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

Chapter 21: Her Crying Scenes Are Excessively Beautiful

The maid Chunlan stepped forward and pushed the door open, and Dong Yan walked in slowly.

Madam Pei's family was in business, so they were very wealthy and powerful, and she was adorned with jewels and jewelry, looking exceptionally elegant.

Now, all the expenses for the second wife's food, clothing, and daily necessities are paid for by Dong Yan. Therefore, Pei Zhiyuan was stunned when he heard her words.

Divorce is absolutely out of the question; if he did, where would he get his food, clothing, and other necessities?

"Why are you here, madam?"

Pei Zhiyuan tried to let go of Yuzhen and take a step forward, but Yuzhen grabbed his arm and he couldn't move.

Chunlan moved a chair to the doorway and let Dong Yan sit down.

"Then we have to thank the Second Master's newly acquired concubine. She has displeased the Old Madam. Starting tomorrow, the entire Pei household will have to pay their respects to the Old Madam morning and evening."

Dong Yan lowered her head to straighten her clothes, and before Pei Zhiyuan could speak, she looked up at Yuzhen.

"I never stop Second Master from taking a concubine. Do you know why I refused to allow it when you wanted to take her?"

"Putting aside her temperament and personality, Yuzhen comes from a brothel. If Second Master takes her in, where does that leave the reputation of our second branch?"

She had chosen so many concubines with respectable family backgrounds for him, but in the end, he was still seduced by this vixen.

For her sake, Pei Zhiyuan hit her for the first time.

From that moment on, Dong Yan's heart turned completely cold.

"What's wrong with the courtesan? I've only ever served the Second Master."

Yu Zhen snorted coldly and said, "You know perfectly well how many people you've served. I'm not saying it because I'm saving face for Second Master."

"The second branch of the family is not the old lady's legitimate son. The second master is only a sixth-rank compiler in the court. He is insignificant and his words carry little weight. If you really care about the second master, you should keep a low profile and avoid causing him trouble."

Dong Yan's words were like knives stabbing into the hearts of Yu Zhen and Pei Zhiyuan.

Yuzhen pulled Pei Zhiyuan along and shook his arm in dissatisfaction.

"Stop giving me these brothel-style ideas. I didn't bother with you before because I was too lazy to argue with you, but it seems you didn't understand what I meant."

After saying that, she raised her hand, and Chunlan behind her stepped forward and bowed to Pei Zhiyuan.

"Madam has hired a governess for Concubine Yu. She is from the palace and will surely be able to teach Concubine Yu proper manners so that she will not embarrass the Second Master."

Chunlan reached out and pried Yuzhen's hand off Pei Zhiyuan's, dragging and pulling him off the bed.

To confide in Pei Zhiyuan, Yuzhen wore only a thin dress, the light gauze revealing glimpses of her figure, making her even more eye-catching.

This attracted the attention of the servant at the door, who frequently glanced at him.

"If you look at me again, I'll gouge your eyes out!"

Pei Zhiyuan quickly took off his coat and draped it over Yuzhen.

"Dong Yan! What are you doing?!"

He looked up at Dong Yan, only to see her gaze turn cold as she said, "A country has its laws, and a family has its rules. Doesn't Second Master have any idea what his position is in the Pei family?"

“If she continues to disobey the rules, who knows what kind of trouble she might cause in the future? I’m helping her. Take her with you. If she doesn’t learn the rules, don’t give her any food.”

Hearing this, Yuzhen sobbed, and Chunlan immediately gagged her and took her out.

Pei Zhiyuan watched helplessly.

Having achieved her goal, Dong Yan stood up and left. She had been captivated by Pei Zhiyuan's appearance and only wanted to marry him.

Little did they expect that their married life would become worse day by day.

Pei Yongcheng's personality was exactly the same as Pei Zhiyuan's.

Both of them were incredibly charming and womanizing.

After disciplining her father, Dong Yan went to Lingbo Pavilion, dealt with several of Pei Yongcheng's concubines, and left him with two old nannies.

She ordered Pei Yongcheng that if he failed the imperial examination again next year, she would throw him out and leave him to fend for himself.

Moreover, if he dared to continue mistreating the maids or go out drinking and carousing during this time, she would break his legs. Pei Yongcheng looked utterly hopeless, completely baffled as to who in the second branch of the family had displeased his mother.

That must have been tough on him.

The matter concerning the second wife was naturally reported to Madam Pei by someone at Ningfu Residence.

Madam Pei nodded in satisfaction. She had initially chosen Dong Yan because of her decisive and efficient nature, and now that the Pei family was being managed by her, it was a good decision to use the right person.

The next morning, Pei Yanzhi was about to get up and go to the Dali Temple when he heard some noise outside.

It sounded like someone was crying.

He frowned, put on his coat and went outside. As soon as he stepped out, he saw Xiang Ning and Bi Tao not far away.

Xiang Ning's eyes were red, and she was sobbing softly, while Bi Tao muttered, "That Qing Zhu was obviously doing it on purpose."

"Luckily, my sister dodged quickly. If that whole bowl of porridge had landed on her, she would have been covered in scars."

Bitao applied the medicine to Xiangning, who raised her hand to wipe away the tears that unconsciously streamed down her face.

"It's alright, she didn't get away with it either."

The moment Qingzhu bumped into her, Xiangning grabbed her arm, and both of them were splashed with porridge. Qingzhu was probably more seriously injured than her.

"Yes, yes, sister is clever, but to be honest, we servants have to serve our masters even if we are injured. I'm worried about your injury."

Bitao sighed. The wound on her back hadn't healed yet, and now there was another one on her hand.

Xiang Ning opened her lips, just about to reply, when she saw Pei Yanzhi standing at the door of the house.

The man's gaze was somewhat cold, and his face was obscured by the morning mist, making it difficult to see clearly.

She quickly pulled down her sleeve: "Master, you're awake. This servant will help you get up."

As she spoke, she got up and walked towards Pei Yanzhi's room, but Pei Yanzhi had already gone inside.

Xiang Ning walked in and was about to fetch water when Pei Yanzhi called her over. She walked over with some doubt, and then Pei Yanzhi reached out and pulled her into his arms.

The spot where he held her wrist was the area of ​​skin that had been burned.

Pei Yanzhi tightened his grip, remaining silent, but his eyes, like those of a hawk, were fixed on her.

Xiang Ning frowned, her face somewhat pale.

"pain……"

Just as Pei Yanzhi was about to increase the force in her hand, Xiang Ning finally cried out in pain.

"I thought you weren't in pain."

Pei Yanzhi loosened his grip, hooked his fingers around her sleeve, revealing a small patch of red mark that had not yet faded.

"Aren't you usually so sharp-tongued? How come you always turn into a mute when you're with me?"

"I don't need a mute person to serve me."

With just one glance, Pei Yanzhi released Xiang Ning's wrist, and Xiang Ning staggered a few steps back.

Pei Yanzhi didn't know where his irritation came from; he only knew that he disliked the scars on his flawless skin.

Upon hearing this, Xiang Ning immediately understood and knelt down: "Master dotes on me, but I cannot take advantage of the confidence you give me to bully others. Besides, Qingzhu has served you for so long..."

"Xiang Ning, you only need to remember one thing: if you don't want to end up like Qing Zhu, then you have to become more useful than her."

"Because I don't need useless people around me."

As Pei Yanzhi finished speaking, Xiang Ning looked up at him, her reddened eyes filled with grievance, tears welling up but not falling.

His hand tightened again, his eyes darkening.

How can there be someone in this world whose crying is more beautiful than their laughing? It's so outrageous that you just want to bully them.

(End of this chapter)