Spring in the Hall of Paintings

“Mother, it’s useless to be angry. Uncle’s title and promotion have already been decided. You should try to be more at ease. It’s Aunt’s role that matters most. Don’t offend her easily.”

Jing Yi tried to persuade her angry mother. There were broken teacup pieces still scattered on the floor. When Aunt Rongxian entered, she had thrown the teacup in frustration. Leaning on the kang table with her elbow, she rubbed her forehead and said, “How could I dare offend her? Even if my good second sister-in-law’s husband didn’t get a title, I still wouldn’t dare offend her. I’ve come to understand, the smartest person in the Tong family is her. Daughter, I’m just regretting that we made a wrong move; if we had settled the marriage earlier, it would have been better.”

“You’re so confused. How could Aunt marry Sixth Sister to Brother? With Sixth Sister’s looks and character, Brother couldn’t marry her, even if they were in-laws. Moreover, you just subtly showed some intention, and Aunt… Mother, I advise you to find another suitable girl for Brother.”

Aunt Rongxian sighed and said, “How could I still be thinking about your Sixth Sister? I’m referring to the second branch’s illegitimate daughter, Yun Yi. The Old Madam wants Jing Hui to marry Yun Yi. I hesitated before because I didn’t want to make your brother suffer, but now it seems… sigh. The Old Madam was right; she had already predicted that the future of the Tong family would depend on the second branch.”

Jing Yi thought for a moment, then leaned closer to Rongxian and whispered, “Grandmother said that? Why didn’t you tell me earlier, Mother?”

“I… I didn’t want to make it obvious that I was planning for your brother to marry an illegitimate daughter. Who would have thought that Second Brother suddenly achieved a great feat? And saved the Emperor!”

“Did Grandmother discuss this with Aunt? What did she say? Even though Fifth Sister Yun Yi is an illegitimate daughter, she still has to participate in the selection.”

Rongxian nodded. “Yes, it’s because she’s a candidate for the selection that I thought I could delay it and consider things further. But now… sigh, my second sister-in-law probably wouldn’t agree anymore. Yun Xin’s marriage will also be helpful.”

“That may not be the case.” Jing Yi smiled confidently, resting her head on Rongxian’s shoulder and speaking in a lowered voice. “Mother, before I didn’t understand the details of the selection process. But after hearing from Grandma Yang, I finally realized the truth. The selection is based on family background. No matter how talented or beautiful someone is, if their family background isn’t good, they won’t have a good outcome. At best, they’ll end up as a concubine. As for our family, Brother already has the title of a Light Carriage Cavalry Officer, which is decent. Yun Yi and Yun Wei will both be in the same selection, and even if Uncle has a lot of influence, it’s not certain that both of them will marry into high-status families. Moreover, there’s also Fourth Sister Yun Lan, whose reputation is much more prominent than Yun Wei’s.”

“What does reputation matter? The selection chooses based on family background, not reputation,” Rongxian frowned. Jing Yi smiled and continued, “Let me finish, Mother. If the Emperor truly values Uncle, he wouldn’t let Yun Wei marry too high. The Emperor wouldn’t want to alienate such a loyal person like Uncle among the princes. Plus, with Grandma’s affection, Third Uncle, though not as accomplished as Second Uncle, is still capable, so…”

“Are you saying that Yun Lan will marry higher, but isn’t she…?” Rongxian’s eyes brightened, grabbing Jing Yi and saying, “Lan girl, Lan girl, she’s found a match, she’s set her sights on someone.”

“Mother, this is our opportunity. If the Fourth Prince seeks to marry Fourth Sister, and even Second Uncle’s legitimate daughter, Yun Wei, hasn’t married into a high-status family, how could Yun Yi, the illegitimate daughter, surpass Yun Wei? I suspect that before the Emperor personally reviews the selection, Yun Yi will be eliminated, and that will be Brother’s chance. If Mother can get Grandmother to make the decision, Second Aunt won’t be able to say much, and Brother’s marriage will be settled. Then, we’ll be even more closely related to Second Uncle’s family, and my future will be brighter as well.”

Rongxian looked at her daughter as though she didn’t recognize her, “You… you…”

“Don’t be surprised, Mother. I’ve just learned more and seen things more clearly. What Grandma Yang taught me was really good. I’m no longer lost in books, lamenting over the sad autumn moon. If Sixth Sister can shine alongside the extremely talented Yun Lan, why couldn’t I? I’m no worse than them.”

“Jing Yi, are you still thinking about Prince Gong’s family and the Qing’e Prince? From what the Old Madam hinted, the Qing’e Prince has set his sights on Yun Wei.”

“Mother, I’ve never liked Qing’e. At first, I only thought he was suitable, with the right status. In my heart, I’ve also set my sights on one person. If I plan it well, I wouldn’t hesitate to marry him using Second Uncle’s power, even if it’s just as a secondary concubine, I would be willing.”

“Jing Yi, how can you be like Lan girl? Do you think becoming a prince’s secondary concubine is so easy? Even though it’s called a secondary concubine in the official titles, in reality, it’s just a noble concubine. You have to live under the first wife’s rule, always attending to her, showing respect every day. Among so many princes and nobles in the Qing Dynasty, I’ve never heard of a secondary concubine daring to act disrespectfully toward the first wife, even if the first wife doesn’t have a son. The Zongrenfu (Imperial Clan Court) is responsible for managing those royal descendants.”

“Mother, I understand what you’re saying. If I could be the legitimate first wife, who would willingly settle for being a concubine?”

Rongxian kept expressing her concerns, but Jing Yi answered calmly, her gaze becoming even more determined. She couldn’t forget the gentle eyes or the warm, yet not overwhelming, hands that had handed her the handkerchief. Due to Rongxuan’s merit in saving the Emperor and the prince, along with other circumstances, Eighth Prince Yinti no longer seemed so unattainable.

Not to mention Jing Yi’s obsession with the Eighth Prince in her heart, the second branch was about to rise and shine over the entire Tong family. As for Guo Luoluo’s slight sadness, she could not show it outside. When she returned to her room, her face darkened, scaring the maids and servants into silence, afraid to anger Guo Luoluo.

“Mother, you should think more clearly. If Second Uncle becomes more esteemed, it will also be good for Father and for the Tong family.”

Yun Lan smiled and waved for the maids to leave, using her eyes to silently warn them not to say too much. The maids and servants were afraid of Yun Lan, even though she was usually kind, because when it came to managing people, she was highly skilled. Guo Luoluo was fierce, but her wisdom and attention to detail were slightly lacking, so some maids who had been attending to Rongzhi had been quietly removed by Yun Lan.

“Why does your father… why doesn’t he have the same luck as the second branch? Your Second Uncle is so fortunate—saving the Emperor and the prince! The Emperor has always been generous to his subjects; what great favor must this be?”

“Enough, Mother.” Yun Lan put her arm around Guo Luoluo’s shoulder and said in a soft, coaxing tone, “Father is fine, isn’t he? With Grandmother around, even if Second Aunt becomes more esteemed, she won’t dare go too far. And who doesn’t know that Grandmother favors you most among all the daughters-in-law? Besides, don’t we still have a daughter?”

“Yun Lan, my dear, are you sure you won’t change your mind? Being a secondary concubine isn’t that easy.” Guo Luoluo softly advised her daughter. Yun Lan shook her head firmly and confidently replied, “Mother, I won’t let anyone suppress me forever. You must remember, I’m marrying the Fourth Prince. He will… He will… In any case, Mother, I won’t regret it. You’ll understand later. Even if I face some humiliation in title, he will love me more. In the future, all of this will be worth it.”

“Not good, not good, Madam!” A maid rushed in, flustered, and said, “The eldest son of the First Madam suddenly developed a fever and began vomiting, and now he’s unconscious!”