Madam Mao cut off her memories and looked up somewhat embarrassedly at Yan Sanhe.

Yan Sanhe said casually, “Madam, this wasn’t foolish—it was brave.”

In an instant, Madam Mao’s gaze toward Yan Sanhe changed.

In this world, some people were initially stunning but proved ordinary upon closer inspection.

But this person before her—initially cold, not even letting her finish speaking completely, wearing an air of superiority.

Yet upon more contact, she discovered this person had something quite special about her, definitely not ordinary.

Seeing Madam Mao staring blankly at her, Yan Sanhe waited a moment before prompting, “What happened after?”

“Afterward, Old Master calculated with his fingers and nodded to my mother.”

Madam Mao quickly continued, “My mother was overjoyed beyond measure. She couldn’t even bother eating and said to Old Master: Lord Zhu, let’s talk in the study.”

Yan Sanhe: “What did Old Master say?”

Madam Mao: “Old Master didn’t rise at first. He used his other hand to calculate again before agreeing to go to the study.”

Yan Sanhe: “The matter was settled just like that?”

Madam Mao’s lips curved upward. “Just like that, it was settled.”

Yan Sanhe: “You didn’t discuss the concubine-born issue?”

“We did.”

Mother later told her this—

Whether legitimate or concubine-born, what we women truly need to see is the man’s character and his capabilities.

Good character and capability—even if concubine-born, life will become more and more prosperous.

Poor character and no capability—even if legitimate-born, life will decline day by day.

For a concubine-born child to be brought along by his father shows considerable ability.

Sitting beside you, he didn’t raise his head or glance sideways, sitting properly—this shows good character too.

Hearing Mother say this, she finally dared reveal her encounter with him six years ago at Jietai Temple.

Mother, upon hearing this, became even more satisfied with this marriage.

A nine-year-old child who could pray for his birth mother showed such filial piety.

Two children having a chance encounter six years prior showed how fated this marriage was.

“So I was betrothed at eighteen, married into the Zhu family at nineteen, and bore our eldest son at twenty.”

Madam Mao’s face showed pride.

“Though my lord was concubine-born, he was willing to work hard and put in effort. Of the four legitimate sons in the residence, none had his capability. Later, he was naturally designated as family head by Old Master.”

After becoming family head, life became even smoother.

My lord handled external affairs—outside matters required no concern from her.

She managed internal affairs, keeping the inner residence organized perfectly without disorder.

My lord only knew divination and feng shui, disliking mundane matters. How many mu of fields the family had, annual harvests, expenditures—he knew absolutely nothing about any of it.

All household matters, large and small, were decided by her.

“Speaking without fear of Miss’s laughter.”

Madam Mao touched her temples. “If not for this incident, no one in the capital has my good fortune.”

Yan Sanhe was momentarily speechless.

This was the honest truth.

A capable husband, filial children, sole authority in the inner residence, no worries about food, clothing, or anything.

Not just the capital—in the entire realm, few people had better fate than Madam Mao.

Yan Sanhe raised an eyebrow. “I heard that though Old Master Zhu didn’t take concubines, those who climbed into his bed…”

“Miss Yan.”

Madam Mao actively interrupted. “You’re still young. You’ve probably not yet tasted the flavor of romantic love, so you see some things as too important.”

“Such as?”

“One lifetime, one couple.”

Oh?

Yan Sanhe deliberately lifted her chin. “Isn’t this what every woman wants?”

“It’s what every young woman wants.”

After speaking, Madam Mao couldn’t help but laugh self-mockingly.

“When I was young, I wanted it too. If any woman looked at my lord twice, I wanted to gouge out her eyes. My heart was sour—couldn’t tolerate anyone at all.”

“What about later?”

“Later, when I grew old, wrinkles appeared on my face, my figure sagged, and looking at those young vixens again, I could suddenly tolerate them.”

“What was the reason you could tolerate them?”

“Because my lord’s eyes would linger on those vixens. When young, his eyes stayed only on me. If asked to look away, he couldn’t bear to.”

Madam Mao touched her face. “But people can’t eat only one thing their entire lives. Even dragon meat from heaven would grow tiresome one day.”

Yan Sanhe: “So you allowed maids to climb into bed but didn’t allow them to bear children?”

“This is also what my mother taught me.”

Mother said a clever woman must grasp the major and release the minor.

What’s major?

Harmonious marriage is major.

Sons having success is major, daughters marrying good families is major.

The family estate not falling into others’ hands is major.

As long as these three major things were stable, everything else was minor—could turn a blind eye.

One or two maids climbing into bed… this was so minor it couldn’t be more minor, not worth placing in her heart at all.

“Old Master Zhu also never proposed taking any as concubines?”

Hearing this, Madam Mao confidently straightened her chest.

“Miss Yan, I must speak immodestly again. My lord’s relations with those women couldn’t even be called casual entertainment—just occasionally changing flavors. His entire life until death, the only person in his heart was me.”

Madam Mao’s words clearly weren’t empty talk.

“When I bore our eldest, I labored for three days and nights without delivering. The imperial physician asked whether to save the mother or child. He didn’t hesitate even a moment—directly answered ‘save the mother.'”

At that time, she was in agony, once thinking she couldn’t get through this trial. Hearing that “save the mother,” suddenly a fierce determination arose in her heart.

Afterward, she asked: Why answer so decisively?

He replied: Does that need thinking? If the child is gone, we can have another. If you’re gone, where would I find another so compatible?

“I bore six children. For every one, he waited outside. I hurt inside the room while he worried outside.”

Madam Mao recalled the past, her face showing happiness again.

“After the child was born, he wouldn’t even glance at it—just rushed over regardless to see me. No one could stop him. Only seeing me well would his heart settle.

These words carry not a drop of falsehood. Miss Yan can ask anyone randomly—among those sisters-in-law in the Zhu family, not one doesn’t envy me. All say Fourth Master dotes on me.”

At this point, Li Buyan, who had been silent, suddenly interjected, “Just for this alone, Old Master Zhu was a good husband.”

Yan Sanhe turned to glance at Li Buyan.

When Li Buyan’s mother bore Li Buyan, the man wasn’t waiting outside.

Li Buyan’s mother resented this her entire life. Even afterward, no matter how well the man treated her or how much he tried to make up for it, it was all futile.

“Besides when I bore children, whenever I had a headache or fever, he worried too.”

Speaking of this, thinking of how well the man treated her, Madam Mao’s eyes gradually moistened.

“After my lord fell gravely ill, I also wanted to go to his courtyard to attend him. But after just one night of service, my lord felt distressed and had me return to rest.

I told him—we’ve spent most of a lifetime together, and I’ve never properly attended you even one day. Please let me stay. Miss Yan, guess what he said to me?”

“What?”

“He said, ‘I married you not to have you attend me, but to have you enjoy blessings with me.'”