Zhao Luoning had good reasons to be so confident.
According to the laws of this dynasty, a concubine could only enter the household with the consent of the legal wife. The children born to a concubine would be counted under the name of the legal wife and be registered in the family genealogy as belonging to her.
So, getting into the household was a crucial hurdle.
As long as the legal wife didn't give her consent, even if a woman lived in the mansion, she couldn't be considered a proper concubine. And as long as the legal wife agreed, even a child born to a mistress outside the mansion could be taken back and regarded as the legal wife's child.
Of course, this law was often overlooked.
Because it was very difficult to implement in reality.
Few legal wives wanted to be divorced by their husbands' families. Moreover, it was quite normal for a man to have multiple wives and concubines. Even if the legal wives didn't like their husbands taking concubines, they wouldn't make a big fuss to the point of having a showdown like "either the concubine goes or I do".
Zhao Luoning didn't care about all this.
Whoever bullied her wouldn't have an easy time. She wasn't afraid of a fight to the bitter end.
Madam Ji was annoyed by Zhao Luoning's words.
"Zhao Luoning, you're so arrogant. Do you believe I can make Shisu divorce you right now?"
Zhao Luoning coldly raised her eyes and calmly replied,
"Sure. May I ask which of the Seven Reasons for Divorce I've committed, Mother-in-law?"
Although a man could have multiple wives and concubines and women had a lower social status, the law would protect a legally - wedded wife. As long as a woman didn't commit any of the Seven Reasons for Divorce, a man couldn't divorce her casually.
The Seven Reasons for Divorce were: disobedience to parents - in - law, childlessness, promiscuity, jealousy, having a serious illness, being garrulous, and theft.
Zhao Luoning counted them one by one.
"First, since I entered this mansion, I've paid my respects to you and the old matriarch every morning and evening without fail. Have I ever been unfilial to you?
Second, I've been in this mansion for less than half a year. It surely doesn't meet the condition of childlessness of having no children after three years of marriage, right?
Third, since I married into the Ji Mansion, I've rarely left the inner courtyard. Not only have I never been promiscuous, but I've never even been the subject of any rumors.
Fourth, the Second Master has many concubines. I've never minded where he spends the night. I've always cared about his concubines. I don't think I can be called a jealous woman..."
Hearing this, Madam Ji seized on Zhao Luoning's words and said, "You won't let Lianxiang enter the mansion. That's jealousy."
"You and the old matriarch deceived me first. After such a great humiliation, should I still swallow my anger? If you insist on putting a label on me, I don't mind taking this to court."
Hearing this, the old matriarch couldn't stand it anymore.
"Absurd! It's just a small matter. How could it come to the point of taking it to court! The Ji family can't afford such a disgrace!" The old matriarch glared at Madam Ji, whose words were making the situation worse, and scolded, "Stop talking!"
Madam Ji had no choice but to shut up reluctantly.
She glared at Zhao Luoning viciously. The latter was sitting upright on the chair. Her thick makeup covered her expression, making her look like a cold porcelain doll without any emotion, which was extremely creepy.
The old matriarch felt a chill down her spine when she saw Zhao Luoning's look, but she still had some sense.
After all, it wasn't worth losing such a proper daughter - in - law and alienating the wealthy Zhao family in Huangcheng just for a woman from a brothel.
"Luoning, your mother - in - law was just speaking out of anger. Not to mention that your marriage to Shisu was arranged by your grandfather, a three - generation agreement between the Ji and Zhao families. Just these days since you came to the Ji Mansion, everyone has liked you very much. How could we bear to let you go?"
Zhao Luoning snorted and said, "Don't worry, Old Matriarch. If your family divorces me and sends me back, I'll go and confess my sins to my grandfather."
The old matriarch was really headache - stricken. She was too lazy to persuade anymore and simply asked,
"Just tell me how you plan to handle this?"
Zhao Luoning gave a cold smile. She had been waiting for this question.
"Keep the mother, get rid of the child."
Zhao Luoning said calmly, but her words were like a bombshell that stunned Madam Ji and the old matriarch.
"Zhao Luoning!" the old matriarch roared. "Do you know what you're saying?"
"Yes, I originally wanted to keep the child and get rid of the mother, but then I thought it was inappropriate. That would just make you two bear the blame for murder. So, keeping the mother and getting rid of the child is the most appropriate way."
Zhao Luoning was discussing the life and death of Lianxiang and her child in the same tone as discussing what to eat today. Her coldness scared Madam Ji and the old matriarch terribly.
She usually looked so gentle and obedient, but when she got angry, she was scarier than a wild beast.
Moreover, she hadn't even really gotten angry. She just gave them cold looks, making them feel as if their hearts were being roasted on a fire, both physically and mentally uncomfortable.
"Zhao Luoning!"
This time, the one who roared at her wasn't the old matriarch or Madam Ji, but Ji Shisu, who rushed back after hearing the news.
As soon as he reached the door, he heard Zhao Luoning's words "keep the mother, get rid of the child".
Zhao Luoning looked up and saw Ji Shisu rushing in angrily. He came forward, grabbed Zhao Luoning's hand, and was about to drag her out.
"Zhao Luoning, what are you going crazy about here?"
Going crazy?
Zhao Luoning was extremely disappointed in this man in front of her.
Did he really think she was going crazy?
Whether it was out of grievance or resentment, a tear slid down from the corner of her eye, leaving a trail on her thickly - powdered face.
Ji Shisu was stunned by her sudden tear. He subconsciously let go of her hand and asked with concern, "Did I hurt you?"
His sudden change in attitude also gave Zhao Luoning a quick way to subdue him.
Zhao Luoning quickly adjusted her state, put away her fierce aura, and made a look of a weeping beauty, looking extremely pitiful.
"Second Master, it's not the pain in my hand. It's the pain in my heart."
"Ah?" Ji Shisu was confused by Zhao Luoning's sudden change.
"Second Master, although ours is just a childhood betrothal, I've always respected you and regarded you as the sky in my world."
"Respect me? Zhao Luoning, are you feeling okay?"
Zhao Luoning: "..."
Although the male lead wasn't very cooperative, the show still had to go on.
Zhao Luoning pretended to be heart - broken.
"Second Master, you know that even though I might be unhappy if you want to take a concubine, I would never stop you. But you should never have hidden it from me. Where does this put me?"
Ji Shisu was also stunned when he heard this.
"Hide it from you?"
In an instant, he understood. He turned to look at the old matriarch and Madam Ji.
They had promised him that day that they would explain it to Zhao Luoning.
So, they had been hiding it from her all along?
The old matriarch and Madam Ji both avoided his gaze.
Ji Shisu then looked at Zhao Luoning. At this moment, her eyes were full of grief, and her eye sockets were filled with tears that were about to fall, which was heart - wrenching.
Ji Shisu didn't even know how to explain. He didn't know where to start.
He took two wooden steps backward.
He finally understood why Zhao Luoning had said such an extreme thing as "keep the mother, get rid of the child".
Her husband had taken a concubine, while she had been kept in the dark.
If it were him, he might have done something even more extreme.
"Why did you hide it from Luoning?"
Zhao Luoning was also shocked when she heard this.
So Ji Shisu wasn't an accomplice?
Forget it. It didn't matter whether he was an accomplice or not.
The purpose of Zhao Luoning's outburst today had been Ji Shisu from the very beginning.
Now that he had come to her, there was no way she would let him go!
Ji Shisu, just wait for my next move!