Doted By The Regent King-Chapter 1106 - 1104: Can Only Be a Concubine
Jadeite moved very quickly and brought a sufficiently thick book of laws in front of Wufu, diligently organizing the sections about wives and concubines. Wufu flipped through it and frowned so deeply that she could have caught a fly between her brows.
If she had previously held little hope for Madam Zhou’s future as a concubine, now, after reading the laws about wives and concubines, she was completely convinced that Madam Zhou could only become a concubine; it was as certain as a nail in the coffin.
Wu Lihong’s legitimate wife had a good background. Currently, their family even had an imperial concubine, and Madam Wang herself was not without her own assets. She had a legitimate son under her name, and just based on these facts, as long as she did not bring about her own downfall through serious errors, Wu Lihong could not easily remove her.
Therefore, Madam Wang’s position as the legitimate wife was unshakeable, and Madam Zhou could only become a concubine unless she chose not to enter the Wu family and remained a concubine outside, bearing a child from concubinage.
However, being a concubine outside was even lower in status than a concubine, living permanently outside the family house and never being allowed to enter the man’s family. Even her children would be looked down upon, lower in status than those from concubines.
In summary, Madam Zhou’s fate as a concubine was already determined. The only good point was that Madam Zhou came from a commoner’s family. No, she was even somewhat above a commoner; she was the daughter of a scholar, which carried a hint of scholarly refinement. Although the current Old Zhou family was at best a farming and scholarly family and could not truly be called a scholarly family, Madam Zhou being the daughter of a scholar was an unchangeable fact.
A woman like this, if she were to become a concubine, should be a consort, officially registered with the Government Office before being formally welcomed into the house. Within the household, she would hold a certain low level of status, almost like a half-master, and she would have personal freedom; the main family could not arbitrarily sell or harm her.
Those born to a lowly status could only be called lowly servants, their lives and deaths subject to the will of the matriarch, with little consequence if beaten to death.
Wufu thought to herself, fortunately, Madam Zhou, no matter how hard it was in the past, never contemplated selling herself into servitude or becoming a servant; otherwise, she probably wouldn’t even have the chance to become a consort.
Now, if Madam Zhou wishes to become a consort, it depends on how Wu Lihong arranges it. After all, Eldest Lady Wu is not a meek woman. Would she allow a woman who had early snatched her husband’s affections to enter the house so easily? Not to mention, the other party’s daughter is even older than her own.
Wufu rubbed her temples; this was a war without smoke.
However, in Madam Zhou’s hand, didn’t she have some kind of marriage certificate?
Wufu turned to the section labeled "Three Letters and Six Etiquettes," pursed her lips. Even if that piece in Madam Zhou’s hand lacked the testimony of her parents, it could tentatively be considered a half-fake marriage certificate.
If Wu Lihong failed to fulfill the promise of a consort, then let everyone be ruined together. Make a big stink about it—Wu Lihong deceived in marriage, which would benefit nobody. The impeaching memorials from the Imperial Censors would be enough to keep him busy.
Far away, Wu Lihong suddenly felt a chill rise up his back. He couldn’t help but feel puzzled. It was already May, the weather was hot; why did he feel so cold? 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝓮𝒘𝙚𝙗𝒏𝙤𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝒐𝙢
"Miss, what should we do next?" Jadeite asked, "If Madam is brought back to the Wu family, then what about you, miss?"
Wufu lowered her eyes and said, "It’s not that I can’t go with them."
Jadeite was somewhat surprised; she thought the young lady was not interested in the Wu family.
Wufu looked at her and said, "A noble family in Nanyue; I need to have an identity to get in. As a commoner, it’s difficult."
"What do you mean, miss?"
"Know yourself and your enemy. The back courtyard of a woman is also a battlefield, closely related to the former dynasty." Wufu squinted her eyes and said.
Jadeite was silent. Miss, didn’t you say you’re not good at household battles?
Who wants to play at household battles? Roll up the sleeves and directly get to work!
