Read Novel Full CHAPTER 4: Concubine Cui Had no Genuine Affection for the Original Host
CHAPTER 4: Concubine Cui Had no Genuine Affection for the Original Host
“Clatter!”
A sudden crash broke the silence, interrupting the matriarch mid-sentence.
In the west antechamber, just one wall away from the main hall, a blue-and-white porcelain teacup had overturned on a small carved table adorned with intricate ruyi patterns. Tea spilled over the table’s edge, dripping onto the floor, while a wooden fruit platter was knocked over, scattering golden loquats across the ground, rolling aimlessly.
From the direction of the kitchen annex came the low, persistent bubbling of a kettle just reaching a boil, its hum adding to the commotion.
“Madam, did the tea burn your hand?” the head maid asked anxiously, rushing forward to support Madam Yin, her expression taut with worry.
Moments earlier, Madam Yin had suddenly felt faint. In her unsteadiness, she had knocked over the teacup, her elbow striking the fruit platter in the process.
“I’m fine,” Madam Yin replied softly, her voice weak. One hand pressed against her sweat-soaked forehead as her pale face betrayed her frailty. Her body swayed slightly, as though she might collapse at any moment.
“Mother.”
Xiao Yan quickly stepped forward to support Madam Yin’s other arm, working with the head maid to help her into a nearby chair. As she did so, she discreetly checked her mother’s pulse with practiced fingers.
Having studied clinical medicine, Xiao Yan had also pursued traditional Chinese medicine as an elective for several years out of personal interest.
Combining Madam Yin’s pulse with her current symptoms—pale complexion, sweating, trembling hands, and dizziness—Xiao Yan quickly reached a conclusion in her heart. “Mother, have you skipped breakfast this morning?”
Madam Yin blinked in slight surprise, her gaze meeting Xiao Yan’s clear, bright eyes. After a moment, she nodded.
“Is there any sugar here?” Xiao Yan asked, glancing around the room.
“Yes, yes!” A young maid promptly brought over a lotus-leaf-shaped dish filled with rose sugar.
“Mother, have one,” Xiao Yan said, her tone calm yet firm. “Suck on it slowly.”
It seemed Madam Yin was experiencing hypoglycemia. A piece of sugar and some food would help stabilize her condition.
Madam Yin quietly observed Xiao Yan, her gaze deep as an abyss, thoughtful and searching.
Her mind drifted to what Jin momo had reported the day before: “Madam, it seems Second Miss’s incense contains green plum blossoms…”
Everyone in the household knew that Master Ye could not tolerate the scent of green plum blossoms—it had almost cost him his life years ago.
This concubine-born daughter had always been introverted, rarely speaking, and she would always lower her head shyly when meeting Madam Yin. Fragile and delicate, she seemed like a flower that could wither with the slightest breeze. Yet today, she felt different.
Could she really have the audacity to tamper with the incense?
Madam Yin slowly raised her hand, picking up a piece of rose sugar and placing it in her mouth.
A delicate sweetness spread through her palate, calming her somewhat.
Xiao Yan spoke gently, her tone soothing. “Mother, rest for a while, and you’ll feel better.”
Madam Yin took the handkerchief offered by the head maid and lightly dabbed the cold sweat from her forehead.
As the rose sugar gradually dissolved in her mouth, she noticed the dizziness and panic subsiding, though her limbs still felt weak.
Once Madam Yin had regained some composure, Xiao Yan offered a kind reminder: “Mother, you are already prone to deficiencies in qi and blood. Skipping breakfast in the mornings is not good for your health.”
According to traditional Chinese medicine, hypoglycemia is often a result of qi and blood deficiency.
How does she know this?! Madam Yin’s head maid, Ying Luo, nearly blurted out the question aloud. How did Second Miss know Madam skipped breakfast? And how could she tell Madam suffers from qi and blood deficiency?!
“I’ll remember that,” Madam Yin replied, her tone calm as her gaze rested steadily on Xiao Yan’s gentle smile. After a moment, she asked, “Yan’er, have you been reading medical books?”
“Long illnesses make one a doctor,” Xiao Yan deflected with a vague reply.
The original host of this body had fallen gravely ill with a severe cold at the age of twelve.
At the time, an epidemic was spreading in the capital, claiming many lives. Rumors swirled through the marquis’s household, with many servants whispering that the original host had contracted the epidemic. People avoided her courtyard like the plague.
It was Aunt Cui who “considered the bigger picture” and took the initiative to suggest to the matriarch that the original host be sent to a rural estate to recover.
On the eve of her departure, Aunt Cui had hugged the original host, weeping bitterly. She had claimed that with rumors rampant in the household, if the eldest young lady or the third young master fell ill, the madam might blame the original host. Being just a concubine, Aunt Cui said she lacked the power to protect her and had no choice but to send her away.
That exile lasted more than two years. The original host only returned to the marquis’s household last May.
Madam Yin’s earlier comment struck a chord. It reminded Xiao Yan that she ought to purchase some medical books. Not only would it provide a plausible cover, but delving into traditional Chinese medicine might prove genuinely useful. After all, relying solely on the emergency supplies she had wouldn’t be sustainable for the long term.
Quietly mulling over her plan, Xiao Yan gave herself a silent nod of approval for her foresight.
“Madam, have some tea,” Ying Luo said, placing a fresh cup of warm tea before Madam Yin. She couldn’t help but steal another glance at Xiao Yan, surprised that the usually timid and soft-spoken second young lady had taken an interest in medical books.
Madam Yin sipped the warm tea slowly. The color returned to her pale lips, a delicate blush spreading over them as her strength began to recover.
Xiao Yan spoke again, her tone gentle. “Mother, have a piece of something sweet to settle your stomach. But don’t eat too quickly.”
Madam Yin picked up a piece of soft jujube and yam cake, taking small, measured bites and chewing slowly.
Meanwhile, the maids tidied up the fallen fruit platter and scattered loquats. Before long, the room was restored to its neat and orderly state.
After finishing a piece of cake and sipping half a cup of warm tea, Madam Yin spoke in a mild tone, engaging Xiao Yan in casual conversation. “I believe I have two medical books in my study. They’ve been gathering dust there. I’ll have someone send them to you later along with some pine nut candies.”
“Pine nut candies?” Xiao Yan was momentarily surprised.
Madam Yin chuckled softly. “Ye’er told me he brought you some pine nut candies from Ding Shi Ji yesterday but accidentally spilled them. He’s been fretting about it ever since he got home, insisting he needs to go back and buy more for you.”
Thinking of the little boy, a faint smile lit up Xiao Yan’s eyes. “Mother, please tell Ye’er that by the time his next rest day comes, I’ll be fully recovered. Then I’ll take him to buy some myself.”
The young girl’s demeanor was composed and serene, her bright, clear eyes as pure as a cloudless sky, untainted by any impurities.
Just then, Wang Mama entered from the main hall. After a polite bow, she addressed Madam Yin with a respectful tone. “Madam, the Matriarch sent me to ask if the tea and refreshments are ready.”
The message was clear: the Matriarch and the Madam of the Duke of Wei’s household had concluded their conversation.
Madam Yin had just finished her second piece of cake. Using a handkerchief to dab the corners of her mouth, she felt a comforting warmth spreading through her previously empty stomach. The strength gradually returned to her limbs, and the cold sweat that had been soaking her body finally ceased.
Feeling recovered, Madam Yin rose to her feet and brought Xiao Yan along as they returned to the main hall. Behind them, Ying Luo and two other young maids carried in several plates of delicately prepared refreshments.
Despite the exquisite tea snacks, the Madam of the Duke of Wei’s household didn’t touch a single bite. After exchanging a few more polite words, she excused herself and prepared to leave.
“I’ll see you off, Madam,” said Madam Yin, rising to escort her guest.
Once Madam Yin and the Duke’s Madam had departed, the Matriarch casually dismissed Xiao Yan with a wave.
Xiao Yan obediently bowed her head and acknowledged the dismissal before retreating quietly from the hall.
Even without eavesdropping on their private conversation, she had a vague idea of the situation. The Matriarch’s deliberate summons had to be related to the Duke’s Madam.
But why? Xiao Yan mused as she walked. The original host was just a minor concubine-born daughter. What could possibly make someone as lofty as the Madam of the Duke of Wei take notice of her?
Unable to piece together an answer, Xiao Yan set the matter aside for now. By the time she returned to Yuechu Zhai, Sun momo had already vanished.
Without pause, Xiao Yan made her way straight to the east wing.
The east wing was divided into two sections by a six-panel huanghuali wood screen intricately carved with floral patterns. One side served as a private inner room, while the other was a small study. Against the walls stood three tall bookshelves, their contents meticulously organized by category. The air was thick with the pleasant aroma of books, a testament to their careful upkeep.
The original host had loved reading, especially history, and had amassed an impressive collection, including The Records of the Grand Historian, Chronicles of the Seven Kingdoms, and The Comprehensive History of the Great Sheng.
Xiao Yan scanned the bookshelves and soon pulled out a volume titled Miscellaneous Anthology of Anecdotes from the leftmost shelf.
This book, a compilation of miscellaneous notes, was penned by a scholar of this dynasty. Hailing from an influential official family, the author was reputed to have an encyclopedic knowledge of the dynasty’s history. The book contained both verified historical accounts and hearsay, blending fact with legend.
It had been a birthday gift from Madam Yin to the original host on her twelfth birthday. However, before she could finish it, the original host was sent by Aunt Cui to the countryside “for recuperation,” leaving the book untouched ever since.
Xiao Yan carried the book to the inner room, sat down, and began flipping through its pages.
The text, written in complex classical Chinese without punctuation, resembled a cryptic puzzle at first glance. Fortunately, with the original host’s memories, Xiao Yan was able to make sense of it without too much difficulty.
She read intently for over half an hour, managing to get through about a third of the book. By then, she had gained a rough understanding of the dynasty’s history.
The Great Jing Dynasty was a fictional era, unrecorded in real-world history.
During the late years of the previous dynasty, military governors had divided the empire, and corruption had run rampant in the court, plunging the populace into hardship. Sixty-five years ago, the Emperor of Revolution had risen in rebellion, rallying countless heroes under his banner. After over a decade of chaotic warfare, he succeeded in uniting the land and establishing the Great Jing Dynasty.
Among the founding nobles and officials of the Great Jing Dynasty, the Duke of Wei’s family held a distinguished position.
The first Duke of Wei, Gu Ran, had joined the founding emperor in his rebellion and was one of the Four Great Dukes who helped establish the dynasty. The Duke of Wei’s lineage was renowned for producing military talents. Each successive Duke of Wei was a capable general who played a key role in stabilizing and securing the empire, earning widespread fame throughout the Great Jing.
After two generations of efforts, the Great Jing Dynasty entered its golden age under the reign of the late emperor. The empire expanded its borders, the people lived in peace and prosperity, and the economy flourished.
At that moment, Haitang entered the room, quietly offering tea and snacks before withdrawing without a sound.
Inside the room, the scent of tea lingered in the air.
Xiao Yan patiently continued reading, flipping through the pages until she reached the section about the current emperor. She studied these pages more closely.
During the late emperor’s reign, the current emperor, Tang Hongzhao, the second prince, was neither the legitimate son nor the eldest among the royal children and was not highly favored. When he resided at the secondary palace, he had married Gu Shi, the legitimate eldest daughter of the Duke of Wei’s family, as his primary consort.
Twenty-three years ago, the late emperor fell gravely ill, his health deteriorating steadily. He decided to designate an heir. With the support of the Duke of Wei’s family, the second prince emerged victorious in the battle for the crown prince position and was named heir. After the late emperor’s death, he ascended the throne.
Unfortunately, not long after ascending the throne, Empress Gu fell seriously ill. She languished in bed and passed away within the year.
A year later, Concubine Liu became the new empress, assuming the role of “Mother of the Nation.”
Xiao Yan held the book’s pages and paused for a moment before continuing to flip through. Further on, the pages mostly contained rumors and anecdotes.
Just as she was about to close the book, a particular passage in the lower-right corner caught her attention. Her gaze sharpened. “Huh?”
The author had written a brief anecdote about a scholar from a county town.
The scholar, in his twenties, was quite talented in his studies.
One day, after catching a heavy cold from being caught in the rain, the scholar suddenly underwent a drastic personality change. First, he insisted on marrying his wife’s maid, publicly proclaiming that she and his wife were “equal in size.” A few days later, he expressed his desire to marry his widowed sister-in-law, claiming that chastity was a feudal construct, a decayed relic of the past. His sister-in-law, filled with shame and anger, took her own life.
Afterward, the scholar remained quiet for several months.
However, after failing the imperial exams, he took all his family’s money and declared that he was abandoning literature for commerce. He repeatedly insisted that he would invent a certain type of cannon, one that would make the Great Jing Dynasty the dominant power in the world.
His family believed the scholar had either gone mad or was possessed by an evil spirit. They handed him over to the authorities, where he was eventually burned to death.
“…” Xiao Yan swallowed nervously, silently reminding herself: I must stay low-key, be cautious, and influence subtly. I can never let anyone think I’m a monster.
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