Help! The Frosty Noble's Son Is in Love With Me!-Chapter 286: Qu Fulan Is Unhappy

"Who is the one spreading gossip behind our backs?"

Ren Hua was stunned to hear these comments, feeling compelled to find out the source of the rumors. Otherwise, letting gossip run rampant might affect the harmony of the family’s relationships and the bond between sisters-in-law.

Come to think of it, Ren Hua greatly admired Qu Fulan, finding her incredibly capable, balancing both career and family, something she herself couldn’t manage.

But in the end, the capable ones ended up being the target of rumors, which was quite absurd.

"Who’s spreading gossip, and about whom?"

A deep voice sounded, and Pei Yuan came in, lifting his robes as he entered.

Ren Hua quickly rose to greet him, smelling the scent of alcohol and realizing that he had been drinking while socializing outside. She hurriedly asked the maid to prepare some hangover soup, while she massaged his temples.

Pei Yuan persistently asked about the earlier topic, "Is someone gossiping about you behind your back?"

"It’s not about me; it’s the servants in the mansion comparing me to my younger brother’s wife. They praise one and belittle the other, stirring trouble where there is none. We originally had a good relationship between the two households, so we mustn’t let these rumors disrupt it. I intend to find the source of the gossip and address it properly."

Business-minded individuals never focus solely on the immediate issue. Though she and Qu Fulan were on good terms now, Ren Hua knew without careful maintenance, the relationship might eventually be nudged by malice. She didn’t want that.

Pei Yuan said, "Oh, what did they say?"

Ren Hua repeated what the servants had said, but Pei Yuan remarked, "There’s no stopping this kind of thing."

"Why does my husband say so?" Ren Hua asked, puzzled.

The Ren Family was from a smaller background, and Ren Hua naturally didn’t understand the complexities of a large household. Sometimes it’s not about right or wrong; circumstances force things such that even if you excel, if you don’t match public standards, you’ll be criticized.

Pei Yuan generously shared his reasoning with Ren Hua, "The saying ’it’s lonely at the top’ is precisely this logic."

Pei Yuan also appreciated Qu Fulan. He had always thought highly of her, noticing her superior abilities in various aspects. Such a person made an excellent partner if in a business sense, but as a wife, only his younger brother could truly admire her.

After all, what man doesn’t wish for a wife who manages the household?

Pei Yuan withheld these thoughts, knowing Ren Hua had a mercantile family background and used to being adventurous. Now, her lack of capability tied her down and made her more domestic, which was exactly what he hoped for, so naturally he didn’t mention it.

On Ren Hua’s side, before she could identify the source, Qu Fulan was already aware.

Though Qu Fulan often left early and returned late, it didn’t mean she was unaware of the happenings in the mansion. Without the skill to oversee the affairs at home, how could she manage both ends?

Initially, Qu Fulan didn’t take the gossip seriously.

To be honest, she’d seen similar situations in her modern life, having spoken ill of bosses to others at times. It was inevitable due to differing stances; employees and bosses rarely empathize.

Though she didn’t care about the rumors, gossiping about the masters was something not tolerated. She implemented a reward system for reporting, catching a few and setting an example to quell the gossip.

The rumor’s origin surprised Qu Fulan; it wasn’t anyone else but Mrs. Ning and her daughter.

Though the source of the rumors sprang from Mrs. Ning and her daughter, the cause lay with Master Lu, further exaggerated by the third house.

This was unsurprising. Master Lu resented her for many years, and now that she was the Young Lady, managing the Pei Family’s main house, equated to overseeing his daily necessities, naturally making him displeased.

But even in displeasure, he couldn’t act against her more than resorting to minor tricks behind her back.

Qu Fulan did not dwell on these things, still doing things her way, which irritated Ning Xin.

Fuming, Ning Xin’s mother advised Mrs. Pei to rein in the daughter-in-law, suggesting that necessary socializing was one thing, but continually being away from home was another.

Mrs. Pei didn’t mind, expressing her own dislike for staying home. If not for her failing legs, she would have gone out long ago.

Mrs. Ning sighed, "You’re backed by your maiden family, no one dares utter gossip. The new daughter-in-law has nothing, and is inevitably talked about behind her back. When spread, others will assume Pei Mansion lacks decorum."

These words carried some truth. A married woman without her maiden family’s support is indeed prone to public disapproval.

Madam Pei herself relied on her family backing, thus is oblivious to others’ hardships without such support. Her naturally carefree disposition, unlike Mrs. Ning’s cautious nature, often left the latter inclined to share advice.

In the end, despite Mrs. Ning’s efforts, her advice went unheeded. Had she been easily persuaded, her parents would have succeeded long ago.

Finally, Mrs. Ning resorted to personally advising her niece-in-law, kindly offering tips, since her thick-skinned mother-in-law imparted no lessons on decorum.

A young bride can’t go without guidance, right?

Talking to Qu Fulan, Mrs. Ning ensured her daughter didn’t follow, for some matters were more suited for a private conversation. Too many individuals involved could spoil it.

Ning Xin, unable to overhear her mother’s words to Qu Fulan, was itching with curiosity, feeling extremely uneasy.

Meanwhile, Qu Fulan didn’t feel good upon hearing Mrs. Ning’s words.

Having been in the ancient world for so long, it was her genuine first encounter with the concept of "Three Obediences and Four Virtues." Without even implementing them, merely listening made her feel suffocated.

Mrs. Ning’s intentions were good; from her perspective, it was meant for her benefit.

Yet, there’s a kind of "good" known as "I’m doing it for your own good," which under its pretense is done for troubling reasons.

Currently, she couldn’t care less for Mrs. Ning’s "good."

Fortunately, Mrs. Ning wasn’t her mother-in-law. Otherwise, under such rule, Qu Fulan speculated she would have fled already.

However, even if Mrs. Ning wasn’t her mother-in-law, she was still a family relative.

Today there’s one Mrs. Ning, tomorrow there’ll be a "Third Aunt," the day after a "Sixth Aunt," each offering rounds of ideological education, driving her to insanity.

This is precisely marriage life—a stark difference from dating, where romance is just between two, while marriage involves familial bonds, extending beyond rice, oil, and salt to include various relatives.

Qu Fulan felt troubled; this wasn’t the life she sought.

It seemed like a married woman’s sole value was breeding progeny. If she didn’t manage the household, she wasn’t a good wife or woman. Even if she amassed fortunes or balanced career and family, others only saw her neglect of the home.

Despite Madam Pei and the elderly lady’s innovative thinking, it couldn’t withstand the gossip from a slew of aunts. When the time came, would Madam Pei and the elderly lady persist in respecting her autonomy?

Qu Fulan wasn’t sure.

In a disheartened mood, feeling low in energy, Qu Fulan skipped reviewing the accounts tonight, and retired to bed early after grooming.

Pei Ji’an hadn’t returned yet.

It seemed natural for men to pursue careers but women faced critiques.

The more she pondered, the more upset she grew.

Carrying those thoughts into sleep, Qu Fulan dreamed again.

A continuation of the previous dream—one where she dates a fabulously wealthy man, this time with more detailed scenarios.