Ling Dapeng and Shishi knelt in the front hall of the general's mansion, while Ling Yunzhou sent someone to invite Tao Wanniang. Naturally, their son's affairs were something for both parents to discuss.
Ling Dahu lowered his head, filled with fear, while Shishi, standing beside him, grasped Ling Dapeng's hand. If she had any reservations before, after arriving at the General's Mansion, Shishi was determined; no matter what, she was determined to marry Ling Dapeng as a concubine.
Ling Yunzhou couldn't bear to watch. He was furious, so he went to the training ground to practice martial arts and vent his anger.
It was not yet noon, so Tao Wanniang was able to leave. When she arrived at the General's Mansion and saw the two people kneeling in the front hall, she couldn't help but frown.
"Sister Tao, this way please." Qian Feng led Tao Wanniang to the training ground.
Lingyunzhou, who knew that Tao Wanniang was coming, stopped his training early and waited.
"Why did you invite me here? If you're going to get involved in Dapeng and Shishi's affairs, then get to the point. You don't need to ask for my opinion," Tao Wanniang said calmly.
"He wants to take a courtesan as a concubine. Can you agree to that?" Ling Yunzhou asked, frowning.
“I didn’t agree when he married Zhou Xiaoyun!” Tao Wanniang said. “He’s the one living with someone, not me. Does he need my consent?”
Ling Yunzhou was taken aback. Tao Wanniang would actually think that way? "Zhou Xiaoyun came to me crying and complaining. As the child's father, I can't just ignore everything. Please come over. I'd like to discuss this with you."
"Oh, do you have an idea?" Tao Wanniang asked casually.
“He can’t go to Fulelou anymore; that kind of place will only corrupt him. As for that woman, if he wants to take a concubine, let him!” Ling Yunzhou said seriously. “I think he’d be better off working as a waiter at your restaurant.”
“No, my restaurant can’t tolerate someone as wild as him.” Tao Wanniang refused. The fact that Ling Dapeng didn’t come to her for help meant that he didn’t think he had done anything wrong back then.
"In that case, I'd like him to go to the estate outside. What do you think?" Ling Yunzhou said after thinking for a moment.
Tao Wanniang thought about it again and realized that Lingyunzhou had done a good thing.
“Your idea is good. Ling Dapeng may not be good at much else, but he is good at farming. He is also strong and sturdy. Planting rice and harvesting rice will not be a problem for him.” Tao Wanniang nodded and said, “Let him take a concubine if he wants to. You can tell me that Shishi has been to many places in the past and has many acquaintances in the capital. After all, you are a general. If someone sees that his concubine is an old acquaintance, he will lose face!”
Ling Yunzhou didn't think too much about it; he just felt that Ling Dapeng's behavior was improper, and that going to the manor in the suburbs might calm him down.
"So, you agree with my decision to send him to the estate?" Ling Yunzhou asked Tao Wanniang. He had thought Tao Wanniang would feel sorry for her son.
“They were originally farmers in the countryside. Not everyone can adapt to the hustle and bustle of the capital,” Tao Wanniang said. “Dapeng and his wife have both lost their original intentions. At such a young age, they think they should live a life of being served. Even if you send them to the countryside, they shouldn’t be the masters.”
Ling Yunzhou was taken aback. There was also Zhou Xiaoyun. The thought that Zhou Xiaoyun was pregnant made him feel troubled.
"Wan Niang, I have something to tell you." Ling Yunzhou cannot tolerate being threatened. If Zhou Xiaoyun can threaten him with Gao Cui Niang's matter once, she will do it again.
"Hmm?" Tao Wanniang scrutinized Ling Yunzhou from head to toe. "What is it?"
“Gao Cuiniang is a servant of my household.” Ling Yunzhou took a deep breath. “That day, Ling Dapeng and Zhou Xiaoyun came to me together, saying they wanted a maid who could be good to the children, saying they didn’t trust anyone else, so I sent a trustworthy servant over.”
Tao Wanniang frowned as she listened, but then her expression relaxed.
"I suppose you're trying to have someone keep an eye on me, but I spend more time at the restaurant, so what could you possibly know?" Tao Wanniang's words were laced with sarcasm. Of course, she was angry, but then she thought about it and realized that the people of Lingyunzhou were indeed more attentive to the children.
Ling Yunzhou nodded awkwardly.
"Zhi'er is with Zhou Xiaoyun as her mother and Ling Dapeng as her father. If she goes to the manor, she'll probably suffer. Since you care about the child so much, then you can raise Zhi'er in the General's Mansion!"
Tao Wanniang calmly said, "Zhou Xiaoyun has a narrow mind but a cunning heart. In the future, Ling Dapeng will likely have constant quarrels with his wife and concubine. It's not good for the child to stay with him."
Since Ling Yunzhou is so eager to get involved, then he might as well take care of the child!
Tao Wanniang did it on purpose. She wanted to make Zhou Xiaoyun suffer and also annoy Ling Yunzhou. With a young child in the mansion, Ling Yunzhou would be less likely to go near her!
Ling Yunzhou was taken aback and looked at Tao Wanniang with some disbelief.
"It's not a good idea to let him leave his parents!" Ling Yunzhou sensed the underlying thoughts beneath Tao Wanniang's calm words and expressed his disagreement.
"Oh, do you think it would be good for Zhi'er to go there and see his pregnant mother arguing with his new concubine every day, with his ambitious father caught in the middle?" Tao Wan's mother asked rhetorically.
“Since your general’s mansion has so many capable people, taking care of a child shouldn’t be a problem. Besides, if this child isn’t properly taught from a young age, he’ll go astray when he grows up,” Tao Wan’s mother said confidently. “What, do you think I’m wrong about something?”
Something's not right. Don't make it sound so reasonable. Ling Yunzhou was speechless, and it was quite obvious that this was Tao Wanniang's revenge for him placing Gao Su Niang in the Tao family.
"Alright, it's settled then." Ling Yunzhou said firmly. It's just a baby, surely the General's Mansion can raise it up.
Tao Wanniang and Ling Yunzhou walked together to Ling Dapeng and Shishi, who were kneeling.
"Father, Mother!" Ling Dapeng looked up, then lowered his head again, feeling guilty.
"It's been a while, and Miss Shishi's relationship with us has certainly deepened." Tao Wanniang looked down at Shishi. "What a coincidence!"
Shishi was terrified, but her face showed a resolute expression.
"Manager Tao, General, whether you accept me or not, I'm sticking with Brother Dapeng."
“Accept, of course I accept. Why wouldn’t I be happy to have someone help me take care of my son?” Tao Wan’s mother said with a cool smile, “Da Peng, look how lucky you are. You had Xiao Yun, and now you have Shi Shi.”
"Mother~" Ling Dapeng sensed something was wrong with Tao Wan's mother's tone and panicked. "Mother, I..."
"Did I say something wrong? Didn't you want to take Shishi as a concubine?" Tao Wanniang asked bluntly.
"Yes." Ling Dapeng raised his head, then immediately lowered it again, feeling both ashamed and afraid.
"Then let's get things done as soon as possible. You definitely can't go to Fulelou anymore, and as for Shishi, now that she's married, she shouldn't do the things from before."
"That simple?" Shishi looked up at Tao Wanniang and Ling Yunzhou, and replied in a flustered manner, "Shishi will definitely not let Manager Tao and the General down."
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