Chapter 219: No Pain, No Gain
"Miss, it's here!"
Seeing Wang Man'er rushing into the room with an excited expression, Daohua was instantly annoyed.
What does "it's here" mean?
Can’t she speak properly?
Wang Man'er didn’t realize her slip of the tongue. As soon as she got in front of Daohua, she excitedly exclaimed, "Miss, Concubine Lin has given birth to a daughter. You have another little sister!"
Daohua silently stared at Wang Man'er, whose face was full of smiles.
Wang Man'er noticed Daohua's unwavering gaze and the smile on her face froze. "Miss, what’s wrong?"
Daohua was speechless. "Shouldn't I be the one asking what's wrong? Concubine Lin gave birth to a daughter, and you're so happy?"
Wang Man'er quickly shook her head. "I'm not happy, no, I'm happy because Concubine Lin had a daughter, not a son. Now, let's see how proud she can be."
"Before the birth, she kept shouting about craving sour food, almost as if she was trying to tell everyone that she was carrying a boy. Now, she must be embarrassed, right?"
Daohua shot a disapproving glance at Wang Man'er, who was grinning with schadenfreude. "Whether it's a boy or a girl, they're still the father's child."
Wang Man'er replied, "It’s different. If it had been a son, Concubine Lin would have been so proud."
Daohua didn't say much in response.
In ancient times, there was a deeply rooted preference for sons over daughters. Though Daohua didn't share this view, it was indeed better for Concubine Lin to give birth to a daughter rather than a son.
Wang Man'er continued, "Oh, Miss, Master has punished Concubine Liu."
"Oh?" Daohua raised an eyebrow. "What did she do?"
Wang Man'er replied, "Master said Concubine Liu caused Concubine Lin’s premature labor, so he punished her with house arrest for three months and ordered her to copy scriptures to pray for the newborn Fifth Miss."
Daohua narrowed her eyes. "Did Concubine Liu really push Concubine Lin?"
Wang Man'er scoffed, "Who knows? Anyway, Concubine Lin's maid insists that Concubine Liu pushed her, but Concubine Liu was alone at the time."
"However, Concubine Liu’s response was strange. She didn't defend herself at all, just said that she nearly harmed the Yan family's bloodline, and that she was guilty and deserved to be punished."
Daohua's eyes flashed. "She knows how to use retreat as a form of advance!"
Concubine Lin had just given birth, and her father clearly favored her. The more Concubine Liu defended herself, the more likely she would provoke his disgust. It was better for her to admit her fault; at least her attitude would seem sincere.
Moreover, her statement about "causing trouble" was very telling. Was she implying that Concubine Lin had attacked her first?
"Enough about them. Quickly bring me the embroidery frame; I need to finish the pouch for Fourth Brother before his birthday, or he’ll start causing trouble again."
December 18th was Fourth Brother Yan Wenkai’s birthday, and there were only a few days left.
Wang Man'er curiously looked at the embroidery design. "Miss, what animal is this? I’ve never seen it before. Is it a bear?"
Daohua smiled as she picked up the embroidery frame, looked at it, and nodded in satisfaction. "Isn’t it cute? This is an animal from the Bashu region. It's a type of bear, I suppose."
A panda is still a type of bear.
At Shuangxin Courtyard
Concubine Lin lay in bed, looking somewhat disappointed as she gazed at her newborn daughter in the swaddling cloth.
Ever since she found out she was pregnant, she had been certain she was carrying a son.
The more she had hoped for it, the more disappointed she was now.
She had thought that giving birth to another son would win her husband’s favor back, but now, all her hopes had shattered.
At this moment, her senior maid, Xiyun, entered. "Madam, your mother and sister-in-law are here to see you."
Upon hearing this, Concubine Lin's face immediately brightened. "Quickly, bring them in."
Soon, a middle-aged woman and a younger woman were ushered in.
Seeing them, Concubine Lin tried to sit up, but the middle-aged woman quickly stepped forward and pressed her back down. "Don’t move! You’ve just given birth; you need to rest."
Concubine Lin didn’t insist. She held onto Wang Shi’s hand and reclined back. "Mother," she said, before turning to look at the younger woman beside her. "Sister-in-law."
Lin Shiye's wife, Lin Xushi, smiled and stepped forward to look at the newborn girl. "What a beautiful child. She looks just like you."
Concubine Lin smiled. "I actually wish she looked more like Master. That way, she might win his favor."
Hearing this, Lin's mother Wang Shi’s eyes immediately reddened, and her voice became choked. "It’s all your father’s fault. If he had some backbone, how could you end up as someone else’s concubine? Now, you have to fight for the master's affection for your child."
Concubine Lin immediately fell silent. After a while, she bitterly smiled and said, "Mother, this is my fate."
Seeing the guilt and self-blame on Wang Shi’s face, and the awkwardness on her sister-in-law’s, Concubine Lin had no choice but to feign ease and said, "Mother, you know how Master treats me. I live well in the Yan family."
Wang Shi looked dissatisfied. "Living well? If you really lived well, how could you have had a premature birth?"
At these words, Concubine Lin’s eyes flickered, and she glanced at the maid, Xiyun. "Go stand by the door. I need to talk privately with Mother and Sister-in-law."
"Yes."
Xiyun quickly retreated.
After everyone left, Concubine Lin quietly said, "This wasn’t really a premature birth, it was deliberate, to deal with that woman in the courtyard."
Both Wang Shi and Lin Xushi were stunned.
After a brief silence, Wang Shi angrily scolded, "You, why don't you take better care of your body? What if something really happens? What will Wenbin and Yishuang do then?"
Concubine Lin hurriedly reassured her, "Mother, don’t worry, I know what I’m doing."
Wang Shi was still worried. "Giving birth is always like walking through the gates of death. You must never joke with your own body again."
Concubine Lin’s face darkened. "In the future... I’m afraid there won’t be a chance."
Wang Shi immediately became displeased. "Don’t talk like that! You’re still young."
Lin Xushi also added, "Yes, with Master Yan’s love for you, you’ll surely have many children and much happiness in the future."
Concubine Lin shook her head bitterly. "I used to think that way too, but now…"
Wang Shi looked alarmed. "What’s wrong? Has that vixen in your courtyard bewitched your husband?"
Concubine Lin shook her head again. "No, it’s not like that. Master isn’t one to be swayed by beauty. He’s indifferent to Liu Shi."
Wang Shi relaxed. "Then why worry?"
Concubine Lin fell silent for a moment. "Honestly, I’m not so worried about Liu Shi now. What worries me is the madam."
Wang Shi and Lin Xushi were both taken aback.
Concubine Lin continued, "Like this time, I risked my health to have a premature birth, just to get rid of Liu Shi. Even if I couldn’t remove her, I at least wanted her out of my courtyard."
"Everything was almost settled, but with one word from the madam, Master changed his mind. He only imposed house arrest on Liu Shi and had her copy Buddhist scriptures as punishment."
"This punishment, compared to the pain I went through during childbirth, is like nothing."
"Now, Master is paying more and more attention to the madam. When he has any troubles, he used to tell me about them, but now, he confides in her."
"What I’ve relied on all along is Master’s favor. If that favor is gone, then I’ll truly be just another ordinary concubine in the Yan family’s rear courtyard."
(End of Chapter)
0 comments:
Post a Comment