Rebirth and Rewriting Fate

"You're talking nonsense!" the woman shouted angrily.

"Don't talk about my sister like that," Ye Ruohuan said, her voice surprisingly pitiful.

Yun Chu propped herself up with her chin on her hand, rubbing the rim of her teacup with one hand. She wanted to see what kind of dirty water she was going to throw at her.

"Young lady, is the owner of Shili Pu your sister?" someone asked from the other end.

“My sister must have her reasons for doing this,” Ye Ruohuan said, her voice soft and pitiful.

"What's your predicament?" someone asked on the other end.

Yun Chu also looked at Ye Ruohuan, eager to know what her predicament was.

"She was deceived by a man." Ye Ruohuan's voice seemed to be choked with emotion.

Yun Chu was stunned for a moment after hearing this, and then remained silent. This mudslinging was really effective.

Then she felt a sudden chill emanating from Mo Han behind her. She reached behind her, patted Mo Han, and comforted him.

Mo Han's chill subsided.

Inside the You Ran Pavilion, the old woman stepped forward.

"Your Majesty, should we intervene?"

The Empress Dowager glanced in Yun Chu's direction and saw her sitting there leisurely. She knew that the person she had chosen was not wrong.

"hold on."

"Don't talk nonsense! You can eat whatever you want, but you can't say whatever you want!" Lin Mulan shouted at Ye Ruohuan.

“That’s right, don’t talk nonsense,” the woman quickly chimed in.

Ye Ruohuan suddenly remembered that night when Luo Yan had said the same thing to her. She still remembered that cold look in his eyes, and she suddenly felt a chill down her spine.

"May I ask if you are the daughter of the Ye family?" someone asked from across the room.

“Exactly,” Ye Ruohuan replied.

"The owner of Shili Pu seems to be the eldest daughter of the Ye family from before," someone on the other end of the line said.

"I heard she used to be very arrogant, is that true?" someone asked from the other side.

The topic eventually returned to the main characters who were watching the drama unfold, Yun Chu couldn't help but think.

"Don't say that about my sister. Sometimes when Mother makes new clothes, Ruohuan always lets my sister choose first. My sister is intelligent and kind-hearted, and she likes everything. Of course, I have to give in to her. My sister always teases and jokes with Ruohuan. After all, the eldest sister is the most important! And when the brothers and sisters go out to play, they always have to take my sister with them. That way, my sister is happy, and Ruohuan will be happy too," Ye Ruohuan said softly.

"What a brilliant move!" Yun Chu wanted to applaud her. She couldn't help but exclaim, every word a compliment, yet every word was a curse.

The women looked at each other, unsure of what to say.

Although each household has many siblings who often fight over clothes and other things, how did Ye Ruohuan's words make the owner of Shili Pu seem like an unreasonable and arrogant person?

The scene was a little quiet for a while.

Ye Ruohuan felt she needed to add fuel to the fire. The Ye family was practically deserted, while Ye Xingchen was rolling in wealth, making her and her mother very jealous. Since money couldn't compare, she'd make it difficult for her to get married.

"It's Ruohuan's fault, Ruohuan said too much." Ye Ruohuan spoke up as if she had been startled.

The intelligent woman looked at Ye Ruohuan, her face displaying a variety of expressions. Was this something a younger sister should say?

"I don't think so. I met Miss Ye during my trip to Linchuan. She has a pretty face and is very intelligent. She even helped the prince rescue the miners from the mine!" someone on the other end of the line said.

"I heard from my elder brother that she went into the cave all by herself?" someone asked from the other end.

"Yes, everyone was terrified when Dilong disappeared. The deputy general even asked us to help look for her. I thought she was hiding because she was scared, but I didn't expect her to go into the cave to rescue people."

“This is certainly not the courage of an ordinary woman; to be honest, I really wouldn’t dare!” the person who had just spoken continued.

“So I think we should see for ourselves,” a man added.

Ye Ruohuan was so angry that she clenched the embroidered handkerchief in her hand. She had already built up her anger, but someone still dared to undermine her.

Perhaps seeing that the winds were blowing in their favor, someone on the woman's end chimed in, "That's right, when Shili Pu opened, I happened to be passing by, and I even saw Minister Luo accompanying her to the opening! Minister Luo is such a handsome man, the two of them looked like a perfect match, maybe they have a good marriage that we don't know about!"

“That’s right, that’s right!” the other women quickly echoed.

Yun Chu's face was full of speechlessness and helplessness at this moment. Gu Ruoxiao must not hear these words.

Then they heard that cool voice again, "We were talking about men and women, so let's not get off topic."

“I think it should be the man who is in charge of external affairs and the woman who is in charge of internal affairs!” someone on the other end of the line replied.

"Why can't women be the breadwinners and men stay home? Many women are much better than you men," the woman retorted.

The conversation gradually returned to normal.

"Most of those who went to the battlefield were men—generals, lieutenants, all men! What can your small bodies do?" the man said.

“Women excel in dexterity. Besides, many women are skilled in various crafts besides needlework and embroidery. The extraordinary bridge in the Imperial Garden was built by women,” Lin Mulan said.

Yun Chu couldn't help but glance at her a few more times.

"But young lady, how many families would allow a woman, or rather, a daughter-in-law, to do these things?" the man questioned.

This question silenced the woman on the other end.

Indeed, the things we want to do, even if they are not earth-shattering or even the simplest things, may be unacceptable in the eyes of the world.

Perhaps obeying their fathers' wishes, taking their husbands as their role models, supporting their husbands and raising their children, and remaining in the inner quarters was their destiny; for many, this was their only path.

Yun Chu looked around and saw disappointment and heavy helplessness on their faces.

But shouldn't you try to struggle?

“However, a mountain range appears differently depending on the angle and distance. Different people will have different opinions,” Yun Chu said, breaking the silence.

Everyone has their own opinions, with varying degrees of praise and criticism.

Some people prefer to stay in their private quarters, educating their children and helping them succeed, while keeping the backyard impeccably organized. That is her wisdom.

Some people give up the freedom to fly to the sky, break their wings, and take on the responsibilities of the household for their loved ones; that is their love.

Some people are willing to set aside her talents, put on an apron, and cook for their husbands; that brings her joy.

Some people are not confined to their homes, nor are they afraid of external difficulties; they are concerned about the world and its people—that is their magnanimity.

Some people are willing to try and take risks when faced with outdated and ancient ideas and customs; that is courage.

None of these are right or wrong.

However, every decision should be accompanied by the courage to bear the consequences.

Perhaps you are overjoyed, but you don't get a response from your husband.

Perhaps you are confined to your home and focus on your child's inner teaching, but you fail to see how your child can succeed.

Perhaps you are concerned about the world, but have no way to appeal to the emperor.

Perhaps you dared to break with old customs, only to be defeated by them.

You might fail, you might succeed, but how will you know if you don't try and struggle?

It has never been wrong for a woman to be talented; it can bring honor to her family and also educate her children and benefit the clan.

That woman, though lacking talent, could still live a comfortable and peaceful life.

Yun Chu's gaze swept over the women present, and she continued,

"Your future husbands will be the people you walk hand in hand with in the future."

You should be an independent tree, not a vine climbing on a tree.

The best marriage is one where you help each other and walk side by side, so that you can go further together.

You must be confident in your own abilities.

Yun Chu didn't want to speak at first, but seeing the dejected faces of the girls of marriageable age, she wanted to hold the umbrella for them, after all, she had taken so many detours and been drenched in so much rain.

After a moment of silence, someone on the other end of the line affirmed, "Well said!"