Chapter One: Awakening

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"Is the concubine awake yet?"

"Not yet! If the concubine were awake, would it be this quiet?"

"You foolish girl, you're even making up stories about your mistress. Now that the concubine has given birth to a young master to secure her position, she's far superior to us lowly servants. Hurry up and prepare some food! Or you'll be in for it when she wakes."

"Understood."

Hearing the conversation outside, Qin Mingyue felt utterly bewildered. Before she could sort out her thoughts, the cries of the baby beside her disrupted her concentration.

"Young Master Huan must be hungry. Don't cry, don't cry. Your mother is awake. I just sent Xiaoque to get your food," the wet nurse said, unfastening her clothes to nurse Jia Huan while soothing Qin Mingyue. After all, knowing Concubine Zhao's temperament, she would always make things difficult for the servants over trivial matters, and she had become even harder to please after giving birth to a boy.

Qin Mingyue gave a weak response, her mind racing frantically. She had struggled to survive in the apocalypse for five years, barely managing to secure a foothold in the base with her plant abilities. Just as she thought she had made it, a massive zombie horde swept in, destroying all their five years of hard work in an instant. Before she could even mourn the loss, she woke up in this body.

Discovering that she had transmigrated into Concubine Zhao from Dream of the Red Chamber left her feeling deeply suffocated. Concubine Zhao's reputation in the Jia household was terrible, and her final fate was hardly any better. She was merely a concubine, yet she insisted on competing for favor and acting superior, making a fool of herself time and again. Could she still live a quiet and obedient life now?

Fortunately, her abilities were still intact, which should be enough to keep her safe. If there was a chance to leave the Jia household, that would be even better; she certainly didn't want to be caught in the family's downfall and sold off as a slave.

"Concubine? Concubine? Won't you hold the young master? Master Huan has finished eating. Take a look!" The wet nurse brought the baby in her arms close to Qin Mingyue.

It took two calls for Qin Mingyue to snap out of it. She glanced down at the infant her predecessor had given birth to not long ago. The baby was all wrinkled and didn't look like much of anything yet, so she turned her head away in disinterest.

Assuming she was sleepy, the wet nurse took the child away.

"How is that scheming vixen doing over there?" Lady Wang, in her early thirties, looked benevolent and kind, but her words contradicted her face.

"My lady, that vixen has been quite quiet lately. I suppose she hasn't fully recovered from the ailments she contracted during her confinement month. Otherwise, her courtyard would have been turned upside down by now," replied Zhou Rui's wife, who was attending to her.

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"That low-born wench. Does she think she can turn the tables just by birthing a boy? She's nothing but a servant, and the low-born brat she spawned isn't fit to be compared with my Baoyu!" Thinking of the son and daughter born to Concubine Zhao made Lady Wang's heart ache with anger. Although she already had two sons and a daughter, and her eldest son was currently highly valued by her husband, the fact that Concubine Zhao, a mere concubine, had already been blessed with both a son and a daughter, was like a thorn in her side.

"My lady, should we bring that other one over to be raised by you? The master surely wouldn't refuse," Zhou Rui's wife suggested.

"Hmph! I have no desire for that low-born brat. Baoyu is still young, and Zhu'er is at the age of diligent study. There's no need to bring him over to offend my eyes," Lady Wang said. At this moment, she couldn't even properly care for her own son, let alone bring Jia Huan over to annoy her.

"It seems this servant has misjudged the situation. With our young masters Zhu'er and Baoyu as shining pearls before us, you naturally wouldn't look twice at such ordinary fish eyes. When the Old Ancestress heard about it, she only rewarded them with a few bolts of cloth. That treatment is far inferior to what our young master Baoyu receives," Zhou Rui's wife said, flattering Lady Wang with words she loved to hear.

Lady Wang's expression softened: "Baoyu was born with the spiritual jade in his mouth. Everyone knows he is destined for great fortune. Zhu'er will be taking the imperial examinations in a couple of years. How can those mongrel cats and dogs compare to them? Just keep a close eye on that courtyard. Don't let them cause any more trouble."

Qin Mingyue had made up her mind to lay low in her courtyard and reduce her presence. Unlike her predecessor, who would stir up trouble even during her confinement month—berating the servants and starving herself to maintain her figure—she couldn't do such things. She stayed in bed, eating and drinking as she pleased. Childbirth was inherently taxing on the body, so she naturally needed to nourish herself well.

"The master is here. The concubine just woke up and is having her meal," came Xiaoque's voice from outside.

Shortly after, a man in his early thirties with a serious demeanor walked in.

Qin Mingyue was extremely nervous at this moment. She hadn't finished reading Dream of the Red Chamber, but she had watched the classic television adaptation and had a general understanding of Jia Zheng's personality. Her impression of him was naturally poor; she felt he was far too strict with Jia Baoyu, beating and scolding him at every turn, and must be a pedantic man obsessed with saving face.

However, although Jia Zheng currently had a serious expression, he was only just past his thirtieth year. He looked dignified and scholarly, exuding an aura of nobility, with a slender and upright figure.

"How is your health now?" Seeing that his usually troublesome concubine had been well-behaved for so long, Jia Zheng felt somewhat surprised. In the past, she would have been a headache for him. But out of leniency for her young age, he had indulged her, allowing her to become arrogant and shameless. Now that she was already the mother of two children, she still acted without regard for propriety, so he had given her the cold shoulder for a while.

Seeing that she had been much more obedient lately, Jia Zheng thought she had realized her mistakes and came to see him. After all, she had borne him two children, and he could tolerate a minor fault or two.

"Reporting to the master, I am much better," Qin Mingyue replied cautiously. She didn't know how to interact with this Second Master. If she pretended to be like the previous Concubine Zhao, the difference in temperament would be too great, and she was afraid she wouldn't be able to keep up the act for long.

Seeing her speak in a low voice, Jia Zheng felt a pang of softness, thinking she was frightened by his previous coldness. He softened his tone: "You have added a new member to the Jia family this time, which is a merit. I have sent someone to pick out some jewelry and fabrics for you from outside. Take a look and see if you like them."

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"Thank you, my lord," Qin Mingyue was still in bed doing her confinement month. Hearing this, she felt she should get up to express her gratitude. After all, she was merely a concubine, and if she angered him, who knew what suffering she would face.

"No need to get up. You need to rest and recover your health well. Bring Huan'er over for me to see," Jia Zheng said. Seeing that she had actually become sensible and lost her usual harsh and rude manner, he felt somewhat pleased, secretly thinking that Lady Zhao must have realized she needed to improve, so he decided to spend more time with the mother and son.

This, however, made Qin Mingyue suffer. She thought Jia Zheng would leave quickly after seeing the child, but unexpectedly, he sat there with no intention of leaving. She was terrified that she wouldn't be able to keep up the act for long and would be exposed.

"This child looks a bit more like you," Jia Zheng said. The child no longer looked as wrinkled as when he was first born; he had been well-nourished and looked much fairer and plumper. His little face was slightly pointed, and his eyes were large and bright, indeed resembling Concubine Zhao.

"His nose looks exactly like the master's," the wet nurse holding the child chimed in, seeing that Qin Mingyue wasn't responding and fearing she might offend the master.

Hearing this, Jia Zheng was indeed pleased. Rare paternal affection welled up in him. He reached out and took the child. Little Jia Huan was now looking at his father with wide-open eyes and, very obligingly, opened his toothless little mouth and smiled.

This delighted Jia Zheng even more. Feeling that the child liked him, he was even more reluctant to let go.

Qin Mingyue felt a bit sour inside. She had spent so much time with this child to build up their tacit understanding, yet Jia Zheng got this treatment the moment he arrived. What a biased little brat.

After playing with the child for a while, Jia Zheng remembered the main business at hand. He had the wet nurse take the child away and then said with a straight face, "Let's hold the child's full-moon banquet in the courtyard. But after all, it cannot surpass Baoyu's. I know this wrongs you, but there is a distinction between the legitimate and the concubine-born."

Having said this, Jia Zheng prepared himself for Concubine Zhao to make a scene. He even thought that as long as her fuss wasn't too excessive, he would give her some gifts to placate her. To his surprise, she agreed with a completely calm expression.

"I will listen to the master in all things. In the past, I was too competitive and caused quite a few laughs. Now that I have Huan'er, I will certainly not act shamelessly as I used to. After all, I must consider Huan'er. He surely wouldn't want a harsh and rude mother. Please forgive my past impertinence, and apologize to the Madam on my behalf. I have caused the Madam a lot of trouble. From now on, I will definitely behave myself and take good care of Huan'er." Qin Mingyue simply found an excuse for herself; otherwise, she couldn't keep imitating Concubine Zhao's previous temperament.

"Since you have this realization, it is indeed rare. Get up. I will speak to the Madam on your behalf. Do not worry too much. Just recover well and take good care of young master Huan. I will certainly not treat you and the child poorly," Jia Zheng was very satisfied with her attitude. He had originally expected her to cause a huge scene, but he didn't expect her to accept this matter so easily. He felt that this time, she was truly determined to change for the better.