Ning told Xiao Qingyin what had happened after returning to the manor.

"As soon as I returned to the manor, Aunt Chang returned the power of managing the household to me."

I immediately ordered an investigation into the ginseng soup being laced with drugs. We had barely found the person when they fled.

She left a letter saying that she poisoned me to get revenge because I had driven her best friend to her death.

The "good friend" she mentioned was a maid who served in Yan'er's ward. Half a year ago, she tried to climb into my bed, but I kicked her out of the ward, and she committed suicide by jumping into a well.

Aunt Chang took the initiative to apologize, saying that she had failed to manage the household properly, which led to this disaster. She then went to the temple to worship Buddha and pray for my well-being.

Because of some rumors circulating in the household, her son stayed at the military camp all day and rarely returned home.

The Duke thought I couldn't tolerate them, and he gave me a lot of attitude.

The old lady suddenly fell ill, unable to eat or sleep.

She only drinks the soup I personally make, and she can only close her eyes when I'm by her side in bed…

As Xiao Qingyin listened, she sighed inwardly, thinking how skilled Aunt Chang and her son were at scheming within the household.

With a single move of feigned retreat, he dispelled all of Duke Anguo's doubts.

They even ran outside the mansion, giving the Ning family no chance to deal with the situation.

The old lady's illness came at just the right time, consuming all of Ning's energy...

Thinking of this, she asked Madam Ning, "What is the relationship between the old lady and Concubine Chang?"

"Aunt Chang is the old lady's niece from her maternal family."

Ning replied.

As if knowing what Xiao Qingyin was thinking, he added, "The two of them aren't usually very close."

"Yeah?"

Xiao Qingyin expressed her doubts.

When did Consort Chang enter the household?

"Six months after I married into the Duke's mansion."

Ning briefly explained the situation of Concubine Chang.

"At that time, the old lady came to me and said that her brothers were blinded by greed and wanted to give their eldest daughter to the old marquis as his second wife."

The eldest daughter refused and attempted suicide by hanging, but was saved in time by her maid.

Her brothers did not give up their idea, saying that even if they died, they would carry her over.

The old lady took pity on her niece and asked me if she could bring her into the household.

It's just giving her a title and a place to go; she's not really going to be the Duke's concubine.

She treats me well and always brags to everyone that she married a good wife.

Chang seemed honest and upright, and I felt a bit sorry for her situation, so I agreed.

Who knew…

Who knew that this would lead to the wolf entering the house?

Ning downed the entire glass of wine in one gulp and said with a wry smile, "This is probably the most foolish thing I've ever done in my life."

After entering the mansion, Madam Chang stayed in her own small courtyard and had a very low profile.

Sometimes, Ning Shi would not even remember that there was such a person in the mansion.

Until Chang came to her with a nervous expression and said that she thought she might be pregnant.

She then realized that the Duke had actually visited her courtyard.

At that time, she and the Duke were still in the honeymoon phase. After hearing what Madam Chang said, she went to confront him.

He said he only went once, when he went hunting with others and drank a lot of deer blood.

He was so agitated when he got back that she fell asleep again, so he went to find Chang Shi.

Ning was shocked to discover how different men's and women's thoughts were.

What she saw as an act of betrayal, he considered merely a trivial matter to resolve trouble.

His respect and love for her were not contradictory to his sleeping with Chang Shi.

At that moment, Ning felt a chill run down her spine.

She would rather he had some affection for the Chang family than have him treat her as a mere tool.

Because in terms of gender, she and Chang were no different.

She was just luckier than Chang, as she was born into a better family and was able to become a principal wife.

He can simply receive the dignity and respect that a legal wife deserves.

After realizing this, Ning's longing and yearning for a lifelong, monogamous relationship vanished.

She no longer believed in men's fidelity.

They can categorize women into wives and concubines and treat them differently, which shows a lack of respect for women at their core.

If there's no equality to speak of, how can there be loyalty?

From then on, she diligently played the role of the principal wife, managing the affairs of the household and bearing and raising children.

She focused all her energy on her children and no longer had any expectations of men.

Out of pity for his fellow woman, he never made things difficult for Chang.

Unfortunately, Mrs. Chang had different ideas from her.

From the very beginning, she wanted to kill her so that her son could inherit the Duke's mansion.

But is this solely Chang's fault?

If resources are not entirely in the hands of men, why would women need to fight each other for them?

Ning hated Chang, and she also hated the Duke who had put them in such a predicament.

Thinking of this, she said to Xiao Qingyin, "You must learn from my lesson and never give a man any chance to go astray."

Xiao Qingyin smiled.

"Don't worry, they won't have that chance."

them?

Ning was stunned.

After realizing what had happened, he slammed his fist on the table and burst into laughter.

"Well said. Why should men have multiple wives and concubines while we should remain faithful to one man?"

I've lived for over thirty years and it took me this long to understand. If I had understood it much earlier, like you, I wouldn't have gotten married.

She only accepts sons-in-law who live with her; anyone who dares to betray her is kicked out and replaced with another.

How beautiful!

"You need to take care of yourself first," Xiao Qingyin reminded her. "Otherwise, if you collapse, the old lady might get better."

Ning was somewhat puzzled.

She collapsed; how could the old lady possibly recover?

"Dependency is also a form of domination."

Xiao Qingyin explained.

"Able to turn people into puppets without making a sound."

Ning was struck dumb.

Since she married into the Duke's mansion, the old lady has never said anything bad about her; she has always praised her.

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