The Legend of the Concubine in the Harem

The girl claimed her surname was Song and she was from the capital. Her father was a successful candidate in the imperial examination and was originally sent to serve as an official in a remote area. However, he unexpectedly died of illness while in office.

The Song family had lost their son who was an official, and they only had one daughter. The grandfather, who had always favored the youngest son, planned to find a place to send the eldest son's wife and daughter away, and use their property to buy a position as a minor official for the youngest son.

Who would have thought that she would meet the second young lady of the Duke of Shen's mansion, who was looking for a concubine for her husband and a well-educated woman at that.

Miss Song is the only daughter of her parents. Although she is a girl, her parents do not attach particular importance to the gender of the girl. They have asked her to study and learn knowledge since she was young. This was originally her parents' kindness. However, now it has become a bargaining chip in the hands of her grandfather and uncle to buy her future.

"The family of Duke Shen is very noble. We cannot marry into the family, nor do we want to. Besides, my father has been gone for less than half a year. My mother and I are in mourning at home. How can we think about marriage? If it weren't for my grandmother seeing that my mother and I knew nothing, we would be... sent to be concubines. It would be really pitiful. I am afraid we will always be kept in the dark..."

Miss Song wiped her tears and suppressed her trembling voice as she spoke.

Since ancient times, the marriage of children has been in the hands of their parents. Even if two young people are interested in each other, they have to get approval from their parents first before it can be legitimate. Outsiders cannot easily interfere.

If Song's mother, as a mother, was determined not to let her daughter go to the Duke of Shen's mansion as a concubine, then even if Song's grandfather decided to give his granddaughter to someone else as a concubine, he would still be criticized. Moreover, if it was handled properly, Miss Song could get rid of her status as a concubine and return to her family. What's more, the reason he sent his granddaughter to marry a nobleman was not because he had any kind of love for her, but to provide a future for his youngest son, whom he had always favored!

But Miss Song's situation was difficult because her grandfather was still alive. As a daughter-in-law, Song's mother was naturally dominated by her father-in-law. She was also an "outsider" in the family, and was under great pressure from filial piety and women's virtues. If Song's grandfather divorced his wife on behalf of his son, Song's mother would have no choice but to accept it. At that time, she would truly become an outsider and would no longer be able to interfere in her daughter's marriage.

Just like the Shunyi Earl Liu, who had led his entire family to extinction, divorced his original wife after pushing all the blame onto her in order to avoid being implicated by his original wife Hong. Liu Luohua and her brother, as Hong's only biological children, could not even wear mourning for her. Only when her husband himself or his elders acknowledged her status as wife could she be the mother of their own children.

Miss Song's father is dead. If her mother insists on going against Grandfather Song, she will lose her identity as the wife of the eldest son of the Song family and Miss Song's mother at any time.

It is even possible that in order to avoid trouble, the family directly "married" the widow Song's mother away for money, or even used some despicable means to kill her.

"...They said they were going to send my mother back to my grandparents' home, but my grandmother secretly told me that they had actually contacted the human traffickers on the boats outside to secretly sell my mother to another place. My mother and I didn't have much savings left, and I had no evidence that they were going to sell my mother."

"Not long ago, a drinking buddy of my uncle came to my house with some things and told me about Mr. Lin and that girl. He reminded my grandfather and uncle to keep an eye on me and not to cause trouble and ruin the Duke's Mansion, otherwise they might get angry. My grandmother took the opportunity to serve them wine and food and secretly let me out. I had nowhere to go, so I could only ask for Mr. Lin's residence along the way to find me here."

Miss Song said with embarrassment: "I know that Mr. Lin and I are not related in any way. It is really an offense to your family to come here so rashly, but I have no other choice. I only ask you to have mercy..."

As she spoke, she was about to kneel down and kowtow to the father and son.

Ah Lian, Lin Qiao's servant, quickly pulled her back. After receiving Lin Qiao's gaze, she asked Miss Song, "Shen Guogong's Mansion isn't a place where people are eaten, right? Even if you really become a concubine to Second Young Master Tao, you won't end up with no way out, right?"

Miss Song sobbed, "You don't know that the second young lady of the Duke of Shen's mansion is famous even for a family of minor officials like us... She is the most capable among the noble ladies, and she treats Second Young Master Tao with respect. Even if the couple quarreled and everyone in his backyard knew about it, it was Second Young Master Tao who finally admitted his fault."

This was actually a rather euphemistic way of saying it. Tao Er didn't have the courage to argue with Chen Peiluan so much that the three streets behind the yard could hear it. Most of the time, it was Chen Peiluan who was unilaterally criticizing Tao Er for his lack of ambition and lack of ambition.

"Such a harmonious couple, such a majestic wife, and they have already given birth to a son, but suddenly she wants to take a concubine for her husband... How can one not be confused and afraid?" Miss Song didn't know what others thought about this matter, but as the person involved, she was really scared.

She didn't want to be a concubine, and even less wanted to be cannon fodder in the fight between a noble couple.

No matter whether Tao Er finally hardened his bones and changed his mind, or the Second Young Master's wife had no hope in Tao Er, once this concubine was taken in, there would definitely be some friction. Compared to Miss Song, the couple were nobles, so some friction was okay, but for a powerless little woman like her, she would be killed if she was easily hit.

"......I really have no other way to ask for help. I just think that if you, Mr. Lin, can compete with the Mansion of Duke Shen, maybe, maybe you can save us......" Her face was full of shame and uneasiness.

"It is human nature to seek good fortune and avoid danger. You did nothing wrong." After Lin Qiao consoled her, she suddenly asked, "Has the news of my conflict with the maid of the Duke of Shen's residence spread widely?"

Father Lin was stunned for a moment: "The neighbors haven't heard about it yet."

Lin Qiao glanced at Ah Lian. Ah Lian was still young. After settling down, she had used her age to build good relationships with the residents on this street. Ah Lian thought for a moment and said, "Anyway, there will be no rumors about these streets before we have lunch at home. Master, shall I go out and find some friends to ask?"

Nodding, Lin Qiao took out two pieces of silver and told Ah Lian to buy some candies for his new friends.

"What's going on, Guanying, do you suspect someone is plotting against you?" Old Man Lin's surprised voice made Miss Song even more uneasy.

Lin Qiao shook his head: "It's just some thoughts, it may not be really calculated by others. Of course, it's not a bad thing to be cautious."

An idea that seemed a little outrageous to her came to her mind. Rather than someone taking advantage of the small misunderstanding between her and the Mansion of Duke Shen to plot against her, it seemed more like someone in the Mansion of Duke Shen was watching her.

Can......

Lin Qiao touched her clean chin - she had never had any contact with the Shen Guogong Mansion before she came to Beijing. It was really strange, and also really... interesting.