Yi Xiu Legend

In the fifty-first year of Kangxi's reign, as a concubine of the Uranala family, I married into the fourth master's house as a side-Fu Jin. When the sedan chair arrived at the gate of the mansion, the copper bells on the eaves were being knocked to pieces by the autumn wind. The moment Xipo opened the sedan curtain, in the shadow of the red hijab, I saw wild chrysanthemums emerging from the cracks in the blue bricks - it was because of the heavy dew in the autumn that the water droplets on the petals were actually clearer than the pearls on my temples. "Side blessing to Jin Wan'an." The one who welcomed the bride was Zhou Fujin from the mansion, and his voice sounded like it was dipped in autumn frost. I lowered my eyes and folded my sleeves, letting her look at my moon-white satin skirt - naturally I couldn't wear red. Even if my sister-in-law Zhu Yixiu had already given it to someone else, I, the imposter concubine, should remember to be sensible. Fourth Master is waiting for me in the main hall. His black uniform made his shoulders look like daggers. When he saw me coming in, a look of surprise flashed in his eyes. After all, we met in the boudoir. He must have remembered that I used to wear green and gray coarse cloth, but now my head is full of pearls and green, and I look like a different person. "Yi Xiu." He stretched out his hand to hold the crook of my elbow, and brushed the jade bracelet on my wrist with his fingertips. "This is the rule of the house. Don't be afraid." I looked up at him and said "Master" in my throat, but out of the corner of my eye I caught sight of the aqua skirt swaying behind the screen - it was Princess Gegefucha in the mansion. When I served her tea yesterday, the tanko on her nails scratched the lotus pattern on my cuffs. On the wedding night, the fourth master put down "Mencius" to talk to me. In the red candlelight, the emerald ring between his fingers glowed dimly: "Your sister..." He swallowed back the words halfway and rubbed the pearl tassels hanging on my temples with his fingertips.