Chapter 2591: All We Women Hope For

Mistress Liu stood at the door of the courtyard. When she saw Ning Shu coming, her eyes lit up, and she looked at Ning Shu eagerly.

“Aunt Liu,” Ning Shu called out. Mistress Liu was the type of woman with a gentle and delicate temperament. She was not particularly pretty, but very comfortable to be around.

Mistress Liu’s father had been a minor official in the area, and so it had been quite a climb for Mistress Liu to become a concubine of a second-rank minister.

However, as a woman from a small town, she had always carried a sense of small-town mentality with her.

“Third Miss, was it hard to learn from the teacher?” Mistress Liu asked Ning Shu.

“It wasn’t too bad,” Ning Shu replied.

Mistress Liu had her servant bring all the food to the table, and she kept helping grab food for Ning Shu.

“I heard that you were punished by the teacher today,” Mistress Liu looked at Ning Shu with a worried expression.

The news had traveled fast.

Mistress Liu earnestly advised Ning Shu, “Third Miss, you must work hard. The teacher is a former palace matron. If you can earn her praise, you can marry into a good family in the future.”

Ning Shu: …

“If you maintain a good reputation, someone will propose marriage to you,” Mistress Liu continued. “All we women hope for is to marry a good husband.”

Mistress Liu sighed melancholically and said, “You came out of my stomach, so you’re not a legitimate daughter, but if you can marry well, your life will be better.”

Ning Shu continued eating her meal. Just because the situation wasn’t the best in this family, was it really guaranteed to be better if she got married?

Who knew what her life would be like if she married into another family? In her husband’s family, there could be three or four wives and concubines, not to mention parents-in-law to deal with. If the family was more complicated, there would also be sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law to contend with. Life would be a mess.

Ning Shu was in no rush at all to get married.

The original host had married the son of the marquis’s residence who was homosexual, which, to be honest, was not so bad. They had good food and living conditions, and her husband did not bother her. He spent every day singing with other men.

However, she was essentially living as a widow. The original host had remained a virgin that entire life and never had children.

When a woman couldn’t bear children, she was usually blamed. It never had anything to do with the man. So the pressure she had to endure was immense.

Clearly, that had been a scam marriage. The original host had ended up as an ancient times beard.

“Third Miss, have you remembered what I told you?” Mistress Liu couldn’t help but speak when she saw Ning Shu simply eating with her head down. “If you keep acting like this, how will you ever get married?”

Ning Shu: …

She felt so helpless.

Ning Shu nodded and replied, “Yes, I’ve got it all down. I’ll put in the effort to learn embroidery, poetry, music, and Women’s Precepts properly.”

“That’s more like it,” Mistress Liu said, serving Ning Shu some food. “Just remember not to get into any conflicts with Eldest Miss and Second Miss.”

“I understand,” Ning Shu replied. She didn’t want to argue with Mistress Liu since it would only cause her to worry.

Even if she was carrying out a task, she had to do it secretly and efficiently, without drawing any unnecessary attention to herself.

As they ate, Mistress Liu kept going on about the importance of finding a good man and marrying into a good family.

Ning Shu nodded along, agreeing with everything Mistress Liu said.

After finishing her meal, Ning Shu quickly left, but Mistress Liu’s words continued to echo in her head.

Sometimes, women were their own oppressors. Mothers often teach their daughters to prioritize their husbands and become good wives and mothers, perpetuating patriarchal values.

When Ning Shu returned to her room, she saw the embroidery basket on the table and rubbed her forehead in frustration.

This thing was seriously…

“You can leave first. I’m going to nap for a bit,” Ning Shu told Yuan Xiang.

“Miss, you should probably work on the embroidery task assigned by Teacher Liu first, otherwise Mistress Liu will get worried again tomorrow,” Yuan Xiang said, sounding worried.

Yuan Xiang’s fate was tied to Ning Shu’s. She would have to follow Ning Shu when she got married, and if Ning Shu didn’t marry well, her life would also be difficult.

Hence Yuan Xiang continued to urge Ning Shu, “Miss, you should finish the embroidery quickly, or you’ll be punished by Teacher Liu again tomorrow.”