Volume 1 Chapter 5: Taking a Concubine
Guantang Courtyard.
After inspecting the rooms, meeting the servants, delivering admonishments, and distributing silver rewards… once everything was done, Tanyin felt a sense of finality, as if she were starting anew.
By then, it was nearly noon. To familiarize herself with the Marquis's Mansion and gather information along the way, Yin Huan personally went to the kitchen to fetch the midday meal.
After a morning, news of the concubine-taking had spread throughout the Marquis's Mansion. Everyone knew that the Madam had taken a concubine for the Marquis—her own half-sister from a concubine branch.
As the saying goes, a new official lights three fires. With a new mistress in the mansion, the servants, who were adept at judging people and adjusting their attitudes, naturally dared not foolishly neglect their duties. Thus, Yin Huan returned in less than half an hour, carrying a lavish food box.
"Miss—"
Yin Huan rushed back in a hurry, but as soon as she stepped onto the main house’s stairs, she was met with Mama Wang’s cold glare: "What is this flustered behavior? The Third Lady is now a Concubine of the Marquis's Mansion. If you address her incorrectly, you’ll be punished with a beating!"
Yin Huan pouted, bowed slightly, and admitted her mistake: "Yes, this servant knows she was wrong."
Once inside, she spoke properly: "Concubine, I have brought back the midday meal."
Tanyin said nothing but instructed: "Mama Wang, you may leave now."
Seeing that she was clearly being dismissed, Mama Wang was reluctant and opened her mouth to speak, but when she looked up, she met Tanyin’s eyes.
Those beautiful eyes were clear and emotionless, yet they inexplicably carried an air of authority.
Her heart trembled, and Mama Wang dared not say more. She bowed and left.
As Yin Huan arranged the dishes, she asked: "Concubine, the Madam sent Mama Wang over, but Yin Lian is nowhere to be seen. Could it be that Yin Lian will remain in the residence from now on?"
Yin Lian was Tanyin’s other maid. Compared to the lively and active Yin Huan, Yin Lian was older, more steady, and capable. She had been by Tanyin’s side since the age of five, serving as both a personal maid and a trusted confidante.
When Tanyin arrived yesterday, she had only brought Yin Huan, leaving Yin Lian temporarily at the Song Residence. She had planned to have her legitimate mother send Yin Lian over once she settled in.
However, she hadn’t expected her legitimate mother to send Mama Wang today instead of Yin Lian.
Today’s midday meal included a bowl of white fungus soup, served in a white jade bowl that looked particularly exquisite. Tanyin stirred it gently with a spoon held between her slender, pale fingers.
Her voice was calm and unhurried: "No need to rush. When the opportunity arises, we’ll bring Yin Lian over."
Tanyin understood her legitimate mother’s intentions after a moment’s thought.
It was nothing more than a deliberate reminder to Tanyin, telling her to behave properly and obediently in the Marquis's Mansion. At the same time, she had kept Yin Lian back to reduce Tanyin’s support and even sent the clearly unfriendly Mama Wang over.
A faint, cold smile appeared in Tanyin’s eyes. Her legitimate mother had gone to great lengths.
Unfortunately, her legitimate mother and elder sister were likely to be disappointed. Being obedient and well-behaved meant allowing themselves to be manipulated and controlled, just like her birth mother, Concubine Su.
But Tanyin was not Concubine Su.
"You were flustered earlier. Did something happen?" she asked, changing the subject.
Reminded of this, Yin Huan recalled the important matter, and her expression immediately fell:
"Concubine, we might have caused trouble!"
Hearing this, Tanyin paused and set down her spoon.
Yin Huan explained slowly: "On my way back just now, I overheard the maids and servants saying that the Marquis’s favorite fish died this morning—apparently from overfeeding!"
"…A fish that died from overfeeding?"
Tanyin instantly recalled yesterday’s events and frowned thoughtfully: "But the Marquis’s fish should be kept in the front courtyard. How can you be sure it was the one we fed yesterday?"
Yin Huan whispered an explanation to her: "The fish was raised in the Lotus Pond, which is where we rested yesterday. The one that died was a red-and-white Koi…"
Red and white?
That seemed somewhat familiar.
Tanyin pursed her lips and asked, "Is there any other news? For instance, has the Marquis in the front courtyard blamed anyone or ordered a thorough investigation into the matter?"
After thinking carefully, Yin Huan shook her head. "No."
"However, a guard was beaten with a paddle. I heard it was related to this matter."
After a moment of silence, Tanyin calmly said, "Don’t panic, or you’ll only cause confusion. Since the Marquis hasn’t mentioned a thorough investigation, it seems this matter isn’t significant and won’t be pursued."
Seeing her mistress so composed, Yin Huan gradually felt reassured.
Tanyin asked again, "What happened to the guard who was beaten?"
Yin Huan replied, "I’m not sure. He’s from the front courtyard, and it’s not appropriate for me to inquire too much."
"………."
Throughout the afternoon, no news came from the front courtyard, and no one came to question them. Tanyin felt much more at ease.
It seemed her guess was correct—the front courtyard had no intention of pursuing the matter for now.
Setting this aside, Tanyin turned her attention to other matters.
From the Hour of the Goat onward, the small courtyard became lively. The servants each carried out their duties, decorating the place according to regulations.
Guantang Courtyard was adorned with festive Red Silk and Red Gauze Lanterns, and potted plants and flowers were arranged. The white candles in the main room’s inner chamber were replaced with Red Candles.
As for Tanyin, from the Hour of the Rooster, when the golden crow dipped below the western horizon, she began to bathe and dress.
Behind a thin gauze curtain, mist swirled. The spacious bathtub was filled with flower petals, and Tanyin immersed herself in it, elegantly stretching her body as the warm water enveloped her.
Water vapor condensed into droplets, sliding down her slender, graceful neck, passing over her collarbone, and slowly disappearing into the peaks of her snowy bosom. Her delicate, porcelain-white skin glowed with a soft radiance, every inch as beautiful as a painting.
The maidservant attending her involuntarily held her breath, then lowered her head, not daring to look further, though her cheeks and ears flushed bright red.
This Third Lady—no, Concubine Song—was truly too beautiful.
If she were a man, she would surely adore her.
With a splash—
Tanyin rose from the water. Her waterfall-like, ink-black hair cascaded loosely down her back, her smooth, fair spine faintly visible through the thin gauze clinging to her body, outlining her graceful curves. A faint, delicate fragrance lingered around her.
After bathing, it was time for makeup.
Yin Huan was skilled with her hands and quickly applied a light layer of makeup for her mistress. The process was simple—lightly brushing her brows and adding a few delicate strokes. In the mirror, Tanyin’s eyes and brows were like a painting, her lips a vibrant red, her entire appearance both pure and stunningly beautiful.
Suddenly, a sob sounded beside her. Yin Huan, without realizing it, was already in tears.
Tanyin turned and asked, "Silly girl, why are you crying?"
Yin Huan’s eyes were red. "I’m just sad…"
"You’re so good and so beautiful, Miss. You could have married into another family as a proper wife, supporting your husband and raising children. But now, because of the Eldest Lady, you have to lower yourself to become a concubine…"
Her gaze fell on the Pomegranate-red Brocade Robe Tanyin was wearing, and she felt even sadder.
Even on such an important day, the young lady couldn’t wear true red, let alone ride in an Eight-carrier Sedan Chair.
Tanyin sighed helplessly and reached out to wipe away her tears. "Silly girl, if I’m not sad, why should you be?"
"If you keep crying, you’ll turn into a little tear-stained kitten."
She chuckled softly, her tone ambiguous. "Who can predict what the future holds?"
Stumbling and struggling through over a decade of life, Tanyin understood best that if she wanted something, she had to fight for it herself—others were unreliable.
She didn’t believe a single word of her elder sister’s promises.
Compared to future matters, she was more concerned about another issue at the moment:
Would her never-before-met elder brother-in-law and future husband come tonight?
If he didn’t, it would be much trickier than she had imagined.
Fortunately, Tanyin was overthinking it.