Oops! The Black Lotus Can't Be a Female Supporting Character - Chapter 4
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- Chapter 4 - Great Jing Dynasty
Chapter 4: Great Jing Dynasty
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“Pa da!“
The sudden sound of something hitting the ground interrupted Grand Madam’s words.
In the room just beyond the wall of the main hall, a blue-and-white porcelain teapot overturned on a delicately carved square table, spilling tea, which trickled along the edges of the table. A wooden fruit platter had also fallen to the floor, and golden loquats rolled around…
The water in the teapot had just boiled, and the boiling sound came from the direction of the kitchen, a soft and low hum.
“Madam, did you burn yourself with the tea?” the senior maid asked with concern, anxiously supporting Madam Yin.
Earlier, Madam Yin had suddenly felt dizzy, accidentally knocked over the teapot, and bumped her elbow into the fruit platter…
“I’m fine,” Madam Yin whispered, her hand on her forehead covered in cold sweat. Her face was as pale as paper, and she swayed slightly, looking as if she might faint at any moment.
“Mother.”
Xiao Yanfei went over to support Madam Yin’s other arm and, together with the senior maid, helped her to another chair not far away. At the same time, she discreetly checked Madam Yin’s pulse.
She had studied clinical medicine and had taken a few years of traditional Chinese medicine out of interest.
Based on Madam Yin’s pulse and her current condition—pale complexion, sweating, trembling hands, and dizziness—Xiao Yanfei made a rough diagnosis, “Mother, have you not had your breakfast yet?”
Madam Yin was slightly taken aback, surprised as she met Xiao Yanfei’s clear eyes and nodded.
“Do we have any sugar here?” Xiao Yanfei looked around.
“Yes, we do.” A young maid immediately brought over a lotus leaf plate filled with rose candy.
Xiao Yanfei told Madam Yin, “Have one, and suck on it.”
Madam Yin likely had low blood sugar, and having a piece of sugar while eating something would help.
Madam Yin gazed silently at Xiao Yanfei, her eyes deep like a still pool.
She recalled what Niang Jin had reported yesterday, “Madam, it seems that Second Miss added green calyx flowers to the incense she burned in her room…”
Everyone in the mansion knew that Young Master Ye couldn’t stand the scent of green calyx flowers; that year, he had almost lost his life because of it.
This illegitimate daughter had always been introverted, not much of a talker. Whenever she saw Madam Yin, she would lower her head and appear shy and delicate, blushing like a delicate flower, swaying in the breeze.
Will she dare to tamper with the incense?
Madam Yin slowly raised her hand and picked up a piece of rose candy, placing it in her mouth.
A sweet fragrance filled her mouth.
Xiao Yanfei said gently, “Mother, take a rest, and you’ll be fine.”
Madam Yin took the handkerchief handed to her by her maidservant and gently wiped the cold sweat from her forehead.
As the rose candy in her mouth slowly melted, she found that the feeling of dizziness and weakness gradually subsided, though her limbs still felt weak.
When Madam Yin had recovered a bit, Xiao Yanfei kindly reminded her, “Mother, you’ve always had a deficiency of both qi and blood. In the future, you must not skip your breakfast.”
According to traditional Chinese medicine, low blood sugar is caused by a deficiency of both qi and blood.
“How did you know?!” Madam Yin‘s senior maidservant, Ying Luo, almost blurted out. How did Second Miss know that the madam skipped breakfast and had a deficiency of both qi and blood?
“I made a note of it,” Madam Yin replied, looking at Xiao Yanfei with a calm expression. “Yanfei, are you studying medical books?”
“Long-term illness comes with experience,” Xiao Yanfei replied vaguely.
The original owner suffered from a severe cold when she was twelve years old. At that time, there was an epidemic in the capital, and many people had died. There were rumors in the Huo mansion that the original owner had contracted the epidemic. During that time, everyone avoided the original owner‘s courtyard for fear of infection.
Later, it was Concubine Cui who considered the bigger picture and proposed to send the original owner to the countryside to recover. The night before the original owner left the mansion, Concubine Cui held her and cried, saying that there were rumors in the mansion, and if the eldest daughter and the third young master were infected with the epidemic, the madam might blame the original owner. She was just a concubine and couldn’t protect the original host, so she had no choice but to send the original owner away.
The original owner stayed away for more than two years until she returned to the Huo mansion in May of last year.
Madam Yin reminded her that she’d better buy some medical books. It was both to show off and to genuinely study traditional Chinese medicine, as the medicines in the first-aid kit wouldn’t last for two years.
Xiao Yanfei silently praised herself for being vigilant about her well-being.
“Madam, would you like some tea?” Ying Luo served Madam Yin a warm cup of tea and couldn’t help but steal a few more glances at Xiao Yanfei, who was usually quiet and gentle, but now she was reading medical books.
Madam Yin took a few sips of the warm tea, and her pale lips gradually turned rosy.
Xiao Yanfei said again, “Mother, have another piece of sweet pastry to ease your stomach. Don’t eat too quickly.”
Madam Yin picked up a piece of delicious jujube and yam cake, eating it slowly, savoring each bite.
The maidservants on the side started cleaning up the fallen fruit and loquats, and soon, the room became neat and tidy.
After eating a piece of pastry and drinking half a cup of warm tea, Madam Yin spoke casually to Xiao Yanfei, “I remember I also have two medical books at my place, gathering dust like yours. Later, I’ll have someone send the books and pine nut candy to you.”
“Pine nut candy?” Xiao Yanfei was puzzled.
Madam Yin chuckled softly, “Your brother Ye said he brought you pine nut candy from Jin Yu Tang yesterday but accidentally spilled it. He has been murmuring about going to Jin Yu Tang to buy you candy since yesterday.”
Thinking about the little guy, Xiao Yanfei’s eyes also showed a faint smile, “Mother, tell brother Ye that when he has some free time, my body will surely be fully recovered, and I’ll take him to buy it then.”
The young girl appeared calm, her clear and pure eyes resembling a clear sky, without any impurities.
“Madam,” Mama Wang from the main hall walked in, curtsied, and asked politely, “Grand Madam asked this old servant to inquire about the tea and snacks. Are they prepared?”
This implies that Grand Madam and the Madam of Duke Weiguo have finished their discussion.
Madam Yin had just finished her second piece of pastry and wiped her mouth with a handkerchief. She felt her previously empty stomach warming up, not only regaining some strength in her limbs but also stopping the cold sweat from appearing.
Feeling her recovery, Madam Yin got up and returned to the main hall with Xiao Yanfei. Ying Luo and the other two maidservants behind them brought in several plates of delicate snacks.
No matter how good the snacks were, the Madam of Duke Weiguo had not taken a single bite. She exchanged a few pleasantries and then took her leave.
Madam Yin said, “I’ll see the Madam off.”
Once Madam Yin and the Madam of Duke Weiguo left, Xiao Yanfei was casually dismissed by Grand Madam.
Xiao Yanfei complied with a lowered head and left the room.
Even if she didn’t hear what they discussed privately, she had a rough idea in her mind. The Grand Madam must have a reason for inviting her over, but what could a lowly concubine’s daughter have that the esteemed Madam of Weiguo would be interested in?
Xiao Yanfei couldn’t figure it out as she returned to Moonrise Pavilion. Mama Sun was nowhere to be seen.
She headed to the eastern chamber directly.
In the eastern chamber, a six-panel screen made of sour branch wood with intricate floral carvings separated the room into two sections. One was an inner chamber, and the other was a small study. Three tall bookshelves stood against the wall, neatly arranged with various books, and the air was filled with a strong aroma of books.
The original owner enjoyed reading books, especially history, and had collected a complete set of “Records of the Grand Historian,” “Records of the Three Kingdoms,” “General Mirror for Aid in Government,” and more.
Xiao Yanfei scanned the books on the shelf and quickly pulled out a book titled “Compilation of Historical Anecdotes” from the left shelf.
This “Compilation of Historical Anecdotes” was written by a scholar of this dynasty and was known to be well-versed in the history of the dynasty. The book contained solid historical facts as well as various rumors and anecdotes.
This book was a birthday gift given to the original owner by the Yin family on her twelfth birthday, but she couldn’t finish reading it and was sent to the countryside for a “short stay” by Concubine Cui, so the book remained here.
Xiao Yanfei carried the book back to her room and began reading it slowly.
The book was written in archaic classical Chinese without punctuation, making it look like an ancient script. Fortunately, she had the memories of the original owner, so reading it was not too challenging.
She focused intently on it for over half an hour and only managed to read about one-third of it, gaining some basic understanding of this dynasty.
The Great Jing Dynasty was a historical period that had never existed before.
During the final years of the previous dynasty, regional warlords ruled independently, and the imperial court was corrupt, leading to widespread suffering. 65 years ago, the Emperor Tai Zu raised his banner in rebellion, attracting numerous heroes to join him. After over a decade of warfare, he finally unified the land and established the Great Jing Dynasty.
Among the founding nobility and officials of the Great Jing Dynasty, the position of Duke Weiguo’s residence was unrivaled.
The first generation Marquis of Weiguo, Gu Ran, followed the Emperor Tai Zu in the uprising and was one of the four founding nobles. Each successive Marquis of Weiguo was a talented military commander who helped the imperial court maintain stability and achieve military successes, becoming well-known throughout the Great Jing Dynasty.
After two generations of accumulation, the Great Jing Dynasty entered a period of prosperity during the reign of the late Emperor. Not only did it have vast territories and contented citizens, but it also thrived.
Hai Tang entered and served tea and snacks before quietly leaving.
The room was filled with the fragrance of tea.
Xiao Yanfei patiently continued to read, page by page, until she reached the pages about the current emperor, which she read more carefully.
During the late Emperor’s reign, Tang Hongzhao, the second son, was neither the eldest nor the legitimate heir. He held a lower position among the emperor’s sons and was married to Lady Gu from the Duke Weiguo’s household as his first empress.
Twenty-three years ago, the late Emperor fell seriously ill, and his health deteriorated. He decided to designate a crown prince. With the support of the Duke Weiguo’s residence, Tang Hongzhao won the competition for the throne and was proclaimed crown prince. He ascended the throne after the late Emperor’s passing.
Unfortunately, shortly after his ascension, Empress Gu fell seriously ill and passed away within a year. A year later, Consort Liu became the next empress, becoming the mother of the nation.
Xiao Yanfei held the book pages, paused for a moment, then flipped a few more pages. The following pages contained various rumors and anecdotes.
She was about to close the book when a particular paragraph in the lower right corner caught her attention. She gazed at it and said, “Huh?”
The author wrote a short anecdote about a scholar in a certain county.
This scholar, in his early twenties, showed great potential in his studies. However, after falling ill from a heavy rain, he underwent a sudden and drastic change in personality.
First, he insisted on marrying his wife’s dowry servant and publicly declared that she and his wife were “equally important.”
A few days later, he tried to forcefully marry his widowed sister-in-law, adamantly claiming that chastity was a feudal restraint and a decaying concept. His sister-in-law, feeling humiliated and angry, took her own life.
Afterward, the scholar remained quiet for several months.
It wasn’t until he failed the imperial examination that he took the family’s money and declared he would abandon his scholarly pursuits and enter business. He fervently proclaimed his intention to develop some kind of artillery, aiming for global dominance.
His family believed that the scholar had either gone mad or had been possessed by a demon. They reported him to the authorities, and he was ultimately burned alive.
Xiao Yanfei couldn’t help but swallow nervously and silently told herself that she needed to be discreet, cautious, and subtly influence those around her. She must not be mistaken for a demon by those in her vicinity.
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Translated By: Allthingsfluff