Fierce Consort

Chapter 99.2

Due to the manner of his death, that household became a laughing stock in the capital. Afterwards, some shameful secrets of that household were brought to light, and along with Senior Concubine Xu slandering them in front of Emperor Xi, they were expelled from the capital.

There was a saying that those who butchered pigs were all ruthless people.

Although this was a generalization, it wasn't without reason. It was known that butchers slaughtered countless pigs every year. Although people viewed them as food, they were still living things. Naturally it wasn't apparent when eating, but to personally wield the knife and cut them apart was extremely taxing on the mind.

Xu Xiang Rong had accompanied his father in butchering pigs from a young age. When he was around ten, he could already butcher a large fat pig by himself. That year, Senior Concubine Xu was chosen as one of the commoners to enter the palace.

The commoners knew that this selection was brutal and would do their best to avoid it but the Xu household had a lowly status. The magistrate had seen that the quota for the selection was far from being filled and personally sent his bailiffs to grab people.

Senior Concubine Xu was famously good looking from a young age. Her father cherished her and hoped to find her a good marriage when she came of age. Unexpectedly, before that could happen, her good looks had attracted calamity.

Commoners couldn't struggle against officials.
Senior Concubine Xu thus entered the palace.

Due to her looks, Senior Concubine Xu was conferred as an unranked attendant, the lowest rank of imperial concubines.

While Senior Concubine Xu was battling in the rear palace, Xu Xiang Rong wildly butchered pigs. He planned to earn more money so he can provide his sister a means of living after she was released from the palace.

The commoners assumed those who were selected would become palace maids in the palace. A palace maid was a bitter position. Not only was it easy to lose one's life but they would only get released when they were twenty-five. No one was willing to marry a girl who was that old. Those who married them were all widowers.

They didn't realize that once these people entered the wealthiest and most powerful place under the heavens, anything was possible. Who would have thought a commoner girl like the Xu household's daughter would end up becoming the most favored concubine within the six palaces?

After a few years, the news was spread back to the countryside and the Xu household leapt through the dragon's gate overnight.

At that time Senior Concubine Xu wasn't the senior concubine yet, but merely a concubine. She had just given birth to the second prince.

Xu Xiang Rong had been opinionated from birth.

His father was a forthright person. He never bothered with household matters, and focused on butchering pigs and earning money for the family.

His mother was the one responsible for the household. Senior Concubine Xu had shared half that responsibility after growing up. After she entered the palace, Xu Xiang Rong became responsible for the household's direction.

When Xu Xiang Rong heard the news, he didn't rush to move the family to the capital. Instead, he continued to mind his own business, butchering pigs.

In his free time, he invited some teachers and learned to read and write. He had been streetwise from a young age, and wasn't a shortsighted person. He naturally understood the capital was where all the nobility and officials gathered. His household's background was lowly, and moving there now would only lose his sister's face. His father, the old yokel, had also been forced to read and learn etiquette. He was quite miserable.