The concubine is a man, and the illegitimate son of a divine physician has a spatial ability.

Xiaoping heard what Aunt Feng said and felt a little sorry for her when she thought about Aunt Feng's background. Aunt Feng was originally the illegitimate daughter of a county magistrate in Chong'an County, Wuxi.

Although Aunt Feng's father was only a minor official of the eighth rank in the local area, he lived a relatively comfortable life in the prosperous Jiangnan region.

However, in order to get closer to the Yin family in Jiangnan and continue to rise in rank, Feng's father listened to the instigation of Feng's stepmother and found a distant relative, Feng Ruoxi, the first wife of Yin Feng, the younger brother of Yin Xu.

After much pleading and begging, practically wearing down the threshold of the Yin family's house, and using up a lot of money, they finally managed to get Aunt Feng into Yin Xu's room and make her his concubine.

Aunt Feng naturally refused, because she had seen her birth mother being mistreated by her stepmother since she was a child. Aunt Feng would rather marry into a poor family as the principal wife than marry into a wealthy family as a concubine.

But the arm can't twist the thigh. The Great Sheng Dynasty had strict etiquette. Families with a little savings would keep their daughters in seclusion, never leaving the house, spending their days embroidering. When they were three or four years old, their feet were bound.

In the inner quarters, especially around the young ladies' boudoirs, there are almost no servants; the heavy work is done by strong old women.

Therefore, girls in the Great Sheng Dynasty had to rely on their fathers at home and on their husbands whom they had never met before when they got married.

Aunt Feng was even worse off. Because she was born out of wedlock, her stepmother wouldn't give her the occasional opportunity to attend banquets or go out to offer incense and pray at other people's homes. Instead, she would take her own legitimate daughter with her.

Therefore, Aunt Feng never left the Feng Mansion until she was 13 years old. When she did leave the Feng Mansion at the age of 13, she was knocked unconscious and carried in through the side gate of the Yin Mansion in a pink wedding dress and a bridal sedan chair, becoming Yin Xu's concubine.

Because of the arrangement by both sets of parents and her respectable family background, Consort Feng was considered a respectable concubine, so Zhang, Yin Xu's principal wife, dared not overstep her bounds. She simply emphasized the rules every day, reminding Consort Feng not to forget her place.

Compared to Consort Li, who came from a brothel and was merely a lowly concubine brought in through the back gate of the Yin residence, constantly manipulated and controlled by the principal wife, Madam Zhang, Consort Feng was already living quite well in the Yin household.

Xiaoping was Feng Yiniang's personal maid who grew up with her since childhood. She watched Feng Yiniang transform from a cold and aloof girl into someone who was scheming and vying for favor every day.

Xiaoping comforted her, also feeling distressed, "Auntie, it's good that you know how to compete for favor. Before, when I saw you so aloof and indifferent, I was so worried."

Although the third and fifth daughters were born out of wedlock, if their aunt were to have the will, and if they married into good families with capable husbands, perhaps even receiving an official title, their aunt could hold her head high in the Yin family. After her death, she could be buried in the Yin family ancestral tomb, and her memorial tablet could be placed openly in the Yin family ancestral hall.

Aunt Feng, having relaxed, sat back down on the low couch and said, "Xiaoping, do you know what my biggest regret is?"

Xiaoping shook her head and said, "This servant does not know."

Aunt Feng sighed and said, "My biggest regret is that I didn't accept my fate and cried and sobbed on my wedding night with the master, which annoyed him. Since then, the master has rarely slept with me."

Even if I try to salvage the situation later, it'll be too late. Zhang seems kind on the surface, but she's no good at all. My two daughters are destined to become someone's concubines under her arrangement, so I should really fight for them..."

Just then, an old woman in her forties ran in. This old woman was dressed exactly the same as Zhou and Liu, the old women in Zhang's room.

They were all wearing dark red, double-breasted vests with black trim and embroidered with small peonies. Underneath the vests, they wore black undergarments and black skirts. Their black and white hair was secured with silver hairpins.

This attire was also requested by Zhang, the head housekeeper's wife. The older nannies wore black or dark red clothes, and the maids were divided into three ranks. The first-rank maids wore green clothes, and their names started with the character "Xiao." They were usually the ones who served their masters closely.

Second-class maids wore pink dresses and had names starting with "Ru". They were generally around the same age as the young ladies in their boudoirs and the young masters in the front courtyard. They grew up together and were both maids and playmates.

Third-class maids wore gray or black clothes, and their names started with the character "Qing". They were generally low-ranking maids.

Although Zhang was vicious, she was quite capable in managing the household; the maids and servants could be promoted or demoted according to their rank.

If any maid or servant didn't serve their master properly, or acted out of compliance but insincerely, those who committed serious offenses would be sold off, while those who committed less serious offenses would be demoted. Therefore, the maids and servants in the Yin household were always diligent and conscientious.

The old nanny ran to Aunt Feng's side, wiped the raindrops from her hair, and said, "Aunt, this old servant has heard some news."

Aunt Feng was overjoyed and quickly went to Zheng Mama, asking, "Zheng Mama, how is it?"

Zheng Mama sighed and said, "This old servant just asked the maids in Yimei Courtyard, and I learned that Consort Li has given birth to a daughter. The maids in Yimei Courtyard were just moving some baby supplies, so it seems that Madam is going to raise the newborn Sixth Miss herself."

Hearing what Zheng Mama said, Aunt Feng thought to herself that she was right. So she said with a bad expression, "Zheng Mama, Xiaoping, you two go and rest first! I want to be alone for a while. Ruhong can stay with me."

Granny Zheng and Xiaoping bowed and said, "Yes, Auntie."

She then left. Xiaoping walked to the door and said to Ruhong outside, "Go in and serve her! Auntie is in a bad mood, so take good care of her."

Ru Hong said, "Yes, Aunt." After saying that, she went inside.

----------

Inside the Yizhu Courtyard was the residence of Concubine Wang. Concubine Wang was originally Yin Xu's maidservant, two years older than Yin Xu. She served Yin Xu for several years, and under the old lady's arrangement, she was elevated to a concubine and gave birth to the eldest son, Yin Jingren.

Finally, Zhang used a scheme to have Yin Jingren adopted by someone else. Because Yin Xu didn't particularly like Consort Wang, he didn't set foot in Yizhu Courtyard for a year or two, and the servants below became less obedient and treated Consort Wang with indifference.

After Zhang took over the household management, she also disliked Concubine Wang, who had almost taken away her son's status as the eldest son. She turned a blind eye to this and allowed the servants to mistreat Concubine Wang.

Looking closely at Yizhu Courtyard now, it is dilapidated and in a terrible state. Aunt Wang's life is worse than that of a first-class maid, and she is often bedridden.

At this moment, Aunt Wang was lying on the bed, unable to fall asleep, coughing violently, which woke up her personal maid, Xiao Zhu.

Because Aunt Wang was unwell, Xiaozhu did not sleep on the small bed next to her, but instead slept on the same bed as Aunt Wang.

When Xiaozhu heard that Aunt Wang was coughing badly, she immediately got up, helped Aunt Wang sit up, and patted Aunt Wang's back, saying, "Auntie, are you feeling better?"

Aunt Wang coughed as she spoke, "I heard that Li is about to give birth. I really hope she can have a son to curb Zhang's arrogance."

Zhang was a wolf in sheep's clothing. She pretended to be a steady, capable, and virtuous wife and mother in public, but in reality, she was nothing more than a vicious and venomous person in the inner quarters of the Yin family.

If it weren't for the Zhang family, how could my son have been adopted by someone else, and thus separated into two places, one in Jiangnan and the other in the capital?

Xiaozhu, do you know? I thought that after giving birth to a son, I could live a carefree life. But look at my current situation, my current life, I'm not even as good as the first-class maidservant by Zhang's side." As she spoke, she began to cry.

Xiaozhu quickly picked up a handkerchief and wiped away Wang's tears. Then she hugged Wang and said, "Auntie, don't worry. Heaven has seen all the bad things Zhang has done! He will get his comeuppance one day."

Wang got up from Xiaozhu's embrace, wiped away her tears, and said, "Xiaozhu, you're right. Even if I'm sick, I'll live on. I'm waiting to see Zhang get her comeuppance. Wasn't Zhang the one who loved her children the most? I'll make her..."

Just as Wang was about to speak, Xiaozhu covered her mouth and whispered, "Auntie, be careful what you say. Walls have ears. It's one thing for you to complain a few times, but Zhang loves her children the most. If Zhang hears what you say next, you'll definitely suffer the consequences."

"There are some things Auntie should keep to herself; just do what she says."

Wang suddenly realized and said, "Yes, Xiaozhu, you're right. I shouldn't have spoken so recklessly. Luckily, Xiaozhu is here with me, otherwise who knows what might have happened!"

Xiaozhu said, "Alright, Auntie, let's go to sleep! We still have to pay our respects to Madam first thing tomorrow morning!"

Wang coughed softly a few times, and with Xiaozhu's help, she lay down. Xiaozhu covered Wang with a thin blanket, lay down beside her, and fell asleep.