The room was deathly quiet. Huang Yuzhu looked as if she had been struck by lightning, utterly unable to believe her eyes.
Outside the door, Qi Yihan and Huang Liyuan approached, one after the other.
Qi Yihan's words landed like stones, a mix of accusation and mockery, undeniably unpleasant. With just a single look, he made Huang Liyuan feel an urge to kneel, who quickly pleaded for mercy, "Your Highness, it is this minister's failure to discipline his daughter. The child was ill a few days ago and suffered from delirium. Please do not take it to heart."
Though fearful, Huang Yuzhu was completely smitten with Qi Yihan. The Ninth Prince was as elegant as jade, and held immense power. If she could marry someone like him, she would willingly be a concubine.
"I did not have delirium, I was telling the truth! Your Highness, this humble maiden has admired you for a long time…" Huang Yuzhu spoke in a simpering tone, "I only hope Your Highness does not despise my humble appearance and allows me to serve you in the Prince's manor."
Huang Liyuan was terrified, but Madam Zhang found her daughter's delicate demeanor extremely appealing, far more captivating than the fierce demeanor of Princess Anning. As long as the Ninth Prince was not blind, he would see her daughter's good qualities.
Li Man'er pointed at Huang Yuzhu, "She's confessed. Your Highness, are you going to respond?"
"Princess Anning, what is the meaning of that tone? The Prince is your future husband. A woman should revere her husband as her heaven. How can you speak to the Prince like that?" Huang Yuzhu said, then put on a show of being utterly heartbroken.
Li Man'er glanced at Qi Yihan, "Qi, she's waiting for your response?"
Huang Liyuan's heart nearly stopped at these words. Princess Anning dared to speak to the Prince in such a manner, indicating a deep mutual understanding between them, and that the Prince was completely under her spell. Only the two fools at home couldn't tell the difference.
Huang Liyuan kept giving his daughter meaningful glances, but Huang Yuzhu's heart was so set on Qi Yihan that she didn't notice.
"Minister Huang, I now truly understand the reputation of the Huang family," Qi Yihan exuded an icy aura, looking as if he were ready to unleash a massacre.
"Your Highness, spare my life, Your Highness, spare my life." Huang Liyuan immediately knelt, tears and snot streaming down his face, "Your Highness, show mercy, my daughter is foolish."
As he spoke, he kowtowed to Qi Yihan, and cursed Huang Yuzhu, "Unfilial daughter, have you no shame? Princess Anning is the moon in the heavens, and you are the mud on the ground. You dare to covet the Prince? I think you are courting death."
After speaking, Huang Liyuan rushed to kowtow to Princess Anning again, "Your Highness, you are magnanimous. I will immediately marry this girl off and ensure she never suffers from delirium again. Please, Your Highness, overlook my daughter's transgression and spare her this once. Wretch, why aren't you kneeling?"
Huang Yuzhu finally showed some sense and knelt down aggrievedly, but still refused to back down, "Father, I won't marry. What madness has possessed you?"
Huang Liyuan seemed to go mad. He quickly scrambled to his feet, ran towards Huang Yuzhu, and slapped her fiercely, knocking her to the ground. He then immediately knelt again to beg for forgiveness.
"This minister is incompetent and has failed to discipline his daughter." Princess Anning was someone who dared to strike the King of Xizhou. Binding the two of you together wouldn't be worth a single finger of hers.
Huang Yuzhu was stunned by the blow and momentarily forgot to cry. Madam Zhang was heartbroken, but she could tell her husband was truly angry.
"Minister Huang, since you sincerely repent and are willing to marry off your daughter, I will believe you this once. However, you must remember that the person you are marrying is your legitimate daughter, Huang Yuzhu. If I discover you are being duplicitous and have designs on Huang Yuhe, what do you think I will do?"
Huang Liyuan broke out in a sweat. He had indeed considered that idea before, but hearing Li Man'er's words immediately dispelled it.
What a joke. How dare he challenge Princess Anning, who had annihilated the barbarian army, not to mention that the Ninth Prince stood behind her. As a mere sixth-rank official, he probably wasn't even enough to fill their teeth.
"Furthermore, Concubine Liu has a gentle disposition. For many years, she has adhered to her duties and never overstepped. She has raised a daughter for Minister Huang. She has endured hardship, if not merit, correct? Why then, have I heard that the household managers have confined her to the woodshed to kneel, depriving her of food and drink for three days and three nights? This is a bit much, wouldn't you say?"
Madam Zhang was so angry she could have ground her teeth to dust. This was their household affair, what right did that Li woman have to interfere?
"Oh, right, this is indeed your household affair." Li Man'er seemed to read Madam Zhang's mind, "However, Minister Huang, seeing his beloved concubine in such distress, yet turning a blind eye. Is this not too heartless?"
Qi Yihan chimed in at the opportune moment, "A person who serves as an official serves the country and its people. If one cannot even keep their own house in order, how can they govern the world? If household matters cannot be managed properly, and one cannot discern character, then one likely has no achievements in state affairs."
Huang Liyuan was already trembling.
Li Man'er added, "Speaking of which, it is time to enter the palace to examine the Emperor and Noble Consort Rong. Such an amusing event, shouldn't I tell the Emperor about it? Otherwise, he always says I am too rigid, like an old man, and boring."
Huang Liyuan immediately said, "Your Highness, Your Highness, Lady Liu has indeed toiled diligently and rendered meritorious service. She has educated Sister He with great care."
He gritted his teeth, then said, "He is gentle and proper, and it is Lady Liu's credit that she raised her so well. I will choose an auspicious day, open the ancestral shrine, invite the clan elders, and have Lady Liu elevated to the position of secondary wife."
Madam Zhang shuddered and looked at Li Man'er with eyes full of venom. Her entire life had been spent suppressing concubines. The two concubines of Huang Liyuan, Madam Wei and Madam Shi, had both quietly perished under her hand.
Now, this Lady Liu was to be elevated to secondary wife. Although there was still a distinction from the primary wife, the two would be almost equal.
Li Man'er, how dare she?
Qi Yihan's gaze turned sinister, and he cast a fleeting glance at Madam Zhang.
Madam Zhang shivered and immediately knelt down.
"Minister Huang, this is your family affair, and it is not for me to interfere. However, this is a joyous occasion. Minister Huang, remember to give me an invitation so I can send a congratulatory gift and join in the merriment." Li Man'er gave Huang Liyuan a final warning.
"This minister understands. Thank you, Your Highness."
Li Man'er was finally satisfied. She signaled Qi Yihan to go first, as she still needed to speak with Huang Yuhe.
Qi Yihan nodded, whispered something softly to Li Man'er, and then left.
"We escort Your Highness." Huang Liyuan did not dare to stand up until Li Man'er had also left.
"Father, why are you like this? Why are you letting that wretched Liu become a secondary wife? Do you know how unfair this is to Mother…"
Before Huang Yuzhu could finish speaking, Huang Liyuan slapped her. She covered her face in disbelief. Her father had never hit her before, and now he had struck her twice in one day.
"Unfilial daughter, if it weren't for you, would I have to let Lady Liu become a secondary wife? From now on, I will have to live in constant fear."