"Say what you have to say quickly."

Zhang leaned against the couch with her eyes closed and spoke coldly. Two maids knelt beside her, gently massaging her legs with hand massagers.

Seeing Zhang's cold and unchanging attitude, the second wife, He Qingfang, gritted her teeth and knelt down in front of Zhang with a thud.

“The other day, my daughter-in-law was being foolish and lost her mind, which is why she said those things that didn’t mean what she said. Aunt, you know best what kind of person my daughter-in-law is all these years. She’s not someone who doesn’t know what’s going on. She’s been married into the family for many years, but her health hasn’t been good, and she hasn’t been able to raise a son. My daughter-in-law is even more anxious than my husband.”

As she spoke, she secretly pinched her thigh a few times, sobbing softly. He Qingfang stopped calling her "old lady" and instead addressed her as "aunt," hoping to evoke Zhang's pity. She paused, gasped for breath, but hearing no response from Zhang, continued speaking.

"I've always felt guilty. I've long wanted to find a concubine for my husband so we could have a son and you, my aunt, could hold the eldest grandson of the second branch of the family soon. But I felt that those maids and servants were not respectable enough to be the mother of the eldest grandson of the second branch. So I was thinking of finding someone from my relatives who was of good family background and could bear children. When I saw the person the old lady had given me, I got so excited that I didn't tell her and just disposed of her myself. That was really wrong of me."

He Qingfang's face was already smeared with tears, and she looked disheveled. She crawled forward on her knees to Zhang's feet, hugged Zhang's leg, and couldn't stop the tears from rolling down her cheeks.

"Now that your daughter-in-law has been found, she is your cousin. After you have met her, we will hold a banquet to formally bring her into the family. In the future, if your cousin has a son, your daughter-in-law will treat him as her own, raise and love him well, and serve your father well together with your cousin, so that your aunt will no longer have to worry."

Seeing He Qingfang crying pitifully on her lap, Zhang sighed and gestured to the maidservant to help her up.

"Qingfang, get up. You know you were wrong and have corrected it now. Bring your cousin over tomorrow so I can see her. If she's a good match, pick an auspicious day to bring her into the mansion. Once she's in, you mustn't be jealous anymore. You two should work together as sisters so I can hold the eldest grandson of the second branch of the family as soon as possible. That's the important thing."

Seeing that Zhang's attitude had softened, He Qingfang quickly swore that she would treat her cousin well in the future and help her give birth to a son for the Second Master as soon as possible. She also explained and defended herself for dismissing the maid earlier, saying that she was only thinking of the Second Branch of the family and could not let a servant give birth to the Second Master's eldest son.

Seeing He Qingfang's disheveled appearance and her red, swollen eyes from crying, Zhang couldn't help but soften. She summoned the servants around her to wash He Qingfang's face, redo her hair and makeup, and after she was dressed up, the two talked for a while before calling her back.

After He Qingfang left, Granny Gui, who was by Zhang's side, called over a maid to bring over the lion dog from the corridor so that Zhang could play with it and relax.

While scratching the well-behaved Shih Tzu, Zhang casually chatted with Granny Gui.

"Do you think the second son's family has truly repented? Will they be able to live peacefully together after her cousin came in?"

Granny Gui had often secretly accepted money and gifts from He Qingfang, so she saw an opportunity to say a few good words for He Qingfang. She said, "Look at the Second Madam today, even this old servant feels heartbroken from crying. She must have repented."

After hearing this, Zhang only snorted and did not continue speaking.

Since she only had two daughters-in-law, and as the person with the highest seniority and the most influence in the household, she couldn't isolate herself. She had to favor one daughter-in-law and keep the other at a distance.

As for Madam Li, she had already relinquished the management of the household to her. Although Madam Li had done a good job in various aspects over the past ten years, she still couldn't place too much trust in her. Madam Li was, after all, a second wife, and Lin Yuqi would still have to live under her care in the future. If she continued to show favoritism towards Madam Li, Madam Li might become arrogant, and the servants in the mansion would try to take advantage of Lin Yuqi's situation and make things even more difficult for her.

Zhang felt sorry for Lin Yuqi, who had lost his mother at a young age and had grown up by her side. She was close to Lin Yuqi and wanted to take care of her in every way.

However, Li's actions on the surface were impeccable, and Zhang couldn't find a reason to personally suppress her. She could only join the Marquis in paying less attention to the children Li was raising. Besides, Zhang was getting older and needed a capable assistant in the household.

Since she knew she couldn't get close to Li, she was left with only He Qingfang as her daughter-in-law. Even if He Qingfang was a fool, she would still support her and show her more respect.

Moreover, Madam Zhang usually liked the second wife, He Qingfang, who was also her relative. Although she was a bit arrogant, Madam Zhang didn't need a daughter-in-law who was too clever and meticulous, as she was difficult to control.

Zhang understood that only when He Qingfang and Li were evenly matched and mutually wary of each other would they seek her support in their daily affairs, allowing her to remain detached and control the overall situation in the mansion.

On the way back, Li didn't see He Qingfang come out with her, so she knew He Qingfang couldn't hold back any longer. She had picked up her cousin from the manor, who would probably be put to use soon.

It seems that He Qingfang herself knows that she can only have a good life by clinging to Madam Zhang's coattails in the mansion, and she can't go against her.

Li felt relieved when she thought about how much trouble He Qingfang would cause after the second wife took in a concubine. She also felt relieved that He Qingfang was so arrogant and domineering, and that she would try to trip her up because of the indulgence of the second master and Zhang.

He Qingfang's cousin is young and good-looking, and the second master is a kind man who will surely treat her well. He Qingfang usually hates anyone who is more glamorous than her, someone who doesn't even respect her as the wife of a marquis. Now that someone is poking fun at her heart in her territory, it's no wonder He Qingfang can't stand it.

It's clear that a person's fortune is predetermined; nothing is perfect. Li thought that even He Qingfang hadn't had a good life in her previous life. Although He Qingfang and the Crown Prince's wife, Jin Xiyan, joined forces to bring her down and send her to a nunnery, Zhang then handed over the management of the household to Jin Xiyan. In the end, He Qingfang gained nothing, worked for nothing, and still had to continue living under Jin Xiyan's control.

In her past life, Zhang noticed that Li had been eyeing the heir apparent, Lin Yuqi, and had been suppressing her in every way. She even arranged for Marquis Chenliang to take several concubines to distract Lin Yuqi. Later, before the heir apparent's wife entered the household, Zhang directly gave He Qingfang half of the management authority, so that she and Li could manage the household together.

Back then, He Qingfang was so powerful, always trying to put her down. She even secretly supported Chen Lianghou's concubine who had given birth to an illegitimate son, constantly whispering in Chen Lianghou's ear to make him treat his own sons worse than that illegitimate one, causing Chen Lianghou endless trouble and annoyance. Now, fortunes have turned, and He Qingfang will get her comeuppance this time. She'll taste the power of a concubine's influence.

Sure enough, a few days later, Li heard that the second wife had taken in a new concubine and was going to hold a banquet in the garden.

Taking advantage of her position in charge of household affairs, Li managed to make a simple family banquet look respectable, thus giving the second branch of the family ample face on the surface.

Although it was a family banquet meant only for enjoyment, Madam Li invited all the relatives she could invite from Kyoto. The female guests alone occupied several tables on the other side of the screen.

At the banquet, He Qingfang forced a smile as she greeted the guests. Hearing everyone praise her virtue, she had to be modest and say it was for the sake of her second wife's heir. She couldn't stand hearing people say she had no son, and now she had to personally reopen that wound, which made her extremely uncomfortable.

The relatives were all people she visited regularly, and none of them said anything offensive that would embarrass her. After He Qingfang finished her perfunctory response at her own table, she saw Li Shi chatting happily with several women at another table, and her anger immediately flared up.

Based on the principle of "If you watch me make a fool of myself, I won't let you have an easy time either," He Qingfang turned to Li Shi and said, "The Marquis has only had his eldest sister-in-law by his side for so many years. Now that his eldest sister-in-law is not young anymore, shouldn't we choose two sisters to serve the Marquis?"

Hearing this, everyone at the table sensed something was amiss, and the room fell silent.

In her moment of rage, He Qingfang didn't consider the embarrassment she would cause in front of so many people. The idea of ​​thinking things through before acting was completely irrelevant to her. She only thought that if Madam Li didn't agree on the spot to give Chen Lianghou more women, she would be branded as an unvirtuous and jealous woman. If she did agree, she would find Madam Zhang that night and have her reward the women.

Li gave He Qingfang a knowing smile. She knew that He Qingfang would definitely take her anger out on someone after being humiliated, but she was not someone to be trifled with.

Why should He Qingfang be able to ignore everything while she has to endure it to maintain the dignity of the Marquis's mansion? In the end, this Marquis's mansion will not belong to her son in the future, and her daughter is still young and has many years before her marriage. She doesn't need to swallow this anger.

Moreover, Zhang Shi in the mansion is the most concerned about her reputation and image. Losing face at the small banquet would definitely upset Zhang Shi. Thinking that Zhang Shi would be unhappy, Li Shi felt happy too.

"Look at what you're saying, Second Sister-in-law, as if our Marquis is so obsessed with women. Although I'm several years younger than you, I've already discussed with the Marquis whether we should take a few more concubines. I wanted to find a few sisters to serve me together, but our Marquis wouldn't agree. He even scolded me, saying I would corrupt the family's reputation. Besides, the Second Master doesn't have any sons and is only now taking concubines. The Marquis isn't like the Second Master; he has several legitimate sons and daughters and doesn't need to take concubines for the sake of his offspring."

He Qingfang wants to add a concubine to their main wife's family, but it depends on whether she agrees!

Although Li had long since lost all affection for Chen Lianghou, and all her efforts over the years to win him over were only for the sake of a few children, Chen Lianghou had not taken any concubines during the three years he and Li had been married. So now that he was living with Li Jinhua, he would not allow any concubines either.

Chen Lianghou certainly didn't say those words, but Li Shi wasn't afraid that they would reach his ears.

Since she said that the Marquis had personally stated that he would not take concubines, even the thick-skinned Marquis Chen Liang couldn't bring himself to refute his desire to take concubines on the spot. Besides, Marquis Chen Liang was indeed like the Second Master, indifferent to women. In his previous life, he took concubines purely to give Li Shi more trouble, so that she wouldn't keep eyeing the Heir Apparent Lin Yuqi.

Li's words naturally made He Qingfang lose face. First, she pointed out that Li was younger than He Qingfang. She said that He Qingfang was only now finding a concubine for the second master because she didn't have a son, which meant she wasn't a truly virtuous woman. Li, on the other hand, had thought of this long ago and wasn't just jealous.

Secondly, it was pointed out that the Second Master took a concubine purely to have a son, which was He Qingfang's original statement. However, Chen Lianghou already had several sons, so he naturally didn't need one.

He Qingfang's words at the banquet were already quite excessive, and she wouldn't have continued to say that Chen Lianghou could take a concubine even if it wasn't for the sake of having a son.

These days, although most men take concubines for the sake of women and enjoyment, everyone knows this in their hearts, but they can't show it openly. They have to find a reason. If they say it directly, it would be undignified and uncivilized.

He Qingfang was speechless after being rebuked by Li Shi. Li Shi continued to add insult to injury, personally pouring her a cup of wine and handing it to her, "I say, Second Sister-in-law, we all know you are a virtuous woman, so why did you only take one concubine? Second Master doesn't have a son yet. What if your distant cousin is also unlucky?"

Li's words were like a slap in the face to He Qingfang, practically implying that He Qingfang was unlucky and had no son. She both retaliated against He Qingfang for humiliating her earlier and vented her anger.

As expected, He Qingfang turned pale with anger and smashed the wine glass on the spot.

"Li Jinhua, what's there to be proud of? So what if you gave birth to a son? They're not even worth a single hair on the Crown Prince's head."

"Enough, second wife, you've had too much to drink! Someone come quickly and take the second wife back to her room to sober up."

As He Qingfang's words became increasingly offensive, Zhang Shi, who had initially wanted to stay out of it, had no choice but to step in and stop her. Zhang Shi already felt ashamed; although she was happy to see her eldest and second daughters-in-law at odds, these two fools actually started making a scene in front of so many people at the table. What face would the Marquis's mansion have left if word got out?

She didn't want to interfere because she thought they would realize it on their own; after all, publicly reprimanding the two of them would only make the atmosphere worse.

However, He Qingfang's words made it impossible for her to pretend she hadn't heard them. She and Chen Lianghou didn't pay much attention to Li's son because they had other concerns, and they had never shown it to the outside world. The inner difference in their treatment was something that Lin Yucheng and the others couldn't explain.

But saying this out loud now is embarrassing, and it sounds wrong to outsiders.

Even with two lifetimes of experience, Li Shi struggled to maintain her composure, her palms clenched until they bled, after hearing He Qingfang's words. He Qingfang's words were indeed insightful; in both her past and present lives, her sons consistently ranked far below Lin Yuqi in the household. In this life, she had tirelessly comforted and cared for her children from childhood to adulthood, sparing no effort to prevent them from envying Lin Yuqi and allowing them to achieve their current success.

Thinking about how her children had been treated unfairly filled Li with hatred. Taking advantage of the presence of so many relatives, Li decided to let He Qingfang speak and expose the matter. Whether it was shameful or not, if they were capable of doing it, they shouldn't try to cover it up. She and her children were victims, and they weren't afraid of losing face as well.

So, half-jokingly wiping away tears with a handkerchief, her shoulders trembling, Li pretended to be shocked, acting as if it were true, which almost made Zhang, who wanted to cover up the matter, faint with anger.