Harem Daily Life

Concubine Xian was terrified and immediately knelt down: "Your Majesty, please forgive me. I was confused for a moment."

He Linzhang did not let her get up immediately. While they were waiting, Concubine Xian said, "I sold some of your majesty's rewards, part of which became donations, leaving only a small part for expenses. I wanted to win your majesty's praise and share your worries, so... Your majesty, I really didn't do it on purpose. I have my own reasons!"

Things have come to this point, and He Linzhang can no longer say anything, but his feelings for Concubine Xian are no longer the same as before.

"You should go back and reflect on yourself. Your father is not good at disciplining your aunt and can't even manage the family well. You don't have to work at the Ministry of Works for the time being."

On that day, the oral order for Lord Lu to reflect on himself behind closed doors was delivered to the Lu Mansion. Lord Lu trembled as he received the order, and for a long time he did not come back to his senses.

The housekeeper stepped forward and said, "Master, Aunt Fang is crying outside the door again, begging you to spare her life. She is willing to serve you and your wife like a slave."

A fierce look flashed across Lord Lu's eyes. "Letting her go is already a mercy. She still wants to come back? You're dreaming! Since she keeps pestering me, don't blame me for being ruthless. Go, take her indenture and sell her to a pawnbroker. She has brought such great harm to my Lu family. I will make her suffer for the rest of her life!"

The butler wanted to persuade him, but Lord Lu had made up his mind, so he had no choice but to obey.

Aunt Fang's daughter hid behind the door and saw everything. She was so angry that she clenched her fists.

Her maid Xiao Cui hugged her tightly and said, "Second Miss, you must hold on. Your aunt is no longer useful and can't even protect herself. You still have to make a living in this mansion!"

After saying that, he forcibly dragged the young lady to a secluded place.

Lu Lianyi, who was about fourteen years old, said viciously, "Isn't his eldest daughter the most favored concubine? She can't even keep a concubine. She's really useless! Humph, if I were asked to enter the palace and become a concubine, I would definitely make the emperor listen to me and make the Lu family prosper."

Xiao Cui said, "But you are only fourteen years old. The selection is held every three years. You just had one at the beginning of this year. You still have to wait for more than two years. If you are betrothed in the middle of the selection, you will not have the chance to participate in the selection. Besides, I think it would be better for you to please the master and the mistress and find a suitable marriage for you so that you can become the official wife."

"What do you know? My elder brother used his life to buy Lu Jingyi the chance to enter the palace. It's conceivable that being a royal concubine is the best way out. Besides..." As if she thought of something, Lu Lianyi's face was a little shy: "Besides, His Majesty is so handsome. If I can become his concubine, I will have no regrets in this life."

"But sisters sharing the same husband..." Xiao Cui still felt a little uncomfortable.

"Are we sisters? Before, she treated me like a maid in the pavilion and never looked at me straight in the eye. If her mother wasn't weak and my mother wasn't the head of the household, how could I have lived the life of a young lady? Now that my mother is gone, I have to plan for myself. I must not let them treat me as a tool for marriage and marry me off casually."

Xiao Cui was just a teenage girl, and couldn't think of any good ideas. But she had followed the Second Young Lady since she was a child, so naturally, she would rise and fall together, and there was no other way except to give her full support.

"Then Miss, what should we do now?" Xiao Cui had no idea.

"Concubine Li was the favorite concubine of the late emperor and has been practicing in Jingci Temple. My eldest brother was arranged to be with His Majesty because of Concubine Li's connections. Concubine Xian also inherited Concubine Li's true teachings and became a favorite concubine after entering the palace. What do you think, if I go to accompany her for two years, can I avoid the marriage arranged by my family and still follow her connections and ask for her advice?" Although she is young, she is very thoughtful, and a determination is written on Lu Lianyi's face.

"But, will the master agree? And can the young lady endure the life in a nunnery?" Xiao Cui still felt that something was not right.

"Otherwise, what other solutions do you think we can have now? My aunt has been sold by them. Who in this house can take care of me? If I don't move away, I will really be used as a tool by him to seek benefits for him." Lu Lianyi said expressionlessly.

"Let's go, take some snacks and go look for the lady who is about to die." Lu Lianyi turned around, suppressed the hatred in her heart, and took Xiao Cui back to her yard with resolute steps.

"What? You want to go to Jingci Temple to accompany the Concubine Dowager?" The real Mrs. Lu was lying on the bed, looking at the concubine's daughter with a dead look on her face.

There are three concubines in the mansion, but Lord Lu is too old to have children, so it was Concubine Fang who was taken into the mansion early on who gave birth to this illegitimate daughter, who is already fourteen years old.

"Mother, my mother caused trouble and has been sold out by my father. I feel really guilty and want to go to the nunnery to recite scriptures every day, hoping to atone for my mother's sins. I also pray for my mother and hope she recovers soon." Lu Lianyi's face was sincere and she didn't seem to be lying.

Madam Lu said calmly, "Then you should think carefully. Life in the nunnery is poor. Your father can't go there to serve now, and his salary has been reduced. He can't support you much. You will definitely not live as well there as in the mansion. Are you still willing to go?"

Lu Lianyi nodded: "I am willing, my heart is sincere, I am going there just to chant sutras and pray for blessings, I am not afraid of hardship."

Seeing that she was determined to have her own way, Mrs. Lu naturally had no reason to stop her. After all, she was not her own child, so she could live a hard life if she wanted to, and it was none of her business.

"Then go ask your father. If he agrees, you can go. After you get there, serve the Concubine Dowager well. She is my sister. I will write a letter and ask her to take care of you." Mrs. Lu said weakly.

"Yes, thank you, mother." Lu Lianyi took her leave and went directly to the front yard.

The nanny beside Madam Lu said, "I don't know what the second young lady is thinking. Why does she suddenly want to go to the nunnery to accompany the imperial concubine?"

Madam Lu sneered: "What else? First of all, no one in this house takes care of her, so she wants to avoid it. Secondly, my sister is the favorite concubine of the late emperor. With her connections, maybe she can get close to people above her." Madam Lu pointed to the sky.

The nanny suddenly realized: "You are quite good at planning at such a young age. But will the young lady agree?"

Madam Lu coughed a few times and said, "She will agree. As long as Concubine Li thinks it's okay, she will persuade her to agree. Jingyi listens to my sister the most. Besides, Jingyi is injured and can't get pregnant. How long can this favor last? If she is smart, she should cultivate someone and let her sister come to the palace to give birth to a child. Which one is closer to her than asking other concubines to give birth to a child? I don't need to tell you."

The nanny sighed and said, "The eldest lady's appearance is first-rate, but her body..."

Both mother and daughter are weak, but the lady has given birth to two children after all, and she has firmly sat on the position of mistress. Although the eldest daughter is a favorite concubine, she will not last long without children.