The Good Concubine of the Qing Dynasty [Red Mansion]

The old lady and Lin Ruhai did not give up; they went through the Lin family estate time and again.

They did find a few people from other families involved, but they all denied any connection to the incident.

This made them wary and cautious.

It was only at this time that Jia Min realized how much had happened while she was in confinement after childbirth.

Her life was hanging by a thread, and she had been harmed by someone.

Jia Min was furious—who was behind this?

It still had not been discovered.

Then she looked at how the old lady dealt with the Jia family members, and she was left speechless.

Although they had not committed any unforgivable crimes, negligence was unavoidable.

She almost didn’t survive and had also caused trouble for her daughter.

Even though they were her own dowries, Jia Min could not forgive them. Additionally, due to other petty thefts and misdeeds, Jia Min not only did not plead for them but also intensified their punishment, sending many away.

She did not lack manpower, so if they were not up to the task, she would replace them with others.

She did not know yet that she would likely never have another chance to give birth. Had she known, it would have been even more distressing.

The old lady and Lin Ruhai decided to keep the matter a secret for now, waiting until she recovered to address it, or perhaps never mention it again.

Without evidence, Nanny Qian was ordered to publicly apologize and faced additional fines and penalties.

After Nanny Qian’s face was flushed with embarrassment from her apology, she did not dare set foot in the Lin estate again for a long time.

She had lost significant face this time, and her prestige within the Lin estate would greatly decline.

Reluctant but helpless, she could no longer insist that it was Yun’s doing.

When the old lady presented all the evidence to the madam, she saw it as well. If it had been Yun’s doing, she would have been able to fly or disappear.

But if not Yun, then who else could it be?

Nanny Qian ruled out each possibility.

Yun was not involved.

Mei was not involved.

What about Lu Lan, Lv Liu, and Xing Hua?

Lu Lan and Xing Hua were in the study, and they were seldom in the inner courtyard when returning.

They were indeed born into the family, with relatives in the inner courtyard, but they had no connections in the main courtyard.

Xing Hua was in the inner courtyard, and indeed in the main courtyard, but her quarters were surrounded, and she was limited to traveling between the sewing room and her quarters, with people watching her.

How could she have the capability to do this?

Could it really be someone from outside?

Then she also learned publicly that Lu Lan was pregnant and had been promoted to concubine.

Could it be her!?

When Jia Min heard this news, she held Daiyu for a moment, then shook her arm.

She was pregnant, and her luck seemed quite good.

She had served the master for seventeen years, while the other had been there for less than ten years.

However, it wasn’t fair to compare like this; both concubines had become pregnant within less than a year of entering.

Lu Lan, who was from the Chu family, now made Lin Ruhai’s concubines number three instead of two.

After Jia Min finished her confinement, she returned to her usual routine. On the first day back, Lu Lan came as well.

She needed to complete the tea ceremony to make things official. After this ceremony, she would settle down in her designated courtyard to peacefully nurture her pregnancy. Given her nature, she would likely leave very rarely.

Upon seeing Jia Min again after such a long time, Yun Shuyao noticed that Jia Min’s complexion was indeed poor, lacking any color, and she carried a strong smell of medicine.

Luo Yu and Chen Yu were also observing her. They were dressed in very thick clothing, and their faces looked far from their usual health, their voices were softer, and they seemed to lack strength.

The children gained a more direct impression of childbirth—it truly is a matter of life and death.

The children expressed their filial piety and then asked about their younger sister.

Jia Min smiled, “After your lessons, come back and chat with your sister. She’s currently nursing.”

Thinking of her Daiyu, Jia Min’s expression grew even more gentle.

When Chen Yu went out to socialize, he noticed that others’ attitudes toward him had warmed up again.

Since he was currently the only son of his father, even if other concubines gave birth to younger brothers, he still held the status of the eldest son.

Realizing this, Chen Yu saw the duplicity in people’s attitudes and understood some of the things said about the concubines more deeply, gaining a new perspective on himself.

He had been praised and loved by many, but it wasn’t because he was genuinely exceptional; it was due to his status.

Without that halo, he was just an ordinary person.

—

News of the daughter’s childbirth reached Rongguo Mansion. Grandmother Jia, disappointed that she had more granddaughters than grandsons, was also extremely angry: “Has the Lin family still not found out who was behind this?”

“Not yet,” replied the servant from the Jia family with a face full of bitterness.

The main courtyard had been repeatedly interrogated, and those who were found with issues had been locked up. They were all anxious and ashamed, not knowing where things had gone wrong.

Grandmother Jia was very dissatisfied with Old Lady Lin. “What is her problem? After such a long time, they still haven’t found out who did this. How can they be so incompetent?” This kind of scheme sounds like it was done by someone in the inner courtyard. They should investigate each of those women one by one; I don’t believe they won’t find anything!

The servant knelt on the ground, not daring to speak.

This was not something she could comment on.

Soon after, Grandmother Jia received another letter. The culprits behind the incident still hadn’t been identified, but the people with connections to her daughter had been thoroughly examined. Seeing the accusations of petty crimes against those individuals, Grandmother Jia’s face darkened.

They were using trivial reasons to assign severe crimes. Was this an attempt to purge the people around her daughter?

Was she supposed to clear a path for those concubines?

Moreover, although the letter did not explicitly accuse her, it implied that it was criticizing the incompetence and uselessness of the servants she had trained.

Furious, Grandmother Jia slammed the table, making a loud noise that caused everyone around her to kneel immediately. After a while, someone finally dared to cautiously advise, “Grandmother, please don’t be so angry. It’s not good for your health. Please calm down, calm down.”

Grandmother Jia waved her hand, no longer displaying her usual kindness and smiles. The others, seeing this, dared not offer any more advice: “You all leave.”

Everyone withdrew one by one.

It was unclear what the letter from the aunt had said to make Grandmother Jia so angry.

Mrs. Wang Er had her informants at Grandmother Jia’s, and she knew that Jia was upset, though she did not know the reason. She had originally planned to visit Baoyu, but she reconsidered and decided to wait until Grandmother Jia’s anger had subsided before going. It would be better to wait until the old lady’s temper had cooled.

However… was it because of Jia Min?

Thinking of Jia Min’s daughter, Mrs. Wang Er couldn’t help but smile. After so many years, she was finally happy, but she ended up having only a daughter.

She couldn’t feel too superior; she had three children—two sons and a daughter. Her eldest son was intelligent and filial and was about to take the scholar’s examination. Her eldest daughter was also very clever and had a good appearance, and her youngest son was exceptional, born with great potential.

And what did Jia Min have? Just one daughter, and it was still uncertain if she could even raise her.

What did it matter if she was renowned and talented before marriage?

She was about to become a mother-in-law herself, and thinking of this made Mrs. Wang Er a bit troubled.

She was already looking for a suitable daughter-in-law for her son. It wasn’t just talk—her daughter, Zhu Er, was worthy of being matched with princesses and dukes!

Recalling some of the ridicule she had heard during social events, Mrs. Wang Er was quite displeased.

Her Zhu Er was even being looked down upon, despite being the legitimate eldest grandson of the old duke!

If it weren’t for the old duke’s passing…

Thinking of this, Mrs. Wang Er felt a surge of frustration and then went to her son’s courtyard to see if he was studying diligently.

Upon arriving and seeing her son immersed in his studies, Mrs. Wang Er smiled, “My son, you must be tired from studying. Mother has had someone make you some nourishing soup to help your health. If you don’t understand anything, be sure to ask your teacher.” She was very attentive to her son’s studies, eagerly awaiting the day he would become a top scholar, so she could take pride and make those who lacked vision regret missing out on such a golden match!

—

Yun Shuyao and her group went out; they were heading to Shanglin Temple and had already informed the old lady.

This time, Yingyu and Luoyu were going because a friend of theirs had received a letter saying that her grandmother was seriously ill, and she needed to return to her hometown with her mother. Once she went back, it was uncertain when they would meet again, so they were there to see her off.

They also needed to present a birthday gift to their friend in advance.

At departure, Mei Yiniang and Yingyu shared one carriage, while Yun Shuyao and the twins took another.

Upon arriving at Shanglin Temple, Yingyu and Luoyu joined their friend who had arrived earlier. Yun Shuyao, with Chen Yu, went to offer incense and enjoy the scenery, while Mei Yiniang, after a brief prayer, claimed she wanted to take a walk but actually went to meet her aunt, Mrs. Gao.

Once they met, Mei Yiniang urged, “Aunt, can’t you find a way to get another medicine?”

She wasn’t aware that Mrs. Gao had already been working on it. Seeing so many people in the inner courtyard getting pregnant and giving birth, she was anxious.

With so many children in the Lin family, they had lost their value.

Mrs. Gao shook her head helplessly. “Why are you so impatient? You mustn’t let this slip. I’m already inquiring about it. Besides, you’re still young—only twenty-six. Even at thirty, you can still have children!”

Mrs. Gao was also anxious, but she wouldn’t let others see it.

Mei Yiniang stamped her foot. “Do we really have to wait until I’m thirty…”

Yun Shuyao saw them talking from a distance, but it was too far to hear clearly. Even with her keen senses, she could only just make out who they were.

Originally, the old lady would also come to Shanglin Temple. Ever since she had heard a master give a sermon, she had been coming here periodically.

Whenever she came, the master would usually be available.

Thus, living as an ordinary person in ancient times was challenging. If one was lucky enough to be part of the privileged class, things would be different. However, in terms of proportion, being part of the privileged class was always a minority within a minority, and no one could guarantee they would be among the lucky few.

If given a choice, of course, one would prefer modern times.

This time, the old lady did not go out, mainly because she still managed the household affairs. Although Jia Min had finished her confinement, it did not mean she had fully recovered or had the energy. She could barely hold Daiyu before growing exhausted.

This clearly indicated how frail her condition was.

Although the household matters seemed few, the trivial tasks consumed a lot of mental energy, and there were matters she had to handle personally. Additionally, in Guangzhou, there were many high-ranking officials, and being a third-rank official was not at the pinnacle of the hierarchy. Social interactions also require considerable mental effort.

This was also a situation where errors could not be tolerated.

At such times, the old lady would look at her grandson’s age and lament. If her eldest grandson had married earlier, his wife could have helped with the burden.

Now, she had to rely on her old, weary body to handle everything herself.

Originally, the old lady was reluctant to let them go out, but the children insisted so much that she finally relented.

She was only worried that someone might be keeping an eye on their family and might take advantage of the children’s absence to cause trouble. To alleviate her concerns, she sent more people to escort them, which made her feel a bit more at ease and allowed them to go out.

The trip there was smooth, but on the way back, there was a small incident. This wasn’t an attack by bandits or revenge by hostile forces; rather, someone stopped their carriage and cried out for justice.

The person almost got run over by the wheels, rushing straight at them. The driver in the front was startled and quickly stopped the horses, while those around remained on high alert.

It’s not uncommon for officials and their families to encounter assassination attempts, and those who carry out such attacks often disguise themselves as ordinary citizens.

Fortunately, this time it was simply a plea for justice.

It wasn’t an assassination attempt.

Yun Shuyao, with her keen hearing, caught the details.

The young man’s beautiful wife had been abducted by passing officials’ sons. When he went to demand her return, he was beaten and had a leg broken. With no other options, he had come to block their way.

Today, they were escorted by the second steward. The outing involved all the young members of their family, so caution was necessary. He frequently accompanied Lin Ruhai on outings, so he was quite experienced in handling such situations.

He skillfully reassured the people, found out the specifics of the situation, and then verified the truth. If the claim was legitimate, it would be handed over to the relevant local officials. If it wasn’t a special case, it would not be escalated.

After returning, the old lady learned about the incident and comforted her grandchildren, “Were you frightened?”

Yingyu, feeling embarrassed, shook her head with a blush, as she didn’t know what had happened.

Chen Yu asked and learned a bit: “Grandmother, we’re fine. Is what that person said true? Why didn’t he go to the officials?”

The old lady smiled and reassured them, “He’s just an ordinary citizen. He was probably so panicked that he forgot what to do and acted out of desperation. Someone will teach him the proper way to handle it.”

Even if the old lady did not fully understand the situation, she knew that if what the man said was true and he took such risks, it was either because he feared that the officials would protect each other, or he had already reported it to the authorities without any response.

It was also possible that the two families involved had their own connections, making it difficult to judge.

Chen Yu frowned, nodding as if he understood but wasn’t entirely sure.

Yun Shuyao followed up on the outcome.

After Lin Ruhai’s people verified the situation and intervened, the officials’ family sent someone to handle the matter. As a result, the man who had blocked the carriage and cried out was divorced by his wife, received some money, and his wife became the concubine of the person who had taken her.

It appeared as though the man had sold his wife for personal gain, but did he have any other options if he wanted to continue living in that area?

His wife had even fewer options. Once she was taken away, it was almost impossible for her to return to her previous life.

Even if her husband didn’t mind her losing her virginity, did her in-laws?

According to local customs, there was a high chance she could be subjected to severe punishment, like being put in a pig cage.

Many people are unwilling to listen to explanations and would rather blame the woman.

Yun Shuyao was quietly furious. She noted down the identity and name of the official’s son, planning to find an opportunity to teach him a lesson.

She considered two methods for doing this: one was to find an opportunity herself, and the other was to use subtle persuasion.

If she chose to act herself, she would have to find the right moment; if she used subtle persuasion, she would only need to say a few words.

Lin Ruhai was a superior to the official’s son’s father’s superior’s superior, which was why a resolution came quickly after his people intervened.

When you have power, you shouldn’t let it go to waste.

When Lin Ruhai was subtly persuaded: “…”

He had seen too many similar situations to be very emotionally affected. Seeing Shunyao’s indignation made him smile.

“So, if I handle it, how will you thank me?”

Yun Shuyao was prepared for this.

To get a superior’s help, sending a small gift often increases the chances of success.

“I’ll paint a picture for you.”

She had wanted to paint it for a long time.

The deal was made.

After some time, Lin Ruhai was astonished as he looked at the lifelike portrait of himself.

While he hadn’t felt much when observing landscapes or objects before, the shock was even greater now that it was a portrait of a person, as if he was seeing another version of himself.

So this was how he appeared in her eyes?

Lin Ruhai carefully put away the painting and said, “Why not paint one for my mother as well?”

Yun Shuyao readily agreed, “Or maybe just paint a family portrait?”

A family portrait?

He pondered the words and slowly smiled, “Yes, let’s go with a family portrait.”

“That will take a long time.”

“No rush.”

Yun Shuyao smiled and nodded.

She had already spent several months on this single portrait, so a family portrait would definitely take a year or more.

Zhao Xinghua had been waiting for a long time. After much anticipation, she finally found the opportunity to dig up a small cloth bundle buried next to the toilet and retrieve the medicinal powder inside.

This substance was generally harmless to most people, but for pregnant women, inhaling it could easily cause a miscarriage. It also had the effect of making people feel weak and drowsy.

Watching the days pass and seeing Lü Lan’s increasingly large belly, Zhao Xinghua’s anger only grew stronger and more consuming.

Her anger burned away her rationality.

Finally, before Lü Lan went into labor, Zhao Xinghua found an opportunity to cause a double tragedy.

She succeeded in part.

Lü Lan had a difficult labor, and it was only with great effort that the child was delivered. The baby’s face was purple from being suffocated, and at birth, the midwife even had trouble detecting the baby’s breathing.

The reason it’s only a partial success is because the effect of the drug was halved—Zhao Xinghua was caught.

She had no other choice but to take the risk and act herself, and she was captured by the heavily guarded old lady.

Now both the person and the drug had been found.

But where did the drug come from?

The old lady personally interrogated Zhao Xinghua.

After enduring severe torture, Zhao Xinghua finally spoke up: “There are some things I only want to tell the lady and the master.”

Aside from that, she remained silent.

So the old lady summoned her son and Jia Min to see what Zhao Xinghua wanted to say.

Jia Min looked at Zhao Xinghua as if she had seen something dirty and averted her eyes.

Zhao Xinghua smiled and said, “Madam, why do you look at me like that? I did what I said I would. Are you happy now?”

Jia Min’s expression changed abruptly: “Nonsense! Utter nonsense!”

Was Zhao Xinghua suggesting that Jia Min had instructed her to do this?

Would Jia Min really harm herself?

Zhao Xinghua chuckled, “Madam, my previous actions were indeed motivated by personal grudges, but this time, I was acting on the old lady’s orders. The next generation of the Lin family must come from the women of the Jia family’s womb. All those drugs were given to me by the old lady. Otherwise, how could a lowly maid like me have access to such things?”

Those were not ordinary drugs. To obtain them, she had given all her savings to the old maid, and it was because she knew something that made the old maid willing to sell them.

The implications of this information were overwhelming.

Not just Jia Min, but even the old lady and Lin Ruhai were stunned for a moment before their expressions darkened.

The “old lady” Zhao Xinghua referred to was clearly the old lady of the Jia family.

The drugs she provided? What was the Jia family planning to do?!