Chapter 1255: Madam Hou Goes to the Capital
Madam Hou considered the proposal for just one night before agreeing to it.
As an exiled prisoner of lowly birth, following a high official to the capital to become his concubine, what reason would she have to refuse?
Even if not for herself, she had to think about her daughter.
The old lady found it strange, "But she’s been exiled to Linzhang Prefecture. If she simply follows Lord Wan, won’t people say that Lord Wan is bending the law for personal gain?"
Shu Yu smiled, "Of course, it’s not that simple. Although Madam Hou has been exiled, she is the concubine of Second Master Shu. Moreover, she isn’t a noble concubine; strictly speaking, she’s comparable to a servant of the Shu family. If Second Master Shu decides to sell her, that would be quite normal."
"So, Second Master Shu sold Madam Hou to Lord Wan?" the old lady exclaimed in surprise.
Shu Yu nodded, "Aunt Hou said that after we left, the Shu family’s days became increasingly difficult. The main household and the second household had a complete falling out. Second Master Shu was indifferent, living just for food and drink, without foresight or skill. At least the main household has Shu Feng, who has been cultivated as the heir of the Shu family since childhood."
Though the main household’s days were not great, Shu Feng had authority, and everyone in the family listened to him, allowing them to barely manage to survive.
The situation was different in the second household. Second Master Shu believed himself to be the elder, wanting to be lazy and have his wife, children, and concubine serve him. But everyone was exiled, already living miserably. Initially hoping Second Master Shu, as the head of the household, would come and lead them to good days, he instead made things worse.
Second Master Shu tried to impose his elder status, while Shu Quan wanted to emulate his brother Shu Feng and be the leader of the second household. Father and son clashed intensely, with Second Madam caught in the middle, struggling, and the household in constant turmoil with no one seriously working.
In the end, Second Master Shu was defeated; after all, he was older, and Second Madam cared more for her son, so Shu Quan became the head of the second household.
Naturally, he wouldn’t let Second Master Shu be lazy; not only that, as a man, he needed to work harder than Second Madam and the others.
In any case, the more one works, the more one eats.
Second Master Shu’s days were exceptionally tough, with his wife, concubine, and children all unable to care for him.
Thus, when Lord Wan came knocking, Second Master Shu felt he had found hope.
Initially, he wanted to put on airs. If the other party wanted Madam Hou, he would make demands, even requesting the outlandish condition that Lord Wan take him away from the exile area, releasing him without guilt.
Lord Wan, having been an official for many years, wouldn’t be threatened by someone like that.
He laid out the conditions: first, give him a lighter job; second, ask the steward of Righteous Dao Village to look after him more; third, give him twenty taels of silver as payment for Madam Hou’s sale.
He could agree, or not agree, it didn’t matter.
Anyway, Madam Hou would continue residing at the courier station, and Second Master Shu wouldn’t be able to see them or get any benefits from her and her daughter.
Second Master Shu had no choice; he eventually gritted his teeth and agreed to Lord Wan’s terms.
Dealing with someone like Second Master Shu doesn’t require much effort; the hardships of life are already enough to crush him.
And so, Madam Hou became Lord Wan’s concubine and was taken away by him.
The old lady sighed a bit, "In the past, I always thought it was completely unreasonable that concubines could be bought and sold. A concubine serves the head master; surely there should be some marital connection, right? Selling them at will is simply inhumane. But as for Aunt Hou’s situation, I can’t help but be thankful that the ability to buy and sell concubines isn’t necessarily a bad thing."