The moment Ji Xiaobo got home, he had someone pack him up, taking only the small remaining box of jewelry with him.

The whole family’s fine clothes were also carried out through the side door by two other servants.

Between the clothes and the jewelry belonging to his three Madams and four daughters, it filled an entire cart.

Once all this was done, the Ji family sat in the main hall, waiting for Feng Jiu’er to arrive.

Time trickled by, drop by drop. Those who had been sitting stood up; those who had been pacing sat down.

Sitting, walking, standing — every face was uneasy, every person restless.

“Father, when is this City Lord supposed to show up? She’s kept us waiting a whole two hours. Isn’t she being a bit too arrogant?” the eldest daughter complained.

“Exactly.” The second daughter, unable to remain seated, stood up as well. “What City Lord? Did anyone even ask for our consent?”

“A mere woman — who knows how she managed to become City Lord?” the third daughter sneered.

The fourth daughter had just turned twelve this year. Still innocent and unaware, she sat quietly without saying a word.

“My lord, we have Master Mao — why should we be afraid of some woman?” the Third Madam rolled her eyes. “For all we know, she’s just someone good at warming a bed!”

“Third Sister, are you talking about yourself?” the Second Madam sneered, glancing at the Third Madam.

“You—” The Third Madam glared at this woman with no filter on her mouth, snorted coldly, and turned back to Ji Xiaobo.

“My lord, aren’t you going to say something to Second Sister? She’s always spouting this kind of nonsense!”

“Aren’t we supposed to be one family? How can you talk about your own sister like that?”

“Who says we’re family with you?” The Second Madam was clearly offended and was about to find somewhere to vent.

Ji Xiaobo could no longer sit still. He slapped his thigh, stood up, and resumed pacing through the hall.

Seeing him like this, the two Madams didn’t dare provoke him further for the moment — they could only glare wordlessly at each other.

“Father, I want to go out and play,” the eldest daughter said, standing. “I’m not waiting anymore! We finally got through the war, and now what other mess is this?”

“Big Sister, are you going out to play?” the youngest daughter stood as well. “I want to go too.”

“Play, play, play — that’s all you know!” Ji Xiaobo shot the eldest daughter a look.

“Why can’t I go out and play?” the eldest daughter stared at him. “Have you not noticed — when have those two sons of yours ever stayed home to guard the house?”

“Even during the war they were out chasing women, like they couldn’t survive a single day without one, let alone now.”

Ji Xiaobo took a deep breath and looked at the First Madam. “Where did Zhen’er and Sheng’er go? Why aren’t they back yet?”

“My lord, neither of them is my own son. If you want to know where they’ve gone, shouldn’t you ask their own mother?” the First Madam said, utterly exasperated.

Was it truly her fault for not bearing him a son? Was that reason enough to bring home one concubine after another?

Then again, thinking it over, it wasn’t only about sons — this man had brought home a second and third wife right after she’d given birth to her very first daughter.

Ji Xiaobo was used to asking the First Madam whenever anything came up at home. He never expected that even now, at a moment like this, his own principal wife would say such things.

“Where did the two of them go?” Ji Xiaobo looked at the Second Madam.

The Ji family’s two sons were both born of the Second Madam.

So even though it was the Third Madam who currently held his favor, and the First Madam who was properly and formally married in, the Second Madam had never thought much of either of them.

“I don’t know,” the Second Madam frowned. “If you hadn’t led them astray, would my sons have turned out this way?”

Clearly, the Second Madam no longer thought much of Ji Xiaobo either.

A mother’s status rose with her sons — who was there for her to fear?

Ji Xiaobo was being provoked by the First Madam, and provoked again by the Second Madam. He was so angry he stamped his foot.

But not knowing when Feng Jiu’er would arrive, he could only swallow his anger and hold back.

The eldest daughter truly did not want to stay any longer. She looked at the youngest daughter. “Pei’er, let’s go. Big Sister will treat you to something delicious.”

“Mm-hm.” The youngest daughter nodded and stepped over to join the eldest daughter.

“Where are you going?” Ji Xiaobo asked.

“Just for a walk!” The eldest daughter took the youngest daughter’s hand and left.

Today, everyone’s temper was short, and there was one crucial reason for it.

They had lived in comfort and luxury for so many years, free to do as they pleased without anyone questioning them. Now the new City Lord had arrived, and they could only wear clothes dug out from the bottom of their trunks.

In any case, none of these women had a pleasant expression left to give.

Ji Xiaobo was furious. What was going on? What was going on?

He paced back to the main seat and sat down, slamming the table hard.

Seeing this, the second and third daughters immediately stood up.

“Father, we’re going out too,” the second daughter said.

“Father, I’m going as well,” the third daughter added.

The two sisters then joined hands and left, paying no mind to whether Ji Xiaobo agreed or not.

Ji Xiaobo gripped the armrest of his chair tightly, looking at the three women still in the hall.

“None of you are going anywhere. The City Lord will be here soon.”

He was practically ready to explode — and not one person had come forward to pour him water.

The Third Madam, who was best at reading the room, stood up, came to kneel beside the main seat, and poured him a cup of tea.

“My lord, don’t be angry. Once they’re back, you can properly teach them a lesson. Right now, there’s no point holding them here.”

“Hmph!” Ji Xiaobo was the type who liked to bully the weak.

Seeing the Third Madam acting so humble and submissive, he only slapped the armrest again.

The First Madam and Second Madam poured their own tea and no longer bothered with whatever was happening at the main seat.

One was the proper wife, and the other had borne two sons — neither had much to fear.

What was more, everything Ji Xiaobo had done today left them thoroughly displeased.

He was nothing more than a City Lord who hadn’t even secured her seat yet, and this man was already frightened out of his wits.

Not only had he sent away all their belongings — he’d even sent away the servants, leaving them without so much as someone to pour their tea!

The two women, harboring resentment, sipped their tea in silence.

At the main seat, the Third Madam kept flattering him, pouring tea, kneading his feet, pounding his back, until Ji Xiaobo’s expression finally eased somewhat.

After an unknown length of time, a servant finally came rushing in.

“My lord, First Madam, Second Madam, Third Madam — the City Lord has arrived.” The servant, upon entering, looked utterly terrified, his legs trembling.

“The steward — the steward is bringing them in now.”

“Good.” Ji Xiaobo immediately stood and walked toward the door. “The three of you, come with me.”

The Third Madam followed close behind Ji Xiaobo, while the First Madam and Second Madam rose and followed at an unhurried pace.

Soon, Ji Xiaobo led Feng Jiu’er and her group inside. He looked toward the main seat and gestured.

“City Lord, please.”

Only one servant remained; the other was the steward, who hurried over to straighten the rug on the main seat.

“City Lord, please.”

Feng Jiu’er glanced at the main seat but did not hurry to sit down.

“A new rug?” she turned to look at Ji Xiaobo.

“Yes, yes.” Ji Xiaobo immediately waved a hand. “Go, bring the City Lord a new rug.”

“Yes.” The servant hurried off.

Feng Jiu’er, however, was in no rush. She glanced around the hall for a moment, then suddenly remarked, “Town Chief, it seems life here has been going rather well.”