♂?，，

  The tone was unmistakably tinged with petulance, yet it sounded remarkably resolute, as if asking a question of the utmost importance, and would not rest until a satisfactory explanation was forthcoming.

  Pei Jingchen fell silent for a moment, his dark eyes clear and calm, but then suddenly burst out laughing. He reached out to tightly hug her in front of him, "Regardless of whether I am willing or not, I was born into a noble family in Shengjing, marriage has never been something that can be decided by one's own power. If it weren't for the fact that our families are matched, you wouldn't be able to become my wife."

  His eyes softened, "To be honest, the hundred-meter cliff behind Qingliang Temple is where I trained my body and willpower since childhood. No matter what season it was, as long as I was in Qingliang Temple, when the night was deep and people were quiet, I had to jump up once. That was my homework. That night was unexpected, and I met you, actually, I was also very frightened."

  In a quiet and secluded temple, a man with a calm mind like still water suddenly saw the girl's slender body. The woman had a beautiful face and a graceful figure, and she was in a desolate wilderness under the charming moonlight. To say that not even half a ripple arose in his heart would be a lie.

  "Ah Xuan, from the first glance I recognized that it was him, we had met before. Although our past experiences were not pleasant, after he almost took my place in suffering on the mountain path and then kindly helped me remove obstacles, I noticed him and learned about his situation and some rumors, and I have been curious about him for a long time."

  It's precisely because of this that I can, and also dare to say so unequivocally that I will take responsibility, otherwise if it were someone else, even if I wanted to marry that woman, how would the Pei family agree?

  The corners of his mouth slightly curled up, and his tone was filled with a hint of ambiguity. "Marrying you is not just because I have no other choice, nor is it because I am helpless, but also because I have some expectations for you."

  Alliances between the powerful. Never because of sincerity, interests are always the premise for all existence. If husband and wife respect each other like ice, that's normal; if they love each other, then they should be congratulated.

  These principles, Ming Xuan all understand.

  In this marriage with Pei Jingchen, both of them have considerations and weighing the pros and cons is unavoidable. Fortunately, it's not just her, he also has a good impression of her and has expectations.

  She gazed at him with sparkling eyes, as if explaining. Or perhaps a bit embarrassed, "I don't really remember people and things from before..."

  Bai Jingchen smiled deeply, "I know."

  He slightly paused, "I just want to tell you, I'm not some kind of good man or woman who will take responsibility lightly just because I've seen someone's body. Those women who only think about getting into bed don't even need to be mentioned. Even if it's a high-born young lady using such tactics, I won't be moved."

  "It's fine to have many friends with whom you share a deep bond, but when it comes to women who will accompany you for the rest of your life, one is enough."

  The invisible wall in Ming Xuan's heart suddenly collapsed, as if something had melted at the bottom of her heart. It slowly surged up to her chest and throat, if this was a promise, it was the most powerful guarantee she had ever heard in the world, if this was an oath, it was also the most unadorned yet most convincing one.

  This Zhou Dynasty, which she knew did not exist in history, was so different from the era where she grew up. Politics and customs were naturally not worth mentioning, but the way men and women interacted emotionally and lived as families was her biggest concern. If she wanted to live in this era for a lifetime without being treated as an alien, she had to conform to and assimilate into the local way of life.

  A man's three wives and four concubines were common in the Zhou Dynasty, even in small countries outside the four borders. It was not only among the ruling class, but also among the people, men with a little money and prestige liked to take concubines.

  Among the men she knew and had seen in this life, whether it was Yan Langzhong who was as clean as a jade, or the husband of her fourth sister Ming Hua who was elegant like a Confucian scholar, they all had concubines and children born out of wedlock. Even her father, who was said to have loved his wife so deeply, didn't he also have an illegitimate child?

  This is an undisputed patriarchal society, where a wife with status is the facade, and concubines and mistresses are decorations.

  Ming Xuan originally thought that Pei Jingchen was an ancient person no matter what, and he couldn't jump out of it after all.

  If she were married and it wasn't harmonious, she certainly wouldn't have hopes and expectations for the future.

  She might try every means to leave, or perhaps learn to dissolve into this life, as a wife who regards her husband as a boss or partner, just getting by day after day without investing emotions, and naturally won't get hurt because of her husband's mistresses. The only thing she needs to do is to protect the absolute interests of her children with all her might, nothing more.

  But everything after marriage was so good, as if it were a dream. Her husband was such an excellent and lovable man that she gradually devoted her emotions to him without realizing it. Because she had invested herself in the relationship, she began to have expectations deep down and made more demands.

  Love is selfish and cannot accommodate a third person, this is what Ming Xuan wants to confirm first.

  She suppressed the excitement in her heart and met Pei Jingchen's gentle gaze, continuing to ask, "Doesn't this mean you won't take a concubine?"

  Pei Jingchen nodded solemnly, his expression serious and heavy. "My father had two wives, and in the backyard, there were six concubines who gave birth to children for him. As for those nameless concubines, they are too numerous to count. But I have never seen him laugh heartily. He may not have truly liked those women, and those women probably didn't have much true affection for him either."

  The husband is just one, but the wives are so many, everyone wants to compete for his favor, but what's laughable is that they're not competing for his true heart, but for benefits. The father is just one, but the children are so many, everyone wants to compete for his attention, but what's laughable is that the children want to get is not the warm love of a kind father, but benefits.

  His eyes slightly condensed, and the fluttering of his eyelashes formed a fan-like inverted reflection in the water. "Ah Xuan, this is not the kind of day I wanted."

  There is a virtuous and gentle wife in my heart, who understands me and I love her dearly. We have several lovely children, whether boys or girls, I will be a loving father to them all. Every morning, I watch the flowers bloom, and when the clouds pass by, I listen to the wind. I live a carefree life like a wild goose in the wilderness, being a wealthy and leisurely person with a loving wife and children.

  Ming Xuan's heart suddenly skipped a beat, she had never thought that Pei Jingchen would have the same ideals as her, and there were faint tears in her eyes, just wanting to say something.

  But was tightly wrapped in his gentle arms, and heard him whispering in her ear, "So, I won't take a concubine, no matter what the future holds, you are enough for me. Since childhood, Master Fang taught me the way of being human, he said that a man who stands tall and upright values trustworthiness and keeping promises, once words are spoken, decisions made, they must be carried out. I... will not go back on my word!"

  Ming Xuan's heart warmed up, and she actively leaned into his body. Her smooth arms, like jade, slid over his broad chest, grasping his neck. Under the soft, fragrant skin, her smile bloomed like a flower. "Hmm, I remember."

  She stood on tiptoes, lightly pecked his lips, and gazed at his eyes with extraordinary seriousness. "If you don't leave me, I will depend on you for life and death. This is my promise. Although I am just a little woman, I also know the principle that once a word is spoken, it cannot be taken back. Ah Cheng, remember this too."

  As soon as she finished speaking, her lips were sealed by Pei Jingchen's gentle and dense kiss. Before long, a low, lingering hum spread throughout the room.

  The night is as clean as washed, and the room is quiet and peaceful.

  On the second day, early in the morning, after Pei Jingxun went out, Ming Xuan gathered all the servants who were originally serving in the courtyard according to the plan made yesterday. The stolen goods found in their rooms piled up like a mountain and were placed on the spring bed in the courtyard.

  Under the name of stolen goods, many unclear properties were found. Although it was expected, the huge amount still shocked her. She thought that when she was living in Yongning Houfu, her days were difficult, and if not for Han Xiu's dowry, this Houfu lady would have had a hard time living on her allowance.

  After seeing the private property of these women, Ming Xuan finally realized that she, a noble lady from a marquis's family, was not as well-off as even the slaves in the Pei household. It was tolerable that Du Niangzi and several older women had money, but even a third-rate maid in the courtyard could afford to use the rouge from Furong Zhai, clothes from Nianxiang Fang, and jewelry from Qibao Ge. This truly made one clench their fists in amazement and also left them speechless with both sadness and laughter.

  I knew Pei Jingchen was a pastry, but I didn't expect those who stared at him to be willing to pay such a great price for it.

  With these irrefutable evidences in hand, Ming Xuan was going to reasonably and emotionally uproot these people and send them away, which was really easy.

  She coldly glanced over the kneeling women and servants, raised an eyebrow and said, "These are not my things, but considering your identities, they are also absolutely not something you can use. If I were that kind of ruthless person, I wouldn't even bother asking questions, I would directly tie you up and take you to the government office, where naturally someone will make you speak. But..."

  "Ming Xuan paused for a moment, 'You have all been serving in the Jingyi Temple for many years. Although we are master and servant, there is still a bond between us. Now I will give you an opportunity: if anyone can clearly explain where these things came from, I will not send her to the government office, and she will not be punished or fined. However, I must ask her to find another way out, as it is no longer possible for me to stay here.'"

  "She emphasized that 'you must think carefully, after crossing the threshold of the 20th Congress, no matter what, going to the yamen will always end in your loss.'"

  Almost twenty wives and concubines knelt down, some young and inexperienced naturally kowtowed bitterly, but there were also those who relied on their age and the number of years they had served in the mansion, thinking that their backing would protect themselves, or privately believed that this lady was just a big thunderstorm with little rain, and still did not take Ming Xuan's words seriously.

  Du Niangzi took the lead, smiling and saying, "The old lady is joking, these are all the savings of us servants over the years, how can they be called stolen goods? We have been in this mansion for many years, except for the monthly allowance, there are also rewards from our masters, the madams are generous, we cannot decline them."

  She raised her head, "Besides, I was transferred from the Young Master's mansion. As the saying goes, 'don't look at the monk's face, look at the Buddha's face', even a big dog has to look at its master. If you want to scold me, shouldn't you ask the Young Master's wife first?"

  （）

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