Chapter 372: Pan’er

Chapter 372: Pan'er

As they were speaking, the maid announced that Third Lady had returned.

Yun Guichi smacked her forehead, "I forgot! Third Lady's aunt is seriously ill and may not recover. I called her back to attend to her."

In the Lei family, the only girl who dared not to marry was Lei Nian'er. The others were all married off as soon as they reached marriageable age.

Third Lady came to visit Yun Guichi first. Unable to bow properly, she nodded respectfully, "Mother, I hope you’ve been well. Elder sister, it’s been so long, and I’ve missed you terribly."

"But you’re always busy with important matters, and no matter how much I miss you, I dare not disturb you."

Lei Nian'er stared at her belly in shock, "You..."

Third Lady glanced gently at her protruding belly and smiled, "I’m already four months along."

Lei Nian'er was stunned, though she found her own reaction odd. Third Lady was seventeen.

Though Jingchu had said she wouldn’t consider marriage or children until at least eighteen, at that time, getting married at eighteen was already considered late. Families who cared for their daughters usually married them off at sixteen or seventeen, so it was perfectly normal for Third Lady to be pregnant at seventeen.

But as the eldest sister, she still felt like a kid herself, and now her younger sister was becoming a mother. It was quite a shock.

Yun Guichi jumped at the chance to bring up her marriage, "Third Lady already has a child, and you, the eldest sister, haven’t even settled on a marriage proposal. Aren’t you embarrassed?"

Lei Nian'er didn’t want to engage in a futile argument and just wanted to escape, so she said, "Mother, since the third sister has just returned, I’ll walk her to her aunt’s courtyard. We sisters have some personal matters to talk about."

Yun Guichi agreed and instructed Third Lady, "Pan'er, you should encourage your elder sister to follow your example. In this regard, you are much more sensible than her."

Lei Pan'er smiled without saying a word.

After they left, she said with envy, "I truly admire you, elder sister, for being so carefree. Unlike you, who holds a high rank and great authority, my main purpose is to form alliances through marriage, managing the household and raising children."

"My husband and I get along well, but as soon as I got pregnant, he took a concubine. Everyone says it’s normal, but it still cuts deep."

"But no matter how much it hurts, I have to compromise."

"I truly don’t know how you, elder sister, have resisted the pressure to marry for so long. I know that someone who can be the commander of the guards must have a steadfastness that we cannot match."

Lei Nian'er sighed and gently wiped her sister’s tears.

Lei Pan'er was naturally sensitive, and when wronged, she would swallow her pain silently, which is why she had been bullied by Lei Nan'er to the point of attempting suicide.

Lei Nian'er never demanded that her sisters live the same way she did. Although she didn’t understand, she respected their choices, just as she respected her mother’s life confined to the household, where her only concerns were her children’s marriages.

Jingchu had said that measuring other women’s lives with their vast and boundless experiences was a kind of condescending cruelty. Their minds were already trapped in set paths, which was sad enough.

Lei Nian'er reflected, "I have wavered too, thinking of just finding someone agreeable to pair up with."

"But when I was struggling with the decision, you all got married sooner or later."

"After seeing the experiences of other ladies, I realized that if I don’t marry, my only fault is not marrying."

"Once I marry and have children, there would be many more faults."

She ticked off on her fingers, "Like not having kids."

"She didn’t give birth to a boy."

"Not bearing enough children."

"Not dutifully serving her husband."

"Not showing filial piety to her in-laws."

"Not maintaining good relations with her husband's relatives."

"Splurging on herself, she’s branded as selfish."

"Failing to pay morning and evening respects to the elders, she’s deemed unfilial."

"Enjoying sleeping in, she’s labeled as inherently lazy."

"Working outside, she’s accused of neglecting the children."

"Caring for the children at home until she falls ill, she’s said to be living comfortably without empathizing with her husband."

After listing these, Lei Nian'er looked down to see Lei Pan'er crying even more intensely.

She panicked, "What’s wrong? I wasn’t scolding you. You’re pregnant—what if you distress the baby?"

"Forget about the nephew; you mustn’t have any issues."

Lei Pan'er sobbed, "It’s too painful, elder sister. What you said mirrors my life—if only I’d realized it sooner."

Lei Nian'er sighed, "...What a mess."

After the break ended, she returned to the East Palace with mixed emotions, suddenly finding Bei Jingchu’s demands less unbearable.

At least it’s peaceful.

She could keep working for another century!

The freedom from marriage pressure is blissful. She shook Bei Jingchu’s shoulders excitedly, "Jingchu~ You’re the best~~"

Bei Jingchu: "What’s gotten into you?"

Seeing this, Jiang Longshou, after completing a mission, asked Bei Jingchu during his report, "Your Highness, do you plan to have Commander Lei and the County Mistress reside in the East Palace indefinitely?"

Bei Jingchu narrowed her eyes and replied sternly, "What are you implying, Jiang Qing?"

Jiang Longshou lowered his head, "I naturally wouldn’t pry into Your Highness’s private matters, but I’m concerned—when you marry, your harem will consist of men. If women remain in the East Palace, what if they engage in affairs with your consorts?"

Bei Jingchu pictured the scene and said, "Then let her have him."

"...What?"

She shrugged nonchalantly, "Anyway, all my children are my own—there’s no risk of bloodline confusion."

"Those who live with me, like Nian'er, are my childhood sisters. As long as they don’t rebel, a man is just a man—no need to create conflict over this."

"A man who can’t be kept is simply not worth keeping. It’s fine—there are plenty of other consorts."

When the time comes to seek comfort, she starts taking advantage and then begins groping...

Ahem!

Bei Jingchu stopped her own thoughts; the scene was getting increasingly inappropriate.

Jiang Longshou pursed his lips tightly, "I’ll take my leave now."

"Go ahead."

The young man stormed off, clearly furious. Bei Jingchu couldn’t help but smile, amused.

Although she spoke the truth, teasing someone was still quite entertaining, especially those who usually don't show much emotion.

What she didn’t say was that those she doesn’t care about don’t matter to her. If it's someone she truly values, the consequences of betrayal would be dire~