I Will Not Be a Concubine

(Completed) Yan Xinxin was born into poverty, with a silver tongue and a ruthless heart. When her family could no longer make ends meet, she found a way to the capital and did everything she could to persuade Qin Chen, heir to the Changlie Marquis household, to buy her into his household. She planned to work diligently for a few years and become a first-class maid in the young master's service, save enough money to buy her freedom, then return home and live a comfortable, prosperous life. When she was nearing the age to leave service, she had already bought a house and shops outside, and the young master was about to get engaged. One day, while sewing a button onto Qin Chen's clothes and chatting with him, she casually brought it up. But the usually easygoing young master, who always granted her requests, stared at her as if he could devour her. His voice rumbled like a storm cloud: "Bring up buying your freedom again and see what happens." Xinxin came to her senses, then laughed in fury. Who wanted to be his concubine? She turned around and stabbed him hard in the shoulder with a sewing needle. But in the end, she became his wife. No one's objections mattered. He had power to spare. A little scene: One day, Qin Chen came back from outside and happened to overhear his stunningly beautiful maid, Xinxin, who was also a master of sweet talk, speaking with someone. "If you weren't interested in winning the young master's favor, why didn't you try to get assigned to one of the young ladies' courtyards?" "The young ladies can't compare to the young master." Qin Chen smiled quietly. Then he heard her say, "He's not picky about anything, and he's out and about all day. But when he hands out silver, it's like he's throwing steamed buns." Qin Chen: "..." This story is also known as "I Treated You Like My Precious Darling, but You Treated Me Like a Tool," "I Thought You Were My Master, but It Turns Out You're Mine," and "I Thought You Wanted Me, but You Were After My Money." Please add my upcoming story, "The Concubine's Fortune Fish," to your collection. I beg you with cupped hands. On the fifteenth day of the seventh month, people set river lanterns afloat. But Jinyu, the fifth concubine-born young lady of the Jingyang Marquis household, fished two young men out of the river. Three days later, both came to her door at the same time, seeking her hand in marriage as repayment. Jinyu peeked from behind a screen. One wore a bright red, gold-patterned brocade jacket with narrow sleeves. He was dashing and spirited, and said he was the young master of the Duke of Jingguo's household. The other wore a plain, sapphire-blue silk robe with not a single flower embroidered on it. Quiet and withdrawn, he said he was an unpopular son of the Marquis of Yongming's household. Her legal mother beamed and called her legitimate elder sister out to receive them. The marquis's concubine-born son, Jiang Ling, had graceful, striking features. He glanced at the elder sister, then lowered his head in silence. The young master, on the other hand, exchanged flirtatious glances with the elder sister without pause. Jinyu thought it over and let her elder sister marry the young master, while she settled for marrying Jiang Ling. But the unlucky can toil until their hearts break, while the fortunate need not lift a finger. Years later, the elder sister returned to her family after her marriage fell apart and lived a lonely life. Meanwhile, the unpopular concubine-born son Jiang Ling became a powerful minister whose every move could shake the realm. He devoted himself to Jinyu alone, treating her better than anyone could imagine. Everyone envied her good fortune. Only Jiang Ling knew. In the stillness of the night, with a memorial in one hand, he gently pulled the blanket back over the person beside him, who had kicked it off. His eyes were full of tenderness as he thought: I've worked so hard all my life because I was afraid my wife would regret choosing me. Upcoming story: "I'll Give You Back Your Title" On their wedding night, after the guests had left, Jing Hui was about to explain herself when her veil was roughly yanked away. Her coronet crashed to the ground, and her hair came loose. "I'll give you nothing but the title of wife." The man before her spoke coldly, his eyes dark red, full of hatred for her. The words she had meant to say died on her lips. The corners of her eyes lifted softly like willow branches in March, alluring and graceful, glistening with tears. "Thank you, husband." She didn't blame him. Xie Xi, courtesy name Cun Zhi, was the sixth-generation heir of the Xie clan of Dongjun. He and Meng Yiru, the legitimate eldest daughter of the fifth-generation branch of the Meng clan of Luchuan, had been childhood sweethearts. Jing Hui was merely an orphan who had sought refuge with a branch of the Meng family, and had barely managed to find her feet thanks to the support of Miss Meng. In the eyes of the world, she was a despicable ingrate who had stolen this marriage. Yet she couldn't understand how things had come to this. In her previous life, Xie Xi had clearly married Meng Yiru as he wished. He had even arranged for Jing Hui to marry a talented cousin from a branch of the Xie family. Xie Xi's career had flourished, and he had risen through the ranks to become Left Chancellor, Grand Preceptor, and Grand Academician of the Longtu Pavilion. Though he later fell out with Meng Yiru for reasons no one knew, he continued to look after her family. After Meng Yiru died, he even joined their families through their children's marriage. Three years later, Meng Yiru divorced her husband. Xie Xi moved her to a residence outside the household and stayed away every night. When Jing Hui heard, she thought it over, then set out for the country estate, leaving behind a letter of divorce with four words: I'll give you back your title. But just after she lay down on the heated brick bed, Xie Xi stormed in, wrapped in a chill. His face was like black ice. By the firelight, the white paper instantly curled into ash. He looked at her, his eyes seeming to hold countless stars. "Now that the title is settled, even a thief would not dare take it. How could you change it on your own?" Theme: Your way of thinking determines your fate