The Prince's Mansion panicked upon learning of the matter. If it were to become public knowledge, their mansion would suffer a great loss of face.
The Princess Consort sent someone to summon Madam Qin back to her maiden home to discuss their plans.
Madam Qin looked troubled. "Mother, you know the kind of life I lead in the Marquis's Mansion. I had hoped Mingzhu would achieve something, so I could benefit from it and have an easier time in the mansion. But now, Mingzhu and Xuan'er... she's to be a concubine. The Marquis is currently blaming me for not raising our child well, wishing he could divorce me. My words carry no weight here."
The Princess Consort thought this was reasonable and thus instructed the heir and his wife to personally visit and discuss the matter.
Qi Tianming refused twice.
Only on the third visit did he reluctantly agree to discuss it, seizing the opportunity to present numerous demands, such as Qi Mingzhu being a noble concubine.
The Heir's wife instinctively refused. In her opinion, allowing Qi Mingzhu into the household was already a tremendous favor; how could they be so greedy?
"Then there is nothing more to say. You two may leave," Qi Tianming said indifferently, picking up his teacup.
"Brother-in-law, we can talk this through," the Prince's Heir quickly said with a fawning smile.
"How else can we talk? I haven't made any excessive demands, only that Mingzhu be a noble concubine. Elder Brother, speaking from your conscience, is this demand excessive? She is, after all, the legitimate daughter of my Marquis's Mansion. Although our mansion has little status, wouldn't a dignified legitimate daughter easily become a principal wife? Now, being forced to be a concubine, must she be an ordinary concubine? That would truly make our Marquis's Mansion unable to hold its head high," Qi Tianming sighed.
Indeed, if she weren't marrying into their family, the Prince's Heir would surely feel wronged.
But now...
The Prince's Heir was extremely agitated, wishing he could immediately go back and beat Qin Xuan again.
He had his fun and cleaned up afterward, leaving all the messy work to them.
If he weren't his only legitimate son, he would have wished to beat him to death.
"We agree to this matter," the Prince's Heir gritted his teeth and agreed. If they didn't agree to this, Qi Tianming would not negotiate with them at all.
Currently, Qi Mingzhu had not yet shown signs of pregnancy. While people might have questions about her entering the household, they could at least pass it off as mutual affection. If she were to enter with a visible pregnancy, it would be impossible to conceal.
In addition to this, Qi Tianming also demanded betrothal gifts.
The Heir's wife naturally disagreed again. "She's only becoming a concubine, why would we need betrothal gifts?"
"I have no objection to her becoming an equal wife," Qi Tianming replied coldly.
Seeing that negotiations were about to break down again, the Prince's Heir could only compromise. It was just a set of betrothal gifts; they would give them if it meant making the situation presentable.
Unfortunately, he had underestimated Qi Tianming's thick skin. After they agreed, he immediately produced a list.
"Elder Brother, please prepare according to this. Nothing more is needed."
The items requested were not excessive but were all substantial: money, shops, and estates.
The amount was not exorbitant. He asked for eight thousand taels of silver, two shops in bustling locations, and one estate, but with a requirement of no less than five hundred mu of fertile land.
"Elder Brother, don't feel that you are at a disadvantage. Our Marquis's Mansion will also prepare an equivalent dowry to send back," Qi Tianming said leisurely.
A noble concubine was different from other concubines; she was considered of good family.
This meant that the items she brought into the household were protected by the government. Once brought in, they became her private property, and it would be illegal for the Prince's Mansion to embezzle them.
With these assets in hand, even if the people in the Prince's Mansion treated her poorly, Qi Mingzhu would still have a means of support, with no worries about food or clothing, and even a surplus.
The Heir's wife's face turned ashen, yet she could not refuse. She realized they were completely at Qi Tianming's mercy. Unless they were indifferent to their son's life, no matter how angry they were, they had to endure it.