In the back hall of the Hundred Herbs Hall, there was no one to serve them. Qi Zhenzhen had also left Er Xi and Fei Xu outside, leaving only her and Luo Wanqing in the room, allowing for a more casual conversation.
"I came to greet you, sister, and also to inquire about the Crown Prince," Qi Zhenzhen said unhurriedly. "Although I have friends by my side, you are very special to me, irreplaceable by others. As for the Crown Prince, if nothing unexpected happens, he will likely be the only man in my life, so naturally, I wish him all the best."
"Zhenzhen, this is ancient times after all. The idea of 'one lifetime, one partner' is best taken as a beautiful sentiment. Also, guard your heart. I'm not telling you not to fall in love, but rather not to offer your heart too readily. Nothing is certain, especially the hearts of others. You must always leave yourself a way out," Luo Wanqing said earnestly.
Qi Zhenzhen was somewhat surprised by Luo Wanqing's words, as she had thought Luo Wanqing would value the concept of a lifelong monogamous relationship.
"In ancient times, having three wives and four concubines was legal and even encouraged. Any man with status and wealth would have many women around him. This does not necessarily mean the man has poor character; it is simply how things are in this era," Luo Wanqing said slowly.
Qi Zhenzhen was not a naive young girl. She understood the need to adapt to local customs and that some things could not be clung to.
"I understand, Sister Wan. Not to mention that in ancient times, three wives and four concubines were legal, but even in later generations, though not legal, many people diligently pursued such arrangements," Qi Zhenzhen said with a calm expression.
Luo Wanqing was amused by her seriousness. "I was just mentioning it. Judging by Gu Sinian's abstinence from women all these years, he might indeed spend his entire life with just you. As I said, people's hearts are fickle, and whether things turn out well or poorly cannot be predicted in advance."
"Then what about Young Master Lu Heng..." Qi Zhenzhen asked.
Luo Wanqing laughed heartily. "Besides me, the official consort, there are two secondary consorts, four ladies of the court, and eight concubines of lower rank."
Fifteen women.
Qi Zhenzhen was somewhat taken aback, unsure of what to say for a moment.
"If he ascends the throne, there will be even more women," Luo Wanqing said casually. "After all, for the stability of the court, consorts are indispensable."
"Can you accept that?" Qi Zhenzhen couldn't help but ask.
Luo Wanqing propped her chin with her hands, her eyes and face showing no sign of unhappiness. "What is there to not accept? In his position, some things are not decided by whether you want them to be or not. Besides being my man, he is also the Crown Prince of Nanchang, and if all goes as expected, he will be the ruler of Nanchang in the future. As a ruler, personal affections occupy only a small part. I know he has me in his heart, and that I am the irreplaceable one. Besides, I am usually busy researching medicinal formulas. If he were to cling to me all the time, I would find it very bothersome."
Qi Zhenzhen gazed at Luo Wanqing. When she spoke, her eyes were clear, showing no hint of pretense. Perhaps on this matter, she was truly open-minded.
"It's quite amusing to share this with you secretly. When I have free time, those ladies must formally pay their respects. Seeing those beautiful women, I can eat half a bowl more of rice. My social status is established; I am the immovable mountain looming over them. No matter what they think in their hearts, they cannot show it on their faces. Don't we have a popular saying from our time? 'I just like seeing you dislike me but unable to do anything about it.' It's quite fitting to describe my relationship with those beauties," Luo Wanqing said with a wink.