Chapter 546: Chapter 535: The Marchioness’s Maid
"She’s been on the battlefield!" Zhong Lan was a bit dazed, with an expression of bewilderment.
Ye Qiu could tell from her Miss’s appearance that she had seen too little of the world and did not understand how incredible it was for a woman to be on the battlefield in this era.
So she continued to clarify her Miss’s confusion: "Miss, the battlefield is where people can die at any time. Since the Old Marchioness has been to the battlefield more than once, it proves that she must have killed people."
"Killed people?" Zhong Lan’s eyes widened, clearly incredulous.
"But Miss, don’t be afraid. The Old Marchioness kills because she kills those who deserve to die, those who wanted to invade our country. As a woman, she took up the butcher’s knife to protect our home and country. You should not be afraid but rather respect her. It is because of people like her that we can live peacefully in the capital, otherwise, we would be like the people at the border, living in constant fear of the uncertain tomorrow."
"But how could the Old Marchioness dare to kill people? How terrifying!" Zhong Lan felt extremely confused.
"Because she possesses the courage and perseverance that ordinary women do not have!" Ye Qiu said with admiration, "It is because of women like the Old Marchioness that the status of us women is not so low."
Zhong Lan blinked and felt that what Ye Qiu said made some sense. Since ancient times, the status of women has been very low. In the previous dynasty, unmarried women were even restricted from leaving their homes. It was only in this dynasty that the status of women has improved slightly.
She recalled her mother mentioning, that when the Old Marchioness was young and rode horses, she was criticized by the scholars, but the Old Marchioness not only did not care, but she also rode her horse to that scholar’s doorstep, and questioned whether he looked down upon women?
Her mother said that the scholar seemed to have said that the Old Marchioness should not make herself so conspicuous, should not behave rudely, and should not be so intimate with men.
Subsequently, the gate of that scholar’s house was dismantled, personally by the Old Marchioness. The reason for dismantling the gate was that the Old Marchioness believed the scholar to be unfilial, and she intended to stand up for his mother.
The scholar, furious, retorted by asking the Old Marchioness why she accused him of being unfilial.
What did her mother say again? She said that by belittling women, the scholar was belittling his own mother because it was through the intimacy of his parents that he was born. He accused the Old Marchioness of being too close to men, but wasn’t his own mother even closer to his father? Looking down on his own mother, the Old Marchioness therefore decided to take charge.
The scholar was fuming with rage, unable to utter too offensive words against a woman, he could only keep shaking his finger and saying, "Nonsense, nonsense."
The Old Marchioness, also fearing he might have a stroke and thereafter be unable to take care of his mother, kindly summoned an Imperial Physician for him, and considering the hard life of the scholar’s old mother, she had someone repair the gate. She took care of the aftermath so well that no one else could find fault with her actions.
But as a result, her notoriety spread, and no men dared to provoke her again. Later on, she married the Marquis, and he took her to the battlefield, which meant that there were even fewer idle gossips about her.
There was also Princess Anhe of the same era. This Princess was extremely favored and could not bear to see women being bullied, especially after getting married, she felt even more that it was difficult to be a woman. Under the dual strength of the two, the status of women was steadily elevated, and at least now going out shopping won’t attract criticism.
"Miss, think about it, if it weren’t for the Old Marchioness and Princess Anhe the Great, our status as women would be just as nonexistent as the women of the previous dynasty."
"You’re right, I really shouldn’t be afraid of the Old Marchioness. Instead, I should strive to show her respect and care," Zhong Lan nodded sincerely.
Ye Qiu continued: "Miss, you have already done very well. I believe that the Old Marchioness will certainly like you."
"Are you so sure? Heroes like the Old Marquis Lady must prefer those valiant and dashing women, right?"
"Not necessarily. No matter how formidable the Old Marquis Lady herself is, she definitely wouldn’t want her own children to live a life of fighting and killing like her. It’s not that going to the battlefield is bad, but the Old Marquis Lady fears her children might encounter mishaps."
Upon hearing this, Zhong Lan thought about the scant number of people at Marquis Weiyuan’s Mansion: "What you said makes sense."
"Therefore, as long as you are yourself after marrying there, the Old Marquis Lady will definitely like you. Such a heroic woman like her surely despises those conspiracies of the inner house, and all you need is to treat her with sincerity."
After listening to Ye Qiu’s persuasion, Zhong Lan’s anxious heart finally settled down, and her smile became more genuine: "You’re right, Ye Qiu, thank you."
Ye Qiu quickly said she didn’t dare to take credit, as this was her duty.
"Ever since I was young, I’ve felt that you and Shen Dong and the others were different. Although all four of you are wholeheartedly loyal to me, I always feel that you see things more clearly." Zhong Lan now looked at Ye Qiu with even a bit of reliance.
Ye Qiu’s heart softened, how could she not protect such a gentle, kind, and sincere Young Miss?
"Miss, may I ask a question I shouldn’t? When you met Marquis Weiyuan today, something seemed off. Have you met him before?"
Zhong Lan furrowed her brows, seemingly lost in memory: "I’m not sure. Last year, didn’t grandmother take me and Zhong Yin to offer incense at Ci Yun Temple outside the city? Grandmother did not allow me to bring too many people, so only Shen Dong and Liu Xia accompanied me. Coincidentally, as Shen Dong’s home was nearby, I let her return home, and Liu Xia got diarrhea. Bored, I wandered around the temple alone."
"Did you encounter Marquis Weiyuan in the temple, Miss?"
"I met someone, but I didn’t see his face clearly. He was all bloodied; I was almost scared to death. He also covered my mouth, warning me not to make any noise, and then he fainted. I was about to leave, but seeing him bleeding non-stop, I used a handkerchief to compress the wound, then asked a young monk from the temple to call for an Imperial Physician. After that, I knew nothing further. Today, seeing Marquis Weiyuan, I felt he resembled that person, but I didn’t get a clear look back then and so much time has passed that I’ve mostly forgotten."
Ye Qiu faintly sensed a melodrama unfolding: "Perhaps they are the same person!"
Zhong Lan knit her brows: "That shouldn’t be! Wasn’t Marquis Weiyuan at the border for the past few years? If he had come back to the capital, people should know."
Ye Qiu kept this matter in her heart and asked further: "Then Miss, what do you think of Marquis Weiyuan?"
"Hmm... a great hero who has made contributions to the country and the people?" Zhong Lan pondered a bit before answering.
Ye Qiu laughed: "It’s good that Miss can think this way."
"Why do you say that?"
"Because the Marquis Weiyuan I saw today didn’t seem like a gentle person who cares for others, and I feared you would be disappointed after marrying him. "
Zhong Lan chuckled indifferently: "What do I have to be disappointed about? We hardly have any feelings for each other. To be honest, compared to a man’s affection, I find the women of the inner house more troublesome. Luckily, in the Marquis Mansion, there is only the Old Marquis Lady, and she’s such a heroine. As long as I do nothing wrong, how bad could it be after I get married!"