TICIEC Chapter 27.1

Seeing that Ning Wanyin was sincerely trying to help her cousin, Old Mrs. Ning finally gave Ning Wanyin a smile.

“Although you have caused some trouble for the family, since you are willing to help your sister enter the palace, it can be considered that your merits and demerits are offset.”

Ning Wanyin smiled but remained silent.

Clearly, they gained the Cen family’s favor through her connections, yet they turned around and accused her.

But she didn’t waste any more words arguing with Old Mrs. Ning.

She said, “Grandmother, why don’t you stay and help my cousin prepare her painting? His Majesty will probably be back in a little while.”

“Indeed…” Old Mrs. Ning nodded, taking Ning Ziyin to the quiet room next door to prepare her painting, wash up, and get dressed.

After the two people left, Cheng Shi was both angry and anxious, her eyes red-rimmed: “Wanwan, I’m so sorry you had to suffer like this.”

“I don’t feel wronged. Since Grandmother wants to send my cousin to the palace, I will, of course, grant her wish.” Ning Wanyin gently held Cheng Shi’s hand, her laughter slightly cool.

Of course, she could refuse Old Mrs. Ning.

But why refuse?

She needs this good show to let the Emperor know that she has no one behind her.

Being alienated from her family and only relying on the Emperor as a loyal minister is the most effective strategy.

Furthermore, this is a perfect opportunity to gain the Emperor’s pity.

Pity is also a form of love.

She wouldn’t mind having too much.

The power and affection bestowed by the Emperor—as a concubine, she naturally has to scheme every step of the way.

“How have you been lately, Mother?” Ning Wanyin asked Cheng Shi with concern.

“Your daughter’s presence in the palace has caused quite a stir, which has worried you, Mother.”

Cheng Shi squeezed Ning Wanyin’s soft hand tightly, “As long as you’re doing well, I have nothing to worry about. I’m fine. Your father wrote to me a few days ago that he’s been promoted by the Marquis of Changping.”

A promotion?

Considering Tang Miaoling’s various actions, it seemed like a gesture of goodwill toward her.

Ning Wanyin seemed to be deep in thought.

“And your brother, he also sent a letter from Nanshan. He is recovering very well now, so you don’t need to worry about us. Your well-being is the most important thing.”

Cheng Shi has a son and a daughter.

Her eldest son had drowned years ago, and although he survived, he was barely alive. He had been receiving treatment at the Nanshan Divine Physician’s clinic for many years.

Perhaps Cheng Shi was terrified by her brother’s ordeal, for she was extremely cautious in raising Ning Wanyin. She would often wake up in the middle of the night to come to Ning Wanyin’s room and make sure she was sleeping peacefully before she could rest in peace.

Cheng Shi’s excessive caution had some influence on Ning Wanyin’s personality. She knew that her mother’s greatest wish for her was to live peacefully.

She also cherished her life and wanted to put her mother at ease.

The mother and daughter spoke intimately for a while.

Until it was getting late, and news came from the hunting grounds that the Emperor was already on his way back, Cheng Shi and Old Mrs. Ning took their leave, leaving Ning Ziyin behind.

Ning Ziyin redid her makeup and dressed up, wearing a newly made ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress) of soft jade brocade, with two butterfly hairpins in her hair.

She also meticulously painted an excellent picture.

Ning Wanyin cooperated by painting a picture that was inferior to hers. Then she went to the quiet room to change her clothes and do her makeup, instructing Lian Rui to dress more simply.

“Miss, why are you helping Miss Ziyin like this!”

Lian Rui was seething with resentment.

 

 

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Translator’s Encyclopedia

Filial Piety (Part 1)

Filial piety (xiào 孝) is the virtue of exhibiting love and respect for one’s parents, elders, and ancestors, particularly within the context of Confucian, Chinese Buddhist, and Daoist ethics. The Confucian Classic of Filial Piety, thought to be written around the late Warring States-Qin-Han period, has historically been the authoritative source on the Confucian tenet of filial piety. The book—a purported dialogue between Confucius and his student Zengzi—is about how to set up a good society using the principle of filial piety. Filial piety is central to Confucian role ethics.

Confucian ethics does not regard filial piety as a choice, but rather as an unconditional obligation of the child. The relationship between parents and children is the most fundamental of the five cardinal relationships (五倫; wǔlún) described by Confucius in his role ethics. Filial piety, together with fraternal love, underlies this system. It is the fundamental principle of Confucian morality: Filial piety was seen as the basis for an orderly society, together with loyalty of the ministers toward the ruler, and servitude of the wife toward the husband. In short, filial piety is central to Confucian role ethics and is the cardinal virtue that defines, limits, or even overrides all other virtues.

 

 

 

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