Chapter 99: Small Province big Problems 1 (2/2)

Zhongshan Ling looked up shocked ”that long ago?”

”Yes, your highness. Which makes one question the motive for Miss Fenfang meeting you, was it really innocent or planned all along to improve jer station. They must have been forced to hasten things up after catching the third young mistress meeting you”

Zhongshan Ling slapped the desk, ”innocent or not there is no excusing my involvement with her. We can not leave her reputation destroyed this way, I will speak with Minister Zhu about arranging a satisfying Union”.

Zhongshan Ling made a move to stand but was held back by Eunuch Lun, ”not so fast your Highness”.

Zhongshan Ling glared at the elderly eunuch, he was about to go off on him but tge eunuch's next words made him pause.

”With all due respect Your Highness, I think that bringing in a concubine right now would be insulting to the Crown Princess consort and can create a huge mess. It is highly unethical to do marry a senior concubine mere weeks before the Crown Princess is married in”.

Even in his anger Zhongshan Ling understood what eunuch Lun said. It all made sense to him, his Imperial mother, the Empress employed a lot of effort to get him such a beneficial union like this. He was not about to belittle her efforts like this by committing such a textbook mistake like this.

He nodded, ”I can not let her suffer such injustice, what do you suggest I do?”

Eunuch Lun moved closer, ”there are two ways you could handle this, one is by adding to her dowry in secret and then convincing minister Zhu to marry her off as the main wife instead of a concubine. This method is most preferred by noble families since your relationship with Miss Fenfang was innocent. This method will leave both parties satisfied since it will leave the Yu family in a good relationship with your highness”

Zhongshan Ling's brow creased, ”this is unacceptable, isn't adding to her dowry going to make our relationship seem more unclean and put her at a disadvantage with her future in-laws. I think this rule is best used when marrying off your concubine! What is the next option?”

Eunuch Lun pulsed his lip and continued, ”The second option which I suspect that you will find more comfortable but I don't think the third mistress would willingly agree to is to marry her in as a normal concubine.

”You can promote her once she has served you long enough and produced a son. The Grand Princess and commandery Princess Xia wouldn't find fault in that since it is common for a young master to take a concubine to teach him of bed matters before marriage”

Zhongshan Ling was silent for some minutes as he thought deeply. Both were a means to an end but while he felt that the first option was insulting to Zhu Fenfang, he found himself leaning more to the second option. The thought of another man touching and owning Zhu Fenfang drove him mad.

”Arrange a meeting with Minister Zhu,” he said to Xie Fang.

*********

Two days later Zhu Fenfang was sent in a litter to the Crown Prince's residence. She was brought in through the side door and unlike the main wife, she wasn't given a wedding ceremony. Huge wedding ceremonies and Imperial decrees were reserved for the main wife.

Although the Crown Prince's concubine was at the same level as an imperial concubine and higher than a normal concubine. She was still a concubine, she couldn't leave the residence without permission and couldn't attend parties. Although she was given the title lady and madam, she wasn't on the same level as the main wife.

She would never be buried with the Crown Princess and her children would be registered under the main wife. Her only advantage was that her conditions were better than that of a normal concubine.