The Second Lady occupied a status above that of a concubine but below that of the Main Wife.
Such a role was uncommon in prominent, high-status families.
Unless the Main Wife had been bedridden for years and unable to bear children, or if the Main Wife had committed a grave error and, being unable to be dismissed, could only be sent to rest in the family shrine.
Only under such circumstances would the existence of a Second Lady emerge.
Now... it seemed that Lady Yao belonged to the latter case.
The Xia Family was not a high-status family, nor did it have a specific family shrine for her convalescence.
Old Master Xia also would not divorce her (after all, a scholar still needs to save face, right?).
So, he decided to let her fend for herself.
The household management, family properties, and the children's marriages would henceforth be overseen by Lady Wen.
Lady Wen had been with him for many years, and he trusted her to be a virtuous wife and good mother.
