Professional Ethics of a Concubine

After hearing about this, the emperor was very glad that Ye Qingzhi gave up the idea of ​​going out. Then, when he heard that it was the queen who advised her to do so, the emperor credited the queen in his heart.

If the Queen knew that the Emperor was recording credits for her achievements, she would definitely despise it and say it was unnecessary.

Back to the topic, regarding the candidate for marriage proposal, the Emperor said to Ye Qingzhi,

"We can ask someone from the Xie Mansion or the Lin Mansion to go. Xie Niankang has many aunts, uncles, and aunts-in-law. They are all mistresses of wealthy families. They can be easily dealt with by just showing up."

Ye Qingzhi nodded, thinking that this was indeed the case.

"If you want to give the woman face, then the gift list should be more generous." The emperor said again.

"If she is just a girl from a small family, marrying into the Duke's Mansion is already a high-ranking marriage. We just need to express our recognition and respect for the girl."

Ye Qingzhi nodded again and said with a smile, "Don't go too far, just follow the rules."

"I am really curious about what kind of woman Nian Kang is looking for." The emperor said again.

"We'll know when he comes back." Ye Qingzhi said with a smile, "If he likes her, this girl won't be bad."

-

Maple City.

Five days later.

Xie Niankang saw his aunt, Kong Qiurong, now the mistress of Anle Marquis' Mansion. She came with the matchmaker and some servants who were carrying boxes.

There were more than a dozen large boxes pulled by a horse-drawn carriage, and inside them were precious items that should not be damaged, such as silk, ginseng and the like.

"Thank you for coming so far to propose marriage for me, aunt." Xie Niankang said as he bowed to Kong Qiurong when he saw her.

"What are you talking about? When your grandfather and grandmother heard that you wanted to propose marriage, they were so happy that they immediately snatched the job from the imperial concubine and told me to make sure it was done in a grand manner for you."

Kong Qiurong pulled his arm and said with a smile,

"The things in these boxes are all from our family's storehouse, as well as the treasures from your mother's dowry. Carrying them to the girl's house will definitely bring honor."

"Thank you, aunt. I will personally thank grandpa and grandma later." Xie Niankang said with a smile, "For my marriage, you have been busy."

"If you keep saying such polite things, your aunt will beat you." Kong Qiurong glared and said unhappily.

Xie Niankang quickly smiled and said, "I dare not, I dare not."

"Tell me about the girl's family situation." Kong Qiurong said with a smile.

Xie Niankang talked about Xue Yiliu's family background before Kong Qiurong expressed her opinion.

"Her conditions may not meet your expectations, but she is indeed the person I am looking for."

"We don't have any expectations. Your grandmother also said that as long as she's a woman, it's fine. Even if she's married and has children, she can marry you."

Kong Qiurong immediately said,

"Although this girl's family conditions are not good, from what you said, she is indeed a woman who is capable of supporting her own family. Isn't this the new-age woman that the court advocates? It's normal for you to like such a woman. We all support her."

"I feel relieved that you, aunt, are so open-minded." Xie Niankang said thank you again.

-

Xue Yiliu was planning to sell her tavern. After all, after Xie Niankang proposed marriage, he would leave, and she planned to take her brother with him back to the capital.

Before getting married, she naturally would not live in the Duke's Mansion. She would first rent a small courtyard in the capital to live in. She planned to use her savings over the years to open a small pub in the capital.

If her marriage with Xie Niankang fails, this tavern will be her livelihood.

Because she had been going out together with Xie Niankang these past two days, and was considering selling the tavern, the neighbors had heard some rumors and began to spread gossip.

"Oh, Yiliu, I heard that the black-faced Duke Xie has taken a liking to you and wants to take you to the capital to enjoy a good life. Is that true?"

"That must be true. Didn't you see that Xue's tavern is about to be sold? If you follow Master Xie and become his concubine, you will have no worries about food and clothing, and you will have servants everywhere. You won't have to worry about making a living yourself."

"Ever since the imperial court banned concubines and required monogamy, more and more powerful and wealthy people have been keeping mistresses."

……

"What nonsense are you talking about! My sister is going to marry Duke Xie as his principal wife, not as a concubine!" Xue Feizhou corrected angrily.

"Hahahaha...your sister is the legal wife? Stop it. If I asked her to be my mistress, I would despise her because she is too old and has a bad luck to me."

"That's right, that's right. If she can marry Lord Xie as his legal wife, I will eat shit."

Suddenly there was another burst of laughter, and Xue Feizhou was so angry that his face turned red and he was panting like a cow. He wanted to rush over and knock them away one by one.

At this moment, someone in the crowd shouted, "Look, Duke Xie is here, and there are geese on the carriage."

"Look at that woman following behind. She's dressed like a matchmaker."

"Oh my god, wild geese, matchmakers, and a big red box with red flowers on it, these, these are not here to propose marriage, are they?"

Xue Feizhou was immediately delighted and ran to Xie Niankang excitedly.

"Duke Xie, are you here to propose to my sister? They all don't believe it. They all say that my sister wants to be your concubine!"

"I have already got the wild geese, and the elders of my family have also come here from the capital. Naturally, I want to propose to Miss Xue and marry her as my principal wife."

Xie Niankang glanced at the people watching the excitement on both sides and said to them,

“If you continue to defame her reputation in the future, you will be defaming our government.

Defaming the reputation of the royal family is a violation of the law and discipline. If you can't control your tongue and mouth, you will be arrested and put in jail for a month and beaten with ten sticks. "

When the people on both sides of the street heard this, their faces changed slightly. Some people who often said bad things about Xue Yiliu turned pale with fright.

I’m afraid Xue Yiliu will bring up old issues. Her status is different now!

"Hahaha...what you just said, if my sister can become the legal wife, you will have to eat shit." Xue Feizhou ran to the man who said this and ridiculed him with a smile.

"I, I..." The man's face suddenly turned red, and he stammered, unable to speak.

Xue Feizhou just smiled and ran away, without forcing him to eat shit.

My sister once said that when you have the upper hand, you should not push others to death, but leave them a way out so that you can meet again in the future.

-

Xie Niankang took his aunt to the tavern. Xue Yiliu was tidying up the tables and chairs and other things. When she saw Xie Niankang and others, as well as the carriage outside the door, she was a little confused.

"Miss Xue, this is my aunt, who is here to propose marriage for me." Xie Niankang said to her with a smile.

Kong Qiurong smiled and nodded at her, "Hello, Miss Xue, I am Niankang's aunt, and also the wife of Anle Hou.

I came here today at the behest of the Imperial Concubine, to propose marriage to your family on her behalf..."

Xue Yiliu was stunned for a moment, then quickly put down the chair in his hand and took a few quick steps forward. But then he felt that his hands were too dirty, his clothes were too dirty, and nothing fit.

Xue Yiliu couldn't help but glare at Xie Niankang. How could this guy do things? Why didn't he tell her in advance about such a big thing as proposing marriage? She needed to dress up.

"Aunt, please sit down." Xie Niankang put down a bench and called Kong Qiurong, then smiled and said to Xue Yiliu,

"I was not thoughtful enough. I came here directly after picking up my aunt. After I came here, I heard that the neighbors misunderstood you. I thought it would be better to do it today than to wait for a day. I will propose to you and let everyone be a witness."

"The Duke has come to our poor place to propose marriage in person. We are so proud of it. Yiliu, don't forget us when you go to the capital."

Someone who was on good terms with Xue Yiliu immediately said with a smile.

Xue Yiliu also relaxed, and sat down opposite Kong Qiurong, smiling and greeting her.

"Madam Anlehou, my parents died early, and I have severed my relationship with my second uncle. There is no elder in my family to arrange a marriage for me.

It would have been very impolite for me to come in person to discuss marriage with you in the past, but fortunately, the court now allows women to decide their own marriages, so my approach is in line with the new regulations.

Let me first explain my situation in detail..."

While they were chatting, Xue Yiliu's second uncle and aunt came to make trouble. Relying on the fact that they were Xue Yiliu's elders, they wanted to interfere in the marriage proposal and even left some gifts for the proposal.

There was no need for Xue Yiliu to step forward. Xie Niankang solemnly ordered his followers to arrest the two men directly and lock them up for a month to give everyone some peace and quiet.

Although there were some twists and turns in the middle, the marriage proposal was finally settled and everyone breathed a sigh of relief.

"Then I'll go back tomorrow." Kong Qiurong said to Xie Niankang and Xue Yiliu with a smile, "Before you leave, remember to send a telegram home so that we can pick you up."

Xie Niankang responded with a smile, "Thank you, aunt."

"Aunt, thank you for your hard work." Xue Yilu also said, and because the engagement was already done, she changed her words first.

"It's not hard, not hard. As long as you two are fine, that's better than anything else." Kong Qiurong said with a smile.

-

After seeing Kong Qiurong off, Xue Yiliu and Xie Niankang returned to the tavern.

"I have so many good things here, I'm afraid they'll be stolen, why don't you just have someone take them away first."

Xue Yiliu looked at those mahogany boxes and understood what it felt like to have happy worries.

"Okay, it's really not safe here, you'd better come with me and stay at the inn." Xie Niankang said.

Xue Yiliu wanted to say that it was not necessary, but since Xie Niankang insisted, she agreed to it.

"Thank you today. I felt quite embarrassed when my second uncle and second aunt came out. Although I can handle them, I have to admit that I was really happy to see you help me handle it."

Xue Yiliu smiled and said to him,

"It turns out that being protected by others feels so good. This is probably what others call happiness."