Volume 1 Chapter 28

  Thanks to the successful promotion at the 'Flower Lamp Festival', 'Meiren Hall' and 'Warm Smoke Building' have thoroughly made a name for themselves in Kyoto, with business booming and almost every day being fully booked. The shop assistants are all busy running around non-stop.

  Even Li brought Xia Lian and Xia Rong to the "Beauty Hall" with great enthusiasm, where they purchased several lip balms and snowflake creams.

  Li Yuan, Shui Shi was sitting in the room with needle and thread, intently embroidering. This morning, after finishing breakfast, she went to Qinghua Hall to pay respects to Madame, but was informed by a maid that Madame had already gone out with two young ladies. Before leaving, she had excused Li Yuan from paying respects today.

  She had no choice but to return to Pear Courtyard and, feeling idle with nothing to do, started doing embroidery to pass the time.

  At this time, however, Bi Yan walked in and announced, "Milady, just now Li's maid came to inform us that there is something that requires your presence at Qing Hua Hall."

  Mrs. Shui was taken aback, looking somewhat surprised. Didn't she go out this morning? What could have brought her back now?

  Doubts returned to doubts, and Shui still put down the embroidery in her hand, threw on a soft and warm cloak, took Bi Tan out of the door and walked towards Qing Hua Hall.

  As soon as I entered the house, I saw Mrs. Li and her two daughters sitting around a round table, on which were placed goods sold by Mei Ren Tang, some of which had not even been unpacked, looking like they had just been bought back not long ago.

  Mrs. Shui slightly bent her knees and bowed to Mrs. Li and her two daughters. Mrs. Li didn't even lift an eyebrow, just waved her hand for her to stand aside.

  Xia Lian and Xia Rong didn't even give her a proper look, they were both excitedly holding onto their rouge and snowflake cream, not willing to put them down for even a moment.

  Li directly took out a box of red rouge, applied some to her face and looked at herself in the mirror left and right, finally looking at Shui with a proud expression and asked "Does it look good?"

  Shui raised his head quickly and took a glance, then humbly lowered his head again and said "good looking".

  Li's mouth curled up in satisfaction, clearly very pleased with this answer. Afraid of not provoking the other person enough, he said with a proud face, "A box of rouge like this would cost fifty taels, and only noble ladies from Kyoto can afford it."

  What you're implying is that you're just a concubine and don't deserve to use something this good.

  Shui's expression remained unchanged, as if she hadn't understood. She simply nodded her head. Although she knew the lady was intentionally trying to provoke her, Shui had always been soft-tempered and accustomed to yielding in all matters, so she didn't take it to heart.

  Moreover, the rouge of Mei Ren Tang she had been using all along, and Ning Er bought her the most expensive and best ones, compared to which, she didn't need to take Madame's words seriously at all.

  Li didn't know what kind of rouge Shi was using, but seeing that the other party had no reaction, she felt like punching a soft cotton ball, only feeling a bit stifled.

  But she immediately laughed and looked at Shui with a mocking gaze, "I almost forgot the main event, I haven't congratulated Madam Shui yet." As soon as she thought of the news that came from the palace this morning, she couldn't help but feel extremely delighted.

  Mrs. Shui looked up with some confusion, her expression very puzzled "What do you mean, madam? Where does the joy come from?" For some reason, Madam's words always made her feel a little uneasy, as if something bad was going to happen.

  Li smiled brightly "A few days ago, the King of Jing's son chose a bride, and the Empress ordered all officials above Grade 5 to report at least one daughter's birthdate and eight characters to participate in the selection. Our second daughter is just the right age, so I reported it. This morning, the palace sent news that our second daughter was selected, and her portrait has been sent to the King of Jing's mansion. Her invitation card was also kept by the King of Jing's wife. It's just a matter of time before she gets an official title. I think this position as a concubine in the royal family is almost certain, so let me congratulate you in advance."

  Shui's heart skipped a beat, and she took a few steps back. "A concubine of the Jing Wang Fu?" How could they expect Cong'er to become a concubine? She herself was a concubine and knew how difficult it was. She had been thinking that after some time, Master would find a good match for Cong'er, not seeking a good family background from the groom's side, as long as he treated Cong'er well. Then, she could marry into his family as the legitimate wife and live a happy life. But now, they actually wanted her to go to the Jing Wang Fu to be someone's concubine.

  Li smiled even more mischievously, seeing Shui's shocked expression, as if she was about to faint. She couldn't help but feel delighted and continued to fan the flames, saying "Yes, this is indeed Er Ya's good fortune, being able to enter the Wang Fu as a concubine is something that others can't even ask for. Although that Fourth Prince's health is not good, he's like a sickly seedling, probably won't live for many years. But he is after all a prince, with an extremely noble status, and now being able to take a liking to Er Ya, this is indeed a good thing that she couldn't have asked for in her previous life. After all, with Father's official position, and she being just a concubine-born daughter, being able to enter the Wang Fu as a concubine is already a high match."

  Mrs. Shui's body suddenly went limp and she fell backwards. Bi Luo hurriedly rushed forward to support her. Mrs. Shui had a stunned expression, clearly unable to withstand the blow. Unconsciously, she secretly resented Li Shi, thinking that this Mrs. Li was too excessive, actually wanting Miss to marry a man who would soon die from illness.

  Isn't this just pushing the young lady into a fiery pit, and yet you speak so eloquently in front of your wife? If it's really a good thing, why don't I see you sending your own daughter there?

  Mrs. Shui felt as if the sky was falling, her daughter was going to marry a sickly man as a concubine, wasn't this going to make Qing'er a widow at a young age? How could Mrs. Shui's heart be so cruel? She pitied her poor daughter.

  Shui felt more and more suffocated as he thought about it, suddenly his head spun and he fainted onto Bi Tan's body.

  "Come quickly! The mistress has fainted!"

  Li saw the Waters family faint, also a bit dazed, but immediately reacted and coldly laughed. It's unbearable like this, after some days I will drive all of you out of the house, at that time you'll be afraid to even cry without a place to go.

  He immediately turned coldly towards Bi Luo and shouted "What's all the commotion about, hurry up and take her back to Li Yuan, this is really unlucky."

  Bì Fú's anger suddenly blazed, and he could only get help from a rough servant woman to support Shuǐ back, secretly resenting in his heart: You treated the madam like this today, Miss will definitely make you pay it back a hundred times over in the future.

  Bi Yu took Shui Shi and left, Xia Rong hurriedly leaned towards Li Shi and asked "Mother, what you said earlier was true? That Xia Ting really got selected into the Wang Fu as a concubine?"

  Xia Lian also looked at her mother with the same expectant expression, after all, this matter concerned herself. To be sure, she was originally supposed to send her birth eight characters into the palace for selection.

  Li smiled and nodded, saying "Of course, the palace has sent word that she's on the list of selected candidates. Your uncle even found out that her portrait was delivered to the Wang estate yesterday, and her name card was the first one left by the Empress Dowager. Although it hasn't been decided what title she'll be given yet, considering our family's status and her identity, becoming a concubine is inevitable. As for your cousin, well, although we haven't received news that her name card has been left behind, it's hard to say for sure whether she won't be chosen either."

  It's all because of that sister-in-law, why did she have to marry off those few concubines so early for no reason? Now it's come to this, and when something happens, she can't find anyone to take her place. She's really a blockhead, always thinking about how marrying off those concubines could get her a large dowry.

  Forget it, brother's family affairs will depend on their own luck. For now, one's own proper business is more important. The nanny said it right, once these two maids enter the Wang Fu, others will deal with them. One just needs to think of ways to handle that Shui Shi.

  After getting a positive answer, Xia Rong was suddenly delighted. Upon hearing about her cousin's situation, she seemed somewhat disapproving. "That's also an unavoidable thing, who made Aunt want to marry everyone off? Since Xia Cong has already been chosen, Mother, why didn't you say anything earlier?"

  Xia Ting's beauty was like a thorn stuck in her heart, making her jealous to no end. Now she finally confirmed that she would be married off to someone else as a concubine, and soon after, she would also become a widow. Her mood naturally became listless.

  As for her cousin, she didn't want to get involved in other people's business. If anyone was to blame, it would be her aunt. When the empress issued the edict, her uncle's eldest daughter happened to meet the requirements and was selected to enter the palace. Her family wasn't so lucky; several of her younger sisters were hastily married off by their mother to whoever she could find, leaving only her cousin as the sole remaining legitimate daughter.

  When sending the eight characters to the palace for selection, my cousin was making a big fuss about seeking death and life. My aunt almost regretted her intestines green. As for my uncle, he should have wanted to inquire about my cousin's affairs, but unexpectedly, what he inquired about was Xia Tingcong being left with a letter by the Queen of Jing.

  Xia Lian's expression also relaxed and happy after hearing this. Since Xia Ting had already been chosen, there was nothing she could do about it. In the future, she would marry a noble person and enjoy wealth and glory. As for Prince Jing's son, although his family background was impeccable, unfortunately, he was short-lived. She might as well show some kindness and leave him to Xia Ting instead.

  Mrs. Li looked at her daughter with a pampered expression, "Mother also just received news from your uncle this morning, and then rushed to accompany you to Mei Rentang to choose some rouge, so I didn't have time to tell you. Now that Xia Ting's matter has been resolved, all you need to do next is behave well and strive to marry into those prestigious families, and Mother will be satisfied."

  Xia Lian and Xia Rong nodded vigorously, their faces filled with longing. These days, following her mother's old friend, Madame Xuan Yi, they had attended several banquets hosted by high-society ladies. They had also caught a glimpse of the splendor and wealth of the Hou and Guo Gong estates. Now, they were even more eager to live that kind of luxurious life.

  Even if their mothers don't say it, they will still desperately want to marry into those aristocratic families.

  Digression

  Here is the translation:

  Everyone, another update, second update, if you like it, don't forget to collect.