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Chapter 494: Chapter 492: Turning Big Issues into Small Ones and Dissolving the Small Ones...
"The women of the Fengya Family have already been punished. If we continue to pursue the matter, won’t it affect the reputation of the Rimu Family?"
"Feng Ya Meizi, after all, is the heir to the Fengya Family, and her status in our country is not to be taken lightly. Family Head, you haven’t suffered a loss this time, so why not let big issues shrink and small issues vanish..."
...
A group of house servants were all voicing their thoughts to Pei Huai, each of them considering the threats the Fengya Family might pose to the Rimu Family, completely dismissing the warning Pei Huai had just given.
"Since you all believe the Fengya Family holds such a crucial position in our country, then you all might as well defect to the Fengya Family and serve as their house servants. I have no need for those who betray their loyalties here."
Pei Huai’s voice was indifferent, but it carried an undeniable air of authority.
The house servants immediately became flustered upon hearing this.
"Family Head, please don’t joke like this. Our loyalty to the Rimu Family is absolutely unwavering!"
"We are house servants of the Rimu Family; how could we possibly defect to another?"
"Family Head, we are all looking out for your best interest. This matter truly shouldn’t be blown out of proportion, especially since the Fengya Family is also dignified and respectable."
...
Pei Huai’s handsome face wore a smile that was not quite a smile as he observed the group of house servants before him.
His lips curled coldly, "You each claim to be looking out for my best interest and to be loyal to the Rimu Family, but what exactly have you done? You expect me to compromise with the Fengya Family, and for me, a Family Head, to swallow my pride? Do you trash really deserve to be house servants of the Rimu Family?"
"..."
"..."
"..."
Pei Huai’s words clearly made several of them shudder, but they thought about the fact that their positions as house servants of the Rimu Family depended not just on their brains, but also on the backing of their own families.
Even if Pei Huai was furious, he couldn’t possibly disavow their families as well. With this thought, the house servants felt a sudden surge of confidence.
Even as Family Head, he would have to make compromises to balance various interests, especially not to stand in opposition to all his house servants.
"Family Head, we are indeed thinking of your best interest. After all, you are young and have only recently taken over the position of Family Head of the Rimu Family. There is much you still don’t know how to handle."
"As house servants of the Rimu Family, it is our natural duty to support the Family Head. We truly cannot afford to offend the Fengya Family."
"Now that the heir of the Fengya Family’s face is ruined, both sides should take a step back. If the Family Head feels it is a matter of pride, we house servants are willing to run errands on the Family Head’s behalf."
"As long as Family Head places the Rimu Family first, we as house servants will naturally support you with all our hearts."
...
Initially, the words of these house servants barely concealed a tremble, but as they continued, they found themselves speaking with increasing confidence.
And their words to Pei Huai even carried a hint of defiance.
Pei Huai couldn’t help but notice the subtle change in his house servants’ tone.
His lips curved imperceptibly into a mocking smile, the jest not reaching his eyes, "Since you all claim to be acting for the Rimu Family, making some sacrifices is to be expected, right?"
The house servants looked at each other, not understanding why Pei Huai would say such a thing.
After exchanging glances, they nodded almost in unison.
"You’re correct, Family Head. If it’s for the Rimu Family, we should indeed be willing to make sacrifices."
"Everything is for the future of the Rimu Family."
"The family’s interests are paramount, and the Family Head must thoroughly weigh the options."
...
"Good, very good," Pei Huai spoke softly, pacing slowly before seating himself in the same chair once again.
He lifted his hand and clapped twice in the air.
"Clap! Clap!"
The crisp sounds echoed loudly in the quiet room.
Soon, several more people emerged from the partition.
Only then did the house servants notice that these individuals were the younger generation from their own families, including some private bastards unable to make public appearances.
After a moment’s silent consideration, the house servants felt emboldened by Pei Huai’s earlier words.
Could it be that, after disfiguring the heir of the Fengya Family, Pei Huai intended to appease her by offering these relatives from their families as male concubines?
Some were bastards, others were unfavored legitimate children; their loss would be of little consequence.
No wonder Pei Huai had mentioned making sacrifices.
They were only bastards and legitimate children with lesser standing; casting them out was just that.
Pei Huai’s gaze swept over the newly entered individuals and then fell back on the house servants before him.
He saw right through the disdain and contempt in the eyes of his house servants, and his lips curled slightly upwards once more, his smile absent from his eyes.
"These individuals have been selected from your families’ households. I wonder if you have any thoughts on this?"
Pei Huai’s voice remained flat, showing little emotion, which made it even more difficult for the house servants to ascertain his true intentions.
"If the Family Head wishes to send them to apologize to the Fengya Family, then we house servants can only painfully let go."
"As long as it is the decision of the Family Head, our families will, however reluctant, support it, because it is all for the sake of the Rimu Family."
"As long as it can quell the storm between the Fengya Family and the Rimu Family, these younger members will have also made their contribution to the Rimu Family."
"Being bastards and legitimate offspring with lesser standing, it is their fortune to be able to contribute to the Rimu Family."
...
Listening to the rising and falling voices around him, Pei Huai sneered at these house servants of the Rimu Family.
They spoke fine words about acting for the Rimu Family, yet they were willing to discard anyone who wasn’t vital to the family’s interests.
Pei Huai had grown up in the country and held no notion of illegitimacy or legitimacy, nor did he share others’ disdain for bastards or private offspring.
These people’s very existence was due to the mistakes of the earlier generation.
None of these bastards or private offspring wanted to be born as such, and nobody had consulted their opinion when they were conceived.
And once born, they were discarded by the family like worn-out shoes.
Unlike in the home country, most of these private offspring’s mothers were forced by their fathers.
Even though they could have married normal men, they were forced into being lesser wives against their will.
Even if they resented it deeply, they endured for the sake of their small families.
Pei Huai had initially rejected taking over precisely because of the corruption within the Rimu Family, but now, in this life, having chosen to take charge, he would not allow such things to continue.
With a light tap of his fingertips on the back of the chair and a slight lift of his eyebrows, he raised his voice and declared, "Since you all agree to support whatever decision the Family Head makes, then very well..."
