July of the 40th year of Kangxi's reign
Sitting in a small blue sedan chair, Yin Qingyi's face was full of bitterness. She had only transmigrated yesterday and learned that she had been betrothed to the Fourth Prince's mansion as a concubine. This morning, she was stuffed into this sedan chair with only two sets of clothes in a small bundle. The original owner of this body had only entered the palace through a minor selection and served by Consort De's side for two years, without any dowry or anything like that. Of course, what would a concubine have a dowry for? Yin Qingyi gave a self-deprecating smile.
As for why the original owner died, according to the memory, the original owner did not want to enter the prince's harem, but was powerless to resist. She cried all night and died suddenly. Yin Qingyi also died suddenly in modern times, so she entered her body. I have to say, what a damned fate!
The sedan chair swayed gently, and Yin Qingyi couldn't help but yawn. She had really stayed up all night last night. If she had known that staying up all night would result in her being transported to another world, she definitely wouldn't have stayed up. But Yin Qingyi roused herself and made sure her memories were clear, lest someone notice something was wrong and burn her up like some kind of demon.
The original owner was also named Yin Qingyi. She belonged to the Han Banner bondservants. Her father was a minor official. Her birth mother died early, leaving her and her brother to depend on their father for survival. She was pampered by her father from a young age. However, as a Han Banner bondservant, daughters of the family were required to enter the palace for selection. Of course, those with connections could be exempted by using their connections. But Yin Qingyi's family had no connections. So even though her father was reluctant to let her go, she still entered the palace as a maidservant. She thought that she could stay in the palace peacefully until she was twenty-five years old and then leave the palace. Who knew that only two years later, she was given to the Fourth Prince by Consort De.
In other people's eyes, being able to enter the Prince's mansion as a princess was an immense blessing. However, Yin Qingyi thought that this blessing was for those who wanted it. Being a princess sounded nice, but in reality, she was just a servant, albeit in a different way. Besides, the women in the Fourth Prince's mansion, though few in number, were all quite formidable; smiling to your face while stabbing you in the back was commonplace. She, a writer who only knew how to talk the talk, was truly incapable of real-world experience.
Wait a minute! This plot seems familiar. Before she transmigrated, she seemed to be writing a Qing Dynasty time-travel novel. However, the female protagonist in her novel didn't transmigrate from modern times; she transmigrated from the Ming Dynasty. She was a ruthless woman who killed the Fourth Prince and then ruled from behind the curtain. Could she be so unlucky as to transmigrate into her own book? If so, she really wouldn't live long. If she remembered correctly, her time would be around the time the female protagonist entered the palace. The female protagonist entered the palace in the 43rd year of the Kangxi Emperor's reign, which means she only had three years left to live...
While she was lost in thought, the blue sedan chair entered the Fourth Prince's mansion and arrived at a courtyard in the backyard.
"Princess, we've arrived. Please alight from the sedan chair." A woman's voice from outside pulled Yin Qingyi back to reality.
"Hmm." Yin Qingyi maintained the belief that the more she said, the more mistakes she would make, and had been observing and speaking less since morning. She simply responded softly, and then stepped out of the sedan chair after the curtain was drawn back.
"Greetings, Princess Yin! This old servant is the wet nurse of the Fujin (the Princess's wife). Today is your joyous occasion, and the Fujin says she will prepare a feast for you this evening so your courtyard can have a lively celebration." Although the wet nurse spoke respectfully, her arrogant attitude was utterly devoid of respect. Moreover, her gaze was particularly unfriendly when she saw Yin Qingyi's stunning face. Yin Qingyi's appearance was truly the kind that made one's eyes light up at first glance. Therefore, despite serving in Consort De's palace for two years, she remained a third-class palace maid, never having the opportunity to appear before Consort De. Consort De, in turn, would not allow her to appear, fearing that if the Emperor saw her, the palace would have another mistress! This might be one of the reasons why she was bestowed upon Yinzhen.
"This humble servant thanks Your Highness for the reward!" Yin Qingyi bowed gracefully towards the main courtyard.
"Also, these two are maids that the Fujin (principal wife) assigned to the princess, and this little eunuch is also for the princess. Princess, please take a look and see if they are suitable? If not, this old servant will go and change them for you." The old nanny was satisfied with Yin Qingyi's attitude and pointed to the two maids beside her.
"Of course I have no complaints about the people the Fujin gave me," Yin Qingyi said obediently, glancing at the three of them. Regardless of whether she liked them or not, she could only say she did. What right did a mere princess have to send back the people the Fujin had assigned?
"Well then, this old servant won't disturb you any longer. Oh, by the way, the Prince has left the capital with the Emperor, so you don't need to wait for me tonight, Princess." The old nanny, who was about to leave, said to Yin Qingyi as if she had suddenly remembered something.
"Yes, thank you for reminding me, Granny Xie." Yin Qingyi's expression remained calm, but her clenched hands betrayed her inner turmoil.
The old woman naturally saw Yin Qingyi's clenched hand, a mocking glint in her eyes, before turning and leaving—this time for real.
After the old woman left, Yin Qingyi entered her own courtyard. The courtyard was not big; it was even a bit small for a princess to live in. However, Yin Qingyi was quite satisfied. It was so comfortable to live alone.
"Princess, please bestow a name upon us." The three bowed respectfully to Yin Qingyi after she sat down.
"Let's name them. You two will be called Chunlan and Qiuju, and you—you'll be called Xiaojinzi." Yin Qingyi thought for a moment and named the three of them. She wouldn't suggest that they use their original names, nor would she bring her 21st-century ideas with her; only a fool would do that.
"Thank you for bestowing a name upon us, Princess!" The three of them showed joy on their faces. It was a good thing that their master had bestowed a name upon them. If their master did not bestow a name upon them, it meant that they were not favored by their master.
"When did you enter the manor? Do you know who lives in the backyard?" Although Yin Qingyi had a general idea, it was something she had written down, and it would differ from reality.
"Reporting to Your Highness, both Qiuju and I entered the household in the thirty-eighth year." Chunlan was a girl with a round face and round eyes, who looked very endearing.
"Then tell me." Yin Qingyi also liked this little girl. She looked to be only about fourteen years old, but she had already been serving in the manor for two years.
"Yes, Li Gege is currently the most favored in this mansion. Even the Fujin (Prince's wife) has to give her some respect. Next is the Fujin, and then Song Gege. However, the Prince doesn't like to go to her place. There's also Geng Gege, who entered the mansion last month. She's been here for over a month, and the Prince went on an inspection tour with the Emperor before she even entered, so..." Chunlan went through the women in the backyard. When she mentioned Geng Gege, she hesitated and glanced at Yin Qingyi, probably thinking that her own Gege was now in the mansion and the Prince was still not around.
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