The Good Concubine of the Qing Dynasty [Red Mansion]

The results of the selection have been announced.

The decrees were not issued at the same time.

The first decree was for Wanyan Shi to betroth his daughter to the Fourteenth Prince, with the marriage to take place this year.

Luoyu returned home with her sister.

Her sister was left to marry on her own, while she remained unbetrothed, as her decree had not yet arrived.

Upon their return, their grandmother and father asked with concern whether they had suffered any grievances in the palace and if they knew whom she had been assigned to.

Luoyu did not know.

But she had a sense of foreboding. When speaking to her grandmother and father, she only mentioned that it was most likely the Fourteenth Prince, but in the privacy of lying on the same bed with her mother, she expressed her true feelings.

“Auntie, I will most likely go to the Fourth Prince’s residence.”

Yun Shuyiao held her close, feeling her breath against her neck. One hand gently stroked her daughter’s silky hair. Upon hearing this, she continued her motions, “How do you know?”

Luoyu closed her eyes and nestled closer, “The Concubine De told us to come over again; it was my cousin Yuanchun who informed us. I guessed it too.”

Yun Shuyiao asked her, “So, do you want to go to the Fourth Prince’s residence?”

Luoyu was silent for a moment. “Auntie, I used to think like Grandmother and wanted to remain unmarried, but after staying there for a while, I realized that power is truly a wonderful thing.”

Yun Shuyiao didn’t respond, and Luoyu continued, “Do you remember the Li Si’er we saw when we were out shopping? This time during the selection, I stayed not far from the daughter of a minor official; she is the younger sister of the young woman who was slapped by Li Si’er.”

“Her sister was struck by Li Si’er, and later her brother-in-law’s family sent money to appease Li Si’er. Perhaps the money didn’t satisfy her appetite, and her brother-in-law lost his position.”

“Her sister was sent back home, and not long after, she hanged herself.”

“They had a close relationship. She was the most serious about learning the rules, even practicing secretly after lights out. That’s how I got to know her; she wanted to stay.”

“She wants to take revenge for her sister.”

“But given her family’s situation, her hope for revenge is quite slim. Fortunately, she is also from a banner family, so she could participate in the selection. She considers herself successful now, as she has already been named a ‘Da Yi.'”

“The Emperor is fifty, and he could easily be her grandfather, but her aim in participating in the selection was to get close to the highest position, and now that she has achieved her wish, she is very happy.”

Yun Shuyiao furrowed her brows, and upon hearing this, she relaxed slightly. “Do you think her actions are right or wrong?”

Luoyu replied, “…I admire her. She knows what she wants.”

Before entering the palace for the selection, her aunt had told her that as long as she didn’t stay in the palace, there would be plenty of room for maneuvering, so she shouldn’t be too anxious.

In the palace, there is the Emperor and the Crown Prince.

Whenever they faced unpleasant situations in the palace, Luoyu would remember her aunt’s words, and her mood wouldn’t feel as heavy.

She wasn’t made of iron; facing others’ tests, underhanded tactics, and slander would naturally make her unhappy and irritable. However, her sister was already scared. If she joined in that fear, the situation would worsen.

So she maintained a calm facade, but in the quiet of the night, she often found it hard to sleep while reflecting on the day’s events.

Fortunately, her constitution was good; otherwise, she might have fallen ill by now.

There were other favored candidates besides the two of them, but as long as someone came from a notable family, even if they were envious, they wouldn’t dare to act recklessly.

Those in lower positions wouldn’t dare to act, but their words could still sting and provoke a desire to retaliate.

Their situation wasn’t the worst.

After being summoned by Consort De for the second time, more people began to think she would end up in the Fourteenth Prince’s residence.

Even the Wanyan family regarded them with cold eyes.

Sometimes she really wanted to retaliate; if it came to a fight, she could take on ten opponents.

But this was the palace, and she couldn’t do that.

Moreover, showing favoritism and playing favorites was unavoidable in this world.

Even her father had to bow his head before those he couldn’t offend.

When she got married in the future, she would mostly deal with the ladies, but it would be the same.

Only by standing higher could one avoid such pitfalls.

So she recalled her aunt’s comments on the various princes.

Her aunt had said that if she wanted to secure a good future, she should choose wisely.

The aunt first ruled out the Crown Prince and the Eldest Prince, the two most likely to contend for the throne.

If she wanted stability, she could go to the Fifth or Seventh Prince, as both were disinterested in vying for the throne.

However, both already had someone special in their hearts, with years of feelings built up.

While her aunt didn’t comment on the stability of the Fourth Prince, she did say that if Luoyu wanted to climb higher and stand more firmly, her first choice should be the Fourth Prince.

She didn’t know why her aunt was so confident, but she remembered her words.

So when she learned she would most likely be matched with the Fourth Prince, she felt a sense of relief.

After entering the palace, she deeply felt her aunt’s words: the palace is the most powerful place in the world, but also the most complex.

Everyone living there must be vigilant to protect themselves.

Danger coexists with opportunity.

If she could successfully leave the palace and marry under her family’s arrangement, she would be safe, at least.

But this safety would also come at a certain cost.

In scholarly families, there aren’t many like her father who are indifferent to women; counting, there are several in her father’s courtyard.

She was fifteen this year and was to participate in the selection, so her family hadn’t arranged a marriage for her. However, many of her friends were not from the Han military banner.

Many of them were engaged as early as eleven or twelve and married by fifteen or sixteen, with some even marrying at thirteen or fourteen.

Before they married, no matter how much they corresponded, it was of little use. Once they became wives or daughters-in-law, they had to follow the rules of their husband’s family and serve their mothers-in-law according to the established norms.

Mother-in-law and daughter-in-law relationships are often contentious, with mothers-in-law naturally positioned above.

After the honeymoon period, they would also face the husband’s concubines and secondary wives.

Luoyu had a friend who, before marrying, shyly and joyfully praised her fiancé for being pure and noble. However, after she married, she discovered that all the maidservants who had served her husband were no longer innocent.

As soon as she married, she found herself having to contend with these maidservants, and her mother-in-law would occasionally send maidservants to challenge her.

Even with a not overly harsh mother-in-law, it was common for rules to be established over time. One had to appear virtuous and demure in front of the husband’s concubines; otherwise, she could be labeled as jealous, which could lead to being sent back to her family.

Thus, the saying goes: after many years, a daughter-in-law becomes a mother-in-law.

Of course, it wasn’t impossible to completely suppress others, but that would require marrying lower. When the other party needed the Lin family, she and her sister could live more freely.

However, such a life was ultimately unfulfilling, as it required the other party to remain suppressed without any chance of rising. Otherwise, if they gained power, the backlash would be severe, reflecting how harshly they had been suppressed before.

The situation with the Fourth Prince was not the palace either, and it would be filled with intrigues. Could she adapt? Could she live well?

Luoyu didn’t know.

Yet when she heard her cousin Yuanchun’s words, she felt no resistance.

The benefits were clear: becoming part of the royal family meant that no one like Li Si’er would dare to insult her casually.

Each option had its pros and cons, and the choice was not in her hands. No matter what future lay ahead, she would manage her own life well and ensure her comfort.

“Aunt, going to the Fourth Prince’s place wouldn’t be bad, right?”

Moreover, she had seen the Fourth Prince before; while having tea, she had spotted him among a group of riders in yellow and red sashes.

He was serious and unsmiling.

He appeared to be a rather serious person, yet he had a handsome face.

None of the princes were ugly.

When Luoyu said this, Yun Shuyao felt a mix of emotions.

Before entering the palace, she had carefully analyzed everything with her daughter.

For her son, there was no need for her to worry; he could follow in his father’s footsteps. With Lin Ruhai’s support, it wouldn’t be difficult for him to enter the officialdom.

But her daughter caused her much anxiety.

Marriage was indeed like a second birth. In this era, many men treated women as subordinates, and there were not many who respected their legitimate wives like Lin Ruhai did.

At first, her daughter’s marriage might seem promising, but it could easily deteriorate later on.

If that happened, they could divorce, but they would have to face rumors and gossip.

In extreme cases, a woman might lose her husband; while she could return to her family, what then?

The world was much harsher on daughters than on sons.

And the royal family represented a different path altogether.

The challenges encountered on the two paths are different, and the outcomes vary as well.

Her daughter’s life is her own.

If she truly does not want to go down a certain path, she can choose some “harmless” little tricks—feigning illness or injury—to escape unwanted outcomes.

The choice is in her hands.

Though she is only fifteen, Yun Shuyao does not regard her as a typical middle school student of later generations.

In this environment, they mature much faster.

If her daughter wishes to strive for a future as a high-ranking consort, Yun Shuyao would not forcefully stop her.

Now, the imperial edict has arrived.

There are two: one states that Luoyu has been appointed as the side consort of the Fourth Prince, with a wedding to be scheduled within the year; the other announces that Lin Ruhai has been appointed as the new Inspector of Salt for the Lianghuai region, with a start date to be determined.

Luoyu being appointed as a side consort was unexpected for her—did her father do something?

When Yun Shuyao heard this decree, she felt a heavy weight lift from her heart.

A “gege” is someone who is taken in as a consort.

A side consort is someone who is married.

These two are not the same.

It seems that Lin Ruhai’s efforts were not in vain.

Additionally, the position of Inspector of Salt is significant; it allows direct access to the emperor’s ears and is only attainable by those close to the emperor. His standing in the Kangxi court is even more important than she imagined.

Lin Ruhai accepted the decree with a smile, saw off the officials, and looked at his daughter, feeling a surge of emotion.

As the Inspector of Salt, he oversees the salt affairs of the Lianghuai region, manages river water resources, and supervises military and police inspections as well as salt storage facilities.

This position is well-known for being lucrative, with a term of one year. A person who is not greedy can earn a significant amount just from collecting customary gifts, given that he interacts with wealthy salt merchants, whose fortunes are renowned, and salt is crucial for the entire realm.

In theory, with the growing population, the demand for salt should increase, and thus the salt tax should rise. However, in reality, the salt tax has been decreasing year by year, which is why the previous Inspector of Salt was demoted.

The daughter was appointed as a side consort with a status of a concubine, which signifies the emperor’s favor and also serves as a spur.

If he doesn’t deliver good results, whatever the emperor grants could just as easily be taken back. Lin Ruhai felt a heavy weight in his heart.

After sending everyone off, the old lady fell into a daze.

A side consort.

The Inspector of Salt for Lianghuai.

Both titles made her heart race.

The current side consort, once the Fourth Prince ascends the throne, will hold a rank equivalent to that of a noble consort. As for the Inspector of Salt, she was all too familiar with that; it was her son’s position in the dream world, and also where he met his end.

How had she ended up back on this old path?

“Congratulations, Old Lady.”

“Congratulations, Sir.”

“Congratulations, Second Miss!”

Lin Ruhai’s aides all offered their congratulations, breaking the family’s stunned silence.

All in all, this was indeed good news.

The side consort title can be included in the royal genealogy.

And with the Fourth Prince’s diligence, a princely title is likely inevitable.

As for the position of Inspector of Salt for Lianghuai, there’s no need to elaborate—he has the emperor’s strong favor, and the future looks promising!

The Fourth Prince also received the news.

He had his own people in the palace.

This time, he knew his mother had chosen two candidates: one was from the Lin family, and the other was from the Niu Hulu clan.

He had thought they would both enter the household as geges, but he hadn’t expected Lin Ruhai to be promoted to Inspector of Salt, changing the Lin daughter’s status as well.

He nodded, unsure if Lin Ruhai could increase the salt tax.

And with the Lin family entering the household, arrangements would also need to be made.

With these thoughts in mind, he walked toward the main courtyard to discuss wedding matters with Ula Nara.

Meanwhile, in another courtyard, Li Shi heard the news and exclaimed, “Bang, bang—”

The porcelain in the room was shattered all over the floor, but the maids didn’t dare to intervene.

The princess had already taken the position of side consort for granted, and now it was dashed by an imperial edict—how could she not be furious?

She vented her anger on the porcelain, which was better than later unleashing it on the maids.

“Wow—” The startled young prince in his cradle struggled for a moment, crying out. Hearing her youngest son’s cries brought Li Shi back to her senses a bit. She rushed over to hold him, tears streaming down her face: “How could the Fourth Lord be so ruthless? If I had received a title earlier, how could I be overshadowed by a lowly concubine’s daughter…”

She had given birth to the second princess and three young princes; the second prince had died young, so the current second prince was actually third in order. Even so, she had two sons and a daughter under her; after the eldest prince’s passing, all the children in the household were hers. Why should she be suppressed?