Do You Know?: Rule the World

Looking at the closed door, Sun's mother knew that this marriage was hopeless.

To save her temper, she put her hands on her hips and shouted, "Son, let's go!"

"My son is the Prime Minister, and your family is just a merchant's daughter. You are not worthy of my family!"

"When he becomes prime minister in the future, you will regret it!"

"If it weren't for your Shulan, who is so pretty and fertile, you wouldn't even want to be my concubine!"

Sun Zhigao was so angry that he was shaking all over and spat fiercely on the ground: "Bah, merchants, how disrespectful! Just wait!"

Chapter 86 Shulan Enters the Mansion as a Concubine

After all, Sheng Wei had taken good care of her before, and Shu Lan was also of decent character and appearance.

After much deliberation, Zhao Han decided to take Shulan into his house as a concubine.

Concubines are divided into four types: noble concubines, good concubines, maids and lowly concubines.

Most of the concubines were maids who came with the bride, while the concubines were women who came from a brothel and were of humble origin.

If an official takes a concubine into his house, he will most likely lose his job if he is impeached by the censors.

Only women from good families or with clean backgrounds can be concubines.

The status of a concubine in the harem is higher, second only to the mistress, and she can even help with housework.

Hualan knew what Zhao Han was thinking, and Shulan was her cousin.

So she took the initiative to prepare a dowry of one thousand taels of silver, personally selected an auspicious day, and sent her trusted nanny to Youyang with a list of gifts.

When a woman from a respectable family becomes a concubine, she can bring some dowry, but this will not be announced publicly to avoid confusion between wife and concubine.

In order to make Shulan live more comfortably in the future, Sheng Wei and Li specially prepared six boxes of solid dowry.

She was ready to wait for the day of her wedding and send someone to quietly escort her into the Zhao Mansion through the side door.

May 16th is an auspicious day, and everything goes well.

A row of big red lanterns hung under the porch at the west corner of the Zhao Mansion, and the vermilion tassels swayed gently in the morning breeze.

The Jingguan Courtyard where Shulan lived after entering the mansion had been decorated a few days ago.

Hualan did her best to handle the matter without violating the etiquette of a wife.

The auspicious time had arrived, and Shulan, supported by her dowry maid Yue'e, slowly descended from a sedan chair.

She was wearing a peach-colored gold brocade dress, and the hairpins in her hair sparkled in the sunlight.

Her delicate and round face was lightly made up, her eyebrows were like distant mountains, her lips were like cherry blossoms, and her eyes were slightly lowered, making her look particularly gentle and shy.

After entering the room, Shulan held a round fan in her hand and bowed to Hualan and Zhao Han.

"I greet my lord, my lady."

Looking at her like this, Zhao Han couldn't help but flash a hint of surprise in his eyes.

When Shulan noticed the gaze, she pursed her lips and a blush appeared on the tips of her ears.

"Good sister, please don't be so polite." Hua Lan smiled and hurriedly helped her up and took her hand.

She whispered, "From now on, we are sisters from the same family. There is no need for such formalities. Let's serve the master together."

Upon hearing this, Shulan nodded slightly, and a pair of shallow dimples appeared on her jade-like cheeks.

After sending her to Jingguanyuan and settling her down, Zhao Han went to the front hall to greet the guests.

Now that your concubine has entered the house, we must set up a few tables for a banquet today and invite some familiar colleagues.

Hualan was inviting the female family members to have tea in the flower hall.

The lady from the family of Minister Wang of the Ministry of Rites came over, waving a round fan, and took her hand affectionately.

"Oh, Madam Sheng, your hands and feet are really nimble!"

"I was just thinking of sending my concubine's daughter to your house, but I never thought you would take in a new bride for Lord Zhao."

Hua Lan smiled and pulled her hand back without leaving any trace. "Madam, you are joking. My master is taking a concubine this time."

"If she wasn't my cousin and I knew her well, I'm afraid she wouldn't agree."

When Wang Ruoyu, who was sitting not far away, heard this, his face instantly turned pale and he glared at Hua Lan secretly.

I cursed in my heart: You ungrateful thing, why don’t you help your own aunt, but go to help your aunt’s family!

Looking quietly in the courtyard, Shulan sat upright on the brocade-covered bed, looking out the window from time to time, with waves of anticipation in her heart.

Yue'e stood aside and asked softly, "Miss, are you really willing... to be someone's concubine?"

A faint smile appeared on Shulan's lips, and her eyes were shining.

"If I say that I have already fallen in love with my master, would you believe me?"

Upon hearing this, Yue'e opened her eyes wide in surprise, "Ah? When did this happen? How come I didn't notice anything at all?"

"Silly girl, do you still remember when we first came to the capital and encountered pirates? It was the Lord who saved our family's lives and allowed us to travel with him."

Yue'e sighed softly, "It's a pity that the master was already engaged to the lady at that time."

"Yes, that's why I kept this thought hidden. I never thought I would be able to marry the Lord."

"Although I am a concubine, I don't feel wronged at all." Shulan raised her eyes and smiled, with light flashing in her eyes.

Until it was getting dark, the guests had all left.

Hualan stood in the corridor, watching the maids and servants clean up the mess skillfully.

"Madam, the master has gone to Jingguanyuan. The night dew is getting heavier. Let's go back to the house and rest." Cai Zan reminded softly.

Hua Lan gathered her cloak and said, "Now that Sister Shu Lan has come into the mansion, I feel more at ease."

"Those ladies are always thinking about stuffing people into our house."

Cai Zan nodded and said, "Yes, I see that Miss Shu is gentle and virtuous. She will never be as hateful as Miss Lin in the future!"

"What are you talking about, you silly girl? How can Sister Shulan compare to Lin?"

"I wonder if Mother is doing well these days? Mrs. Lin is always pretending, but Mother is a straight talker."

Hua Lan sighed softly and turned back to the main courtyard.

At the same time, Zhao Han had also arrived at Jingguanyuan.

I saw the candlelight flickering in the side room, filling the room with light, and the pink curtains hanging down gently.

Looking at Shulan sitting upright on the bed, he was once again amazed by her.

"Master..." Shu Lan saw him coming and hurriedly stood up to salute, but Zhao Han held her up.

"Today is our big day, there's no need to be so formal."

"Hmm~" Shulan nodded with a shy look on her face.

Zhao Han sat down beside her and asked gently, "Do you like the furnishings in this courtyard?"

Shu Lan raised her eyes and glanced at him secretly, blushing and nodding, "I like them all. Madam's arrangement is very much to my liking."

Seeing her gentle and well-behaved appearance, Zhao Han's heart softened and he held her slightly cold hand.

"I can see that you have a very docile temperament, but if there are any ignorant and unruly servants in the mansion in the future."

"Go ahead and tell the lady, or you can come find me directly."

Feeling the warmth on her hands, Shulan's heartbeat accelerated. Avoiding Zhao Han's gaze, she whispered, "I'll remember. Thank you, Master, for worrying about this for me."

"Don't worry, I will never treat you unfairly in the future."

After saying that, Zhao Han kissed her forehead gently and said, "Shu'er, it's getting late. Let's go take a shower first."

"Okay~" Shulan responded lightly and followed his pace with a blushing face.

Soon, with Yue'e's help, Shulan finished her bath first.

When Zhao Han entered the room, he saw Yue'e holding a handkerchief and carefully wiping her ink-like hair.

"You go out first."

"Yes, my lord." Yue'e responded, put down her handkerchief and closed the door obediently.

Shulan raised her eyes to look at Zhao Han. When their eyes met, her round little face flushed again and her eyelashes trembled slightly.

After helping her remove her armor, Zhao Han couldn't help but take a deep breath.

It is not difficult to see that Shulan's figure is more plump than Hualan's, but I didn't expect it to be so round, smooth and well-proportioned.

Noticing his gaze, Shulan shyly turned her body slightly to the side and closed her voluptuous legs.

Unexpectedly, this action makes the waist look even slimmer.

"Will you cry?"

Shu Lan blinked and looked at Zhao Han in confusion, "What are you talking about, my Lord?"

Zhao Han laughed in silence and did not answer. He started to play in the water at the foot of the mountain.

Yue'e, who was guarding outside, soon heard the faint and melodious singing of the girl from inside the house, which was intermittent and continuous.

The next day, when daylight first broke, Zhao Han had already packed up and took Pei Hu to the camp on the outskirts of the city.

Only half an hour later, Shulan woke up from her sleep. She endured the soreness in her waist and knees and, with the help of Yue'e, went to the bronze mirror to dress up.

As a concubine, according to the rules, she has to pay her respects to Hualan and serve her tea today.

The ceremony was considered complete only after Hualan drank her concubine's tea.

Shulan looked up and saw Yue'e's eyes were dark and she looked listless. She asked with concern, "Are you sleeping well since you're new here?"

Yue'e shook her head and snorted.

"Last night you guys made so much noise that you didn't stop until three in the morning. I was sleeping next door, so how could I sleep well?"

As soon as these words were spoken, Shulan's face turned red, and she lowered her eyes and stopped talking.

Please subscribe, please subscribe~