Chapter 11

Chapter 11

I went to visit Cao Mingyu.

Her face was bruised and swollen, making her appearance even more unsightly than before.

Upon seeing me, there was no joy on her face. She gave a strained salute and then claimed she was unwell, refusing to speak further.

I looked at the hints of spring color peeking through the window and said calmly, “Do you feel wronged?”

“Should I not feel wronged?” She raised her eyes to look at me, clearly believing I would side with Jinzhu.

And that was indeed the case.

My heart did favor Jinzhu.

However, I also needed Cao Mingyu to be obedient to me.

I gave a soft laugh and said indifferently, “Jinzhu is a bit spoiled. She and I grew up together in the palace. After she turned ten, she returned to the Duke’s Manor, and since then, she has tried to compete with me in everything.”

“But she forgot that I am a Princess and she is a Commandery Princess. In terms of status alone, there is a distinction between us.”

“If one day I marry, I will live in the Princess Manor with my husband. The Princess Manor spans a hundred hectares, with a monthly stipend of a thousand taels, three hundred guards, and taxes from my Fief for my enjoyment.”

“Though she is a Commandery Princess, she must follow her husband after marriage. She will live in her in-laws’ home, serve her parents-in-law, and adhere to every one of the Three Obediences and Four Virtues.”

“A parents’ favor actually serves little purpose once a woman is married.”

“A woman’s destiny mostly rests upon her husband. We rise and fall together with them; that is simply how it is.”

I shook my head, sighing.

Cao Mingyu’s expression gradually grew solemn. Her fingers tightly gripped her handkerchief as her gaze drifted toward the distance.

“Indeed! No matter how much parents dote on a daughter, they can only do so while she is at home. Once she leaves the house, she can only rely on her husband.”

I nodded. “Exactly. For a Princess, marrying anyone is marrying down, so This Princess can marry whoever I wish. But for most women, if they want to gain status through their marriage, they can only depend on their husbands.”

Cao Mingyu bit her lip, her gaze gradually becoming determined.

Seeing that she understood, I said no more. I left her some medicinal ointment from the palace and departed.

Three days later, Father Emperor bestowed a marriage between Li Chun and Cao Mingyu.

This time, Cao Mingyu accepted the decree with great reverence.

On the day she received the decree, she intentionally crossed paths with Jinzhu. In full view of the public, she forced Jinzhu to perform the etiquette required for an elder sister-in-law and gave her a blatant lecture before finally leaving, satisfied.

I was displeased, feeling that Cao Mingyu had become far too arrogant the moment she gained power.

However, since this had at least temporarily stabilized Cao Shun, I could only let her be.

I quietly sent someone to deliver half a carriage of gifts to Jinzhu as a gesture of comfort.

To my surprise, Jinzhu actually sent a return gift to me-pastries I had once tasted and enjoyed when visiting the Duke of Ningguo’s manor.

I laughed in spite of myself, but my heart felt incredibly warm.

This younger sister of mine truly is wonderful.