The Good Concubine of the Qing Dynasty [Red Mansion]

At the full-month celebration, Yun Shuyao saw her long-unseen colleague and couldn’t help but frown.

She hadn’t seen Concubine Mei since the latter had shut herself away to preserve her pregnancy after experiencing morning sickness. Her health… really wasn’t good.

Her makeup was thick, giving the appearance of a decent complexion, but from her unsteady steps, weak breathing, and the maid’s constant support, it was clear she wasn’t in a good condition.

In such a state, she still wore so many heavy ornaments on her head, adding to her burden. What was she thinking? Did she really believe she was made of iron?

At the same time, Concubine Mei also saw Yun Shuyao. Seeing the healthy glow on Yun’s face, Concubine Mei couldn’t help but reveal a look of resentment.

After listening to the explanation from the older concubines, she knew it was impossible to switch the children, but this concubine Yun seemed born to curse her!

Right after she entered the Lin household, Yun showed up. When she first got pregnant, Yun followed right after, and not only that, Yun went on to have twins.

After all the hardship, she gave birth to a daughter, damaging her health in the process and requiring years of recovery before she could conceive again. But Yun? Despite the burden of twins, not only did she safely give birth, but she even delivered the firstborn son of the Lin family!

If it weren’t for Yun, her child would be the sole heir of the Lin family.

But now, all the attention has been stolen by Yun!

Concubine Mei couldn’t miss how many of the ladies present were eyeing Yun, who had given birth to the prestigious dragon-phoenix twins. How could she not feel a deep-seated hatred?

Yun Shuyao reminded her, “Concubine Mei, have your mother and the others arrived? They should be here by now.”

In public, you shouldn’t show your emotions so openly and become a laughingstock. People are already watching!

Only then did Concubine Mei withdraw her gaze and look toward the entrance.

The guests were separated by gender. The male guests were in the outer courtyard, hosted by Lin Ruhai and the reconciled members of the Lin family clan.

The female guests were in the inner courtyard, hosted by the old madam and Jia Min. Among them, Jia Min was the main hostess, as there were few people in Xingtai Prefecture of a status high enough to require the old madam’s personal attention.

The Mei family had also received an invitation, and it was expected that her stepmother, the eldest sister-in-law, and her aunt would be the ones attending the inner courtyard.

However, she also saw her sixth sister, her stepmother’s only daughter, who was thirteen years old and still unmarried, currently at the age where she was seeking a husband.

Concubine Mei was displeased and coldly snorted. So her sister was going to take advantage of the situation!

Then, she noticed her aunt signaling her with a glance and lowered her eyes.

Fine, fine, she knew what she needed to do. She wasn’t going to do anything to her half-sister anyway.

At that moment, Yun Shuyao also glanced over… Who was it that was watching so intently?

By the time she looked, the person had already withdrawn their gaze, but Yun Shuyao could tell it had come from the direction of the Mei family.

There was a strong sense of scrutiny. What was the Mei family planning?

Yun Shuyao made a mental note of it.

She then began to greet the guests under the guidance of Madam Wang.

She and Concubine Mei had responsibilities, as there were some officials whose wives were not present, having stayed behind with their parents, leaving only their concubines to attend. It was their duty to entertain these guests.

Banquets at the magistrate’s residence were rare, and when held, they were usually small affairs. But this was a grand, formal banquet.

That meant everyone was dressed in Manchu-style attire.

Jia Min, who usually wore Han-style clothing, was dressed today in a bright red Manchu outfit that highlighted her complexion. For those who didn’t know better, they might have assumed it was her child’s full-month celebration.

And technically, that wouldn’t be wrong.

As the official wife, she was the only one the children could call “mother.”

Yun Shuyao spent most of her time with her colleague.

So she also noticed that when a young woman of a similar age entered the room with an elder, her colleague visibly straightened up, heading over with an air of aggression. The sight made Yun Shuyao imagine a large rooster raising its red crest, ready to attack an intruder.

Yun Shuyao thought, “What kind of bizarre illusion is this?”

She looked over at them. The attire of the two women didn’t seem to belong to a family of officials, so she glanced questioningly at Nanny Wang.

Nanny Wang, ever the encyclopedia, took a look and said, “That’s the wife of Scholar Zhou and her second daughter-in-law, Madam Fang.”

The names were unfamiliar to Yun Shuyao. But judging by her colleague’s reaction, they seemed to be acquaintances, perhaps even with some past grudges.

Would she really cause a scene in this setting?

Apparently, Nanny Wu was worried about the same thing. She was wary of this Concubine Mei and stayed close by her side, determined to step in if anything unexpected happened.

Because the number of guests far exceeded expectations, some uninvited ones couldn’t be turned away. Despite adding extra help, Jia Min still struggled to manage the situation, so she enlisted Yun Shuyao and Nanny Wang to assist.

For a while, they were so busy that they couldn’t keep an eye on Concubine Mei.

By the time the full-month banquet concluded successfully, even Yun Shuyao, with her strong constitution, felt exhausted. Concubine Mei, however, couldn’t hold on until the end and had to withdraw early. Yet, it seemed like she won her little battle, as she looked quite spirited when leaving, despite her fatigue. Even Jia Min needed to lean on her nanny to stay standing.

And there was still another banquet tomorrow—the full-month celebration for the twins.

Yun Shuyao thought, “I’m exhausted.”

As Concubine Mei returned to rest, she didn’t feel satisfied. Although she managed to get some satisfaction from seeing the pale face of Madam Fang, she didn’t really stand out during the day.

The one who attracted the most attention was still the lady of the house.

Next were those who openly and secretly scrutinized Yun Shi.

Only after that did she receive any notice.

The lady is the legitimate wife, Yun Shi has a son, and she—only has a daughter.

She still needed to give birth to a son.

When Concubine Mei thought about this, she looked at her slender hand and angrily pounded the bedboard.

The next day, Concubine Mei was even more frustrated.

Yesterday had been her daughter’s full-month celebration, and today was the full-month celebration for the twins. The guest list and the gifts were both on a completely different level.

Many people had come specifically for the twins.

Even though Concubine Mei considered herself wealthy, when she saw the long list of gifts, she couldn’t help but feel envious.

The Old Madam had already stated that all these gifts would be recorded and kept for the children.

Those two children over there would have double the gifts, more valuable than the dowry she had brought with her!

Today, Yun Shuyao was asked by many people if she had any secret recipes. While they had maintained some reserve yesterday, today they could no longer hold back.

Many of those asking were childless legitimate wives.

The only advantage they had over Jia Min was that their husbands had concubine-born sons, so they weren’t labeled as jealous women unable to bear children.

Who wouldn’t want to have their own child?

Yun Shuyao could only smile bitterly; she truly didn’t have any secret recipes.

However, some people asked for clothing worn by the twins, and under the guidance of Wang Mama, Yun Shuyao agreed.

It was similar to how the Song family had sent her the small clothes of her two younger brothers to place under her pillow, hoping for a good omen.

Later, when she saw that long list of gifts, Yun Shuyao was also shocked.

The Old Madam had already instructed someone to record and catalog everything.

Items that could be stored long-term were packed into chests and moved to the storeroom for safekeeping. When the children grew older, they would be able to manage their own assets.

Yun Shuyao also kept a copy of the list. After browsing through it, she silently took a deep breath.

And this was after Lin Ruhai had specifically spread the word not to accept expensive gifts. If he hadn’t, how much more would they have received?

No wonder there’s a saying that goes, “Three years as a clean magistrate, and you’ll have a hundred thousand taels of silver.”

If a clean magistrate can accumulate a hundred thousand taels, imagine how much more an unscrupulous one would have.

What does a hundred thousand taels mean?

For an average household, their annual expenses amount to just a few taels, maybe ten or so!

Once the two full-month banquets concluded, the Old Madam immediately announced that everyone who had been busy could take a day off to recover their energy.

Only the essential staff were to remain on duty.

Yun Shuyao was indeed tired, but after a good night’s sleep, she felt much better.

The physical exhaustion was manageable, but the social interactions, conversations, and recognizing people at the banquet were the most draining. Despite having done some preparation, Yun Shuyao still felt mentally exhausted after the event.

As for Jia Min and Concubine Mei, whose health wasn’t as strong, they directly took to their beds, claiming illness, leaving Doctor Zhou busy attending to them.

Jia Min’s health was better, so two prescriptions were enough to help her recover, but Concubine Mei was more troublesome. Doctor Zhou had initially advised her not to attend the banquet, but she didn’t listen… Doctor Zhou felt that the hefty fee he received was well-deserved.

He truly had his hands full.

The Lin family was utterly exhausted from top to bottom, with only the three infants, who knew nothing of the world, peacefully asleep in their swaddling clothes, without a care in the world.

Although the full-month banquet had ended, a wave of people seeking out Master Zhiliao was quickly spreading.

Lin Ruhai had been childless for many years, and now, suddenly, he had three children. Who wouldn’t be amazed when hearing about it?

Was he the only one troubled by the issue of having offspring? Absolutely not.

When asked for a secret remedy, the answer was always that there wasn’t one.

However, due to the attention drawn by Old Madam Lin’s decision to take concubines, many people were already watching closely. After the full-month banquet, word spread rapidly.

Everyone came to know that there was a master named Zhiliao who truly had the ability to solve issues related to having children.

More and more people began searching for his whereabouts.

His name spread far and wide in Xingtai Prefecture and beyond.

Yet, despite so many people looking for him, no one could locate where he was or where he had settled.

It was precisely because of this that people’s trust in the master’s abilities deepened. If he were an ordinary person, he would have been found by now.

But where exactly was the master?

After the full-month banquet, not all the clan members who had come to the Lin household returned home; some stayed behind.

Those who stayed were the promising young members of the Lin family clan.

Some were still studying and preparing for the imperial examinations. They stayed in hopes of occasionally receiving guidance from Lin Ruhai, and it was also considered a part of their academic journey, beneficial to their studies.

Others had already given up on the imperial exams and sought to establish their careers. They hoped to gain a recommendation from Lin Ruhai or to be taken in as one of his advisors or staff, which would also be a great opportunity for them.

When they arrived, Lin Ruhai had already given instructions to prepare a separate courtyard for them in the outer quarters, so they wouldn’t need to relocate even if they stayed for a long time.

After observing them for some time and finding no issues, Lin Ruhai suggested that those who were already married could bring their wives and children over.

The members of the Lin clan naturally had no objections to this.

Lin Ruhai was thinking about how, when his children grew up, they would have only servants and maids around them and no friends to accompany them.

For the Lin family members, bringing their wives and children meant their families could also build relationships with the family of the magistrate.

If they had any unspoken difficulties, they could subtly communicate them through their wives or children.

Moreover, if their children could indeed grow up alongside the magistrate’s sons and daughters, it would greatly benefit their future.

Lin Ruhai was already a fourth-rank magistrate, so what position might he reach in ten or twenty years?

After receiving approval, Jia She left the capital and first went to Jinling, the stronghold of the Jia family.

He was a hands-off manager, so upon arrival, all the miscellaneous tasks were handled by the stewards and servants. All he needed to do was make appearances at certain events and share a meal with his clan members to fulfill his duties.

While his title as a first-class general wasn’t worth much in the capital, it was a different story in Jinling. Especially considering that the most prosperous branches of the Jia family were the Ningguo and Rongguo Houses, and as the head of the Rongguo House, many clan members sought to curry favor with him.

Before long, he became so content that he didn’t want to leave.

The women here are different from those in the capital. By the time Jia She finally set off north after being urged multiple times by the old maid, he had gained two charming concubines.

He had traveled south by boat, but now, to reach Xingtai Prefecture, he would first take a boat and then switch to a carriage, with most of the journey being by land.

Traveling by land made Jia She miserable. Even the presence of his two new favorites couldn’t lift his spirits. He wished he could turn back immediately, vowing that no matter what his mother said next time, he wouldn’t put himself through such an ordeal again.

As his group neared Xingtai Prefecture, a servant was sent ahead to deliver the news.

Jia Min was overjoyed, and word spread quickly throughout the Lin residence.

The arrival of the lady’s family was a big event.

From the moment Jia Min received the letter about her brother’s return, she began preparing. Now, knowing he would arrive the next day, she conducted another thorough check.

She showed how much she valued him.

Although the Old Madam wasn’t fond of the Jia family, she didn’t interfere and let Jia Min handle the arrangements. After all, it was her own brother, so she could decide how to host him.

The only thing the Old Madam did was reinforce the fences around Meixiang and Lanxin Courtyards.

Since a large number of Jia family servants would be coming with Jia She, she needed to be prepared to prevent any potential chaos.

A servant arrived ahead of time to report, “I greet you, Madam. The Master has already entered the city.”

Jia Min immediately had a red envelope delivered to him, asked him to rest, and then prepared to go to the second gate to welcome her brother.

She had been in Xingtai Prefecture for more than a year, and it had felt particularly long.

Although it was her elder brother coming, not her second brother with whom she was closer, she was still satisfied.

Lin Ruhai, having received the news, also returned from the yamen. This was his brother-in-law, the head of the Jia family in this generation, coming from far away, so naturally, he wanted to show his respect.

Jia She was pleased to see them both there, waving his fan and smiling broadly. “Sister, brother-in-law, it’s been a long time. How have you been?”

He looked visibly exhausted.

Jia Min noticed his weariness and immediately felt concerned. “Brother, please come in quickly. You’ve had a hard journey. Would you like to freshen up first or have something to eat? I’ve prepared everything for you.”

“I’ll freshen up first,” he said. He had eaten some snacks, so he wasn’t hungry, but his whole body was stiff, and he wanted to take a bath and then get a good sleep.

As for anything else, he glanced at his sister and brother-in-law, thinking that their mother was worrying unnecessarily. They seemed fine, and she was just overthinking things.

This thought made Jia She feel a bit irritable.

Forget it, forget it. Since he is already here, even though his brother-in-law’s place isn’t as bustling as Jiangnan, it’s not bad either.

He is the Perfect here, after all, and he knows this area like the back of his hand. It might be nice to have a good time here for a while.

As tradition dictates, he should first pay respects to the elders upon arrival, but Lin Ruhai said, “Mother knows you’ve had a hard journey and says it’s fine to see her tomorrow. You should rest first.”

Hearing his brother-in-law say this, Jia She gladly accepted the suggestion and went to rest.

In fact, Lady Jia didn’t expect much help from her eldest son anyway.

Madam Shi, who had accompanied Laitai and the others on their previous visit, was also part of this trip.

While the eldest master went to wash up and sleep, she settled the others and then went to pay respects to the fourth lady.

She also delivered a letter from Lady Jia.

Jia Min had a chair brought for Madam Shi and eagerly opened the letter.

In the letter, Lady Jia mentioned that she had spent a lot of effort trying to find Master Zhiliao but, unfortunately, had no success. Jia Min sighed at this, but then her mood lifted as she read some good news.

Her mother mentioned that a retired imperial physician was planning to return to his hometown to retire, and on his way, he would detour to Xingtai Prefecture. Lady Jia had asked him to give her a check-up, urging her to treat him well.

Next, Lady Jia’s letter explained the concept of maintaining balance in the household.

Now that the two concubines had children, they were becoming increasingly arrogant. The back courtyard was constantly in turmoil, with one side trying to overpower the other. Lady Jia advised her daughter that there was no need to get involved in petty disputes with the concubines. Instead, she could elevate someone else and let them fight among themselves, while she remained comfortably above the fray.

Reading this, Jia Min felt uneasy.

What did her mother mean by this?

Was she suggesting that Jia Min should push one of her own maids into the fray to compete for a favor?

She couldn’t do that.

While she had been touched earlier by the efforts and favors her mother must have extended to convince the retired imperial physician to visit, this suggestion now felt like a bucket of cold water.

Seeing her reaction, Madam Shi quickly delivered the prepared explanation: “My lady, of course, the Old Madam doesn’t mean to push anyone important to you. She was referring to someone else, whom I’ve already brought along. She has been specially trained for this purpose and is just a tool, so there’s no need to worry.” The girl had already been given medicine, and with her indenture contract and other leverage, she would be easily controlled—perfect for being used as a pawn.

Jia Min firmly refused, “Madam Shi, you don’t need to say anything more. I won’t agree to this!”

Considering that both her elder and younger brothers had concubines sent by their mother and that they had both accepted them willingly, Jia Min softened her tone: “Madam Shi, my husband is different. He’s not interested in these things.”

Madam Shi was skeptical. Is there any man who doesn’t stray?

Even if he claims not to, it’s only because his standards are too high and he hasn’t yet found a woman who catches his eye.

However, she didn’t press the issue: “My lady, the Old Madam didn’t mean you must do this. It’s just a suggestion to consider. Since the person has already been brought here, how to arrange it is up to you.”

For now, the person could stay, and other matters could be decided later.

Jia Min smiled: “In that case, let’s have her help out in the sewing room for a while.”

She could be kept in the room for some time, and after a while, matched with a family that has children. That would be acceptable.

She appreciated her mother’s good intentions.