"Third sister, I'll say it again, what good will it do you to go out now?" An Ran changed the subject and said earnestly, "Are you risking your reputation and causing chaos in the Prince's mansion, or are you going to become estranged from your brother-in-law, destroying your four years of marriage and turning you into enemies?"
"Tell me, what can a hysterical outburst change? Can it make Li and the child in her womb disappear?" An Ran's expression was inscrutable, her voice tinged with a fleeting sadness. "I know you're angry, furious. I know how painful it is to be betrayed!"
The furious Third Sister gradually calmed down.
"But making a scene won't change anything! It will only make you a laughing stock, and make Prince Yi and his wife think you're petty and intolerant, and make your brother-in-law think you don't understand him! At that time, you'll be surrounded by enemies in the Prince's mansion! How worried your grandmother and mother will be! Wouldn't that only hurt your loved ones and please your enemies?"
"Why should I accept all this?" Third Sister was initially angry, but then, overcome with grief, she collapsed to the ground, large tears streaming down her face. "It's unfair, so unfair! He clearly promised me he would only stay with me... Why do all men have multiple wives and concubines..."
"The emperor possesses the entire world! Yet the current emperor only has the empress by his side!" Third Sister choked up as she said, "Beauties from all over the country are sent to the palace in an endless stream, but there has never been any news of the emperor favoring anyone! For ten years, the emperor has only been devoted to the empress!"
Although An Ran was an observer, she also felt heartache at this moment.
Yes, it's unfair.
Ha, fairness?
"Third Sister, what do you mean by fairness?" An Ran walked to Third Sister's side and gently wiped away her tears with a handkerchief. Her voice was soft and gentle, yet it carried a hint of coldness. "You said that the Emperor possesses the entire world but dotes solely on the Empress. My brother-in-law is merely the heir of a prince. What difficulty could he possibly have in doing the same? Right?"
Third Sister nodded in agreement.
"Third sister, have you ever thought about this? We are both daughters of the Marquis's family, so why are you the legitimate daughter and I am the illegitimate daughter? For example, Seventh sister and I are both illegitimate daughters of the Marquis's family, so why did Seventh sister grow up in the mansion while I spent thirteen years outside before returning?"
"Or perhaps we are living in luxury today, but the people in the famine-stricken areas of Henan are starving and have no clothes to cover their bodies!"
"Whom should people ask? Why did they have to suffer such a fate? Where is justice?"
Third Sister was stunned.
The answer should have been obvious, but she couldn't bring herself to say it.
An Ran smiled faintly, but her expression was resolute and solemn, which seemed out of place with her usual demeanor. She said firmly, "There has never been any fairness in this world!"
“Third sister, you are a smart person. Now, calm down and think about it.” An Ran said softly, “Even if you feel very wronged, the Princess Consort feels very sorry for you, and your brother-in-law feels very apologetic to you… this whole mess will wipe it all out.”
“You were originally a victim kept in the dark, and making a scene would only do you harm.” Although Third Sister didn’t speak, An Ran knew she had taken her words to heart. “The best course of action now is for you to generously welcome her in and wait until she gives birth before making any further plans.”
Upon hearing this, Third Sister became anxious. She gritted her teeth and said, "How could I possibly let that bitch come back..."
“If it were in the past, your temper might have worked,” An Ran said calmly and cruelly. “Now that she is about to give birth, how could your brother-in-law not acknowledge his own child? He kept it a secret so tightly before, probably because he was afraid you would do something inappropriate.”
Third Sister closed her eyes in despair.
An Ran was well aware that what made San Niang most desperate and angry was her husband Yun Shen's concealment!
"You are the mistress of the Prince's harem!" Although strong medicine was needed to cure Shen Ke, An Ran was afraid that the Third Sister might get carried away and become obsessed, so she still gently persuaded her a few words. "Once she enters the manor, won't you be the one to decide what happens next?"
Third Sister's expression remained somber.
Perhaps she has been living in a dream for the past four years, and now she has suddenly woken up. Apart from the pain, which is real, nothing else is left.
This is not the time for endless sorrow.
"Third sister, please listen to my advice." An Ran said to her third sister-in-law seriously, "You are the eldest daughter of the Marquis of Nan'an. Are you afraid that you are not as good as the relatives of the emperor's concubine? Even if you are heartbroken now or even determined to divorce your brother-in-law, you should take the initiative into your own hands!"
"Even if things can't go on, you should bring it up openly and honestly, instead of being divorced by the Prince's Mansion using disgusting excuses like jealousy and intolerance. We will never let them benefit from your situation and then complain, damaging your reputation!"
An Ran knew that the possibility was extremely slim. Divorce was no joke; it wasn't just about Third Sister and Yun Shen, but also involved the Prince Yi's Mansion and the Marquis of Nan'an's Mansion. Her priority was to appease Third Sister and calm her down.
After all, the most difficult thing wasn't persuading Third Sister not to cause trouble right now, but more importantly, what Third Sister should do if Li Shi really entered the mansion. What attitude should she have towards Yun Shen, and what attitude towards Li Shi...? Just the fact that Li Shi, despite being pregnant, could stay quietly outside showed that she was extremely cunning. Third Sister was probably no match for her.
An Ran felt a headache coming on when she thought of her third sister's fiery temper, which could be described as a firecracker that could be set off at the slightest provocation.
"Why should they be allowed to live a carefree and comfortable life? If you cause a scene, that's exactly what Li Shi wants!" An Ran could only try to persuade her from San Niang's perspective. "If you go back to your parents' home in a fit of anger, won't she come back and take over your place...?"
"She dares!" The previously defeated Third Sister suddenly found her strength and gritted her teeth, saying, "How could I let that bitch climb over me!"
An Ran finally breathed a sigh of relief.
As long as Third Sister listens to her, overcoming the current difficulties shouldn't be a problem.
“Of course. Sister, you are the first wife of the Prince’s heir. These are just some nobodies. How could they possibly shake your position?” An Ran smiled slightly. Seeing that Third Sister was already listening to her, she was now just agreeing with Third Sister.
Ultimately, Third Sister's temperament is such that she responds better to gentle persuasion than force. Her deliberate confrontation just now was only to temporarily intimidate Third Sister. To resolve this matter, a gentler approach is needed.
"Third Sister, I was wrong just now. Please get up and change your clothes. Your husband will probably be back soon," An Ran said apologetically to her third sister.
She deliberately splashed tea on Third Sister, firstly to calm her down, and secondly to prevent Third Sister from actually rushing out in a fit of rage. After being soaked, Third Sister couldn't just leave like that.
Third Sister nodded obediently and stood up with An Ran's help.
Although there were still traces of pain and anger in her eyes, Third Sister had calmed down and was no longer the hysteria and madness she had shown earlier.
“Third Sister, now that you’ve received the news, your husband will probably find out soon too.” An Ran held Third Sister’s hand, looked into her eyes and said earnestly, “Actually, the situation is in your favor now. Even if you only find out a day in advance, it’s better than being caught off guard.”
"The first hurdle is what you'll do if your brother-in-law returns home today."
what to do?
Third Sister looked at An Ran, and before she could even think about it, a hint of confusion flashed in her eyes.
An Ran couldn't help but sigh heavily. Now that things had come to this, she had no choice but to help them to the end!
Chapter 24 Persuasion (Part 2)
"Third sister, although it was wrong of your brother-in-law to keep it from you first, now is not the time to be unforgiving," An Ran said slowly. "If your brother-in-law comes back today and tells you frankly about Li Shi, it means that he still respects you. You should give him a way out."
Third Sister still felt deeply resentful.