MCSCPM -Chapter 42 The First Clash

What was meant to come would always come. Although Nanny Lai appeared kind and benevolent, how could a woman who had managed to live peacefully in the imperial palace—and even retained an important place in the current emperor’s heart after the death of the master she once served—be merely an old lady who only knew how to be kind to others?

From the moment Nangong Xiao left, her battlefield had truly begun.

Yin Qingyue smiled faintly. “Granny is the host, Qingyue the guest. Since I’ve just arrived, it’s only right that the guest follows the host. Granny, please go first.”

“Of course, of course. Miss Yin is far too polite,” Nanny Lai replied, her smile still radiant, though a sharp glint flashed in her eyes.

After entering the Buddhist hall, Yin Qingyue realized it was not as solemn as she had imagined. In the main hall to the south stood a Buddhist niche containing a small statue of the Laughing Buddha. Before it was an incense table holding offerings and a censer. The censer was large and filled with thick layers of ash, clearly the result of years of continuous worship.

Nanny Lai walked to the western side of the building and lifted a purple jacquard satin curtain. Turning back, she smiled gently at Yin Qingyue. “The outer hall is a place of Buddhist purity; it wouldn’t do to speak loudly. Miss, come inside and talk.”

Yin Qingyue nodded slightly and entered the inner room, only to find it quite different from the simplicity outside.

There were not many furnishings—just a table, four chairs, a bed, a cabinet, and a dressing table. The styles were plain, but Yin Qingyue, who had seen countless treasures in the modern world, was not deceived by appearances.

Though simple, all the furniture was made of extremely precious agarwood. There was no carving, but the added mass made it even more valuable than intricately carved pieces.

Though uncarved, the furniture was not undecorated. Delicate patterns were painted on it using a rare, multicolored lacquer.

This lacquer was made from finely ground color-changing jade mixed with precious spices. At first glance it seemed ordinary, but anyone living in the room for a long time would notice the lacquer changing color with the hours of the day, releasing a lingering fragrance and even repelling mosquitoes in summer.

The dressing table held even more secrets. Nanny Lai was old and had no use for flashy jewelry, but the mirror atop it was a bright mercury mirror, clearly reflecting everything in the room.

In modern times such a mirror would be worthless, but in an ancient era dominated by bronze mirrors, acquiring such a clear mercury mirror required transporting it over great distances from Persia. Any mishap along the way would damage it. A mirror this large and intact was easily worth a fortune.

The porcelain on the table was even more astonishing. In modern times, with advanced technology, any pattern or color on porcelain was nothing special. But in this backward era, a full set of famille-rose porcelain was unheard of.

Chinese famille-rose porcelain only appeared in the Qing dynasty. Yin Qingyue didn’t know exactly which era this was, but it certainly wasn’t as advanced as the Qing. In other words, this entire set of porcelain was frighteningly ahead of its time—calling it unique would not be an exaggeration.

Just who was this Nanny Lai? To possess a room full of such treasures—perhaps even Nangong Lin’s own bedchamber wasn’t as luxurious.

Though curious, Yin Qingyue was not shocked. These items were rare in this era, but in modern times they were commonplace. Even top-grade jewelry couldn’t move her heart, much less these things whose craftsmanship couldn’t compare to modern mass production.

Seeing Yin Qingyue remain perfectly calm, Nanny Lai couldn’t read her thoughts and decided to strike first. “My room is quite simple—Miss Yin must be laughing at me. Please sit, and have some tea.”

Yin Qingyue smiled faintly, sat as instructed, lifted the teacup, and took a light sip. Neither overly polite nor overly familiar, she merely said, “Granny’s tea is wonderfully fragrant. May I ask what kind of tea it is?”

This reaction left Nanny Lai puzzled. She frowned inwardly—had she misjudged Yin Qingyue? Was she not as scheming and perceptive as Nanny Lai had thought?

Nanny Lai forced a smile, doubt and annoyance in her heart. “Just some ordinary tea leaves. Like this room, they’re nothing special. If Miss Yin likes it, I’ll give you a box to drink at your leisure.”

Noticing a hint of impatience on Nanny Lai’s face, Yin Qingyue knew she had gained the upper hand. She slowly set the teacup down and smiled. “Ordinary, just like this room? Then Qingyue would never dare accept it. It seems even this cup of tea is worth its weight in gold.”

Nanny Lai was startled. Surprise quickly turned into gravity. This Yin Qingyue was indeed extraordinary—she had instantly recognized the value of the room, remained unruffled in the face of so many treasures, and even had the leisure to toy with her.

Thinking this, Nanny Lai narrowed her eyes and smiled. “Speaking of treasures, Miss Yin’s eyes are the true treasure. Not only do you have discerning eyes, but also a clever heart—teasing this old woman so skillfully.”

Yin Qingyue raised an eyebrow slightly, calmly took another sip of tea, and said, “I wouldn’t dare claim discerning eyes. Qingyue was born into the Yin family of Shuiling County, a merchant household. I’ve simply seen a bit more than most.”

She remembered that when she first met Nanny Zhao, she had been told the same about her background. Nanny Zhao had no reason to lie then, so now she could use it to placate Nanny Lai.

Nanny Lai looked enlightened. “So Miss Yin is from the Yin family of Shuiling County. Shuiling has always been prosperous—though only a small county, the surrounding hundreds of li are fertile fields, long praised as ‘When Shuiling thrives, the world has enough.’ The Yin family is the wealthiest there. No wonder Miss Yin has such knowledge.”

Yin Qingyue was secretly surprised. She hadn’t expected the Yin family to have such standing, but their wealth worked to her advantage—at least Nanny Lai no longer doubted her words.

Smiling even more sweetly, she said, “The Yin family is merely a merchant house, hardly worth Granny’s concern. Qingyue only recognizes the worldly treasures everyone fawns over. As for refined things—like the fine tea in Granny’s room—I truly can’t tell.”

Nanny Lai’s eyes widened, her usually smiling face showing rare confusion. “Miss Yin recognizes treasures from all over the land—how could you not recognize your own family’s tea? This tea is precisely the ‘Lotus Heart’ tea produced by the Yin family of Shuiling County.”

Yin Qingyue froze, her gaze drifting slightly. She hadn’t stumbled over the roomful of treasures, yet had tripped over something as small as tea?

She laughed awkwardly. “So it’s ‘Lotus Heart.’ I truly couldn’t taste it. Though I often drink this tea at home, it never seems as pure and fragrant as Granny’s.”

Nanny Lai nodded in sudden realization. “That explains it. My Lotus Heart tea here is the finest ‘Red Beauty Lotus Heart.’ Only one and a half jin are produced a year. Half a jin is kept by me, half a jin is for His Majesty, and the remaining half is distributed to the harem. None is left for the Yin family—no wonder Miss Yin couldn’t recognize it.”

Yin Qingyue narrowed her eyes, pondering the deeper meaning behind Nanny Lai’s words.

Only one and a half jin a year. Half a jin for the emperor, half a jin for the entire harem—yet Nanny Lai alone possessed half a jin, the same as the emperor? What position did Nanny Lai hold in the palace? And what did such an arrangement imply?

She frowned slightly, quietly reassessing Nanny Lai’s identity. The more she thought about it, the more extraordinary this old woman seemed.

And such a venerable Granny—on whose behalf was she probing Yin Qingyue?

After speaking so much, Nanny Lai felt thirsty. She took a sip of tea and looked at Yin Qingyue with a half-smile. “I’ve made myself quite clear. With Miss Yin’s intelligence, you should understand my meaning.”

Yin Qingyue frowned. Before understanding Nanny Lai’s true background, she decided not to act rashly.

Blinking innocently, she played dumb. “Please forgive Qingyue’s ignorance. I don’t quite understand Granny’s meaning.”

Nanny Lai smiled with narrowed eyes. “Miss Yin is teasing me again. How could you not understand? Coming from a merchant family, you should know that no one rises early without profit. Does Miss Yin truly think Her Majesty the Empress would save someone of no use?”

Yin Qingyue smiled back, her long lashes hiding the sly glint in her curved brows. “Granny speaks wisely. After all, Qingyue is a woman from Luocheng Courtyard, able to pray to the heavens on Xize’s behalf—naturally, I have some use.”

Nanny Lai clenched her teeth inwardly and spoke more plainly. “Miss Yin’s medical skills seem quite remarkable. Ordinary physicians need observation, listening, inquiry, and pulse-taking. Yet Miss Yin diagnosed His Majesty’s cough with observation alone—truly opening this old servant’s eyes.”

At last, they reached the real point. Yin Qingyue’s hands tightened slightly on her lap.

She had known it. At first, the Empress had sent Nanny Lai merely to undermine Nangong Chen. That was why Nanny Lai, though kind, hadn’t truly cared—otherwise she wouldn’t have watched silently as Nangong Chen made things difficult for her.

But once Yin Qingyue displayed her medical skill before Nangong Lin, Nanny Lai’s attitude changed completely. She praised her eloquence and even invited her to live in the Buddhist hall.

Nanny Lai had said it well—no one rises early without profit. Yin Qingyue had long guessed that Nanny Lai’s actions were for her medical skills.

In the harem, having a physician loyal to oneself was equivalent to having an extra talisman for survival.

Yin Qingyue understood this well and wasn’t in a hurry to respond to Nanny Lai’s attempt to claim a favor. She was now the valuable commodity. If she responded too easily, her advantage would diminish.

She leisurely took another sip of tea and said casually, “His Majesty’s ailment is merely a minor issue—not worth Granny’s concern. After proper observation, listening, inquiry, and pulse-taking, the imperial physicians could diagnose it as well.”