I am a temporary worker in Jinyiwei, how did I become a powerful official?

Chapter 94 Consummation
The Ming people did not take concubines as casually as later generations did, and there were strict systems in place.

From a legal perspective, taking a concubine requires a contract, namely a "concubine marriage certificate."

The marriage certificate for taking a concubine is similar to the marriage certificate plus prenuptial agreement in later generations.

The marriage certificate must state that the woman is marrying voluntarily and clearly state her identity.

The marriage certificate should also specify the amount of the marriage gift, the amount of the gift to be returned upon escape, the share of inheritance in the husband's family property after the birth of children, and so on.

Officials from the local government office must stamp their official seal as proof.

As long as there is a marriage certificate for taking a concubine with an official seal, it is legal to take a concubine.

As for the etiquette of taking a concubine, after choosing a concubine, the husband will come to her house to present her with a hairpin to insert into her hairpins, which is called "selection". He will also prepare colorful music and drums, and hold a grand banquet.

However, if there is a marriage certificate for taking a concubine, whether the etiquette is followed or not depends entirely on the husband's wishes.

Biyun asked Lin Shisan to consummate his marriage with Xiaoyun tonight. Lin Shisan felt like a cat scratching his heart.

But Lin Shisan was a little surprised: "Are you not going to have a banquet?"

Biyun said, "If you want to hold a banquet to take in a concubine, you should at least invite your benefactor, Luo Longwen, the doctor of the Ministry of Justice, right? Xiaoyun was given to you by him."

"After you invited Luo Longwen, will you invite those high-ranking officials who usually watch insects with you?"

"Would you like to invite your new uncle, Eunuch Lu from the Imperial Household Department?"

"As soon as he got promoted, he held a grand banquet to take in a concubine and invited a bunch of high-ranking officials to the banquet. Isn't this just showing off?"

Lin Shisan nodded: "That makes sense."

Biyun advised her husband: "You were promoted too quickly, and people are jealous of you. You should be more low-key and cautious now."

"Anyway, I have already written the marriage certificate for taking a concubine today, and Xiaoyun has put her handprint on it. I took the marriage certificate to Shuntian Prefecture and had it stamped with the official seal."

"Xiao Yun is already your concubine according to the law. Once you have consummated your marriage, this concubine will be accepted as yours."

Lin Shisan was surprised: "You went to Shuntian Prefecture that day and got the official seal on that day? It usually takes at least half a month to get the seal on the documents for taking a concubine."

Biyun nodded: "I attended a banquet at Luo's house that day, and I met the wife of the governor of Shuntian Prefecture at the banquet. She said that she got along well with me and insisted on adopting me as her goddaughter."

"I went to see her today. She wrote a note to her master. Isn't stamping the official seal just a matter of knocking on the marriage certificate?"

Lin Shisan is good at talking and can make a group of high-ranking officials happy. His virtuous wife Biyun is no less capable and can thrive in the circle of noble ladies in the capital.

Lin Shisan pretended to be reserved at this moment: "Ah, my good wife. We have been married for three and a half years. I love you like a pool of pure water, no, I love you deeply."

"Now you want me to take a little girl as a concubine and consummate the marriage. I feel mixed emotions. I can't describe how uncomfortable it is."

Biyun frowned, "You are a wicked person. Are you greedy and stubborn? Well, we won't consummate the marriage. How about raising her for a few years and consummating the marriage when she is 20?"

Lin Shisan smiled widely: "What should I do? I won't let her grow up to be a maid? I'll feel a little sorry for her."

Biyun rolled her eyes at her husband and said, "Come on. I asked about Xiaoyun's life story and she is really pitiful."

"She lost her father at the age of six, her mother at the age of seven, her entire family at the age of eight, and was sold to a brothel at the age of nine to be a skinny girl. She received countless beatings and endured countless hardships."

"After you consummate your marriage with her, you must treat her well. Have a child with her as soon as possible. Then I will be worthy of the ancestors of your Lin family."

Biyun is very scheming, but she is also a kind person at heart.

People are all made of flesh and blood. Biyun has been treating Xiaoyun like her own sister these days, using her heart to gain her heart.

Although Xiaoyun is Luo Longwen's eyes and ears, she has probably already started to waver and is on the side of the Lin family in her heart.

Lin Shisan asked: "Then I will go to Xiaoyun to consummate the marriage?"

Biyun stretched out her finger and poked Lin Shisan's forehead fiercely: "Look at how impatient you are. I invited our father here. At least we have to wait until Xiaoyun offers tea to our father, you and me. Then you can start a big project with her to expand our family."

Lin Shisan nodded his head like a praying mantis: "Okay, okay, okay."

After dinner that night, Lin Youniu sat at the top of the center of the hall, while Lin Shisan and Biyun sat to his left.

Xiao Yun, who was as delicate as a flower, served tea to the three people respectively: "Eunuch, please have tea. Husband, please have tea. Sister, please have tea."

After the tea ceremony, the family escorted Lin Youniu out of the new house. Lin Youniu was old and nostalgic. He couldn't sleep if he wasn't in the old house.

After seeing his father off, Lin Shisan stood there awkwardly.

Biyun said, "Why are you still standing there? The new room is ready for you. Your new concubine is waiting for you inside."

Lin Shisan asked tentatively, "Aren't you jealous?" Biyun glared at him and said, "Stop talking nonsense and get out of here, and I won't be jealous. If you keep talking nonsense, I'll get jealous and regret it, and tear up the marriage certificate for taking a concubine."

Lin Shisan bowed and said, "Yes, Madam! I will get down from the mountain right now - get lost."

Lin Shisan entered the east wing of the front yard.

Xiaoyun was already sitting on the edge of the bed that Biyun had personally chosen.

Lin Shisan sat down next to Xiaoyun and watched intently in the flickering light of the red candle.

Xiaoyun's eyes were as clear as water, and her cheeks were as white as honey.

Her shy look made Lin Shisan's heart feel like it was being scratched by thousands of cats.

Outside the new house, Biyun seemed to be possessed by a ghost. She couldn't help but walk slowly to the window, wanting to listen to what her husband was saying inside.

She held her breath and listened attentively. She only heard her husband ask, "Will it happen?"

The concubine asked back: "Husband, what can you do?"

The husband hesitated for a moment and said, "I guess you don't know how to do that. If you don't know how to do that, I'll teach you."

The next morning.

Lin Shisan whistled and walked into the dining room with a red face. Xiaoyun followed him slowly, staggering.

Biyun and her maid Mei Niang had prepared breakfast. The breakfast was simple but delicious: tofu pudding, fried cypress, a few small pickled vegetables from Liuxinju, and a dish of braised pork.

The family sat down.

The innocent Xiao Chuan asked Xiao Yun: "Sister Xiao Yun, why were you limping just now?"

Biyun said quickly: "Xiaochuan. From now on, you should call her little mother. Also, children should not ask about adult matters."

Xiao Chuan nodded: "Okay, I listen to my mother the most!"

Biyun treats Xiaochuan as her own daughter. Xiaochuan has been an orphan since childhood, so he regards her as his real mother.

Biyun had taught Xiaochuan carefully for more than three months since coming to the Lin family. Although Xiaochuan was naughty, at least he had not done anything outrageous like using firecrackers to blow up the manure pit in the past half month.

Lin Shisan picked up the tofu pudding. The tofu pudding in the old capital was very particular. It was made with marinade, mashed garlic, marinated shrimp oil, and chive sauce.

He took a sip of tofu pudding, and immediately a sour taste rushed straight to the top of his head and went down to his hips.

Lin Shisan frowned: "What?"

Biyun replaced the marinade in her husband's bowl with vinegar.

Biyun remained calm: "Why, is there a strange smell in the tofu brain?"

Lin Shisan could only grit his teeth and swallow the sour tofu pudding in big gulps: "Nothing. Today's tofu pudding is especially delicious."

Although it was common for wealthy families and officials in the Ming Dynasty to take concubines, which woman in the world doesn't want her husband to be good to her alone?
It was Biyun who suggested taking a concubine for Lin Shisan, which was a virtuous idea.

It is human nature to tease your husband after consummating the marriage to relieve the jealousy in your heart.

After breakfast, Lin Shisan rode the chestnut horse given by Yang Jinshui and rushed to Xiyuan.

Today he planned to have a debate with the eunuchs in the Western Garden and reduce the pet-keeping budget of 450,000 taels to 50,000 taels.

The eunuchs would certainly not be happy. But the task that Lu Fang assigned to Lin Shisan was an offensive one. Otherwise, why would the dignified internal minister recognize a small shrimp like him as his nephew?

Besides, by cutting the budget for keeping concubines, the eunuchs would have less to be greedy about, and the burden on the people would be reduced.

Although Lin Shisan didn't have much conscience, it was enough. He still wanted to do something for the people.

Unconsciously, the red horse arrived under Xuanjin Bridge. He dismounted and tied the red horse to the horse-tie stone.

Lin Shisan looked up and saw that those upright officials were kneeling to make remonstrations again.

These people came in the morning and dispersed in the evening. They brought their own water and dry food, and even their own toilets. Even if they were to report to the government office, they would not be so punctual.

The leading censor Zou Yinglong shouted, "Your Majesty, please accept my advice and do not punish Shen Lian!"

Well, another energetic day for the clean and honest censors has begun.

(End of this chapter)