Can't a princess ascend the throne?

Chapter 430 As if Hearing Celestial Music
After listening to Xie Mingchen's story, Jiu Que and Chunyu Shuang felt a mix of emotions.

From these accounts, they witnessed how a woman of beauty, talent, and privileged background withered away so quickly amidst the machinations of two families. Before her marriage, she was so happy, so radiant, yet she faded so swiftly. Xie Mingchen must be in her early twenties now, right? She'd spent twenty years alone in the small Buddhist shrine, enduring the triple betrayal of her husband's family and even her personal nanny, bearing a child she didn't love. How much pain that Miss Wang must have felt…

Chunyu Shuang is a staunch advocate of celibacy and hedonism. A native of Dajing, she grew up observing the relationships between her parents and siblings and developed a deep aversion to marriage. She imagines her mother was a bright and beautiful young woman before marriage, only to gradually transform into someone she herself loathed through the tediousities of married life.

In addition, having served as a minor official in the Ministry of Justice for so many years, she had seen too many women who murdered their husbands because they could not survive, and she had also seen many more men who beat and killed their wives at will.

"To be honest, for a while I thought I would die after I got married."

Chunyu Shuang patted her chest, still shaken. Only now that everything was in the past could she finally bring herself to admit it.

"For a while, I couldn't bear it at the Ministry of Justice. Everyone around me was trying to suppress me. When I got home, I had to face the cold words of my parents and my brother and sister-in-law, as well as the pointing fingers of outsiders. There were a few days when I couldn't take it anymore and even thought about finding a man to marry. But when I went to meet a matchmaker, I ran into my childhood friend. Of course, we've completely lost contact now. When I saw her, I couldn't believe my eyes. She was the prettiest girl in our neighborhood, and she married the best. Her in-laws were in the silk business, and her husband was a well-known honest man in the neighborhood. She gave birth to two sons in three years after she got married. To be honest, many people used her life as a source of advice for me. But when I saw her that time, she looked haggard, like a withered flower. Before I could say anything, she recognized me."

Chunyu Shuang carefully recalled what happened that day.

At that time, she was filled with sorrow, following the matchmaker towards the agreed-upon place, each step feeling like a betrayal of the previous twenty years of her life. Suddenly, a joyful voice came from the roadside.

"Xiao Shuang? My God, you're still the same as before, you haven't changed at all?"

"You, you're Sister Linglong?"

The woman looked to be in her thirties, with a haggard face, and two distressed boys beside her. The sound of their crying made Chunyu Shuang frown.

"What are you doing?"

The woman named Linglong seemed to have not spoken to a close friend in a long time. Upon seeing her childhood friend, she disregarded everything else and stood on the street, pouring out her troubles. Chunyu Shuang listened, her mind reeling. She only remembered that her marriage hadn't been good. Her in-laws controlled the family finances, even deciding what to eat each day. Her husband, though a well-known honest man, was only kind to outsiders and particularly willing to help them; he was utterly indifferent to her own family, rarely communicating with her. Her two children were disobedient, and her sisters-in-law were always causing trouble…

Chunyu Shuang, feeling dizzy and overwhelmed by the conversation, couldn't take it anymore and subconsciously asked a question in return.

"Since you're having such a bad time, why don't you get a divorce?"

"Well, it's not as simple as you make it out to be. Every woman goes through this, right? Just bear with it. Once these two kids grow up and get married, I'll be free. Uh, but you, are you going to find a husband? I'm telling you, you're in your early twenties, not getting any younger. Hurry up and find a good husband while you still have the chance. Having someone who cares for you is better than anything else..."

How did Chunyu Shuang feel at that moment? It was as if someone had suddenly thrown a pile of ice cubes down the back of her neck, making her completely stiff. Since Linglong was living such a miserable and painful life, why was she urging her to hurry up and get married? For a moment, Chunyu Shuang felt immense malice.

Then she turned and left. It was thanks to her decisiveness at that time that she was able to achieve such a high position and truly stand on the stage of power, directing the affairs of the country. Her so-called family, men, and children were merely embellishments for her when she needed them.

"Anyway, I will never get married in my life! I only like good-looking people. Of course, I won't force anyone; it's a matter of mutual consent. But this attraction based on appearance is bound to be short-lived, so I might have several lovers. Let me make this clear beforehand: you can't look down on me or stop being my friends because of this!"

Jiu Que: "..."

For a moment, I couldn't tell which of us was from the future. Chunyu, you win.

And what's wrong with you? Weren't we here to comfort our friend? Why are you bringing up your own views on marriage? That's a bit off-topic!
Even Xie Mingchen, who was originally immersed in grief, could hardly feel sorrow anymore and barely managed to pick up some of his previous emotions.

"As far back as I can remember, she has never uttered a single word. Perhaps she has lost all hope in everything in this world..."

Jiu Que sighed and could only step forward and pat his friend on the shoulder.

"Well, how should I put it? At least your mother won't have to see that disgusting man while she's in the Buddhist hall. And I think it's not your fault, after all, it wasn't your choice to be born. Besides, very few men can empathize with a mother who has no political or economic standing. You've already done very well..."

As she was speaking, Jiu Que ran out of words, and then she suddenly slammed her hand on the table!
"Damn it! Actually, I'm furious too. There's no time like the present, let's just rescue your mother today and get her out of that hellhole. What can't she do after that?! Even if she wants to find a decent man, or like Chunyu, have a dozen or twenty young and handsome men to serve her, that's not out of the question! Anyway, your father has many women, so what if your mother has a few confidants? It's fair!"

……

After speaking, there was no response for a long time. Jiu Que turned around and saw that not only Chunyu Shuang and Xie Mingchen were stunned, but even Senior Cui, who had been hiding in some corner, had appeared and was staring at him in disbelief.

Uh, this is a little awkward...

Just as I was about to say something, Chunyu Shuang, who was standing next to me, came to her senses and jumped up to clap her hands! Speaking of which, she learned this action from Jiu Que.

"Good! Well said! Hearing Your Highness's words today, I finally understand what it means to feel like I'm hearing celestial music... So, will Your Highness bestow upon me a few young and handsome men in the future?"