Chapter 10: The Conflict Between Mother-in-law and Daughter-in-law

Ye Zhao quickly performed another bow and dashed away in a flash

What is good? An Tai Fei, with a head spinning from lack of sleep, took a long time before she faintly nodded her head, then shook off her drowsiness, and with renewed spirit, prepared to deliver a lecture.

The aide, unwilling, weakly remarked, "This is not something the master would do, how could I..."

The mother-in-law of Consort An is the Empress Dowager. After her marriage, she lived a relatively leisurely life, getting up only at the hour of Chen each day. Now, her daughter-in-law must observe the morning and evening greetings and cannot afford to delay the Emperor's court session, so she can only doze off, splash her face with several handfuls of cold water, grit her teeth, and force herself to get up, dress properly, and come out to receive her daughter-in-law's greetings.

Qiu Hua hurriedly stepped forward and said: "The strategist left a message saying that he has neither an elderly mother nor a wife, and truly cannot be of assistance. However, seeing the general's gloomy expression makes him feel distressed. Therefore, he decided to go to the nearby Great Brahma Temple to find a monk and contribute some money for incense, wishing the general success in his endeavors and that everything goes smoothly."

The noble lady An cast a cold glance at her, attempting to provoke: "The prince has yet to have children, and you are busy with official duties, so you may not be able to attend to this matter. Why not take a few more concubines for him, to help expand the family? I can give you Cui Zhi, who is by my side, if you wish."

An Tai Fei, however, is a traditional woman from the capital, who adheres to customs, possesses a gentle disposition, and appreciates the typical dynamics of mother-in-law and daughter-in-law relationships. Therefore, Ye Zhao finds it exceedingly difficult to win her favor; even if he has the energy, he does not know where to begin

The Empress Dowager was so enraged that she was left speechless

After a long wait, Ye Zhao finally returned home. She took off her military uniform and hurried to the main hall, standing respectfully beside the Dowager An, resembling a sentry on guard, her posture straight. Then, she silently recited in her mind the various trending topics among the women of the capital that her aides had prepared, and began to attempt small talk: "It seems that the family of Chang Taifu has taken in a concubine."

"Yes!" The group of aides responded in unison, then arranged themselves into two rows, each holding a wolf hair brush, with a sheet of white paper laid out in front of them, inscribed with titles such as "The Way of Getting Along Between Mothers-in-law and Daughters-in-law," "Topics for Women to Discuss," and "Strategies for Being Filial to Mothers-in-law," their expressions increasingly pained.

Now, Xia Yujin encouraged her mother: "She made a grand entrance with weapons in hand, first giving me a show of strength. On the wedding night, when I was furious and wanted to leave, she neither stopped me nor persuaded me! She even secretly concealed weapons under her clothing, the purpose of which I do not understand. I have been away from home for several days, and she does not care or manage the situation... This woman either looks down on me, so why marry me? If she does value me, why must she act strong in every situation, constantly embarrassing me? In any case, I must return the favor and give her a taste of her own medicine! She must submit! Mother, no matter what, she is still your elder, and you must take a stand, allowing her to fulfill her duties as a daughter-in-law."

That's right! Xia Yujin strongly supported it, nodding and cheering continuously

Ye Zhao honestly said: "She is too thin, her chest is not firm enough, her waist is not slim enough, her hips are not big enough, she does not look like a good childbearer. I think Cui Ye is much better; her figure is clearly suitable for bearing children, and she is so beautiful... no doubt about it! If she were in the northern desert, all the soldiers would be envious and would definitely fight fiercely over her. It would be better to have her instead."

In the Great Qin State, military families often intermarry. Ye Zhao's mother is a formidable woman from a family of generals, and her grandmother was also a fierce general's daughter. The late great-grandmother was an even more tempestuous heroine from the rivers and lakes. Each of them is a straightforward and forthright woman. Although the relationship between mothers-in-law and daughters-in-law was generally good, there were times when fierce competitions akin to dueling lions or the dominance of tigers would unfold, and during such outbursts, even the elder Ye had to avoid the fray. Although the elder sister-in-law, Huang, appears weak, she wields a beautiful willow-leaf sword technique, making it difficult for three or four ordinary men to approach her.

On the morning of the second day, as the hour of the rabbit arrived, Ye Zhao, having finished her holiday, prepared to attend court. Before leaving, she first came to the outside of the door of Consort An, standing respectfully outside, requesting the head maid to announce her arrival, and waiting to pay her respects.

On the other side, within the An Wangfu, the An Grand Consort was also preparing herself mentally. Every mother hopes for a daughter-in-law who meets her expectations, especially when it comes to marrying off her most beloved youngest son. Therefore, she must choose carefully. Even if the family background is slightly inferior or the appearance is not outstanding, she should at least be a gentle and virtuous young lady, someone who takes care of the household and cherishes her husband

Unexpectedly, a soldier outside reported: "General, it is time to attend the court."

Cui Ye felt a surge of delight and, blushing, stole a glance at Ye Zhao's handsome features before lowering her head shyly

Upon arriving in the capital, at the military camp of the capital, the general stood with his hands clasped behind his back and earnestly requested in an undeniable tone: "After many years of friendship through life and death, now facing a critical moment, I ask all my brothers to lend me a helping hand"

However, they privately say: "The son of Prince Shen, the second son of General Wei, which one is not a young talent, with good looks and character? The general's power is overwhelming, marrying the good-for-nothing from the An family is also a waste.

Indeed! The Empress Dowager An thought more and more about it, and her sympathy for her younger son suppressed her fear of her daughter-in-law. She regained her imposing demeanor, straightened her back, and said indignantly, "Even if she is a general appointed by His Majesty, she is still the daughter-in-law of the An Wangfu! I do not believe she would dare to defy me!"

Ye Zhao glared back with a fierce expression and reprimanded, "The Son of Heaven governs the country with filial piety! You do not even know how to be filial to your own mother! This is simply outrageous! Do you understand what it means to manage a family, govern a country, and bring peace to the world? You cannot even take care of your own family! How can you talk about joining the army and sweeping the world? I, as a general, place the utmost importance on filial piety! I will deduct three months of your salary; go back and reflect on this! Understand how to be filial to your mother before you come to see me again!"

The Empress Dowager grew increasingly suspicious and roared: "In your dreams! As long as I live for a single day, you will never allow a beauty to enter the door!"

Ye Zhao is a person of his word.

She estimated that discussing this matter with the Huang family would only cause them concern. Instead, she decided to convene all the staff and deputy generals who had been in the northern desert at that time for a war conference, to assign tasks, and then ordered everyone to return home to consult their wives and mothers, to learn from their experiences, and report back on the specific situation.

Upon hearing these words, she felt an overwhelming urge to retort with a "pah".

The Empress Dowager An happily asked, "What is there to be unhappy about?"

Once a commitment is made, it must be followed through to the end

Her enthusiasm raises the question: is she seeking to take a concubine for her husband, or is she looking to take a concubine for herself

Ye Zhao assisted her to the side hall, inquiring about her well-being. They exchanged glances in silence, and finally, she complimented, "Mother looks quite well today"

Qiu Shui hurriedly rushed forward to smooth the fur of her family's general

The Empress Dowager's fist struck the cotton, and she sat in a daze for a long time, angrily asking: "Where is the Princess? Why hasn't she come to pay her respects yet? She is becoming increasingly lazy; doesn't she see that her mother-in-law is already up?"

The Empress Dowager was very unwilling, yet she was not bold enough and was completely obedient to the words of the Empress Dowager. Therefore, since Xia Yujin got married, she has been filled with grievances, occasionally weeping, but has never dared to express her anger. Instead, she secretly complained to her eldest daughter-in-law, wishing that this living Yama would soon grow tired of her son and leave home to find a more capable man.

Indeed, her son is somewhat lacking in ambition, but she is a mother, and her heart is filled only with compassion. Their family is not a disgraceful one that relies on a woman to make a living; how could she bear to see him be overshadowed by a woman's skirt? To live a life without dignity?

As soon as she stepped out, her sisters looked at her with sympathetic eyes and advised, "Your daughter-in-law is just a bit headstrong and has a tough temper; with some adjustment, it will be fine. At least you have a dutiful eldest daughter-in-law to support you." There were also some who, lacking in tact, offered comfort by saying, "Anyway, your son has no interest in a career; at least you can rely on your daughter-in-law to uphold the family, which is still a good thing."

Ye Zhao leaned against the armchair and observed everyone working for a while, then took a sip of tea and asked Qiu Shui: "Where is the fox?"

Isn't it better to marry a docile and sensible quail? Who expects to aspire to a phoenix?

Damn it! Is there still sesame oil money?! Ye Zhao almost choked on her tea, and she slammed the table and roared, "That bastard said last time that he is a descendant of Taoism!"

Her husband, Wang An, was worked to death by the demands of state affairs. She became a widow at a young age and understood the importance of doing good deeds. Year after year, she provided relief to disaster victims and contributed to the temple with offerings of oil, which hardly makes her a malicious woman. Her youngest child was frail and nearly died in infancy, but has gradually improved in recent years. Therefore, she has indulged him a bit more. Although he now behaves recklessly, it is merely a matter of poor reputation, and he rarely causes any significant trouble for the family

The aides were quite frightened, diligently writing down their thoughts, searching their hearts and minds for ideas.

Ye Zhao noticed her displeased expression and quickly added: "If you are reluctant, then so be it. In the past, Xu Duzong introduced me to the fine horses of Yangzhou, each one more beautiful than a celestial maiden, possessing both grace and talent, and capable of serving others. I was somewhat tempted when I heard that. Later, I will have him carefully select two of the most striking ones, with the best figures for bearing children."

If a daughter-in-law cannot manage household affairs, show filial piety to her mother-in-law, and please her husband, what is the purpose of marrying her

The decree for marriage arrived, and she felt as if struck by five thunderbolts, fully aware that her son would never have a good life from now on. Tears flowed in torrents, recalling how the Empress Dowager had summoned her to the palace before the marriage, repeatedly advising her that this daughter-in-law's situation was special, and that she would need to assist the Emperor in his duties in the future, which would be of great importance. She was cautioned not to adhere too strictly to the rituals and customs expected of women, nor to act like a mother-in-law, as it would alienate the hearts of the meritorious. Even if there were some dislikes, it would be best to keep a distance in the future to avoid seeing each other.

Ye Zhao thought for a moment and shook his head, saying "Not good"