Chaрtеr 7: Тhе Сoncubine’s Аllurе
The сarriagе trаvеlеd fоr аnothеr hаlf аn hоur beforе stopping at thе еntranсе оf thе Dukе’s residеnсе.
“Third Mаstеr, we’vе arrived.”
“Hmm.”
Рei Zhаo stepрed dоwn from thе сarriagе, holding the bambоо bаskеt Xi Ning had givеn him.
Сhаng Lin wаs still thinking about thе greеn rice сakes insidе and eаgerly steрреd forwаrd.
“Тhird Master, lеt me саrry that fоr you.”
“Nо neеd.” Реi Zhaо sidesteрped his hаnd аnd wаlked into the residence with the bаskеt.
As his master, Pеi Zhаo knew eхаctly what Chang Lin was thinking.
He could let other things slide, but he hadn’t even tasted these green rice cakes yet.
Pei Zhao first went to pay his respects to Princess Anyang upon returning. Instead of having someone take the basket back to his quarters, he carried it directly to the main courtyard.
Princess Anyang was already over fifty. Pei Zhao had two older brothers and one older sister. His eldest brother, Pei Xun, was twelve years his senior. As the youngest in the family, he was also the most doted upon by Princess Anyang.
“Third Son is back. Come here quickly and let Mother see if you’ve lost weight.”
Princess Anyang sat on the couch, a loving smile appearing on her face as she saw him enter.
“Mother.”
Pei Zhao stepped forward and sat down beside her, placing the bamboo basket naturally at his side.
Princess Anyang glanced at it, a flicker of something dark passing through her eyes, but it vanished quickly.
She took Pei Zhao’s hand, her voice full of concern. “You’ve lost weight and gotten darker. This trip must have been quite taxing. I’ll have Nanny Liu bring you some nourishing soup later. You need to replenish yourself.”
“Alright.”
Princess Anyang was accustomed to her youngest son’s reticence. She held his hand and chatted about his experiences during the journey, only letting him leave reluctantly after her mouth grew dry from talking.
Only after he had passed through the second courtyard gate did the smile fade from Princess Anyang’s face.
She took a sip of tea and slammed the cup heavily on the table.
“That wretched boy! Returning to the capital and not coming home first, but instead going to Wutong Street to see that concubine. I thought he was just indulging a passing fancy, but it seems he still has her on his mind!”
Naturally, Pei Zhao’s movements were monitored when he left the Duke’s residence—not to spy on his whereabouts, but mainly out of concern for his safety. When Princess Anyang learned that Pei Zhao had gone to see Xi Ning, she flew into a rage.
Of her three sons, she was most proud of this youngest one. Not only had he achieved the rank of Tanhua at a young age and taken up a post in the Eastern Palace, but he also possessed the looks of a Pan An. He could have married any noblewoman in the capital, yet he chose to degrade himself by bringing back a concubine from Jiangnan.
Nanny Liu stood behind her, massaging her chest. “Princess, shall this old servant arrange to have that concubine sent away?”
She was merely a plaything. Would the Third Master really blame the Princess?
However, Princess Anyang, having calmed down, shook her head. “No need! She isn’t worth causing a rift between my son and me. I know Third Son’s temperament. He is naturally aloof and rarely takes anyone to heart. This woman is just a concubine; sooner or later, he’ll grow tired of her. When that day comes, Third Son will send her away himself. I’ll simply wait.”
“Yes, you are wise as always. This old servant spoke out of turn.”
Nanny Liu lowered her eyes submissively, her tone full of flattery. Princess Anyang glanced up at her and scolded with a laugh, “You old thing, always putting on an act. Fine, go and deliver the chicken soup to Third Son. He’s so picky; he probably didn’t eat much on Wutong Street. Tell the kitchen to make it light, to nourish his stomach.”
“Yes.”
The bamboo basket wasn’t large. Even filled to the brim, Xi Ning had only packed ten green rice cakes.
However, she had made several varieties: fresh meat filling, red bean paste filling, and pork floss filling. Not knowing Pei Zhao’s preferences, she had packed a few of each.Pei Zhao took one with pork floss filling. It was his first time eating pork floss—salty, savory, soft, and melting in the mouth, while the mugwort juice in the outer skin perfectly balanced the richness of the pork floss. The taste was a delightful surprise.
The green rice cakes were only about the size of a baby’s fist, and Pei Zhao finished one in just two bites.
He ate three in a row, sampling each flavor: juicy minced pork, savory pork floss, and soft, glutinous red bean paste. Each one was so delicious it made his eyebrows rise.
“Hmm…”
Leaving aside everything else about this mistress, her culinary skills alone made one want to keep her close.
Pei Zhao ate two more before stopping. Looking at the five remaining green rice cakes in the bamboo basket, he frowned slightly, feeling a hint of resentment.
He had generously given five hundred taels of silver, yet that woman only packed ten green rice cakes for him. How stingy!
The stingy Xi Ning was currently being interrogated by Nanny Su. Rendong, having been enlightened by Nanny Su, also looked at her with concern.
“Miss, did Third Master blame you for doing business? Since he gave five hundred taels, why don’t we just stop the business? Even though it’s profitable, you’re exhausted from working every day.”
Nanny Su still believed that doing business was not a long-term plan. Her young lady was destined to enter the Duke’s mansion in the future. Even as a concubine, those noble families would not want their women tainted with the smell of money.
“Yes, Miss, you should focus on winning Third Master’s favor so that you can be taken into the mansion later.”
As Nanny Su and the others took turns persuading her, Xi Ning sat on her soft couch, holding a green rice cake in one hand and sipping tea with the other. Their words went in one ear and out the other, completely ignored.
Hmm, the pork floss was a bit tough. Next time, it should be pounded longer. The red bean paste, however, was smooth, sweet, and soft, perfect with jasmine tea to cut through the richness. But there was no flower tea sold here yet. Maybe she could grow some flowers to sell, especially since her Hand Ring contained many flower seeds.
Seeing Xi Ning lost in her thoughts, Nanny Su nearly choked on her breath.
“Miss, why don’t you think about the future? Right now, Third Master hasn’t taken a wife yet, so you’re the only woman in his household. If you don’t win him over now, once he marries his principal wife, there will be no place for you in the Duke’s mansion.”
Before, when the young lady was constantly sighing over spring and longing to see Third Master, Nanny Su worried. Now that the young lady no longer thought of Third Master, Nanny Su worried even more.
If a woman wasn’t cherished by a man, how bitter her later years would be! Even if for nothing else, having a child to rely on would be good. But her young lady seemed to have no such intentions at all.
How could she have changed so much after falling ill?
Nanny Su was so worried her hair was turning white.
After finishing her last bite, Xi Ning wiped her hands clean with a handkerchief. Seeing Nanny Su’s eyebrows furrowed like caterpillars, she stepped forward and gently squeezed her shoulders, comforting her.
“Don’t worry, Nanny. I can support myself. Besides, how can men compare to silver? Rather than depending on his whims, it’s better for us to stand on our own. Once we have money, what kind of life can’t we live? Why suffer by lowering ourselves in the mansion?”
“Miss, what kind of talk is this? How could entering the mansion be suffering? You would be a mistress there, and Third Master would give you status. That’s far better than living outside without proper recognition!”
What status? A concubine? A mistress?
Xi Ning looked down on it entirely!
What she wanted was a vast world where her abilities could be fully utilized. The seeds in her Hand Ring could change this dynasty. Why should she enter a mansion to become a man’s concubine and compete with a group of women for favor?
Unable to reason with Nanny Su, Xi Ning’s expression turned cold.“Do not speak of this again. Third Master has agreed to return my indenture, and sooner or later I will be free. I will continue with the business. If any of you are unwilling, you may leave. I will speak to Third Master on your behalf.”
“Miss!”