Can't a princess ascend the throne?

Chapter 90 Unfilial and Rebellious Daughter!

Chunyu Shuang glanced at her three brothers, who were sitting calmly at the table, but didn't say anything. Unexpectedly, seeing her like this only made Chunyu Hong angrier.

“Why are you looking at your three brothers? They are all men. What kind of man goes into the kitchen? You are a woman. Even if you become an official outside, you are still a woman. When you come back home, you have to help your mother with chores! Do you think it would kill you to ask me for a favor? Is this how you act as an official? Officials are supposed to be loyal, filial, benevolent, and righteous. Tell me, which of these have you fulfilled? Besides coming back and making your old father angry, what else have you accomplished? You've been in the Ministry of Justice for seven years and you're still just a sixth-rank clerk. Women are just no good. If you had listened to me earlier and given this position to your brother, he would have been promoted long ago! You are all blood relatives! You really are…”

"Clap!"

With a flick of her wrist, she slammed her chopsticks onto the table, stunning everyone in the Chunyu family. They stared at Chunyu Shuang in disbelief. In the past, Chunyu Shuang would often reprimand her rebellious younger sister in front of the whole family, and regardless of Chunyu Shuang's true feelings, she never dared to disobey. One could say that her greatest act of defiance in her twenty-five years was refusing to relinquish her official position to her brothers.

But how long has it been since she went home that she dared to show such disrespect to her own father in front of the whole family?

"You! You! Well, I've known all along that you're a rebellious daughter, with a rebellious streak since childhood, and now it seems you're even more so! As a daughter, you dare to defy your father when he scolds you? You've gone too far! Don't think you're so great just because you're an official now. With just one word from me, it's questionable whether you can continue to hold this position!"

"Master! Shuang'er didn't mean it. This child has finally come back for a visit, so let's not argue, okay? The neighbors are all listening, and it will be troublesome if it gets out and people start saying bad things."

Chunyu Hong glared at his wife, but what she said made sense, and the old man gradually calmed down. However, when he saw Chunyu Shuang's indifferent face, his anger surged again.

I don’t know if it’s a matter of feng shui, but his family has four children. Although his first three sons are not particularly smart, with his help, they can at least get by with minor official positions in the Ministry of Rites.

But this youngest daughter was stubborn from a young age. When she was little, if she was simply asked to eat in the kitchen instead of at the table with his wife, she would throw a tantrum, making a scene known throughout the entire Guihua Hutong. This made Chunyu Hong lose face. In those days, wasn't it common sense not to let the women of the family sit at the table? So many people in their hometown did it, and he'd never seen a daughter dare to throw a tantrum, let alone overturn the table. Yet his daughter could do it!

Because of that big commotion, and fearing being laughed at by others, Chunyu Hong had no choice but to let the mother and daughter eat at the table. That wouldn't have been so bad; it was something he could have done at home. But this brat, at seventeen, secretly went to take the Ministry of Justice's judicial examination behind everyone's back! What's even more infuriating is that she actually passed!

Although eight years have passed, he still remembers how angry he was when he received the news. After all, he had already discussed with his colleagues about marrying Chunyu Shuang to his colleague's son. Although his colleague's son was a little older and had a deceased wife, he was a respectable person who had passed the imperial examination!

The first wife left behind only a two-year-old daughter. What can a little girl do? Once Chunyu Shuang marries into the family and becomes the mistress, she'll have seven or eight sons, and then she'll have a position, right? But this rebellious daughter, without the family's knowledge, secretly ran away to take the imperial examinations!
And he made the whole thing public knowledge; his colleague, upon hearing about it, immediately broke off the engagement. (That's what his colleague said.)

“My son is too honest. I originally wanted to find him a gentle and virtuous wife to manage the household. I’ve met Brother Chunyu’s daughter; I thought she would be mature and steady, but I didn’t expect her to be so cunning. She even passed the Ministry of Justice’s judicial examination—truly remarkable. My foolish son is fine with an ordinary person, but he’s not good enough for your daughter. We’re not a good match; Brother Chunyu, you should find another suitable husband for your daughter.” Although his colleague spoke tactfully, Chunyu Hong felt utterly humiliated. His three sons, let alone pass the Ministry of Justice’s judicial examination, had been trying for years and couldn’t even become minor officials. Yet this daughter passed on her first try. Wouldn’t this make people laugh at his sons for being so useless, not even as good as their sister?
"The thing I regret most in my life is not stopping you from learning to read! You've learned about Heaven, Earth, Ruler, Parents, Teacher, Benevolence, Righteousness, Propriety, Wisdom, and Trustworthiness, and you've mastered loyalty, filial piety, and chastity, yet you can't fulfill the filial duties a daughter should have! Back then, your three elder brothers had such a hard time, without good official positions, they couldn't marry good wives at all. All we asked was for you to give up your official positions, and you actually ran away from home! How dare a daughter of a good family run away from home? Once your reputation spreads, which good man would want to marry you?!"

"Your three older brothers grew up with you since you were little. Haven't they treated you well? You wouldn't even help with such a small favor, so why are you rushing back now? Don't think you're so great just because you're an official. There are plenty of officials in the world, and none of them are as arrogant as you!"

Chunyu Hong was red-faced and throbbing with anger, panting heavily. His wife quickly stepped forward and patted his back, afraid he would faint from anger. At the same time, she gave Chunyu Shuang a meaningful look, hoping she would take the opportunity to back down.

However, Chunyu Shuang remained seated and did not move. She merely glanced at her three silent brothers, her panting father, and her worried mother, and finally let out a cold laugh.

Chunyu Hong was furious and his voice suddenly rose!

"You unfilial daughter! What are you laughing at? You've made such a mess of our family and you still have the nerve to laugh?! I truly regret that your mother didn't drown you when she gave birth to you!"

"Then go ahead!"

Chunyu Shuang swung her hand and smashed the cup in front of her to the ground. The sound of shattering porcelain startled everyone. Before Chunyu Hong could erupt in anger, Chunyu Shuang spoke coldly.

"Stop putting all the blame on me. Even if I had been willing to hand over my official position back then, with three older brothers in the family, who would you have chosen to become an official?! There can only be one official position!"

"Of course!"

Chunyu Hong almost blurted out his youngest son's name, but after glancing at his two older sons, he swallowed it back with difficulty and scolded Chunyu Shuang with a frown.

"You rebellious daughter! Stop trying to sow discord here. You haven't given up your official position, so what's the point of saying all this?"

(End of this chapter)