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

Entering Qinghui Garden, Zhang took the black wooden box from Nanny Chang and placed it on the small kang table between her and Madam Ma. She said with a smile, "The Dragon Boat Festival is coming soon. A few days ago, I went to see Sister Ling and saw the unique sachets hanging in her room. I made a few according to her example."

Mrs. Ma showed a happy expression. "Although the mansion has received quite a few recently, there is a huge pile of things waiting at home. If a few are sent here and a few are asked for there, there will not be enough for Qinghui Garden. Fortunately, you sent me a few more." After saying that, she smiled and asked the maid to take the box away and keep it well.

Without touching the box, Zhang lowered her eyes, took a sip of tea, and continued, "It was better outside in previous years, but this year, even back in the capital, it's not enough. The maids can't make anything good, and the master's letter urged me to do it. I had no choice but to go to Xiefang Pavilion myself and buy dozens of their new sachets. I also saw that they have several new gauze flowers, so I brought a few for you as well."

Zhang took the red wooden box from Nanny Chang and placed it on the small kang table.

Mrs. Ma also smiled. "It's nice of you to think about this. The new styles of Xiefangguan are not cheap." As she spoke, she reached out to open the box.

When she saw clearly what was in the box, her expression changed slightly and she instantly let go of her hand.

Six sachets embroidered with Baoxiang flowers were neatly placed on the red velvet lining, and the air was filled with a cool fragrance like orchid and musk.

"Oh," Zhang looked at Madam Chang in frustration, "how could you have pretended wrongly?"

Mrs. Ma suppressed the urge to cover her mouth and nose with her hands, shook her head and smiled, "It's okay, I've been very busy lately, and this sachet is really beautiful." After that, she reached out to cover the box, gave a few instructions and asked the maid to put it away.

Mrs. Ma looked at Zhang with a worried look on her face. "Mrs. Zhang, I do have something to ask of you."

Zhang held her hand and said firmly, "Mrs. Ma, please don't hesitate to ask. I will definitely help if I can."

Mrs. Ma's expression was moved. After a moment, she slowly said, "Qingbo and Qinglu are almost ready. Once the two sisters' affairs are completed, their brother Qingyu will be next. However, the daughters of the families that are familiar to my family are either too young or too low-class. After searching everywhere, we still can't find anyone who is suitable."

Zhang understood the elegant meaning of the string music and smiled, "I know what you mean. Now that you mention it, it reminds me of something. My uncle has a daughter who is only seventeen years old. My uncle dotes on her very much, so he has been reluctant to tell her about her."

Mrs. Ma's worried expression vanished, and she said in surprise, "I'm afraid my son is not worthy of the Minister of Personnel's daughter."

Zhang pointed at her and said, "Everyone in the capital knows that your family has a concubine and is about to have a concubine for the third prince. I'm afraid the number of people who want to propose marriage to your son will be overwhelming."

As the two chatted and laughed, a young man in royal blue clothes strode in. The young man was slender with clear eyes. He bent down and saluted Zhang. "Qingyu greets Madam Zhang." His voice was gentle, and it was obvious that he was a good-tempered young man.

Zhang hurriedly asked him to stand up and sighed to Madam Ma, "What a pity! My daughter is only nine years old this year. Otherwise, she would have come to climb up the social ladder in your family."

Mrs. Ma smiled and shook her head, looking at her son and said angrily, "What are you still standing there for? Go change your clothes and go to Hanshan Pavilion to help your sister write the bill."

A trace of disappointment flashed across Zhao Qingyu's face. He bowed to Zhang again and turned to leave.

Zhang's eyes flashed at the color of the dress, and an idea came to her mind.

When Zhang returned to the mansion that night, she was summoned to Yannian Hall by the old lady before she had even had time to change her clothes. Zhang hid herself from Zhao Qingyu and told the old lady everything that had happened that day.

The old lady said calmly, "I understand. Lingjie is a concubine after all, so let's leave it at that."

"Then, what should we do about Sister Ling? I'm worried that if their plan fails, they'll come up with something new." Zhang frowned.

The old lady lowered her eyes and said, "She will have to rely on herself in the future. We can help her temporarily but not forever. Just be careful in the future." She seemed to be giving up.

Zhang tactfully offered a suggestion: "When a concubine enters the palace, she can bring someone to serve her. My daughter-in-law thought it would be better to buy two maids who understand pharmacology to accompany her."

The old lady nodded and said, "I'll leave this matter to you."

On the way back, Nanny Chang walked in front carrying a beaded glass lamp, feeling sorry for her wife.

It was not until they returned to the courtyard that Nanny Chang could not help but say, "The old lady is becoming more and more biased."

Zhang watched the maid carefully put the glass lamp away before she sat down. Rong Jie'er and Hui Ge'er, seeing their mother had returned, came running over to Zhang, flirting and talking.

After coaxing the children, Zhang let Jin He take them away. Looking at the two children's small backs with pity, Zhang suddenly said, "Madam, children are actually a mother's biggest weakness."

Zhang planned to sit in Lu Ling's yard.

Lu Ling was making purses in the house. Not only in her yard, but also in her aunt's yard, were people busy making purses to be given as rewards later.

"Aunt is here." Lu Ling smiled and asked Zhang to sit at the head of the table, and personally brought her a cup of tea.

Zhang glanced at the work in her needlework basket and praised, "Very good! Even better than the handkerchief I made last time." She reached out and rummaged through the items. "Why isn't that royal blue pear blossom purse from last time there?"

Lu Ling hesitated for a moment after hearing this, then stood up and went to the bedroom to take out the purse hidden under the pillow. "Mammy said that the pear blossom pattern on this purse is a bad omen." She smiled faintly and said, "I just made it for fun when I was bored, and I don't plan to give it to anyone."

Zhang took the purse and looked at it carefully. She saw that the blue cross-section of the purse was embroidered with a branch of snow-white pear blossoms in various shapes. In order to highlight the whiteness of the pear blossoms, a little silver thread was mixed in the white silk thread.

"These pear blossoms are so lifelike." Zhang returned the purse to Lu Ling, looked at her gentle profile and said softly, "The Dragon Boat Festival is coming, and I want to give Yunjie some things for the festival. I would like to ask you to embroider a few sachets." Lu Ling agreed immediately.

After leaving the yard, Zhang asked casually, "Madam, is there a pear tree in our house?"

Nanny Chang shook her head and said, "The old lady dislikes pear trees as they are considered bad luck, so she has never planted any in the mansion."

Zhang sighed. They were originally two good people, but now it has become like this.

Mrs. Ma has really let her brain be muddled by lard. She gave birth to a concubine and then a concubine of the Third Prince, but she still felt it was not enough and wanted to find another capable father-in-law for her son. She didn't know that a tall tree attracts the wind. It's not the same as loving her son too much. Sister Ling is so innocent!

After school, Zhao Qingyu was walking home as usual, Wenzhu following behind him. As he was passing through an alley, a yellow package suddenly flew out from the top of the wall and hit him in the face.

Zhao Qingyu dodged it with a quick move. Wen Zhu quickly grabbed the package and immediately smelled a scent of medicine. He shook it subconsciously and a yellow envelope fell out with the words "To the Second Young Master Zhao" written on it.