"What's the matter?" Fourth Master already had a hunch, probably wanting to go back and check on his family.
"When your servant left that day, I was... afraid that back home, Father might not take it well. My birth mother is actually a highly upright person, and with Uncle behaving in such a manner, I fear he too must be deeply affected. Your servant wishes to take a look and explain, so that Father can be reassured by how well Master treats his servant," Ye Zao said with a smile, slightly embarrassed.
"Granted. It will just have to wait a few more days," Fourth Master thought to himself, still mulling over her wretched uncle. That man was no use, and it was imperative to get rid of him as soon as possible.
"Yes, your servant is not in a hurry. Thank you, Master," Ye Zao hurriedly said with a smile.
"Rise," Fourth Master gestured with his hand.
Only then did Ye Zao breathe a sigh of relief and stand up.
"Your servant being here, would it not be a hindrance to Master's affairs? Your servant will take her leave?" She looked around and felt there was no need to stay.
What could one possibly do in broad daylight?
Fourth Master grunted in acknowledgment, "Tomorrow, I shall visit you."
Ye Zao quickly gave thanks and then withdrew.
Upon coming out, she bowed with a smile to Su Peisheng, "Your servant takes her leave."
Su Peisheng also smiled back, "Ah, take care."
When Fourth Master had slammed the table earlier, Su Peisheng had heard it all. Miss Ye, coming out still looking as beautiful as a flower and not the least bit disheveled, it was clear that Fourth Master did have affection for her.
Fourth Master wouldn't waste his efforts on this matter; he just needed to give orders.
Qi Tai and his entire family, they could no longer stay in the Capital.
Being sent to an inhospitable place would be sufficient.
Yet, Fourth Master couldn't be too conspicuous in doing so.
After all, he was still just a Prince.
However, Qi Tai was eventually sent to Qinghai. But that's a story for another time, so let's leave it at that for now.
Speaking of which, Ye Zao had been called to attend the bedchamber the night before, and early this morning, she was summoned to the front courtyard and was then rewarded with many gifts.
There was bound to be some stirrings in the back courtyard.
Furthermore, around midday, Fourth Master arrived.
Fujin was slightly surprised and hurried to welcome Fourth Master in.
"Master, Auspicious," she greeted.
"Rise. I am here to have a meal with you," Fourth Master said as he sat down.
Ulaanala knew in her heart that there must be something he wanted to tell her.
Indeed, after the tea was served, Fourth Master got straight to the point.
He succinctly recounted Lady Ye's background, "She was deceived. From now on, Fujin, please look after her a bit."
Fujin was also quite astounded; so it was like this! Although a county magistrate is not a high-ranking official,
Miss Ye's father was a genuine Jinshi, which is not an ordinary status.
That qualifies one for the imperial draft.
"This Qi Tai is despicable, to deceive even his own niece!" In truth, wasn't this essentially dooming the girl's entire life?
If given the choice, which girl would wish to become a Concubine?
Then looking at Lady Zhang and Lady Chang, Lady Zhang was a merchant's daughter, Lady Chang came from a family that hadn't produced officials for eight generations.
They were merely good-looking.
Moreover, compared to them, Princess Yin's family was not outstanding either, pretty much on a par with Lady Ye.
But, such thoughts must not be spoken aloud, for saying so would upset Fourth Master.
"Hmm, have her come home for a visit in a few days," Fourth Master said. "Since she hasn't done any household work before, I have assigned two maids to serve her."
"It is only right, and I am aware. I will surely take care of her in the future," Lady Ulaanala said.
"You don't need to go to extremes; after all, she is merely a concubine," Fourth Master was a stickler for propriety.
Lady Ulaanala agreed to everything. When it was time for the midday meal, Fourth Master naturally stayed.
In the afternoon, Lady Ulaanala also bestowed many gifts upon Lady Ye.
This indeed puzzled the women of the back courtyard.
Consort Fujin Li sat on the couch, frowning, "What does this mean? The Master rewards, and the Fujin also rewards? Could it be that Lady Ye is pregnant?"
"How could that be? She has served in his bed for such a short time. Even if she were, could it be detected in half a month? As for the Master, of course, he likes her for being young and beautiful. As for the Fujin... over these years, hasn't it always been that whichever woman the Master likes, the Fujin rewards that same woman? Didn't Princess Song receive quite a bit of rewards from the Fujin in her time? And what became of her?" Zhao Fugui said with a grin.
Lady Li grunted in acknowledgment. Princess Song had been favored for quite a long time back in the day, but what became of her?
She gave birth to a child that did not survive, and even her own health was ruined...
"All you need to do is take care of yourself. My advice as a servant is that the Master is quite taken with her now, so you better not punish Lady Ye again." The previous punishment in the garden was likely already known to the Master.
Although, for Consort Fujin to punish a concubine isn't a big deal.
However, now that the Master favors her, it is not wise to rub him the wrong way.
"Hmph, I understand," said Lady Li, who deeply trusted Zhao Fugui. This eunuch was smart and tactful.
It was partly due to his help that Lady Song was defeated, although Lady Song's own failings played a significant role.
Now, if Zhao Fugui deemed Lady Ye inconsequential, then she must be so.
But then again, what can a mere concubine possibly do? Even if she turns the world upside down, isn't she still just a concubine?
What can really change?
"Forget everything else; I'm not worried about Lady Ye. But if she does get pregnant...and it's granted to the main courtyard..." that wouldn't be good.
The child of a concubine would likely be registered as the Fujin's from the start, and with a single notation on the jade registry, it would become the legitimate heir.
"Oh my, even if she's lucky enough to become pregnant, she still has to carry to term... and even if she manages to give birth, she has to deliver a living child, and, having delivered a living child, she still has to raise it to adulthood. Don't worry, Master; as long as you give birth to a son, even if Lady Ye bears sons for the Fujin, it would make no difference!"
Zhao Fugui wasn't worried about this at all. He was only concerned that Lady Li was too impulsive, hoping she wouldn't end up offending the Master.
"Alright, you keep an eye on things. If she's pregnant, she needs to be rewarded with medicine; how else can she give birth? Giving birth is incredibly exhausting," Consort Fujin Li said as she rubbed her belly and smiled.
"Yes, servant will look after it!" Zhao Fugui also thought that if she was pregnant, the pregnancy had to be terminated; how could they wait for her to give birth?
Causing a concubine to miscarry was all too easy.
Lady Ye, on the other hand, wasn't thinking about these things. She simply lay there pondering her wishes, having achieved one of them.
At the very least, she had achieved half of her goal.
Firstly, she wanted Fourth Master to know that despite her humble origins, she wasn't lowly.
At the very least, she was a descendant of officials, and it was only due to her unscrupulous uncle's deception that she became a concubine, not out of her own volition.
Secondly... she wanted Fourth Master to be attracted to her, at least to the extent that she would have a firm baseline.
And central to the success of this second goal was achieving the first.
Now that the first was accomplished, the second would depend on time.
Blinking, she thought of her despicable cheap uncle. "Just wait for your misfortune. The more glory I attain, the worse it will be for you!"
Lady Ye did not possess the saintly heart to repay evil with kindness; her mindset was one of revenge and retribution.
No rush; every single tally was noted in her little black book.
There's plenty of time in the future to settle scores slowly!
"Ah Ling, I feel like having ribs tonight. Take some silver and find Xiao Shunzi; be sure to speak to him kindly," Lady Ye instructed.