Chapter 4

“Fifth sister, what do you understand? She really has changed from before! Didn’t you see her holding that chopping knife, looking like a desperate outlaw fighting us? Third Brother almost had his throat slashed!”

Xia Jinlan’s eyes widened in fear as she recalled the scene, still feeling shaken.

Xia Tinglan frowned slightly,

“Mother, you should discuss with Father how to handle Sixth Sister’s situation! The court is currently in turmoil, and Grandfather is not having an easy time either. The princes are fighting openly and secretly, and we can’t leave a bad name for mistreating a concubine’s daughter, giving our political enemies an opportunity.”

Early this morning, Yan Meili had taken her little daughter back to her maternal home to discuss which prince the Xia family should support. Although Fifth Miss Xia Tinglan was only fifteen, she was clever and resourceful, highly regarded by Yan Shoufu.

Second Miss Xia Jinlan was beautiful, but unfortunately, she was impulsive and lacked depth.

No matter how angry Yan Meili was, she still listened to advice. She nodded, “Alright, Tinglan, you and your third sister stay in my room while I go to the study to find your father! I don’t believe we can’t deal with that little wretch openly; if not, I’ll find a way to make her suffer in secret!”

Yan Meili took her personal maid and hurried to the study to find Xia Jinxing.

“Master! Boo hoo hoo…”

Before Yan Meili even entered, she had already started to cry softly.

Xia Jinxing quickly got up to greet her.

“Dear, don’t cry! Come here, let me have a good look at you!”

Xia Jinxing looked at her with a doting expression, hugging her.

The maid outside closed the door, waiting at the study entrance.

Yan Meili sat on Xia Jinxing’s lap, crying delicately.

“I’ve been so good to Xia Qingqing, and she actually threatened my son with a knife! What do you think it feels like for me as a mother? Master, you must stand up for me!”

“Sigh! Dear, I know you’ve been wronged. I’ve already taught that little girl a lesson! She won’t have another chance. It’s just that the place she lives and her clothes are truly hard to look at. Even if you want to vent your anger on her, you can’t be too obvious! Even a rabbit will bite when it’s cornered!

Anyway, in a few months, she’ll be fifteen. Let’s treat her a bit better during this time. When the time comes, we can find an old widower to send her off to! You’re doing well as a mother! Unlike other matriarchs who torture their concubine daughters, you’re the kindest and most beautiful woman!”

Xia Jinxing wiped the corners of Yan Meili’s eyes with a handkerchief, showering her with compliments.

Yan Meili’s mood shifted from sadness to joy as she hugged his neck and whispered,

“Master, today Father said that the Emperor is starting to prepare to select princesses for several adult princes. Which of our three daughters should we choose for which prince? This could affect the future heir! If we choose well, they can continue to rise, but if we choose poorly, it could be problematic!”

Xia Jinxing pondered over what his wife had said, “Jinlan, Tinglan, and Shuixian can be married off to three princes! Prince Jin, Prince Yan, and Prince Xian! As long as one family succeeds, we all win!”

“Prince Xian is such a big fool! Although Xia Shuixian is a concubine’s daughter, she is quite decent, well-educated, and marrying her off to Prince Xian would be a waste. Later, she can marry one of my father’s friends as a concubine to win people over.

Tinglan is wise and has the potential to be a queen. If she marries Prince Jin, she would have a better chance of becoming the queen since he sits in a higher position. What do you think?”

Yan Meili shared the results of her discussion with her husband today.

“Oh! Okay, I’ll listen to you! That big fool Prince Xian just wanders around the streets every day, like a child who never grows up; he won’t inherit the throne! We don’t need to waste our energy on him!”

“Master, our eldest son, Yuan Xiu, is studying at the national academy and has been praised. He might be able to enter the Hanlin Academy! That’s quite like you—good at studying and handsome!”

In a secluded small yard in the back courtyard, Xia Qingqing was grinding medicine while talking to Xiao Suo. “Xiao Suo, I’m going to take a look outside tomorrow. I have no idea what the outside world is like!”

“Miss, the master and madam won’t let you go!”

Xiao Suo was washing the dishes, helplessly advising Xia Qingqing,

“Girls are stuck inside high walls, it’s too difficult to get out!”

“Who said I need their permission to go out? I can just climb over the wall at the back!”

Xia Qingqing had already observed the area; the outer wall by the bamboo forest was not very high. She could easily climb over it and then climb back in.

Outside the wall was the back door alley of the Xia residence, which was deep and nearly deserted.

It would be very convenient for her to sneak out without attracting anyone’s attention.

She wanted to use her medical skills to seek opportunities to earn money and completely leave the Xia residence, free from their control. Whether in ancient times or modern times, only when she had money in her hands could she live better.

“Miss, are you that capable? I look at that surrounding wall; it’s so high! Be careful when you climb over the wall!”

Xiao Suo reminded her with concern.

“Don’t worry, Xiao Suo. I’ll make the herbs into pills and take them to the pharmacy tomorrow to see how much money I can make.”

“Do you know which pharmacy near the Xia residence is the biggest?”

Xia Qingqing was looking for information and thought her inherited traditional Chinese medicine skills would still be useful in ancient times.

“It seems to be Xinglin Hall! The Xia residence is in the best location in the capital, and it’s relatively close to the palace. The owner of Xinglin Hall used to be a senior physician at the imperial hospital; his medical skills are excellent, and the young ladies in our residence often call upon him for headaches or fevers. But the senior physician is not easily hired by ordinary people.”

Xiao Suo had spent time in the outer courtyard of the Xia residence, often overhearing the conversations of the family elders and the management, so she had the impression that Xinglin Hall was the best pharmacy.

“Great! I’ll go to Xinglin Hall tomorrow!”

With a goal in mind, Xia Qingqing worked harder to make the pills.

The next day, she took the pills, climbed over the wall, and left Xiao Suo to guard the yard alone.

Outside, the streets were bustling with activity, lined with shops, and the sounds of vendors shouting filled the air.

Xia Qingqing wore a simple cloth dress, although it was old, it was much better than her previous tattered clothing, at least covering her figure.

She styled her hair in a bun, and her face was clean, looking like a country bumpkin who had just arrived in the city, gazing around.

“Hey! You stepped on my cricket!”

An unfriendly voice came from the side.

Xia Qingqing quickly turned her head to look for the source of the voice.

By her feet squatted a young man, about twenty years old, dressed in elegant and extravagant clothes, handsome, with a grass stalk in his mouth and cold light in his eyes as if he could kill.

“Hi! Handsome!”

Xia Qingqing noticed that handsome men are usually greeted first; after all, everyone has a desire to appreciate beauty.