My wife is a concubine - Chapter 11

As the year was ending, Aunt Xuan came to visit. She was always busy with house affairs, especially during the New Year season. Luckily, she had a few helpers to manage the work.

Bergman was curious wasn’t this kind of work supposed to be handled by the Cuifen Courtyard? But since the prince didn’t say anything and the chores weren’t her responsibility, she didn’t bother to ask.

Aunt Xuan said kindly, “The prince told me that the village stewards have sent their account books and reports for rewards and punishments. He wants you to start learning how to manage the household.”

Bergman was shocked and quickly waved her hands. “Oh no, there’s no need! I’m just a side concubine, not the mistress.”

Aunt Xuan smiled. “Don’t worry, it’s not difficult. I’ll teach you tomorrow.”

Bergman hesitated. “But managing the house is the job of the Cuifen Courtyard. I can’t take her place it wouldn’t be proper.”

Aunt Xuan shook her head. “The princess manages Cuifen Courtyard. But she doesn’t control Changle Courtyard. The prince said you’re in charge of Changle Courtyard’s affairs only, so it’s fine.”

Since it was only one courtyard, Bergman finally agreed. After all, everything in the palace had clear rules she just had to follow them. Still, she was nervous. She had to remember people’s names, their jobs, and their relationships. At home, she had always relied on a housekeeper. Now she had to do it herself it made her head hurt.

She looked at Aunt Xuan with pleading eyes. “Doesn’t Changle Courtyard already have someone managing it?”

Aunt Xuan laughed. “You’re the mistress here. It’s time you learn. If you’re unsure, just watch and learn for now.”

Bergman didn’t really want to, but she couldn’t refuse. Aunt Xuan was right—she had to start somewhere. “Okay,” she said reluctantly.

She told herself, “If monks could travel far and face all kinds of hardships to get scriptures, surely I can handle a few house chores.”

With Aunt Xuan’s guidance, she studied hard for three days. By then, she already understood most of how the Changle Courtyard worked, and Aunt Xuan praised her for learning quickly.

Meanwhile, there was good news Ke Nan’s greenhouse had produced lots of bean sprouts, and tiny green seedlings were sprouting from wooden boxes. The servants were amazed and came daily to admire them.

The prince ordered the workers to prepare to expand the planting once the frozen ground thawed. Shen Jie was surprised to eat fresh vegetables in winter—he almost finished an entire plate of cabbage.

Du Yu laughed and gave the last two pieces to Bergman. “You’re eating like you haven’t eaten in days!”

Shen Jie grinned. “Who said palace food was good? This fresh cabbage is amazing!”

He couldn’t help but notice the prince’s cold expression seemed to be melting a little since Bergman arrived.

Then Shen Jie said, “If we can grow vegetables in winter, the people in North Vietnam will have food all year. If we can grow them on a large scale next winter, even the nobles in Beijing will be jealous!”

Bergman’s eyes lit up. “Then why not make more wooden boxes and use more empty rooms to grow vegetables? We can supply the palace and sell the extra to nearby places before spring!”

Shen Jie was impressed. “That’s a great idea.”

Money was tight in North Vietnam, and the prince had been spending everything on building and helping the people. If they could make money from vegetables and dyes, it would help a lot. Shen Jie could almost hear the sound of gold coins rolling in.

Soon, everyone noticed that the atmosphere in Changle Courtyard had changed. The prince started visiting more often, at first for tea, then meals, then staying overnight. Eventually, he even moved some of his belongings there. Everyone whispered that the side concubine was now favored.

But others wondered how long it would last. No woman had ever been close to the prince before, not even the one in Cuifen Courtyard. Still, no one dared to gossip—it was too dangerous.

Despite her maid’s advice, the princess He Yanzhi decided to confront Bergman personally. She was furious that the side concubine hadn’t come to greet her properly, which was a serious insult in palace rules. She wanted to make Bergman “learn her place.”

She stormed to Chaoyang Courtyard to complain to the prince, convinced that Bergman was challenging her authority. She thought the prince would take her side.

But she didn’t realize, without the prince’s support, Bergman wouldn’t dare act that way at all.

When the princess arrived, the old servant Lao Jiu warned the prince, “Your Highness, the princess is here. Maybe something urgent has happened.”

The prince sighed but agreed to see her. He Yanzhi entered and bowed stiffly. It had been so long since she had seen him, too long. Looking at him now, she realized he was still handsome, calm, and distant as ever.

She suddenly felt unsure. What was she even doing? She had spent two years being angry and resentful, blaming him for everything, when maybe she had also been wrong.

Still, she lifted her head stubbornly. “Your Highness, you must give me justice!”

The prince said coldly, “Speak plainly.”

“The side concubine has disrespected me. I’ve asked her several times to come for tea, but her servants won’t even let me in! How am I supposed to hold my head high after that?”

The prince replied calmly, “And what do you want me to do?”

“I want her to serve me,” she said proudly. “Let me teach her how to behave properly.”

“You don’t already have enough servants?” he asked.

“She’s just a concubine! Why can’t I discipline her?” she snapped.

“It was my order,” Du Yu said evenly. “I told her not to go to Cuifen Courtyard.”

“What?! How can you do that?” she shouted, shocked.

The prince’s voice grew colder. “You never come to greet me. So why should the side concubine greet you? Enough.”

He Yanzhi stood frozen. His words hit her like lightning. Then he added, “From now on, you are not allowed to go to Changle Courtyard. You’ll stay in Cuifen Courtyard. You’ll still have your title and allowance, but nothing more.”

He Yanzhi felt a wave of coldness wash over her. The prince’s words were final. All the gold and silk in the world couldn’t warm her now.

As she left the courtyard, her heart was heavy, not because of his harsh words, but because she realized something painful: the prince’s heart was no longer hers. Somewhere along the way, she had lost it.

Mama Shi supported her silently, thinking, If only she had known earlier, things might have been different.

The princess always dreamed of climbing to a higher position, but she forgot that as a woman, she didn’t have much control over her fate. Men are sensitive to things that benefit them, and the princess never realized that the prince abandoned her simply because he thought she wasn’t the right one for him.

When it comes to choices, there’s no need to reason, it’s just how life works.

The princess was full of pride and kept ignoring her husband. But a husband and wife are one unit. Even if she didn’t care for his affection, she forgot that his attitude toward her determined how peaceful and happy her life would be in his house. If a man can’t feel warmth and comfort from his wife, how could she expect him not to show affection to another woman?

If the fourth lady, whom Mama Shi had watched growing up, didn’t wake up and continued down this self-destructive path, no one could save her relationship with the prince. Mama Shi could only sigh helplessly.

No one told Bergman about the tension between the prince and princess. She only needed to focus on managing Changle Courtyard.

The people that Du Yu assigned to her were all capable and obedient. As long as Bergman gave a few instructions, everything would get done. She only needed to check their work later.

Her only trouble was that she had to wash the prince’s hair every day, dry it, and comb it, like a daily ritual. Recently, he even stopped letting the servants dress him. He insisted that Bergman choose his clothes, fix his robe, and even arrange his accessories for him.

Bergman couldn’t help but think: Is Prince Du Yu treating me like a palace maid? The palace servants were trained for this, why did he prefer her doing it?

Still, she didn’t refuse. After all, he had protected her from trouble by stopping her from having to visit Cuifen Courtyard. Now she could live peacefully in Changle Courtyard without anyone bothering her. To thank him, she obediently sewed clothes for him, yes, even his underclothes.

Bergman also encouraged the young women in the palace to plant mulberry trees and raise silkworms. The palace would buy their silk at good prices, as long as the quality was good. This kind of work was easy enough that even the old and young in the countryside could help. It wasn’t a fortune, but it helped families earn extra money, and it quickly became popular.

The weaving workshop produced cloth, the dyeing workshop added color, and the tailors and embroiderers finished the designs. It became a full production line. It took time and effort, but Bergman was confident that once it all ran smoothly, success would come soon.

That first year in the palace, Bergman and Du Yu had their New Year’s Eve dinner together. She gave red envelopes to the servants and let them relax and celebrate, after all, they had worked hard all year. Some could even visit their families.

Du Yu had never thought to do that before, but he quietly approved of Bergman’s kindness.

That night, the two of them sat in the warm room wearing comfortable clothes. He read a book, she sewed, and sometimes she placed small snacks on the table. Du Yu added charcoal to the stove when it burned low. Outside, they could hear snow falling from the trees and distant firecrackers. The warm, cozy atmosphere marked the end of the old year.

“After the New Year,” Bergman said softly, “I’ll be a year older.”

“Mm.” Du Yu replied.

She hesitated before adding, “Then… we can have a baby.”

If Bergman had been drinking tea, she would’ve spat it out. What kind of timing is this?! she thought. Talking about having children during New Year’s dinner—was he serious?

Did he mean that now she was old enough, they could finally consummate their marriage? What was she supposed to say—yes or no? Either way sounded wrong.

“Anyway, it’s late. Don’t waste lamp oil, go wash up and sleep,” Du Yu said calmly.

Sleep? Bergman thought, panicking inside. So fast? It’s New Year’s night!

But Du Yu didn’t touch her. When she finally fell asleep, she heard him quietly get up to clean the room.

He couldn’t bring himself to be intimate, even though he wanted to.

Bergman knew men often let desire control them, but Du Yu seemed able to restrain himself. He didn’t have other concubines, so he must’ve been holding back a lot. Still, she couldn’t understand, if he had a wife but didn’t get along with her, shouldn’t he at least want intimacy? Wasn’t that what men cared about most?

Could the problem actually be with the princess?

But this was the age of emperors. Even if Du Yu wasn’t favored by the emperor, he was still a prince. If he really wanted a woman, she couldn’t refuse him. So why didn’t he force things? She couldn’t figure it out, and decided not to overthink it.

Du Yu noticed her silence and assumed she didn’t want to. Though disappointed, he said gently, “If you’re uncomfortable, I’ll sleep in the study.”

Bergman blushed deeply. “I don’t want you to…” she mumbled.

Du Yu heard her quiet words clearly. His heart softened. He took her hand and gently led her closer, but instead of kissing her, he just held her hand and rubbed it softly.

“Actually,” he said quietly, “I have a problem—I can’t remember people’s faces.”

“Oh.” Bergman blinked. So he’s face-blind? she thought.

He continued, “Some people I recognize by their voices, like Lao Jiu or Aunt Qi. I remember how they walk.”

“Then how do you recognize me?” she asked curiously.

Du Yu smiled faintly. “You’re different. The first thing I remember about you is your voice. Then… your scent. You smell like no one else.”

Bergman laughed softly. She didn’t even use perfume, only mild bath soap and a little osmanthus oil for her hair.