Chapter 52 Secretly Inciting-Irmã Louca Rouba o Casamento? Após Trocar de Lugar com Ela e Casar com o Príncipe Herdeiro de Vida Curta, Eu Subi ao Trono como Imperatriz(Estrela e Pintura de Primavera)

You foolish girl!

Liu Qingmei's eyes turned cold with anger as she low-voiced a reprimand.

"Lanhuer! Come here!"

After all, they were out in public, so Liu Qingmei did not dare to make too much of a scene.

Yet her voice was loud enough for Ji Shulan to hear.

Ji Shulan paused in her steps, looking guiltily toward her mother's direction.

Meeting the surging anger in the depths of her mother's eyes, the thought that had just arisen within her immediately vanished. Yet just at this moment, Ji Hua happened to walk past her.

As Ji Hua made her way toward the female guest seating area, she casually dropped a remark.

"Well, with so many people present, sister should really mind her image. A proper lady ought to be more reserved."

Though Ji Hua's expression and gestures were entirely graceful, the words she uttered were bitterly sharp.

In Ji Shulan's eyes, this served as absolute proof of Ji Hua's two-faced nature!

Gritting her teeth, she quickened her pace to catch up, but before she could throw a couple of barbs at Ji Hua, Liu Qingmei reprimanded her.

"What did I tell you before we came out? I told you to mind your decorum and etiquette! There are so many female guests watching from the seating area over there. If you aren't ashamed, I certainly am!"

"Hurry up and come over here with me. Stop wandering your eyes about. On such a grand occasion, a woman should be cautious in both speech and conduct—you must neither act foolishly on the surface nor resort to insidious methods behind the scenes!"

As she spoke the final sentence, Liu Qingmei's gaze shifted directly onto Ji Hua's face.

Evidently, she suspected that Ji Hua had done something.

Unfortunately, Ji Shulan, whose heart was entirely set on Prince Xuan, completely missed the veiled accusations in her mother's words and only felt increasingly aggrieved.

For her mother to reprimand her right in front of Ji Hua—wasn't this simply providing Ji Hua with a joke to watch at her expense?

Just at that moment, Ji Hua spoke up. "Mother makes a fair point, but people are different from one another. The young ladies of our household truly must observe the rules; after all, we can hardly afford to bring embarrassment upon ourselves."

"However, that young lady over there is different. She boldly and openly made her way straight to the male guest seating area."

Hearing this, both Liu Qingmei and Ji Shulan instinctively followed Ji Hua's line of sight.

There they saw a young woman dressed in a fiery red martial outfit, rushing toward the male guest seating area like a blazing flame—free-spirited and unrestrained, completely devoid of the decorum expected of a lady.

Both of them recognized her instantly—

It was Meng Yiye, the eldest daughter of Duke Meng!

Indeed...

"Oh my! Is this Lady Ji? Do come over quickly, we've been chatting for quite a while now, and we were just talking about you a moment ago."

Suddenly, the voice of a matron interrupted their gazes and thoughts.

The jealousy in the depths of Ji Shulan's eyes had yet to fade away.

Why?

Why must she herself observe the rules, while that Meng Yiye was allowed to flout them entirely?

Watching the official's wife walking toward her, Liu Qingmei gathered away all the emotions on her face, put on an impeccable smile, and turned to instruct the two of them.

"Alright, stop chattering nonsense and hurry up and follow."

Neither Ji Hua nor Ji Shulan said anything further at this point, obediently following Liu Qingmei toward the female guest seating area.

In the female guest seating area, there were evidently quite a few of Liu Qingmei's old acquaintances, and they began chatting away quite happily.

Of course, whether this happiness was genuine or merely polite pleasantries was another matter entirely.

Ji Hua and Ji Shulan both obediently chimed in with agreement from time to time.

On an occasion like today,

the two sisters did not need to converse excessively; merely putting on a well-behaved and clever front every now and then was enough to earn them the praise—

As expected of the daughters of the Prime Minister's estate!

"Oh my goodness, really? Hahaha!"

Just as Liu Qingmei was conversing merrily with several matrons, a burst of hearty laughter suddenly rang out from not far away.

This laughter was thoroughly infectious.

Clearly, the conversation over there was genuinely joyous.

Naturally, the laughter drew the attention of Liu Qingmei's group. Liu Qingmei and the others all looked toward that direction, subconsciously lowering their voices to listen in on what was being discussed.

Then, wave after wave of flattering remarks drifted over.

"As expected of a daughter raised by the Duchess of Duke Meng! This is indeed something Yiye would do, and we can only look on with envy."

"Isn't that the truth? Yiye is so capable entirely because our Duchess Meng knows how to raise her. After all, her Ladyship the Duchess is herself a woman of great capability."

"She handles affairs in the grand hall and manages matters in the kitchen, keeps the household affairs of the inner courtyard in perfect order, and can from time to time offer wise counsel to my Lord Duke. She is simply the paragon of a noble matriarch of the inner courtyard!"

The chorus of flattery rolled on in endless waves.

"Indeed! No wonder my Lord Duke holds the Duchess in such deep respect and affection. Leaving aside the Duke, if I were a man, I would certainly take immense pride in marrying a woman like the Duchess!"

"Quite right! Only with such a virtuous wife can a household remain harmonious and prosperous. Isn't Miss Meng precisely the kind of daughter we all wish we could raise? I heard that during Duke Meng's recent official duties, Miss Meng even contributed her own efforts. No wonder she is so deeply favored."

"That is not merely because she is the eldest daughter, but because she possesses genuine capability!"

Someone finally summarized.

"Haha, indeed. So when it comes to raising daughters, aside from teaching them to be virtuous and gentle, one must also teach them how to manage household accounts."

"Beyond that, it is best if they also understand a bit of strategy and plotting. It would be even better if they could assist their own husbands! Over time, they will naturally capture their husbands' hearts and make their husbands unable to live without them!"

These words were somewhat too blunt.

The married matrons present exchanged knowing smiles, while the unmarried young ladies all blushed uncontrollably.

Ji Hua quietly cast a glance at Ji Shulan, not missing the flash of shrewd light in Ji Shulan's eyes.

Seeing that Liu Qingmei's attention was entirely focused on Madame Ji, the Duchess of Duke Meng, Ji Hua lowered her voice, leaned close to Ji Shulan's ear, and murmured softly.

"It really is true. If a woman has capability, regardless of whether she is married or not, her standing remains rock-solid. Look over at the male guest seating area; doesn't Miss Meng sit right beside Duke Meng?"

"There are so many young lords surrounding her, smiling and paying compliments. To live as a woman to such an extent is truly enviable!"

Ji Shulan looked over and, sure enough, saw—

Meng Yiye, surrounded like the moon among stars, seated right in the middle between Duke Meng and a group of young noblemen.

Every single person wore a look of admiring and appreciative smiles.

This scene, falling into Ji Shulan's eyes, was glaringly painful, accompanied by a faint sense of desolation in her heart.

Why couldn't she be the one sitting in that seat?

The low sigh of Ji Hua drifted into her ear once more.

"Still, it makes sense. A woman like Miss Meng is, after all, a rare exception. Most women are better off like the two of us—knowing when to advance and retreat, understanding proper boundaries, and remaining low-key and unassuming."

"But you and I are different, sister. You have the mistress of the house doting on you at home, and from childhood to adulthood, every single hair ornament, garment, personal attendant, and item you use has been flawlessly arranged for you from head to toe."

"Once you are married, you will also have Prince Xuan doting on you. Whether before marriage or after, you never have to worry about these things yourself. Even if you miss the chance to spread your wings and showcase your talents, at least you don't have to suffer the hardships of the Duchess."

Ji Hua spoke as if every word carried profound truth.

"Though the Duchess receives the admiration of others, that hardship is entirely real. And as for me, I am different from you, sister. No one dotes on me, so I must learn from the Duchess—I must rely on myself and strive hard to be a virtuous assistant."

"In the future, His Highness the Crown Prince might look upon me with favor. I don't ask for the kind of mutual respect shared between Duke Meng and the Duchess, but at the very least, I cannot allow His Highness the Crown Prince to look down upon me, can I?"