Xiao Ling can't believe she is enjoying the drama performed by an unknown Old Man.
'I heard he is what they call them new blood, new name, a new Patriarch climbing the ladder, who would think he would have the guts to bring a Concubine, but... So, this world is in favor of the legendary Harem, who can have two official wives and four concubines? There will be an Emperor with three thousand concubines in his palace?'
Xiao Ling can't wait to find out.
But while we lost her in her fantasies of being able to see all that. Patriarch Jun paled like a sheet.
"L... Lo... Lord, my sincerest apologies, I didn't know it's forbidden... I'll send her right back... Please-"
Not finishing speaking, two youthful voices echoed in the Hall.
"The history of the creation of this City stipulates it according to the teachings of our ancestors.
If you are a simple resident, it is easy to learn that since our Great-Grandfather, Long Aotian, the pioneer of the City, has consecrated that the word 'harem', should exist.
The existence of concubines is forbidden. In case there is a reasonable excuse to have at least one, the concubine has no right to interfere with the official wife and has no right to breed offspring.
If done, the City's Lord will impose punishment accordingly."
They informed Long Shun of many things. Being the next Patriarch of the Family, he must have the minimum knowledge of the lives of the Families living within his City.
Long Hao did not want to be left behind. He felt he should remind the ignorant.
"If you are the New Surname who has formed your family, then you should know about those little details.
Besides that, you came to the City Lord's house. There is no one ignorant as far as these matters are concerned.
Within the City the word 'Harem', is not used. Families of illustrious names only have one wife. From all those present, there are only one or two Patriarchs who have concubines, but those concubines don't have children."
They both met each other's eyes and gave the other a nod.
"The Lord of the City does not tolerate concubines, but in return, he promotes marriage arising from true love. Regardless of the background of the Lady who conquers the Patriarch's heart, the City Lord will give them his blessings."
The trio of House Jun grew paler and paler. It drained the blood, even from their lips.
Besides that, when the concubine heard what they said, her eyes shone with a glint of scheme and her gaze towards the official wife of Patriarch Jun became deeper.
Lord Long was observing everyone's expressions, including the concubine's, and it disgusted him how she at this point tried to scheme against the official wife.
He is not ignorant of all this, since his father, the former City's Lord, trained him in every aspect. Even the schemes inside the palace with the Emperors, with his Empress and her concubines.
The disdain is obvious on his face at the sight of the concubine.
"A concubine cannot take the place of the official wife of a Patriarch. Once a concubine, always a concubine." Lord Long's deep voice made her feel goose bumps. And looking in his direction, her gaze collided with his, and the way he looked at her left her trembling, to the point of peeing herself.
The odor was so strong that the boy next to Madam Jun exclaimed in disgust.
"Yuck, she peed all over herself!" as he pointed at the concubine.
When Madam Jun discovered that, she sneers towards the concubine.
Patriarch Jun had no choice but to raise his hand with intent to strike her. The concubine closed her eyes, waiting for the blow, but the pain never came, and it was at that moment that a calm, beautiful, sweet, elegant voice echoed in the Hall.
"The first Matriarch of the Long Clan, the woman who established the City, abolished the abuse of women within the Families. To our understanding, whether wives or concubines, they are all women, violence results from bad upbringing."
The grace she emits from her body made Madam Long, the Matriarch of the Clan, see her as an existence beyond any woman present, but no one harbored envy towards her, rather, the admiration she arouses in all hearts, makes her worthy of respect.
Although that admiration brings her into trouble with her husband, Lord Long. The walking barrel of vinegar.
What Madam Long expressed made Patriarch Jun feel humiliated. Lowering his hand, he did not know where to put his face.
Madam Jun felt a stab in her heart. She has always had to endure blows from her husband, mostly because of this concubine, and now that someone says they forbid violence? She feels she married in vain.
'Where were those rules when I married him?'
Yes, she married him out of ignorance. He needed her background in order to advance in the rankings, but no one told her about those rules. Her family didn't teach her?
Finding all that strange, she plucked up the courage to ask.
"Lord Long and Madam Long, may I have a word..." scrutinizing the expressions of both of them, she relaxed when she saw that when she spoke, their expressions calmed down.
When they both gave her consent to speak, she hesitated to express herself, but did not dare to look at her husband.
"... Those... Those rules, they established hundreds of years ago. If there is any precedent for disregarding them? We knew nothing about it..."
Madam Long approached her with Xiao Ling in her arms. And with a warm look, she explained.
"Families of high esteem, of an illustrious name, within the City know about them. Those of lower rank have a vague idea of them, but they are not ignorant of them either. So, if they really didn't know, that means someone kept them from knowing."
At this conjecture, both Lord Long and Madam Long could understand what was going on.
Lord Long waved his hand. "It ends here, just send the concubine back, I don't want to hear anymore about it, and you must inform yourselves about the rules of the City, you can play with your concubine, but she must not have children, and if she is pregnant, the baby cannot exist."
The meaning behind his words is more than obvious. Patriarch Jun, together with his wife, understood they were forgiven.
"Thank you, Lord Long. Thank you, Madam Long."
"No need, no need. It is my daughter's celebration. We have wasted a lot of time on this."
He knows his own wife; she did that because she wanted that her husband feel grateful towards this woman.
Having finished saying those words to them, Lord Long turned to the rest of the guests.
"Now, my esteemed guests, let us get on with the purpose of seeing each other's faces today. I know many wanted to be at home, seeing with your wives and enjoying the company of your children. But my daughter has priority first and foremost!"
What he said brought laughter to everyone, erasing all traces of the gloom mod from just now.