Super System in the Early Tang Dynasty

"My elder brother is indeed magnanimous, but if I were to leave today, how could I possibly save face! I was wronged by what happened that day, so today I will give my granddaughter to the Li family as a concubine as an apology!" The old man of the Zhou family said, his old age becoming even more pronounced, his face full of dejection. Looking at the girl beside him, guilt appeared in his eyes. His white hair was sparse and his wrinkles were deep, making him a pitiful sight!

If Old Master Li initially disdained Zhou Facai's words, he was greatly shocked by what he heard next!

The term "concubines, maids, and entertainers" refers to women who, while not as slaves as maids and entertainers who were destined to be slaves for generations, subjected to beatings and treated worse than animals, still had no hope of advancement! According to the Ming Dynasty law, concubines could not be elevated to the rank of principal wife! Once a concubine, always a concubine!

The Book of Rites states: "If betrothed, she becomes a wife; if eloped, she becomes a concubine." Eloping refers to illicit sexual relations. A concubine, no matter how wealthy or powerful, is merely someone who "gains favor by using her beauty."

In the eyes of the world, a concubine is no different from a prostitute who comes and goes in brothels! She can be cursed, beaten, or even killed!

Better to be an ordinary man's wife than a hero's concubine!

Upon hearing her grandfather's words, the girl beside him trembled, her veil falling to the ground, revealing a delicate, pale, and helpless face, her eyes devoid of any light. She stood there, head bowed, like a water lily trembling in the wind, so fragile and pitiful!

In the past, the old man would have readily agreed. However, his recent self-cultivation had made him more peaceful and soft-hearted. Looking at the pale-faced girl beside him, he couldn't bear it and said, "Brother Zhou, you're too kind. Let's not mention this again!"

Zhou Facai did this out of sheer desperation! First, he had greatly offended the Li family. Even if the Li family didn't pursue the matter, others, eager to curry favor with them, wouldn't show any mercy to the Zhou family. The only solution was to rebuild relations with the Li family. Second, his granddaughter couldn't possibly marry the incompetent members of the now-fallen Qian family. Having already been disgraced by two failed engagements, who would dare marry her?!

"Alas—I, Zhou Facai, have spent my life in the ups and downs of business, fighting more battles than defeats, but I never imagined I would do something so absurd, leaving my poor granddaughter with no one to rely on! I've shamelessly come to your door today, firstly for the sake of the Zhou family, and secondly for my granddaughter! With the handsome young man from the Li family, even taking him as a concubine wouldn't be an insult to her!" Old Man Zhou, with his white hair and wrinkled skin, looked at his granddaughter beside him with pity, his eyes cloudy, tears streaming down his face. As he spoke, he bent over, bowing deeply to the ground! His white hair cascaded down, a heartbreaking sight!

If only he had known this would happen, he wouldn't have done it in the first place! Old Master Li sighed inwardly and quickly helped Zhou Facai up. He glanced at the girl beside him and saw that she was pretty and well-mannered. Just as he was about to nod in agreement, seeing the longing in Zhou Facai's eyes, he suddenly seemed to remember something, turned his head, and looked at the boy sitting next to him.

Zhou Facai was taken aback by Old Master Li's expression. He had overestimated this suddenly appearing young man from the Li family, but he hadn't expected the young man to hold such a high position in the old man's heart! Even his children's important affairs were left to his discretion! However, the greater the young man's abilities, the better it would be for his granddaughter and for the Zhou family! He had inquired about some things a few days ago, and this young man from the Li family seemed to be a man of great loyalty and affection.

Li Xingzhi was drinking tea, initially thinking it was none of his business, but unexpectedly, this matter was being dragged into him! Did the old man already guess what was going on, which is why he called him over?

He looked at the girl who had already removed the curtain and was standing before him, and couldn't help but sigh: The mountains, water, and air were so pristine in ancient times; the people raised there were extraordinary. This girl before him could easily be considered a beauty of the caliber of a modern-day Beijing Film Academy student! Her skin was so smooth and supple!

While Li Xingzhi was still making his comments, the old man turned his head and looked at Li Xingzhi's appearance. He was suddenly stunned. He never expected that his son was such a womanizer.

If Li Xingzhi knew his grandfather's evaluation, he would probably cry foul! This appreciation for beautiful women was a habit he carried over from his later life—starting from junior high school, whenever he had free time and was bored, he would call a few buddies and squat on the street to look at beautiful women.

Li Xingzhi felt the old man's gaze on him and suddenly turned his head. He saw the old man smiling and nodding at him. The old man then said to the Zhou family patriarch, "At this time, I agree. Find an auspicious day and bring her over! Although she is a concubine, my Li family will not treat her poorly!"

In a side room of the Li family's house, two women in red, one older and one younger, a married woman and a young girl, sat holding needles and thread. The young girl occasionally asked the married woman for advice.

At this moment, a maid rushed in, looked at the two women in the room, her mouth moved, but she hesitated and stopped herself from speaking; her face was ugly, so it must not be anything good.

"Mei'er, has something happened?" The young girl saw the maid running in and her expression was off. She put down her needlework and asked worriedly. The woman in red beside her, however, remained calm and sat down.

"I heard, I heard that the Zhou family's daughter is going to marry into my Li family!"

"If you're going to get married, then get married. Why are you in such a hurry?"

"But...but she's going to marry a young man!"

"She's going to marry Li Qing? Li Qing agreed?" The girl's face turned pale instantly, and she asked in disbelief.

"I don't know if Ah Lang agreed or not, but the old master did!"

Upon hearing this, the girl's expression improved slightly, but she still panicked. Looking at the woman beside her, she didn't know what to do. "I need to go find him!"

"Hmph! I told you long ago, no man is any good! Why don't you just take that heartless man's life today and come with me to explore the world!" The woman's eyes flashed with murderous intent, and her words terrified the maid beside her, who turned pale and trembled all over!

The woman looked worried as she watched the girl run away, and followed her.

Li Xingzhi was resting in a small pavilion in the lake, seemingly unaware of the great trouble his grandfather had brought upon him! Perhaps, as long as Li Xingzhi took a liking to a concubine, the old man didn't care too much, and hadn't even told Li Xingzhi, the person involved, about the matter yet.

When the young woman in red, looking on with anguish, confronted Li Xingzhi, he was still completely bewildered, unaware of when he had offended this young lady again.

"Hey Xiaozhi, what are you rushing off to do?"

"You...you're still planning to keep this from me?" The girl pointed at Li Xingzhi, her eyes red and brimming with tears, and said angrily.

Upon seeing this, Li Xingzhi realized something serious had truly happened! The playful expression on his face vanished instantly. "What have I been hiding from you?"

"you you……"

The matchmaker, who had followed behind, saw the young woman weeping and the 'heartless man' still denying it, so she cursed, "You're going to marry Miss Zhou, and you're still keeping it from Xiao Zhi! She's living in your Li family without any status or recognition, what do you take her for? You men all deserve to be torn to pieces!" As she spoke, her eyes turned red, her face grew more resentful, and her murderous aura remained undiminished. She touched the curved knife in her bosom, as if she would kill someone at the slightest provocation!

Looking at the two women in front of him, who were acting so dangerously, Li Xingzhi, who usually considered himself fearless in this world, also felt a headache and confusion.

"Why would I marry the Zhou family's daughter?" Although the Zhou family's daughter is expected to be a beauty, in Li Xingzhi's eyes from this later generation, she is nothing more than a big loli!

He doesn't have that kind of fetish!