Pei Zhixuan's words were like a stone thrown into a lake, stirring up several ripples on the originally calm surface.

The crowd looked at each other, speechless, no one daring to utter a sound.

"I won't allow it!" Upon hearing this, Madam Xu was so angry that she smashed her chopsticks.

How could she possibly allow a woman of unknown origin to casually step into the Duke's mansion as the heir's concubine?

“Zhixuan, this matter cannot be handled recklessly.” Second Master Pei quickly raised his hand and patted Pei Zhixuan’s shoulder to advise, “If you really like her, then take her into the mansion as a maid, or make her a concubine. Is it necessary to be so high-ranking?”

"Second Uncle!" Pei Zhixuan stared at Second Master Pei with cold eyes, and Second Master Pei immediately withdrew his hand in fright, shrinking back like a quail.

He hadn't forgotten that in this family, only Pei Zhixuan was the pillar of the family.

“Fang Ziyu is my benefactor. I want to give her a legitimate identity so that she can stay by my side with peace of mind.” Pei Zhixuan said as if addressing everyone, but his eyes were fixed on Shen Yunjiao.

Unexpectedly, after waiting for a long time, Shen Yunjiao remained completely silent.

Pei Zhixuan's face grew even colder.

Looking at her son's face, Xu knew that he had made up his mind.

Madam Pei was secretly overjoyed. Just now, Shen Yunjiao was so smug. Now let's see who she has to cry to!

Madam Pei took a leisurely sip of tea and said with a smile, "Miss Fang saved Zhixuan, so it's understandable that Zhixuan did this. It just so happens that there are few people in Zhixuan's household, so it's quite nice to have someone to take care of him."

Xu noticed her son's unusually assertive attitude.

Seeing her daughter-in-law, whom she had never liked, eating happily, she felt as if she had a blockage in her throat.

Since Shen Yunjiao is so heartless, let's make that female doctor really annoy her!

Moreover, Shen Yunjiao is jealous, and she believes that it won't be long before she kicks this female doctor out of the house.

Why would she be unhappy if she went to see her son?

Madam Xu looked at Pei Zhixuan, sighed, and said slowly, "Since you've made up your mind, your mother has nothing more to say."

"However, it is common for men to have multiple wives and concubines. It is always better to find a gentle and kind woman than a block of wood."

These words were clearly a veiled insult directed at Shen Yunjiao, yet everyone who heard them smiled knowingly.

They were used to it.

Even the most noble person, if out of favor, will be ridiculed by everyone in the household.

Madam Xu knew that no matter how much she scolded Shen Yunjiao, she would still compromise for the sake of her son.

At this moment, a crisp sound caught everyone's attention.

After eating and drinking her fill and having watched the whole show, Shen Yunjiao gently wiped her mouth with a handkerchief and looked at the prince with clear eyes: "Your Highness, I do not agree to you taking a concubine."

Pei Zhixuan's lips curled into a mocking smile. He slowly twirled the porcelain cup in his hand, his words brimming with disdain, "Who asked for your opinion?"

Shen Yunjiao stood up, her clear voice ringing out in the room, each word distinct and clear, “The Pei family’s family precepts state that if the principal wife has no children, she cannot take a concubine.”

Xu was surprised to hear this. How did Shen Yunjiao know the rules that the Duke established when he first built the mansion?

This was a family rule established by the Duke, specifically modeled after the one set by the Grand Secretary of the previous dynasty, in order to ensure the peace and tranquility of his household and to uphold the traditional etiquette of respecting the legitimate and illegitimate children.

"Shen Yunjiao, it's been two years since we last met, and you've become much smarter." Pei Zhixuan frowned, his eyes burning with anger that seemed to ignite the surrounding air.

The room was quiet except for the bubbling sound of a pot of mutton soup on the table.

Shen Yunjiao looked at Pei Zhixuan, who was sitting upright at the table, indifferent and aloof, as if he regarded her as a humble and tiny grain of sand.

She suddenly felt sorry for the original owner of this body.

The original owner was so good to him, and she was willing to endure hardship for him in the Duke's mansion, but he trampled on her sincerity at will.

Suddenly, she didn't want Pei Zhixuan to have it so easy.

“Pei Zhixuan, if you want to repay a debt of gratitude, you can help Miss Fang open a clinic to heal the sick and save lives. Does His Highness's way of repaying all those who have been kind to him mean marrying them all?” Shen Yunjiao’s soft, crisp voice rang out in the hall.

Jiang Rong, still reeling from the rejection of her marriage proposal, nodded in agreement upon hearing this: "The Crown Princess is right. Brother Zhixuan, you can help Miss Fang open a clinic. That way, she can have a stable life and be guaranteed food and clothing."

Pei Zhixuan's expression was inscrutable, his handsome features as cold and stern as an ice sculpture, but the good upbringing he received from childhood suppressed his desire to lash out in front of everyone.

Shen Yunjiao sneered and then provoked him, saying, "It seems Your Highness has taken a fancy to Miss Fang's looks."

Pei Zhixuan's expression grew increasingly cold and sharp. He almost gritted his teeth as he said, "What nonsense are you spouting?"

"If Your Highness likes Miss Fang, then just say it openly. Why use repaying a debt of gratitude as an excuse?"

Jiang Rong, who had just been agreeing with them, was also stunned when she heard this. She did not expect the Crown Princess to be so bold as to directly say what everyone was secretly thinking.

Pei Zhixuan stood up coldly and slowly approached Shen Yunjiao step by step. The fierce aura around him shocked everyone around him.

Those in the Duke of Dingguo's mansion who could speak up kept their mouths shut, fearing that Pei Zhixuan's anger would affect them.

Shen Yunjiao wasn't afraid of him. Since things had come to this point, it was better to just get straight to the point.

“Your Highness, I have no objection to your wish to marry Miss Fang, but I do not wish to be a co-wife with Miss Fang.”

Pei Zhixuan lowered his eyes and stared at Shen Yunjiao standing in front of him. Now that he was closer, he could see the beauty mark under the corner of Shen Yunjiao's eye.

Her eyes were full of stubbornness and arrogance, yet they gave Pei Zhixuan the illusion that she was about to burst into tears at any moment.

The air seemed to freeze for a moment. Shen Yunjiao could not wait for Pei Zhixuan's reply. She could only meet his direct gaze and say, word by word, "If we divorce, you can marry Miss Fang and make her the mistress of the Pei family, your beloved Crown Prince's wife."

This was the second time Shen Yunjiao had brought up divorce. Her expression was calm, as if she were talking about something insignificant.

Everyone present was shocked that the Crown Princess, who deeply loved Pei Zhixuan, actually wanted to propose a divorce.

Pei Zhixuan looked at Shen Yunjiao, who was standing in front of him with her lips pursed, with a mocking expression. "This marriage was something you shamelessly begged for, and the imperial decree was also obtained by your father from His Majesty. Now that you want a divorce, you can go to His Majesty to ask for the decree yourself."

If I could go, I wouldn't be arguing with you here!

Shen Yunjiao cursed inwardly. Of course, she knew that the emperor's words were law, and the marriage he had bestowed could not be ruined under any circumstances.

Even though the Shen family is now at the height of its power, a subject is still a subject.

If Shen's father were to ask the emperor to grant Shen Yunjiao a divorce, he would inevitably be told by outsiders that the Prime Minister's mansion was so powerful that it didn't even respect the emperor.

Shen Yunjiao gave the prince a cold look. "Have some responsibility. You're the one who wants to marry a concubine. Why do I have to be the one to propose a divorce? Do you want to have two wives and enjoy the beauty of two women at the same time?"

"You!" Pei Zhixuan was speechless with anger.

Shen Yunjiao didn't want to argue with him anymore; she had more important things to do. "I will not agree to this. Your Highness, on the day we got married, you abandoned me and left me to wait in the manor for two long years. When you finally came back, you not only spoke coldly to me but also brought a beautiful woman back to the manor."

"If you have any conscience, you should reflect on yourself!"

Shen Yunjiao finished speaking in one breath and felt much better.

When Xu saw that the people around her had started to whisper among themselves, she felt ashamed.

She stood up angrily, pointed at Shen Yunjiao, and scolded, "You, you are really disrespectful! How dare you be disrespectful to your husband at your mother-in-law's birthday banquet!"

Shen Yunjiao ignored Xu Shi and only looked at Pei Zhixuan.

Despite his burning anger, Pei Zhixuan remained silent.

It seems she had a point; she left Pei Zhixuan speechless.

Xu was still glaring at Shen Yunjiao.

Shen Yunjiao stepped past Pei Zhixuan and walked slowly to Xu Shi.

She said lightly, "Mother, if Pei Zhixuan hadn't brought this up at your birthday banquet today, I wouldn't have argued with him. I originally wanted to finish this dinner quietly."

"But given the current situation, it's probably impossible."

Shen Yunjiao took out a crabapple blossom in full bloom from her sleeve and placed it on the pear wood table. "Before, Mother sent the nanny to watch me copy the 'Instructions for Women' every day. My eyes are almost blind. So I can't do anything for Mother myself. I'd like to give you a crabapple blossom. I wish you beauty that surpasses even that of the flower."

"My daughter-in-law has gone home first."

Shen Yunjiao turned and left, her steps light and graceful.

Without the slightest bit of lingering affection.

Pei Zhixuan's face was extremely ugly.