While the eldest wife, Sheng Huaizhong, was considering taking a concubine, the second wife, Sheng Huairen, hadn't been to the backyard recently. Seeing Sheng Huairen's absence, the other concubines began to make overtures, offering him sweets and needlework. For the first two days, Sheng Huairen accepted the gifts without saying a word, until Hong, the concubine, was rebuked by Sheng Huairen for her promiscuity and confined to her room. Only then did they quiet down.
In the room, Sheng Huairen sat angrily at the main seat, while Xu Wen sat on the long-backed chair on the left. Just when Sheng Huairen came in, he was about to lose his temper, but Xu Wen shut him up with a word. Thinking of Xu Wen's words, Sheng Huairen finally calmed down. After thinking about it, he decided to ease the relationship with the eldest lady, so he said, "Eldest lady, Shu'er is strong and healthy, sensible and polite, all thanks to your good teaching."
When Xu Wen heard her son's words, her expression softened and she nodded slightly to indicate that it was indeed the case.
Sheng Huairen continued: "The eldest lady manages the affairs of the entire second house in an orderly manner. I am deeply grateful to marry the eldest lady as my husband." Xu Wen looked at the smile on Sheng Huairen's face and did not say anything. She always felt that what he was going to say next would not be good.
Seeing that the eldest lady was just smiling at him without saying anything, Sheng Huairen said with a stiff upper lip, "My dear, your husband is busy with official duties, and having concubines and maids occupying the yard is really unnecessary. It's better to sell them all."
Xu Wen was stunned when she heard his words. After calming down, she realized that this was definitely not okay. Even if others knew that Sheng Huairen didn't want a concubine, she would still be branded as jealous. She had decided to build up her reputation and find a good wife for Shu'er in the future. Xu Wen advised, "Second Master, don't say such ridiculous things. That man has multiple wives and concubines. I'm not a jealous person. Please stop."
Sheng Huairen was furious when he saw Xu Wen's earnest words. As a third-place winner, didn't he love beautiful women? In the past, he would have taken in all the beauties one by one, never too many. But now, he simply couldn't have sex with a woman. He couldn't handle the constant stream of beautiful women in the courtyard.
Sheng Huairen reached out to touch Xu Wen's hand, but Xu Wen raised her hand to pick up the teacup on the table, and Sheng Huairen's outstretched hand fell awkwardly into nothingness. Sheng Huairen withdrew his hand and said, "A real man should be diligent in his official duties. Beauty can mislead people. For the glory of the Sheng family and to pave the way for Shu'er, please do this, madam."
Xu Wen looked at Sheng Huairen's hypocritical attitude, her heart filled with sarcasm, but she didn't show it on her face. She said calmly, "Second Master, being a woman is difficult enough. Do you know where a concubine who has already lost her virginity is sold to? As the saying goes, one night of marriage is worth a hundred days of love. You are a world-renowned scholar who has won the third place in the imperial examination. How can you act like this?"
Sheng Huairen looked aggrieved, and Xu Wen felt very refreshed seeing this.
Sheng Huairen wavered for a moment, but then he recalled the bitter experiences of the past few days and said firmly, "Then they will all be put under house arrest. The two concubines of the Chen and Li families will be sold off first."
Xu Wen did not try to persuade her any further. As long as Sheng Huairen did not sell everyone out immediately, she would do as he wished.
Sheng Huairen was a gifted man, more than capable of teaching Sheng Shu. From now on, there would be only one illegitimate son, Sheng Hong, in the mansion. The rest would be girls, and they would be given the customary dowry for the royal family. If Sheng Hong could reach the age of five, he would be brought back to the mansion, and he would learn the arts and martial arts when he was old enough.
In his previous life, Sheng Huairen, the top scholar in the imperial examination, passed away at the age of thirty-five. He was already a third-rank official before his death. If he could live well in this life, he could also pave a good way for Shu'er.
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