Abu and Lao Qian, along with their attendants, were waiting outside. As soon as Zhao Tingduo called out, Abu appeared in response.

"Young Master!" Abu didn't know what had happened inside.

Zhao Tingduo pointed to the two beauties and said indifferently, "These are two maids given by the eldest young master. You should first remove the flower according to the rules, then take them back to the tribe and teach them some manners to Granny Qi. They can stay in the tent to serve you from now on, and they don't need to do any work."

Fallen petals are like branding marks!

Zhao Tinglei's expression changed slightly, and he said in a deep voice, "Third brother, you have always been kind and benevolent. How could you be so cruel to two beauties?"

The two beauties who were waiting to become concubines looked bewildered. What did "falling flowers" mean? Was it a reward?

Aunt Li didn't understand either, and smiled and said, "Don't worry, my two sisters, the Third Young Master only gave me this special gift because he likes it."

Abu touched the sheepskin bag at his waist, looking somewhat bewildered.

He had two small iron ingots in his bag, both for baking livestock. There were no flatbreads for people; the young master had to bake whatever he wanted.

Zhao Tingduo smiled, his handsome face exuding masculinity. He took Song Liyun's hand and said to Zhao Tinglei, "Big brother, I'll say it one more time!"

I have only one wife; all other women are slaves.

The grasslands are vast, and staying there for too long can easily make one's heart wild. Only women branded with the mark of slavery can always remember their identity and not have any improper thoughts.

Even if I don't get close to them for a while, I'll know they're slaves, and the children they bear will also be slaves, so my wife won't worry.

Zhao Tingduo did not directly reject the two beautiful concubines, but instead foreshadowed their future.

If Zhao Tinglei still insists that he accept it, then he will accept it, but only as a gift from the emperor, as she is a female slave in the tribe who does not need to collect cow dung.

Turning concubines into female slaves neither affects the male masters' desires nor the status of the female masters, and there is no worry about the existence of illegitimate children.

Female slaves can have as many children as they want, as this is a contribution to the prosperity of the tribe. No one minds, and there's no need to give them a potion to prevent them from having children.

In any case, the children born would also be slaves, with low status and no right to inherit.

These rules may seem cruel, but they are how grassland tribes maintain their traditions.

Each wife has her own subordinates.

Lady Uya once told Song Liyun that the Uda tribe was Lady Uya's property for her retirement.

The Mida River Valley, which they had just conquered, was the true dowry that a tribal chief should give when taking a wife, and it was also Song Liyun's wealth, enough to raise her child.

If Zhao Tingduo wants to marry another wife in the future, he will have to rebuild his territory and set up a new home.

Hearing Zhao Tingduo's words, Zhao Tinglei was not angry. Although his face was still dark, he only sighed and shook his head, saying, "Third brother, you are still too young. You will regret your naivety in the future."

He now feels like an old father looking at his foolish child.

With so many beautiful women, why not take more concubines and maids to continue the family line? The Uda tribe is desperately short of people.

He even said something like, "I only have one wife, and the others are all female slaves," in front of Song Liyun. How could he say such a thing? Especially in front of his wife?

What if you meet a wonderful woman like Aunt Li in the future? Would you really be willing to brand her with the mark of a slave and make her a lowly female slave?

If she breaks her promise... how could Song Liyun possibly comply!

Commander Zhao immediately felt utterly exhausted!

He looked at Song Liyun, hoping that this girl from the Wu Dynasty was reasonable and could help him persuade Zhao Tingduo.

But he was disappointed again!

Seeing the look in Zhao Tinglei's eyes—a mixture of reproach and pleading—Song Liyun found it amusing.

Who would willingly share their husband with someone else, or would they actively offer themselves up for sex?

"Lord Zhao, they say marriage is predestined, so it's up to A-Shi to decide what he wants. You don't need to worry about it!"

This means that instead of advising him, you should tell him to mind his own business.

Zhao Tinglei was somewhat annoyed: "What is the status of my third brother? Without a concubine to share the burden, how can you, a woman, serve him well?"

Seeing that he was still not giving up, Song Liyun also lost her temper: "Ashi has hands and feet, he's not a three-year-old child, why does he have to be waited on!"

If you insist that only concubines qualify as servants, Lord Zhao, I may speak frankly: A-Shi cannot have concubines.

I don't want to.

I don't want a woman like a thief spying on my life, always wanting to take over my bed.

You might say that these concubines won't take away my position as the principal wife, but that's just a man's idea.

No woman who loves her husband would be willing to share, just as you wouldn't want your woman to have an affair with another man.

Unless a woman treats her husband as a mere decoration, a plaything, something dispensable and only existing in name, she wouldn't readily accept a concubine, simply to escape a husband she dislikes.

Song Liyun seemed oblivious to Zhao Tinglei's storm-like face, speaking more and more fluently: "Ashi is devoted to me wholeheartedly, so naturally I am devoted to him as well."

Holding your hand, growing old together.

From now on, whether it's the grasslands or somewhere else... it'll just be the two of us, staying together for the rest of our lives.

Even when we're old and gray, riding horses together, there won't be any tangled swans or warbling birds around us.

Song Liyun spoke softly with a smile, as if talking to herself, but her voice turned cold in an instant: "If A Shi dares to marry someone else, I'll break his legs."

Zhao Tinglei couldn't stand it anymore. This was utterly outrageous. He slammed his fist on the table and roared, "This is utter nonsense! You're just being a jealous woman!"

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