TPNCQ Chapter 1.2
Chapter-
This seems to be a good start 1.2
She also
had the time and energy to tenderly nurture her fragile body, while striving to
embrace the reality of having two sons and a daughter.
After all,
before she traversed time, she hadn't even experienced love. Now, as she
blinked, she found herself at thirty-two. And behold, her eldest son was eight,
the youngest not even two, and there, cradled in her arms, was a newborn babe,
not yet a month old.
Mentioning
the newborn baby, Su Li Mo couldn't help but feel a wave of emotion wash over
her.
Indeed,
this daughter was none other than the renowned Princess Buddha's Palm aka
Foshou Gongzhu, the fourth daughter of the emperor. Born with webbed fingers,
simply put, her hand had a disability. In modern times, it wouldn't be much of
an issue, just a simple surgery would fix it. But in this ancient era, it posed
quite a challenge.
Thanks to
the kind-hearted and skilled Imperial physician Luo, with a simple "Just like the
Buddha's Palm, this is a sign of great fortune," she resolved the dilemma.
Moreover,
with no princess born for many years, Emperor Qianlong was overjoyed and doted
on her greatly. Every day, he personally inquired whether she was comfortable,
if her food was to her liking, and if she was warmly dressed.
The
emperor's moods could change in the blink of an eye, with joy and anger resting
on the edge of a single thought.
Ah, the wicked
feudal dynasty.
However, Su
Li Mo had no choice but to adapt and integrate herself as much as possible.
Fortunately,
the palace had its own set of rules. Each Prince was raised in their own
quarters, with a multitude of nurses providing attentive care. There was no
need to worry about the third and sixth princes now; they would meet in due
time.
However,
despite being known as the Princess Buddha's Palm (Foshou Gongzhu), the fourth
princess was born with inherent deficiencies, necessitating additional care and
attention. In light of this, the emperor graciously permitted her to stay in
the Jingren Palace instead of relocating her to the princes' quarters.
Having both
sons and daughters, along with wealth and influence, upon closer examination,
this start appeared rather favorable.
After all,
within this palace, her position was beneath few people. However, with diligent
effort to survive and become a competent old salted fish, surpassing even the
longevity of Emperor Qianlong at ninety-nine years old wasn't entirely out of
reach.
But all of
that could wait; at present, she needed to prioritize nurturing her health.
After all,
having just returned from the brink of death, her body was terribly frail.
Right at
that moment, the chief palace maid, Shuangjiang, accompanied by three or four
junior maids, entered the bedchamber and said, "Niang-niang, today's tonic
is ready. The kitchen has also prepared a plate of candied fruits for you.
It'll surely please your taste buds."
Upon
hearing about the candied fruits, Su Limo's furrowed brow relaxed. These
ancient medicinal brews are hardly fit for human consumption!
"I should
regain my health and steer clear of traditional medicine!" With these
thoughts in mind, Su Limo propped herself up, only to see the young palace maid
Dongxue rushing over to assist her, displaying remarkable agility.
Su Limo
lifted the bowl and swiftly downed its contents in three swift swallows. With
the assistance of three other palace maids, she rinsed her mouth with water and
dabbed her lips clean. As she did so, she casually selected a piece of candied
fruit with a silver pick and savored it in her mouth. Mmm...
It was
quite overwhelming for Su Limo to have four or five palace maids fussing over
her for a mere sip of medicine at first. Despite her initial discomfort, she
gritted her teeth and tolerated it to avoid any slip-ups. Remarkably, within a
matter of two or three days, she gradually grew accustomed to the routine.
Not to
mention her current frail state, even when she was perfectly healthy, having merely
had to open her mouth for food and extend her hand for clothes every day was good
news for a Salted fish.
Ah, this evil
feudal dynasty, this evil harem.
It's no
wonder so many people are clamouring to climb the ranks. After all, in this
harem, status is equivalent to one's wealth. Without money, one can hardly move
an inch, let alone afford a plate of candied fruit.
Furthermore,
considering they were all in the bloom of their youth, Xiao Zhang, Xiao Li, and
Xiao Wang in the adjacent chambers enjoyed their own palatial quarters, with an
annual salary of a thousand taels and twenty to thirty attendants at their
disposal. They feasted on a never-ending array of exquisite dishes and received
extravagant gifts until their hands were sore. Meanwhile, poor Xiao Zhao, Xiao
Cui, and Xiao Song were crammed into a single palace next door, where their
daily meals couldn't compare to the lavish feasts enjoyed by their neighbouring
maids. Who could endure such inequality?
Who wasn't
born of a mother and raised by a father, blossoming like a flower? After
enduring the hardships of life, so who is inferior to whom?
Ah, at this
moment, Su Limo couldn't help but understand those women in Qing dynasty dramas
who vie desperately for power. Yet, in the end, they were all just pitiful
souls.
The author
has a message:
"Genuine daily life of a Salted fish in Qing Dynasty"