The Legend of the Concubine in the Harem

"Now she doesn't even come to pay her respects. It's obvious that it's just as Auntie expected—suspicion breeds evil."

Another day, after paying respects at Kunning Palace, Meng Ronghua excitedly spoke to Nanny Ji Lan on the way back to Changrui Palace: "She fell into Aunt's trap so easily. I don't think Xie is any smarter than others. She just wanted to flirt with Your Majesty."

Nanny Ji Lan was in her forties. She had her hair all tied up in a simple bun, and wore only two plain silver and jade hairpins on top of the bun. Her face was no longer young, but the obvious fine lines at the corners of her eyes and the sides of her lips made her look very kind and gentle.

"Mrs. Xie's baby is getting bigger now. She may give birth at any time in the next one or two months. It's understandable that she doesn't go out." Nanny Ji Lan said in a kind voice.

Meng Ronghua disagreed: "After all, he is from a small family with little knowledge, so it's not surprising that he is timid. But there is one thing I don't understand, please teach me, Madam."

She spoke modestly, but her expression and actions were still arrogant: "Ms. Xie has been locked up in fear and worry, why did my aunt not take any action instead of taking advantage of the victory and making her completely collapse?"

Nanny Ji Lan became more humble: "How dare I teach you? It is my duty to help you solve your problems."

Her humble attitude made Meng Ronghua in a good mood - before entering the palace, Meng Ronghua longed for the feeling of being an imperial concubine, looking down on everyone from a high position, but when she entered the palace, she found that the palace was not as comfortable as her own home.

Not only were there so many high-ranking concubines or favorite concubines in the palace who were superior to her, but no matter what she did, she was also restricted by palace rules, and even the servants could not be punished or beaten at will.

You have to know that in the Meng family, Meng Ronghua is the baby held in the palm of her parents' hands. Who in the family, big or small, dares to bully her like Zhu Xuanshi did?

And which servant was not trembling with fear and obedience towards her?

If there was anyone he didn't like, he would drag her out to be sold, match her with a dirty old man, or even beat her to death - no one ever dared to blame Meng Ronghua.

She is a lady from a noble family!

What is the fate of the people below?

Are they as valuable as the parrot and carp she keeps in her boudoir?

Meng Ronghua finally found a way to vent the unhappiness that had been accumulating for a long time since entering the palace: "Madam, you are good at understanding the rules and respecting the inferiors. You never thought that those... low-class people, if they were not so good at seducing men, would they be worthy of standing in front of me?"

"My lady, just treat them as kittens and puppies. Why bother with them?" Nanny Ji Lan's face showed some reminiscence. "Which man in this world doesn't have concubines? Liking this one today and liking that one tomorrow is just a temporary pleasure. You are born in the Meng family, so you are naturally different from others. As long as you maintain the demeanor of a noble lady of the Meng family, you will still be better than others."

"Before I entered the palace, I had the honor of being raised by the old lady for a period of time."

Nanny Ji Lan is from the Meng family. She is not very important and does not have much wealth. She lives a rather poor life.

It was just because she happened to meet Ms. Huisu who was about to enter the palace that she was dragged out. At the beginning, she was taught a lesson as a palace maid accompanying the clan master's daughter into the palace. The concept of safeguarding the clan's interests had been deeply rooted in her blood since she was young. After the teaching, she was even more willing to serve Ms. Huisu loyally as a slave until now.

"The old lady is virtuous and generous. She was the one who took in the old master's concubines. Those girls wanted affection and love, and they all flattered the old master. They were jealous of each other and thought they were the apple of his eye. It was very lively... But so what? The old lady is still the mistress of the Meng family's backyard. The food, clothing and expenses of them and their children are all taken care of by the old lady."

"The old lady sits high in the hall, and never lowers herself to fight with those seductive concubines. She just keeps a low profile and watches them act like a spoiled child. This is the demeanor of a lady from a wealthy family...So after so many years, the old master finally understands that a wife who can manage the backyard for him, take care of all the household affairs, support his concubines, and educate his legitimate and illegitimate children is a true virtuous wife and good match."

Nanny Ji Lan spoke slowly and calmly, which made Meng Ronghua yearn for her deceased grandmother. However, she became confused as she listened: "But why did my aunt say that the most important thing in the palace is the emperor's feelings, and why did she lower herself to deal with people like Xie?"

In response to her doubts, Nanny Ji Lan just smiled gently: "The Madam is of noble character, a noble lady from a noble family. If she hadn't been careless and let someone plot to take away the young master... ahem, there are some things that she is not convenient to tell the Madam in person, but it's different for me. I am of humble origin, so I won't care about this."

"As a noble lady, you must not lose your dignity and confidence, but at the same time, you must also fight for the man's heart. Just don't be like the lower-class people, using your foxy appearance to win the man's temporary love. Instead, you must be gentle and virtuous for a long time, like a stream wearing away a stone, so that he can understand your beauty."

As she spoke, her tone changed: "It's just that some people don't know their own status. They always think that they can do whatever they want with the favor of the male master, and they rebel against their superiors. Being gentle and virtuous is the demeanor of a noble lady, but being majestic and decisive is also the dignity of a noble lady. The reason why the queen wants to get rid of Xie is because she got a piece of news."

"What news?" Meng Ronghua seemed to understand but also to have some realization.

Nanny Ji Lan lowered her voice and said, "Your Majesty intends to have Consort Xie move into Shouning Palace after she gives birth to a child."

"What?!" Meng Ronghua was shocked as if she had heard a bolt from the blue. "Doesn't that mean she should be made a concubine? She is such a seductress that she has bewitched His Majesty!"

"Madam, calm down." Nanny Ji Lan was used to big scenes, and she calmed Meng Ronghua down with just a few words.

Then she continued, "A person of humble origin who climbs to a high position... not only does it offend the noble ladies, it also easily inspires the untouchables to have wild ambitions, reversing the hierarchy, causing the concubines in the backyard to follow suit and disrupt the balance of rules. In the past, there were concubines in the old master's backyard who did not abide by their duties and had wild ideas. The old lady always dealt with them with thunderous means, intimidating everyone and making them dare not have any more delusional ideas. Xie's favor is so great that it will sooner or later cause the harem to be unbalanced. The reason why the queen dealt with Concubine Xie is also for this reason."

"My lady, you did this all for your own good. You gave up the Buddha and picked up the butcher knife again. I love my nephew so much that I beg you not to let me down."

Meng Ronghua understood completely this time, and said with a moved heart: "Aunt is doing this for my own good, I know I am grateful, but there is still one thing I don't understand... My grandmother is the mistress of the Meng family, so she can easily deal with such a restless person. I am not the queen, and my aunt is not the queen mother. If she helps the two ladies to balance the harem, will it be harmful to her?"

After these words were spoken, no matter how eloquent Nanny Ji Lan was, she was at a loss for words for a moment.

After all, in their logic, Meng Ronghua, and even Huisu, are concubines who should abide by the law and not have any ambitions!

There is no room for them to put on the "virtuous" demeanor of a mistress of a noble family, or the "dignity" of a mistress who serves men and takes care of concubines.