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墨書 Inktalez
Yun Yang was still somewhat hesitant, hanging his head in silence. He had considered taking a concubine before, but he never expected it to be Shui Lian! Ever since Fu Lianyin was informed that she could no longer bear children, Yun Yang had the thought of taking a concubine. After all, both of his married brothers in the Duke's residence had sons, while he had none, which made him feel like something was missing. Moreover, after his relationship with Fu Lianyin soured, this thought became even more pronounced. However, his previous experiences with taking a concubine left him feeling "silent as a cicada in winter"—either difficult childbirth or confinement, and that person from the Fu Family...
"I still need to speak to your mother first," Yun Yang said as he looked around at the dim surroundings and slowly spoke. "I don't know if she will agree."
Yun Kexin curled her lips in a cold smile: If you are counting on Fu Lianyin's agreement, then you might as well give up on taking a concubine for the rest of your life. "Father is right; you need to speak to Mother first," Yun Kexin suppressed her disdain and said lightly, "After all, matters regarding taking a concubine cannot be decided without the main wife's arrangement." After a slight pause, she poked at Yun Yang's concerns and said, "However, I think this matter concerns the issue of heirs; Mother will not oppose it."
Yun Yang was slightly taken aback, perhaps not expecting Yun Kexin to have such "confidence" in Fu Lianyin. He smiled and said, "I hope so."
"Father shouldn't worry too much," Yun Kexin actually understood Yun Yang's thoughts best. If he really wanted to take a concubine, Fu Lianyin would not be able to stop him. However, what he was concerned about was the deep background of the Fu Family. "Although taking a concubine should be decided by the main wife, in the Yun family, the words of the elders still carry weight."
Yun Yang chuckled lightly, understanding her implication. He looked at Yun Kexin for a while before saying, "Xiner has really grown up... Come on, let's go back inside."
Later, Yun Yang tried to bring up the matter of taking a concubine with Fu Lianyin. She had just been smiling brightly but froze when she heard him mention it. Her phoenix eyes narrowed and then opened again—
"Why does my lord suddenly want to take a concubine?" Fu Lianyin shifted uneasily in her seat and asked warily.
"It’s not that I suddenly thought of it; I have had this intention for some time," Yun Yang tried to remain calm in order not to provoke the Fu Family. "A few years ago, our son passed away. I didn’t bring it up because I was afraid it would sadden you. Later on, when my wife gave birth to Xiao'er, the physician informed me that my wife could no longer bear children, so—"
"My lord wants to take a concubine?!" Fu Lianyin's voice sharpened—she secretly speculated which family's vixen had "seduced" the Third Master.
Yun Yang raised an eyebrow and looked towards the Fu Family: "Madam, as the main wife of the Duke's Third House, you should understand that taking a concubine is actually for the purpose of continuing the lineage."
Fu Lianyin bit her lip: "So it's true; my lord is dissatisfied because Consort can no longer bear children?" She swiftly pulled out a silk handkerchief from her sleeve and pretended to wipe away tears like an abandoned woman as she said, "My lord, Consort has served you in the Third House for so many years; do you really have no feelings at all?"
“Fu Family!” Yun Yang became serious, taking a deep breath and saying, “I only wanted to take a concubine, why does it feel like you think I want to divorce you, hmm?!”
“No, my lord,” Fu Lianyin wiped away the nonexistent tears at the corners of her eyes and said, “You have previously taken two concubines, both of which ended without issue. It hasn’t been long since then... wouldn’t it be inappropriate?”
Yun Yang felt a surge of anger but laughed in frustration, saying, “Madam, to be precise, I have only taken one concubine, and that is Ran'er’s biological mother, Chang Mengyao. As for Dai Chun Ni, she was forced upon me by Third Uncle. I have never touched her; can that even count?”
Fu Lianyin was stunned and had to admit that Yun Yang had a point, but she still felt unwilling. She looked directly at the Third Master, her phoenix eyes misty, her chest rising and falling—
“Can you tell me which family the Consort comes from?”
“I will tell you once you make a decision,” Yun Yang replied coldly.
He didn’t want any complications before he had even brought someone into the household.
“My lord!” Fu Lianyin was angry and stood up from her seat to confront Yun Yang, saying resentfully, “What do you mean by this? As the legitimate wife, am I not allowed to inquire about taking a concubine?”
Yun Yang glanced at Fu Family quickly before turning back with an air of indifference:
“Madam, if I didn’t consider you as the legitimate wife of Third House, if I thought you had no right to question my matters, do you think we would still be sitting here discussing taking a concubine?”
Fu Lianyin gasped in realization; it was clear that Yun Yang was determined to take a concubine. To put it nicely, he was here to discuss it with her; to put it bluntly, he was just “informing” her and giving her some face as the legitimate wife!
Of course, without the permission of the legitimate wife, taking a concubine would likely not go smoothly—Fu Lianyin maintained a stern expression while secretly gritting her teeth in cold laughter: as long as she found a way to delay things, Yun Yang would not succeed!
“My lord is right; Consort is confused,” Fu Lianyin’s mood shifted quickly from anger to calmness as she smiled and said, “It seems my lord hasn’t visited my chamber for several months; perhaps that is—” At this point, her face showed shame and resentment but quickly concealed it. “Alright, taking a concubine is not just about heirs; your health is also important. Consort, tonight I will arrange for Concubine Maid—”
"No need," Yun Yang heard Fu Lianyin say "health is important," and his heart skipped a beat. He then thought of Fu Lianyin's usual oppression of the Concubine Maid, feeling increasingly disgusted. "The Fu Family should consider the matter of taking a concubine first, thank you, Madam."
Yun Yang's last sentence had already cut off the conversation. Fu Lianyin was left with no options and could only say, "Alright, can the master give the Consort some time to think it over?"
Yun Yang thought that taking a concubine was something that any legitimate wife would be extremely reluctant about, so allowing her to consider it was not a bad idea.
"That’s fine." After Yun Yang calmly uttered those two words, he added, "There are still Major Cases in the palace that need handling; I must go."
"The Consort will see you off, Master," Fu Lianyin said with a forced smile.
Yun Kexin figured that Fu Lianyin would not just stand by and watch a concubine enter the household. In her previous life, it took quite an effort for Shui Lian to enter the Third House, and it was only through her grandmother's intervention that she managed to enter the residence.
At this moment, she was with her grandmother in Haitang Pavilion. The grandmother and granddaughter were walking under the begonia tree. Upon hearing Yun Kexin's intentions, Zhou smiled and said, "Our Seventh Young Lady has truly grown up; she even thinks about giving Father a concubine. But this is not something a ten-year-old child should be considering. With Third Madam around, she knows what to do."
"But what if Mother disagrees?" Yun Kexin supported Zhou, her beautiful brows slightly furrowed.
"How could she possibly disagree?" Zhou replied as they walked. "The law clearly states that the legitimate wife must take the initiative to provide her husband with a concubine; otherwise, she may be seen as 'jealous' and could be divorced."
Yun Kexin's lips slowly curled into a smile, feeling somewhat uplifted, but on the surface, she remained calm. "Father shouldn't go so far as to divorce Mother over something like taking a concubine! But for the sake of the Third House's offspring and Succession of Lineage, Xin'er understands Father."
Zhou frowned slightly: among the several houses, there was no need for the Fourth Room; only the Third House had no sons. The adoption of Yun Kexin back then was entirely to suppress the Second House—after all, what use is adopting a daughter? The issue of Succession of Lineage still remained. Her suspicious gaze wandered back and forth over Yun Kexin's youthful face: was this Seventh Young Lady truly thinking about the Third House or seeking revenge against Third Madam? When Yun Ran publicly exposed the adoption matter in the North Courtyard, it was uncertain whether Seventh Young Lady had taken it in or not. However, since that incident occurred, Seventh Young Lady had not shown any unusual behavior; she still referred to both San Laoye and Third Madam as "Father" and "Mother," showing no disrespect towards the elders of the Yun family... Perhaps this ten-year-old child had already forgotten.
"What is the Seventh Young Lady here to see Grandmother about today?" Zhou stopped and glanced at Yun Kexin, knowingly asking.
"Grandmother, please see clearly," Yun Kexin said with a sly smile, "I just wanted to privately hear your thoughts on this matter."
"My opinion has already been stated," Zhou said, her displeased face slowly relaxing as she spoke gently. "Taking a concubine is common in large households; it's nothing unusual. Grandmother once arranged for your grandfather to have a concubine, but he refused. I have already given him four sons, so I am content."
Yun Kexin instantly felt a deep respect for her grandfather, thinking that in this regard, her father was like him.
"Grandmother, there is something I am unsure whether to mention or not."
"There are only the two of us here; the Seventh Young Lady can say whatever she thinks."
"Perhaps Grandmother is still unaware," Yun Kexin decided to reveal her final trump card and urged Zhou to visit the Third House. "Father has been sleeping alone in the study for some time now..." Her heart was anxious and helpless. "What? Sleeping alone in the study?" Zhou widened her eyes. "What happened between them?"
"To Grandmother, I also do not know what has transpired between Mother and Father," Yun Kexin replied cleverly and obediently. "That is why I came to ask Grandmother to 'mediate' a little."
Zhou furrowed her brows and after some contemplation said, "I will visit the Third House another day..."
Yun Kexin's lips curled slightly: If Grandmother intervenes, Fu Lianyin won't have any ground to stand on. Before leaving, she earnestly requested Grandmother not to tell "Mother" about their conversation today, treating it as if the two of them were just chatting.
The next morning after breakfast, Zhou went to the Three Courtyard West Garden and saw Fu Lianyin pacing anxiously in the hall over yesterday's events. Upon catching sight of Zhou at the door, she quickly greeted her with a smile.
"Mother, what brings you here?"
"I've been cooped up in Haitang Pavilion all day; I'm about to suffocate from boredom," Zhou laughed as she extended her hand, allowing the Fu family member to assist her into the hall. "So I came to take a stroll at the Third House."
"Mother, please take your time." Fu Lianyin helped Zhou to sit down by the chair. She then respectfully stood to the side, pondering how to bring up the matter of Yun Yang taking a concubine with Zhou. She hoped to use the old lady to delay or even prevent the Third Master from taking a concubine—she had already prepared her words in her mind yesterday and was ready to go to Haitang Pavilion in person, but unexpectedly, Zhou had come "uninvited."
Coincidentally, Zhou was also waiting for the Fu Family to take the initiative on this matter, as it would give the impression of being casual rather than "deliberately" coming for this purpose, which might provoke the Fu Family's displeasure. After all, the Fu Family held a prominent position in the capital and should not be taken lightly.
Fu Lianyin drooped her face, pretending to look extremely troubled, and lamented:
"To be honest, Mother, I was just about to come find you..."
Zhou's gaze flickered slightly as she softly said, "I can see that you seem hesitant to speak. What is it? Did you have a quarrel with Yang?"
Upon hearing this, the Fu Family could no longer contain herself and immediately pulled out a green handkerchief from her sleeve to cover her face and weep:
"I beg you, Mother, please help me," she became vague, "The Master... he wants to abandon Consort."
Zhou straightened her posture: "What? Yang wants to divorce you?"
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