Pei Lizheng couldn't help feeling fortunate that he had chosen to stand by Pei Qin's side. She had managed to secure an award that seemed unattainable and fiercely slapped Old Pei's House in the face. Initially, it seemed like they couldn't compete with Lady Chen and Pei Zongli, who had the backing of a wealthy family. But Pei Qin already had their Achilles' heel in her grasp – the matter of the concubine being promoted to legitimate wife. Pei Zongli couldn't possibly marry Lady Fang and not divorce her only to marry another; Lady Chen would simply be the concubine elevated to legitimate wife. And now, without the Fang family's consent, Lady Chen technically didn't lose much, but her two sons would only be considered illegitimate.
In the countryside, such matters might be trivial, but for wealthy aristocratic families, the distinction between legitimate and illegitimate children is crucial; a concubine and her children are seen as half-servants.
