The Ye Family matriarch wore a stern expression, clearly displeased. Ye Zhi pursed her lips and sheepishly said, "I was wrong. Mother surely wouldn’t want me to be a concubine; it should be a proper wife. I heard that being a concubine has a very low status, and one might even have to serve the wife as a maid. Mother wouldn’t bear to have me as a maid."

The woman had yet to reply.

Huanhuan snorted coldly and righteously defended her friend, "Ah Zhi would never want to marry over there and be a concubine. Not only would her children be considered illegitimate, but she would also have to rely on a small stipend to live on and be called by others as ’Auntie.’ If you were to become a concubine, I, Tan Huanhuan, would be the first to disagree."

She waved her small fist, emphasizing her sincerity.

Ye Zhi immediately grabbed her hand, moved, and said, "Huanhuan, you’re so kind. If, by then, Xiao Chen treats me poorly, I’ll just divorce him. I have my own money; I don’t need his stipend. I’ll go to Yangzhou."

No longer able to listen, the Ye Family matriarch tapped her younger daughter’s forehead.

"Come with me."

The silhouette in a Shu Brocade dress rose and was the first to walk out of the hall.

Ye Zhi stuck out her tongue, winked at Huanhuan, and bounced along after her mother’s figure out of the room.

Seizing the moment of her absence, Huanhuan ran over to Xiao Chen and asked, "Xiao Chen, is Ah Zhi becoming your proper wife?"

The night was pitch black, but the hall was lit with dozens of lanterns, bright as day.

Shen Chen’s gaze was intense as he nodded in response.

The Eldest Prince’s eyes dimmed, his heart complicated. If he could marry that enchanting girl, he would be willing to never take a concubine in his lifetime. Suddenly, he shook his head, his throat constricting. What was he thinking? How could he covet his brother’s wife?

He poured a cup of wine and drank it all in one go.

Xiao Bai watched his master’s actions but did not comment, silently sitting aside without touching the food on the table.

On another side.

Ye Zhi followed her mother to the side hall and, blinking her lively big eyes, asked, "Mother, what is so important that we had to come here to talk?"

Here, there were only the two of them, mother and daughter.

The Ye Family matriarch moved her lips, a trace of worry slipping across her face, before she spoke faintly, "Did you know that not long ago, the Crown Prince wanted to take you as a Concubine?"

She spoke calmly.

But to Ye Zhi, it was like a bolt from the blue. "What? I refuse to marry him. He has a grudge against me. Taking me as a Concubine is like putting me on the chopping block. Mother, why didn’t you tell me earlier?"

The Ye Family matriarch maintained the dignity of the household’s matron and said,

"Of what use would it have been to tell? All of the Capital City knows you are unmarried, and rarely does a matchmaker come to suggest a marriage. The Empress’s request was certainly the result of careful consideration. Although I am merely a woman, I know a thing or two about the stormy waves of the court. Whom you marry indicates where our Ye Mansion’s allegiance lies. Do you think you are alone? Behind you is the entire Ye Mansion."

"Your sister’s example is right there. I do not wish for you to end up competing for favor among three thousand beauties inside the red walls and yellow tiles, turning into a viper-hearted concubine. Upon entering the palace gates, life is as deep as the sea. I only wish for you to find a good person and live a stable life."

"Rest assured, Xiao Chen swore never to take a concubine or establish a secondary wife. The household management will be yours in the future."

The strong voice echoed through every corner.

Despite everything her mother said, Ye Zhi still had her reasons to argue, "Then why didn’t you tell me?" 𝑓𝓇𝘦ℯ𝘸𝘦𝑏𝓃𝑜𝘷ℯ𝑙.𝑐𝑜𝓂

Knowing her daughter best, the Ye Family matriarch sneered, "Tell you, so you could go beat up the Crown Prince? Then our Ye Mansion would be implicated?"

Ye Zhi’s eyes rolled around, "That’s not what I meant. I could come up with another way."

She hesitated for a while but couldn’t think of a way...