Before the Hour of the Tiger had even arrived, Yu Zhu was woken by her head maid, Lan Xi.
The candlelight flickered against the pitch-black darkness outside.
The moment she left the warmth of her quilts, the cold air scrambled to crawl over Yu Zhu’s skin. Goosebumps broke out across her arms.
Lan Xi draped a padded jacket over her shoulders and ordered a junior maid to light the charcoal. She then tucked a copper hand-warmer into Yu Zhu’s arms to keep her warm.
“Miss, quickly now. Get up; today is your big day.”
A “Double Happiness” character was pasted onto the window. Yu Zhu stared at it for a long while before remembering that today was the day she was to enter the Prince’s manor.
She had been handpicked by the Empress, who claimed she was of upright character and gentle temperament. The Empress said she took a liking to her at first sight, and thus she was bestowed upon Prince Jin to be his concubine.
Yu Zhu had never met Prince Jin. She only knew he had just established his own residence this year. He occupied the largest estate in Yudu, which backed onto Jinhu and encompassed a vast swathe of land.
The enclosed area had become Prince Jin’s private domain. It was said that it not only featured a pavilion in the middle of the lake but also an artificial island created specifically as a venue for banquets.
Prince Jin was the Empress’s youngest son—the firstborn is cherished, but the youngest is often the most spoiled. The Emperor’s favor for Prince Jin went without saying.
Thus, as soon as the Empress’s verbal decree arrived, the way Yu Zhu’s parents looked at her changed.
Her mother had spent an entire day talking to her.
It was the usual advice: watch your words and actions, take care of yourself. Since ancient times, the inner courtyards have been places that devour people, so you must be tactful. It would be best if you could use a bit of “pillow talk” to secure a future for your father and brothers.
Yu Zhu listened until she was drowsy. If a family’s future relied solely on a woman’s lips, then nine times out of ten, that future was a sham.
Besides, she didn’t have the slightest ability to influence Prince Jin’s decisions.
Having stayed up late talking the previous night, Yu Zhu had only slept for four hours at most. Her eyelids were heavy, and her head kept nodding like a chicken pecking at grain.
Seeing her like this, Lan Xi brought over a cup of mouthwash.
The water was ice-cold. The moment it hit her mouth, the chill made her teeth ache.
Yu Zhu’s sleepiness vanished instantly, and she stared at Lan Xi with wide eyes.
The two had grown up together, so Lan Xi was naturally not afraid of her. She laughed and teased Yu Zhu.
“If you don’t get up now, Madam will be angry when she arrives.”
At that, Yu Zhu summoned her courage, threw back the covers, and stepped into a pair of red padded shoes. The uppers were embroidered with mandarin ducks and adorned with two pearls.
Though the pearls were small, her mother had dipped into her own dowry money to have someone purchase them.
The Yu family was of modest means; her father was a mere official of the sixth rank. It was no wonder they saw Yu Zhu as the family’s hope, praying she would bring them honor and make a name for herself.
The shoes were red, but her jacket was a combination of light green and peach pink.
A concubine was not permitted to wear bright red. To the Prince’s manor, this was merely the arrival of another person, but for Yu Zhu, it was the most significant event of her life. Her mother had thought long and hard and decided to exploit a loophole by providing Yu Zhu with red padded shoes.
Looking at the shoes, Yu Zhu felt a mix of bittersweetness and warmth.
Once she entered the Prince’s manor, she didn’t know when she would see her mother again. The thought made her want to burst into tears.
Lan Xi began applying rouge to her face.
“You mustn’t cry, Miss. Today is your auspicious day.”
Yu Zhu gave a soft hum and sat before the dressing table.
“Comb my hair.”
Lan Xi dipped the comb into osmanthus-scented water, singing as she combed.
“One stroke to the end, two strokes to white hair together, three strokes to children and grandchildren everywhere, four strokes to wealth and prosperity.”
Before long, Yu Zhu’s hair was styled into the fashion of a married woman. Only a single lock was left tucked behind her ear; it would not be fully pinned up until after tonight, signifying her transition into a woman.
Yu Zhu looked in the mirror at her youthful face.
She wasn’t exceptionally beautiful; after all, her parents were of average appearance. Yu Zhu was, at most, more than delicate but lacking in dazzling beauty.
She had a pair of round eyes that made her look a bit dazed, devoid of any craftiness. She was cute, certainly, but looking at her for too long made one think of a small household pet.
The baby fat on her face had yet to fade, making such a mature hairstyle look somewhat out of place.
Yu Zhu touched the lock of hair behind her ear, feeling a sense of fear, but more so a lingering melancholy.
Was she truly ready to leave her parents?
Daylight broke outside, and magpies began to chatter incessantly.
They say hearing a magpie is a good omen, signaling that the days ahead will be smooth and peaceful.
Yu Zhu’s mother gave a string of a thousand coins to each of the household servants. She came in and saw that Yu Zhu’s hair was already done.
Mother and daughter looked at each other, neither speaking.
Suddenly, her mother took a deep breath.
“My daughter is truly beautiful today!”
Hearing her speak, Yu Zhu could no longer hold it together. Tears began to fall.
“Mother, I don’t want to go to the manor!”
Her mother’s face hardened as she scolded her, “What nonsense is that? This is your blessing! Lan Xi, you must look after the Miss well, do you hear me?”
Lan Xi naturally agreed. “Don’t worry, Madam. I will take good care of her.”
Her mother pulled out a pouch of silver “melon seeds” and pressed them into Yu Zhu’s hand.
“Be smart. If you encounter servants who can be useful, give them a reward, understand?”
She spoke on and on, unable to set her heart at ease. Everything would now depend on Yu Zhu’s own destiny.
Her mother draped the red silk veil over Yu Zhu’s head. Outside, the sedan chair sent to fetch her was already waiting in the courtyard.
Yu Zhu kowtowed to her parents and was then assisted into the small sedan.
As soon as she sat down, something poked her backside. Yu Zhu reached out to feel around; the seat was covered with peanuts, longans, and red dates.
She grabbed a handful and quietly tucked them into her pocket.
She was entering the manor, but whether she would even see Prince Jin was another matter. If she was unlucky, she might sit on a cold bench all night.
Furthermore, Prince Jin wouldn’t be free to enter the bridal chamber first thing in the morning. He had official business to attend to; it would be nightfall at the earliest before he came to see what kind of person Yu Zhu was.
Sure enough, the small sedan silently entered the back courtyard of the Prince’s manor.
Yu Zhu’s courtyard was in the southeast corner. Perhaps because she was the first to enter the manor and came by the Empress’s decree, she was given a two-entry courtyard. It featured two ornamental rocks and even a Go table.
There wasn’t much greenery in winter, but four pots of winter jasmine were placed in the yard. They were in full bloom now, their fragrance filling the air.
The furnishings in the main room were all new, far grander than those at her home.
Only after seeing this did Yu Zhu understand why everyone scrambled to become a royal consort or princess. Who wouldn’t be moved by such immense wealth?
Just the jade elephant ornament alone was worth more than her family’s entire annual expenses.
She was helped onto the bed by a nanny. Unable to see clearly, she could only look out from under the veil and see that the nanny wore blue padded shoes with layered soles that were dusted with snow.
This was Nanny Du, who was in charge of the inner courtyard. Since Yu Zhu was currently the only woman, it could be said she was specifically in charge of her.
Any woman favored by Prince Jin had to be recorded in a ledger by her. Following that, Nanny Du was responsible for tracking menstrual cycles, births, and so on.
Yu Zhu heard Nanny Du ask Lan Xi, “Has she been taught everything at home?”
“In reply to the Nanny, she has been taught.”
Nanny Du hummed in response and pulled out a book for Lan Xi.
“While the Prince has not yet returned, have another look.”
Lan Xi took the book, her face flushing. The figures in the book were entwined together; it was a Mixitu.
Nanny Du finished her instructions and prepared to leave. Remembering her mistress’s words, Lan Xi tried to offer Nanny Du some silver melon seeds as a reward.
However, while such things were fine for tipping grooms or maids, an experienced veteran like Nanny Du looked down on them and politely declined with a smile.
“This old servant is merely doing her duty for the Prince. There is no need for such formality, Mistress.”
Lan Xi awkwardly withdrew her hand and gave a forced laugh. “Then I have troubled you, Nanny.”
For the rest of the day, maid and mistress could only sit and wait for Prince Jin’s arrival.
Yu Zhu’s backside began to ache from sitting. She couldn’t help but stand up and pace a little.
Lan Xi reminded her, “Miss, this is against the rules.”
With the red veil still on her head, Yu Zhu could only look down as she walked.
“There’s no one here.”
Lan Xi glanced toward the window. “What if someone comes?”
Yu Zhu felt Lan Xi was being overly cautious.
“So what if they see me?”
Even though she was the first woman to enter the manor, and there might be many eyes on her, she was essentially only sent to Prince Jin to “practice” with because of her good, obedient nature.
Before long, woman after woman would be carried into the manor. Side consorts, a Princess Consort, and other concubines. They would be more beautiful and come from more prestigious families. By then, Yu Zhu wouldn’t even be worth a glance.
So there was no need to worry about anyone nitpicking her faults. Once others entered the manor, she would become just another anonymous weed in the back courtyard. She would be content as long as she had enough to eat.
Yu Zhu took two steps and, under Lan Xi’s horrified gaze, ate the peanuts she had saved.
She had been hungry for a long time. To “temper her character,” she wasn’t allowed to eat before seeing Prince Jin. With only these snacks to stave off hunger, Yu Zhu comforted herself that it was better than nothing.
After eating the peanuts, she drank a cup of tea before obediently sitting back down.
After that, she got up to stretch every half hour.
In this manner, she endured until nightfall.
Finally, Prince Jin arrived, long overdue.
Yu Zhu saw a pair of black boots embroidered with gold thread and auspicious cloud patterns; they looked exceptionally regal.
Prince Jin’s fingers were long and slender, very handsome. He didn’t use a lifting rod, instead using his hand to pull back Yu Zhu’s veil.
Yu Zhu looked up and saw a face that was somewhat delicate. It seemed Prince Jin took after the Empress in appearance. However, this delicacy was perfectly balanced; he didn’t seem feminine at all, just an exceptionally handsome man.
Prince Jin didn’t look much at Yu Zhu. He turned his back, his voice indifferent.
“Undress me.”
Yu Zhu stood up clumsily, her heart filled with trepidation.
The two were close in age. Yu Zhu calculated that Prince Jin was sixteen at most. How was he more than a head taller than her?
She had received instruction at home and knew how to undress her husband. First was the belt, then the silk ties.
As the clothes were removed, Lan Xi took them away. Yu Zhu stood on her tiptoes to remove Prince Jin’s headpiece.
Prince Jin lowered his head and happened to see Yu Zhu’s earnest effort.
Having gone hungry all day, her lips were pale. But her face was fleshy and rather cute.
He reached out and hooked his arm around her waist. The sensation was as soft as a bundle of cotton.
His hand then flicked open Yu Zhu’s buttons, touching the warm skin beneath.
The strange sensation made Yu Zhu tremble involuntarily. It was a bit itchy and…
In short, her heart felt like it was harboring a frantic rabbit.
Prince Jin’s voice grew husky, carrying a hint of flirtation.
“You’ve waited all day. Are you anxious?”
Yu Zhu said, “A little.”
She was truly honest. Anyone else would have said, “I don’t mind how long I wait, as long as you come.”
After saying “a little,” Yu Zhu looked longingly at the food on the table.
As soon as Prince Jin entered the manor, the kitchen had sent over dishes. The charcoal was burning in the room, making Yu Zhu sweat from the heat. Her stomach growled even louder.
“Are you hungry? You’ve just come back from the Ministry of Revenue; have you had dinner yet?”
Prince Jin wasn’t thinking about food right now; the beauty before him was a feast enough.
He carried Yu Zhu to the bed and buried his face in her neck, his voice muffled.
“I’ll eat later.”
Yu Zhu felt like a small boat drifting on the sea, tossed here and there by the waves.
Setting the pain aside, Yu Zhu felt only shame. She buried her face in the quilts and cried loudly.
After more than an hour, the storm finally subsided.
Yu Zhu’s voice was raspy as she curled up in Prince Jin’s arms.
“Extinguish the light.”
As soon as the words were spoken, Lan Xi blew out the candles, and darkness fell.
After washing up, the pain in her body had faded.
But Yu Zhu was still very sad.
She had imagined her wedding night countless times. She had expected tenderness, bashfulness, and mutual desire—not one person seeking only his own pleasure and casting her aside.
But Yu Zhu had no choice; she could only try to please him. Only by doing so could she survive in the inner courtyard.
In the darkness, Yu Zhu let out a silent scream.
I’m so hungry!