Chapter 89 Walking Alone
"Prospering..." Shen Wei smiled movedly at Aunt Zhao... no, Zhao Xiangrong.
She didn't have a real name, because in this era when only the powerful and wealthy could read and write, people would either just call her something that came to their mind, like Da Ya or Er Ya, or more often just call her Pan'er or Pan Di. They were never just them.
Even a trivial name reveals partiality.
Only when they have a son will parents rack their brains, or save their food rations to buy a few coins, and ask a literate teacher to give the child a name that will bring honor to the family.
Shen Wei suppressed the sadness in his heart and said affirmatively: "Zhao Xiangrong, it sounds good. You are better than I thought. Now you have learned to give yourself a name."
"The future is long. I wish that every day in the future will be full of vitality and everything will go as we wish."
"Then Weiwei, can you teach me how to write it someday?"
"Okay! I'll teach you tomorrow."
"........"
Aunt Man was stunned as she watched this incompatible scene, the smile and cheerfulness on Zhao Xiangrong's face, and the beautiful name that was full of meaning and blessings.
She never knew that the concubine in front of her was of the same level as her, whose heart was full of favor, whose eyes were full of continuation of the family line, and who couldn't even read.
Surprisingly, there will be a day when I will be full of talent and knowledge.
Xiang Rong?
How come she couldn't think of such a good word?
Aunt Man pursed her lips, looked at the two of them with a complicated look, and said nothing more, because at this moment, she suddenly didn't know what to say.
Half an hour later.
The three of them quietly left the mansion from the back door. Looking at Zhao Xiangrong's leaving figure, Aunt Man couldn't help but recall the scene when she was sent to the farm.
Thinking back on those hard days now, Aunt Man feels despair.
But Zhao Xiangrong's steps were relaxed and unrestrained, as if she was full of hope for the future. Did she really think that life outside was so easy?
When she thought of the unknown Zhao Xiangrong, Aunt Man became more and more dissatisfied with Shen Wei: "Miss Shen, are you happy to see her leave the Marquis' Mansion?"
Shen Wei smiled slightly: "I'm happy."
"you--"
"You really have evil intentions! You knew very well how miserable your life would be without the protection of the Marquis' Mansion, but you still tricked her into taking the blame for you!"
The more Aunt Man spoke, the more indignant she became: "Shen Wei, I know that you kicked Young Master Dong's foundation, but I don't understand why you don't acknowledge her and insist on harming her?"
"The Marquis has you in his heart and loves you so much. The whole capital knows it. Even if you admit it, what does it matter? The Marquis will definitely protect you."
"But Aunt Zhao... Zhao Xiangrong is different. She is different from you! She has been living in the Marquis' Mansion, having a good life with people serving her. This is a wealth and glory that many women can't even ask for."
"After she leaves the mansion, how can a woman live? And she will be labeled as an abandoned woman. Which man will dare to marry her in the future? You are destroying her way of survival! You are sending her to her death."
"I don't know what has possessed Zhao Xiangrong. He can't even see your selfish motives. You just want to drive her away!"
Shen Wei paused in his steps as he was walking back.
She wanted to turn around and say the series of explanations in her mind.
She wanted to say that what she enjoyed in the Marquis's Mansion was not necessarily wealth and glory. She might also fight to death, die in childbirth, or die because of a small matter...
After Xiang Rong leaves, she doesn't necessarily have to marry again.
Besides getting married, there are other ways to go. It may involve bloodshed and it may be painful, but in life, one must give it a try, as long as there are no regrets.
But when these words came to his lips, Shen Wei felt that there was no point in saying them.
Aunt Man can't understand, and won't understand.
Shen Wei chuckled with an ambiguous tone and continued to walk back: "Whatever you think, I don't care."
"How good can the place that Zhao Xiangrong tried so hard to escape from be? It's just a filter covered by years of cognition. Her filter has been broken, but yours hasn't."
"You don't have to live in the Marquis' Mansion to survive, and you don't have to marry another man to rely on. If you jump out of this circle, there will be a new path. If not, then open up another one."
"Aunt Man, you will understand soon. That day will not be too far away. You will see the day when Zhao Xiangrong thrives."
When Shen Wei finished speaking, he had already walked away.
Aunt Man listened to these unrealistic words and sneered disdainfully: "Oh, these are just unrealistic words again. Why don't you marry a man and don't rely on the Marquis' Mansion..."
That’s it.
Aunt Man paused.
With a gleam in her eyes, Aunt Man quickly raised her head to look at Shen Wei's back, then turned her head to look at Zhao Xiangrong who had already walked away, and murmured in a daze: "Fantastic? Unique?"
"Could it be that the reason why the Marquis likes her is because he likes to hear words like this about independence and self-reliance? Should I learn from her?"