The Good Concubine of the Qing Dynasty [Red Mansion]

Wang Xifeng felt wronged. The reason she sold those things was because the family truly lacked money. The household expenses remained the same as before, and if she didn’t find a way to increase revenue, how could she possibly sustain such spending?

Has it been easy for her to make it this far?

She even had to live in constant fear of being discovered.

Wasn’t she doing all this to maintain the prestige of the Jia household? Even if she took a small commission for her hard work, that was something she deserved.

Wang Xifeng forced a smile. “Sister, hearing you say that makes me quite uneasy. Have I done something inappropriate?”

Daiyu blinked. “Second Sister-in-law, you haven’t done anything wrong.”

Sensitive to emotions, Daiyu noticed the smile on Wang Xifeng’s face and paused. Pretending not to notice anything, she continued, “Second Sister-in-law, just take it as me being foolish. I find reading interesting and always think of bringing together more like-minded friends. I was being too forceful, like when some people love playing polo. I don’t enjoy it, but they insist on dragging me along. I would also feel frustrated. Second Sister-in-law, you are so generous. Please forgive me for that.”

She spoke with some guilt, which made Wang Xifeng laugh. It seemed she had been overthinking things.

“In that case, let’s see what you offer as compensation. If I’m not satisfied, I won’t let it go so easily.”

Daiyu replied, “That’s easy. Go and bring the red box from my desk.”

A maid followed the order and soon returned with a box.

Daiyu said, “Second Sister-in-law, these are some new pearl hairpins I recently acquired. Today, I’m offering them as a gift.”

When the box was opened, the silk flowers inside looked incredibly lifelike. If she hadn’t mentioned beforehand that they were artificial, one could easily mistake them for real flowers.

Wang Xifeng, being knowledgeable, asked, “Where did these come from? Are they tributes?”

Daiyu smiled. “They were presented by the Imperial Household Department.”

Aside from the concubines in the palace, only members of the royal family would have access to such things.

After hearing what Daiyu said, Wang Xifeng patted her forehead. “I asked too much. Who else could it be but your Second Sister?”

Daiyu’s smile deepened. “Yes, it was indeed sent back by Second Sister. Everyone who sees it gets a share. Second Sister-in-law, you can pick two, and the other sisters can each choose one.” Her Second Sister had sent her many things, all suitable for someone her age to wear.

“Then I won’t hold back,” Wang Xifeng said, though her thoughts turned to Yuanchun, who was still in the palace.

These items couldn’t be bought outside; they represented a certain level of prestige.

But Yuanchun had been in the palace for so long, and not only had there been no such tokens of favor, there hadn’t been any good news either. Who knew if she’d ever bring any good news?

It wasn’t just about that, Wang Xifeng was genuinely pained by the constant flow of silver. Every time someone came from the palace, they had to give a sum of money, which couldn’t be avoided. It was a bottomless pit.

Unfortunately, she couldn’t just refuse to send it. Grandmother Jia wouldn’t agree, nor would her aunt, so the money had to keep going out.

Thinking of this, Wang Xifeng couldn’t help but feel distressed. The expenses were simply too much.

Sometimes, she even wondered, when would Yuanchun leave the palace?

No matter what the outcome, this situation shouldn’t be dragged out any longer.

It wasn’t that she was heartless, but keeping someone like Yuanchun as a palace maid with such expenses was simply not worth it.

It didn’t make sense.

If Yuanchun were a concubine, spending money to compete for favor and hoping to bear a prince might be understandable.

But in her current position, could it be that someone was eyeing her wealth and deliberately setting her up?

What Wang Xifeng didn’t know was that her fleeting suspicion was partly correct. With Yuanchun being so generous and wealthy, many in the palace were eager for silver. Those who wanted to live better in the palace were always looking for opportunities to exploit.

As long as Yuanchun was willing to give money—enough money—they would offer her some conveniences. But beyond that, she shouldn’t expect too much.

To keep the money flowing, they dangled a “carrot” in front of Yuanchun, ensuring she wouldn’t lose hope and give up.

Wang Xifeng, lost in her own thoughts, sat there absentmindedly, while Tanchun, Yingchun, and the others happily picked through the remaining items.

“I want this yellow one.”

“And this pink one is mine!”

“I want this red one.”

As they joked and laughed, they each placed the flowers in their hair. After exchanging a glance, they all smiled knowingly.

It had been a while since they last met. Previously, Grandmother Jia had wanted to invite the Lin family over as guests, but as expected, the Lin family declined again. The three sisters (Tanchun, Yingchun, and Xichun) were used to it by now. Being able to talk and play together was something they enjoyed.

At that moment, the three of them collectively chose to ignore some of the repeated instructions Baoyu had given before they arrived. They simply forgot.

Even Second Sister-in-law forgot, so wasn’t it natural that they wouldn’t remember either?

Just then, a maid brought over a plate of snacks.

Tanchun, seeing something unfamiliar, asked, “What is this?”

“It’s fruit pastry, made from bananas.”

Tanchun was surprised. “Bananas can be made into this?”

Daiyu replied, “Yes, try it and see if you like it.”

Tanchun picked up a piece, put it in her mouth, and then smiled, nodding. “Was this Mrs. Yun’s idea?” Bananas, a fruit only found in the south, were quite expensive.

Daiyu confirmed, “Yes, it was her.”

Yingchun and Xichun also enjoyed the snack—crisp and fragrant with the taste of bananas. After eating one piece, they wanted a second.

Wang Xifeng, looking at the plate of banana pastries, snapped out of her thoughts. “Bananas aren’t easy to find in the capital, and they’re not cheap either.” How much silver did just one banana cost?

Daiyu explained, “My father once served as an official in Guangzhou, and we have an estate there. These were sent from that estate.”

Wang Xifeng: “…” Jealousy filled her.

One of her reasons for coming this time was to find out why the Lin family was arranging a marriage with the Tang family. The other was to fulfill Grandmother Jia’s task: to strengthen her relationship with Lin Daiyu.

So, after feeling a bit envious, Wang Xifeng took the initiative to chat with Daiyu and asked about Yun Shuyao: “What is Lady Yun up to these days? Surely she didn’t make these pastries herself?”

Daiyu replied, “No, she didn’t. Today she…”

While they were talking about this new snack, over at the Fourth Prince’s residence, coincidentally, they were also discussing pastries.

Yun Shuyao enjoyed spending time in the kitchen, something that wasn’t new in the Lin family. Whenever she made a dish or pastry she thought was good, she would copy down the recipe and have someone send it to Luoyu.

At the Fourth Prince’s residence, Luoyu didn’t have any staff in the kitchen, as the head chefs there were all under the control of the Fourth Prince.

Not even the Fourth Princess Consort could place her own people in the kitchen.

Of course, if they wanted something specific, the kitchen staff would oblige, but they couldn’t act as if they were truly in charge.

The Fourth Prince’s residence was very strict with rules.

Everyone’s share of provisions was predetermined, and anything beyond that had to be paid for with their own money.

Those who were favored would receive extra from the kitchen staff as a gesture of goodwill, but this was all within certain limits.

Ever since Luoyu entered the residence, some of the chefs had mixed feelings—both pleased and anxious.

What pleased the chefs was that whenever Luoyu wanted to eat something, she was very specific, so they always knew exactly what to make. However, what concerned them was that she was a real foodie. She not only enjoyed eating, but often wanted to try dishes they had never made before.

At such times, Side Concubine Lin would have her staff borrow the kitchen.

Most of the time, this wasn’t an issue. But on certain occasions, things were kept mysteriously secret, preventing the chefs from seeing what was being prepared. With their decades of culinary experience, the chefs could usually figure out the ingredients and steps just by tasting the final product. However, there were some recipes where, without the exact method, the result would still taste different from Side Concubine Lin’s.

For example, their version of what they called ‘songgao’ (a type of steamed cake) didn’t quite match up. It was especially suited for elderly people or for children and ladies who liked sweet things, but theirs just wasn’t quite the same.

Today, Side Concubine Lin’s maid came to the kitchen again and requested an empty cooking station.

This time, she didn’t clear the area, leaving a group of young eunuchs to assist while also learning by watching, so they could make it themselves next time.

Li Eunuch, one of the head chefs, whose main responsibility was preparing meals for the Fourth Prince and his consort, watched for a while.

Today’s dish wasn’t particularly novel, and the steps were fairly simple. The only difference was that some of the ingredients were uncommon compared to what they usually used. He saw the maid mashing bananas to make the pastry, while the sauce seemed to be made from another type of fruit. He would have to taste it to be sure.

After the maid finished making the pastries, she smiled and left one portion behind. “This is my first time making this. Please, help yourselves and let me know if there’s anything that could be improved.”

Eunuch Li, smiling, accepted it. “Well then, we won’t be shy.”

Side Concubine Lin was known to be generous and considerate.

He took a piece for himself and divided the rest among the younger eunuchs.

As soon as Side Concubine Lin’s people left, Huangyu, a servant of Concubine Li, came to pick up some snacks. Seeing them eating something, she asked, “Are the snacks for the Concubine ready?”

“They’re ready,” they replied.

Huangyu opened the food box and glanced inside. It contained jujube cakes and layered cakes—treats that the master had grown tired of. Her eyebrows shot up. “What are you eating? And why did you prepare this for the Concubine? You’re holding something freshly made, why didn’t you prepare some for the Concubine too?” She thought about how she had just seen people from Side Concubine Lin’s side carrying snacks with the same aroma as these, and felt outraged. Side Concubine Lin might be a secondary wife, but there were little masters and a young prince on the Concubine’s side!

One of the young eunuchs quickly responded, “Those were snacks made personally by Side Concubine Lin.”

Huangyu became even angrier. “If she can make it, why can’t you? You’re just not putting in the effort. These snacks are for both the young miss and the young prince to eat together.”

The young eunuch was troubled and whispered, “This… exceeds the allocation.”

If it were something ordinary, it wouldn’t matter, but with bananas, he couldn’t make the decision. The kitchen had bananas, but their supply was limited.

At that moment, Eunuch Li came out from inside. “Ah, it’s Miss Huangyu. Does Concubine Li have any instructions?”

Seeing him, Huangyu’s expression softened into a smile. “Our concubine wants some of the new pastries, but this young eunuch seems inexperienced—new here, perhaps? He keeps making excuses. It’s not like we’re not willing to pay; just don’t ask for too much. Wouldn’t you agree?”

Eunuch Li smiled pleasantly. “Yes, he’s new and doesn’t quite understand things yet. I’ll take care of it. I’ll have someone deliver the pastries shortly.”

After accepting the silver and sending Huangyu off, Eunuch Li’s smile faded. He glanced at the young eunuch. “Useless! You couldn’t even handle this properly.”

The young eunuch, scolded, remained silent, wearing a frustrated expression. “Yes, I’m useless. What… should I do?”

Eunuch Li shook his head. “I’ll take care of it.”

Upon hearing this, the young eunuch immediately brightened up. “If you handle it, Concubine Li will definitely be satisfied. Your skills are unmatched; even the Fourth Master can’t do without you…”

Meanwhile, at Luoyu’s side, when a maid came to deliver the pastries, she was engrossed in a chess manual. Next to her was a chessboard, left from her game with the Fourth Prince yesterday, which they hadn’t finished. However, even without completing the game, it was clear that the white pieces were about to be surrounded; she was playing as the white side.

She lost, and it was a particularly humiliating defeat.

This forced her to pull out the chess manual and ponder how she should play next time. If she encountered a similar situation again, what strategies could she employ to turn the game around?

The pastries were delivered, but she didn’t have a chance to eat them right away. Suddenly, she was hugged from behind, and the familiar warmth made her turn her head. She smiled and said, “You’re back, Master! Why didn’t anyone remind me?”

“You were so engrossed that I had them leave you alone.” At that moment, all the attendants had disappeared. The Fourth Prince glanced at the chess manual in her hands. “Still studying, are you? Any insights?”

Luoyu regretfully shook her head. Her chess skills were average, but it was rare for her to lose so badly. She hadn’t expected to win against him, but she didn’t want to lose in such an embarrassing way.

“Shall we have another game?” Seeing her troubled expression, the Fourth Prince felt quite pleased.

Luoyu perked up. “Yes! Let’s try again!”

But despite trying many strategies, she still lost.

Today’s loss wasn’t as devastating, but it could still be described as a significant defeat.

Luoyu regretfully set down the pieces. “Fourth Master, your chess skills are impressive. I lost again and humbly accept my defeat. But I will keep working hard; one day, I will win against you.”

The Fourth Prince curled the corners of his lips. “I’m looking forward to it.”

Luoyu reached for the pastries, only to realize the plate was already empty. How many had she eaten just now?

One or two pieces?

She was used to it; the Fourth Master liked sweet treats and would eat more whenever they were to his taste.

If she didn’t manage to eat in time, it would end up like this. However, after they were finished, the Fourth Master wouldn’t have the kitchen prepare more unless she specifically requested it. If there were extras, he might eat a little more, but he would control how much he consumed.

She lifted her head and looked at the sky. “Will you be having dinner here tonight?”

It was time to serve the meal.

The Fourth Prince nodded.

Eating was a pleasant experience, and every time he had meals with his concubine, he found himself enjoying the food even more.

She was eating so earnestly and happily.

That’s why he often dined here.

However, today, as soon as the dishes were served, Luoyu gagged.

Furrowing her brows, she looked at the bowl of river fish soup as if facing a formidable enemy. “What’s that smell? Why is it so foul? Did this fish go bad?”

The stench was so unbearable that she covered her nose. “It’s so horrible! Quickly, take it away!”

The Fourth Prince: “…”

He didn’t find it foul; it was just the same smell as before.

The surrounding maids quickly took the bowl of river fish soup away. Although they hadn’t realized it, an experienced old matron at the side immediately asked, “When did the Side Concubine last change her linens?”

The head maid paused for a moment before quickly replying, “It was three days later than last month.”

Luoyu had a regular schedule for changing her linens, always one to three days later than the previous month, which was considered normal.

However, the old matron’s question made the head maid connect the dots, and a look of joy appeared on her face. Could it be that she was expecting?

Luoyu thought of this as well. With some knowledge of medicine, she discreetly checked her pulse beneath her sleeve. Her heartbeat was fast, making her doubt her own judgment; it felt vaguely like a slippery pulse. She looked at the Fourth Prince with a mix of anxiety and anticipation. “Master…”

The Fourth Prince’s face also showed anticipation. “Summon the imperial physician—”