Red Mansion: Holding Space and Marrying Like the Sea

Inside the hall, the sound of sobbing was faint, as if coming from far away, yet echoing in people's ears. Everyone stood with their heads bowed, expressions solemn, not knowing whether the sobbing was for themselves or for mourning the late emperor.

As the concubines knelt, Jia Yuanchun quietly pulled a handkerchief from her right sleeve and gently wiped the corners of her eyes. The handkerchief seemed to have a special scent, causing her tears to flow like a flood. Yet, at this moment, her heart was not filled with excessive sadness or pain, but rather with a sense of relief and relief.

The Emperor had finally passed away! This was something she had been worried about for years, and now she could finally put her mind at ease. A heavy weight had finally fallen from Jia Yuanchun's heart, and she was filled with joy, but also with a hint of fear. She knew this result was hard-won and came at a price.

The Jia family had sent her to the palace with the intention of having her serve the late emperor. She had indeed become his woman. However, the late emperor was already old, and marrying a new concubine would have been met with public condemnation and abuse, damaging his reputation. Therefore, the late emperor gave her to the current emperor.

Now that everything is over, she is finally free.

The weeping gradually subsided, and the emperor began to speak, "The late emperor has passed away. We mourn." Jia Yuanchun's heart trembled at the emperor's words. She secretly looked up at the emperor, only to see his face stern, his eyes shimmering with authority. The emperor glanced around, then stopped at Jia Yuanchun. He frowned slightly and said, "Princess Jia, are you overjoyed?" Startled, Jia Yuanchun kowtowed and apologized, "I know my crime, Your Majesty, and I beg your forgiveness. I simply thought that with the late emperor gone, I no longer need to worry daily and can serve Your Majesty with peace of mind..." Before she could finish her words, the emperor interrupted, "Enough! The late emperor may be gone, but I am still here. From now on, you must serve me wholeheartedly. If you have any second thoughts, I will not tolerate it." With that, the emperor turned and left, leaving Jia Yuanchun kneeling in shock.

Jia Yuanchun kowtowed profusely, secretly vowing to please the Emperor. She knew that serving the Emperor was like living with a tiger, and she must be cautious from now on. Only after the Emperor had left did she slowly rise, her gaze determined. On her way back to the palace, Jia Yuanchun encountered the Eighth Prince. Their eyes met, each filled with profound meaning. Jia Yuanchun understood that within the inner court, only power and status could protect her. And the Eighth Prince might be a crucial chess piece in her future...

After the passing of the retired emperor, the current emperor, out of filial piety, insisted on observing the full three-year mourning period, refusing the custom of using days instead of years. For a time, some within the palace rejoiced, others worried. The current emperor's three-year mourning period meant he would be unable to visit the imperial concubines for three full years. This undoubtedly gave many a chance to respite and reflect. For those concubines who already had sons, this period allowed their children to grow up and further consolidate their positions. However, for those without children, it was a difficult time. After all, a woman's prime years are only a few short years. After these three years, who knows how many beautiful women, as beautiful as lotus flowers emerging from water, will be selected to serve the emperor? Competition within the palace is always fierce, resources are limited, and everyone craves the emperor's favor.

The atmosphere in the Rongxi Hall of the Jia family was solemn. Madam Wang anxiously said to Grandmother Jia, "Old Madam, our Empress has yet to give birth, and the Emperor insists on a three-year mourning period. What can we do? The Empress is no longer young, and now is the time of her patronage. She should seize this opportunity to give birth to a son as soon as possible!"

Mrs. Wang's concerns were not without reason. She knew that Jia Yuanchun's favor was the key to the prosperity of the entire Jia family. She dreaded the predicament the Jia family would face if they lost the emperor's favor. Therefore, she desperately hoped that Jia Yuanchun would give birth to a prince at this critical juncture to ensure the family's future.

Mrs. Wang secretly groaned inwardly. She knew that if she wanted Jia Yuanchun to continue to enjoy the emperor's favor, she had to come up with a foolproof plan. She secretly prayed that Grandmother Jia could come up with a solution to this difficult problem. After all, Jia Yuanchun's fate was linked to the prosperity and decline of the entire Jia family, and no one could take it lightly.

After a moment's contemplation, Grandmother Jia slowly spoke, "Your concerns are not groundless. Those concubines who have a prince by their side need not worry about falling out of favor. But these three years are indeed a long time. So, please write a letter to the Empress on my behalf, asking her to take this opportunity to recuperate and strive to conceive a prince once the mourning period is over."

After reading her mother's letter, Jia Yuanchun's stress intensified. Although her mother regularly sent her herbs and secret recipes to aid pregnancy, no one outside the family, save her personal attendant Baoqin, knew that during the emperor's stays, they simply chatted under the quilt, never exchanging even a few words. To outsiders, she appeared to enjoy a life of luxury, yet her inner pain was difficult to confide. Now, with the death of the retired emperor, she could finally breathe a sigh of relief. After all, she was now the emperor's concubine, yet once he treated her with such indifference that he often embarrassed and distressed her.

Jia Yuanchun's gaze, like a hawk, was fixed on the letter in her hand, as if it were the most important thing in her life. She secretly told herself that she must cling to the Emperor's favor at all costs, without letting up even a little. She knew this opportunity was hard-won; after all the hard work, she had finally achieved the prestigious status of Imperial Concubine, so she naturally had to hold on tightly and not give it up easily. And to retain this honor, she had to ensure the Emperor's continued favor.

Jia Yuanchun crumpled the letter into a ball and threw it into the wastebasket without hesitation. She was well aware of her mother's concerns, but the emperor's mind was like a bottomless lake, difficult to grasp. She could only do her best to cater to the emperor's preferences, but she could not influence his decision. Baoqin silently picked up the discarded paper ball, gently unfolded it, and looked at the handwriting on it, feeling a pang of sadness in her heart. After hesitating for a moment, she burned Mrs. Wang's letter with a fire. The queen had already memorized the contents, but she couldn't leave any evidence to others.

Jia Yuanchun sighed softly and said to Baoqin, "Go and ask if there's a maid in the palace who knows medicine." Baoqin nodded respectfully and turned to leave. Jia Yuanchun knew that medicine alone would be of no use. What she desperately needed was a skilled healer who could offer her professional advice. However, within the inner court, every step required extreme caution; a single misstep could lead to disaster. Even so, for the sake of her family's honor and her own status, she had to rack her brains to devise every possible solution.

Baoqin was extremely efficient and quickly found a nanny proficient in medicine. After Jia Yuanchun dismissed everyone, she invited the nanny into her room and humbly asked her for advice on how to maintain her beauty and delay aging.