“Give her a title. At least let people know that you want to honor the mother of your child. At the very least, have the nobles show her respect.”

  Gu Bailu knew that it was difficult in a short period of time to get rid of the ingrained concept of slavery in Heavenly Wind Empire. Unless it was because Lu Fenying loved Qian’er so much that he couldn’t give her up, Qian’er should get the respect she deserved.

  In this matter, Gu Bailu could only help Qian’er obtain a status that no one could take advantage of.

  So that she could live a life with her head lifted up.

  So that the baby could live with a little more respect.

  Lu Fenying had never considered this matter. He only knew that it was his flesh and blood, his child, and nobody would dare be rude to him.

  But he then recalled what Mo Qian’er said to him last night.

  She said that she had no status and was just a slave; she was as lowly as a prostitute.

  Since she served him, he could perhaps give her an identity so that she didn’t feel like she was a prostitute.

  “What respect?”

  He couldn’t give Mo Qian’er much. She was a slave, and the slave mark couldn’t be undone for the rest of her life. If he insisted on honoring her, the noble families would become very annoying.

  “Marry her, of course. Don’t tell me you can’t give the woman who will bear you a royal heir the status of a proper wife?” Gu Bailu said, as if it was a matter of course.

  Lu Fenying, however, frowned as if he had just heard something ridiculous. “Princess Zi, are you joking?”

  Mo Qian’er was just a slave. How could she become a royal consort? The royal consort would be the mother of the country in the future, and her identity dictated that she couldn’t take this position.

  “I’m serious.” Gu Bailu looked at him calmly.

  Of course she knew it was impossible, but the first demand in a negotiation had to be a high enough condition to intimidate the other side, to prevent them from thinking it would be an easy discussion and that you would accept whatever random terms they put forward.

  “That’s impossible. At most, she’ll be a concubine.” Lu Fenying refused.

  According to the rules of Heavenly Wind Empire, the crown prince could have one royal consort, four wives, and countless concubines.

  The title of a concubine would be nothing more than acknowledging that Qian’er was his woman and not just a slave.

  It gave her the right to carry his baby.

  It actually didn’t give her any honor at all.

  Gu Bailu smiled. “It seems Your Highness isn’t sincere. A concubine doesn’t even have the qualifications to raise her own child. You’re going to let Qian’er be wronged like this?”

  Lu Fenying didn’t think it was a big deal. “Her identity is just a title. What’s the point of haggling so much? Who can do anything to her with me around?”

  Gu Bailu smiled mockingly. “Ask yourself honestly, hasn’t Qian’er been bullied enough? What scar on her body wasn’t caused by her identity? If the crown prince is so stingy with giving your woman an identity, then there’s nothing to discuss. I will never let Qian’er go back with you to be beaten and cursed, or to not even be able to keep her child after it’s born.”

  Gu Bailu stood up. “Please go back, Your Highness.”

  “Wait, I will take Qian’er back with me.” Lu Fenying was very certain and firm on this point.

  Gu Bailu sneered. “So, you would rather fight Prince Zi than give Qian’er an identity?”

  “Of course not.” Lu Fenying simply felt that a title wasn’t a big deal.

  Even as a maid, Mo Qian’er had the best food and clothes, and she was even the only one to sleep in his bed.

  This was all honor and favor. Many people couldn’t even ask for this, so why should she care about status?

  Chapter 745: The Feeling of Being Squeezed Dry by a Mother-in-law

  If he gave her a title, the noble families would definitely threaten her, which wasn’t a good thing.

  If he didn’t give her any status, he could give her whatever she wanted behind closed doors; who would dare say anything?

  On the other hand, any wife he had would be registered as part of the royal family, and she couldn’t be a slave.

  If he forced the issue and gave her the status of a wife, the noble families would only fight even harder against her and their children, and Mo Qian’er would be attacked on all sides.

  After Lu Fenying told Gu Bailu all this, her temper subsided a little.

  The fact that he could say all this proved that he had at least considered Qian’er’s identity carefully and not just perfunctorily.

  After thinking for a moment, Gu Bailu felt that Lu Fenying was right.

  He had yet to become emperor, and even if he did, he would have to deal with numerous ministers. He was the most powerful man, and could give Qian’er a noble title with a single word, but the noble families would indeed kick up a fuss. He couldn’t kill them all.

  “Your considerations are reasonable, but a woman needs status to protect herself. If that is the case, how about you give me three conditions to guarantee that Qian’er won’t be bullied?”

  Lu Fenying thought for a moment. “I’ve promised Mo Qian’er that I will give her a separate courtyard and have people watch over her so that she’s not disturbed by anyone.”

  “That’s just one condition. Second, you have to promise that you won’t abuse her again. You can’t force Qian’er to do anything she doesn’t want. In particular, you can’t let Su Muwei bully her.”

  “When did I abuse her?” Lu Fenying frowned.

  “I don’t want to talk about the past. Also, you must let Qian’er raise the child when it’s born. You can’t deprive her of her rights as a mother.”

  This way, Qian’er would at least have some hope of surviving that quagmire.

  Lu Fenying didn’t hesitate. “Alright.”

  It was the first time that Gu Bailu felt that Lu Fenying was a man. She quickly got up and wrote a contract.

  She made three copies.

  “Your Highness, sign here. If you violate the agreement, I’ll take the contract and demand an audience with your country!”

  Lu Fenying was very unhappy at her threat, but in order to be able to take Mo Qian’er away, he had to sign it.

  After he signed the contract with powerful strokes, Gu Bailu had him put his seal on it as well.

  He carried all the royal seals of Heavenly Wind Empire on him. Lu Fenying couldn’t refuse to do it even if he wanted to.

  Satisfied, Gu Bailu smiled broadly at the contract, and there was the sense that she hadn’t lost out after selling off a woman.

  “Your Highness, you must treat Qian’er well in the future. She’s the only Qian’er in this world. Your tears will be useless if you lose her.”

  “I won’t lose her.”

  “Losing a person is nothing to be scared of. What’s scary is losing a person’s heart. I hope Your Highness will understand this sooner rather than later.”

  Lu Fenying wasn’t in a good mood when he came out of the pink cottage.

  It felt like he had been forced by a mother-in-law to sign some pact.

  He hated being threatened!

  After Lu Fenying left, Gu Bailu went to where Xiao Xiao was staying. Feng Qingtian had sent two imperial doctors to treat him, including the chief doctor.

  Xiao Xiao had already woken up. Although he was weak, he could still talk. The two imperial doctors discussed prescriptions with him and felt that they had benefited greatly from it.

  His medical skills were indeed more profound than theirs; he was worthy of the title of the best doctor in the world.

  Gu Bailu had the imperial doctors leave so that she could speak to Xiao Xiao alone.

  Xiao Xiao asked her worriedly, “How is Miss Qian’er?”