16
Yu Wantang said it as if it were only natural.
"Husband taking a concubine, one Miss Liu is enough. But the reasoning Mother taught me yesterday, the more your daughter-in-law thinks about it, the more reasonable it feels. For a man to have three wives and four concubines is only right and proper. Since that is the case, wouldn't it wrong Father if only Husband alone takes a concubine?"
Old Madam's face instantly turned from red to white, then from white to green, as colorful as a palette.
"What... what are you talking nonsense about!"
"How am I talking nonsense?"
Yu Wantang blinked, her expression as innocent as could be.
"Father has toiled his whole life, how can he only have Mother managing things by his side? Mother usually worships Buddha and manages the household, toiling greatly. It is right that there should be a few more concubines to share your worries."
"Besides."
Yu Wantang stepped half a step forward, lowering her voice with a sincere look as if pouring out her heart.
"If you only take a concubine for Husband and not for Father, if word gets out, others will think Mother is jealous and keeps Father under too strict control. Your daughter-in-law is doing this for Mother's reputation as well."
Old Madame Pei's face turned green at a speed visible to the naked eye.
"How audacious!"
Old Madame Pei slammed her hand on the table again, not caring even if the tea wetted her clothes.
"How dare you!"
Yu Wantang retreated half a step, avoiding the splashed tea, and spread both hands.
"Didn't Mother just say that it is only right and proper for a man to have three wives and four concubines?"
"This is what you taught me with your own mouth. How come when applied to Husband it is a blessing, but when applied to Father, it becomes audacity?"
"He... he is different!"
Old Madame Pei's lips trembled, and after a long while, she forced out a sentence.
"How is he different?"
Yu Wantang counted on her fingers.
"His age is different. Father is older, so he all the more needs someone to attentively serve him and seize the chance to enjoy blessings."
With every sentence she spoke, Old Madame Pei's face turned a shade paler.
"You... this is unfilial!"
"If your daughter-in-law were truly unfilial, I should have replied to you just now that taking a concubine is your son's business, and it is none of my concern."
Yu Wantang put away her smile, her voice neither heavy nor light.
"But I didn't. I truly felt that Mother's scolding last night was right, genuinely reflected upon myself, and sincerely wanted to manage this blessing well for the Pei family. I am merely treating you the way you treated me, and you are already uncomfortable?"
Old Madame Pei pointed at Yu Wantang, her fingers trembling, unable to spit out half a word.
Every single word she had cursed out just now was returned to her completely intact.
Just at this moment, a steady sound of footsteps came from outside.
Old Master Pei walked in wearing casual clothes. "Making a fuss early in the morning? What kind of propriety is this!"
The moment Old Madame Pei saw him, as if seeing a savior, she stood up and prepared to lodge a complaint.
"Master, you've come at just the right time, take a look at this good daughter-in-law of yours..."
"Father has come at just the right time."
Yu Wantang preempted her, stepping forward and bowing gracefully.
"Your daughter-in-law was just thinking of reporting good news to you. Yesterday Mother taught me that for a man to have three wives and four concubines is only right and proper, and your daughter-in-law deeply agrees. Thinking that Father has toiled for this family for half a lifetime, yet only has Mother by his side, it is truly desolate. Your daughter-in-law has already ordered people to select a few good maidens, which will also widely open the doors and prosperity for the Pei family."
Old Master Pei's Adam's apple moved.
When he was young, he was also a womanizer, but these years he had been strictly controlled by his old wife, plus having little spare money in his hands, he had no choice but to settle down.
"This..." Old Master Pei coughed, his eyes drifting, "Since it is your mother's intention, then... let's pick them and take a look first?"
How well Old Madam knew him; seeing him look like this, the fire in her heart instantly burned to her skull.
"You really dare to think about it!"
Old Madam pounced forward and grabbed Old Master Pei's sleeve, her nails almost digging into his flesh.
"Take a look at how old you are! You still want eight? Can you even handle that!"
"In front of the juniors, what kind of behavior is this pulling and tugging!"
Old Master Pei couldn't save face, and violently flung away her hand.
"Wantang is also doing this for the Pei family's incense! Look at you, shouting and screaming, where is there any look of a matriarch!"
"Fine! This is looking down on me for being old, right!"
The two of them, in front of the servants filling the Yard, started arguing back and forth.
Old Madam, who used to be high above, was now disheveled in her hair, tearing at Old Master Pei's collar like a shrew.
And Old Master Pei, who usually looked sanctimonious, had his thoughts poked through, so angry that his face and neck turned red.
The servants lowered their heads, wishing they could plug their ears.
Yu Wantang leisurely sat back down on the stone stool, casually peeling a kumquat from the side and stuffing it into her mouth.
The sweet and sour juice exploded in her mouth.
The show was truly a good watch.
The system frantically typed '666' in her mind.
"Host, you are too vicious! The look in Father-in-law's eyes just now was definitely being tempted!"
"This is called catering to one's preferences."
Yu Wantang sneered in her heart.
"It's just men's inherent flaws. Usually they act sanctimonious because they have no opportunity and no silver. Once someone delivers temptation right to their mouth without them needing to take responsibility, they are more enthusiastic than anyone else."
The matchmaker arrived extremely fast.
Eight young maidens stood in a row, the eldest being no more than sixteen, and the youngest fourteen. Every single one of them was dressed in red and green, with powder-white faces and peach-pink cheeks, their waists as soft as water snakes.
"This humble servant greets Master, greets Old Madam, greets Young Madam."
The maidens curtsied in unison, their voices as crisp as orioles.
Old Master Pei's eyes went straight on the spot.
Old Madame Pei trembled all over with anger.
She knew she had lost this round.
If she stopped them now, she would be slapping her own face, and whenever Yu Wantang caused trouble in the future, she wouldn't even be able to spit out half a word of scolding.
But if she didn't stop them, watching these vixens enter the door with her own eyes...
She stood in place for a long time, squeezing a few words out from between her teeth.
"Eight is too many. Keep... keep two."
The matchmaker collected the generous reward, thanked them profusely, and left with the rest of the people.
Two delicate little maidens clung to Old Master Pei's body on the left and right.
"Look, now that Father has concubines to serve him, how much blessing our Generals Mansion has. You must be extremely happy in your heart, right?"
Old Madam had a mouthful of blood stuck in her throat, unable to spit it out nor swallow it down.
She watched her husband pull the new concubines toward the back Yard, and looked at Yu Wantang's smiling face that could not find the slightest fault with, her whole person seeming to be drained of strength, collapsing directly into the maid's arms.
"Old Madam! Old Madam, what is wrong with you!"
The maid screamed.
Yu Wantang withdrew her hand, wiped her fingers with a handkerchief, her expression bland.
"What is there to rush for, Old Madam has just fainted from joy."
Xiaocui took over the conversation from the side: "Exactly, this is a great joyous event. Why don't you quickly help Old Madam back to her room to rest, and by the way tidy up two fine Yards for the new concubines."
The maids hurriedly carried Old Madam away in a flurry.
The matter was settled just like that.
Pei Xiao looked at all this, his expression complex.
"Yu Wantang, you are taking a concubine for my father, what on earth is your ulterior motive!"
Yu Wantang picked up the tea that had long cooled down, took a sip, and lifted her eyelids to look at him.
"What Husband says is truly interesting."
Yu Wantang's tone was full of condemnation.
"I am merely doing things according to the rules Mother taught me. What, are you only allowed to bring women back from outside, but your father is not allowed to enjoy the blessings of having multiple wives? Then you, this son, are too unfilial."