Reborn as an Ugly Wife in the Countryside-Chapter 1270 - 1272: Sima Lian

But there still seemed to be something not quite right. What was it exactly?

Wang Xiangxiang sat there, her mind racing quickly. Suddenly, something clicked in her mind, deepening the perplexed expression on her face. She hurriedly asked, "Husband, the current Prime Minister’s surname is Sima, not Chu."

She felt something was off. Although she didn’t have any relatives in government and didn’t know much about things in Beijing, as an ordinary citizen, she had heard a few things. The current Prime Minister was the son of the previous Prime Minister, and his surname was Sima. If what Chu Lian just said was true, didn’t that mean that her father-in-law was also the son of the former Prime Minister? But the family clearly had the surname Chu, not Sima. What on earth was going on? 𝒻𝑟𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝑛𝘰𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝘤𝘰𝘮

Regarding Wang Xiangxiang’s question, Chu Lian gave an explanation, "Chu is my grandmother’s surname, Sima is my grandfather’s surname. I should actually be called Sima Lian."

Then Chu Lian told everything to Wang Xiangxiang.

It turned out that many years ago, Chu Lian’s grandmother and the former Prime Minister, who was Chu Lian’s grandfather, had a tumultuous love affair.

Grandfather Chu encountered the young and beautiful Grandmother Chu while working away from home.

The two defied social conventions and fell in love freely. Grandmother Chu even became pregnant, and at that time, she was carrying Chu Lian’s father.

Grandfather Chu wanted to marry Grandmother Chu, so he revealed his identity and told Grandmother Chu that he was the Prime Minister and already had a legitimate wife, who was the mother of the current Prime Minister.

Grandfather Chu thought that given his status, Grandmother Chu would be willing to become a concubine.

But to Grandfather Chu’s surprise, Grandmother Chu was not willing and quietly left.

After Grandmother Chu left, Grandfather Chu searched for her but found no trace, as Grandmother Chu was using a false name; Grandfather Chu had no choice but to let it go.

In fact, Grandmother Chu returned to the Chu Family, one of the few matriarchal households at the time, and she was the only daughter in the family.

One can imagine the responsibility she bore.

As a member of a matriarchal household, she couldn’t marry out; she could only invite a son-in-law to live with them and pass on the Chu surname through generations.

Evidently, Grandfather Chu’s identity was not suitable, so she had no choice but to leave.

In that era, and even now, premarital pregnancy was unforgivable, but the Chu Family used their connections to protect Grandmother Chu’s reputation and the child, giving the child the Chu surname.

Years later, Grandfather Chu discovered this matter. He wanted his son, who was living outside, to return to the Sima Family, but Grandmother Chu disagreed.

Because of the son, the Chu Family had changed; they were no longer a matriarchal house. The son could fully support the family. If the son and his family left, the Chu Family would collapse, as she hadn’t invited a son-in-law nor had other children.

In the end, Grandfather Chu compromised. After all, the status of an illegitimate child was still frowned upon by outsiders. To protect both families’ reputations, he and Grandmother Chu decided that Grandfather Chu would take Chu Lingling and have her adopted by Grandfather Chu’s eldest son, Chu Lian’s uncle.

A few years later, Grandmother Chu passed away, and because of Chu Lingling, the Sima Family and Chu Family grew closer over the years, finally becoming one family.

The existence of an illegitimate child was a stain on both families’ reputations. Outsiders didn’t know this, and their families would not casually discuss it, which is why Chu Lian was hesitant to tell Wang Xiangxiang.