A, CS Chapter 6

Chapter 6: Entering The Mansion 

By noon the next day, people from the Prince’s mansion had arrived to pick them up.
Tang Wu glanced at the plaque behind her, her mind a whirlwind of thoughts.
In truth, she didn’t know whether this departure was an escape from a nightmare or a step into one.

The afternoon weather was as scorching as a dog day of summer, with the sun’s glare so blinding it seemed ready to fall right onto a person.
The carriage jolted along, and Tang Wu’s smooth forehead was already beaded with sweat.

These two red-awning, double-shafted carriages, one after the other, slowly made their way toward Zhongzheng Street, finally stopping in front of a grand manor.
Tang Wu and Lian Shiyin were both invited off the carriage at the same time. When they looked up, they finally understood why Gu Jiuniang often said that those of royal blood were out of reach.

The plaque of the Prince of Ying’s mansion hung high, showcasing the family’s prominence and nobility.
Everything here made them hesitant and intimidated, too afraid to move forward.

A moment later, the head steward of the manor, Steward Cao, came out to greet them. He quickly led the two young ladies to a side door and smiled, “My two Young Madams, you’ve had a tiring journey. Now, you just need to follow the old custom of stepping over this brazier, and then you’ll officially be in the manor.”

Tang Wu and Lian Shiyin were prepared. As soon as Steward Cao finished speaking, the two nodded in return, and following Gu Jiuniang’s instructions, they lifted their skirts and stepped over in one stride.

Steward Cao’s face broke into a smile, and he nodded repeatedly.
Afterward, Steward Cao led them to an independent courtyard with green glazed tiles. He stopped and said, “This is Xitong Courtyard, where you two Madams will live from now on. If there’s anything you don’t understand, just ask Nanny Wang or Nanny Ling behind me.”
Tang Wu and Lian Shiyin slightly nodded toward the two nannies, a gesture of greeting.

They were well aware that these two nannies were no ordinary housekeepers but rather professional tutors specifically hired to train them.
Seeing that the two women were poised and proper, Steward Cao gave them a couple more instructions. “Our Princess Consort has not yet returned from offering prayers at Jingyin Temple under the Emperor’s command. The household is currently managed by Side Consort Chu. Before the Princess Consort returns, you two Madams can go to Anshen Hall on the first of every month to collect your allowance.”

After Steward Cao left, the two nannies meticulously explained the rules of the manor.
For example, they were not allowed to go to the Sui’an Hall next to the Qinxin Lake or the study next to the Xitong Courtyard, and so on.
Nanny Wang and Nanny Ling’s continuous spewing of rules seemed to go on forever, almost until dusk.

Lian Shiyin had to yawn several times on purpose to finally get them to leave.
In fact, in that flower lane, they had seen all sorts of old women.
Compared to the two nannies who had just deliberately put on stern faces, the old woman from Junmeng Garden was a whole different story.

However, this was the prince’s mansion, and it wasn’t their place to act out.

The moment the two nannies left, Lian Shiyin leaned against the doorframe, raised an eyebrow at Tang Wu, and said with a smile, “Sister Wu, I really didn’t expect that you and I would have such a deep connection.”

Tang Wu, while tidying the bedding, replied, “If you, Sister Lian, aren’t willing, you can always go back to that Official Wu.” Tang Wu was unwilling to admit, even until the moment she left, that she would now have to serve the same person as the one she disliked the most.

Lian Shiyin was in a good mood and naturally didn’t take Tang Wu’s cold remarks to heart. She walked over, patted Tang Wu’s shoulder, and continued, “Those two old women just said we can’t go here or there, so where do you think we can find His Highness?”
Tang Wu avoided her touch and replied, “The nannies said those places are off-limits for a reason.”

“We’re already here. We two sisters need to be a team. Don’t tell me you want to stay in this Xitong Courtyard until we’re old!”
Tang Wu stopped what she was doing and looked up at her, “What exactly do you want to say?”

Lian Shiyin sat down beside Tang Wu, made a “shush” gesture, and whispered, “Haven’t you noticed yet? This Prince of Ying’s mansion has women, but not a single heir. What if I told you I have a way for us to get pregnant with His Highness’s child? Would you do it?”

Tang Wu’s beautiful eyes widened in astonishment. “This is the Prince of Ying’s manor. Are you crazy?”
Yuniang, the second-in-command of the Junmeng Garden, was an expert in pharmacology and had taught them a lot about medicine and its uses.
Yuniang had two purposes for having them learn pharmacology: one was to prevent them from ingesting something unclean, and the other was to help them gain favor.

However, before they came, Gu Jiuniang had clearly reminded them that the Prince of Ying’s mansion was different from other places, and it was best to put away any improper thoughts.
Lian Shiyin was getting impatient so quickly.
“Sister Wu, you have to know that wealth is found in danger.” Lian Shiyin’s voice grew louder, her tone involuntarily tinged with a hint of coercion and enticement.

Tang Wu held her breath.
She absolutely did not want to be in the same boat as Lian Shiyin, so she said bluntly, “Sister Lian, you think too highly of me. I can’t enjoy that kind of wealth.”
After all, Tang Wu didn’t believe what she was saying at all.

The most prominent word in “wealth is found in danger” was “danger.”

Lian Shiyin saw Tang Wu’s determination and knew that saying more was useless. She snorted in a low voice about her lack of ambition and then left in a huff.
After that, Tang Wu noticed that Lian Shiyin stood by the door every day for three consecutive days, constantly looking into the distance. Everyone knew whom she was waiting for.

At first, no one dared to say anything, but as time went on, the servants saw that the mistresses of Xitong Courtyard were not gaining favor, and gossip began to spread.
Even the maids’ gazes toward them changed from curiosity to contempt.

Lian Shiyin was so angry she had no one to vent to, so she would often repeat the unpleasant, filthy rumors to Tang Wu, but Tang Wu always ignored her, not saying a word.

Five days passed quickly.

Early one morning, with a few birds chirping outside the window, Tang Wu was being perfunctorily served by a young maid when Nanny Ling arrived.
“Nanny, why are you here so early?” Tang Wu asked as she got up.
“The Side Consort only heard you arrived at the mansion yesterday, and she has added two more place settings at Anshen Hall today, wanting to have a meal with you,” Nanny Ling said.

Tang Wu and Lian Shiyin exchanged glances. They knew what the Side Consort’s intentions were, even without her having to say it.
They both understood why the high-and-mighty Side Consort would summon them for a meal.

It was simply that upon hearing of their identities, she couldn’t sit still.
It’s strange, but when it comes to matters of the heart between men and women, there is no distinction of rank or status.
The backyards of the powerful in the capital are mostly the same.

The gentle and virtuous head wife is busy managing household affairs, while the enchanting concubine is busy captivating her lord’s heart.
However… such a peaceful life where everyone has their own duties never lasts very long.
Xu’er, Side Consort Chu’s dowry maid, led Tang Wu and Lian Shiyin to the east antechamber.

Against the southern wall of the room stood a floor-to-ceiling Dongyang wood-carved screen. The front was carved with pine trees, and the back with koi, making it very grand and impressive.
In the center of the room was a dark brown peach wood “Eight Immortals[mfn]Eight immortals table— a square table in which 2 people each, sits at each of the four sides[/mfn]” table, laden with many excellent dishes.

The meat and vegetable dishes were well-balanced, and their placement was very deliberate. Tang Wu thought to herself, if the decor of a mere antechamber is this substantial and elegant, this Side Consort Chu must have a very significant background.

Just then, the curtain of the east antechamber was lifted, and Side Consort Chu walked into the inner room unhurriedly.

She had a slender figure, arched willow brows, and a small cherry mouth. If not for her slightly less striking eyes, she would have been a top-tier beauty.
Side Consort Chu knew her looks were definitely inferior to these seductresses, so she had prepared herself mentally. But she didn’t expect that this one would truly live up to the name of a ‘flower queen’ from the common folk.

Her normally composed expression couldn’t help but show a few cracks.
To show the difference in their status, Side Consort Chu took her seat first.
She crooked her slender, fair fingers, motioning for Xu’er to bring water.

Xu’er held the water basin and picked up a prepared jasmine soap. She slowly rubbed it into Side Consort Chu’s palms. Not until the tiny bubbles had completely dissolved in the water did Side Consort Chu slowly look up and say, “Why aren’t you two younger sisters sitting?”

“Without your permission, Side Consort, how would this concubine dare to sit?” Lian Shiyin quickly said.
Side Consort Chu smiled, wiped her hands with a handkerchief, and then said to the two of them, “It seems Nanny Ling has been too strict. Actually, our Prince’s mansion doesn’t have so many rules.”

Tang Wu’s gaze darkened. She understood the meaning behind Side Consort Chu’s words. This was seemingly an act of defending them, but it was actually meant to imply that they had just learned these rules upon arriving at the mansion.

Tang Wu knew this wasn’t the time to argue, so she took a step back, curtsied obediently, and only slowly rose after Side Consort Chu, finding the game uninteresting, truly allowed her to sit.

“Yesterday, when I heard Nanny Ling talk about your two younger sisters’ backgrounds, I felt awful. At the time, I thought, if others had gone through such an experience, they might have killed themselves by hitting their heads… So today, seeing you two, so vibrant and beautiful, my heart truly aches for you.” As she spoke, Side Consort Chu lightly patted her chest.

This was a Hongmen banquet[mfn]Banquet with ill intentions[/mfn], and Tang Wu was very aware of it.
But she didn’t expect Side Consort Chu to be so blunt.
At this moment, Tang Wu honestly asked herself, she was indeed crestfallen.

If she could have chosen her background, she wouldn’t have chosen to be born into that kind of family, nor would she have chosen to be sold to the flower lane…

Tang Wu took a deep breath, calming the bitterness rising in her heart, and said softly and slowly, “The madam in my courtyard often said that one’s birth depends on skill and fate. Perhaps this concubine was not born with such good fortune, so this experience is not to be blamed on others. This concubine accepted her fate a long time ago.”

Her words were impeccable, with no fault to be found.

In fact, Tang Wu had already said everything Side Consort Chu was about to say.
Tang Wu’s reaction caught Side Consort Chu completely off guard.
Side Consort Chu could only feign three parts of sadness and continue, “Look at me, why do I keep bringing up these matters?”
With that, she symbolically pushed her small bowl, “You should eat more of this bird’s nest porridge. I had the kitchen prepare a lot.”

— —
Author’s Note:
The character for Xi in Song Xi is pronounced the same as in the name Xi[mfn]Xi means splendid or glorious. It is pronounced as ‘She’ but with stress added to the she. [/mfn], first tone[mfn]High level tone [/mfn].