Xianggong, Please Divorce Me!

Ch. 10: Content to Stay in a Lowly Position

[1] "并被赐了"吉祥如意，如诗如画"这四个名字。

吉祥如意, jíxiángrúyì means fortunate and happy. Ru Yi by itself is a symbol of power and good fortune
如诗如画 rúshīrúhuà means spectacular, picturesque.
The text mentions the number 4 which with the 4 women and the 4 character idioms may be a play on words.

[2] 北延国; Bei Yan country or North Yan country. In chapter 4 it was 延国 (Yan country).

[3] 美人计;  The beauty trap is one of the Thirty-Six Stratagems.  The idea is to have beautiful women cause discord. The target becomes enamored with the beauty, neglecting responsibilities and becoming lax. Other males in the situation become aggressive, aggravating differences, hindering co-operation and destroying morale. And due to jealousy and envy, other females scheme, negatively impacting the situation.

[4] 打狗还要看主人; beat the dog while still watching the owner.  When dealing with someone you need to be cognizant of his/her backer, so you cannot bully or intimidate that person.

Ch 10 – Content to Stay in a Lowly Position

On the side, the three people in the family were playing such a mean and petty trick. As for Fu Rong, she was thoroughly trembling with fear due to Ru Yi's instigation. After lao taitai finished listening, her face looked displeased and her mouth was stiffly pursed. After a long while, she finally sighed and said, "At this point, just drop the matter. No one is allowed to bring it up again....Xuan Zi has no regard for his elders and couldn't differentiate between the good and bad. His punishment is to copy the Confucian classics three times. Taking into account of Fu Rong's inattentiveness, deduct her one month's salary!"

(E/N: 老太太, lao taitai = Old Madame)

"Grandma, Xuan Zi is still young. Have pity!" Song Shi An anxiously pleaded for Xuan Zi.

But lao taitai had the appearance of "I've already decided".

Song Shi An couldn't think of anything and didn't say anymore. He merely looked into Xuan Zi's eyes as his heart filled with distress.

But Su Tang couldn't help feeling suspicious. The matter was considered finished? Just like this? Not just that, but it was all words and no action! It's obvious that young Lady Ru Yi played a dirty trick. What is this, Lao taitai only punished Xuan Zi and Fu Rong?

This isn't right, the proper master handled it, wanted to patch up a quarrel and yet —the heart has misgivings?

Lao taitai was considered the master of the whole family. Is there anyone within this manor that she still needs to fear? Making concessions in order to avoid trouble, could it be that lao taitai shouldn't give a justification to this granddaughter-in-law who has recently married into the manor? In any case, she could also be counted as a partial victim, at least in the view of the ordinary person on the street. Those few sentences from Xuan Zi has actually caused her to be stuck in an embarrassing situation!

Tongue clicking. This water is too muddy, causing people to be unable to see things clearly!

Lao taitai seemed to realized that the matter was weighing on Su Tang's mind. After waiting for Fu Rong to order Xuan Zi to withdraw, she turned towards Song Shi An as she spoke, "Why are you still kneeling? Still not helping your wife to get up?"

Contrarily, Su Tang was eager to let cold noodles wait upon her. But seeing him standing up, not looking at her, not even giving her a glance, Su Tang killed that part of her heart. She decisively thought that she'd nimbly stand up but had forgotten about her soft legs. And added to the situation of kneeling for such a long time, she stumbled while trying to stand up. This Song Shi An didn't want to support her nor felt that he should support her.