After the favored concubine remarried, the aloof and powerful minister forcibly took her away.

Chapter 28 If you're so curious, why not just ask me?
Dong Yan turned around, stopping Pei Yuanrong from saying anything more.

A girl dressed in a light blue dress and wearing a gold hairpin stepped forward.

"Mother, why didn't you tell me about this in your letter?"

Pei Yuanrong, with a hint of worry on her face, took Dong Yan's arm.

"What could have happened? As for you, didn't I tell you to study diligently with the female teacher at the Dong family's private school? But you came back halfway through."

Dong Yan looked at her daughter with annoyance and said something.

Pei Yuanrong stuck out her tongue and said coquettishly, "I came back this time with Uncle Lu and Brother Lu."

Dong Yan's maternal family is in Ling'an, and they have always had a good relationship with the Lu family business.

Hearing Pei Yuanrong say this, what else could Dong Yan say?

"Is your maternal grandfather thinking of marrying you off to the Lu family again?"

Pei Yuanrong didn't know how to respond to these words. She thought Brother Lu was a really nice person.

He is down-to-earth, has a good personality, and most importantly, the Lu family has simple relationships, unlike the complicated relationships found in the families of powerful and wealthy people in the capital.

But his mother didn't think so.

"Your mother also hopes you can be happy, but Yuanrong, in the social hierarchy of scholars, farmers, artisans, and merchants, merchants will always be at the bottom of society."

“You are different now. You are a daughter of an official, so why marry a merchant and invite criticism?”

Because Dong Yan is a businesswoman, she is looked down upon by her sisters-in-law and husband in the Pei family. Even her mother-in-law only gives her a second glance because of her ability to manage the household affairs.

Dong Yan didn't want her daughter to go through the same suffering she had gone through.

“Brother Lu is very good. Those are all prejudices of the world. Compared to other people’s opinions, shouldn’t Mother think that my happiness is the most important thing?”

Pei Yuanrong released Dong Yan's hand and lowered her eyes.

Dong Yan sighed, but ultimately didn't say anything more.

"Alright, you've just gone back, go back and rest first. We can discuss this matter later."

After saying that, Dong Yan walked towards her room. Pei Yuanrong watched his mother's back, a hint of sadness flashing in his eyes.

"Yuanbao, why do you think my mother is so desperate?"

“Miss, perhaps Madam thinks that you would be better off marrying into a family in the capital.”

Yuanbao didn't know either, but she didn't want her daughter to be unhappy.
-
Xiang Ning lay in the room all morning before waking up, looking as if she had been brutally crushed.

As soon as I sat up, I sensed someone sitting behind the screen.

"Peach blossom?"

And standing opposite that person was Bitao.

Upon hearing Xiang Ning's voice, Bi Tao quickly came in and gave Xiang Ning some clothes.

"It's Fang Mama from the old lady's courtyard. She said she'll come to Mosong Garden to serve the master from now on."

Bitao gave a simple explanation, and Xiangning immediately understood. It was because the commotion last night had gone too far, and the old lady had sent someone to reprimand her.

Thinking of this, Xiang Ning nodded, quickly put on her clothes, and went out.

The people in the old lady's courtyard were not as easy to fool as those in other courtyards.

Those were people who had gone through thick and thin with the old lady.

So Xiang Ning didn't try to outsmart this Mrs. Fang.

"Woke up?"

Fang's mother sat in a chair, holding a cup of tea in her hand. When she saw Xiang Ning come out, she glanced at her from head to toe.

"She has a good figure and is also good-looking."

Fang's mother wasn't as difficult to talk to as Xiang Ning had imagined; she immediately praised her.

"You served the master well last night, but our Pei family is a wealthy family, and we cannot allow a bride to have illegitimate children before she has even entered the household."

After saying that, she pushed the bowl of dark, murky medicine next to her over: "Drink it."

Xiang Ning saw the bowl of medicine, and without hesitation, stepped forward, picked it up, and drank it. Fang's mother had been observing Xiang Ning's expression, and seeing no dissatisfaction in her eyes, she nodded in satisfaction.

Just like Kang's mother said, he was honest and law-abiding, and had no improper thoughts.

No wonder the old lady was willing to keep her.

"Bitao, you can go out first. I have something I want to say to Miss Xiangning."

After Xiangning finished drinking the contraceptive soup, Fang's mother looked at Bitao and said something. Bitao looked worried, but after hearing what Fang's mother said, she had no choice but to leave.

"You are a smart girl, and you are also the master's first woman. The old lady thinks highly of you. As long as you behave yourself and don't have any other wild thoughts, the masters will naturally not treat you badly."

Hearing Fang Mama's words, Xiang Ning nodded: "This servant only wants to serve the master well. After the young mistress enters the family, this servant will also serve the young mistress well."

Anyway, by then, she would have saved up enough money, as long as she didn't get the official document to take a concubine.

Her identity was merely that of a maid in the Pei household. She used money to redeem herself and then took the remaining money to leave for distant lands.

Even so, she's still better than these servant girls.

Looking at Xiang Ning's expression, Fang's mother nodded in satisfaction.

She stood up, walked over to Xiang Ning, touched her belly, and then whispered something.

Xiang Ning blushed slightly upon hearing this, but Fang's mother smiled and said, "Contraceptive soup is harmful to the body, so this will at least reduce your suffering and prevent you from losing your fertility."

In the grand mansions of the inner quarters, the most important things for a woman, besides a man's love, were her offspring.

Having children makes it easier to establish oneself; without children, everything else is meaningless.

Children are the only long-term support.

Fang's mother wasn't a bad person. Seeing that Xiang Ning was well-behaved and obedient, she naturally offered some advice.

Xiang Ning took out some silver and placed it in Fang Mama's hand: "Thank you for your advice, Mama. I understand."

She never thought about remarrying, and whether or not she had children was unimportant to her.

However, since Fang's mother did offer a suggestion, we should still thank her.

Fang's mother did not refuse Xiang Ning and accepted the money with a smile.

Qingzhu, who lived outside Qingyi Residence, did not sleep all night. She sat in the house, wishing she could grind her teeth to dust.

For some unknown reason, Qingzhu got up and left Mosong Garden.

As Bitao walked by carrying tea, she saw Qingzhu's departing figure.

Is this Qingzhu up to something again?
At this moment, in the Dali Temple, Mingxiang saw Pei Yanzhi sitting inside and winked at Chenghua.

Are your eyes bothering you?

Cheng Hua clearly didn't receive Ming Xiang's signal, staring at him blankly with his big eyes wide open.

Mingxiang sighed helplessly; this thing was doomed.

"Sir, what's that mark on your neck? Did you go out to arrest someone last night?"

Mingxiang walked over and whispered something to Chenghua.

Upon hearing his question, Chenghua blushed.

"Why are you blushing?"

His blushing face made Mingxiang even more puzzled. Could it be that he had gone to some unspeakable place?

"This... is my private matter, Lord Ming, please don't ask."

We can't expect Chenghua to say, "I didn't sleep a wink last night; I did things I can't even talk about."

"If you're so curious, why don't you just ask me?"

Before Mingxiang could speak again, he heard Pei Yanzhi's chilling voice from behind him.

Mingxiang...

What should you do if you get caught prying into your boss's private affairs?
(End of this chapter)