An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth

  Again, someone asked: "By reason, when a woman is pregnant and sitting in confinement, she cannot share the same room with a man. General Fang is still in his prime, can your sister bear to tie him up at home?"

  Zhi Yi currently has only one concubine, and this concubine is just a woman who was brought in from the streets. Given Zhi Yi's current status, having only one wife and one concubine is really beneath him. It's no wonder that everyone, including the women, find it unthinkable.

  As if sensing the speaker's gaze, a flash of understanding crossed his face.

  The flying swallow girl sent by the Dai Wang Fu, didn't even get a chance to meet with him, was dismissed and sent to the laundry room in the back. I'm sure Dai Wang Ye has also heard about it and is definitely angry. So what this Huang Fu Ren, the wife of the provincial governor, said had some deeper meaning, but she also asked out everyone's inner thoughts, all eyes were fixed on Yu Shi, waiting for her response.

  Yu was asked about the matter in the boudoir, her face suddenly turned red, but she managed to hold back the shame on her face and said lightly: "My husband has never believed these things, I advise him not to be able to."

  That is to say, during Yu's pregnancy, including her postpartum confinement, Zhiyi always stayed in her room.

  Everyone listened with envy and jealousy, praising Mrs. Yu for being able to handle her husband properly. They also saw that Mrs. Yu was not particularly outstanding in appearance, but she could keep a man tied to her side. People couldn't help but feel jealous of her good fortune and looked at her with admiration. This ordinary-looking woman from an ordinary family background was actually able to tie down a man like Fang Zhiyi tightly, which was quite impressive.

  As usual, she kept smiling, but these words were not suitable for an unmarried girl like her to participate in. Although Yu Shi was asked to the point of being unable to parry, it was also embarrassing for him to open his mouth to help her out. In the end, seeing them ask more and more off-topic questions, they even asked: "It's normal for a man to have three wives and four concubines, but sister, you're so tightly tied to your husband, isn't that not good? This will earn you a reputation for being 'jealous'... Sister looks so virtuous and capable, but don't ruin your reputation because of this. In my opinion, sister should learn from General Lu's wife, who had been married into the family for less than three years and had already dismissed four maidservants to her husband's room. Nowadays, who doesn't praise her for being wise and magnanimous?"

  Yu's face turned pale upon hearing this, but he maintained his composure for the sake of the bigger picture and remained silent.

  As if she couldn't help but want to give this Huang lady a few slaps on the ears, why say such nonsense that has nothing to do with anything.

  Lady Huang is the younger sister of the king's concubine, and her husband is also the governor of Shanxi. In the circle of noblewomen in Datong, she is a top-notch figure. Although what she says is unpleasant to hear, those present do not dare to refute her casually.

  Yu's family had never seen such a grand sight, and although she was annoyed in her heart, she couldn't find any words to refute it. She could only force a smile and say: "Madam is absolutely right, I will consider it."

  Madam Huang was not satisfied with her perfunctory response and said, "Does your sister still need to consider? It's best to hurry up and settle it. Although the General's mansion doesn't have an elder to restrain us, as a wife, one must think thoroughly, otherwise, if the elders ask questions later on, they'll either send someone over or push the man out, and by then, there will be no place to cry. She paused for a moment, then continued, "Didn't the Dai Wang Fu send over a girl? I heard she's top-notch, not only can she read and write, but her temperament is also good. If you're not disgusted with her, why don't you take her in as a concubine? It doesn't make sense to promote a worn-out concubine to be the madam, while sending a beautiful girl to do laundry. Fortunately, everyone present is our own people; otherwise, if this gets spread around, wouldn't it be said that you're jealous and can't tolerate others?"

  Everyone had different expressions, looking at Yu Shi with admiration. The majestic substitute king's mansion sent someone out, but also dared to dismiss him to the laundry room.

  Yu's face stiffened, unsure of how to respond. If she admitted it was her doing, she would be known as a jealous person. If she explained that it was Zhiyi's intention, she would implicate Zhiyi and offend the Dai Wangfu.

  "Madam, you're getting more and more unreasonable by the minute. I'm just a concubine, yet you're speaking up for me like this? I must admit, Madam's words are quite reasonable, and I've learned from them. However, as the mistress of the house, shouldn't I have the right to discipline my own maidservants? The flying swallow girl sent by the Dai Wang Fu is indeed not bad, but she has a strong temper. Eldest Sister merely scolded her a bit, without even touching her finger. Madam, you're thinking so much for a mere servant, I suppose Madam's own concubines are quite fortunate."

  Everyone covered their mouths, who didn't know that the beautiful maidservants in Huang Zijian's house lived a miserable life, being disfigured or beaten to the point of exhaustion and sold away was an everyday occurrence. Such a jealous and ruthless person, yet still dared to accuse others, truly shameless.

  Madam Huang's face sank, and she glared at Ruqin with a forced smile: "Miss Fang has a sharp tongue. But as an unmarried young lady, you shouldn't be discussing such private matters, isn't that unbecoming of a maiden?"

  Ru Qing smiled faintly: "Since Ru Qing already has a marriage contract, this matter of sharing a room with a concubine will eventually happen. What's the harm in discussing it?"

  "Ah, I forgot again, the young lady is already engaged. But judging from her sharp tongue, I believe those concubines won't dare to be presumptuous in front of her in the future." Madame Huang found herself unable to gain the upper hand under Ruyi's attack and quickly shifted the battlefield, bringing up Zhen Huan instead, "I don't know what mistake Zhen Huan made, but why must you punish her so severely? Can't you spare her life for my sister's sake?"

  Yu's heart had an air, but didn't know how to respond. Finally, under the gaze of Madame Huang's piercing eyes, he forced himself to say: "Fei Yan is not a bad girl, it's just that this one isn't the kind of temperament my master likes. She was just sent over and already made my master dislike her. Since you're so fond of her, I'll do a favor and send her to you, would you like to take her back?"

  Madam Huang choked back her words, and finally coldly smiled in a neither-clear-nor-obscure tone: "General Fang is honored as the Emperor's personally appointed General of Quelling the Nation, yet not even half a concubine can be found within his household. Truly, Madam has excellent skills."

  "I'd like to offer my congratulations in advance. I've heard that the young lady of your esteemed household is also going to be married soon? I wonder how many concubine rooms Madam has prepared for her future son-in-law?" This was a phrase she had learned from Lin Shi. Back then, Lin Shi had used this very tactic to counter Zhang Niang's scheme to intimidate her daughter-in-law.

  Everyone heard the counterattack and irony in his words, and they all covered their mouths and smiled.