Chapter 76: Maid Concubines
As expected, the topic came up. It was only the third day after Chu Jinyao’s wedding, and everyone was eager to arrange for her to bring in concubine maids, claiming it was all for her sake.
Feeling uncomfortable, Chu Jinyao replied flatly, “It’s not necessary.”
“Your Highness, this old woman understands that you are newly wed and don’t like such practices. However, for any woman who marries, which household doesn’t have a few beautiful maids ready in the bedroom? You should take advantage of the time when His Highness is still fresh with affection for you and try to keep him. If you can conceive a royal heir, that would be even better. If you don’t like them, after they give birth to a child, whether boy or girl, you can take the child to raise as your own and send the maids far away. Just think about it. You can’t let a moment of emotion make you miss such a great opportunity!” Old Madam Chu tried to persuade her with what she thought was heartfelt advice.
This practice of the first month was a royal tradition. The emperor’s harem was filled with beauties, and as the mother of the nation, the empress had to set an example for the six palaces, meaning she could not engage in petty fights for favor. This made it particularly difficult to give birth to legitimate royal heirs. To ensure the system of primogeniture continued, the imperial family established this rule: during the first month after the wedding, the emperor must stay in the empress’s palace so that she could bear the legitimate heir for the royal bloodline.
As the crown prince, all of Qin Yi’s ceremonies followed those of the emperor, though on a slightly lower scale. The Eastern Palace was fully staffed like the imperial court, and the rules of the first month were the same.
However, this rule was largely symbolic. If the emperor or crown prince wanted to sleep with other women, could the empress or the crown princess really stop them? It was a formal façade, depending entirely on the emperor’s or crown prince’s self-restraint.
Old Madam Chu feared that Chu Jinyao wouldn’t be able to keep the crown prince’s attention. If, in the first month, the prince turned his favor to other women, it would be a major embarrassment. Though no concubines had been officially raised during the wedding, would it remain that way? The Eastern Palace was filled with young, beautiful women eager to rise.
Old Madam Chu assumed that Chu Jinyao was unwilling and continued to advise her, “The first month is about face. Rather than letting the prince seek novelty elsewhere, wouldn’t it be better if you suggested it yourself? It would make you seem generous. If one of your maids can keep him in your chambers, it would still count as him staying with you. Take some medicine to strengthen your body, and if you get pregnant with a royal grandson, all the better.”
From Old Madam Chu’s perspective, she was genuinely trying to help Chu Jinyao. Chu Jinyao understood that, as the crown princess, suggesting concubines was a practical strategy.
But just imagining the scenario Old Madam Chu described made her feel utterly disgusted. There were already four women stationed by the empress, and now her own family was pushing her in the same direction.
Chu Jinyao had grown up in a monogamous environment. In her village, it was difficult enough for people to marry a wife, let alone take concubines. She had seen plenty of couples bicker and argue, but they always supported each other in the end. She didn’t appreciate the upper-class practice of voluntarily offering concubines and then being labeled as jealous and unvirtuous if one didn’t. But she was married to the crown prince.
Chu Jinyao thought it over carefully and made up her mind. She wouldn’t suggest it, but if the prince wanted it, then she would comply.
This was what she had decided before entering the palace: she would follow her role, avoiding jealousy and resentment, and at the very least maintain her dignity in the palace.
With her decision made, she raised her hand to stop Madam Chu. “Grandmother, I understand these principles. However, the royal family values legitimate heirs. Moreover, as the crown princess, I must listen to His Highness’s wishes. If he hasn’t brought it up, it would be presumptuous for me to act on my own, and it might displease him.”
Old Madam Chu didn’t take this seriously, chuckling as she replied, “What man wouldn’t be happy if concubines were brought to him?”
…Well, Chu Jinyao also thought that probably wouldn’t happen, but since it concerned her personally, she stubbornly insisted, “His Highness is not an ordinary person. Can we apply common sense to him?”
Old Madam Chu was stumped, and Madam Zhao, who had been silent for a long time, couldn’t help but interject, “If she doesn’t want to, then let’s wait. There’s no rush for something like this.”
Chu Jinyao was surprised to hear Madam Zhao speak up for her. Since Chu Jinmiao had been sent away, Madam Zhao hadn’t spoken to her for a long time.
Madam Zhao, herself having suffered from the consequences of concubines, probably understood Chu Jinyao’s feelings all too well.
However, too much time had passed, and the relationship between Madam Zhao and Chu Jinyao had become so strained that when Madam Zhao suddenly stepped in, Chu Jinyao didn’t know how to respond. Seeing the situation tense up, Duan Yinghua quickly laughed and said, “The crown prince and crown princess really seem to have a good relationship.”
The older women in the room followed suit, “Indeed, look how the crown princess immediately speaks up for His Highness. In her eyes, no one compares to the crown prince.”
New brides were often teased, and even the crown princess wasn’t exempt. Fortunately, this lighthearted banter helped ease the earlier tension.
It was getting late, and a maid soon entered to announce that the meal was ready. Qin Yi had been held up by the Marquis of Changxing at the front, while Chu Jinyao ate with the women in the back courtyard. After dinner, the mood relaxed even further, and the conversation became more open. Chu Jinyao took this opportunity to quietly ask Old Madam Chu about Chu Jinxian’s pregnancy.
Chu Jinxian had been married for over two years, but unfortunately, had difficulty conceiving. She had finally become pregnant recently. Fortunately, she had married her cousin, who knew her well, and with her grandmother’s support, her mother-in-law hadn’t given her any trouble. Now that Chu Jinyao was the crown princess, with her powerful in-laws behind her, the Zhao family wouldn’t dare criticize Chu Jinxian. But even with strong family backing, a woman’s value was tied to her ability to have children. Chu Jinyao was genuinely happy for her sister.
While they were talking, footsteps suddenly echoed from outside. When Chu Jinyao heard the uniform steps, she immediately stood up. A maid rushed in to announce, “Madam, Your Ladyship, His Highness the Crown Prince has arrived!”
Madam Chu glared at the maid, “You have no manners! Didn’t you see the crown princess is here? How could you not put her first when announcing His Highness?”
The maid, realizing her mistake, hurriedly bowed to apologize to Chu Jinyao. Chu Jinyao didn’t scold the frightened girl, simply saying, “It’s fine,” before quickly stepping outside. “Your Highness, why are you here?”
Qin Yi had already entered the hallway, making his way along the veranda. Chu Jinyao hurried to meet him. He took her hand apologetically, “I just received an urgent message from Wenhua Hall. Something needs my attention.”
Chu Jinyao understood, “If His Highness has important matters to attend to, of course, those come first. I’m fine.”
Qin Yi felt guilty. Today was Chu Jinyao’s return visit to her family, and he had hoped to stay with her longer. “I’m sorry to have to leave you. Do you want to come with me, or would you like to stay a bit longer?”
“I’ll go with you.”
Qin Yi had deliberately phrased his question so that staying would seem more appealing, but to his surprise, Chu Jinyao immediately chose to leave with him. His heart softened, and he squeezed her hand gently, “You don’t have to push yourself. If you want to stay longer, I’ll send someone to fetch you later.”
“No, it’s fine. I’ll go wherever His Highness goes.”
Qin Yi, moved, replied softly, “Alright.”
By now, the marquis and the other women had gathered, watching the interaction between the couple. While it was customary for a wife to prioritize her husband after marriage, they couldn’t help but feel that it was a bit extreme for the crown prince to whisk their daughter away with just a few words.
The women were shocked by how naturally Chu Jinyao reached out for Qin Yi and how unreservedly he held her hand in return. Among nobles, it was expected that the husband and wife show respect and distance in public, but Qin Yi clearly didn’t care about these conventions.
Before anyone could fully process what they had just seen, Chu Jinyao quickly bowed to her grandmother and said, “Grandmother, His Highness has official duties, so I will accompany him back.”
Madam Zhao, surprised, asked, “So soon?” Old Madam Chu, however, had already recovered from her initial shock and calmly said, “A married woman should follow her husband. Go ahead, don’t delay His Highness.”
Chu Jinyao offered a final bow to her family as an apology for her sudden departure. Now that she was the crown princess, none of her elders dared to fully accept her bow. They all rose slightly to avoid it. After her goodbyes, Chu Jinyao turned and walked briskly to join Qin Yi, who was waiting in the hallway.
After they left, Madam Yan, watching them depart, clicked her tongue, “It seems the crown prince really does treat Fifth Young Lady well. He could have just sent a message, but he came to fetch her personally.”
Old Madam Chu remained calm, deep in thought. She didn’t scold her daughter-in-law for speaking out of turn but instead lightly reminded, “It’s not ‘Fifth Young Lady’ anymore. It’s ‘Crown Princess’.”
Qin Yi escorted Chu Jinyao back to the Ciqing Palace before hurrying off to Wenhua Hall. The Ciqing Palace and Wenhua Hall were quite close to each other; after exiting the main hall of Ciqing Palace, crossing the corridor, and passing through a gate, one would find the imperial pharmacy. Behind the pharmacy was Wenhua Hall.
Chu Jinyao looked at the bright red decorations in the palace and couldn’t help but feel a sense of relief. It had only been a few days, but returning from the Marquis of Changxing’s residence to Ciqing Palace gave her a sense of relaxation and belonging.
With Qin Yi busy, and having already visited the Empress earlier that morning, Chu Jinyao found herself with nothing to do. She wandered around the Ciqing Palace and decided to rearrange some of the decor. Since she would be living here for a long time, every tree and plant in the palace should be arranged to her liking.
But before making any big changes, she needed to deal with a few people first.
Chu Jinyao’s most pressing challenge was dealing with the spies from the Empress. She had worked so hard to maintain a clueless, innocent act in front of the Empress, and if any of the spies in her palace reported back, it would all be for nothing.
After changing out of her elaborate embroidered dress from the homecoming, Chu Jinyao sticked into a simple red everyday gown. Sitting down on the heated couch by the window, she told Linglong, “I’m a bit tired from leaving the palace today. Call Erxue in to chat with me.”
Now that they were alone, Chu Jinyao lowered her voice and discussed the plan they had previously arranged. Linglong quickly understood, though she was slightly puzzled. “Your Highness, Erxue is quite clever. If you want to manipulate someone, why not choose Erhua? Erhua is arrogant and impulsive. If you elevate her, she will surely offend many people. Once someone sabotages her, you could step in, punish the culprit, and rid yourself of Erhua. That would be killing two birds with one stone. On the other hand, Erxue is the smartest of the four, and this scheme may not work as well on her.”
Chu Jinyao smiled and said, “If we choose Erhua, the first round will go smoothly, but afterward, only the smart ones will remain, and it will be harder to get rid of them.” She glanced at Linglong and continued, “Even when using others to do the dirty work, the tool needs to be sharp and long-lasting.”
Linglong mulled over this and seemed to grasp the reasoning. She respectfully bowed and said, “Understood, Your Highness. I will fetch Erxue.”
Chu Jinyao sat comfortably on the couch, looking over the fabric patterns. The New Year was approaching, and the Imperial Household Department had sent over many rolls of fabric along with a thick stack of pattern designs. The eunuch in charge had mentioned that if Chu Jinyao liked any of the designs, she could send them back, and the palace’s embroiderers would immediately start work on her gowns.
Chu Jinyao carefully examined each design. The items from the palace were indeed exceptional—vibrant, well-proportioned, and elegant in their craftsmanship. She separated out her favorite patterns, planning to take a second look later. This year, she not only had to prepare her own New Year outfits but also take care of Qin Yi’s wardrobe.
Chu Jinyao was so engrossed in her task that she didn’t notice Erxue had been standing and bowing before her for a long time. Realizing this, Chu Jinyao inwardly sighed, feeling as if she had inadvertently become one of those harsh mistresses who forced their servants to remain in bowing positions for extended periods. Picking up her teacup, she casually said, “Stand up.”
Erxue finally straightened, having been in a half-kneeling position for quite some time, which was undoubtedly exhausting, though she didn’t show any discomfort. Chu Jinyao silently admired Erxue’s composure. The maid probably thought Chu Jinyao was intentionally testing her, but in truth, Chu Jinyao hadn’t noticed. Still, there was no point in explaining now. Let them believe what they wanted.
Chu Jinyao beckoned Erxue closer, “You’ve been by my side for some time now, but I haven’t had the chance to talk with you properly. With no one else around, let me speak plainly: out of the four of you, I appreciate you the most. ‘Erxue’ is a fitting name—smart and pure, like snow.”
Erxue’s eyes flashed with caution, and she quickly responded, “This servant is unworthy of such praise.”
“Why not? Beauty is subjective, but intelligence is undeniable. It’s rare to meet someone like you. I’ve noticed that my dowry staff is lacking, so I’d like you to be in charge of overseeing my jewelry from now on.”
In the inner palace, the head maids were assigned specific duties. If Erxue were promoted, she would no longer have to do menial tasks and would instead serve inside the main chambers. Being entrusted with the crown princess’s jewelry was a high honor among palace servants.
The other maids in the room immediately showed signs of envy, while Erxue, however, wasn’t pleased and instead tried to refuse. “Your Highness, this servant is clumsy and unworthy of such an important task. Linglong is much more suitable for the role.”
Linglong, who had just entered to replace the hot water, smiled at Erxue’s words. “Don’t sell yourself short. If you’re clumsy, what does that make the rest of us? The crown princess is giving you this responsibility out of trust. You should accept it and do your best not to disappoint her.”
“Exactly,” Chu Jinyao added with a smile. “I’m recognizing your talent. Someone as capable and intelligent as you should be put in a position where you can shine. Wasting such talent would be a shame. It’s settled then. Starting tomorrow, you’ll assist me with my morning dressing.”
Chu Jinyao made the decision final, leaving Erxue with no choice but to accept. Although she was extremely reluctant, she had no way to refuse.
This was the nature of power: even if Erxue sensed that something was amiss, she couldn’t decline the offer and had no choice but to follow the path Chu Jinyao had laid out for her.
Word of Chu Jinyao’s decision to elevate Erxue quickly spread. The other three women who had been sent along with Erxue immediately darkened their expressions. Out of the four, Erxue was the smartest and most cautious. Each had her own personality and beauty, and privately, none of them were particularly close. But in key moments, they all followed Erxue’s lead. Knowing they had been sent by the Empress and that their position was precarious, they had united in their distrust of Chu Jinyao. Erxue was the glue that held them together.
Now, hearing that Erxue had been chosen to serve the crown princess personally, the others were livid. Erhua, the most outspoken of the four, was the first to voice her displeasure. “No wonder she’s been telling us to lie low and not make any moves toward the crown prince these past few days. I wondered why she was saying that. It turns out she had her own plans!”
The four women shared a room, and when Erxue entered and heard these words, her face turned pale. She reached out to pull Erhua aside. “It’s not like that. Please, sit down and let me explain.”
Erhua angrily shook off Erxue’s hand and glared at her. “Explain? You’ve been fooling us this whole time. Why should we believe you now?”
After saying this, Erhua stormed out, leaving Erxue standing there, pale and stunned. The other two women exchanged glances before sighing. The oldest, Erfeng, said, “I’ll go after her,” and left the room. Eryue lingered for a moment longer before making her own excuses to leave.
Alone, Erxue let out a long, weary sigh.She now understood what her mistress, the crown princess, was trying to do. But even knowing this, there was nothing she could do to stop it. Even if she risked her life to report back to the Empress, what would she say?
The crown princess merely wished to promote her, even giving her a chance to be in the presence of the crown prince. What would the Empress think upon hearing this? She would probably commend the crown princess for being so accommodating.
Killing without drawing blood—such was the power of the crown princess.
After taking this first step, Chu Jinyao calmly returned to choosing patterns for her clothes. It was a task she genuinely enjoyed—thinking only of style and preference, not worrying about cost or time. This year, she was even more motivated since she had to choose patterns for Qin Yi’s outfits as well.
At around dusk, Qin Yi returned. Hearing his arrival, Chu Jinyao set the patterns aside and went to meet him. As soon as she saw him approaching, she could feel the cold air that clung to him.
“Your Highness, you’re back! Was today’s matter troublesome?”
“Not really.” Qin Yi handed his outer robe to the eunuch behind him and pulled Chu Jinyao close as they walked inside. “It wasn’t anything major, but it did disrupt your return visit.”
“That’s no trouble at all.” Chu Jinyao leaned against him naturally as they sat down. “The Marquis of Changxing’s estate isn’t going anywhere. I can visit any time. What’s more important is that we handle your matters first. We left together, so of course, we should return together.”
“Good,” Qin Yi said with a smile. “From now on, we’ll always do things together—coming and going.”
The phrase “together” brought a smile to Chu Jinyao’s face. They said that beauties looked even more radiant under lamplight, and under the soft glow, Chu Jinyao’s delicate skin seemed almost translucent, like fine porcelain. Qin Yi gazed at her for a moment before reaching out impulsively. “You’re looking much better these days.”
Chu Jinyao dodged his hand, pouting, “I’m not a child anymore. Stop pinching my cheeks.”
“How old can you be?” Qin Yi retorted. “When I was leading troops in battle on the frontier, you were still at home crying.”
Chu Jinyao knew he was referring to the time they had first met. Well, at least the first time she had seen him. Heaven only knew how long he had been watching her before that.
“I only cried that one time, and you happened to see it. I didn’t cry at other times.”
Qin Yi laughed. “You might fool others, but you can’t fool me.”
Chu Jinyao puffed out her cheeks, trying to argue, but couldn’t find the words. Still, she didn’t want to lose the upper hand. “Hmph, you still dare bring that up? If I hadn’t been crying so hard that day, what were you planning to do?”
Sure enough, the mention of that day silenced Qin Yi. Chu Jinyao realized she had finally gained the upper hand and was both surprised and smug. Seeing her triumph, Qin Yi couldn’t help but reach for her cheek again. This time, however, Chu Jinyao caught his hand before he could pinch her. She glared at him, frustrated that he hadn’t learned his lesson.
Qin Yi, however, was unhurried. He calmly watched her, a smile playing on his lips as he slowly said, “I remember someone who, despite my help and multiple warnings, never realized who I was. And on the day she finally saw me, she threw something at me from the balcony.”
Chu Jinyao’s confidence faltered. Qin Yi continued, “At that time, I was seriously injured, and even though I risked revealing my identity to warn her, she didn’t recognize me. Tell me, isn’t that the very definition of ungratefulness?”
Feeling guilty for not recognizing him back then, Chu Jinyao couldn’t refute this accusation. “How does that make me ungrateful?”
Qin Yi just looked at her, his eyes reflecting the flickering candlelight, smiling without saying a word. Flustered, Chu Jinyao said, “But I have to maintain the dignity of the crown princess! If you keep pinching my face, how will I command respect from the palace servants?”
“There are no servants here,” Qin Yi pointed out, gesturing around the room. “The palace staff are clever. As soon as I brought you inside, they all left.”
Chu Jinyao sighed, resigned. “Fine, do what you want. But not in front of others!”
Qin Yi, satisfied, got what he wanted. What’s more, this little creature even leaned forward voluntarily, offering her face to his hand. Qin Yi wasn’t just content with a simple pinch or two, though. Soon enough, Chu Jinyao was breathless. “We haven’t even had dinner yet… and people are still outside!”
Eventually, she stopped worrying about the people outside altogether.
