Chapter 541 Father is Proud
Ning Fengzhe forged an anonymous secret letter and conveyed Gu Yuanqiong's invitation to Ning Hanwang.
After receiving the letter, Ning Hanwang immediately reported the good news to Fengzhe.
Ning Fengzhe flattered him and said a few words of compliment to boost his confidence so that he wouldn't have to succumb to the eldest prince's irritating mouth when he went to keep the appointment the next day.
The next afternoon, Ning Hanwang officially joined the eldest prince.
Despite his harsh words, Gu Yuanqiong did not forget his business and took the initiative to inform Ning Hanwang that he was about to seize Beizhaotai. If he needed to use the plan, he would have to leave Beijing. At that time, he would secretly entrust some matters of Beizhaotai to Ning Hanwang.
Ning Hanwang returned home with honor. With the protection of the eldest prince, he was no longer afraid of the power of the Mu clan.
After returning home and sitting down, he summoned everyone in the family, claiming to discuss important matters, but in fact to declare that he favored his concubine and neglected his wife.
Zheng Pulian was the elder, so to show respect, he went to invite him personally; the rest of the people were told by the waiter; and he ordered the housekeeper Qiu Zhi to call all the servants to gather together.
After the ceremony, everyone sat upright and stood respectfully, each taking their seats.
As the elder, Zheng Pulian asked the first question.
"My son is very anxious, what's the matter?"
Ning Han glanced at Madam Dimu, then made an embarrassed expression.
"Reporting to mother, my lady is virtuous and has repeatedly requested what I will do today. I cannot refuse, so I have no choice but to obey."
When he mentioned it for no reason, Mu Rong reacted slowly and her eyes were blank.
what?
Zheng Pulian had a kind face and treated Mu Rong with humility and courtesy.
"is it?"
"What does the virtuous daughter-in-law want?"
Ning Hanwang glanced at everyone in the hall, looked at them with pride, and announced loudly.
"From now on, servants in the mansion will no longer need to address my wife as Madam. Logically, if there are concubines in the mansion, they should be addressed as Madam."
"Anyone who disobeys the order will be charged with disrespect for the master and removed from the court."
If a servant is disrespectful to his master, once it is found, at the very least, his livelihood will be cut off; at the worst, he will be beaten to death.
Mu Rong's pupils trembled and she was suddenly surprised.
"what?"
She was puzzled.
It's really strange. Before, no matter who forced him, he refused to admit it and honestly tried to find ways to dispel the rumors.
Could it be that the sun rises in the west today?
How dare he openly favor his concubine over his wife?
Aren’t you afraid that afterwards, the relatives of the Mu clan will raise an army to hold you accountable?
Ning Hanwang was fearless and cast his eyes on her with the arrogant demeanor of a villain who had succeeded in his mission.
"Madam, why do you look like this? Isn't this what you have been looking forward to and asking me to do?"
In front of everyone, Mu Rong could not take off the mask of a good wife and could only admit it happily.
"Yes, that's right. Ever since the rumor of favoring a concubine and killing his wife started, I have been asking for this."
"I believe that wives and concubines in the harem should live in harmony. Only when the family is harmonious can there be a prosperous dynasty and the sea remain calm."
Ning Hanwang pretended to be stunned.
"Could it be that the rumor of favoring a concubine and destroying a wife was spread by Madam, deliberately to induce me to agree to this matter?"
Mu Rong forced a smile.
"Yes."
The servants all said in unison, following the master's evaluation, "Madam is virtuous."
Ning Hanwang pretended to be simple and honest and began to maintain his image.
"Madam is too modest. Even I should call you Madam instead."
"In this case, Madam has been greatly wronged. As a husband, I have made my own decision. I, alone, will continue to address you as Madam to show the deep love between husband and wife."
"Ma'am, please don't object."
Mu Rong gritted her teeth, pretended to be affectionate, and looked into Ning Han's eyes.
"Thank you for your love, sir."
Ning Hanwang was complacent.
"I treat my wife like this all the time."
Mu Rong remained pleasant.
"Yes."
Ning Hanwang continued to make trouble, making the situation worse. He felt depressed, but finally he had a moment of comfort.
"Madam also said that she wanted to give some of the power to run the household to Aunt Liu."
Mu Rong's body trembled, and her smile became even more wooden.
Liu Yan was flattered and moved to the point of crying.
"Sister, you are so virtuous..."
Mu Rong gritted her teeth and soothed her gently.
"Sister Liu, don't cry."
"Are you worried that you can't take good care of it? Don't worry, I will teach you."
"If you can help me and help me manage the household, I can save a lot of trouble."
"My sister likes to be lazy, please bear with me for the hard work."
Liu Yan believed it without a doubt and tears fell like rain.
"Thank you, sister, for trusting me so much."
Mu Rong's fists in her sleeves were almost clenched with sparks.
"We are sisters from the same prefecture, so why bother thanking each other? Sister Liu is so polite."
After the announcement, everyone dispersed, leaving only Ning Hanwang and his wife, sitting on an equal footing.
Ning Hanwang's eyebrows were raised, his eyes were raised, and he looked very provocative.
"Madam, why don't you go back to your residence?"
"What's up?"
When their eyes met again, Mu Rong's smile disappeared.
"When a couple does not hold any title or official position, or is just an ordinary citizen, they will respectfully address each other as husband and wife. If there is a concubine in the family, they will address each other as madam."
"Then, gradually, as more and more families practiced monogamy without concubines, the title of 'big lady' gradually became derogatory."
"To this day, even if there is a concubine in the family, no one calls her the eldest lady."
As she spoke, her expression became more and more depressed.
"My Lord, you are too reckless. I have an imperial decree, so why can't I be addressed as Madam?"
"Isn't this telling the world that you favor your concubine over your wife?"
Ning Hanwang met her gaze without dodging at all. From beginning to end, he had never been so tough.
"I dote on you, what can you do?"
Mu Rong was shocked.
"what?"
Ning Hanwang followed the example of the Mu people and did things his own way, speaking with confidence and self-righteousness.
"Which law stipulates that you can't favor a concubine and kill your wife? Only the so-called ancient sages, who arbitrarily restrained themselves, said that favoring a concubine and killing your wife is the way to chaos."
"Since ancient times, the rule is to change the title to Madam to inform outsiders that there is a concubine in the family. Is it wrong for me to do this?"
"Yan'er is already inferior to you by being a concubine. If the servants continue to address her as Madam, outsiders will not know that there is a concubine in the mansion. Wouldn't she be even more pitiful?"
"For fairness, it would be most appropriate to call you Madam. You are superior to me, so what if you suffer a little injustice?"
"I won't change the honorifics. You and I will still be husband and wife like before. Isn't that enough to make up for you?"
Every word was painful. Mu Rong's heart was boiling but her body was silent.
"In the current situation, can you and I, as husband and wife, go back to the way we were before?"
At that moment, Ning Han looked at Madam Luo Mou without any pity.
"Yeah, of course."
"Leave a matter for Fut to discuss with Madam. Is that respectful enough for you?"
Once upon a time, Mu Rong thought she had found her destined man, but now the man in front of her was as indifferent as Gu Mengzhen was back then, aloof and distant, as if he had never had the slightest affection for her.
She was in a state of confusion and bitterness.
Why can she live happily ever after getting divorced, giving birth to someone else's child, and then marrying another person?
Am I the only one, lonely and miserable, unloved by my master, disdained by my mother-in-law, and being trampled under the feet of a little concubine?
Could it be that my true love and devotion are ultimately no match for her calculating intentions?
Why should I be so kind?
Why do kind people always get no good rewards?
Mu Rong was so moved by herself that she burst into tears without realizing it.
"Master, please tell me what's the matter?"
Seeing that she was sad, Ning Hanwang added insult to injury, treating her coldly and mercilessly.
"Yan'er calls me Master respectfully, which makes me feel very distant from him. It's better to call me Master instead."
His lips were filled with the joy of victory, and he asked in a pretentious manner.
"What do you think, ma'am?"