Chapter 3

After singing "The Drunken Concubine," I sang "The Female Imperial Consort," and what followed was even more outrageous; Xuelan had never even heard of it

Aunt Wang entered the household before Aunt Huang; she is the sister of the steward. Whenever Master Liu does not visit Aunt Wang's room, he sleeps in hers. Unfortunately, Aunt Huang gave birth to a son, while she had a daughter. This is not better; in comparison, it becomes bitter, so it is necessary to make a few bitter remarks whenever there is nothing else to say.

"Oh, is this the new younger sister? Look at her delicate features." Aunt Wang immediately left the table and stepped forward to assist her.

It is your turn

one, two, three ... one hundred and seven, one hundred and eight ...

Baihe threw the little fairy in her hand into her sister's arms and said in a spoiled tone: "There is none..."

The aunt chuckled dryly and said, "Indeed, it is still uncertain what future these two sisters hold. I do not seek wealth and glory; I only hope they can find someone who understands their feelings and needs."

The young girl with a lily has already picked up a small sandbag and started kicking the shuttlecock

Aunt Huang was brought into the Liu household last year by Master Liu. She is from the south, can sing tea-picking operas, and speaks in a delicate manner. She also comes from a theatrical background, but had no prior entanglements with Master Liu, which gives her a somewhat better reputation. Not long after she arrived, she became pregnant, and a year later, she gave birth to a chubby son who is now just three months old. Her waist has returned to its slender form. Additionally, while still nursing, her breasts are both large and firm, and she always wears fashionable, fitted qipaos, making everyone take a second glance at her.

Oh, are you all performing a grand play?

She patted her aunt's hand and left with the maid, as if the cold fragrance she carried still lingered in the room

Madam is kind-hearted; how could she hold grudges over such matters? The lady should also take it easy. Third Sister is growing up and will soon be getting married; you will have plenty of blessings in the future

Baihe kicked one away, then cheerfully stuffed the shuttlecock into Xuelan's hand

Xuelan thought that the little girl was just playing games like 'house'

There is a saying that a man cannot be without power for a single day. Mr. Liu deeply agrees with this statement. Perhaps having experienced some form of stimulation in his youth, this man is indifferent to everything except for the allure of power and wealth. He sends all the money he earns and his own daughter away, in exchange for a steady rise in status.

At around ten years old, Chunying appeared exceptionally delicate, not much less so than Aunt Huang. She knelt on the ground, her forehead reddened from bowing.

Aunt Li went to the lady's place, leaving only Xuelan and Baihe outside the house

"Alright." The young girl with the lily-like voice deliberately lowered her pitch to sing an old tune, pouting and frowning, which was simply hilarious.

"After all, she is just a maid in the house, so there is no need to be too extravagant. Tomorrow evening, let the kitchen prepare a simple meal to welcome her in." The lady looked at Mr. Liu and asked, "What do you think, sir?"

Indeed. When mentioning her little son, the lady also smiled and nodded, saying: "He will arrive the day after tomorrow"

Sister Liu Er married Lord Liu's official, which was more of a concubinage than a marriage. When she first moved in, she managed to charm the official and had some interactions with Lord Liu, but later, when a new favorite emerged, she was soon forgotten.

Brother Liu, whose full name is Liu Jingguan, is quite handsome and enjoys wearing suits. He attended university in the past, having been a student in the architecture department, and he always wears a pair of gold-rimmed round glasses, giving him an air of scholarly sophistication. However, at a young age, he has already taken three wives, which suggests he may not be very serious in his pursuits.

Mr. Liu is already in his forties, yet his hair is jet black, his complexion is vibrant, and his face is always clean-shaven, making him appear like a young man in his thirties

This was specially made for me by the tailor at the master's request, brand new and pristine. If I don't wear it soon, winter will arrive, and it will turn into last year's fabric, which would be a waste. I've only just worn it a few days, so sister, please stop laughing at me

Ah, there are the four disciples of Tang Seng, an emperor dressed in a dragon robe, a fairy draped in a veil, and a high-ranking official wearing a tall hat

Only these two young concubines laughed and joked at the dining table; the remaining few could manage a smile, which was considered quite remarkable.

Sigh... she sat at the table, repeatedly sighing

This is a custom of the Westerners; the daughter-in-law of the second son has attended a girls' school established by Westerners, which is referred to as being fashionable, said Brother Liu

The lark and Sanjie were whispering to each other, and it was unclear what they were discussing

This ... is not very good at it, at most kicking two, and Xuelan is sweating profusely

"It has nothing to do with you," she said impatiently. "Go to bed quickly, it's already so late."

She has been married for four years and has only given birth to a daughter. When the madam took in her eldest son's concubines, she smiled all day long, her dimples deepening. She catered to the two younger concubines, providing them with fine clothing and accessories, and the entire household praised her for her virtue. The two concubines have been in the household for over two years, and each has given birth to a son.

Sister-in-law's surname is Tang, a woman as delicate as a small family jade, very clever and exceptionally skilled in social interactions, always wearing a smile when she meets anyone. She is the only woman who has never scolded Xuelan to her face. When Aunt Li and Third Sister see her, they greet her as if she were a family member

After Baihe finished singing a few lines, she nudged Xuelan and said, "It's your turn to sing."

The two women laughed and joked together, as close as real sisters

"Alright, it's getting late, we should head back now," said Bai Ling as she led her younger sister out the door

Sister Wu, are you feeling better today? I can still see that your complexion looks a bit yellow, how pitiful. I had the kitchen prepare some bird's nest soup, so drink it while it's hot.

Sister Liu is the first child of Master Liu. Rather than being cherished like a precious gem, she was instead married off to a wealthy merchant who had business dealings with the family. This merchant is ten years older than Master Liu, having lost two wives before, and he already has adult sons at home. Sister Liu has been married for ten years now, yet she has not borne a single child.

This woman has bound feet, which makes her walk very slowly, and she always dresses in the style of the late Qing Dynasty. It is said that her ancestors were scholars during the Shunzhi era, but later the family fell into decline. When she married, her dowry consisted entirely of gifts sent as bridal presents.

Third Sister went to see her off, but when she returned, she had a face full of sorrow

Everyone goes to the side hall for dinner, while the old lady is accustomed to smoking in the afternoon, so she never joins the dining table; it is still those people who dine.

Since autumn has arrived, the weather in the north has been getting colder day by day

"That plays opera." Baihe rummaged through the boxes and found more than ten ceramic figurines

Aunt Li sighed, picked up the cloth on the table, and began to embroider it stitch by stitch. After just two stitches, she became agitated and tossed it aside.

Baihe walked cautiously beside Xuelan and said, "Fifth Sister, are you still unwilling to speak to me? Please don't be angry anymore, alright? When you fought with Sixth Sister, I couldn't intervene; it wasn't that I didn't want to help you."

Aunt Huang, however, lost her smile, but after a while, she forced a smile and also praised, "Indeed, it is beautiful water spirit; sister, we are far behind."

"Play this?" she asked

I am glad you are not angry. Baihe also linked her arm with Xuelan's and murmured softly, "Sixth Sister is really annoying, making you suffer punishment and fall ill, yet she shows no remorse. If there is a chance, we must make her experience your strength.

This is a masterful skill!

Sister San and the lark finished their whispering and walked out of the room

Little did anyone know that she held a fairy figurine and began to sing the lines from "The Drunken Concubine," humming and crooning. If it weren't for Xuelan's slight cultural background, one would have no idea what she was singing.

Lily skillfully opened a cabinet and took out several small sandbags

The young lady playfully said: "What? Can't I find you if there's nothing going on?"

Xuelan listened to these stories, feeling a chill run down her spine. The gloomy weather already weighed heavily on her mood, and now it was even worse. Thus, she opened a yellowed book of strange tales and stopped listening to their conversation

There is something I would like to mention while everyone is present

Can I not worry? Have you even looked at the kind of people your elder sister and second sister married? Given my background, how can you sisters be any better than them?

Chunying gently lowered her head, appearing both shy and bookish.

Due to congenital reasons, Xuelan has never engaged in any vigorous exercise. The original Liu Wujie seemed to be of a lively type, but with this kick of the shuttlecock, isn't it revealing the truth?

What are the young people doing now, still going on a honeymoon?" Old Master Liu shook his head

Upon returning to the room, I saw two older sisters enter and begin to whisper to each other

There is an elderly concubine, whose maiden name is unknown, and the servants only refer to her as the concubine. She is the biological mother of Liu Dajie and Liu Erjie, and originally followed Liu Laoye. However, she is always dull and listless, with drooping eyelids, rarely speaking or smiling, and spends her days dressed in brown or dark blue garments, devoid of any embellishments.

"Sister Huang, it's freezing outside, yet you are still wearing such attire. Aren't you cold?" Aunt Wang said with a beaming smile.

Then, Aunt Li spoke again about the immoral deeds in this grand residence

A girl around ten years old, not even in middle school yet, how could she have so many schemes? Xuelan thought to herself, remaining silent and allowing her to mumble beside her.

There is also an aunt who has returned home, a widow, living with her two daughters at her brother and sister-in-law's house

Aunt Wang became even more sarcastic, saying: "It is still the master who knows how to care for others..."

The rain is still falling

"Is that so? You speak so lightly..." Aunt Li snorted, "I am well aware of the matters in this grand residence. As a person of lowly birth, I can hardly endure this kind of hardship, let alone you, who have all been raised with such high and haughty spirits."

Sister San listened and turned to Xuelan, saying: "Sister Wu, take good care of your younger sister, did you hear that?"

"Oh dear, it's fortunate that your sister-in-law is thinking of us," said Aunt Li, wiping away her tears. "The three of us are in a dire situation, and these two foolish girls always manage to annoy the madam. It's all my fault..."

The elder sister smiled and said: "Of course, there is a bright future ahead. The lady will not let her daughter suffer any loss, so you can rest assured. I have some matters to attend to, so I will come back to talk to you later"

Even if it is not good, it is still a wealthy family, not needing to work in the fields, not needing to show one's face, how bad can it be? Where can one go? At worst, it would be like Second Sister, sent by our father to be a concubine; as long as one gives birth to a son or a daughter, it wouldn't be too bad either. Third Sister said nonchalantly.

"Cough, my throat hurts. Why don't you sing? I'll just hold the little figure," Xuelan said, gesturing to the little figure of the emperor.

Xuelan knows this person; she and her sister are regular visitors in their home, specifically the two cousins brought back by their aunt.

In the evening, the rain ceased, and a full moon hung above the treetops

Aunt Huang has just given birth to a son, and with a man to care for her, no one can speak ill of her. On her rosy face, there is a hint of the happiness of a little woman.

Xuelan went back to her room to sleep, and then she heard Aunt Li returning. The two of them murmured outside until midnight, filled with long sighs and short gasps.

"Aunt, do not worry," said Third Sister to comfort her

"By the way, have Xiao Er and his wife returned home yet?" Master Liu asked his wife

Sister San smiled and said to her, "What is it? Do you need something from me?"

As soon as the elder sister finished speaking, the aunt and the third sister changed their expressions.

Old Master Liu merely nodded: "Just do as the lady says"

"How about we play something else instead?" said Xuelan

Just as everyone was about to have their meal, Mrs. Zhang suddenly spoke up

The elder is one year older than Sanjie, named Xiong Bailing, and the younger is also ten years old, named Baihe

Xuelan paused for a moment, smiled at Baihe, and said, "I am not angry with you"

This is Chunying, and from now on she will be known as Aunt Chun. Everyone, please take note and do not offend her

There is also a certain Aunt Zheng, who is no ordinary concubine; she is literate and the granddaughter of an old scholar. Like Maitreya Buddha, she is always smiling from morning till night. She spends her days attending to the elderly matriarch, and both the Fourth Sister and the Sixth Sister are her daughters

"What is wrong with you?" Xuelan asked her

She glanced to the side, and a young woman suddenly knelt down with a thud, bowing her head to the group of people.

Xuelan stayed indoors and did not go out, but the elder sister-in-law came over with the maid

After dinner, the guests dispersed, and a young woman linked her arm with that of the third sister