After I Was Chosen as His Concubine - Chapter 3

After the young lord said those things, I relaxed. If I was destined to be a concubine, life would be easier if my master cared for me.

People adapt quickly. Before long, I accepted it. I had escaped my aunt’s home and lived well in Madam’s courtyard. I could survive as the young lord’s concubine too.

Still, whenever he came to pay his respects or dine with Madam, I grew shy and continued avoiding him. As we moved about, I sometimes felt his gaze settle on me.

My new status changed life in the main courtyard. I was only a future concubine, but a sparrow became something else once it perched beside the young lord. That was the way of the world: when those above scattered the smallest favor, everyone below fought for it like fish for food, or how else could the exalted display their worth?

The senior maids who had once joked freely with me watched my attitude with narrowed eyes. I begged them not to distance themselves. “I have not even left this courtyard. We grew up together and shared every cake between us. Without you, I could never have reached today.”

Only then did they treat me as before.

The young lord already had a first-rank maid named Ruilu who had also been promised the position of future concubine. Sold into the household at six or seven, she later entered his courtyard and managed matters impeccably. She was its foremost servant.

Since my arrangement became known, she had disliked me. She said nothing outright, but whenever we met, her smile never reached her eyes.

My friend Ning’ai said that one day Ruilu and I would both serve him. Ruilu would not dare offend the principal wife, but she could certainly fight me. She had served him since childhood; I was Madam’s gift. By reputation, mine was the stronger claim.

I knew that, but it still left me uncomfortable.

Ning’ai had once been called You Ke before receiving a new name. The daughter of estate servants, she already had a match arranged and only awaited the Second Young Lady’s engagement before requesting permission to marry.

Both our futures had been decided. Facing each other then, we could not help feeling desolate.

The Second Young Lady married no ordinary man, but the exalted Fifth Prince, who had been created Prince Jing while still young.

People in the estate often said Prince Jing and House Xinan were close. For two years I helped prepare seasonal gifts, and Madam always included a share for Prince Jing’s residence.

The Second Young Lady treated me kindly. Madam’s own legitimate daughter, she was gentle by nature. When she came each day to pay her respects, she always spoke warmly if she saw me.

Before marrying, she called me to her courtyard. The young lord was her only brother, she said, and once I was at his side, she hoped I would care for and advise him. Then she gave me a pair of jade bracelets.

I sincerely wished such a good woman every happiness in the imperial family.

After her wedding came the young lord’s marriage. A household could hardly hold two grand celebrations in one year, so they would choose a bride now and marry the following year.

I privately wondered who the future young madam would be. Madam’s niece seemed a good choice. She visited often, had a pleasant disposition, and was friendly with all the maids.

Ruilu must have felt the same uncertainty.

When I heard they had apparently chosen the second daughter of the Vice Minister of Revenue, a young woman famous for virtue, I sighed in relief. Yet before the betrothal gifts were exchanged, a senior member of her family died. She had to observe three years of mourning, and the match was abandoned.

Madam next favored the eldest daughter of Commander Liang Haobo.

At the news, I first froze, then grew worried. One maid had a relative serving in the Liang household. Their eldest young lady, she said, could not tolerate so much as a grain of sand in her eye.