Chapter 6

Qi Lei’s mother had just risen and was seated on her couch eating bird’s nest soup. Her brow creased as soon as she saw us enter together.

“Why have you brought her?” She put down her bowl, displeased.

I stepped forward and bowed respectfully. “Mother, now that Concubine Liu has joined the household, I thought she ought to pay her respects. I should like to bring her with me for the morning and evening greetings from now on, so she can learn to attend to you.”

Mother swept her gaze over Liu Yingying as though inspecting an object, and gave a noncommittal grunt.

Liu Yingying hurried forward and kowtowed. “My respects, Old Madam.”

Mother did not tell her to rise. She simply lifted her bowl and took another mouthful.

Silence settled for a moment.

At just the right moment, I spoke earnestly. “Mother’s legs trouble her. She needs someone to massage them for an hour each day. My hands aren’t strong enough, but Concubine Liu is young and vigorous. Just the person.”

Mother set down her bowl and looked Liu Yingying over.

“You’re willing to attend to me?”

Liu Yingying opened her mouth.

Mother’s gaze was icy. She could only steel herself and say, “I… am willing.”

Mother gave a grunt of assent, then turned to me. “And what about you?”

I sighed, looking ashamed. “I’m clumsy and slow, Mother. I fear I would only upset you by serving you poorly. Concubine Liu is much more capable. If she performs my filial duties for me, I can learn from her.”

Mother looked at me but said no more.

She loathed Liu Yingying.

An official’s daughter whose family had fallen, making endless demands because her son liked her—how could Mother possibly be pleased?

“Very well.” She waved a hand. “Starting tomorrow, Concubine Liu will come at the hour of the Hare to prepare my medicine, massage my legs, and attend to my meals. Not one duty is to be neglected.”

Liu Yingying’s expression changed drastically.

She rose at the fourth watch to prepare Qi Lei for court, then had to attend to his mother at the fifth.

I had just turned to leave when I remembered something. Smiling back at Mother, I said, “Oh, Mother, you often remind me to massage along the direction of the meridians. I remember all your rules. Concubine Liu is new and may not know them. I’ll write down your preferences later so she can learn.”

Mother nodded with a smile. “As you should.”

Beside us, Liu Yingying’s look of grievance turned to hatred.

“My duties aren’t easy either.” I rose and straightened my collar. “I’m meeting several of the ladies from the lane to offer incense and watch an opera.”

Her face twisted further.

“Lady Liu, don’t imagine I’m going out for pleasure.”

“…Aren’t you?”

“Mother, I hadn’t intended to go, but they delivered the invitation in person. I could hardly refuse.”

Mother snorted. “Always running about, neglecting the household.”

I sighed and spoke with perfect sincerity.

“You’re right to reprimand me, Mother. But our family is hardly among the greatest houses, and my husband is still making his way at court. Men cannot fight those battles alone. The wives must do their part behind the scenes. A husband and wife working together can overcome anything.”

Mother said nothing.

I pressed on. “As mistress of the household, you know better than anyone: for families like ours, the wives’ social engagements may look like simple courtesy, but they affect our men’s prospects, even the course of affairs at court. My husband is bound to clash with colleagues. Yet if I’m friendly with a man’s wife, a few quiet words from her in bed might resolve his trouble. If I shut myself up at home and knew nothing, then I really couldn’t help him.”

Her brow eased a little.

“Don’t worry, Mother. I won’t disgrace the Qi family. I know the proper courtesies.”

At last, she waved me away. “Go, then. Mind your manners.”

I almost laughed as I turned.

Socializing outside wasn’t easy, to be fair.

But it beat staying home to wait on a mother-in-law and a man until I turned into a drudge, didn’t it?

I had understood my position when I first transmigrated here.

My abilities were limited. I couldn’t change the world. All I could do was carve out a comfortable corner within its confines.

Sleeping with a man disgusted me.

Bearing an heir frightened me. The pain, and more than that, the risk of death.

This era had no cesareans, no epidurals, no blood transfusions. So many women died giving birth.

Waiting on his parents made me seethe.

I hadn’t even waited on my own mother. Why should I serve someone else’s parents?

But in this era, those were simply a daughter-in-law’s duties.

Refuse, and you were unvirtuous and unfilial. At best, you would be disciplined; at worst, divorced.

If I wanted to escape, I had to find another way.

And Liu Yingying really was my savior.

Before she arrived, all those duties had fallen on me.

Up at the fourth watch every day, preparing Qi Lei for court, attending to his parents, spinning like a top from morning to night.

I had endured a year of it and almost gone mad.

With her arrival, every miserable task had someone to take it over.

I didn’t care if she was a little arrogant or played the sweet, innocent schemer.

Compared with the work she did, her petty maneuvers were nothing.

She did the dirty, exhausting jobs. All I had to do was dress prettily, go out, chat with the ladies, and come home with a reputation for virtue.

What a bargain.

Behind me, Mother called, “Concubine Liu, what are you standing there for? Come and massage my legs.”

At the mouth of the lane, the Chief Minister’s daughter-in-law waved from a distance. “Why so late today? Come along. We were just talking about you.”

I went to join them with a smile.