The Concubine's Daughter Travels Through Time and Space and Takes the Road of Confrontation

There was a loud bang in the sky, and a loud cry echoed over the Lu Mansion in Qingzhou.

"It's born, it's born, my aunt is born." Accompanied by the sound of rain, a little maid in a green top hurried into the hall to announce the good news. The small hall was brightly lit with candles. Madam Zhang sat in a high-backed chair at the head of the room, dressed in a simple purple shirt with sleeves, her hair tied up low with a gold hairpin, her face serene.

After asking a few questions about Yao's well-being, Zhang smiled and said to Nanny Chang behind her, "Jinling is a lucky person. The third sister is also sensible and has not caused her mother to suffer." Nanny Chang smiled and replied, "Yes."

Zhang looked at the maid who was still kneeling in the hall waiting for a reply and said, "I understand. Your master has worked hard." Nanny Chang handed over the reward and the little girl went out happily.

In Yingchun Courtyard, Aunt Yao, who had just given birth, was being served some soup by her personal maid Caihe. A red swaddling cloth was placed beside her. She glanced at the baby with regret on her face, wishing it was a boy.

Cai He turned slightly to block the light from outside and whispered, "Auntie, our Third Miss looks so much like the Master." Only then did Yao carefully examine the infant in the cradle. She nodded slightly and said with a hint of resentment, "Yes, what a heartless little thing."

Three days later, Lu Lingcong, the master of the Lu family, finally took some time out of his busy schedule to come to Yingchun Courtyard. He first went to the side room to see the mother and daughter of the Yao family. Aunt Yao couldn't move her eyes and looked at the master eagerly, "Master, look, the third young lady looks like you."

Lu Lingcong took the youngest daughter and examined her carefully. After a moment, he smiled and said, "Yes, she doesn't look like her brothers and sisters." The Lu family currently had two daughters and one son. The eldest daughter, Lu Rong, and the second son, Lu Hui, were both born to the wife. Concubine Yao was originally a maidservant brought in with Zhang. It was not until Zhang gave birth to the second young master that she was promoted to concubine. Three years later, she gave birth to the third young lady, Lu.

Master Lu was busy with official business, so he sat there for about a quarter of an hour before leaving in a hurry. That evening, he sent a servant to deliver something and said, "The third young lady's name is Yun." Concubine Yao kept repeating Lu Yun and Lu Yun back and forth, feeling quite bored. "The eldest young lady is still the most honorable," Cai He couldn't help but touch the back of Concubine Yao's hand. "Auntie, are you not feeling well? Why are you talking so foolishly?"

Yao knew she had said something wrong, so she remained silent and changed the subject, "Are hairpins and rings of this style popular in the city recently?" She pointed to the rewards in the box.

In the main room, Zhang was having dinner with her two children. Lu Rong, now five years old, was dressed in a silver-red dress, a string of pearls dangling from her neck, her hair in twin buns, and she looked innocent and charming. Lu Hui, now three years old, still had his hair cut short, and was chubby and adorable.

Lu Rong took out a small handkerchief and meticulously wiped the soup stains from her brother's mouth, acting like a grown-up, making everyone in the hall laugh. The head maid, Jin He, slowly walked into the hall and whispered a few words to Nanny Chang. After settling the two children in the side room, Zhang Shi finally said calmly, "What's wrong?"

"The master sent people to Yingchun Courtyard to reward the third young lady and named her Yun." Zhang said indifferently, "As it should be. What did the master reward her with?"

Nanny Chang smiled and said, "They are all new jewelry, hairpins and rings that have arrived in our shop." She just wears them for fun.

Zhang frowned in disapproval. "That's all? My master has been out in the inner chambers, and I've been a little careless." She summoned Jin He and instructed him, "Master is a local official after all. Qingzhou has always been a prosperous area. Tomorrow, open the warehouse and pick out a few pieces of fresh silk that were delivered from the capital a few days ago. Send them to my concubine, along with the agate bracelets and some mild tonic herbs."

Nanny Chang felt a little sorry, "They were all sent by the old lady." Zhang looked at the stone lanterns outside the window, "What's the big deal? It would be a waste to keep them, so why not use them? Aunt Yao is my maid who came with my dowry. She has always been a dull woman who can't make a sound when hit with a stick. You tell her something and she can help you with it. Is our family going to be as quarrelsome as the ones in the east?" Nanny Chang thought of the big family in Beijing and replied softly, "Yes."

In the front yard study, Master Lu was being supported by a servant as he stumbled inside. Nanny Jiang hurried forward and asked, "Why are you so drunk again today?" The servant smiled bitterly, "It's just those few people after all, they are all local gentry. Our master has already rejected everything he could, my grandmother." Nanny Jiang sighed, "It's already this late, let's go and get settled in the bedroom."

The servant agreed, and Nanny Jiang took out a handkerchief to wipe the sweat from her forehead. She was already old, and after a moment she slowly shook her head. No official's inner house in Qingzhou was as quiet as theirs. The lady was very generous and kind, and Aunt Yao was a confused person.

A foolish person does foolish things. Aunt Yao looked at the silk on the table happily. "That's good. I was thinking of making some new clothes for when I leave the confinement period." Caihe nodded and divided the fabric into two piles. "This pile is yours, and this pile is for our third young lady."

Aunt Yao leaned over to take a look, pointed at the pink brocade and said unhappily, "Master said I look delicate in pink." Cai He said in a stern voice, "Pink is delicate, and it looks just right on our young lady. Aunt, why don't you wear this lake green, and it will look good with a silver-red jacket." Aunt Yao agreed reluctantly.

Cai He saw that she was still reluctant and said helplessly, "If it's not for the Third Miss, why did Madam send these here so eagerly? It's better to make some clothes for the Third Miss while there's still time. Sister Jin He said that children change every day."

Aunt Yao felt quite aggrieved, "I am her biological mother, how can I treat her unfairly?" Caihe sighed and picked up the cloth and put it in the box. It was the first time for Aunt Yao to be a mother, and there was no old mother in our courtyard to guide her, so she felt a little unsure.

In the afternoon, while her aunt was taking a nap, Caihe left the courtyard and headed towards the main house.

Jin He was watching the maid sewing in the back, while she herself was preparing to be summoned by the lady. Seeing Cai He coming, she smiled and asked her to come in. The maid brought her a cup of tea. Cai He smiled and took a sip, "My sister still loves me."

Jin He knew she had something to worry about, so he took her to the outer room. "Tell me, what's the matter?" Cai He showed a bit of worry. "The material that my sister sent to the yard today is too luxurious. Auntie wanted to make a few clothes for the third young lady, but she was afraid that they would be wasted. She sent me to ask my sister if she has any suitable patterns for us to make according to."

Jin He smiled and stretched out a finger to touch Cai He's smooth forehead. "I know you are a good person. When we were still in the mansion, Yin He said that you were a chivalrous person—"

Cai He smiled and took her hand, "Please love me, sister. If you have any, give it to me."

Jin He nodded and said, "Yes, I do, but you know the rules of the mansion. I can only give you some that the eldest lady hasn't used yet."

Cai He nodded hurriedly, "Don't worry, sister, I don't need to worry about the rules of the mansion."

Jin He then smiled and took out a few pieces of stiff paper from the box in the inner room and handed them to Cai He, "Give them back to me when you're done with them."