Chapter 834 277: Scholars! Spirit Storage Stage!
Indeed, it carries a bit of desolation, but within this pure desolation, there's also a sense of grandeur; it can be considered tragic yet magnificent.
So, does my elder brother hope for Xiangxiang to become the Courtesan?
"I don't know."
Wei Zhe held the teacup, his expression gradually calming down, letting out a soft sigh, "I don't want her to leave, but can I really bind her? And if she's going to be restrained by simple emotions, then she's not the person I see… but if she really leaves, I would be really reluctant."
"Is this what a scholar is like?" Yuchi gave a bitter smile.
"Indeed, very pedantic." Wei Zhe touched his hair and gave a sheepish smile, "But honestly, you can go and meet her. Xiangxiang is still receiving guests; you can chat with her, she's really a remarkable woman, very knowledgeable."
"..."
Yuchi's heart skipped a beat, and he quickly waved his hand: "No, no, if I have any thoughts, I'll look for Yuan'Er or Jiunuan. I won't get involved with Xiangxiang."
Oh my, my elder brother thinks in such a peculiar way, does he have no sense of possessiveness? He's good with Xiangxiang, and he wants me to be with her too? No way, that's too messy, my little heart can't handle it.
After all, Xiangxiang might actually become my sister-in-law in the future. It would be unavoidable to see her all the time, how would that work? How could I talk to my brother about my sister-in-law, should I say she's really gentle?
No.
I would be struck down by heavenly lightning.
And surprisingly, Wei Zhe seemed a bit disappointed… Yuchi was exasperated, wiping the blood from the corner of his mouth, he quickly asked: "Brother, how old is Xiangxiang now?"
"She's twenty-two this year." Wei Zhe immediately replied.
"She became well-known as Xiangxiang at twenty-two? Impressive, well-learned, she's a talented woman." Yuchi couldn't help but nod, continuing, "Twenty-two is still very young. Wait a few more years, even if she becomes the Courtesan, then Xufu Town can grow into a decent city. She can come to Xufu Town to do business, it's her hometown after all."
"Sanlang!" Wei Zhe was instantly excited, grabbing his third brother's hand tightly, shattering the teacup in the process.
"Ahem."
Yuchi felt awkward but still nodded seriously: "Don't rush, stabilize the guild first, secure it for a year, then start expanding Xufu Town next year. Aim to transform Xufu Town into a city in two or three years, and then replace Jiangzhou City's position within ten years."
"By then, how old would Xiangxiang be? Just thirty-two, at the prime of her beauty, that's excellent, these things shouldn't be rushed."
Even a fool could see that my elder brother cares deeply for Xiangxiang, so when I go to Jiangzhou City with little Ximo this time, I'll see what the Courtesan has planned. There's a Courtesan arriving in Jiangzhou City? That's quite novel, I'll chat with the Courtesan, and see if Xiangxiang can be looked after.
"Sanlang, you really are my own brother!"
"In the future, if you just say a word, I, as your elder brother, will stand right in front of you!" Wei Zhe was very touched.
"Hahaha, let's stabilize these things first, and handle Dad's matters properly. If Dad wants to take a concubine, there's no problem, but if he wants to marry her, that won't do. We must stop it if needed, otherwise, Dad might get more muddled with age, which would be troublesome."
Concubine and wife are different, in these times, a concubine is like having a girl from the brothel come to the house, temporarily private, but a wife is entirely different, a wife is a wife, with titles like first wife, second wife, and so on, with household expenses according to customs.
Concubines lack legal status, if they rely on a man's wealth, they are thinking too much. Whether it's for love depends on their vision, so concubines seek social status, with status comes security, even being the eighteenth wife is nothing to be ashamed of.
"There's absolutely no problem at all, in the worst case, we can give her some money behind the scenes. After all, she has spent a few years with Dad, treat it like business. But to exploit Wei Family's 300 people, that is unacceptable. Even though you are the Patriarch behind the scenes, our father is still the front-facing Patriarch, he's in a position of influence and shouldn't act recklessly."
This is why those little ladies keep petitioning the Emperor and why there are so many palace dramas. With status and without status is entirely different. Consider those colorful young women, claiming to love a seventy or eighty-year-old Emperor?
They might fool themselves, but they shouldn't fool others too. Otherwise, if the Emperor was an ordinary old man, would those young ladies still come and act coquettish?
Essentially, it's just a struggle for interests, Wei Family must not turn into a palace drama, for our father might not withstand the pleading of those little ladies behind the scenes.