CH 146.2

Jin Wang Dotes on His Concubine Ch 146 Pt. 2

Translated by gingercat

Edited by gingercat

Madams from rich and noble families would give different people varying treatments. The most commonly seen would be having the maid give the greeting gift. Another option would be giving the gift herself. As for giving the other party a piece of personal jewelry, this represented the most intimacy and satisfaction. The level of treatment given depends not only on how much the other party is pleasing to the eye but also on how much face one is willing to give to the person who introduced the other party.

For example, at this time, Qiao-shi invited Yaoniang over for a chat, and the identities of the two women were equal. When Qiao-shi’s cousin came over, it would be too over the top to bestow her a reward. Giving a piece of personal jewellery would best express the feeling of closeness. 

Yaoniang wore several bracelets, similar to the one that she gave, which could be used as gifts. They were all prepared in advance. This was a common practice among the noblewomen and consorts. Not only were these bracelets a must-have when going out, but also small gold trinkets and necklaces worn by children.

Qiao Xiuli wasn’t a talkative person. She knew when to advance and when to retreat, and didn’t interrupt others at will. Occasionally, she would chime in a sentence or so, but not to the point where it felt like she was currying favour. 

Most of the time, she was holding a cup of tea and drinking quietly, wearing a peaceful smile on her face.

Xiaobao and Yueyue were sitting on the Kang playing with the linked metal rings. After teaching Yueyue how to solve it, she started trying it out herself. Meanwhile, his gaze landed on Qiao Xiuli’s face, whether intentionally or unintentionally.

In his previous life, Qiao Xiuli was the second wife of Sun Mang, also known by others as Xiao Qiao-shi. Eventually, she became the Duchess of Zhenguo.

Everyone said that Xiao Qiao-shi was extremely fortunate. Qiao-shi never got the chance to become the duchess and had passed away while she was still Madam Shizi. But Xiao Qiao-shi, who has always basked in Qiao-shi’s limelight, overtook her and eventually sat in the duchess’s position.

If it weren’t for Qiao-shi’s last words, she wouldn’t have been able to sit in the position of Duchess Zhenguo with her background. Yet, Qiao Xiuli not only became the duchess, but she also raised both of Qiao-shi’s children. She could run the household very well and her composure didn’t lack anything when compared to the other madams of the capital.

Although there were some rumours about Xiao Qiao-shi outside, most people only thought them to be hearsay. This was simply because Xiao Qiao-shi’s reputation was too good.

First of all, Xiao Qiao-shi was known for her filial piety. Before Duchess Zhenguo died, she waited on the other party for an entire year at her bedside until she passed away. The other thing was Xiao Qiao-shi treated her sister’s two children very well. To avoid others suspecting that she would mistreat her sister's¹ children, she only conceived a child once she was nearly 30 years old. And it was Duke Zhenguo who coerced her into conceiving this child.

Xiao Qiao-shi had been pregnant with a child before but didn’t tell anyone and secretly aborted it.

The Xiao Qiao-shi that Xiaobao saw back then had both riches and prestige. Whenever she visited other households, she would be the guest of honour. Who would’ve thought that the Xiao Qiao-shi today was only an orphaned girl who could only depend on others to survive? She could only sit on a stool without even a decent seat, and she didn’t even dare to speak at will.

Actually, it wasn’t that she didn’t have any remaining family. She had a very capable brother. Her elder brother was a dignified jinshi², who became a proper fourth-ranked official, the prefectural magistrate of Jingzhao.

Xiaobao looked at Qiao Xiuli with cold eyes. The other party seemed to notice it, and when she looked up, she saw that it was a little boy, the young master of Jin Wang Manor. She gently smiled at him.

Xiaobao turned to look at Yueyue. With her head lowered, Yueyue was still trying to solve the linked metals rings, a puzzle that was extremely difficult for children her age. From this, he could tell that Yueyue’s ability to focus had developed ever since she was a child. To be honest, Xiaobao hadn’t known about the private affairs of Duke Zhenguo Manor, until after he married Sun Yue’er.

But what he knew was only the stuff on the surface. Since Yueyue’s mother had passed away too early, she was raised by Xiao Qiao-shi ever since. Later, she may have gradually noticed something wrong, but the other party’s methods were too good. Even when she suffered a loss, she was still unable to do anything.

Actually, Xiaobao should be grateful to Xiao Qiao-shi. If it wasn’t for her, Yueyue would never have married him, the ill-fated crown prince who was bedridden with a chronic illness. However, he was unable to feel any sense of gratitude towards her at all. To be honest, the person Xiaobao hated the most in his last life was this Xiao Qiao-shi.

She had known that he was doomed to die early, yet she still forced her to marry him and become a living widow for the rest of her life.

“You’re so slow. Come here, I’ll teach you.”

Xiaobao took the linked metal rings from Yueyue’s hand and unlinked them with only three moves. He put them back together again, and re-explained everything to Xiao Yueyue step by step.

Yueyue watched him very seriously.

Seeing the two infants playing together, Qiao-shi couldn’t help laughing. “Xiaobao really looks like the big brother. Calling him gege isn’t calling him in vain.”

Yaoniang smiled. “He’s a crafty little fellow and is great at coaxing others. He got both Yan Ge’er and Zhuzhu to affectionately refer to him as the younger brother. Now that he met Yueyue, he must’ve used all the skills in the book to get her to call him gege.”

This was why it was commonly said that mothers knew their children best.

Qiao Xiuli sat for a while then left.

Ru Meng walked her out, but once they reached the courtyard gate, she refused Ru Meng to walk her any further.

Actually, Ru Meng had only thought to see her off at the gate of the courtyard. But her refusal, more or less, gave off the illusion that she was considerate and had a good upbringing.

What a pity that the sixth young miss’s status was too low. Otherwise, it wouldn’t have been difficult at all to find a good family to marry in the capital. She was already an eighteen-year-old maiden, yet there still has not been any talk of marriage.

For some inexplicable reason, Ru Meng had thought of all this. She chuckled to herself. What was the point in thinking of this? Then she turned around and walked back to the courtyard.

Qiao Xiuli turned around and gazed at Lanruo Pavilion. Even from a distance, the tall building hidden among the lush trees and colourful flowers appeared to be both elegant and beautiful.

She couldn’t help but clench her hands together in her sleeves. Suddenly, she felt a hard object. In her mind, she couldn’t help but recall how the side consort of Jin Wang had condescendingly taken off the bracelet on her wrist before giving it to her.

She lowered her head and pursed her lips. Without looking any further, she quietly left.

gingercat's notes:

¹In this case referring to Qiao-shi, Yueyue's biological mother. In China, people often address the members of their family in the same generation as brothers and sisters even if they share different parents. ²The highest and final degree in the imperial exam