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

Lord He's expression flashed with unease, and a slight annoyance appeared on his face, as if he had been offended by his son's intrusion.

But after seeing the suspicious looks from the mother and her two children in the study, he reverted to his usual kind and gentle fatherly demeanor.

"There are only four princes in the palace who are capable of accomplishing anything, and only the fourth prince is the same age as the girl in our household."

Furthermore, Consort Zhao and Consort Bing were very close friends in the palace, so I, as their father, conceived the idea of ​​using Sixth Sister as a test to see what would happen.

After he finished speaking, he looked at He Zhizhu.

The implication is that it's not that I don't want you to be the fourth prince's wife, but since the matter is still undecided, I need to use your half-sister as a pretext.

If He Zhizhu hadn't had her past life experiences, she probably would have truly believed her own father's lies.

As for Madam Shen and He Zhizhang, they were even less likely to be swayed by Lord He's few words.

He Zhizhang went even further, saying bluntly, "Father, why don't you register Sixth Sister under Mother's name!"

Upon hearing this, everyone in the study was greatly shocked.

Shen was unwilling, and He Zhizhu was resentful.

Ignoring the three stares fixed on him, He Zhizhang continued, "Zhuzhu said that Sixth Sister only became a concubine in the end. I personally think it's because of Sixth Sister's status as a concubine's daughter."

If the sixth sister is registered under the mother's name, then the sixth sister will be the legitimate daughter.

With her aunt, Consort Zhao, helping her in the palace, Sixth Sister will surely be able to become the Fourth Prince's consort as she wishes.

At this moment, He Zhizhu's eyes turned red, and she voiced her objection, "No."

"Whose family would marry their two daughters to two different princes?"

Do you really think our family is more powerful than the royal family?

If my sixth sister becomes the fourth prince's wife, then I will never be able to become the second prince's second wife.

Therefore, I will never agree to register my sixth sister under my mother's name and share the title of the Marquis's legitimate daughter with me.

Upon hearing the words "remarriage," Lord He's brow twitched, and he fell into deep thought.

He Zhizhang gave He Zhizhu a look that said, "Take it easy."

He Zhizhang waited a little longer before looking at Lord He, "Father, how long are you going to keep this from us?"

Lord He was puzzled. "What do you mean by this, Zhang'er? I have nothing to hide from you and your son. It is you who are hiding such a big thing."

He Zhizhang ignored his father's last sentence and laughed, "What exactly is the relationship between Aunt Shui and Consort Bing in the palace? And what role did Father play in this?"

My son is really curious!

Lord He was greatly alarmed, but his expression remained unchanged. "What did Zhang-ge say?"

Your concubine, Shui, is nothing more than a lowly maidservant; how could she possibly have connections with the ladies of the palace?

Madam Shen finally understood, "No wonder Consort Bing and Consort Zhao chose our illegitimate sixth daughter instead of our legitimate seventh daughter."

No wonder! It turns out that wretched woman, Shui, was the one who interfered and hindered my son's future.

After saying that, Madam Shen couldn't help but feel sorry for herself again, "Zhuzhu, Zhangge'er, it's all my fault for not having a good family to rely on."

Unlike the Shui family, even though she was originally a courtesan, she was still a young lady from a noble family. Even though her body was no longer pure, men were still willing to pave the way for her one after another.

Lord He's face darkened. "Shen, stop talking nonsense!"

“When Shui was with me, she was a virgin, and her ability to climb up to Bing Pin was not as sordid as you say.”

With her son backing her up, Madam Shen was not afraid of Lord He's anger at all, and continued to press, "It's not what I think, then tell me, how did they get involved?"

I dare not say it, but that would mean there's something fishy going on!

Lord He paced back and forth, pondering whether or not to reveal the truth.

He Zhizhang appropriately showed weakness, "Father, Zhuzhu and I are also your children. If Zhuzhu has a bright future, our Marquis's mansion will only get better and better."

"Now, Consort Bing wants to rely on the power of the Marquis's mansion, and even the power behind Consort Shui."

But look at the Fourth Prince, now that he's in power, he hasn't kept his promise to make his sixth sister his principal wife.

"If that's the case, Father, are you still going to put all your eggs in one basket with the Fourth Prince? Is it all for the sake of a mere concubine position?"

Lord He's face was gloomy. He and Madam Shui had worked tirelessly for Consort Bing and her son, but in the end, Sixth Sister was only a concubine!

Lord He was naturally unwilling to accept this.

"If we register your sixth sister under your mother's name, then I am confident that I can make her the principal wife."

He Zhizhang shook his head, "Father, don't you understand?"

Consort Bing and her son are certain that you and Aunt Shui will wholeheartedly support the Fourth Prince, which is why they are so fearless.

He dared to break his promise and then turned around to marry a woman from a wealthy family.

Lord He remained silent for a long time, struggling with his thoughts, before finally revealing the secret he had kept hidden in his heart: "The Shui family originally did not have the surname Shui."

Madam Shen smiled and said, "I know, his surname is Leng. He's a descendant of a disgraced official from the previous dynasty."

Lord He glanced at Madam Shen, but did not criticize her further, only continuing, "That's right. Similarly, Consort Bing's surname is not Bing."

He Zhizhu exclaimed, "Ice, water, cold!"

Could it be that Consort Bing also has the surname Leng?

Is he a descendant of a disgraced official?

Lord He nodded slightly, his face dark and brooding. "Indeed, the two of them are sisters."

He Zhizhang asked doubtfully, "I remember the case file of the Leng family back then. All the men were beheaded, and all the women were sent to the brothel."

So how could there possibly be any fish that slipped through the net?

Although the Leng clan was not personally imprisoned by His Majesty, the late Emperor was the mastermind behind it, and His Majesty ultimately benefited from it.

How could he be so heartless as to put the daughter of his enemy in his harem?

Since Lord He had revealed the secret he had kept hidden, he naturally would no longer conceal it: "Before Consort Bing entered the palace, she was born to a concubine."

At the time, the Leng family was in trouble, and Bingpin had not yet been recognized and returned to the Leng family, so she was not recorded in the Leng family genealogy.

Only then did the Shen family understand why Consort Bing had managed to escape unscathed.

Having figured out the pros and cons, Madam Shen found Marquis He more agreeable.

This time, Lord He's sincerity was truly remarkable.

He Zhizhang suddenly realized, "No wonder even though Consort Bing went back on her word, you and Aunt Shui were still loyal to Consort Bing."

It's because they feel they have nothing to fear.

Lord He looked embarrassed. "We didn't have many other options before. Now that Zhuzhu can become the Second Prince's wife, then I won't be controlled by others."

Upon hearing Lord He's words, He Zhizhu's face instantly lit up with a smile. She believed that Lord He's words meant that he had chosen her over her sixth sister.

Madam Shen then brought up what Marquis He had said at Yimei Garden earlier, "Does that Marquis intend to play the role of a father and son who are at odds with our direct descendants?"

Lord He glanced guiltily at He Zhizhang, "I'll listen to Brother Zhang."

He Zhizhang smiled modestly, but he knew that his father was not as obedient as he claimed, and did not truly listen to his son's advice.

So he said, “Then let’s do as Father says and put on a show of father and son not getting along and husband and wife distrusting each other for outsiders to see.”

Lord He nodded.

He Zhizhang continued, "It's just that it will be tough on Zhuzhu and Sixth Sister. Their marriages probably won't go as smoothly as before."

The reason He Zhizhu is looking for her biological father today is to remove all obstacles so that she can marry the second prince as his second wife.

But after her own brother said that, how could she possibly stay calm?