Chapter 43

Marquis Dechang’s Residence.

“Miss, the eldest daughter of the Marquis of Pingyang’s household has sent you another invitation. Are you going to the banquet tomorrow?”

As soon as Ping’er entered the room, she saw her mistress, Xu Qinhui, lying weakly on the chaise longue.

Xu Qinhui waved her hand angrily, “No, tell her I’m sick and not going anywhere.”

Since her rebirth, she has stayed in the marquis’s residence and has not gone out for social events. In her previous life, even though she had her second sister marry in her place, she still went out every day for social engagements and often attended banquets.

The eldest daughter of the Marquis of Pingyang’s household was considered her friend, but she frequently invited her only to find out how she had managed to get the new emperor to write an edict, changing the Crown Prince’s fiancée from her to her second sister. In her previous life, even though she went, she never told the eldest daughter of the Marquis of Pingyang’s household how she had gotten close to the new emperor.

This person just wanted to see her make a fool of herself; they weren’t true friends.

Everyone in the capital knew about her having her second sister marry in her place, but since it was the new emperor’s edict, no one dared to discuss it openly. However, there was much private gossip. She pretended not to know, thinking that people would no longer dare to gossip once she entered the palace as a concubine.

Later, she did enter the palace as a concubine, and even though people despised her, they no longer dared to speak ill of her.

Thinking about the upcoming selection of concubines in half a month, Xu Qinhui regretted having her second sister marry in her place.

Yes, in half a month, she would have to go through the selection process again, just like in her previous life. She had already gotten close to Emperor Shengyuan, so the selection process was just a formality. She entered the palace and was granted the title of Jieyu (*), eventually becoming one of the four concubines.

T/N: concubine’s rank in harem.

But what did it matter? She couldn’t become empress, and later, King Shu would enter the capital, overthrow Emperor Shengyuan and Empress Dowager Fu, and behead her along with them.

She couldn’t enter the palace to be a concubine for Emperor Shengyuan again. She knew she was wrong in this life and only wanted to apologize to King Shu and be his wife. But with the selection process in half a month, she couldn’t avoid it on her own. Her father and grandmother were both hoping she would enter the palace.

Thinking of this, Xu Qinhui became even more agitated.

Ping’er continued to chatter, “Miss, it’s very chaotic outside now. Refugees from the north are flocking to the capital, and in the southwest, water bandits have robbed two official ships. They not only took the coal and iron on board but also stole the two ships and disappeared.”

Official ships were robbed? Xu Qinhui was stunned.

She remembered that in her previous life, the official ships weren’t robbed at this time but a few months later. Moreover, they only took the coal and iron, not the ships. Even in the end, the court never caught the water bandits who stole the coal and iron.

As for the refugees, Xu Qinhui didn’t have much sympathy because she remembered that in her previous life, these refugees were all killed before they even entered the city, causing no impact on the people of the capital.

However, in this life, her second sister didn’t die of illness on the way to exile, and King Shu’s brother and niece didn’t die in the landslide during their exile. Other things might also be different. She didn’t know if the fate of these refugees would change, but it didn’t matter much to her.

What she needed to focus on now was figuring out how to avoid entering the palace for the selection and not getting involved with Emperor Shengyuan. Although her grandmother loved her, she couldn’t help with this matter. She needed to tell her father.

Xu Qinhui slowly made up her mind.

At dinner time, the three branches of the Marquis of Dechang’s household usually ate separately. After the third branch had finished their meal, Xu Qinhui called out to her father, Xu Shuping, “Father, I have something to discuss with you.”

Xu Shuping thought his daughter wanted to chat about family matters and smiled, “What do you want to tell me, Hui’er?”

Seeing the whole family present, Xu Qinhui quickly said, “Father, I have something important to discuss with you. Can we move to the study?”

Seeing this, Xu Shuping nodded and followed his daughter to the study.

Once in the study, Xu Qinhui hesitated about how to explain to her father. Should she tell him she was reborn, that in her previous life, King Shu eventually ascended the throne, and Emperor Shengyuan and Empress Dowager Fu were beheaded, along with herself?

She didn’t know what happened to the Marquis of Dechang’s household after her death, but she feared it wasn’t a good outcome.

After a moment of hesitation, Xu Qinhui recalled an event from her previous life that happened around this time in the capital. She looked up at Xu Shuping and said, “Father, what I’m about to say may sound absurd, but it’s true. Tomorrow morning, the Minister of Revenue will suddenly collapse and die. After that, Emperor Shengyuan will appoint the Deputy Minister of Revenue as the new Minister.”

She didn’t know how the Minister of Revenue died. She only remembered that the imperial physicians diagnosed him with overwork and a sudden heart attack. The Deputy Minister of Revenue was still very young, only in his twenties, and had been promoted when the new emperor ascended the throne. Less than half a year later, he was promoted again due to the Minister’s death. Logically, the more senior and older Left Deputy Minister, who was in his forties, should have been appointed as the new Minister. After that, the court was in turmoil.

Xu Shuping scolded, “Hui’er, don’t speak nonsense!”

This was a matter of state affairs, and it was a sensitive time with the new emperor and Empress Dowager Fu. Many people had been exiled or had their homes confiscated for discussing state affairs.

Xu Qinhui bit her lip, “Father, trust me. You’ll see tomorrow.”

Once her prediction was confirmed, her father would believe her, and she could tell him the rest.

After Xu Qinhui left, Xu Shuping didn’t take his daughter’s words to heart, thinking she was just talking nonsense. He was only a seventh-rank official and didn’t have the qualifications to attend court. With a new emperor, he wanted to continue his career advancement, which required making a good impression on the new emperor. He also hoped his daughter could enter the palace for the selection.

The next day, Xu Shuping was at his office. When court ended, his superior returned, looking pale.

Xu Shuping inquired, and his superior said, “The Minister of Revenue suddenly collapsed and died in court.”

His superior’s eyes reddened as he spoke. He was in his fifties and had known the Minister of Revenue for twenty or thirty years. Although they occasionally had disagreements, they had a bond. The Minister of Revenue had always been in good health, so his sudden collapse was shocking. No one knew the exact cause, but the imperial physicians said it was a heart attack, so it had to be accepted as such.

The future of the court was uncertain.

Xu Shuping was stunned, his face turning pale. His daughter had predicted this last night. How did she know the Minister of Revenue would collapse in court?

Unable to stay at his office, Xu Shuping took leave and returned to the Marquis of Dechang’s residence.

He went straight to his daughter’s room, dismissing the maids. Alone with his daughter, he asked, “Hui’er, did something happen to the Minister of Revenue?”

Xu Qinhui replied seriously, “Father, did the Minister of Revenue have an incident?”

Xu Shuping frowned, “Hui’er, how did you know?”

“Father,” Xu Qinhui said with a bitter smile, “It may sound unbelievable, but it’s true. I saw it in a dream. In the dream, I saw what would happen over the next ten years, including events in this world. Why only ten years? Because after ten years, I entered the palace as a concubine for Emperor Shengyuan. Ten years later, King Shu entered the capital, and Emperor Shengyuan and Empress Dowager Fu were beheaded, and I was also beheaded…”

Thinking of the scene where King Shu raised his sword, she couldn’t help but shiver.

Xu Shuping’s face changed dramatically. “Hui’er, you mustn’t speak nonsense…”

“Father!” Xu Qinhui interrupted, her eyes red. “Everything I said is true. If you don’t believe me, in ten days, Han Dong King’s heir will publicly kidnap the granddaughter of Lord Chongming in the capital. Lord Chongming will petition the court to punish the heir, but in the end, Empress Dowager Fu will issue an edict marrying the granddaughter to the heir.”

Han Dong King was Empress Dowager Fu’s brother. After the new emperor ascended the throne, he was granted the title of king. Han Dong King’s heir was notorious for his misdeeds, bullying men and women alike, causing many in the capital to be angry but afraid to speak out.

Xu Qinhui continued, “This will happen in ten days. But in twelve or thirteen days, the selection will begin. If you wait until this event happens to believe me, it will be too late to stop the selection. So please, Father, believe me. I don’t want to enter the palace for the selection. I don’t want to become a concubine for Emperor Shengyuan and end up beheaded. The fate of the Marquis of Dechang’s household will also be dire.”

Xu Shuping remained silent for a long time. “Why not wait until you enter the palace and tell the new emperor and Empress Dowager Fu, and then go to the border to avoid the disaster…”

Xu Qinhui smiled bitterly, “Father, Empress Dowager Fu dared to make her brother a king without any merit. Do you think she would believe me? Or would she suspect me and eliminate our entire family?”

King Shu and Empress Dowager Fu were both ruthless. Empress Dowager Fu was pure madness, causing chaos in the court and the world.

Xu Qinhui had spent ten years in the palace and knew Empress Dowager Fu well. If she told her, Empress Dowager Fu might initially be grateful and send someone to kill King Shu’s line, but she would eventually find an excuse to eliminate the Marquis of Dechang’s household as well. Whether she entered the palace as a concubine or told Empress Dowager Fu, both paths led to death. She had to find another way.

Xu Shuping knew his daughter was telling the truth. Seeing the new emperor’s actions in the past six months, he feared chaos would ensue. Even if it wasn’t King Shu, someone else would rise against such a court.

At that moment, Xu Shuping seemed to age significantly. He said, “Hui’er, let me think about it.”

“Father!” Xu Qinhui was anxious.

Xu Shuping said, “Let me think. If King Shu can succeed in the future, we need to mend our relationship with the second branch. We should send some silver to your second sister and explain that it was your grandmother’s decision to have her marry in your place.”

They needed to clean up the third branch’s act and avoid antagonizing Xu Qinyu.

Xu Qinhui didn’t tell her father that her second sister was supposed to die of illness on the way to exile, pretending not to know.

It was wise for Father to try to make amends with Second Sister. Better safe than sorry. If Second Sister were to die like in the previous life, she would go to the border to take care of King Shu’s family and earn his favor. If Second Sister survived until King Shu ascended the throne, improving relations with her would only benefit the third branch.

No matter what, as long as she didn’t enter the palace, everything else could be dealt with step by step.

The next day, Xu Shuping went to see his second brother and sister-in-law.

Second Sister-in-law, Madam Xue, didn’t give him a warm welcome.

However, when Xu Shuping apologized and explained that he hadn’t agreed to have Yuniang marry in her place, saying it was the Old Madam of the Marquis of Dechang’s household who had insisted and gone to the palace to plead with the old princess, and offered to give Madam Xue two shops for business, Madam Xue refused outright. But when Xu Shuping mentioned sending 1,000 taels of silver to Yuniang, Madam Xue hesitated.

She had only managed to gather 50 taels from herself and her husband. With 1,000 taels, Yuniang’s life at the border would be much better. But after careful consideration, Madam Xue still refused the 1,000 taels.

She knew Xu Shuping’s sudden apology and offer of money were not out of goodwill. He claimed the Old Madam had gone to the palace, but how could an Old Consort influence the new emperor to write an edict? Clearly, Hui’er had done something behind the scenes, so she didn’t believe Xu Shuping.

She didn’t need the 1,000 taels either. Who knew what Yuniang would have to pay in return for accepting it?

For the past six months, she has been making embroidery. Her embroidery skills are excellent, and she knows several techniques. With her husband’s frugality and support from her family, her brother recently sent her 100 taels, saying they wished they had known about Yuniang’s situation earlier so they could have sent the money sooner.

Madam Xue knew that 100 taels was all her brother could spare. She accepted their kindness. With the 50 taels she and her husband had saved, they had a total of 150 taels, which they had sent to the southwest with Ma Liu’s help.

Ma Liu and his group had been transporting prisoners to the southwest coal mines about half a month ago. In the future, she and her husband could save several dozen taels each year through frugality and send it to Yuniang. Yuniang’s life should be manageable without Xu Shuping’s 1,000 taels.

Xu Shuping didn’t insist when his second sister-in-law refused, knowing this matter couldn’t be rushed.

A few days later, the third daughter of the third branch of the Marquis of Dechang’s household went to a temple in the mountains to offer incense. She accidentally fell down a slope, breaking her leg and getting a cut on her face. It was said that she couldn’t participate in the palace selection.

Xu Qinhui had already submitted her name for the selection. It wasn’t something she could simply refuse unless she was gravely ill or had a broken leg or disfigured face. The royal family wouldn’t accept such a girl as a concubine.

When the news reached the palace, the new emperor felt a bit regretful but didn’t dwell on it. The world had countless beauties, and he wouldn’t fixate on the third daughter of the Marquis of Dechang’s household.

Empress Dowager Fu found it surprising. She knew how Xu Qinhui had entered the palace and persuaded her son to write that edict. Now, with this incident happening so close to the palace selection, it seemed too coincidental. Could it be that Xu Qinhui didn’t want to enter the palace as a concubine for her son? But that didn’t make sense. Who would give up the endless wealth and glory of being a concubine in the palace?

Empress Dowager Fu sent a nanny and an imperial physician to the Marquis of Dechang’s household.

They found that Xu Qinhui had indeed broken her leg and injured her face.

When the nanny returned to report, she said, “The third daughter is truly pitiful. She broke her leg and got a cut on her face from a tree branch. The facial injury isn’t severe. The imperial physician said that with proper care, even if a small scar remains, it won’t be noticeable. She tearfully asked if she could still participate in the selection if her leg healed with a limp and the facial scar wasn’t severe.”

The next selection would be at least three years later, by which time Xu Qinhui would be eighteen. Candidates for the palace selection couldn’t be older than eighteen.

Seeing that Xu Qinhui hadn’t done this on purpose, Empress Dowager Fu let it go, only sneering, “With a broken leg and a scarred face, she’ll be over eighteen in three years. What a pipe dream to think she can still be selected.”

Upon hearing that Xu Qinhui was truly injured, the new emperor lost all interest.

Xu Qinhui breathed a sigh of relief, having avoided this fate.

This was a ruse devised by her and her father. Xu Qinhui’s leg was indeed broken, and the facial injury was accidental. She didn’t intend to disfigure herself but hit a tree stump while rolling down the slope. Fortunately, neither injury was severe, and with proper care, she wouldn’t be left with a limp, and the facial scar would heal with the best ointments. No matter what, she wouldn’t have to enter the palace in this life, avoiding that tragic end.

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Things have been unsettled lately in the southwest border town of Yuanbao. Many soldiers are coming and going in the town, and the situation at the docks is even more severe, with soldiers constantly investigating. Many timid small merchants no longer dared to do business at the docks, moving to other places, pushing their carts through the streets, or going to the market on North Street.

Xu Qinyu hadn’t been to the docks in the past half month, continuing her usual business. She made a barrel of fermented tofu, a jar of dried fermented black beans, and bean paste.

Wen Shuncheng helped her with these tasks. They weren’t difficult, requiring attention to the ratio of seasonings and ingredients. The rest involved cooking, fermenting, and drying the beans. With practice, the taste would be consistent. Once Cheng Ge’er learned these skills, he could handle them in the future.

Xu Qinyu planned to use the fermented black beans and bean paste for her future restaurant. She had calculated that she had saved about sixty taels of silver, enough to rent a shop on South Street or North Street, but not enough for East Street or West Street. Buying a shop was out of the question, so she planned to rent one first.

Renting a shop required a one-year lease and a deposit. Opening a restaurant also required renovation, furniture, and ingredients, so sixty taels of silver wouldn’t be enough. She planned to set up a breakfast stall for two months to earn the money needed to open the shop. It would be tiring, but the sooner she earned the money, the sooner she could open the restaurant.

That day, after selling all the fish, Xu Qinyu prepared dinner.

For dinner, she stir-fried spring bamboo shoots with cured meat from before the New Year. The bamboo shoots were dug up by Cheng Ge’er from the bamboo forest outside the town.

There were also wild mushrooms on the mountain, but she was too busy to go foraging and didn’t dare let Cheng Ge’er go, fearing he might pick poisonous ones.

In addition to the bamboo shoots with cured meat, she made stir-fried chives with small river shrimp and Chinese toon with eggs.

Although the wild mushrooms outside the town couldn’t be eaten casually, there were plenty of wild vegetables, including wild Chinese toon. When stir-fried with eggs, the Chinese toon had a rich, fragrant aroma, and the eggs were tender and delicious.

The small river shrimp were also caught by Cheng Ge’er in the small rivers and ditches outside the town, and the Chinese toon was picked by him as well.

Finally, she made a home-style three-delicacy soup with eggs, tender tofu, chives, and meat slices.

The three-delicacy soup was fresh and tender.

As for the eels, Xu Qinyu had eaten them for more than half a month and was tired of them. Recently, Cheng Ge’er had been selling the eels he caught at the market.

Their family spent about two taels of silver on food each month.

The family was still drinking milk. After drinking milk and eating well for a month and a half, Madam Gui’s complexion visibly improved. Her face was rosy, and she had gained at least twenty pounds. The lines on her face had diminished, and she no longer looked sick.

Xu Qinyu filled Cheng Ge’er’s food box and packed a few milk buns for him to take home.

Cheng Ge’er and Gong Ge’er had just left when there was a knock on the door.

Madam Wen went to open it and saw a young man in his twenties with a scruffy beard dressed in an official uniform. He grinned widely at her.

Madam Wen was momentarily stunned, finding him familiar but not immediately recognizing him.

The young man grinned and called out, “Madam, it’s me.”

Hearing the voice from the kitchen, Xu Qinyu immediately remembered who it was. She hurried out and saw the man grinning at the door. It was none other than Ma Liu, the soldier who had escorted them to the border town.

She had asked Ma Liu to deliver a letter to her original parents.

She hadn’t expected Ma Liu to find them again.

Xu Qinyu greeted him happily, “Officer, how did you find us here?”

Ma Liu scratched his head and smiled, “I heard from Shopkeeper Zhou in Raozhou City that Miss Xu was in Yuanbao Town… After returning to the capital before the New Year, I visited the Marquis of Dechang’s residence and met your parents. They were very worried about you…”

He rambled on, explaining that his mother had also entrusted him with delivering silver notes to her. He said her parents looked much better than before and told her not to worry.

After finishing, Ma Liu quickly took out the silver notes and handed them to Xu Qinyu. He had inquired extensively in Raozhou City, and it was Shopkeeper Zhou of an inn who finally told him where to find her, knowing he was delivering money to Miss Xu.

They asked him many questions, worried that he might be looking for trouble with Miss Xu. Only after confirming that he was genuinely delivering money did they tell him that Miss Xu was now living in Yuanbao Town.

He came to Yuanbao Town, went to the yamen to inquire, and found the registered address.

Xu Qinyu took the silver notes, which amounted to 150 taels. She felt a bit emotional. Her original mother had gathered all her money and only managed to get 50 taels, which she gave entirely to her. Now, in just half a year, she had managed to gather another 150 taels. Xu Qinyu couldn’t help but wonder how Madam Xue had managed to gather so much money.

Xu Qinyu asked, “Officer, how did my mother get so much money?”

Ma Liu replied, “Your mother said she did embroidery work for people, and your father’s salary was saved without spending on socializing. Also, your maternal uncle contributed 100 taels, and they sent it all to you.”

Thinking of her original uncle, Xu Qinyu felt very grateful.

Her original uncle ran a teahouse that sold not only tea but also some food. He didn’t earn much each month, and 100 taels was likely all the savings his family had accumulated over the years. It was also because her original uncle ran a small tea and food stall that she had learned some cooking skills.