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

He Zhiying nodded, her neck stiff.

Madam Zhan: "It's good that you admit it. Then let me ask you, when you were in the Zhuang family, did your husband ever disrespect you? Did he take any concubines without your consent?"

Thinking of the grievances in her heart, He Zhiying's eyes welled up with tears. "Zhuang En always has a smiling face towards every girl in our courtyard. How can I not panic when I see that?"

When I got my period at the beginning of the month, my husband took the opportunity to stop my period. I couldn't openly say I didn't want to, so I had to nod.

They treat me respectfully to my face, but who knows what they're saying about me, this young mistress, behind my back.

Madam Zhan ignored him and only asked, "Of the maids you brought, only Xiaoyue became the son-in-law's concubine?"

He Zhiying nodded.

Madam Zhan: "I remember Xiaoyue's appearance wasn't particularly outstanding. Even so, our son-in-law still knows his limits."

He Zhiying: ...Who can understand her?

Madam Zhan seemed to see through He Zhiying's thoughts. "Since ancient times, it has been common for men to have multiple wives and concubines. You have been exposed to this since you were a child. Do you really think that there are men in this world who are not celibate?"

He Zhiying felt wronged, "Why can't we have one?"

Madam Zhan remained outwardly calm, but inwardly she was greatly alarmed. The young ladies in the manor had grown up and been raised together since childhood.

If one person has this idea, the next two or three shouldn't also have the same thought.

How can we even discuss marriage then?

No, after seeing the eldest daughter off, she needs to have a good talk with her sister-in-law and carefully investigate the thoughts of the young ladies in the mansion.

Madam Shen no longer claimed to be dizzy. "My dear girl, is this how I taught you when you were young? Do you know that you have already committed one of the seven grounds for divorce: jealousy!"

Jin wanted to smooth things over, but didn't know what to say.

Shen continued speaking, glancing at Hua Sirong, who was practically invisible to the side. "It's perfectly normal for a young woman to fantasize about being husband and wife with a young man, to be together for life. We were young once too, so I don't blame you for thinking this way."

He Zhiying's expression gradually calmed down after being affirmed, but Madam Shen dealt her a blow, "But is that what the son-in-law thinks too? That he'll only stay with you for the rest of his life?"

He Zhiying felt extremely wronged. "On our wedding night, he promised me that himself." He didn't keep his word.

Jin couldn't help but burst out laughing. "Men's mouths are deceitful. Only young wives like you can believe the nonsense they spout in bed."

He Zhiying dared not confront Jin Shi, and could only hang her head and clutch her handkerchief tightly.

Mrs. Shen had a headache. "Although your third aunt's words are not pleasant to hear, they are invaluable words of wisdom."

Xiaoyue is a case in point. Besides, even before you married into the Zhuang family, didn't your husband have anyone to serve him personally?

He Zhiying's voice was as low as a mosquito's buzz, "There were two maids who were to be taken away when I got married."

Madam Shen sighed, “It’s my fault. I shouldn’t have let go of you just because I thought you were married and your in-laws would take care of you.”

If you were truly a virtuous person, you should have taken the initiative to suggest to your son-in-law that you bring those two maids back and take good care of them after your wedding.

"Once you give birth to a legitimate son, then stop those two men from taking the contraceptive soup, and propose becoming a concubine. At that time, no one in the village will dare say you are not virtuous."

He Zhiying couldn't believe it. "The Zhuang family is polite. They sent away the eyesore. Why did my daughter have to go and bring him back, making herself unhappy!" Besides, how was she not virtuous?

Jin spoke bluntly, "So, you're happy now that Xiaoyue has become a concubine?"

He Zhiying sighed: ...Third Aunt, you know how to rip someone out of their lungs.

Madam Shen gave Madam Jin a disapproving look, even though she wanted to say the same thing.

"Leaving aside your son-in-law, just talking about your father, the Marquis, does he have fewer people around him?"

Which one did I suppress?

Take your aunt, for example. She was given to her by the old lady. Wasn't she originally a maidservant?

"If I were as jealous and immature as you, how could this Marquis's mansion have a place like you?"

He Zhiying's face flushed red. She was thinking that as the legal wife, she should be like a stepmother, controlling her husband's inner quarters.

“Does this mean I’m just going to have to watch him take concubines and have children, while I work so hard to manage the household affairs, only to watch him have fun with other people?”

Madam Zhan was exasperated. "Ying'er, as your second aunt, I don't know what to say to you."

You used to have such a graceful, elder-sisterly demeanor. How come, after getting married, you've fallen into this bubble of love and romance?

He Zhiying's eyes were red. "Second Aunt, do you not want Second Uncle to stay with you all his life?"

Upon hearing this, Madam Zhan smiled, a rare occurrence, and said to Madam Shen and the others, "They're still too young and haven't learned their lesson yet."

He Zhiying suddenly noticed Hua Sirong, and then, as if remembering something, pointed at her and said, "I heard that Hua Sirong's mother died early, and her father never remarried!"

As if he had found some source of confidence, he looked at the three elders with a smug expression.

When Ms. Zhan suddenly saw Hua Sirong, she remembered that Hua Sirong was one of the main characters in this incident, whom she had almost overlooked.

She glanced at Madam Shen discreetly. Apart from Hua Sirong, everyone present was married, yet they were all gossiping about those filthy men, forgetting that there was an unmarried girl among them.

It's understandable that she and Jin Shi, who are not related to Hua Sirong, overlooked her, but what about her sister-in-law, her own aunt?

Have you forgotten too?

Ha ha!

Hua Sirong was innocently dragged into this; how could this be connected to her?

Under the watchful eyes of several people, she forced herself to say, "I do wish I had more brothers!" She meant it sincerely.

He Zhiying: ...What?!

Seeing that He Zhiying was stubborn and unyielding, Madam Shen said, "My third sister is the daughter of an official, and her husband comes from a merchant family. They are already marrying above their station, so naturally they should treat my third sister with respect and deference."

He Zhiying's eyes darted around. "I am the eldest daughter of the Marquis's family, while the Zhuang family is just a minor family of censors. Zhuang En is just a Juren (a successful candidate in the provincial civil service examination) and has not yet obtained any official rank." Does that mean he shouldn't treat me like a princess?

Shen looked helpless and gestured for Zhan to speak.

Madam Zhan continued, "The position of Imperial Censor in our dynasty is not a prestigious one. But if you, Ying'er, say that the Zhuang family's social standing is too low, I don't really agree."

The censors have the power to supervise and impeach officials, and can reach the emperor directly and advocate for the common people.

You still dare to say that the position of Imperial Censor is useless? Although with the prestige of our Marquis's family, we could find a noble family of equal standing to marry into, your father must have had his reasons for choosing Zhuangjia for you.

You've lived a life of luxury since childhood; now is the time for you to repay your maternal family. What can a woman offer in return? Marriage, of course.

The Zhuang family's son-in-law is a promising man. Live well with him, and you'll reap the benefits in the future.

He Zhiying had come back to complain, but instead she was scolded.

Seeing that she had taught him enough, Madam Shen softened her tone, "When your son-in-law becomes successful, I'll ask him to grant you an imperial title. No matter how favored those younger ones are, they'll never surpass you."