Transmigrated into an Ancient M-Preg Novel as the Scumbag Alpha (GL) - Chapter 22
In the early morning, Yun Chenghuai stood under the eaves, listening to the pattering rain, and pulled her cloak tighter around her.
Winter rain was always colder than usual, especially after yesterday’s snow.
Raindrops fell onto the snow, and the rapidly melting snow intensified the chill.
She had woken up hearing Shen Liunian stir. The other party didn’t care if she was awake or not; once she was up, she called people in, and with the sounds starting, Yun Chenghuai, who had no habit of lying in, got up as well.
With Xiao Bei assisting, she washed and dressed much faster. Xiao Bei helped her bind her hair with a golden coronet and insert a golden hairpin, making it much neater than when she did it herself.
She wore a pale blue robe, the most understated piece in the original owner’s wardrobe. Though called understated, it was still made of excellent brocade. With her eyesight, she couldn’t tell what kind of leather the waist sash was made of.
Xiao Bei also picked out a jade pendant to hang at her waist, but she refused. When confined at home, comfort was key; there was no need for too much fuss.
After she finished dressing, Liunian also needed to change, so she stepped out, staring blankly at the raindrops hanging from the eaves.
She wasn’t thinking about anything in particular, just habitually letting her mind wander.
Xiao Bei quietly stayed by her side, waiting for her command.
Yun Chenghuai snapped back to reality and turned her head to ask a question. Xiao Bei, despite having her head down, as if she had eyes on top of her head, immediately bent forward, stepping closer, waiting.
Yun Chenghuai paused, then chuckled, “When will the Royal Tutor arrive?”
Unlike the chaotic inner courtyard, the princess manor officials were a well-chosen team from its establishment, mostly arranged by the Crown Princess and the old Duke Zhenguo.
A Grand Tutor was a second-rank official, while a Royal Tutor was a third-rank official. The former was the Crown Princess’s teacher, and the latter was the Princess’s teacher.
Moreover, Royal Tutors held no real power. If their Princess was useless, they wouldn’t even have the chance to borrow prestige.
Of course, the original owner’s Royal Tutor, Cui Xian, was chosen by the old Duke Zhenguo. She was exceptionally blunt and stubborn. What she believed in, she would stand by even if it meant bloodshed; everything was done according to the law. She was incorruptible in office, and her words and actions were consistently upright.
Such a person was a good official for the common people, but for her colleagues, she was a tough nut to crack, struggling in officialdom.
Cui Xian came from the Cui clan. Reaching the third rank at nearly forty years old was inextricably linked to her family. If not for her personality, she wouldn’t be languishing in a powerless position.
After consulting with the old Duke Zhenguo and the Crown Princess, Cui Xian was made the original owner’s Royal Tutor, naturally to keep her in check.
Cui Xian was very dedicated as a Royal Tutor, constantly nagging the original owner like Tang Sanzang chanting the “tight-fitting-headband” incantation, which made the original owner grit her teeth whenever Cui Xian was mentioned.
Yun Chenghuai brought up Cui Xian because she thought of something. After the original owner was confined, all the princess manor officials were punished. During the confinement, they were not allowed to enter the manor.
The Royal Tutor was different; they had the responsibility of instructing the Princess. Cui Xian’s rank and family were top-tier, so why would she condescend to be a mere Royal Tutor?
Moreover, for this punishment, the Emperor ordered Cui Xian to copy the Four Books and submit them to the imperial presence, stating: “Let Cui Xian study well, and let her understand how to instruct the Princess.”
Such a punishment and remark were essentially a slap in the face to Cui Xian and even the entire Cui family.
A dignified Qian Yuan of the Cui family, and a third-rank official, ordered by the Emperor to copy the Four Books for study, clearly implied that Cui Xian’s scholarship was insufficient.
The Four Books and Five Classics were essential reading for Confucian scholars, books they would encounter from a very young age.
The Cui clan was admired by scholars across the land. People might say that Cui family women were too strict, but no one would say that Cui family women lacked scholarship.
The Emperor had practically slapped Cui Xian in the face, expecting her to express gratitude afterward.
Furthermore, she commanded Cui Xian, after finishing the copying, to immediately go to the princess manor to instruct Princess Chuxiang. Her words implicitly blamed the teacher for the student’s shortcomings.
The Emperor, this person, was truly narrow-minded.
Yun Chenghuai internally grumbled about the Emperor, then calculated the time. Half a month had passed since the original owner’s confinement; Cui Xian should be finishing her copying and arriving at the princess manor soon.
Now, she needed Cui Xian. Cui Xian had no real power, but her reputation was great; her single word could be worth ten thousand. Having her change conveyed through Cui Xian’s mouth would be the most credible.
Xiao Bei shook her head. “This servant will go ask Guard Commander An, or send someone to Royal Tutor Cui’s residence to inquire.”
Xiao Bei’s duty was to serve Yun Chenghuai; she had limited knowledge of outside matters.
An Yuan was busy reorganizing the manor guards, so she would be very busy these days. Yun Chenghuai had few usable people around her.
It seemed that these next few days, besides flattering Shen Liunian, she needed to select trustworthy individuals.
“No rush.” She thought it wouldn’t be long now anyway.
Just then, Nan Ling came out carrying water. It seemed Shen Liunian had finished washing up.
“Serve breakfast.” The child who once lived under someone else’s roof had quite good adaptability.
After two nights and one day since her transmigration, she was starting to get familiar with the daily routine.
Yun Chenghuai entered the room. In reality, Shen Liunian was changing in the inner chamber, so she couldn’t be seen from the outer chamber, as several areas separated them.
She had thought of going out for some fresh air before entering, and had lost track of time for a moment.
When she entered the room, Shen Liunian was wearing a purple crossed-collar long dress, topped with a matching fur outer garment that resembled both a cloak and a sleeveless jacket, exuding subtle nobility.
After marriage, a Kun Ze’s hairstyle typically featured a high bun with no loose strands at the forehead, to appear dignified and elegant.
Shen Liunian, with the same hairstyle, exuded a more natural and fresh feel, without deliberate solemnity. Simple hair accessories complemented her look, adding a touch of gentleness to her dignified luxury.
The mistress of a household must always display a mature demeanor to command respect from all the servants in the manor.
As the Princess Consort, Shen Liunian needed to show not just nobility, but also dominance.
Shen Liunian was someone who had fought on battlefields; she was more than just dominant. If she hadn’t reined it in, there was still a faint murderous aura about her.
Yun Chenghuai had felt it several times yesterday: Shen Liunian’s desire to kill her was still very much alive.
“Madam, please have breakfast.” She walked over eagerly, like a puppy seeing its owner for the first time in the morning.
Shen Liunian didn’t even glance at her, walking straight to the luohan bed and sitting down.
Southern Qin had a custom of separate dining; typically, people only ate together in the evenings or at banquets.
However, each family had different rules. Princess Chuxiang Manor’s inner courtyard had few people and no children, so everyone ate alone.
Yun Chenghuai and Shen Liunian’s relationship was poor, so they certainly wouldn’t eat together.
Yesterday was probably the first time they had shared a meal at the same table, and it had been surprisingly harmonious.
Today, someone had ordered their meals to be served separately.
The food was the same, but it felt like eating in a cafeteria.
Yun Chenghuai sat on the other side of the table, with plain porridge, side dishes, wontons, and steamed buns.
She picked up a bun and took a bite. The skin was thin, the filling generous. The filling contained both vegetables and meat. She didn’t know what kind of vegetable it was, but the meat was likely fish.
Xiao Bei saw her looking thoughtfully at the bun in her hand and quickly explained, “There aren’t many fresh vegetables in winter. These are dried vegetables made by the imperial estates, with a little dried bamboo shoot added.”
No wonder I tasted bamboo. The ancients’ craftsmanship is truly good. The cuisine of the Chinese land is more than just ‘delicious.’
“Someone from the Princess Consort’s family came to the capital to do business and sent many cordyceps sinensis and cattle and sheep. The cattle and sheep were driven to the manor’s estate, and one was butchered this morning to make some buns for the masters to taste.”
Each person’s plate had a few buns, with several types of fillings, two of which were mutton.
“When did this happen?” Yun Chenghuai picked up a mutton bun and took a bite. The taste was really good; it didn’t have the unique gamey smell of lamb and wasn’t greasy.
Shen Liunian looked up, her eyes showing confusion, as if she didn’t know about this.
Xiao Bei paused. “The manor was too chaotic yesterday, and it was just some medicinal herbs and food. Steward Luo took the liberty to accept them. I’ll go find Steward Luo for the gift list now.”
“Go.” Yun Chenghuai replied. Xiao Bei quickly went to find Steward Luo.
Steward Luo was the old steward of the manor. She was old and didn’t like to manage affairs, leaving most things to her subordinates.
Yesterday, when the manor was being rectified and so many managing matrons were dealt with, Steward Luo didn’t appear. So, she was busy receiving gifts from the Shen family?
The original owner didn’t know the prices of goods. Yun Chenghuai, an ordinary person, even if she didn’t know ancient prices, figured they wouldn’t be too far off from modern ones.
A sheep in modern times would cost a few thousand yuan, a cow around ten thousand. Not to mention the cattle and sheep from the Western Sea, and cordyceps sinensis, which were sold by the piece. All in all, the items sent by the Shen family were worth millions.
Knowing the price, Yun Chenghuai’s expression was somewhat “colorful.” “Madam, is your family that rich?”
Shen Liunian looked at her strangely. The Shen family was as rich as a nation; a few cordyceps sinensis and some cattle and sheep were nothing to be surprised about.
Yun Chenghuai was a minor millionaire in her previous life. The savings her parents left her, plus compensation, amounted to several million.
Later, she gave a portion to her aunt, and the remaining money was split into two 500,000 deposits in one card, with the annual interest enough for her studies and living expenses.
Yet, when the Shen family’s caravan arrived in the capital, they sent millions worth of goods to the princess manor. The Shen family’s caravan traveled back and forth countless times each year, each time bringing millions worth of goods, amounting to tens of millions in gifts annually.
Yun Chenghuai couldn’t help but sigh: The original owner married a goldmine and didn’t even know how to cherish it.
Shen Liunian, however, didn’t think so. She couldn’t have been unaware of the Shen family’s caravan arriving, so this caravan’s arrival was too peculiar.
She stared at the mutton bun on her plate, then glanced at Yun Chenghuai, picked up the bun, and broke it open. A wad of oiled paper fell out.
Yun Chenghuai: “?” She quickly covered her mouth, looking as if she wanted to vomit but couldn’t. Who would have thought a bun would have other ingredients added?