Chapter 56: Chapter 56 (Two Chapters Combined)

Chapter 56: Combined Chapters

After the Beginning of Winter, She Niang’s birthday arrived. The Dowager Consort sent over a lavish feast and invited her to an opera performance. Though She Niang, being pregnant, craved quiet rest and found the clamor of gongs and drums unsettling, she couldn't refuse the elders’ kindness. When people offered toasts, she merely feigned a sip, pouring the wine into a nearby waste basin.

The Princess of Qing presented her with several cherished pieces of jewelry, suggesting she wear them for the New Year. She Niang, in turn, offered her deepest gratitude.

By the time she returned, She Niang was utterly exhausted. To Lan Ruo and Gui Fang, she sighed, "It was supposed to be a birthday celebration, but I ended up the most tired. Please help me to the daybed so I can rest."

Lan Ruo suggested, "Should we ask the imperial physician to examine you?"

"No need. I’m just weary from socializing; my body is fine. Sometimes, if a child is destined to be yours, it will be, no matter what." In her previous life, during her first pregnancy—when she was carrying the Fourth Prince—she was pushed and fell several steps, yet remained unharmed.

But a later pregnancy ended in miscarriage.

Of course, she didn’t attribute it to her own health; perhaps it was due to the emperor’s advanced age.

Gui Fang whispered, "Sometimes, even good intentions can be overwhelming."

"Exactly. Thankfully, I married into the royal household. Once the gates close, we are our own world. If I were in one of those large families with many sisters-in-law, even with my own kitchen, people would still gossip." She Niang always chose to see the positive side.

Her words brought a sense of calm to those around her.

Meanwhile, Yu Shi, seeing her younger daughter pregnant while Li Niang was not, sought out a fertility prescription. Towards the end of the year, she personally delivered it. Li Niang was surprised by her mother’s visit and hastily served tea, saying, "Mother, you should have given me advance notice. My mother-in-law and the others are out today."

"I came precisely because I heard they weren’t home. You’ve been married for quite some time now, and not conceiving isn't ideal. I’ve brought you a fertility prescription. Don’t take it lightly. Drink a bowl after each intimacy, and I guarantee you’ll conceive." Yu Shi worried about her daughter’s future.

Even if Wang Pan was a military officer who might eventually inherit a position like Baihu or Qianhu due to seniority, someone would still need to carry on the family line.

Li Niang disliked hearing this, but she was always fond of folk remedies. Upon hearing about the fertility medicine, she eagerly asked Yu Shi for preparation instructions. Yu Shi explained clearly, then looked at her: "Don’t tell anyone about this. Have your maids brew it privately. If anyone asks, just say it’s for regulating your qi and blood. Understood?"

"Of course I know that! By the way, how is my younger sister doing?" Li Niang asked.

Yu Shi replied, "With the Heir away on campaign, your sister is resting at home. The prince’s household has its own kitchen, and she looks well—her cheeks have even filled out a bit. But I’m still not entirely at ease. Next year, I’ll need to visit often."

Li Niang still ate meals from the main kitchen. Whenever she craved something special, she had to pay extra. Her monthly allowance was also used to tip the servants. Thinking about how well her sister lived, she blamed Old Madam Pei.

"Honestly, Shun Niang is also an Heir’s wife, and she took charge of the household as soon as she married. Only I ended up with nothing."

When she encountered difficulties, Old Madam Pei never offered to help, yet she had pushed so hard for this marriage back then.

Yu Shi said, "You’ve been married for three or four years now. How can you still say such things? The marquis' household isn’t bad. Your food, clothing, and daily expenses aren’t something ordinary families can afford."

But Li Niang still felt resentful. The following year, when the Shao family’s son achieved the top score in the imperial examinations, her anger grew. She realized that even in humble circumstances, her father had found a better match for her sister than the old lady had for her.

After all, the Shao family was immensely wealthy. Sometimes when Li Niang went out, she wore the introductory gift Shao Tang had given her.

She Niang and the Shao family were old acquaintances, and since Zhang Shuxian had once played with her, she also sent congratulatory gifts after speaking with the Princess of Qing.

This time, Zhang Shuxian came to the capital as well to take care of Zhuangyuan Shao. The Shao family was wealthy and had built several gardens on their property.

Seeing that She Niang not only sent gifts but also invited her to the prince’s household for a visit, and hearing from Qiu Ju that She Niang was pregnant, Zhang Shuxian prepared many furs and medicinal materials as gifts.

When She Niang saw her again, she was startled. In the past, Zhang Shuxian always hunched her back, seeming uncomfortable because her underclothes often had patches and her outfits were ill-fitting. Although she was the daughter of a vice-prefect, her family was very poor.

Now, she wore a gold-wire hair bun adorned with pearls and jade, a thumb-thick gemstone necklace around her neck, dressed in embroidered cloud-pattern brocade, covered with a white fox fur coat, and a trailing gold-embroidered skirt. She looked every bit a wealthy lady.

"Sister Zhang, congratulations! You’ve finally made it," She Niang said with a smile.

Zhang Shuxian, whose marriage was arranged by Pei Yiqing, wiped her tears with a handkerchief. "If it weren’t for Lord Pei back then, I wouldn’t have the good life I have now."

She Niang invited her to sit and asked the servants to wait outside. Hearing this, she quickly said, "Sister, what are you saying? This is your own fortune. What does it have to do with others?"

Everyone seeks something different in marriage. She Niang felt satisfied being able to complement her husband, share mutual understanding, serve as the principal wife, and enjoy relative freedom. Zhang Shuxian, having experienced poverty and hardship, was immensely content with the Shao family’s wealth. Her father was among the most upright officials, and she was respected in the Shao household.

Zhang Shuxian then asked, "I see your belly is quite large. How many months along are you?"

"Seven months," She Niang replied, touching her belly. She thought about the ongoing war with the Tatars. Although they were winning, the losses were significant. Her father-in-law was about to return triumphant, but there was still no news of her husband.

With someone present, she pushed these thoughts aside and asked, "How about you?"

Zhang Shuxian said, "My womb isn’t cooperating. Fortunately, the Shao family has a rule: before I give birth, the concubines and maidservants aren’t allowed to have children. But I felt guilty, so I allowed my maid to serve as a concubine."

But She Niang thought that if a concubine gave birth to the eldest son before the principal wife, it would not be a good thing—it could sow discord in the family.

However, this was someone else’s family matter, so she didn’t comment and changed the subject. She recalled that in her previous lifetime, Shun Niang had married Zhuangyuan Shao, and their relationship was tumultuous. Someone like Zhang Shuxian seemed more suitable.

It was strange—after marrying Xiao Tang, Shun Niang had also become virtuous. Last month, her mother mentioned that Shun Niang had actively sought concubines for Xiao Tang. Why had she been so combative with Zhuangyuan Shao in the previous life?

Could it be that people had double standards? Welcoming those of higher status while treating those of slightly lower status differently?

Speaking of concubines, since Cui Lan left, she heard she had married this year. After Cui Lan’s departure, Xue Ji gradually realized that She Niang was not harsh but quite lenient, so she began to show her true nature.

She Niang didn’t pay much attention to such people. She couldn’t drive away all of Li Ju’s people at once; otherwise, Li Ju would feel insecure.

After seeing Zhang Shuxian off, the princess arrived. Thinking of her sister-in-law, She Niang remembered her mother-in-law’s request to help mentor her.

How could she teach someone else’s daughter? If she was too strict, she would incur resentment. But if she refused her mother-in-law, she would be seen as evasive.

The princess was truly difficult to teach. Like now, She Niang first asked her to sit and said, "Sister, how did you find yesterday’s account books? Was it difficult?"

"Not too bad," the princess replied.

This was what frustrated She Niang the most. The princess was too worried about saving face—she pretended to understand even when she didn’t. Sometimes, as soon as She Niang taught her something, she would interrupt, saying she already knew and it was simple.

It made She Niang want to roll her eyes. How could someone so boastful and unwilling to learn improve?

It was even more likely that she would immediately claim what she learned from She Niang as her own.

"Here are ten days’ worth of account books. Please calculate them here now," She Niang said. She had to ensure the princess first learned to review accounts so that when subordinates submitted ledgers, she would at least have some understanding. As for matters like weddings and funerals, she would skip those later, excusing herself by saying she wasn’t from a ducal or marquis household and feared making mistakes.

But learning accounting was essential. Even if you had accountants, you couldn’t let subordinates deceive you.

If they started deceiving you about money, other matters could be easily hidden.

Upon hearing about accounting, the princess said, "Sister-in-law, the tea here is delicious."

"Have a few sips and then start calculating. I’ll ask you questions after you finish," She Niang said.

The princess dragged her feet as much as possible, lingering over tea for nearly half an hour before starting the calculations. While she worked, She Niang wrote down the prices she knew on a list. She was very observant; when managing the household previously, she had made a habit of noting prices, and she continued to do so.

Bookkeeping wasn’t just about recognizing a few characters. Places like pharmacies and pawnshops used Suzhou numerals, and the princess’s dowry included a pawnshop, which was among her most valuable assets.

This wasn’t limited to pawnshops; official documents, contracts, account books, government notices, private banknotes, and pawn tickets all used them.

It had taken nearly a month just to teach her to recognize these. Now that they were delving deeper, She Niang rubbed her belly and felt uncomfortable from sitting too long. She said, "Sister, keep calculating. I’ll take a walk in the back; my belly is a bit uncomfortable."

"Sister-in-law, go ahead," the princess said, glad She Niang wouldn’t be watching her and even hoping she would leave sooner.

She Niang strolled in the courtyard for a while, then lay down on the small couch in the study. When she returned, the Junzhu complained, "Sister-in-law, why did you take so long? I finished the calculations long ago."

"Have some snacks first, and I'll take a look." She Niang picked up a brush and couldn't help but nod. The first few days' accounts were correctly calculated, but there were more mistakes later. She circled the errors and said directly, "These two places are wrong. Take some scrap paper and recalculate these."

The Junzhu sighed, "Sister-in-law, let me rest for a bit."

"Suit yourself." She Niang busied herself with her own tasks.

Actually, the Junzhu wasn’t entirely unappreciative. Seeing She Niang like this, she felt a bit guilty and said, "Sister-in-law, I’ll calculate it now."

She Niang smiled. "That’s more like it. Finish early, and you can rest sooner, right?"

The Junzhu recalculated, and She Niang pointed to one spot. "Look here, you borrowed one, so this should be nine, not ten. And here, you double-counted an entry, so the total is higher."

After the Junzhu recalculated again, She Niang nodded in approval and handed her a list she had just written. "These are some current market prices. You can look them over in your free time."

Hearing that her sister-in-law was letting her go, the Junzhu eagerly agreed, took the paper, and left. She went straight back to her room, where Wang Zhenzhu greeted her, "You’re back, Junzhu."

"Cousin, you have no idea how strict my sister-in-law is. She made me calculate ten days' worth of accounts in just one morning—more than even the accountants do. Right now, I don’t want to think about anything; I just want to lie down," the Junzhu said carelessly.

Wang Zhenzhu smiled. "The Consort of the Heir is doing this for your own good."

As an observer, Wang Zhenzhu felt envious. At least the Junzhu had family who cared about her, not to mention such a wonderful husband and marriage.

As they were talking, Yang Mo arrived and said, "I made some pastries myself and brought them for you to try."

Wang Zhenzhu was delighted to see Yang Mo. Although she and the Junzhu were cousins, their statuses differed, and the Junzhu was still immature, making it hard to discuss certain topics with her. Yang Mo, on the other hand, was warm and tactful, often visiting the Prince of Qing’s residence and getting along well with Wang Zhenzhu.

"Eighth Sister, please sit. Your skills are always exceptional. What delicious treat did you bring today?"

"Some crystal cakes."

The three began eating. Yang Mo was naturally good at keeping things lively, and with her sweet disposition, she had once been the Junzhu’s Study Companion. Now, she made an effort to be engaging, and the room soon filled with laughter.

After joking around for a while, the Junzhu remembered she had to visit the Dowager Consort at noon. Seeing them chatting comfortably, she said, "You two stay here and talk; I’ll be back later."

Once she left, Yang Mo and Wang Zhenzhu exchanged glances. Yang Mo continued, "The Junzhu’s wedding is at the end of the year, so the residence will surely be stricter with her. But what about you?"

Once the Junzhu married, would Wang Zhenzhu, as her companion, still be able to stay?

Wang Zhenzhu replied, "I’ll have to return home eventually. Home is good too."

The Wang family doted on their children, and she was truly the apple of their eye. They planned to start arranging a marriage for her as soon as the anniversary of her deceased fiancé passed. So, Wang Zhenzhu wasn’t worried.

Moreover, since coming to the residence, she had heard some gossip—some said she would marry her cousin, the Heir, while others claimed she was cursed in marriage.

Of course, such talk was never meant to be overheard, but she had caught wind of it vaguely.

The Dowager Consort, the Princess of Qing, and the Consort of the Heir were all very kind to her, but at the Junzhu’s place, though more servants were assigned to attend to her, she wasn’t an actual member of the household. If not for her family’s hope that the Princess of Qing could help arrange a marriage, she would have wanted to return home long ago.

No matter how good someone else’s home was, it could never compare to one’s own.

Seeing that Wang Zhenzhu didn’t seem bothered, Yang Mo didn’t say more, thinking she would understand once Li Ju returned.

Meanwhile, after Li Ju arrived, others saw his youth and, though they showed superficial respect, didn’t take him seriously. Regardless, he was determined to prove himself. In his previous life, he never had the chance—Emperor Jianchang favored even the nephew of the former Empress, but gave no opportunities to someone of imperial descent like him.

The reason was simple: the Prince of Jin had usurped the throne himself, so he was wary of others doing the same. The current emperor had come to power legitimately and, like the old emperor, often relied on imperial clansmen.

But if the regional lords caused trouble again, they would likely be implicated. These lords often encroached on civilian lands, losing popular support. A swift resolution was necessary.

With this in mind, he decided to share his opinions with the commander. Even if the commander disagreed, so what? As She Niang said, "You say your piece, I’ll do mine."

There was nothing to lose.

So, he wrote down his thoughts, detailing how to deploy troops and assign personnel.

When he presented it to the commander, expecting the usual dismissal, he was surprised when the commander agreed. Li Ju felt energized.

He proposed his plan in early March. By the end of March, two rebellious regional lords were captured and brought to the capital, their followers executed without exception. By the end of April, Li Ju had returned to the capital. Clad in silver armor, he was brimming with confidence, and everyone in the Prince of Qing’s residence shared his pride.

Even the usually sharp-tongued Prince of Qing was moved seeing his son like this.

"Father, Mother, I have returned honorably," Li Ju said, kowtowing several times.

The Prince of Qing, having returned from the front lines himself, was both relieved and thrilled to see his son return unharmed and praised by the emperor. "Later, we father and son shall drink to our hearts’ content."

During the feast, they discussed the nation’s many hardships, the several battles fought, and the resulting poverty, wondering what would happen if another crisis arose.

Li Ju asked, "Father, what about the Prince of Jin?"

"No wonder the previous emperor held him in high regard. Our success in repelling the Tatars was entirely thanks to him," the Prince of Qing said, not claiming credit but genuinely acknowledging the Prince of Jin’s capabilities.

...

Returning from outside the residence, Li Ju hesitated at the courtyard gate, feeling apprehensive about reuniting with his wife. When they were together, everything was perfect, but after being apart, he worried about his unshaven face and the smell on his clothes...

"Heir, you’re already at the door. Why not come in?" She Niang tilted her head to look at him.

Hearing her affectionate tone, Li Ju felt as if he had taken a potent tonic and immediately stepped forward. "She Niang..."

She Niang took his hand and led him inside. "What’s wrong? Did you do something to let me down?"

"No, no. It’s just been so long, and I’m like this..." Li Ju was too embarrassed to continue.

So that was it. When they were newlyweds, they always showed their best sides to each other. She Niang never made any unladylike actions in front of him, and Li Ju was the same. Seeing his shyness, She Niang looked at him and said, "Silly, how could I ever disdain you? I’ve been longing for your return every day. I even kept a pregnancy journal. Would you like to read it?"

Li Ju nodded eagerly, but after entering, he insisted on bathing first. After his bath, he saw the journal She Niang had written. It was in colloquial language, playful in tone, describing how during fetal movements, it felt as if the child was practicing boxing in her womb.

"Really?" Li Ju stared at She Niang’s belly.

She Niang laughed. "It’s true. The little one in my belly is surely a mischievous one."

Perhaps it was She Niang’s gentle and lovely demeanor that made Li Ju unable to restrain himself. But She Niang stopped him, saying, "Although I’ve heard it’s safe during the first and last trimesters, we can’t take any risks with this pregnancy. Let me help you."

"Help me? Are you sure?" Li Ju feigned reluctance.

She Niang shot him a sidelong glance...

Though Li Ju had returned travel-weary at noon, by evening, when he brought She Niang to visit the Dowager Consort, he looked radiant. As he supported She Niang into the room, everyone felt they made a perfectly matched couple.

It was a family banquet, and Wang Zhenzhu was also present. Seeing how deeply in love her cousin and his wife were, she felt envious.

Like Li Niang, the Dowager Consort enjoyed asking others about their dreams and interpreting them to predict future events. As soon as She Niang arrived, she asked, "Did you dream last night?"

"Yes, I did. I dreamed someone was chasing me, very fiercely. I reached a river, its surface turbulent and endless." She Niang paused here, thinking about how she would make up the rest.

It couldn’t be helped—who could dream every night?

But the Dowager Consort loved interpreting dreams. Li Ju, unaware of the underlying implications, saw She Niang frowning and whispered, "Now that I'm back, I'll protect you."

"Ahem." She Niang glanced at him. *What kind of occasion is this for him to be making such declarations?* She quickly scanned the room and, seeing that no one seemed to have noticed, let out a sigh of relief.

Unbeknownst to her, everyone was pretending not to hear—though it was killing them to keep straight faces.

Clearing her throat, She Niang continued, "Although the river was wide, I thought I had to jump in, or the bad guys would catch me. Without a second thought, I jumped. And guess what? I wasn’t swept away by the current. Instead, a black fish carried me to the shore."

The Dowager Consort pondered, "A black fish? What kind of fish was it?"

"I’m not sure. It looked like a snakehead," She Niang replied.

The Dowager Consort quickly said, "That’s a wealth fish! I ate it when I was young with my father at Dongting Lake. Dreaming of this fish means you two are about to hit the jackpot. It’s an auspicious sign."

She Niang patted her chest in relief. "That’s good, that’s good."

Then the Dowager Consort added, "But it won’t all be smooth sailing. You must avoid breaking ground, or it could harm your health."

The construction at home was nearly finished by now, but Wang Zhenzhu loved peonies, so the Princess of Qing had planned to set aside a plot for her to plant them. She Niang glanced at the Dowager Consort, surprised that she was helping her.

Truthfully, She Niang wasn’t particularly wary of Wang Zhenzhu. Although Wang had lost her fiancé, she’d been pampered her whole life—how could she enter as a concubine? Besides, at Li Ju’s age, he couldn’t yet take a secondary consort; she would have to start as a mere concubine.

But some people love to stir up trouble, creating conflicts where none exist so they can benefit from them. Digging up information required bribes, and asking for help also came at a price...

So She Niang paid no mind, but the Dowager Consort’s intervention was entirely for her benefit.

The Princess of Qing said quickly, "Then I’ll give the order to hold off on any digging at home."

The Dowager Consort nodded slowly.

Though the Princess of Qing knew the Dowager Consort loved opera and usually stayed out of matters, her words now carried deeper meaning. *Was she implying that I’ve been favoring my own family too much?*

Each of them was lost in their own thoughts, except for the princess who said, "Dowager Consort, when are we serving the meal? I’m starved."

The Dowager Consort smiled. "Right away, right away."

She Niang reflected on the elders she had encountered: there was Dowager Consort Hua, so unconventional; Old Madam Pei, who appeared aloof but was secretly obsessed with fame and fortune; and now this Dowager Consort. Usually, she seemed like a doting grandmother who enjoyed opera, but she was sharp as a tack.

She knew how important the heir in She Niang’s womb was, so she made sure to weed out anything that might bother her.