Ji Lan was startled, and though she didn’t understand why Han Yan wanted to say this, she nodded and withdrew. Madam Chen hesitated for a moment and asked, “Young Miss if your words reach the Master’s ears through some gossip…”
“Don’t worry, Mother,” Han Yan stretched her hand over the brazier, contentedly narrowing her eyes. “Master already intends to elevate her position, and Concubine Mei will learn of this sooner or later. Knowing now allows her to prepare. Ji Lan is discrete and won’t tell others in the outer courtyard. Once Concubine Mei knows, she’ll be too busy keeping it secret to spread it around.”
Madam Chen paused briefly before understanding dawned on her. She marveled at how this strategy seemed beyond what a twelve-year-old girl could devise. Such intelligence—she wondered whether it would bring fortune or misfortune. She felt that since Young Miss awoke this time, she had become very different. Though everything seemed peaceful since Zhou shi entered the household, she feared changes were coming soon.
Early in the morning, Han Yan rose to dress with Ji Lan and Shu Hong attending her. After much deliberation, Han Yan pointed to a plain, wide-hemmed long dress, saying, “That one.”
Ji Lan expressed concern: “Young Miss, although we’re still in the mourning period, this is too plain. With those Zhou family members just arriving, wearing something so modest might make them look down on us.”
Han Yan shook her head: “We’re not the main characters in today’s play. Besides, I don’t care for bright colors. Let them be arrogant. The lower they regard us now, the more bitter their eventual defeat will be.”
Shu Hong quietly found her a pale moon-colored jacket, saying, “Even so, there’s wind outside. Young Miss should dress warmly.”
Ji Lan began busily arranging her hair, and Han Yan let her style it in the same maid’s buns as before, two round buns making her appear even more childlike. Ji Lan wrapped them with matching ribbons, using no ornaments. Looking at the young girl in the mirror, who already developed somewhat late, this styling made her appear just like a small child.
“Let’s go,” Han Yan smoothed her skirt and called for Mother to accompany her to the front hall.
Compared to other court officials, Zhuang Shi Yang had always been rather indifferent to female company, so over these years, the household only had one wife and two concubines. Both concubines lived in the distant Furong Garden. Concubine Wan was originally a personal maid given to Zhuang Shi Yang by the late matriarch, later elevated to concubine after bearing a daughter. Zhuang Shi Yang paid little attention to this concubine, visiting her chambers even less after she bore a daughter. Fortunately, Concubine Wan was content with her lot and hadn’t caused Mother any trouble over the years.
The other one, Concubine Mei, was no simple character.
After the previous emperor’s death, when the Northwest suffered famine, the Zhuang family’s thousand-mu estate sent that year’s harvest to alleviate the disaster. The emperor was greatly pleased and bestowed various treasures—Concubine Mei being one of them. True to her name, Concubine Mei was a non-Han beauty, stunningly attractive and bold in her actions. Since Concubine Mei entered the household, Han Yan and her mother hadn’t known peace.
With Concubine Mei’s beauty, even if Zhuang Shi Yang were a sage, he would be moved. Moreover, foreign beauties were known for their many ways of attracting men. Since Concubine Mei’s arrival, Zhuang Shi Yang further neglected his wife and Concubine Wan, spending every night in Concubine Mei’s chambers.
Though Zhuang Shi Yang wouldn’t go so far as to favor a concubine over his wife and still showed respect to Mother on the surface, men typically didn’t involve themselves in inner courtyard affairs. Concubine Mei was calculating and didn’t directly compete for favor, instead stirring up conflicts between the servants and Mother. Mother’s timid nature made such situations difficult for her. This gave Concubine Mei opportunities, and soon servants spread rumors about Mother’s incompetence in managing the household.
Concubine Mei intended to leverage Master’s favor and force Mother into a position where everyone criticized her, hopefully leading to Master divorcing her so she could take the position of main wife. However, during one conflict with Mother, Concubine Mei went too far. Zhuang Shi Yang became furious and severely disciplined her in the ancestral hall. Afterward, Concubine Mei became more restrained, or rather, stopped coveting the position of main wife, focusing solely on monopolizing Zhuang Shi Yang. Though she still didn’t respect Mother and Han Yan, at least she stopped deliberately causing trouble.
Han Yan felt that rather than being frightened by Zhuang Shi Yang, Concubine Mei had realized the main wife position was merely nominal. Mother occupied the main chamber, yet her status was lower than a concubine’s. Among the three women in the back courtyard, the other two posed no threat, perhaps making Concubine Mei lose interest.
Yet looking at this seemingly detached Zhuang Shi Yang, how strange that he would keep a mistress outside, and that mistress’s daughter was already so grown!
Given Zhuang Shi Yang’s cold nature, this woman must hold an extremely important place in his heart. That’s why he so eagerly brought her into the household after Mother’s death.
Han Yan hadn’t understood before why Zhuang Shi Yang waited until now to bring Zhou shi into the household. Mother had been gentle-natured—if Zhuang Shi Yang had brought Zhou shi in earlier, Mother would surely have accepted it. Why keep her hidden outside all this time? What mystery lay behind this?
Before investigating Zhou shi’s background, the household was already preparing for quite a show. Concubine Mei hadn’t encountered such a formidable opponent in years, and this opponent had her eye on the position of main wife that she was determined to obtain. The curtain was rising, and the show was about to begin.
As Han Yan contemplated this, she smiled, startling Ji Lan.
Arriving at the main house, the small kitchen had already prepared the meal. Han Yan glanced at the table: crystal shrimp dumplings, red date bird’s nest soup, jade rice porridge, lotus pastries, and several small dishes she couldn’t name.
Han Yan inwardly sneered—what a sumptuous breakfast! Since Mother’s death, she had been in constant tears and stopped dining with the two concubines in the main house. The meals sent to Qiu Qiu Courtyard from the small kitchen were just simple porridge and side dishes. She hadn’t known such feasts were served out here! Concubine Wan had never been picky, so these dishes must have been ordered by Concubine Mei.
Ji Lan helped her sit down, and just as she settled, Concubine Mei and Concubine Wan entered.
Seeing Han Yan, Concubine Mei first startled, then covered her mouth and laughed, “Fourth Young Miss has come. It seems your illness has improved, but why does your complexion look so poor? Don’t force yourself.”
Concubine Wan stood quietly to the side, while her daughter, Third Young Miss Zhuang Qin, quickly glanced at Han Yan before lowering her head.
This Third Young Miss hardly knew Han Yan—they were practically strangers. Zhuang Qin and Concubine Wan spent their days embroidering in Furong Garden, rarely crossing paths with others.
As Han Yan pondered this, she felt Shu Hong discreetly tug at her sleeve. Looking up, she saw Zhuang Shi Yang approaching with the Zhou mother and daughter. She smiled, “Thank you for your concern, Concubine. Though Yan’er is still somewhat unwell, today is Concubine Zhou’s first breakfast in the household, and Father instructed that I mustn’t be negligent.”
Concubine Mei’s expression changed, and upon seeing the three approaching, she twisted her handkerchief even tighter. She had thought that after Wang shi’s death, the position of the main wife would surely be hers. Who could have expected Zhou shi to appear from nowhere, even more vexing, the Master treated that cheap woman so differently.