Ren Yaoying was still dreaming her beautiful dream of becoming an official’s wife, unaware that she had already become a dead person without household registration.

Zhou Wen kept Ren Yaoying in his golden house for about a month. When it was time to go to Yizhou to take up his official post, he brought Ren Yaoying along, but Zhou Wen didn’t bring only Ren Yaoying – he also brought the concubine maid that his wife Gao Shi had given him.

Gao Shi was an extremely well-bred and virtuous woman. Although her appearance was merely delicate, she was very good at dressing and adorning herself, and was extremely considerate and tactful. Not only was Zhou Wen’s mother very satisfied with this daughter-in-law, but even Zhou Wen himself had quite a bit of affection for Gao Shi as his first wife. Even after taking Ren Yaoying, he had never thought of divorcing his wife.

According to Ren Yaoying’s intention, she wanted Zhou Wen to first conceal her existence from Gao Shi. However, Zhou Wen felt that his wife was a rare virtuous person, and thinking that in the future his wife would have to serve his parents and raise their children for him, he couldn’t bear to deceive her. So before leaving Yunyang City, he told Gao Shi about Ren Yaoying.

After Gao Shi learned of this, she indeed didn’t blame Zhou Wen. She also carefully asked about Zhou Wen and Ren Yaoying’s past. After hearing everything, she comforted Zhou Wen thoroughly and helped him come up with ideas. She suggested that when they reached Yizhou, they should find a proper family to adopt Ren Yaoying, then take her as a legitimate concubine. Zhou Wen now held an official position, and if Ren Yaoying followed Zhou Wen around without proper status, not only would it disgrace this good girl, Ren Yaoying, but it would also be bad for Zhou Wen’s future career.

Zhou Wen nodded repeatedly upon hearing this, extremely grateful for Gao Shi’s thoughtfulness. For the next several days, he stayed in the main room, accompanying Gao Shi.

After Zhou Wen told Ren Yaoying about Gao Shi’s words, Ren Yaoying flew into a rage, saying that with her status, how could she casually acknowledge any ordinary family? Gao Shi harbored ill intentions and wanted to control her.

Faced with Ren Yaoying’s crying and making a scene, Zhou Wen first patiently coaxed her and analyzed the situation for her. But how could Ren Yaoying be willing to listen? In the end, Zhou Wen couldn’t stand Ren Yaoying’s unreasonable behavior and returned to his own home to enjoy Gao Shi’s gentle consideration.

Before leaving, Gao Shi said she was worried about Zhou Wen being alone outside and had the concubine maid follow him to his post. Zhou Wen had originally been somewhat afraid that Ren Yaoying would make a scene again, but Gao Shi said she had two close friends who had married into Yizhou – one whose husband’s family had considerable connections in Yizhou’s official circles, and another whose husband’s family was a prominent clan in Yizhou. Although this concubine was only a maid, she had grown up with Gao Shi from childhood. Not only could she read, calculate, and manage a household, but she was also familiar with Gao Shi’s close friends. Taking her along would be an asset to Zhou Wen.

Zhou Wen was naturally delighted to hear this. Moreover, this concubine’s appearance was no inferior to Ren Yaoying’s, and she was very good at serving people. Zhou Wen had originally been somewhat reluctant to part with her, so in the end, he happily left, taking the maid that Gao Shi had given him.

When Ren Yaoying saw Zhou Wen arrive with Gao Shi’s concubine, she was so angry that she smashed two cups and sulked for several days without speaking to Zhou Wen. Zhou Wen was already very busy with his new official appointment and had no mood to coax Ren Yaoying, so when he returned home, he would stay in the concubine’s room.

By the time Ren Yaoying came to her senses and regretted her behavior, the inner courtyard of Zhou Wen’s new residence in Yizhou had already been controlled by that concubine maid. The servants who had come with Zhou Wen this time were all prepared by Gao Shi for Zhou Wen, so where was there any place for Ren Yaoying to interfere?

Ren Yaoying was so angry her teeth itched, but she could only swallow her anger and coax Zhou Wen back. When Zhou Wen was willing to rest in her room, Ren Yaoying proposed taking over household management. However, during this period Zhou Wen was working hard to socialize with Yizhou officials, and the letters Gao Shi wrote to her close friends and the concubine maid had helped him greatly. That concubine maid also managed the mansion’s internal affairs in an orderly fashion that satisfied Zhou Wen greatly, so naturally, he refused Ren Yaoying’s request to manage the household.

Zhou Wen had been in his post for less than two months when news came from Yunyang City that Gao Shi was pregnant, obviously conceived during those days before he came to Yizhou. A few months later, Gao Shi gave birth to another son. Gao Shi’s position in the Zhou family became even more secure, and Zhou Wen was in high spirits from the joyous event, walking with a spring in his step.

But while others were happy, Ren Yaoying was not. After Zhou Wen took his post, he naturally had many social obligations. Ren Yaoying wanted to act as the Zhou family’s mistress and socialize with the wives of officials. Although Zhou Wen was naturally romantic, he knew this was inappropriate and didn’t agree. Instead, it was Gao Shi’s maid who frequently entered and left the inner courtyards of several prominent households, helping Gao Shi deliver things to those ladies.

Once, when Zhou Wen was pestered by Ren Yaoying until his head ached, he indulged her wish and let her go burn incense at a temple. On the first and fifteenth of the month, many officials’ wives went to temples, and Ren Yaoying wanted to break into these ladies’ social circle. But when she went to the temple and encountered several ladies of status, when she introduced herself as part of their family, not one person was willing to acknowledge her.

One young lady did look her over a few times before speaking: “Mrs. Zhou? How is it that I remember that Mrs. Zhou is still in Yunyang City serving her parents-in-law? I’ve known her for over ten years, but I didn’t know she had grown to look like you.”

The several ladies nearby all laughed, looking at Ren Yaoying as if she were a clown who didn’t know her place.

“Could she be some female swindler from somewhere?”

“I did hear that Master Zhou’s household has a concubine who, taking advantage of Mrs. Zhou still being in her hometown, lords it over everyone, forgetting what she is, and every day presents herself as Mrs. Zhou.”

“Tsk, this Master Zhou is confused. Mrs. Zhou is at home serving his parents and raising children for him, while he lets some brazen concubine come out and embarrass him.”

“Hey, aren’t all men like this? It’s just that Mrs. Zhou is truly kind-hearted. In my opinion, with her background, marrying Master Zhou was beneath her, but she has such a gentle temperament. Just a few days ago, she had her father write to my husband asking him to take extra care of Master Zhou. I feel it’s not worth it for her.”

Ren Yaoying was so angry at these ladies’ cold mockery that her face turned red and she felt dizzy. In the end, she could only slink away in defeat.

However, Ren Yaoying’s appearance this time brought a very bad influence to Zhou Wen. All of Yizhou was spreading rumors that Master Zhou favored his concubine over his wife, letting a concubine run the household. His brother-in-law even wrote him a letter asking about this matter, half-truthfully reminding him that his father-in-law had heard about it and was somewhat displeased.

Zhou Wen deeply regretted letting Ren Yaoying go out and cause trouble, and never dared let her out again. Then Zhou Wen wrote to his wife, Gao Shi, at home. Gao Shi replied with comfort, telling Zhou Wen not to worry and that she would handle this matter properly. Not long after, Gao Shi’s maternal family spoke up for Zhou Wen, helping him recover some of his reputation.

However, since Gao Shi hadn’t appeared in Yizhou, the rumors outside weren’t so easily dispelled. Zhou Wen indeed needed a female family member who could help him socialize with other officials’ wives. Although the concubine maid Gao Shi had him bring had some capability, her status was ultimately lacking. Zhou Wen wrote back wanting Gao Shi to come to Yizhou, but unexpectedly was refused by Gao Shi.

Gao Shi’s reply to Zhou Wen was extremely sincere and moving. The general idea was that with her husband away, she, as a daughter-in-law, should serve his parents in his place. She also comforted him by saying she would find him another good concubine to serve him. Zhou Wen was deeply moved by reading the letter and declined Gao Shi’s offer to take a concubine for him.

Zhou Wen then wrote to his mother, telling her of his difficulties and emphasizing Gao Shi’s filial piety. Finally, Zhou Wen’s mother personally went to find Gao Shi, saying that she was still young and didn’t need a daughter-in-law serving her constantly, and told her to follow Zhou Wen to take up his post in Yizhou.

Gao Shi declined repeatedly, but was finally forced by her mother-in-law to go to Yizhou. Since marrying in, Gao Shi had consecutively given birth to two sons. This time she brought her eldest son to Yizhou, temporarily leaving the younger son with his grandparents, planning to bring him over when he was a bit older.

Zhou Wen had longed and waited, finally getting his wife to come. For a whole month, he stayed in the main room, and the couple were as sweet as honey mixed with oil. Zhou Wen entrusted all the inner courtyard and outside social affairs to Gao Shi. Gao Shi didn’t disappoint Zhou Wen’s trust, managing everything inside and out extremely well, saving Zhou Wen much worry.

Gao Shi and Ren Yaoying finally met face to face. Gao Shi was very amiable toward Ren Yaoying, rewarding her with a pair of excellent jade bracelets. She didn’t require morning and evening greetings from her, nor did she make her follow rules. Her food, clothing, and expenses were never withheld. Everyone outside said Gao Shi was virtuous and tolerant, and Zhou Wen loved and valued Gao Shi even more.

Conversely, Ren Yaoying always found Gao Shi displeasing to the eye, secretly cursing her as having a Buddha’s mouth but a snake’s heart, with deep schemes. Gao Shi didn’t argue with her, but Zhou Wen gradually became annoyed with Ren Yaoying’s attempts to sow discord.

On this day, Gao Shi went to visit her close friends. Three young ladies sat together chatting, each keeping only their most trusted senior maids by their sides.

Gao Shi served tea to her two close friends, smiling: “Thanks to both sisters’ support.”

The lady Ren Yaoying had encountered at the temple waved her hand: “What’s the point of family sisters saying such things? We daughters-in-law all have it hard. Men spend their time in debauchery, lustful and fickle, yet demand that we not be jealous or troublesome, that we be understanding and reasonable. Not only must we be filial to their parents and raise children, but we must also serve their various beauties well. If we fail in any aspect, there are seven grounds for divorce waiting to sweep us out the door. Hmph – they get all the good things, but don’t think about whether they burned enough incense in their past lives or buried their ancestral graves in the right places!”

Gao Shi sighed: “As women, we all get through life this way. What can we do?”

Another young woman also said: “Especially in prominent households, which man doesn’t have three wives and four concubines? When the legitimate wife gets older, she becomes a decoration. The men in our families are still relatively good – at least they’re ambitious and not confused about important matters.”

The first woman to speak said, “I think it’s because we didn’t do enough good deeds in our past lives. There are good men in this world, it’s just that we haven’t encountered them. Look at our Yanbei Prince – he’s a good one. Not only is he heroically outstanding and dependable, but he married only one Princess Consort. All his children were born to the Princess Consort. Although he did take in a Liao princess initially, everyone later knew that the princess was no good and was forced on him by the Emperor. Our Prince never even consummated the marriage with her.”

Upon hearing this, Gao Shi also nodded and sighed: “The Princess Consort is blessed. A man like the Yanbei Prince is not someone everyone has the fortune to encounter.”