Chapter 39: Bringing Humiliation Upon Oneself-Após renascer e mudar meu destino, minha irmã mais nova legítima se apressa em se casar com uma família humilde no meu lugar(Corvo)

Before Shen Mengli could even open her mouth, Magpie cut in again.

Lin Qingyu rolled her eyes at Magpie. "Your mistress, the Heir’s wife, knew perfectly well that the Heir and I were in love, yet she shamelessly married him anyway and usurped the position of his primary wife. If that doesn’t make her a homewrecker, what does?"

Shen Mengli thought to herself: Even if I hadn’t married him as his primary wife, you would still only ever be a concubine.

"May I ask, Concubine Lin, if I hadn't married into this family, following the orders of parents and the words of matchmakers, what exactly was I supposed to do?"

"You're so dense! If you didn't want to marry him, you could have refused! Nobody dragged you there in chains."

"Matters of marriage are not for us women to decide. Everything is arranged by our parents; it is not as if I could simply refuse if I wished."

Besides, she had never considered refusing. Marrying Qi Yunyan, becoming the Heir’s wife of Prince Duan’s estate, and living a life where others waited on her hand and foot was surely better than marrying into the Zhuo family to serve as a beast of burden. Only a fool like Shen Mengqing would discard Qi Yunyan to choose Zhuo Hua—trading a watermelon for a sesame seed.

Lin Qingyu looked at her as if she were a lost cause. "If you couldn't refuse, you could have run away! That would have worked. Once you were out, you would be as free as a bird, able to go wherever your heart desired. Honestly, you noble young ladies lack any spirit of resistance. Happiness must be fought for; it doesn't just fall from the sky."

Shen Mengli wondered: What is she even talking about? I don't understand a single word. Run away? Run away to where?

In this era, society is built upon the clan. A woman who severs ties with her family would likely be abducted before she had taken a few steps. Moreover, a woman alone is bound to attract the harassment of every scoundrel she encounters. There is a reason for the old saying: "A widow's door is a magnet for trouble."

She felt a flicker of curiosity about what kind of environment Lin Qingyu had grown up in to utter such naive and ignorant nonsense.

"Concubine Lin, did you go out of your way to come here just to tell me these things?"

Could it be that she truly wanted to persuade her to run away, only to seize the position of the Heir's wife for herself? Even if Shen Mengli were to run away, Lin Qingyu would still, at best, be a concubine. The Princess of Duan would certainly never allow the Heir to take a woman from a pleasure house as his primary wife. Even without her, there would always be someone else standing between those two.

"I’ve long heard of the Heir’s wife’s reputation, so I came to pay a visit today. But seeing is believing, and you are nothing special. No wonder Yunyan doesn't like you."

"How dare you! You insolent woman, what are you spouting? To show such disrespect to the Heir’s wife—do you want a beating?"

Magpie could no longer hold back. She rolled up her sleeves, ready to lunge at Lin Qingyu.

She had endured enough. Not only had this woman stolen the Heir’s affections, leaving her mistress to spend her nights in an empty room, but now she dared to come here and spout this incomprehensible drivel. Did she think the Snow Bamboo Pavilion was defenseless?

"Look, I hit the mark, didn't I? Stung by the truth, now you want to lash out. Shen Mengli, you really should keep your maid in check; don't let them commit such insubordination."

Lin Qingyu wore a smug expression, making Magpie stomp her feet in fury.

Shen Mengli finally understood: Lin Qingyu was likely just bored out of her mind, coming here to seek a sense of importance. Had she been too lenient, allowing this woman to prance around the Snow Bamboo Pavilion?

"Concubine Lin, I am the primary wife, and you are a concubine. Your behavior today shows not a shred of respect for your superior. If we are speaking of insubordination, shouldn't we be talking about you? I know the Heir dotes on you, but so what? Even if I lack his favor, I still hold the position of the Heir’s wife, and I am the mistress of this household. If you’ve come here to flaunt your superiority, I suggest you go find somewhere else to cool off. Not only will I not take your words to heart, but I will also ensure you only bring humiliation upon yourself."