CH 2.1

Chapter 2 (Part 1): Something Fishy

Right at this moment, the sound of a series of hurried footsteps sounded from outside again. Following that, the curtain was lifted open.

A delicate and pretty servant girl dressed in dark green satin coat and azurite colored cotton dress walked in and hurriedly paid her respects before she anxiously said, “Wet Nurse Zhu, Third Madam’s horse carriage has already arrived at the main entrance. Eldest Madam is arranging for people to go to the second gate leading to the main court*. Concubine let you quickly arrange for people to tidy out the principal room and Eldest Miss’ east side room. Burn the earthworms until they are hot. In addition, take a look if the bedding and cushion have become damp. If they can’t be used, remove and change them as soon as possible.”  

*T/n: It’s usually present in houses with larger courtyards. I’ll just attach a picture for easier reference.

https://www.wukong.com/question/6493355680274055438/

Wet Nurse Zhu was originally sitting on the small square stool before the heatable brick bed. When she heard the words of this young servant girl, she had long jumped up from panic. Even that small square stool also fell from her movements and made a low noise. “What? Why is it so fast? Wasn’t it said that they would only reach in the evening? It is only just past noon.”

“Oh my, why are you still asking this now? In any case, the people are going to arrive soon. You should make haste.” After she finished speaking, she turned around to run away hurriedly.

Wet Nurse Zhu randomly circled around the room two times anxiously. Finally, she still stamped her feet and turned her head to explain to her briefly. “This servant is withdrawing first to go make arrangements.”   

Wet Nurse Zhu lifted the curtain and left. The room quietened down in an instant.

Ren Yaoqi tilted her head to look outside the window. Her eyes were limpid like water.

Possibly because it was snowing, separated by the thick cellophane paper, she could only see a dusky scene outside. Although it was said that noon had just passed, it was like when the sky had just turned bright.

Ren Yaoqi sat at the head of the heatable brick bed quietly and waited for movements from outside. After Mother comes back, she would definitely go to Old Madam’s courtyard first to pay respects to her, then could she return to Zi Wei Courtyard.

The two servant girls previously dismissed by Wet Nurse Zhu came back at this time.

“Xue Li, have you seen it? Those elder brother imperial bodyguards at Prince Yan Bei Residence are really all tall and valiant and more impressive than those few bodyguards at our outer courtyard. It’s a pity that each of them put on a poker face. Even when Han Lu who is serving at Fourth Miss’ side walked to the front of them, she wasn’t able to make them raise their eyes.”

“Ah, when I went, the people from Prince Yan Bei Residence had already left. Then did you see the Old Princess Consort? I heard that she’s the late emperor’s daughter and is a princess.”

“Why would the Princess Consort come into our residence without rhyme or reason? She only dispatched people to send Third Madam and Third Miss into the residence. However, women right, no matter how noble their status is, if they can’t give birth to a son, anything else is no use. Even if she’s a princess, she also has to give way to other women.”

“This……the emperor’s daughter has to be at least different after all right?”

“What difference is there? The present incumbent Prince Yan Bei did not crawl out from this princess’ stomach and is that Madam Yun Tai’s son. The princess not being able to give birth to a son is just like heaven no raining and the one in charge of the household being unreasonable. What method can there be?”

“That also has some sense. It’s better that we don’t comment about this anymore, otherwise, when Wet Nurse Zhu comes in and sees it, we’re going to get rebuked again.”

“Rest assured. I saw Wet Nurse Zhu leading people to clean the principal room previously, where would she have the free time to come bother about us? Besides, Wet Nurse Zhu will do no more than reprimanding us. If we commit a mistake and land in the hands of Wet Nurse Zhou(Zhōu) who is serving by Third Madam’s side, then that’s really doom for us.”

“Well, then now that Third Madam has come back, doesn’t this Zi Wei Courtyard still have to have Wet Nurse Zhou making the decisions? Then we……”

“That can’t be right? We’re not even Third Madam’s people. We and Wet Nurse Zhu are all given to Fifth Miss by Concubine Fang.”

“But……”

“Shh——someone’s coming.”

It suddenly quietened down outside. The originally quiet courtyard suddenly sounded with noisy sound of footsteps. Ren Yaoqi straightened up while sitting and saw that a figure walking past outside the window and it seemed to be going in the direction of the principal room.

“Third Madam and Third Miss have gone to Old Madam’s place. In less than an hour, they will be coming back to Zi Wei Courtyard. You all move more quickly and efficiently. See what things are lacking and immediately go report to Eldest Madam.”

However, after Ren Yaoqi waited for half a day, there was no one who came back. Unexpectedly, there were replies coming and going outside and the sound of moving objects which remained noisy.

The medicine Ren Yaoqi used previously contained a sedative drug. Afterwards, she actually could not hold on anymore and fell asleep. It was just that there was something she was still constantly concerned about. When it was evening when the lights were lit, she woke up again.

She felt a person sitting beside her head so she instantly opened her eyes.

There was already a candlestick lit on the table in the middle of the room and appeared to have been burned by approximately an inch. Barely after she had opened her eyes, those dim rays of light stung her eyes until it was a little comfortable and she involuntarily tilted her head.

“Yaoqi, you’re awake?” A gentle voice sounded. This voice made Ren Yaoqi stare blankly for a moment.

That person seemed to have noticed her discomfort and rose to shift the candlestick to a low tea-table at the west wall before she walked back again.

“Is it better now?”