The Cousin Is About to Marry，The Abstinent Young Lord Loses Control-Chapter 181: Bygone Days

Unlike the situation with Xie Yunzhen, years ago, Duke Xie already had the intent to take concubines.

Unable to convince Princess An He by himself, he had the Old Madam step in to help. 𝙛𝒓𝒆𝙚𝒘𝒆𝓫𝙣𝓸𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝒄𝒐𝓶

The Old Madam sided with her son and used that method.

Once it was a done deal, there was nothing Princess An He could do no matter how much she protested.

Once a man takes a concubine, there will be a second time.

The number of women in the Duke Mansion increased over time.

To this day, Duke Xie no longer needs Princess An He’s consent to take concubines.

As long as he wishes, he can bring in as many women as he wants.

When Xie Yunzhen mentioned the past, the Old Madam couldn’t help but feel guilty.

She thought Ah Zhen had long forgotten those events.

After all, he was just a child at the time.

Moreover, even the Princess no longer made a fuss over the concubines in the mansion.

The Old Madam truly believed that the matter had been completely settled back then.

Considering her status as an elder, the Old Madam brushed aside her embarrassment.

She said, "For a man to have multiple wives and concubines is normal. Your father did it to ensure the prosperity of the Duke Mansion’s descendants, not to intentionally hurt your mother’s feelings."

"You’ve seen how your mother behaved these years. She made the concubines drink sterilizing soup and gave your father no regard. Your father is actually a pitiful man too."

Xie Yunzhen chuckled.

"You want me to empathize with him?"

"He is your own father. If you don’t understand him, won’t that break his heart?"

The Old Madam spoke as if it were the most natural thing.

She earnestly said, "You are a member of the Xie Family, carrying your father’s blood. You should understand his difficulties better."

Xie Yunzhen stared at the bird’s nest soup in his bowl, his eyes dark and unreadable.

"He had his difficulties, so he hurt my mother and created a group of illegitimate children to vie for the inheritance. Grandmother, how do you expect me to understand him?"

The Old Madam choked slightly.

"Though those illegitimate children are not born of your mother, they are still part of the Xie Family. They will be your assets in the future. With a thriving family and brothers supporting each other, the road will be longer!"

Thinking of those bothersome illegitimate children in the mansion, Xie Yunzhen couldn’t suppress his inner rage.

It wasn’t out of fear of them taking the inheritance.

Just that all this felt unfair to his mother and himself.

Looking at the Old Madam, Xie Yunzhen spoke deliberately, word by word, "I will not take concubines, nor will I have illegitimate sons or daughters. Don’t play those games again, or rivers of blood will flow inside the mansion, which is unlucky."

Standing up calmly, he tidied his sleeves.

"I had already forgotten about that group of illegitimate children, but you just had to remind me. Coincidentally, the Crown Prince’s stables are short of horse washers, so let them work there. Earning some petty cash is better than being parasites, eating without contributing!"

The Old Madam turned pale with shock, "Those are your own brothers, how can you treat them that way?"

Everyone else pushes their brothers higher, while he sends them to wash horses.

Isn’t this a disgrace to the Duke Mansion?

If it truly comes to that, what future could those brothers have?

Moreover, the Crown Prince and Ah Zhen are close; they are sure to side with each other.

Isn’t this essentially sending the mansion’s illegitimate children to be humiliated by others?

"Though they are illegitimate, they are still part of the Xie Family, Ah Zhen, you can’t turn your fists against your own family."

Xie Yunzhen gave a cold snort, "In this mansion, Xie Yunxuan is my brother, Xie Yunling is my sister. Anyone else, if they can’t read the room, deserves any hardship they face."

"Of course, if you wish to protect them, we can split the family. From now on, their life or death will not concern me, and as long as they stay out of my way, I can let them go."

The Old Madam was fuming with anger, her face red, "I see you’ve really gone mad. If you dare act recklessly, you’ll be a disrespectful descendant!"

Splitting the family, is that something that can be casually mentioned?

What about the illegitimate sons and daughters in the mansion?

Illegitimate sons gaining academic success, illegitimate daughters marrying for alliances—aren’t these all assets to the Duke Mansion?

Doesn’t he understand this accounting?

Xie Yunzhen remained unfazed, "I’m not like my mother. You’d better not meddle in my affairs, or if blood is spilled, no amount of scripture you recite will cleanse the sins on you."

The Old Madam clutched her heart, nearly passing out.

"I’m urging you to take concubines for your own good!"

"I think it’s because you haven’t had good days, and can’t stand it when others do. It’s a pity Grandfather passed early, or else with your love for arranging concubines, you could’ve given him a few more."

"Bastard!"

The Old Madam scolded angrily.

But this was of no consequence to Xie Yunzhen.

"Why don’t you go to the temple for meditation today, calm your mind, and stop meddling in others’ affairs? Maybe you’ll gain insight, and in the future, we can also benefit from your enlightenment."

After speaking, Xie Yunzhen turned and left.

His eyes swirled with overwhelming fury, his aura cold and intimidating, no one dared to stop him.

Not even the Old Madam dared to call him back.

Leaving Crane Dance Hall, Xie Yunzhen summoned the Hidden Guard and named two people.

They were the most troublesome illegitimate sons in the mansion.

Supported by the Old Madam, they hadn’t hesitated to throw their weight around.

"Beat them, just leave them alive."

Going to wash horses? They were not worthy!

Xie Yunzhen never considered himself a good person.

If someone dared trouble him and Mingzhu, he’d have to vent this rage!

As Xie Yunzhen left, someone arrived at Crane Dance Hall asking how much luggage was needed, so they could arrange the carriages.

"This is rebellion! Are you trying to drive me out of this house?" the Old Madam breathlessly questioned.

The servants kept their heads down, no one dared respond.

Currently, the Young Master wielded the mightiest influence in the mansion, wasn’t it obvious who they should listen to?

"Ungrateful child! Married a wife and forgot all about filial piety! That Ji Mingzhu must be the reincarnation of a vixen, here to ruin our Duke Mansion!"

The maid cautiously peered outside, "Old Madam, please calm down. The Young Master will eventually agree to take concubines. Someday, you won’t even have to bring it up; he’ll beg you to arrange it for him..."

The Old Madam was not comforted.

"Go invite the Commandery Princess. I want to ask her how exactly she raised her child to be so domineering and arrogant!"

The maid asked quietly, "Aren’t we going to the temple?"

"What temple? If I really leave, what happens if Ah Zhen is accused of being unfilial and is impeached by the censors? I can’t harm him!"

The maid sighed deeply in her heart.

If that’s the case, then why get into a confrontation with the Young Master?

"I’ll go invite the Commandery Princess right away."

Princess An He was invited to Crane Dance Hall, and when she heard about marrying a concubine for her son, she didn’t oppose it.

But she also knew that for her son to agree to it now was impossible.

In her mind, she was contemplating to first observe the situation with Ji Mingzhu, and if she could bear a child, then the matter of concubinage could be postponed.

Princess An He now understood clearly that the more she targeted Ji Mingzhu, the more heartache it would cause for Ah Zhen.

It’s better to watch and wait.

Otherwise, it would be counterproductive.

"Mother-in-law, there is no rush on the concubinage matter."

The Old Madam stared at her, "Are you also blaming me, so you’re deliberately not letting Ah Zhen take concubines, preventing him from having descendants?"

The smile on Princess An He’s face faltered.

Her eyes looked a bit lost.

Years ago, she didn’t want her husband to take concubines, and it caused great upheaval.

How is it that now she’s a mother-in-law, she feels that a man taking concubines is a justifiable thing?