要么仗着家世 要么仗着美貌
“Some rely on family background, others on beauty.”
THE DIALOGUE REEL
自古多传红颜误国 说的便是那魏贵妃 庾贵妃之流
“since ancient times they’ve always said that beauty brings ruin to nations. It refers to people like Noble Consort Wei and Noble Consort Yu.”
要么 仗着家世 要么 仗着美貌
“Some rely on family background, others on beauty.”
但也就迷惑陛下一时罢了
“But they only bewitched His Majesty for a moment.”
“They have no real competence—take away their looks and lineage, and they are nothing.”
Traditional Chinese court discourse often scapegoated imperial consorts as 'beauties causing the ruin of the state', scorning their reliance on beauty (yanshe) and maternal clans (waici) rather than statecraft.
LEARNING CHUNKS & PARTICLES
either... or...
A standard correlative structure used to present two mutually exclusive or exhaustive options.
to rely on; to capitalize on (often with a negative connotation of arrogance)
Used when someone takes undue advantage of wealth, connections, or attributes to act presumptuously.
