I traveled with them to the Northern Song Dynasty

Chapter 34 Concubine

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After hearing Wang Yisu's notification that she would go to Prince Shen's Mansion with Zhao Ya later, Ma Xiaojiao hurried back to her residence to pack her things.

Ma Xiaojiao really didn't miss Cide Palace at all.

After becoming a palace maid, Ma Xiaojiao realized that being a palace maid was really not easy, especially the lowest-level maid who did menial work.

Zhang Chun, Li Lin, Ye Shiyun, Ma Xiaojiao, and Yuan Qingcheng were squeezed into a small room of less than 15 square meters.

There was only a large bunk bed and a stove in the room, and no extra space at all.

What’s even more unbearable is that they have to cook for themselves.

In the hot summer, the heat from cooking lingers for a long time. Every time they finish cooking, their small room turns into an oven, so hot that it’s unbearable.

The food is also very bad.

Most of the time, they can only eat brown rice or roughly processed grains. If they eat Huichui bread, it is a good meal.

Vegetables are radish, shepherd's purse, cabbage, beans, and melons;
Meat was scarce and only likely to be rewarded on special occasions;
The seasonings were only salt, sauce and vinegar, so even Yuan Qingcheng's cooking skills were not enough to be used.

Anyway, the food they eat on weekdays is so bland and tasteless.

Only when there was a banquet in the palace could they get a small amount of delicious leftover dishes.

On special days, such as festivals, people may be given cakes and fruits.

This is the best meal they have.

In short, the diet of palace maids was slightly better than that of poor people, but far inferior to that of the urban class, and they focused more on filling their stomachs than on taste.

To be honest, they were actually much better off than the other palace maids who did menial jobs, because Zheng Xiansu and Wang Yisu took special care of them. Not only was their work easy, but they were also given extra portions whenever leftover dishes, cakes, and fruits were distributed.

But even so, they, who were used to a life of luxury, found it difficult to accept such a hard life.

The key point is that they had no freedom at all. They had to report everywhere they went, even just to the nearby palace, they had to report all the way to the Empress Dowager Xiang. Only with the Empress Dowager Xiang's approval could they go. Moreover, they had to state clearly when they were leaving, when they would return, and why they were going.

Therefore, Ma Xiaojiao felt that she was finally free when she was able to leave Cide Palace and live with Zhao Ya.

In fact, there was nothing much to pack. The only things that Ma Xiaojiao had to take away were some drawings that she had drawn in her spare time. The rest were tattered and Ma Xiaojiao didn't want them all. She wanted to wait until she arrived at Prince Shen's Mansion and ask Zhao Ya to buy her new and better ones.

Just as Ma Xiaojiao was packing up the drawings, Zhang Chun came over.

While helping Ma Xiaojiao pack up the blueprints, Zhang Chun asked, "Jiaojiao, do you know what your biggest mission on this trip is?"

"Help Zhao Ya build a glass factory and make him more money. Otherwise, when he becomes emperor, he'll be hampered by an empty treasury and unable to accomplish anything. He won't be able to centralize power quickly, and he'll miss many opportunities. He might even follow the same path as Zhao Ji, where reforms were incomplete, superficially strong, and full of hidden dangers. You've said this so many times I'm almost tired of hearing it."

Unexpectedly, Zhang Chun said: "I'm not talking about this, but something more important."

Ma Xiaojiao was stunned: "Is there something more important?"

"Jiaojiao, you and I have the best relationship among us, so there are some things I must explain to you clearly to prevent you from going astray." Zhang Chun said seriously.

"What's the matter?" Ma Xiaojiao felt nervous when she saw Zhang Chun suddenly become so serious.

"Ugh!"

With a long sigh, Zhang Chunzhen said with a touch of sadness and resignation, "This era is influenced by the social environment and lacks the constraints of modern moral laws. The lustful gene engraved in men's DNA will make them take wives and concubines as soon as they have the ability and opportunity. Just like Zhao Ya, who was only sixteen years old and already had three fiancées."

Ma Xiaojiao said nonchalantly, "Wasn't it normal for men in ancient times to have multiple wives?"

"People who don't understand history would call the marriages of this era polygamy, but in fact this is not accurate. The marriages of this era should be called one wife and multiple concubines or having both wives and concubines," Zhang Chun corrected.

"What's the difference?" Ma Xiaojiao asked.

"In this era, whether you're a prince or a noble, or just a commoner, you all have to strictly follow etiquette. A wife must be married off formally, while concubines can be obtained through various means, such as buying them, or taking the path you're taking now."

"Some concubines, on the other hand, not only have to satisfy their masters' desires but also undertake heavy labor like slaves. Once their masters tire of them, they may sell them off for a second time, using them as tools to make money and generate profit."

"Many self-proclaimed magnanimous people treat concubines as gifts, giving them away at will; those seeking immortality treat concubines as medicine to be concocted at will; those competing for wealth use concubines as tools to vent their anger, killing them at will; those seeking eternal power and wealth use concubines as burial objects, not sparing them in the afterlife. In short, some people in this era mistake vulgarity for elegance, possess absurd quirks, and even treat concubines as livestock."

"Moreover, in this era, if a husband harms his concubine, there will not even be any punishment if the perpetrator is not reported. If he is reported, let alone whether he will be convicted of a crime, even if he is found guilty, the husband can be given a reduced sentence because of his status, which means the punishment he should receive will be reduced. On the other hand, the concubine will be condemned by society for suing her husband, and her future life will become even more difficult." Ma Xiaojiao understood a little bit what Zhang Chun wanted to say.

No.

It should be said that Ma Xiaojiao has some understanding of what her future identity will be.

Ma Xiaojiao, holding onto a glimmer of hope, confirmed with Zhang Chun, "Are you saying that I'm going to be Zhao Ya's concubine?"

Zhang Chun shook her head. "It's because Zhao Ya likes you that you have the possibility of becoming his concubine and a royal concubine in the future. Otherwise, you will be reduced to your original status and continue to be a palace maid, or even become the rough maid we were when we first arrived."

Ma Xiaojiao finally realized that she went to Zhao Ya not to be Zhao Ya's scientific and technological consultant, but might just change her job to continue being a palace maid.

"Didn't you say that if I became a palace maid instructor, at worst I could become a female official?" Ma Xiaojiao questioned Zhang Chun.

"That was after you slept with Zhao Ya. The question is, did you sleep with Zhao Ya?" Zhang Chun asked back.

It was not until this moment that Ma Xiaojiao realized that the path she was taking was not just about leaving Cide Palace, but also led directly to Zhao Ya's bed.

"Zhao Yata is about to marry Zheng Yaban and Wang Yaban, and that Guo Ting. He will soon have three wives. How can I be with him?" Ma Xiaojiao said a little excitedly.

"Do you want to continue being a palace maid or even go back to the rough life we ​​had when we first arrived, or do you want to seize this opportunity to live a good life? It's your choice. This is your life, and no one can make this decision for you."

"But as a good friend, I have to tell you that if it were me, I would never let this good opportunity slip away from me."

"And if you make the same choice as me, you must be aware of some precautions."

"In the eyes of men of this era, abusing and killing concubines were private family matters, and men had the right to punish their concubines at will. Therefore, some men were happy to throw their concubines into the river and watch their concubines struggle to death; some men liked to put their concubines in a cage with dogs and play the concubine version of the death game..."

"Stop talking!!!" Ma Xiaojiao said loudly.

Seeing that Ma Xiaojiao was frightened, Zhang Chun realized that he had to stop, lest Ma Xiaojiao really choose to be a palace maid forever.

"Actually, what I've said is just the dark side of this era. Didn't we also have domestic violence men in our previous lives? Generally speaking, there are still more good people."

After hearing what Zhang Chun said, Ma Xiaojiao felt much better.

Ma Xiaojiao slowed down, looked at Zhang Chun, and asked directly, "What do you want to say?"

Seeing that the time was almost right, Zhang Chun finally said what she really wanted to say:
"In this era, women have to rely on men. Their happiness depends entirely on the man they marry. Even for a woman who is the legal wife, her happiness in the second half of her life is determined by the man she marries, let alone a concubine, who is defined by this society as having an even lower status."

"I've observed that Zhao Ya is outstanding in appearance, emotionally stable, courageous, cherishes the past and values ​​talent, and doesn't care about his background. He is a rare match for you."

Ma Xiaojiao understood what Zhang Chun meant. She asked in disbelief, "You want me to really be with Zhao Ya? As one of his many wives and concubines?"

"not only."

"The status of a concubine can change from humble to noble, from low to high, especially after Zhao Ya becomes emperor."

"The status of a concubine depends largely on how much she is favored and what position she holds in her husband's heart..."

Before Zhang Chun could finish, Ma Xiaojiao asked impatiently, "You mean, not only do I have to be Zhao Ya's concubine, but I also have to compete with his many wives and concubines for his favor?"

"I know you are not that kind of person, and you don't like to do such things."

"However, feudal ethics repeatedly instilled in women that not being jealous of their husbands' other women, being tolerant, and living in harmony with them were excellent feminine qualities. Many men also wishfully hoped that all the beauties would be like the stars surrounding the moon, harmoniously yielding to each other, taking turns serving them, so that they could enjoy the bliss of beauty in a peaceful and respectful land. However, most of the time, this was just wishful thinking on the part of men. As long as they had wives and concubines, they would inevitably fight and intrigue for their place in their husbands' hearts, fighting and harming each other."

“This is especially true in the royal family.”

At this point, Zhang Chun changed his tone and said to Ma Xiaojiao sincerely:
"I'm not telling you this to vie for favor with Zhao Ya's wives and concubines. You're not good at that sort of thing. Instead, I want to tell you that in this era, even if a man and a woman are affectionate and know each other well, relying your entire destiny on someone else is ultimately uncontrollable and tragic!"

"Moreover, no matter how good her relationship with her husband is, she is still subject to his control within the family. Occasional conflicts and problems may lead to a drastic change in the concubine's living conditions."

"A master who has fallen out of favor is no better than a servant who has been favored. If I were to really fall out of favor, her maids would bully her, and even worse, they would beat her to death!"

"But people are people after all, and inevitably they get tired of the old and love the new."

"So, Jiaojiao, if you're smart and don't want to regret it in the future, you must do your best to make Zhao Ya like you and seize every opportunity to get pregnant with Zhao Ya's child. Only by giving Zhao Ya as many children as possible, especially more sons, can your quality of life in this era be guaranteed..."

……

(End of this chapter)