"Concubines are the source of discord in a family. I have no desire to be embroiled in the infighting of the inner court."
His resolve only grew stronger after he learned that she had drowned due to a concubine's plotting.
For years, he had even put off the matter of taking a wife.
Cui Lingyao was taken aback.
She never imagined he would think such a thing.
'It was true that concubines were the source of discord, but among the great, aristocratic families, having concubines, bed-warming maids, female servants, household courtesans, and even catamites was all perfectly commonplace.'
'They were like the luxury cars and designer watches of her world.'
'Every family in the same social stratum had them.'
'So naturally, your family had to have them too.'
'No matter how magnanimous, noble, and proper a young master appeared to the outside world, they would never deny themselves when it came to such matters.'
'It's more accurate to say the concept never even occurred to them.'
