Chapter 488: Li Wenxun Brings the Concubines to the Capital

Chapter 488: Li Wenxun Returns to the Capital with His Mistresses

A month later, Li Wenxun returned to the capital.

He brought back his three mistresses and five children.

Li Wenxun’s favorite mistress, Xiang Xue, had always managed household affairs for him. She was originally his personal maid, later promoted to a mistress.

The other two mistresses were taken as wives during his time in Jiangnan. One was Rongniang, a young fisherwoman he encountered there—exceptionally beautiful and gentle in nature. He was instantly smitten and, without Lu Hanyi’s knowledge, spent a considerable sum to bring her into the household.

The other was Baihe, the sister of one of his subordinates. She was smooth-talking and exceptionally skilled at flirting. After a few glances during a drinking session at his subordinate’s home, the eager subordinate sent her to him the very next day as a mistress.

Each of these three mistresses had her own strengths. Xiang Xue was the most cunning, quick-witted, and, having been with Li Wenxun the longest, understood him best. She had secured control over the household’s inner affairs and had borne him two sons.

Rongniang was gentle and empathetic, tender and graceful. Though she had only given Li Wenxun two daughters, both girls took after their mother—delicate, lovely, and sweet—making them Li Wenxun’s doted-on treasures.

As for Baihe, though she had been in the household for the shortest time, she had borne Li Wenxun his youngest son. Her smooth talker ways and coquettish nature made her a master of winning him over with flattery. Her family had grown influential in Donghai County thanks to her, and with their rising status, she thrived in Li Wenxun’s household, none of the other mistresses could challenge her.

Together, these three mistresses had a firm grip on Li Wenxun’s household. Years ago, they had teamed up to push out the first wife, Lu Hanyi, who had been powerless against them.

Now, they had returned to the capital with Li Wenxun.

On the day of their arrival, Lu Hanyi barred her doors and refused to set foot in the Li residence!

"Mother-in-law, since Father is returning today, shouldn’t we go to the old residence?" Xu Yinyin, dressed and ready early in the morning, came to Lu Hanyi’s room to wait.

"Go? Go for what? Are you, foolish girl, in such a hurry to suck up to those scheming women?"

Xu Yinyin: "..."

"But today is Father’s return. Wouldn’t it be disrespectful if we didn’t go?" she murmured.

After Li Shouye had secured his official post, he had gone to work at the Court of Colonial Affairs. Before leaving, he had told her that his father was returning and that he would visit the Li family’s old residence in the evening.

By convention, the women of the household should have gone during the day.

At this, Lu Hanyi snapped, "If you want to go lick their boots, go ahead! Don’t bother asking me!"

Xu Yinyin: "..."

Xu Yinyin’s heart ached from the scolding when a servant suddenly came to report.

"Madam! My lady! Visitors have arrived—the mistresses from the Li residence have come to pay their respects to the mistress!"

Lu Hanyi: "!!!"

Those hussies! She hadn’t gone to see them, yet they dared to come to her doorstep!

Gritting her teeth, years of bottled-up rage surged within her. After a moment’s thought, she ordered, "Bring those bitches in!"

Back in Jiangnan, she had been in unfamiliar territory, helpless against them. But now, on her own turf, she would make them regret it!

Before long, three women past their prime but still striking entered with several children trailing behind.

At the forefront was a woman dressed in a yellow silk robe, flanked by two others in purple and orange silk robes.

Their outfits were flashy and made of luxurious silk.

They were dressed even fancier than Lu Hanyi back in the Imperial City!

Of course they could afford fine clothes. Though Li Wenxun hadn't advanced in rank over the past decade, remaining as the county magistrate of Donghai, he had certainly filled his pockets nicely. Local officials who stayed long in one post knew best how to skim profits. While the money couldn't compare to what flowed in the Imperial City, it was more than enough to keep the concubines in his household living in luxury.

Especially since, with no lady of the house present, there was no one to oversee the family coffers or watch the purse strings!

The three concubines took as much as they could, believing only what entered their own pockets was truly theirs.

This made them appear even more splendid than Lu Hanyi.

When Lu Hanyi saw these three women, her eyes swept up and down their attire, her eyes practically shooting flames.

How dare they! While she suffered hardships in the Imperial City, these worthless wenches had lived in luxury!

"Long time no see, you three!" Lu Hanyi gritted her teeth.

The three women before her showed no fear at her words. Instead, they all bowed demurely. "We pay our respects, madam."

Hearing their seemingly respectful greeting, Lu Hanyi's wheels started turning.

Back in Donghai, she couldn't lay a finger on them. But now that they were under her watchful eye in the Imperial City, the tables had finally turned! From this day forward, she could put them in their place!

Just as she was about to flex her authority and order these women to get a good thrashing, the trio turned toward Xu Yinyin and bowed to her.

"We pay our respects to the true lady of the house!"

What?!

Lady of the house!

Xu Yinyin was the lady of the house!

Xu Yinyin was taken aback by the three older concubines' gesture.

But they weren't wrong.

She was indeed the lady of this household!

Originally, the position belonged to her—this was her and Li Shouye's home, and all the servants recognized Xu Yinyin as their lady.

It was only because Lu Hanyi was bossy and impossible that Xu Yinyin, out of respect for Li Shouye, had to yield to her. This gave Lu Hanyi the illusion that she was still the lady of the house.

When the concubines spoke of paying respects to the lady of the house, they meant Xu Yinyin!

Not Lu Hanyi!

Lu Hanyi's face fell instantly.

"What are you saying?!"

Xiang Xue, the leader among them, glanced at Lu Hanyi sitting above them. Seeing her face contorted with rage, she couldn't help but think to herself—their former lady of the house hadn't grown up one bit in over a decade.

At her age, how could she still fail to control her emotions?

Sweetly smiling, she spoke up, "With the young master married now, the new lady naturally becomes the lady of this household, doesn't she?"

"I'm not dead yet!" Lu Hanyi slammed her palm on the table.

Xiang Xue continued with a smile, "Lady, we heard on our way here that the eldest son's wife brought a grand residence as dowry. Now that you've moved in to live with his family, clearly you should be the matriarch of the household. How could you possibly compete with the young mistress over household management?"

Xu Yinyin jumped in to smooth things over, "Alright, Mother, let's not dwell on these matters."

Her attempt at mediation only made Lu Hanyi even angrier! What did Xu Yinyin mean by speaking up like this? Wasn’t she implicitly agreeing with those wretched women and ganging up against her?

"You stupid little fool! Who gave you the right to speak?" Lu Hanyi snapped furiously.

At this, the purple-clad concubine spoke up disapprovingly, "Lady, how can you address the mistress in such a manner?"