The Good Concubine of the Qing Dynasty [Red Mansion]

Later on, Jia She and Jia Zheng also learned the news. Jia She was pleased, viewing it as a joyous occasion, and cheerfully asked for gifts to be prepared.

Jia Zheng, however, only managed a forced smile before his gaze landed squarely on Jia Baoyu.

“Jade must be carved to become a gem.”

Baoyu needed to make the most of this valuable time and not waste it.

Under Jia Zheng’s scrutiny, Baoyu felt like a quail. Grandmother Jia was already in a bad mood, and this only made it worse.

“Why do you keep scaring Baoyu? Aren’t you afraid of frightening him?”

Jia Zheng replied, “What do you mean scaring him? I just want to check on his studies.”

Hearing this, Baoyu felt like crying. Grandmother Jia pulled him into her embrace, raising her eyebrows. “I have no objection to how you discipline your son, but you shouldn’t be too strict with Baoyu. He’s still young; he needs to take things step by step, and eat bite by bite. If you overwhelm him with too much at once, he won’t be able to learn anything, let alone hitting him with a stick. Do you think this is just meat growing?”

If it weren’t for the watchful eye of Jia Zheng, Jia Baoyu would have eagerly nodded like a chick pecking at rice.

“That’s right, Father is pulling up the seedlings to help them grow.” He thought of his ethereal-looking brother Lin, whom he had originally thought well of, but now that his father was demanding the same from him… Baoyu’s expression was bitter.

Jia Zheng felt quite helpless. It was frustrating that even his wife was not on his side, thinking he was too strict.

Looking at Baoyu nestled in his mother’s embrace, he left in disappointment. Would Baoyu ever be able to achieve the same scholarly success as his older brother when he reached his teens?

In his disappointment, Jia Zheng noticed Jia Huan, who was nodding and reciting his lessons.

Concubine Zhao knew what to say to please Jia Zheng: “Huan’er loves studying, unlike his second brother, and he eagerly hopes to achieve high honors like his elder brother one day.”

Jia Zheng was indeed pleased that his eldest son was studious and expected the same from Baoyu. He wasn’t as invested in this illegitimate son, but still hoped he would do well. Hearing Zhao’s words, he nodded in satisfaction and asked a few questions. When he found Jia Huan able to answer, he even had someone send him writing supplies.

Although Huan’s answers weren’t perfect, his attitude was commendable.

When Second Madam Wang found out, her face twisted with anger.

“That lowly maid Zhao!”

How dare she elevate Jia Huan by stepping on Baoyu!

How could he possibly compare to Baoyu?

She vented her frustrations in her courtyard and then found an opportunity to punish Concubine Zhao by making her stand at the entrance while having Jia Huan kneel in the small Buddha hall, copying scriptures for her to pray for blessings.

Tanchun learned about it and nearly cried.

She had already said not to compare with Baoyu; her brother could learn in secret, but the concubine just wouldn’t listen!

Tanchun cried quietly for a long time.

—

Even if the Jia family was unhappy, they still had to go.

They didn’t want to openly break ties with the Lin family.

Not only did they have to go, but they also had to prepare gifts.

Originally, Grandma Jia didn’t want to attend, but since Old Lady Lin kept sending invitations, she had no choice but to agree.

To be honest, Old Lady Lin had some suspicions about the Jia family, but not too many.

Because she had seen and learned so much about the Jia family in her dream world.

If the Jia family had such capabilities, they wouldn’t have ended up in such a dismal situation.

Those untouchable families could indeed act against the Lin family, but they didn’t have sufficient reason to do so.

When did the Lin family offend them?

Moreover, to target a child is an incredibly low tactic.

When the day came, the various masters of Rongguo House could be said to have turned out in full force.

From Grandma Jia and Jia She down to Sanchun, Baoyu, and Jia Huan.

The only ones who didn’t attend were Jia Zheng and Wang Xifeng.

Jia Zheng couldn’t overcome his own feelings about it.

Wang Xifeng, being in her early months of pregnancy, also found it unwise to go out.

Old Lady Lin had arranged a delightful spread, with good food and wine served in the garden, using flower walls to separate men and women.

The weather was beautiful that day.

To an outsider, it looked cheerful and harmonious at first glance.

On the men’s side, Mr. Lin accompanied them, mainly engaging Jia She in discussions about antiques.

On the women’s side, naturally, Old Lady Lin was the host, exchanging witty banter with Grandma Jia one-on-one.

Faced with Old Lady Lin’s boasting, Grandma Jia forced a smile, her lips almost stiffening.

Yet, she had to endure and listen to her continue.

Jia Lian and Chenyu sat together; Chenyu, of course, wouldn’t be so thoughtless as to discuss poetry and lyrics but instead talked about various experiences.

While Jia Lian hadn’t traveled as extensively as Chenyu, he certainly knew more about some of the intriguing novelties in the capital.

Yun Shuyou also attempted to probe Baoyu, but the mirror remained unresponsive, just as before.

Baoyu was still the same, eager to leave the men’s table and move closer to Daiyu on the women’s side.

In the presence of many elders, it wasn’t necessary to be overly cautious about gender separation. It wouldn’t be forbidden for him to talk to Lin Daiyu, but the old lady simply didn’t want him to have his way.

Before the banquet began, she repeatedly urged her grandson to stay strictly at the men’s table.

At first, Jia Lian didn’t notice, but it soon became obvious to anyone with eyes: Baoyu wanted to go over to his sisters and Daiyu, but every time he tried to leave, his cousin would pull him back for a chat. Baoyu couldn’t be rude and just walk away, and his cousin’s topics were indeed interesting. As time passed, Baoyu, who had initially been eager to find the women, gradually lost himself in the conversation and settled comfortably in his seat.

Jia Lian found it amusing; Baoyu was still a child, easily distracted.

When the banquet ended, Baoyu was stunned to realize he was leaving without having spoken to Lin Daiyu: “…”

What had he done today?

He still had so much to say to Sister Lin!

As they were leaving, apart from the three girls and Jia She, everyone else seemed less than pleased.

Grandma Jia and Second Madam Wang couldn’t possibly be happy listening to those boastful remarks.

Madam Xing didn’t see anything wrong with Old Lady Lin’s words, but she had been called aside and scolded before they left, so she wasn’t in a good mood upon arriving at the Lin household.

Jia Lian looked at his younger cousin with mixed feelings, while Baoyu regretted not seeing Sister Lin.

Today’s conversation revealed that Brother Lin was indeed a talented individual, but it was a pity he was solely focused on fame, leading to a more mundane perspective.

—

After the Jia family left, Old Lady Lin furrowed her brows. The results of her probing were clear: Grandma Jia was completely unaware of what had happened to her grandson on the road. In the case of the Jia family, others might not know, but Grandma Jia certainly would.

This indicated it wasn’t the Jia household’s doing.

With one suspect eliminated, Old Madam Lin felt no relief; facing an unknown enemy was far worse than having a direct answer, as it would allow her to prepare accordingly.

Yun Shuyao also left empty-handed, sighing with regret.

A few days later, Old Lady Lin arranged to meet the abbot of the Huguo Temple, bringing Chenyu and Daiyu along.

The abbot of Huguo Temple was not someone easily accessible; Old Lady Lin had to make certain sacrifices to secure this opportunity.

Yun Shuyao didn’t want to go.

If the abbot lacked real ability, her presence would be pointless. If he had genuine skills and discerned she was not the original host, it would only bring unnecessary trouble.

Moreover, if there were any issues with Chenyu, given Old Lady Lin’s concern for him, she would never turn a blind eye.

So Yun Shuyao chose to stay home and wait for the results.

The abbot concluded that Chenyu was not harboring anything he shouldn’t and that no evil cultivators had interfered. In the end, Old Madam Lin only requested a protective talisman for him and Daiyu.

Once received, they were instructed to wear it around their necks at all times, only removing it when bathing. Both Chenyu and Daiyu obediently agreed.

Yun Shuyao took a close look at the talisman; it indeed carried an energy she didn’t fully understand.

Though faint, it was undeniably real.

This invigorated Yun Shuyao.

The implications of this were profound.

She had previously studied Buddhist and Taoist texts, hoping to find some cultivation methods, but unfortunately, she gained nothing.

Now she could study them carefully.

—

Not long after, Old Lady Lin received news from below that made her brows twitch slightly.

She instructed a thorough check on the people in the estate. Most were fine, but the Mei family—were they tired of living? They had actually gotten involved with the Ninth Prince’s people?

Old Madam Lin continued reading, her brows easing a bit.

Fortunately, the Mei family was only involved with the Ninth Prince’s disciples for now.

To be fair, the Mei family’s foundation in the capital was still quite shallow and didn’t have the standing to attract the Ninth Prince’s serious attention.

So far, it was only that the granddaughter of the Mei family had been sent to the home of a disciple of the Ninth Prince as a concubine, with no further developments.

However, the Mei family had inquired about the situation in the palace, and Old Lady Lin suddenly thought of her eldest granddaughter. Could the Mei family be audacious enough to target her?

She carefully reviewed her own arrangements and confirmed that she hadn’t mentioned the full plans to her granddaughters, let alone to the concubine.

Even if the Mei family had any devious ideas, there was no shortcut for them to take.

As for the royal palace, she couldn’t insert herself into it, much less a mere merchant.

Just keeping them around, after all, is easier than doing things.

Too greedy.

Old Lady Lin looked into the distance with indifference. Was it not enough to rely on the Lin family? Did they really want to take a leap into the sky?

Did they even consider whether they were standing firmly on the ground? Did Concubine Mei know about this?

After a while, Concubine Mei hurried to Old Lady Lin’s courtyard, and when she emerged, she was supported by a maid, stumbling and pale.

Not long after, news came that the Mei family’s business had encountered problems. The head of the Mei family rushed back to Xingtai Mansion, their original stronghold, to handle the unexpected crisis.

With a significant financial gap to address, if not managed well, all the hard-earned reputation and expanded trade routes built over the years could regress by more than a decade.

Thus, the foundation they had hoped to establish in the capital would have to be relinquished. Fortunately, as long as the properties in the capital were suitable, they were not difficult to sell, though the urgent need would inevitably lower the prices significantly. Still, it was a relief to return home with some funds.

Upon hearing this, Yun Shuyou paused in her pruning of excess branches.

Old Lady Lin was indeed decisive in her actions.

The Mei family had indeed overstepped their bounds.

In business, one should operate honestly. As long as they didn’t cross the line, Lin Ruhai’s status would be sufficient to protect them.

But could a merchant meddle in matters of the princes?

A small misstep could lead to dire consequences.

Old Lady Lin was extremely cautious regarding the imperial struggle for power. She had no intention of aligning with any prince. Once she learned that the Mei family had connections with a prince, she wouldn’t sit idly by.

Thus, the Mei family was now facing trouble.

This incident also reflected the high status of the scholar class within the four social classes of scholars, farmers, artisans, and merchants.

Before Lin Ruhai even took action, Old Lady Lin had merely sent out a letter, and the Mei family’s business suffered a heavy blow. If she wished, it wouldn’t be difficult for her to bring the Mei family to bankruptcy, devoured by larger forces.

Therefore, to live well and as freely as possible in this era, one must elevate their status as much as possible.

At this time, the two sisters in the palace were unaware of everything happening to their brother or the situation with the Mei family.

Once inside the palace, it became difficult to relay messages from the outside, and conversely, their own news was hard to disseminate.

Entering the palace for selection didn’t yield immediate results. First, they had to learn the rules from the matrons, followed by an initial selection. Those who failed this round would exit the palace, while the successful ones would enter a secondary selection. After that, they would await the final results.

There were several possible outcomes.

The first was to be directly chosen for the imperial palace, becoming one of the emperor’s women, or to enter the residence of a prince or another noble house. Depending on their background and appearance, some would become primary wives, while others would be consorts.

Generally, the emperor mostly arranged marriages for those from the Aisin Gioro family or related noble houses, or for trusted ministers. He had little time to arrange marriages for ordinary families.

The second outcome is to be dismissed and allowed to return home to marry, which is also Old Lady Lin’s goal.

The third possibility is that, due to being young or for other reasons, they might be left on the list. Some unfortunate ones may be forgotten during the next selection, which would be disastrous.

If they are left on the list, they cannot make their own arrangements without instructions.

If luck is not on their side and they are not remembered, they could end up as older candidates, missing their prime years.

As long as they are from the banner class, they must participate in the selection.

There are daughters of high-ranking officials and nobles, as well as daughters of ordinary commoners.

In the preliminary selection, most of those eliminated are from common families; they haven’t learned the rules before and may not even be literate. Although there will be matron officials in the palace to teach them the proper conduct, very few can quickly adapt and perform well.

Daughters of nobles or high-ranking officials are not overly challenged by the palace maids and matrons unless there’s a conflict of interest. Otherwise, they won’t be eliminated in the first round, as that would imply that the family’s upbringing is lacking, which would offend people.

When the sisters entered the palace, their appearance was not much different from before—they were carefully styled. This isn’t deception; it’s just a subtle adjustment to their expressions and their hairstyles, accessories, and clothing to make them stand out, but not too much.

Especially among the many well-dressed candidates, their status as Han banner women places them neither in the front nor the back.

Old Lady Lin wanted them to be dismissed because if they were matched for marriage, it would be difficult for them to be considered the main wife.

If they end up in the palace, it’s uncertain whether they could survive there. To speak disrespectfully, while the emperor is indeed noble, it doesn’t change the fact that he is no longer young.

As Han banner women from a branch family, if they were designated as main wives, it would likely be to lesser noble families with low titles.

Most of these families lack real ability, relying on their ancestral wealth and allowances to get by.

It’s not to say there aren’t good families, but the chance of lucking into a suitable match is very low, and they tend to prefer marrying women from Manchu banner families as their main wives.

As for discussing arrangements in advance with certain nobles who might be matched for marriage… if there isn’t a strong enough relationship, that would be disrespecting the emperor’s authority and the ancestral family laws. The emperor hasn’t even chosen someone yet, and you dare to set a lifelong commitment?

That’s why the old lady wanted her granddaughters to be dismissed and allowed to marry freely.

Her thoughts on this had already been discussed with Yingyu and Luoyu. Otherwise, with her hard work in arranging everything, how could she handle it if her granddaughters had “great ambitions”?

Fortunately, both sisters agreed. After entering the palace, they obediently played the role of wooden dolls.

Being sisters, they were assigned to the same room during housing allocation, allowing them to support each other.

At first, everything went smoothly.

They had money to manage their affairs, faced no difficulties, learned the rules without issues, and even received some care, successfully passing the preliminary selection.

However, after entering the re-selection phase, they hadn’t yet passed that stage when several candidates were summoned by the main consorts in the palace for discussions.

Those who were summoned were either noble relatives of the consorts or came from remarkable families.

Yet, Yingyu and Luoyu were neither, and they too received summons.

The one summoning them was one of the four consorts, Consort De.