2.7 || Virtuous To One's Husband

                                    

                                          
Grandmother Hou harrumphed, "She wants to be a man, then what was she doing visiting another man's inner courtyard? And you have brought other men as well! Is it not enough to have shown your wife to them during the morning meal, you want them to see your other concubines as well? Isn't that what has caused all this mess?"
                          
Hou Feihong could only placate the old woman, "This grandson is not filial and has caused Grandmother to be angry." He glanced towards Liu Qirong and gestured with a tilt of his chin. Liu Qirong immediately understood and poured a cup of tea for the old woman, "Grandmother, please don't be angry. It will just affect your health. Qirong will take more care of such business behind closed doors in the future."
                          
Hou Feihong frowned slightly at this. Liu Qirong definitely did not take heed to Hua Mulan's suggestion to be lenient and not punish the weak just because she was the Mistress. Liu Qirong merely promised to punish secretly in the future.
                          
Grandfather Hou entered the room, "No matter! The maid has been sent to the employment bureau." He glanced at Liu Qirong before speaking to Hou Feihong, "I've asked the head steward to cut her tongue before sending her off!"
                          
Hou Feihong blinked, "Grandfather...!" If Hua Mulan caught wind of this, what would she say?
                          
The Old Patriarch went on, "I've also asked the head steward to clean the inner courtyard and send all the women to their paternal or maternal homes."
                          
Hou Feihong was utterly stunned, and Liu Qirong almost let her jaw drop.
                          
What Grandfather Hou implied was, all the concubines in the household had been sent away.
                          
"What the heck am I going to do in the future?" Liu Qirong was more afraid than ever of being bored, before glancing at Hou Feihong, "And that means I'm the only one to share this guy's bed!"
                          
Although she initially thought Hou Feihong was good-looking and he was cordial towards her, she already knew he was more partial towards Hua Mulan. The Lieutenant was also his real love interest. Liu Qirong was utterly vexed towards the Old Patriarch. She could probably stand serving Hou Feihong in bed once or twice a month, as the other concubines could share her load. But now the concubines were all gone, she already felt nausea forming in the pit of her stomach.
                          
Madame Hou was also surprised, "This... . Hong'er is already still childless. With less women to conceive the bloodline, won't it be more difficult?"
                          
The Old Patriarch sat by his wife's side and accepted the tea Liu Qirong just offered, "Khagan Yuzhen said all the Khagans in the north only have one wife at a time, and no concubine."
                          
Auntie Hou, "But their country is different!"
                          
Liu Qirong, "Wait! The Old Patriarch has been somewhat friendly with Yuzhen. Don't tell me, he's behind the old man's decision to abolish Hou Feihong's harem?"
                          
The Old Patriarch, "I believe another Liu clan's daughter was also married to another Khagan in the past?"
                          
Knowing this was a question for her, Liu Qirong answered, "Yes, Grandfather. It was my second oldest sister. I have not seen her before as she had left way before I was born... ."
                          
The Old Patriarch spoke to his wife, "Khagan Yuzhen said, this Liu clan's daughter bore the late Khagan six sons and three daughters. Two of the sons are also titled Khagans at the moment. There is nothing to worry about the Liu clan's daughters' fertility."
                          
"Nine children!!" Liu Qirong felt phantom pain in her womb, "Someone kill me now and let me reincarnate to another world!"
                          
"But The Empress... ," Auntie Hou still protested.