"Miss, we don't need silver for this to work," Ah Ling said doubtfully, as the Miss was quite favored nowadays.
"Be good, it works for now, but what about later? If we make friends early on, if I fall out of favor later, at least we won't end up not having hot meals, right?" Ye Zao laughed.
Ah Ling was stunned for a moment, then nodded, "What Miss says is right!"
Ye Zao smiled and nodded; Ah Ling was rather obedient, she would agree with whatever she said.
Ah Yuan was smart and quite capable too. At the moment, she seemed to have no other concerns, which was good.
After Ah Ling left, Ah Yuan came over and said, "Tomorrow, this servant should take the Miss's measurements and make a few dresses for her."
"Taking measurements is fine, but as for making dresses, forget about it. I'm no good at sewing; you only need to help me with the small items. We should still go to the sewing room for dresses. Although, the concubine's clothing isn't made in a hurry there, they will still make it." Ye Zao didn't want the maids to be too exhausted.
Now that we could afford such, there was no need to overwork the maids.
"Alright... then this servant will bring the fabric over tomorrow," Ah Yuan agreed.
"You two are both a year younger than me, so from now on, the three of us should support each other. I have a low status; you don't have to treat me as a mistress, just as sisters, and support each other. Aunt Song is not an outsider either; we have few people in our quarters, it's good if everyone gets along well."
"Miss speaking like that makes this servant happy," Ah Yuan nodded with a sweet smile.
That evening, the four of them made a table together. At first, Aunt Song refused.
Ye Zao said, "It's not every day like this, today, since they are new, we get to know each other, so let's sit at one table. Tomorrow, Aunt can do as she pleases."
This time, Old Madam Song agreed.
She thought to herself, this Miss Ye, she is quite shrewd. The previous Hong Tao was indeed not as good as these two.
Moreover, these two were chosen from the front court.
That night was calm and tranquil.
After Fourth Master returned from outside, he went to the main courtyard.
It wasn't the first or the fifteenth of the month, which angered Lady Li considerably.
In recent years, Fourth Master rarely stayed overnight in the main courtyard, except on the first or fifteenth of the month or during festivals; usually, he would only stay for meals.
Ye Zao didn't think too much about such matters; her mind was occupied with one thing – returning home, as there were some things that could only be resolved at home.
However, when Ye Zao would return home, it would already be October.
The Encashment Festival was not yet upon them, but Fourth Master and Fourth Fujin were already very busy.
When Fourth Master called Ye Zao to attend his bedchamber, Ye Zao mentioned the matter again.
Fourth Master then remembered it and early the next morning, he sent Ye Zao off with two maids from the mansion.
After returning to the capital, the Ye Family settled in Pine Tree Alley, south of the city.
It was actually not far from Daqing Gate.
A five-bay courtyard could tell that the household was not poor; at the very least, they could afford to hire servants.
Ye Zao left in the mansion's horse-drawn carriage.
Although she had no authority to command it, the carriage would still come to pick her up in the afternoon.
Once outside, although a concubine was of the lowest rank, she was, after all, Fourth Master's woman, which made a difference.
At the very least, the mansion had given Ye Zao enough face publicly.
Getting off the horse carriage, there was no one to receive her – mainly because she didn't notify them in advance, and the family was not aware.
She had Ah Yuan knock on the door, and then a middle-aged man opened the door, "Who's there?"
As the words fell, he was taken aback, looking at the smiling Ye Zao, "Miss Ye?"
"Uncle Ye, it's me," Ye Zao smiled.
Uncle Ye, however, was first stunned, and then he scurried inside, "Master, Mistress, the eldest daughter has returned! Oh my. Master!"
Ye Zao shook her head, memory, her original family was very harmonious.
The gatekeeper Uncle Ye was also extremely close.
As she entered with two maids, she saw Ye Mingyuan already rushing out, "Where is she? Where is she? Where's Zaoer?"
Zaoer was Ye Zao's childhood nickname.
Ye Zao's nose soured, not knowing whether it was the original host's memories or her own sadness, "Father..."
"Zaoer, ...is it really you, you... you've come back? It's Father who has wronged you, it's Father who was blind... My Zaoer..." Ye Mingyuan took a few steps forward, grabbed Ye Zao, and burst into tears.
For the past half-year, he and his wife had been on the verge of crying themselves to death.
Before she had time to speak, a young girl's voice was heard, "Elder sister has come back? Elder sister!"
"Eldest daughter!"
The latter voice belonged to the Ye Family matriarch, Lady Saimier Huiqing, none other than Ye Zao's damned cheap uncle's own sister.
Ever since Qi Tai took Ye Zao away, she had been crying her eyes out.
Sympathizing with Ye Zao was one thing; after all, Ye Zao's maternal aunt had died long ago, and it was Fujin who had raised Ye Zao and Ye Feng.
How could she not feel heartache? Moreover, it was her younger brother from her maternal home who had harmed such a fine young lady, leaving her unable to lift her head in shame.
Neither Ye Mingyuan nor Ye Feng blamed her, but she herself wished she could just die.
Taking hold of Ye Zao, Lady Saimier was about to kneel, "It's all my fault..."
"Mother, what are you doing? Uncle did that without your knowledge. You cannot be blamed," Ye Zao hurried to support her.
Ye Gui also came to help support her, "Mother, don't say such things. You'll make sister feel sad. We're a family, let's go inside and sit down to talk."
After all, she had brought two maids with her.
Only then did Lady Saimier agree, and the family entered the main courtyard room.
The couple wiped away tears, and after crying for a while with them, Ye Zao asked, "Why don't I see big brother?"
"Big brother has gone to visit friends and has travelled to Zhili; he probably won't be back for a few days. Sister, do you have to return to the residence today?" Ye Gui, also a well brought up young lady, was very sensible.
She might not be as beautiful as Ye Zao, but she was still comely and attractive.
She understood that her sister did not have freedom.
"Yes. But it's alright, it makes me happy to see you all," Ye Zao thought for a moment, then asked the household staff to leave, and also sent Ah Yuan and Ah Ling out.
Then she calmly explained everything.
At the very least, she had to make it clear that it was her worthless uncle who acted on his own, deceiving both sides, and that it wasn't Fourth Master's fault, right?
As expected, once clarified, Ye Mingyuan clenched his teeth, "That Qi Tai, he has never been good! He's indeed no good!"
"It's all my fault, having such a bastard brother, hurting you... What are you going to do..."
Lady Saimier cried again.
"There's no need to worry so much now. After all... Fourth Master is extremely good. As long as I do nothing wrong, I shall be fine," Ye Zao paused, "There are just some things I would like to discuss with mother alone."
Ye Gui and Ye Mingyuan exchanged a glance.
Ye Mingyuan thought, probably there were things inappropriate for a young lady to discuss openly.
Ye Gui also knew her sister had some private matters not to be spoken in her presence. It was just that she felt sorry for her sister, whose maternal aunt had passed away so early.
Once it was just the two of them, Ye Zao directly said, "Mother, please get me some contraceptive medicine. Preferably one that doesn't harm the body. One that works for a long time after a single dose."
Lady Saimier, after all, wanted to meet her daughter's needs, and in a moment, she understood.