My wife is a concubine - Chapter 6

The inner courtyard was bustling for a while when Bao Zhengtao hurried back from the outer courtyard and saw Ying Huai.

After greeting each other, Ying Huai went straight to the point and told Bao Zhengtao everything he could.

Bao Zhengtao was utterly shocked. “Are you saying that my daughter saved the lives of the Fifth Prince and a palace maid?” Even if someone slapped him in the face, he still wouldn’t believe it. Where did that foolish daughter of his get such courage?

That weak little girl’s face isn’t even as big as his palm, and her height doesn’t reach his shoulders. Who gave her the nerve?

“I didn’t teach my daughter properly. Please forgive her, Your Highness,” he said.

Ying Huai smiled mysteriously. “Soon, Master Bao should be ready for a promotion.” It was thanks to his daughter’s good fortune. But if Bao Zhengtao were a greedy county official who broke the law and neglected the people, His Highness wouldn’t have cared  he would have only sent some money as thanks.

Bao Zhengtao was doubtful but didn’t dare to ask more. After seeing Ying Huai off, he went to the inner courtyard to check on his daughter.

At first, he had been furious about her reckless behavior, planning to give her a stern lecture. But when he saw Bergman lying on a small table, using her uninjured hand to eat almond tea with a silver spoon, a bandage on her cheek and such a pitiful look on her face, his anger vanished.

“You girls, why did you let the second young lady do things herself?” he shouted at the maids, not caring who was to blame.

How could she be hurt like this? Were all the guards dead?

The maids looked nervous, not knowing how to answer.

“Dad, don’t blame them,” Bergman said softly. “I insisted on doing it myself. The almond tea my sister made is delicious. Would you like to try some?” Her wound pulled painfully as she spoke, but she still smiled.

Bao Zhengtao’s eyes widened. He wanted to maintain a father’s authority, but seeing his pale, fragile daughter  her face, hands, and feet wrapped in gauze  made it impossible to scold her. He gently touched her cheek and said in a low voice, “You don’t know how dangerous the world is. If this leaves a scar, how will you marry in the future?”

Bergman leaned her face into his hand and whispered, “I have a father to rely on. I’m not afraid.”

Being cared for so lovingly filled her heart with warmth and a bittersweet ache, and tears welled up in her eyes.

“You silly girl,” Bao Zhengtao sighed, patting her hair. Seeing her tears, he thought her wound must hurt and comforted her gently. “Yaya, it’s all right. Father’s here.”

And just like that, the matter was settled  the storm had passed.

While Bergman was bedridden, Ah Ru served her with great care, helping her with everything big or small  washing her feet, wiping her body, even preparing every meal differently each day.

At night, Ah Ru didn’t switch shifts with the other maids but slept on the low couch outside Bergman’s room.

Bergman didn’t think Ah Ru needed to serve her like that. It was obvious the girl felt guilty and wanted to make up for something.

As her maid, Ah Ru’s devotion wasn’t surprising  a servant without status or power could only repay kindness through hard work.

One day, Bergman ate the osmanthus rice cakes Ah Ru had made with dried flowers from last year. After finishing the last bite, she wiped her hands with a hot towel.

“From now on,” she said, “you don’t have to sleep here or follow me everywhere. Let’s go back to how things were before.”

“Does the young lady think I haven’t served well? I can change,” Ah Ru said, kneeling.

“You’ve taken over all of Chenxiang’s work. Do you want me to dismiss her?”

“I didn’t mean that,” Ah Ru stammered.

“Then stand up,” Bergman said. “You’ve been with me for years  don’t you know my temper by now? Stop blaming yourself. I don’t want to see that cautious look anymore. We’ll live as we always have. Don’t make me repeat myself.”

Though she was the young lady, she treated Ah Ru more like a companion than a servant. She even remembered how, in her previous life, Ah Ru had always been alone  unlike Chenxiang, who eventually married a steward.

“Second Miss…” Ah Ru said softly, wiping away tears. “There’s still a batch of sesame cakes on the stove. I’d better check on them.”

“Ah Ru, let’s have radish and vegetables for dinner tonight,” Bergman called after her.

“Yes, miss,” Ah Ru replied.

Being stuck in bed was boring, and food was her greatest comfort.

Radish was a seasonal winter dish, and to make it taste good took effort. Bergman planned to stew radish with pork belly in a clay pot, adding fried pork ribs, fish balls, lotus roots, seasonal greens, and mushrooms  a warm, hearty casserole.

By the time Ah Ru finished cooking, Bergman’s thoughts had already settled.

Since they’d have such a good dish, why not invite her sister to join? Her sister must have been worried about her. It would be a nice way to apologize.

With that thought, Bergman picked up her sketchbook and charcoal pencil and began drawing dress designs  fashionable styles from the capital she remembered. They were corseted, elegant, glamorous, and stylish  far from the plain local clothes. The Fifth Prince was just a passing figure in her life; saving money was what mattered.

Half a month later, except for her broken arm, Bergman had fully recovered. She showed her saved dress designs to her sisters, Yin Yin and Yiyi. Their eyes widened, and even Sister Bao was speechless.

“These are too revealing…”

“Just try them on,” Bergman said casually. “If they look good, we’ll find a way to sell them.” She didn’t bother explaining — she knew her shy sister would love the corsets once she wore them.

Bao Si thought for a moment, blushing slightly. “You should make a few for yourself too.”

“Of course,” Bergman said, smiling. “But I’ll need Yiyin and Yiyi’s help with sewing.”

“I can embroider a few simple patterns,” Bao Si added, afraid her sister would forget her.

Ah Ru and Chenxiang, who were standing nearby, looked at Bergman eagerly. The silver they earned from the last dresses had been a sweet taste of success — surely the Second Miss wouldn’t leave them out this time!

Bergman’s big eyes sparkled. “Ah Ru, you and Chenxiang cut the fabric according to my drawings. When you’re done, help Yiyi sew the buttons.”

Everyone got busy. Then Bergman called Li Da and his wife, Chen. “Brother Li, please help me hire a few more women — three older, two younger, all skilled with a needle. And renovate our tailor shop into a clothing boutique. Your wife can manage the women’s section, while you and Shopkeeper Li handle fabrics and supplies.”

“Second Miss, are you sure about this?” Li Da asked hesitantly.

“Trust her,” said Chen confidently. “This business will succeed.”

She had already seen the design book Bergman gave her — sixteen beautiful dress styles for spring, summer, autumn, and winter. The designs were elegant and completely new to the market. If they sold these, the shop would surely attract attention — maybe even cause a sensation in town.

After Li Da told his son Li Quan about it, the two agreed. They hired workers to renovate the tailor shop, dividing it into two parts: one for women’s clothing and the other for fabric sales. They also bought a few new seamstresses and helpers in their thirties.

Bergman didn’t plan to sell only luxury clothes. She also designed affordable children’s outfits — just one tael of silver, or even half a tael — so that middle-class families could buy them too.

On opening day, business was booming. They sold more than a dozen dresses, and the corsets sold out completely.

In just one day, they earned hundreds of taels of silver  enough to cover everyone’s wages and expenses, with profit to spare.

At first, the maids didn’t dare sit with the young ladies, but after the eldest and second sisters left the table, telling them to eat and drink freely, they happily joined in.

When Bergman and Bao Si returned to her courtyard to enjoy their own meal, a servant reported, “Miss Xie Xiang’er has arrived.”

Bergman sighed. She had been so busy lately that she barely slept, her mind full of clothing designs. She hadn’t thought about anything else  least of all Xie Xiang’er, a figure from her past life she wanted nothing more to do with.

Everyone has their own path, and she didn’t want to meddle in Xie Xiang’er’s choices anymore.

In her past life, Xie Xiang’er had someone beat her to death. Honestly, Bergman couldn’t even hate her  if their positions were reversed, she might have done the same to the woman who stole her husband.

But this time, she wouldn’t make the same mistake. She was the daughter of a seventh-rank magistrate. She would never lower herself to become someone’s concubine royal or not.

She had a brighter, freer world ahead of her. Why trap herself in a tiny pond?

“Bao Xiaoman!” a cheerful voice called. “Didn’t you say you’d come visit me? It’s been days without a word! If this keeps up, I’ll stop talking to you!”

Xie Xiang’er, bold and spoiled, never treated the Bao family with respect. She came and went as she pleased; no one at the gate dared stop her. She often visited the Bao mansion, acting as close to Bergman as a sister.

Seeing her walk confidently into the inner courtyard, Bergman thought to herself that she had spoiled her too much before  letting her behave so freely, even disregarding her family.

When Bao Si heard Xie Xiang’er’s voice, she said coldly, “I’ll go back to my room,” and walked off without a greeting. Still, she paused to warn softly, “You’d better keep your distance from that kind of person.”

“Thank you for reminding me, Sister. I know what I’m doing,” Bergman replied.

In the past, she wouldn’t have listened. But lately, she’d stayed home or at the clothing shop, never visiting the Xie family. Maybe she really had grown up  learning that not every friend was worth keeping.

“Hey, isn’t that Sister Bao Si?” Xie Xiang’er happened to see Bao Si’s back. She knew Bao Si didn’t have a good impression of her, but that didn’t matter. As long as Bao Man, that silly girl, still listened to her, she was satisfied.

“My sister has something to do and went back to her yard.” Xie Xiang’er was the same age as Bao Man, but whenever Bergman was around, she would naturally act like her follower, servant, and flatterer.

To explain why Xie Xiang’er, the eldest daughter of the Right Assistant Minister of the Ministry of Works, was living with her mother at her uncle’s home instead of enjoying the wealth and comfort of her father’s household in Beijing — it all started after her parents’ marriage fell apart.

Her father was furious after marriage and drove Xie Xiang’er’s mother out, taking his eleven-year-old daughter with her back to her maternal family. When her grandparents passed away, Xie Shilang, freed from all restraint, brought his concubine and illegitimate daughter into the house. He accused his wife of three “major crimes”: childlessness, disobedience to elders, and jealousy  all to justify favoring his concubine and ruining his wife’s reputation.

Xie Xiang’er’s mother was too proud to beg and, humiliated, had no choice but to live with her brother, relying on his household.

Modern medicine would explain that having sons or daughters depends on the man, not the woman. This meant her father could never pass down his family line — but it also gave him more excuses to take concubines, stuffing the household with women and making the family situation extremely complicated.

When word came that Prince Lingjing was selecting concubines, her father saw another chance for power and status. He had originally wanted to recommend his illegitimate daughter from the concubine, but the royal family cared deeply about bloodlines. Even if that girl was called a “second daughter,” she could never enter the palace as a concubine.

In desperation, he remembered he still had a legitimate daughter living outside — Xie Xiang’er — and thought of sending her instead.

“Don’t think I don’t know she doesn’t want to see me. What kind of attitude is that? As if I care!” Xie Xiang’er muttered, clearly irritated. She secretly looked down on the Bao sisters.

What kind of official was their father compared to hers? They weren’t even in the same league. It felt natural for her to command and order them around. The annoying thing was that those two sisters were far prettier than she was. Whenever they stood together, she became nothing more than a background figure, never the center of attention.

If Bergman weren’t so useful  so obedient and easy to manipulate  she would never bother taking along someone more beautiful than herself. But Bergman’s blind loyalty brought her a small sense of control and satisfaction in a life otherwise filled with disappointment.

“Don’t speak ill of my sister. I don’t like hearing it,” Bergman said coldly.

Her sister was the best sister in the world — no one was allowed to insult her.

Xie Xiang’er raised an eyebrow. “What’s this? You used to hate her most, saying she was fake, nagging, and always meddling in everything.”

“I’ve realized she only did those things for my own good.”

Xie Xiang’er scoffed. “And what ‘good’ has she done for you? Do you really think it’s better now? Forget it. I’m tired of standing here. Aren’t you going to invite me in?”

“No. I’m busy. The maids aren’t around, and there’s no one to serve tea, so I won’t invite you in.”

Xie Xiang’er’s brows shot up  Bergman’s tone was completely different today. “Fine, don’t invite me then. I just heard you’ve been playing around with some business lately  making money, even. Take it out and show me.”

“Those are trade secrets. If you want to see, you can visit my shop. There’s plenty there, in all colors. You can choose what you like.” Bergman’s voice was calm and businesslike.

That made Xie Xiang’er furious. Since when did this once-obedient girl dare to bargain with her?

“Bergman, what’s gotten into you? How dare you speak to me like this?” she snapped, her voice sharp.

“If you’re done, please leave. I’m very busy,” Bergman said coolly. She didn’t even want to deal with her anymore. Their paths were different now — better to part ways peacefully and live their own lives.

“Bao Xiaoman, do you dare talk to me like that? You’ll regret it! Do you think I enjoy coming here? If it weren’t for the fact that you used to bow and scrape to me, I wouldn’t even tell you this great news! But since you want to ignore me, don’t blame me for being heartless!”

She was shaking with anger. If Bergman ever came crawling back, Xie Xiang’er swore she’d make her beg like a dog.

Xie Xiang’er stormed off, her maid throwing Bergman a strange, conflicted look before following her out.

Was this supposed to be a threat? Bergman didn’t care. In fact, she was relieved. Hopefully, Xie Xiang’er would be angry enough to never return.

As for the so-called “great news,” Bergman didn’t need to guess — it was surely about the concubine selection at Lingjing Palace. That had nothing to do with her anymore. She had no interest in that life.

The Bao women continued their hard work, inspired and determined. Bergman decided to expand their designs further  creating corsets in four different sizes and adding them to the shop display.

But she wasn’t satisfied with just that. Corsets and dresses were only the beginning. In large households, servants’ clothes were made in sets for each season, and most families employed several seamstresses just for that. If her clothing house could take on those orders, it would mean endless work and steady income.

Her beautiful dresses were just bait — once noblewomen realized this, they would come to her willingly.

To meet growing demand, she asked Li Da to buy more skilled workers and had Madam Chen train them carefully. Sewing was a basic skill for women, but refinement took practice.

When Madam Ba learned how successful her stepdaughters’ business had become, she was tempted to invest. After discussing with Bergman, she contributed one hundred thousand taels of her own savings.

“To be honest, Second Girl,” Ba said, “this money just sits there doing nothing. It’s better if you put it to use  maybe I can earn a little pocket money too.”

“Then how about giving you a twenty-percent share? We can settle profits monthly, quarterly, or yearly — whichever you prefer.”

“Let’s settle at the end of the year,” Ba said without hesitation. “Your father still provides for my daily needs  this is just extra.”

With the whole family working together, the Bao Clothing House quickly became well-known throughout Tong’an County. Noble families admired its fine workmanship, creative designs, and quality fabrics. Soon, they began outsourcing all their servants’ clothing orders to the Bao shop.

Li Da handled negotiations, Madam Chen oversaw sales, and no one outside knew that Bergman was the true mastermind  which suited her perfectly.

While the women were busy managing the shop, Bao Zhengtao suddenly received an imperial transfer order.

He was puzzled. He hadn’t sought promotion, nor bribed anyone, and his term wasn’t even up.

Then he remembered  when the Fifth Prince had personally brought his daughter home, he’d said something meaningful. Could it really be true?

Apparently, yes.

He was being promoted from a county magistrate to the Prefect of Pianzhou, a fourth-rank position with third-rank pay. It sounded glorious  but where on earth was Pianzhou?

He dug out an old geography map and searched for a long time before finally locating it: a small, remote territory in North Vietnam. His face fell.

The governor who arranged the transfer, Yun Ronglu, thought he was doing the Fifth Prince a favor  assigning an honest official to a faraway place where he could “assist” the prince’s interests. In reality, he had made things much harder.

When Bao Zhengtao learned of it, he was torn. The order had been issued  he had no choice but to obey. But taking his whole family to such a distant, freezing place?

That evening, he gathered his family to discuss the matter. Everyone was stunned.

After a long silence, he said gently, “After thinking it over, I believe it’s better if your mother and you girls stay here in Tong’an. It’s safer and more stable. I’ll go alone to take office.”

“Master!” Madam Ba cried out. How could she let him go alone? A wife should follow her husband wherever he goes. “Wherever you are, I must be there too!”

Her daughters exchanged looks. Bao Si spoke first. “Where our father goes, that’s where we’ll be. Don’t leave us behind, Father.”

Bao Zhengtao frowned. “What are you girls saying? I’m not going off for pleasure! I’m worried enough already  the place I’m being sent to is strange and far. I thought I’d go first, settle in, and bring you later.”

“What’s so strange about it?” Bergman asked curiously.

“It’s Pianzhou  in North Vietnam. I heard it’s freezing all year round. In winter, the wind can peel the skin off your face. How could you girls bear that?”

He sighed. As an official, he only wished to serve the people and do some good. But his family  a household of women and children  weighed heavily on his mind.

“Wherever you go, we’ll go too,” Bergman said firmly. “If people can live there, so can we. And if we really can’t, then in three years, you’ll surely be reassigned again.”

She smiled lightly. People were adaptable  nothing was impossible if they were together.

“This isn’t a decision to take lightly,” Bao Zhengtao warned. “I could be stationed there for three years, maybe six, maybe twenty.”

“The children have already decided,” Madam Ba interrupted. “We’ll go with you. The cold can’t scare us  we’ll wear more padded clothes and light more braziers. Don’t treat us like fragile porcelain.”

Bao Zhengtao looked at the determined faces of his wife and daughters and sighed. All three women stood united  what else could he do?

Since they insisted on following him, so be it. They would go together — as a family.