Chapter 4

Chapter 4

“Back when you married, I said I would prepare a dowry for you, but you and the Prince both said there was no need to make such a fuss. You only brought a few young maids and older servants with you. But men don’t understand how hard it is for women. Giving birth is like passing through the gates of hell. Having a sister there to help you bear children and continue the family line-what a wonderful thing that is…

“Your mother-in-law was never easy to get along with to begin with. Now that you’ve been married for a year with no news, before long she’ll start giving you a hard time…

“Qiushui isn’t only good-tempered and skilled with her needlework, she’s also from a respectable family. Having her become a concubine for your Qi Wei is already a grievance to her. The two of you must treat her well. Don’t bully her…”

The girl seated below lived up to her name. Her eyes looked as if they held a pool of autumn water, and after the Princess Consort’s every word of sympathy and praise, that pool seemed on the verge of spilling over.

What was I supposed to do?

“Are you willing to be a concubine?”

My question interrupted the tender sympathy between mistress and servant. Qiushui reacted extremely quickly, dropping to her knees at my feet and knocking her forehead to the floor.

“This servant has heard that My Lord and Madame are both exceptionally good people. This servant is willing to serve My Lord and Madame.”

“You think he’s a good man. Has it never occurred to you that it’s because he married a good wife?”

My shameless boast stunned everyone for a moment, but I acted as if I hadn’t noticed and went on.

“Also, I, Madame Qi, have a bad temper. In private, I love throwing tantrums. You say you’ll serve me. Are you willing to endure my temper?

“The Princess Consort said you’re here to help me bear children. Then after the child is born, will it be handed over for me to raise? Could you really bear to do that?”

I widened my eyes, all curiosity, at Qiushui’s slack-jawed expression.

“Listen to what you’re saying, miss. You are the kindest of people. Once Qiushui gives the Qi Family a precious little treasure, how could you not cherish it like the apple of your eye? Please don’t frighten her. Otherwise, Old Madame Qi won’t agree to it either.”

After the old maid at the side chimed in, she helped Qiushui to her feet. When I saw the jade bangle on Qiushui’s wrist, I finally understood what those words had meant.

That bangle seemed to belong to my straightforward mother-in-law.

So that was how it was.

“Oh my, you should have said so earlier.” I smiled.

“I was worried Miss Qiushui might be unwilling to lower herself to become a concubine. After all, the man in my family has only just been promoted to commandant. I truly couldn’t imagine anyone giving up the chance to be a proper wife and rushing over to our little courtyard to become a concubine.

“If I had known she had already been openly acknowledged, I would have invited the young lady home no matter what. With no matchmaker and no betrothal gifts, why didn’t you say so earlier? At this rate, if we were any later, the child would already be born, wouldn’t it? By then, who could even explain who belonged to whom?”

I was in the middle of being sarcastic when the old maid supporting Qiushui spoke up in righteous indignation.

“A good meal is worth waiting for. If her belly is truly capable, then what do a few days earlier or later matter? After all, even an illegitimate child who showed up more than ten years late is still living perfectly well!”

“What? There’s an illegitimate child here too? Who is it?”

The room suddenly went silent. The old maid realized what she had said and immediately dropped to her knees, slapping herself across the mouth several times.

“Just look at this mouth of mine. This servant was talking about the yellow dog in the back courtyard. It’s over ten years old and still doesn’t know who its parents are. I only said it as a joke, but Miss Ming took it seriously. This old servant deserves death. Please, you mustn’t lower yourself to argue with this old servant.”

With that, she slapped herself a few more times.

I watched her put on her full performance of singing, speaking, acting, and striking poses. I knew she had found another way to curse me, but I didn’t argue with her again, nor did I tell her to stop.

Once the heat of the moment passed, I regretted losing my composure just now.

Was it worth it?

Should I make a scene?

Was it worth offending the Princess Consort?

I didn’t know what to do. The old maid’s buzzing voice only made me more irritated.

I wanted to leave this wretched place, but my backside might as well have been rooted to the chair.

“Enough,” the ever-kind Princess Consort finally said.

“At your age, you ought to slap yourself a few times. Otherwise, with that unguarded mouth of yours, you had better be careful someone doesn’t cut out your tongue. I know you love your niece, and that’s why you speak without thinking. But in the future, she’ll have to rely on Miss Ming to live. If you upset Miss Ming, aren’t you just setting up obstacles between the two sisters?”

The Princess Consort’s words were both reasonable and considerate. The old maid looked as if she had suddenly seen the light, then dropped to her knees again with a thud.

Trembling, she tried to shuffle toward me on her knees and grab me. She looked exactly like some poor commoner in an opera begging an official lord to dispense justice. If he refused to uphold justice for her, then he was a corrupt official and would be dragged out and beheaded next.

I couldn’t act understanding and magnanimous, so I simply stood up and walked away without paying any of them any mind.