Nanny’s words were gentle but made Mada Lu feel chills down her spine, a thin layer of sweat seeping onto her back, causing her to feel sowhat horrified.
Indeed, what if Song Zhiqing truly takes it seriously, and even Song Ci takes it seriously? As soone without a family, where will she go and how will she manage?
"Nanny..." Tears welled up in Mada Lu’s eyes.
Nanny sighed and said, "The saying that spilt water cannot be gathered is exactly like this, especially when the person you are concerned with has lost heart. If he is eager and persistent, even the old lady might be unable to stop him."
If a man is determined to divorce his wife, unless his parents threaten with their lives, who can stop him, let alone when the wife requests the divorce.
But then, what would he do?
"This is one of the reasons the old lady is angry with you, and another is that you are only thinking of yourself and not of the Fourth Young Master and the Third Miss. If you truly divorce, their future can be imagined. The principle of having a stepmother ans having a stepfather, do you not understand?" Nanny continued, "You are a mother, and being a mother requires strength which you have failed to show. This also contributes to the old lady’s anger."
"There’s another thing: she is disappointed in you for not eting her expectations. Reflect on how much wisdom about life and conduct she has imparted to you since the Third Master took a new wife. As an old servant listening in, every word is sensible, but you? You have forgotten it all."
Mada Lu’s face was full of sha, saying, "Nanny, I haven’t forgotten. I was just overtaken by True Qi. He’s promoting that woman’s children, delivering gifts and pretending just to have them recorded under my na. I was impulsive at the mont, and then..."
"Even so, you couldn’t hold back and acted out?" Nanny chuckled and said, "Do you know the reputation you will gain if this matter spreads? An Imperial Decree, brawling with her husband, behaving so unruly and unreasonable – what will others think of the Third Miss’s upbringing? Will they not wonder if a daughter follows her mother’s example?"
Mada Lu blushed so hard, wishing she could find a hole to hide in.
"I’ll be blunt, even if they truly are recorded under your na, what’s the matter? Recorded or not, it can’t hide their real origins. True noble families have a clear mind about such matters. Can gilding turn them into Bodhisattvas? Not to ntion the children are still young. Even if they achieve great success, do they not have to respect you as their legal mother? Look at the Third Master, he is not born of the old lady, but how is he now?"
"Madam, you must understand one principle: there is a distinction between legitimate and illegitimate. The laws of Great Qing also argue for hierarchy and filial piety, and nobody can bear the charge of being unfilial. You are the proper Wife; fulfill your duties, and as long as you are reasonable, even if faced with the Emperor, no one will dare speak against you."
Mada Lu was enlightened and said, "Nanny, I understand."
Nanny said, "Still, as the old lady instructed, you manage the household affairs and educate the children. There’s nothing you have done wrong to him; just stick to reason. Madam, at this point, you should see clearly; impulsivity often ruins things, you need to grasp a person’s psychology and temperant."
Mada Lu nodded heavily.
"My words may be harsh; I hope you will bear with ." Nanny gave a respectful bow.
Mada Lu repeatedly said, "I dare not; your words have awakened ."
Nanny thought for a mont, then stepped closer and whispered, "Madam, you really need to be more composed. From what I’ve observed, Aunt Bai’s thods are indeed superior to yours. When I went to fetch the Fifth Miss, she showed no displeasure whatsoever."
She recounted Bai’s performance and said aningfully, "Madam, even a concubine is more composed, calm, and graceful than you, isn’t she?"
Mada Lu trembled.
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