Can't a princess ascend the throne?

Chapter 190 Bullying goes too far
"That old woman from the Li family comes to our house every few days, crying and wailing, always saying that her son was unlucky, died before he could get married, and has no heir, so he'll be a lonely ghost with no one to worship him. Every time she comes, we treat her well. Every time, we give her a large sum of money to take back. Her son has been dead for a year, and she still comes to our house to mourn, delaying Ying'er's chance to find a good husband. I could understand that she raised such a big son and didn't even get to enjoy his life for long before he was gone; it's pitiful for a parent to bury their child. But I never imagined that that wretched woman harbored such malicious intentions. My daughter, I've raised her with such love and care, not so she could marry into a family and become a widow! How could that damned woman say such things! I rushed over and tore her mouth apart!"

"It's just so pitiful for my Ying'er. She was talked about like that in public, and she's such an honest person. She wouldn't tell us even though she was upset, swallowing all her bitterness herself. Why is she so unlucky?! It's all because of you, you old fool, who arranged this marriage. I told you long ago that the Li family woman was too cunning and wouldn't treat our daughter well in the future, but you wouldn't listen! You insisted that as long as the Li family boy had a bright future, our daughter wouldn't suffer if she stayed with him. Now she hasn't enjoyed any happiness at all, only suffering!"

"My son——"

After listening to such a long explanation, the Yang father and son could barely understand what had happened that morning, but some details were still unclear. Yang Linyuan's eyes darted around, and he strode out of the study, where he indeed spotted his elder sister's head maid in the distance. He summoned her and asked her to come and recount the events of the morning in detail. The head maid was also furious. A mistress's humiliation is a mistress's death; her mistress usually treated her like a sister, and she was kind and talented, yet today she had been utterly disgraced. If her mistress hadn't stopped her, she would have already told the madam.

"Actually, this isn't the first time. Ever since the young master of the Li family passed away, Madam Li has come to every banquet. As soon as she arrives, she takes Miss's hand and complains to the ladies and young women around her, saying how pitiful her son was. He finally found a wife of equal social standing, but he passed away before they even got married. Once or twice is fine, but she says the same thing every time. People who originally wanted to inquire about Miss are too afraid to come over!"

Even Madam Yang was hearing these details for the first time, and she was overwhelmed with grief, tears streaming down her face.

Lord Yang was also deeply saddened. His daughter was obedient, well-behaved, and filial, born to his legal wife, and had been praised by everyone since childhood. Although Lord Yang didn't say it aloud, he adored this daughter; otherwise, he wouldn't have carefully chosen the young master of the Li family. He was indeed a clever and capable young man, having already risen to the rank of a sixth-grade official at such a young age. Given time, his future was limitless.

Who would have thought that fate would be so cruel? Such a fine young man, passing away before everyone else. He fell from his horse and died while out for a spring outing!

This incident certainly saddened Lord Yang. But no matter how regrettable it was, it was someone else's son, and his own daughter was far more important. He had even been thinking of which colleague had a son of marriageable age to introduce to his daughter.

Madam Li's actions were indeed unkind. While the death of unmarried men and women is rare, it's not unheard of. Moreover, this was merely a private conversation between him and Lord Li; no formal betrothal ceremony was held. If neither family spoke of it, who would know? Yet Madam Li made it the talk of the town!

Well, just because your son died, does that mean my daughter can't get married? What kind of logic is that? Even if she had married him before, and then that Li boy died, he would still bring his daughter back, and after two or three years, find her a respectable family to marry into.

Isn't that what everyone does?
"This morning, Madam Li went even further. While Madam was talking to the other ladies, she picked up some ridiculous book and said that this was the kind of sacred text that young ladies like us should read. Because what she said was so absurd, and Miss only slightly retorted, Madam Li's face turned cold, and she even said, and said..."

"What did she say?! Don't hide it from me, just tell me! I want to know what disgusting things that old woman said!"

Yang Linyuan was an impatient man, and seeing that the maid was hesitant and dared not utter a word, he urged her on. Seeing that the master and mistress did not mind relaying the story, the head maid finally spoke up indignantly.

"She said, 'Ying'er, it's not that I'm criticizing you, but you've been spoiled too much at home. All you do is read poetry and books every day; it's ruined your brain. What's the use of reading so many books? We women are supposed to obey our fathers at home, our husbands after marriage, and our sons after their husbands' deaths. It's only in recent years, with the rules loosened, that unmarried girls like you are allowed to go out and about. If it were in the previous dynasty, girls couldn't go out without their fathers and brothers accompanying them. Besides, you're not an ordinary girl. You were engaged to my Sheng'er. If it were a few years earlier, and my Sheng'er had died out of wedlock, you would have had to marry into this family and remain a widow for decades. Maybe the court would even award you a chastity memorial arch—that would be a glorious honor for your ancestors! And then there are those with fiery tempers…'" "If she saw her husband die, wouldn't she slit her own throat and follow him? Oh, what kind of talk is that? Ying'er, you're in the prime of your life, you absolutely mustn't do anything foolish. Your aunt is getting old, she doesn't think before she speaks, don't take it to heart." She went on and on, but I'm too clumsy to repeat it. But ever since she said those things, the ladies and young women around her have been gathering together, whispering and gossiping about Miss, and then they stop talking when she leaves. And that Madam Li, she's been running around in the garden, I've overheard a few words. Whenever someone brings their husband to the banquet, she always tells them about Miss's engagement to the Li family's son. The whole banquet, no one dared to speak to Miss... They're really going too far!"

Yang Linying hadn't wanted to worry her parents and brothers, so she usually swallowed her grievances silently. But somehow, hearing her most trusted and familiar maid confide these grievances, she suddenly realized what a miserable life she was living! The emotions that had been building up for days finally overwhelmed her, and she threw herself into her mother's arms and burst into tears. Madam Yang also wiped away her tears, and the mother and daughter embraced and wept bitterly!
Yang Linyuan nearly ground his teeth to powder. Seeing his weeping mother and sister, he stomped his foot and stormed out!

(End of this chapter)