Entering, Ye Zao barely glanced at Fourth Master reading under the lamp before she knelt down, "Ye Zao greets Master, wishing Master Auspiciousness."
Fourth Master called her to rise, and then set down the book.
"Come closer."
Ye Zao hurriedly took a few steps forward.
Fourth Master looked at her, dressed in new attire, though it was neither new nor old, suggesting she had nothing better.
"Can you read?"
"To answer Master's question, I can read, but not much." Since arriving these past months, Ye Zao had hardly read any books. However, her original self had a good foundation, and she could read classical Chinese, so this wasn't really a difficult task.
"Hmm, read," Fourth Master pushed the book forward.
Ye Zao picked it up and began reading from the first character on the page.
Ye Zao's appearance, indeed, in these ancient times, really wasn't considered good. It wasn't that she wasn't beautiful, but rather… she lacked dignity.
Hmm, her eyes slightly upturned at the corners, she was the spitting image of a cunning fox. She belonged to the sort that men loved and women loathed.
Her voice, too, carried a seductive quality. Now young, it was playfully charming—later, it would probably retain only its seductiveness.
Ye Zao was quite disappointed by this. With her low status, looking like a fox spirit… If she failed to win favor, she'd endure until death; winning favor might get her killed by jealousy.
At first, Fourth Master was just listening indifferently.
As he listened, something felt off.
This Lady Ye dared to seduce while reading the Nongsang Jing? Fourth Master frowned, about to speak.
However, as he looked up, he noticed Ye Zao was reading more slowly, her brows lightly furrowed as if she encountered unfamiliar characters, before relaxing and continuing to read.
A bit faster, her voice remained unchanged, not seeming deliberate.
Fourth Master's finger twitched slightly, a hint of difference in his heart.
After several pages in one breath, Ye Zao's throat began to trouble her.
She had never spoken this much at once, and her voice grew hoarse.
Already sultry, the hoarseness now made it even more enticing.
Fourth Master had intentionally done this, but now, even he was finding it hard to restrain himself.
Since returning for this period, he had stayed in the main residence for one night as a courtesy, visited Lady Li for one night, yet nothing substantial occurred.
He had been away for several months, attended by multiple palace maids, but none had truly satisfied him.
How could he bear Ye Zao's provocations now?
Inside Fourth Master, anger rose. This little demoness, tempting without a sound!
"Alright, it's late, rest well," Fourth Master interrupted her.
Ye Zao replied with a yes, put down the book, and wanted to drink some water, but did not dare to say it.
Secretly raising an eyebrow, very well, Fourth Master was fired up. Since he enjoyed this raspy voice... then she would not drink.
Before getting into bed, she silently recited the number one rule for a concubine: Serve Master well! Make him satisfied!
Both clothed in their undergarments, they got onto the bed. Outside, a maid extinguished the lights and drew the curtains.
Feeling uneasy, Ye Zao shifted slightly, only to feel a strong hand wrap around her waist.
In the darkness, Ye Zao curved her lips upward—good, he was interested.
She called out with a tremble, "Master..."
In just one word, captivating and impossible to resist.
Fourth Master's throat tightened, and he unconsciously grunted, pressing Ye Zao beneath him.
After a long while, Ye Zao ached all over—her waist, her legs, everywhere. Fourth Master lay beside her, also gasping for breath.
Before he could command the servant to serve him, he turned over and pressed down on her again.
Ye Zao was almost in tears; this was too much torment.
"Master... your servant will serve you..."
"Shut up!"
Fourth Master had lost some control. This woman, did he not realize that her voice, already somewhat husky, had become even more provocative after what had just happened?
Ye Zao clenched her teeth. Bastard!
However, she could keep her mouth shut, but moving her hands was not up to her anymore. Since he wanted to behave crazily, she'd fight tooth and nail!
With that thought, she extended her arms, hooked them around Fourth Master's neck, and whispered, "Master, have mercy on your servant. It's my first time."
This was playing with fire. Fourth Master, already bursting with pent-up frustration, was further provoked by Ye Zao. How could he resist such words?
Without speaking, it would have been fine, but once she uttered those words, it was uncontrollable.
After the storm of passion, Ye Zao was so ravaged that she couldn't even move her fingers.
Only then did Fourth Master sit up.
Ye Zao, grinding her teeth with anger and enduring the pain, purposefully put on a pitiable and uneasy expression: "Master... I can't get up..."
Now that the master was sitting up, she had to get up and serve him, didn't she?
Fourth Master, probably feeling pleased, did not say much and gave an indifferent grunt of affirmation.
Then he called out for someone to bring tea.
Soon, a maid came in with tea.
Fourth Master took a big gulp of the tea: "Pour another."
Ye Zao watched enviously as Fourth Master drank his tea in big gulps, her throat was parched.
Perhaps she really had pleased Fourth Master because after he finished drinking, he seemed to remember her as an afterthought: "Sit up."
Ye Zao struggled to sit up, wrapped the blanket around herself, took the half bowl of leftover tea from Fourth Master, thanked him, and then drank it down in large gulps.
In the darkness, she didn't notice the corners of Fourth Master's mouth curling into a smile.
The maid did not dare to linger, thinking didn't the master want to wash up?
Once outside, she hurried away.
At this end, Ye Zao was pondering whether she could leave after serving the master with his washing up. She couldn't stand this!
Before she could speak, Fourth Master asked, "Had enough to drink?"
Ye Zao responded with a hum, and then she was overpowered by Fourth Master again.
Internally, she cursed Fourth Master bitterly. On the surface, though, Ye Zao stopped behaving.
Since she was already being ravaged, she might as well find some pleasure in it, right?
The little seductress was willing to cooperate, and the reserved Fourth Master was quite joyful. This time around, they went at it for another Shi Chen.
When calm returned, Ye Zao could no longer speak.
It wasn't until her stomach rumbled that she, resigned to her fate, pretended not to notice and cursed Fourth Master internally. Damn it, not even a meal to eat, just like demons battling... utterly unreasonable.
Fourth Master was surprised for a moment, but he wouldn't ask, assuming it was because Ye Zao hadn't eaten much.
As he was lost in thought, Ye Zao had fallen asleep.
When she next opened her eyes, it was already bright daylight.
Ye Zao was completely dazed, and as she came to her senses, her heart skipped a beat.
This was bad, sleeping in the master's room until broad daylight was not a good sign!
Hurriedly, she sat up and, as soon as she did, felt an all-over body ache. Furious yet unable to show it, she picked up her clothes from the previous night, got dressed while enduring the pain, and got out of bed.
Just as she got down, she saw a rather well-dressed maid come in, respectful on the face but haughty by nature: "Miss is awake. The master has left the estate; you may return when you're ready."
"Might I ask this sister, have you seen my maid Hong Tao?" Ye Zao did not display any dissatisfaction but asked with a smile.
Even if she had spent the night in Fourth Master's bed, she was still a servant come morning.
"She's outside. Miss, please." Yu Ning seemed to snort, but not loud enough for Ye Zao to hear.
Without hesitation, Ye Zao dragged her sore body and left.
She couldn't afford to provoke anyone, not a single soul nowadays.
When Hong Tao saw Ye Zao, she was originally going to smile, but seeing her poor complexion, she held back her smile and came forward to greet her with a bow: "Miss."
"Let's go back," Ye Zao said, supporting herself with Hong Tao's hand.