The cousin's family is extremely wealthy; she deserves to be a concubine.

Just as she was about to speak, the door to the outer study was pushed open.

Lord He was about to reprimand him, for how could he allow outsiders to hear what he and He Zhizhu were talking about?

It was clear that the people who came were He Zhizhang and Shen Shi. Although he stopped talking, his face was extremely ugly.

When He Zhizhu saw her mother and brother arrive, she lowered her head even further, not daring to look at them.

Madam Shen never expected that He Zhizhu would find Lord He and reveal the biggest secret between her and her two children because of Hua Sirong's engagement.

Although she was furious at her daughter's actions, she was still her own flesh and blood, and she couldn't do anything about it.

When she heard a servant report in Yimei Garden that the Seventh Miss had stopped Lord He and the two had gone to the outer study, she knew that something terrible had happened.

They hurriedly went to find He Zhizhang, and the two rushed to the outer study. Unfortunately, judging from the situation, they were still a step too late.

Since He Zhizhu leaked all the plans for her own selfish reasons, the family might as well discuss them more openly.

This would also make the scene of a falling out that Lord He had previously wanted to act out more realistic.

At the same time, with Zhang Ge'er around, the mother and her sons will likely be able to seize more opportunities and control their own resources.

Just as Madam Shen was about to confront him, Lord He turned the tables and said, "Well done, you three are quite something."

You actually kept such a big thing from me, the head of the prefecture!

Shen, do you still have me as your husband?

"Zhang-ge'er, do you still see me as your father?"

Lord He appeared furious, but Madam Shen understood him.

He must have been so excited to suddenly learn this secret that he was probably overwhelmed with emotion.

However, it's understandable that he's angry that the mother and her two children all kept it from him.

Madam Shen slowly sat down opposite Lord He, and replied with a smile, "Lord He, please don't blame us for keeping it from you. It was I who told Zhuzhu and the others not to tell you."

Ignoring Lord He's wide eyes, Madam Shen pouted and said, "Who told you that Lord He's heart and eyes are only for Madam Shui and the children she gave birth to?"

If you had shown Zhuzhu even a little more concern, she wouldn't have listened to me and kept it from you.

Lord He, still wanting to extract more information from He Zhizhu, became much more amiable in his speech.

“We are a family. You, as the principal wife, are in charge of this Marquis’s mansion. In the future, this mansion will be handed over to Zhang’er.”

Everything I'm doing now, isn't it all for the good of our Marquis's mansion?

The Shui family and their group will never be able to get past you, no matter what.

I've only shown favoritism a few times, how could that be considered a violation of the established order?

"At my age, am I supposed to be jealous and make a fool of myself in front of the children?"

Lord He's words made Madam Shen blush.

It's as if she, an old woman who wants to hold her grandson, is competing with the concubines for her husband's favor.

Shen's face flushed red. "Pah! It's clearly you who favors those few, but you still insist on saying I'm jealous!"

Why would I be jealous? Is it because I didn't let you take a concubine, or because I didn't let you have any illegitimate children?

As long as you don't give all the good stuff from your private stash to your most cherished few, I'll thank God and remember your kindness.

Lord He seized the opportunity and flattered, "What good things could I possibly have?"

My good things can't compare to yours, Madam. Besides, all my good things are always given to Zhang-ge and Qi-ya first.

Madam Shen spat. If she believed Lord He's sweet talk, she would lose.

"I won't go into the rest, but you've given away all those good things before, and I can't get them back."

This time, Zhuzhu has done a great service, so you must reward her, sir.

Lord He knew that if he didn't skin He Zhizhu alive today, he wouldn't be able to get any useful information out of her.

After thinking for a moment, he took out a land deed from a hidden compartment in the study.

He paused as he was about to close the hidden compartment, then took out a house deed from it.

In the end, the brother and sister each received a portion, showing no favoritism.

Madam Shen nodded in satisfaction, then looked at Lord He with great sincerity, "Is there anything else you want to know, sir? We are family, so please feel free to ask."

Lord He's lips trembled. Without these two property deeds as a stepping stone, he didn't believe that Madam Shen would have said such generous words.

However, he slowly voiced the question that had been weighing on his mind, "The one who finally reached that position was..." He held up two fingers on his left hand.

Madam Shen glanced at He Zhizhang before slowly nodding.

"That's right, that's what Zhuzhu said."

Upon hearing this, Lord He looked at He Zhizhu again with a scrutinizing gaze.

Thinking about some things that had happened in the inner quarters recently, he spoke gently, "Zhuzhu, do you perhaps want to enter the Second Prince's residence?"

Hearing her father say this, He Zhizhu immediately nodded. With her father's support, her plan was sure to succeed.

Lord He frowned, "But the Second Prince already has a principal wife and two concubines."

The implication is that you, the legitimate daughter of a marquis's family, are not going to become a concubine.

Although a concubine is still a concubine, she is still listed in the royal register, and even if she gives birth to children, they can stay by her side and be raised.

However, concubines of lower rank did not receive this treatment.

He Zhizhu's eyes widened as she stared intently at her Marquis father, saying, "How could I, the legitimate daughter of a Marquis's mansion, debase myself to become a concubine?"

Lord He was taken aback. "Could it be that you intend to become the Second Prince's principal wife?"

He Zhizhu nodded as a matter of course.

Lord He was about to fly into a rage, but then something occurred to him. He was both shocked and inexplicably excited, his face displaying a complex and varied expression. "Could it be...could it be..."

Lord He has figured it out. Since He Zhizhu is so certain that she is a wife and not a concubine, then something must have happened to the former Second Prince's wife.

They were either crippled or killed.

Lord He grew increasingly excited as he thought about it. He paced slowly around his study with his hands behind his back. "This matter can be done!"

Regardless of whether it's the second prince or the fourth prince who succeeds, he will marry his daughter to the other party, so he will definitely be able to secure the position of the future father-in-law of the emperor.

Lord He, fearing something might go wrong, asked again to confirm, "Has there been any mishap with the Second Prince's Consort?"

He Zhizhu swore firmly, "Absolutely not."

The mother and child suffered a difficult childbirth; even a celestial being couldn't save them. The Second Prince's wife was doomed.

Lord He recalled what He Zhizhu had said earlier: that the sixth daughter, He Zhisuo, had barely managed to secure the position of the fourth prince's concubine. Whenever he thought of this, he couldn't help but feel resentful.

He was still not convinced, "Was your sixth sister really only made a concubine by the fourth prince?"

He Zhizhu nodded, her expression revealing a barely perceptible hint of disdain.

Lord He frowned and stopped speaking.

He Zhizhang broke the silence at this moment, "Father, can you tell me the truth about what you and Aunt Shui were plotting today?"