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

On the third day of the third lunar month, just after the hour of Mao, the intermittent sound of wheels chugging across the bluestone pavement echoed down Suzaku Street. From afar, carriages decked out with lanterns of all shapes and sizes rolled out from the courtyards of the mansions, tackling the golden rays of the rising sun and plunging into the hazy mist of the spring morning.

The shouts of the coachman and the neighing of the horses were heard everywhere.

At the Marquis of Ping'an's residence, Qin led the lavishly dressed young ladies into the carriages. Lu Qin and Qin rode in one carriage, while Lu Ling and Lu Zhen rode in another. Lu Ling wore the long, double-breasted, wide-sleeved jacket with a vermilion and pink butterfly pattern that her stepmother had given her. She styled her hair in a single, spiral bun, with the largest velvet rose flower pinned to one side. Two pink pearl and turquoise tassel hairpins were inserted diagonally on the other side, adding a touch of prettiness to her elegant appearance.

Compared with Lu Qin's silver-red embroidered clothes, Lu Ling's clothes were much simpler, but it was obvious that Lu Qin's gorgeous clothes and jewelry were increasingly unable to make up for the difference in appearance between her and Lu Ling's.

After discussing with her husband, Zhang gave the children three days off and took a horse-drawn carriage to Xiama Lake.

About a mile away from Xiama Lake, you can see colorful tents set up next to Luoma Lake from afar. People are gathering among them, and the faint sound of women's laughter can be heard.

When Zhang arrived, she heard a few arguing noises coming from the next tent. It seemed to be the sisters Lu Ling and Lu Qin. After Qin's low scolding, the tent fell silent.

Sitting down on the mat, Zhang took the tea brought by the nanny and took a sip. She watched Rong Jieer, Yun Jieer, and Hui Geer playing with the flower rope.

Rong Jie'er's face was full of helplessness. "It has happened so many times, sister, why do you always break the rope?" Hui Ge'er nodded, the long braid on his head swaying.

Lu Yun embarrassedly hid the broken red rope behind her, with an expression that said, "I know, don't say anymore."

Zhang watched with a smile, finding it very interesting.

The door curtain rustled softly, and Lingjie, dressed in pink, walked in with red eyes and bowed to Zhang. "Second Aunt, can I sit here with you for a while?"

Zhang smiled and asked someone to bring her a cushion.

Lu Ling found a corner to sit down, her eyes blank, and she didn't know what she was thinking. Lu Yun had noticed that there was a large empty space in her hair where the rose used to be.

Zhang, of course, noticed her thoughts and whispered something to Nanny Qin. After a moment, Zhang smiled and beckoned Lingjie'er to sit beside her. She then pulled a half-opened, translucent pink peony from a box beside her.

After a closer look, it turned out that it was not a real flower. Lu Ling opened her mouth slightly, a trace of disbelief flashed in her eyes, and after a moment, she revealed a bitterness and whispered, "Thank you, Second Aunt, but this thing is too valuable, I can't accept it."

Zhang lovingly smoothed the curled hair on her head and said softly, "Girls should dress up more beautifully when they grow up. This flower is a new gauze flower from Xiefang Pavilion. It is lively and elegant. I got it by chance. I was thinking of giving it to someone else, but now I see that this flower matches your clothes very well today. I'll let Jinhe put on your makeup for you later." After that, she put the half-opened peony flower into her hair without saying anything.

The gauze petals are stacked and intertwined, revealing the shy buds inside. The pale pink crystals connected by gold threads hang down on the sides of the ears, highlighting the girl's shyness.

The children stopped playing with the red string and gathered around Lu Ling to watch Sister Jin He carefully apply makeup to her. Lu Ling's eyes were very similar to Aunt Sun's, as clear as a pool of autumn water. After a careful examination, Jin He applied a circle of rouge around Lu Ling's eyes, then used a puff to blend it lightly onto her cheeks.

"Oh, you are so beautiful. I didn't expect you could also do the peach blossom makeup from the previous dynasty." Zhang was a little surprised.

Jin He covered her mouth and chuckled, "Madam, please don't blame me. You don't like these things. Normally, I just apply lip balm. It just so happened that I met the young lady today. I want you to see my craftsmanship."

Seeing her younger siblings staring at her intently, Lu Ling felt her ears burning and shyly covered half her face with a handkerchief. Jin He burst out laughing, "Look, our eldest daughter is shy."

As they were chatting and laughing, Nanny Qin walked in from outside. When she saw Lu Ling, she paused, suppressed the surprise that flashed across her face, and bowed to Zhang, saying, "Hello, Second Madam. My mistress asked me to take the eldest young lady back home."

Lu Ling returned to silence, lowered her head, and followed Nanny Qin out. No one spoke in the tent for a while. Lu Yun pricked up her ears to listen to the movement next door. If there was no accident, then something unexpected would happen.

After a while, Nanny Qin returned with Lu Ling. Lu Ling looked quite normal. Nanny Qin smiled and bowed to Zhang, very politely saying, "My wife said that Ling Jie'er is not feeling well, and Dingyuan Marquis's Mansion has come to ask my wife to speak. My wife is worried about leaving Ling Jie'er alone in the tent, so she wants to ask Second Madam to help take care of her. Otherwise, she will have to send someone to send her back."

She was sent back before the outing even began. This was the treatment for a serious offense. Oh my god, Qin was really cruel, Lu Yun muttered to herself, feeling very sorry for her eldest cousin. Even with her peach blossom makeup, her face was dull and lifeless. When faced with an unkind mother, the life and death of a concubine's daughter depends on her mother's words. Alas, this evil feudal society.

Zhang smiled and said, "Your wife can go and do her own thing. I like Sister Ling very much, so please stay with me."

After Nanny Qin left, Zhang pulled Lingjie'er to sit beside her and comforted her softly, "Just stay here with me. Xiama Lake is beautiful. I'll need you to take your sisters and brothers for a stroll by the lake later. I won't be going. I just hope you can help me keep an eye on them if they're a little naughty."

Lu Ling was stunned, as if she didn't expect Second Aunt to say that. Her eyes were slightly red and her small face was full of seriousness. "I will definitely take good care of my brother and sister, please rest assured, Aunt."

There were also two tents in the Dingyuan Marquis's Mansion. When Qin brought Qin Jie'er and Zhen Jie'er in, there was already a woman sitting inside.

Mrs. Cui stood up and enthusiastically took her hand and introduced her, "This is the second wife of our mansion."

Mrs. Ma knew that the person before her was the wife of the Marquis of Ping'an, the sister-in-law of Mrs. Zhang Er. She smiled at Cui and said, "Since you have guests here, I won't stay any longer." Then she nodded to Qin and turned to leave.

Cui put away her smile and sat on a chair. She ordered someone to watch at the door of the tent, then looked at Qin and said in a low voice, "It is said that a distinguished person will be visiting this year." Qin was startled and saw Mrs. Cui holding up three fingers and shaking them at her.

The Longqing Emperor had five princes to date. The eldest prince died young, while the second prince, born to the late empress, was already crown prince and married to the late empress's niece. The fifth prince was still too young, and only the third and fourth princes were still unmarried. The third prince's mother died young, and he was raised by the empress dowager. Rumor has it that he had a very good relationship with her family. The fourth prince, while he had a family from his mother's side, was too weak to be of much use.

It takes a year for a prince's wife to be chosen, married and enter the palace.

Even so, her sister Qin was too young, and Qin remained silent.

Cui Shi seemed to see what she was thinking and said, "I heard that your eldest daughter has been raised by the old lady since she was a child."

Qin immediately understood what Mrs. Cui meant, and her face turned a little ugly. "Ling Jie'er? She's a concubine's daughter, how can she be worthy of him?"

Mrs. Cui glanced at her and raised the corners of her lips. "The royal family doesn't care about these things. As long as my sister is well-educated, she can still become a noble."