embarrassed. The other people in the Duke Yingguo Mansion looked at each other, with rich expressions on their faces.

 

The difference between the primary wife and the concubine was very obvious. Concubines couldn’t wear true red and could only wear pink. This also resulted in no legal wife would wear pink, even if they could. After Lin Wei Xi reborn, she shouldn't have met Han shi before, but she could easily tell her identity from her hair bun and clothes.

 

Han shi personally serving tea and water was originally intended to please Lin Wei Xi. She was born from a concubine, and she was the best at acting small. But in large household a concubine was not considered a proper master. At best, it was a semi-slave. Even when they saw their own son or daughter, they still have to bow. Such a humble status had always been despised by the mainstream. If a young lady from official family became a concubine for someone, even if that woman family's official position was much higher than the husband, she would be shun by her close friends and sisters, and they would sever their contact with her. Even a commoner woman, if she was sent to become a concubine of rich family, it was still considered an insult.

 

The commoner were like this, one could imagine how contemptuous the noble families were toward a concubines. As long as the primary wife exist, even if she has not given birth to an heir, was not favored by her husband, or so sick she had one breath left, she was still the wife. The offering to the ancestors, dealing with the guests, weddings and funerals could only be performed by the primary wife, and the concubine couldn’t go out of the inner courtyard and welcomed visitors outside no matter how spoiled. Even if the primary wife died of illness, there was no place for the concubine to come forward. If the visiting madam found that the one receiving them was a concubine, if they had a big temper it wouldn’t be surprising for them to turn around and leave.

 

The reception from a concubine was regarded as an insult by many primary wife madams, let alone the one that sit here was Yan Wangfei. People in Duke Yingguo Mansion certainly knew that the concubine couldn’t come out to meet guests, but Duke Yingguo Shizi’s wife, Wei shi, had been dead for seven or eight years. Han shi gave birth to the only son of Shizi. Duke Yingguo old madam treated this grandson like a treasure, she was also amiable to Han shi. The above declared their stands, and the people below followed suit. Therefore, Han shi often wandered outside. Many ladies and grannies of Duke Yingguo Mansion tacitly avoid mentioning it, and Han shi’s transgression was let go.

 

In the past, other madam who came to the Duke Yingguo Mansion as guests turned a blind eye when they saw Han shi. The other womenfolk of Duke Yingguo Mansion were also there, Han shi was just mixed in with the crowd. Which madam would be so bold, pointing out the rudeness of Duke Yingguo Mansion. In addition to etiquette, there were also human sentiments. They wanted something from Duke Yingguo Mansion, so of course they would not offend the favored concubine of Duke Mansion Shizi’s and the birth mother of Yan Wang Mansion’s Shizi Consort.

 

No one expected Lin Wei Xi would directly and bluntly bring Han shi up in front of everyone. The room suddenly went silent, and the ladies of the Gao family looked at each other, their faces were wonderful. Usually the other madams who came to the Duke Mansion was polite, and everyone in the Gao family was used to such fawning. Although the object of the politeness was not Duke Yingguo Mansion, rather the Duke Mansion’s in-laws, Yan Wang Mansion, but anyway, Gao Ran's surname was Gao, there was no difference between the two.

 

Duke Yingguo old madam was the first to react. She thought she was really getting old and more confused, even committing such an oversight. What kind of person was Yan Wangfei? Even if she entered the palace to meet the Empress Dowager, the Empress Dowager would want to win her over. Nowadays the circumstances of their Duke Mansion was all dependent on Yan Wang. How dare the Gao family make Yan Wangfei unhappy. Duke Yingguo old madam glared at Han shi and said, "Who asked you to come to this place? I gave you three points of respect because of Chen boy, so you really become arrogant and couldn’t figure out your identity?"

 

Han shi had served Shizi for half her life and had two children with him. She had long not taken herself as a slave servant, but now in front of all the maids and daughter-in-laws, she was ruthlessly scolded by the old madam. Han shi’s cheek immediately became red, her mouth faltered: "This servant..."

 

"A distinguished guest is visiting, is there any room for you concubine to say here?" Duke Yingguo old madam scowled and cursed badly, "Still not get out!"

 

Han shi's face blushed to the neck, she didn't even dare to lift her head, covered her face and hurriedly run out. When Han shi went out of the house, Duke Yingguo old madam restrained her disgust, turned her head and smiled at Lin Wei Xi nicely: "The concubine doesn't understand the rules, let Wangfei laughed."

 

Lin Wei Xi faintly glanced, there was still no smile on her face. The other womenfolk of the Gao family also reacted, they all smiled and talked to Lin Wei Xi. A bunch of people talked to each other, deliberately laughed, and immediately let this incident passed by.

 

The di daughter of the second branch of Duke Yingguo Mansion gave Gao Ran a vague glance, turned her head and whispered to her playing sister, and said something with a smile. In fact, they might not be talking about Gao Ran, but Gao Ran felt that they were laughing at her. Gao Ran was the one with the best marriage among the sisters. Gao Ran had always been proud of this, and she had a sense of superiority towards her sisters. But now in the presence of many relatives and sisters, her biological mother was treated coldly by her mother-in-law, and her grandmother almost anxiously throw her out.

 

Gao Ran felt that others were watching her, so she became more sullen and refused to let people watch the jokes.

 

Duke Yingguo old madam was afraid that Lin Wei Xi thought they were negligent, hurriedly said: "Chen boy, come here. Didn't yesterday you learn a new article? Come and recite it to Wangfei."

 

Gao Chen was held by the wet nurse, and the wet nurse kept pushing him from behind: "Boy, this is Yan Wangfei, you should tell Wangfei the words you memorized that you told me yesterday."

 

Gao Chen was deeply impressed by this amazingly beautiful young Wangfei. In his heart, this was a god from above that could not be touched. Gao Chen felt timid when he saw Lin Wei Xi, but his grandmother, wet nurse and all aunts stared at him closely, Gao Chen could only stammeringly say: "Confucius said, today's filial piety means being able to raise them, as for dogs and horses, they can all be raised... Look at the reason, watch the cause, observe what is safe, how are people." (TN: from The Analects of Confucius)

 

It's not a long chapter, and Gao Chen still stumbled. In contrast to his age it could be regard as pretty good, but Lin Wei Xi just met a genius who could recite after one reading on the road just now. The comparison between the two made Gao Chen even fell short.

 

Diligence could make up for one’s weakness was meant for ordinary people, and the gap in real ability was irreparable. What especially staggering was that Gao Ke was more talented and hardworking than Gao Chen.

 

It’s hopeless.

 

Even Wan Xing and Wan Yue felt that the difference was too far, could not be compared at all. After Gao Chen's stammering recitation, the old madam was obviously relieved and looked at Lin Wei Xi expectantly.

 

Lin Wei Xi could only pursed her lips, smiled and said, "Virtuous grandson is intelligent, let people expand one’s horizon."

 

Duke Yingguo old madam smiled with satisfaction. She had only one son the Duke Yingguo Shizi, who had been spoiled since childhood. Now that the son had descendant, even if he was a shu son, the Duke Yingguo old madam was very proud. Aware that her own grandson was intelligent and sweet-mouth, everything all good.

 

It's a pity that Lin Wei Xi had little interest. Yan Wang's evaluation of Gao Chen was very accurate. Gao Chen very adept in the inner house’s skill and had a very conscientious personality. He often unconsciously ingratiated himself to others' preferences. He put his mind on this kind of area, how could he be useful in the future. Lin Wei Xi thought of Gao Ke she met on the road, recalling Gao Ke's mentality and circumstances, and she sighed even more.

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