Taking a concubine
"Not really. It's just that the house is messy, and there needs to be a lady of the house to keep things in order."
Ah, back to handling household chores, just like any other day of working...
"Lanmo, see the guest out." She called out loudly towards the door.
"Slow down, slow down!" He panicked and half-raised his hands to stop.
"Madam, what will it take for you to forgive me?" he asked, pointing to his chest.
"..." She raised her eyes slightly, her gaze contemptuous.
Suddenly, with a "thump," Peng Xuan'an knelt down on both knees, looking at her with a pitiful expression of sincere remorse. "My lady, I know I was wrong. I beg you to forgive me this once!" Then he raised three fingers to the sky and swore, "If I ever do it again..."
Before he could finish his oath, Pang Linqiu interrupted him, "Men's knees are worth gold, Lord Peng—" She glanced at him teasingly, "My wooden plank can't withstand your golden knees!"
He became agitated, "Nonsense! Madam, don't listen to others' nonsense! How can you take this seriously?!"
She snorted and took a sip of tea. "Lord Peng, I am just a small innkeeper. I cannot afford to kneel before someone as important as you. This—would shorten my lifespan..." She did not refer to herself as his wife, but instead chose to draw a clear line by saying "a small innkeeper."
It was obvious to him that I was not his wife, but just an innkeeper, and that he should stop bothering me.
Peng Xuan'an understood the implication in her words and knew that her addressing him as "Sir" showed that her anger hadn't subsided; in fact, it had increased. He disliked this form of address; it felt so unfamiliar and strange.
"Madam, I know you..."
"Lanmo, can't you hear me? Show the guest out!" she called out again towards the door.
Seeing her so determined to send him away, he felt a chill in his heart. He turned and shouted a stern warning at the door, "Luo Pu, guard the door. No one is allowed to come in without my order!"
Lan Mo stood at the doorway, staring at Luo Pu for a moment. She was no match for the burly man before her...
She had no choice but to stay at the door and report, "Miss, Lanmo can't get in."
Pang Linqiu narrowed her eyes, glanced displeasedly at the person on the ground, and smiled contemptuously: "Since Lord Peng likes this guest room so much, then you should enjoy it." Then she got up and tidied the table. "Then I won't disturb your rest any longer."
Turning away from him, Peng Xuan'an quickly stood up and grabbed her sleeve. "Madam, what should I do for you to forgive me?"
Pang Linqiu looked up at his face, a subtle wicked smile playing on her lips. "You... really want forgiveness?"
Seeing that she had given him a chance, he nodded, "As long as Madam is willing to forgive me, I will never go east if Madam says west!"
Seeing that her scheme had succeeded, she couldn't suppress her laughter. Pulling back her sleeve, a hint of pleasure in her eyes, she held up a finger and said to him, "I have one condition."
"What does Madam want? As long as it's not too outrageous, I can give it to you. If you want it, I'll do everything in my power to get it for you." He felt that what he said was very sincere and touching, and that he could move her.
Pang Linqiu rubbed her chin and raised an eyebrow: "Really?"
"really!"
She nodded in satisfaction after receiving an affirmative answer.
She held up four fingers, and his gaze fell on them, puzzled as to what they meant.
"I want you—" she drawled, "to take four concubines!"
Peng Xuan'an's eyes widened in shock, his face turning ashen and grim. He regained his composure, frowning as he looked at her. "Madam, this is too much! Change it!" Clearly, he didn't want it.
"Troublesome," she muttered to herself.
"Fine, fine, fine." She answered perfunctorily, moved her eyes and thought for a while, then pointed a finger and said jokingly, "A letter of divorce."
His expression was resolute; he frowned and shook his head, indicating his disagreement. He grabbed her raised index finger and held it tightly in his palm. "Taking a concubine and a letter of divorce, neither is acceptable!" Then, remembering her strange way of thinking, he quickly added, "Tolerating you having other men is also unacceptable!"
"..."
"..."
The two looked at each other for a moment, then Pang Linqiu forcefully withdrew her finger, her tone slightly somber as she forced a smile and said, "Then please rest well, my lord."
As she turned to leave, Peng Xuan'an quickly pulled her back, "Do you really have to do this?!" He stared at her intently, his eyes full of helplessness and reluctance.
"Oh~, didn't you say you would forgive me?" she said with a teasing smile.
"But Madam, this is too much. Don't you want anything?"
She shook her head and said frankly, "I have no shortage of gold and silver jewelry, nor do I lack subordinates to do my work, so there is nothing I want."
He fell silent, as if he wanted to say something but couldn't.
She urged, "My lord, choose one of the two. If you choose, I will go back to the manor with you."
He didn't want to choose; neither of them was what he wanted. The thought of taking a concubine was enough to chill his heart.
He lowered his eyes in deep thought, not understanding why. Why was she, as the legal wife, so different from other legal wives? Other legal wives disliked their husbands taking concubines, but she encouraged him to take concubines and actively sought out many beautiful women for him to choose from.
Could it be that she is infertile? That's why she's so eager for him to take a concubine so that the Peng family can have more offspring?
He hesitated, "Madam, do you really want me to choose one? What if I don't choose?"
She didn't want to let this opportunity slip by: "It's not impossible not to choose. I'll return to the manor when you've taken a concubine and I'm in a good mood."
He was stunned for a moment, realizing that she was determined to make him take a concubine. He pondered for a while, finding himself in a dilemma, unable to move forward or backward.
Taking a concubine is just adding another person to the family; you don't necessarily have to touch her. She's no different from a maid, so taking her in as a maid isn't... unacceptable.
He sighed helplessly, "I can accept it."
Pang Linqiu was overjoyed, and her eyes instantly brightened and clear as she looked at him.
"But only one wife can be taken in."
Pang Linqiu's face instantly fell, and she shook her head firmly, "Fourth branch!"
"One house!" he insisted, arms crossed. "Otherwise, the betrothal gifts won't be given!"
She gritted her teeth in anger. The betrothal gifts only counted if the groom's family gave them, so she had no choice but to make a painful cut: "A third wife! Just enough to complete the 'Ye Zi' play!"
He shook his head, haggling over the price of the "second room!"
"Fine." If she didn't agree now, he would take her as his concubine the next time he spoke, and no matter how much she argued with him, it would be difficult to change his mind.
Peng Xuan'an was taken aback, realizing she had misspoke. She had thought the woman might persist in her insistence, and that she too could earn the opportunity to take only one concubine. However, she hadn't expected that in the midst of haggling, she would forget the lowest price she had initially negotiated.
He took a deep breath, hating himself for speaking too quickly, and had no choice but to swallow his resentment.
"……OK…"
Pang Linqiu was temporarily satisfied, and her anger subsided considerably. "Alright, then... um..." She thought for a moment, "I think the third young lady of the Xie family is quite nice. Would you be interested in going to see her?"
"As for taking a concubine, my wife can arrange it for me; I won't be picky." He pulled her into his arms from behind, feeling the softness and fragrance of her body, a sensation he hadn't experienced in a long time. He sniffed her from all angles, one hand around her slender waist, his thoughts lingering on that passionate night.
He lowered his head, burying his face in her shoulder, carefully sensing the emotions of the person in his arms. Small and unclear, throbbing but not intense, calm and still—unlike him. His emotions had long since lost their rhythm, beyond his control.
She didn't push him away hastily, but instead took out a small notebook and wrote down a few words: Xie Anqi, the illegitimate daughter of the Xie family.
"I heard she has a good-looking friend..." She closed her eyes, searching her memory for relevant information, "It seems to be... the fifth young lady of the Luo family." She turned her head, wanting to ask his opinion, "What do you think? Should we go and take a look?"
"Your wife can handle it; I have no objections."
Pang Linqiu started to find his persistence annoying and pulled her hand away. "Fine, then I'll discuss the marriage with the elders of their clan. Do you want to come with me?"
Although he went, it wasn't of much use; he just watched her handle everything without saying a word. But it did have some effect, given her power and status; it was impossible for her not to succeed.
Peng Xuan'an didn't really want to see those women, and shook his head somewhat reluctantly. "No need, Madam. I'll wait for your news here." He sat down on the stool and poured himself a glass of water.
Pang Linqiu did not force him, and turned to leave for the Xie residence and the Luo family.
The matter of taking a concubine was resolved simply.
Perhaps because of his noble status, neither family dared to offend him. Upon hearing of the matter of taking a concubine, the two in-laws agreed with beaming smiles. Firstly, it would strengthen their relationship; secondly, it would enhance their family's prestige; and thirdly, it would ensure a bright future for the men in their clans. Without a second thought, they immediately agreed.
Two days later, in the early morning.
Peng Xuan'an had prepared a carriage for the journey back to the capital well in advance, and Pang Linqiu was also taken along.
Two carriages were traveling back to the capital, entering a vast forest. The uneven dirt road provided a refreshing breeze that blew in through the windows as they sped along.
The carriage at the front carried Peng Xuan'an and her, while the one behind carried two concubines who had been taken in less than two days.
Pang Linqiu felt utterly hopeless. She leaned against the carriage wall, not wanting to sit next to Peng Xuan'an, and looked out the window at the scenery.
...He moved closer to Pang Linqiu's seat.
...
She felt the distance between them decreasing, and feeling uneasy, she moved closer to the inside as well.
Finally, after moving to the end, she turned to look at him. She found that there was a large empty space to his left, and she had been forced to move only to the space against the carriage wall.
"Peng Xuan'an." She closed her eyes impatiently and pointed to a large empty seat, saying, "Is there a needle growing out of there? That's why you're sitting so restlessly."
Peng Xuan'an smiled, his face slightly flushed. "Madam..." He unconsciously moved closer to her, "It's just... it's just... back to..." He stammered.
"...Speak your mind."
"After returning to the capital, may we... have sexual relations?"
"..." He shouldn't have said that.
Like a shy young girl, he kept looking down and then up to glance at her face, as if afraid that she would disagree with his "confession".
“Sure, why not?” she chuckled.
He likes to "be..."
She raised her hand and pointed behind her: "Those two girls are so pretty. They were overjoyed to hear you took them as concubines. When you get back to the capital, you can have sex with them; they'll definitely be there for you!"
He took Pang Linqiu's hand, his brow furrowed with worry: "But... I only want to be with you, Madam..."
Pang Linqiu pulled her hand back, hurriedly refusing with both hands: "No, no, no, can you bear to neglect your beautiful concubine?"
Peng Xuan'an smiled and said, "But I can't bear to see my beloved wife being neglected."
"..." She was startled by his words and decided to keep quiet, hoping to calm the strange atmosphere. Actually, what she feared even more was that he would say something even more repulsive; she inexplicably developed a strong resistance to sweet talk.
Peng Xuan'an chuckled softly, "Is Madam shy?" He moved even closer, as if he wanted to be right next to her.
He wrapped one arm around her waist from behind, pulling her into his embrace. His chin rested on her shoulder, his hot breath tickling her fair neck. He longed to bite her, but he dared not, afraid that if he did, he would lose control of his desires…
Pang Linqiu froze, standing rooted to the spot like a stone.
She didn't understand what this guy was trying to do!
The main issue is... this is still happening in the car...
She swallowed hard, her mouth agape in fear, and awkwardly turned her head to look at him, but his eyes were closed. He seemed to be enjoying this hard-won embrace, like a child greedily clinging to a warm hug, reluctant to let go.
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