Golden Age Legitimate Fei Chapter 44

Chapter 44: Concubine’s Place

"Young Miss, Madam has come."

In the elegant Qing Yi Court, decorated for comfort, Ye Li held a needle in hand preparing to do some embroidery work; but then, Qing Xia came in to announce this.

Ye Li placed the embroidery tools down, looked up, and asked: "How is she so free as to come here?"

Since Ye Ying's wedding two days ago, w.a.n.g-s.h.i.+ was a busy mess. In the past two days, within the manor, there were rumors that the baby inside Concubine Zhao's stomach had conflicting destinies with Ye Ying and Ye Rong. The news spread and shook heaven and earth. Minister Ye hated he didn't have two heads. On one side was his daughter who became the Princess Consort Li and his only precious son. On the other side were his favored concubine and future son. What is important and what is not important, it is not as if Minister Ye did not know. It is just looking at Concubine Zhao's pitiful face, crying until the pear blossoms were drenched in rain, his heart was reluctant. Unfortunately, the day after Ye Ying's wedding, Ye Rong was inexplicably scared by a carriage on his way to school. So scared, he was bedridden for two days. w.a.n.g-s.h.i.+ made even more noise.

When w.a.n.g-s.h.i.+ entered, her face showed a rare kindness and peace, different than usual in front of Ye Li. It is a pity that Ye Li was not a b.a.s.t.a.r.d child of a concubine that needed to consider her complexion to live. Moreover, nor was she a small pitiful child that did not understand anything. So, she just got up and performed the perfunctory ceremony. "Fourth Younger Sister has returned, how is Madam so free as to come here?"

w.a.n.g-s.h.i.+ smiled amiably. She considered that she was being very harmonious and personable as she said, "Prince Ding's Manor has picked the time; in these next few days, they will deliver the bride price. Li-er's marriage is fast approaching; I have come to see if everything is prepared satisfactorily."

Ye Li invited w.a.n.g-s.h.i.+ to take a seat. She said, "There are Lin-mama and my wetnurse taking care of everything. Moreover, my aunt often visits to look things over. There is nothing wrong. Have troubled Madam."

The smile on w.a.n.g-s.h.i.+'s face stiffened. The words of Ye Li, pa.s.sing through her ears, was simply implying that her, as a step-mother, was negligent. In fact, Ye Li did not have this idea because, in her heart, she did not think that w.a.n.g-s.h.i.+ had the obligation to care for her marriage. As long as w.a.n.g-s.h.i.+ didn't obstruct, that was fine.

"Actually… I have come today because there is something I wanted to discuss with Li-er." w.a.n.g-s.h.i.+ quickly regained her previous complexion and earnestly looked at Ye Li.

Ye Li's delicate brows raised slightly and she sent a puzzled look at w.a.n.g-s.h.i.+.

w.a.n.g-s.h.i.+ sighed and said: "These past days, Li-er have probably heard of it. Is it not that I, the legitimate wife, cannot be tolerant, but it is Concubine Zhao's child that has conflicting destinies with the legitimate children of the Ye family. The previous day, I had deliberately sought out Daoist Priest Ling Xu from s.h.i.+uyun Temple; he said that in the past life, this child of Concubine Zhao has a grudge against our family. If he is born, he will be the scourge of our Ye family… You see… Since the news came of her pregnancy, things have not gone smoothly in our house. Yet, time after time, Master always protects her…"

Ye Li calmly listened to w.a.n.g-s.h.i.+ speak her dissatisfaction with Concubine Zhao and Minister Ye. w.a.n.g-s.h.i.+ deliberately pulled together Concubine Zhao's child and the legitimate children of the Ye family. If one talks about legitimate children, who could compare to Ye Li as the original legitimate child? If it was not that she did not believe in these sort of things, after seeing Ye Ying's unfortunate wedding, one is afraid that others might really want to pull the child out of Concubine Zhao.

"Madam's meaning is? Regardless, that child is the flesh and blood of our Ye family. Also, it is Ye Li's younger brother. Naturally, father will be distressed." Ye Li calmly tossed the issue back at w.a.n.g-s.h.i.+. If it was not that Concubine Zhao was very careful, w.a.n.g-s.h.i.+ was unable to find a good opportunity, why would this woman come to find Ye Li for a discussion? If she really took the bait and w.a.n.g-s.h.i.+ came up with some ideas, whatever happens in the future can only be shouldered by her.

Startled, w.a.n.g-s.h.i.+ gritted her teeth and smiled. "No matter how it is said, afraid that this child… The situation with Ye Ying had caused the Ye family to lose all face. If Li-er's marriage also had some problems, our family really will not have any face left."

Ye Li showed a bit of obedience and faintly smiled. She said: "I am afraid that I cannot be the one to the make this decision. It is more appropriate if Madam went to discuss this matter with Old Madam and father. A daughter marries out and follows the husband. Moreover…. In regards to Li-er's marriage, there is no face to speak of." Once she is married out, her last name is Mo; even if that baby wanted to bring misfortune on to anybody, it would not be her turn to come forth to solve the problem. Shouldn't it be those people with the family name Ye that comes out?

Seeing that soft and hard methods were ineffective against Ye Li, w.a.n.g-s.h.i.+ knew that she could not get the results that she wanted here. Pretending to comfort Ye Li, she took the deformed handkerchief in her hand and left.

w.a.n.g-s.h.i.+ just left and Lin-mama and Wei-mama came out.

"Young Miss, this w.a.n.g-s.h.i.+'s heart is so black. You can never fall for her schemes." Wei-mama angrily said.

Ye Li raised her eyebrows, smiled and said: "Wetnurse saw her intentions?"

Wei-mama said: "What else can she mean? She wanted to pull Concubine Zhao down and dragged Young Miss to build the raft. If Young Miss was easily swayed and actually listened to her, in the future when news spread that a daughter interfered in the affairs of her father's house, merciless towards her own concubine-born step-brother, Young Miss's reputation would be ruined."

Lin-mama smiled and comforted Wei-mama: "Sister, do not worry. I can see that Young Miss has her own thoughts and calculations."

Ye Li nodded and said: "w.a.n.g-s.h.i.+ would obviously not let Concubine Zhao go. But the manor has many things to take care and she has not had the opportunity to show her hand."

Lin-mama thoughtfully said: "Young Miss's meaning is that Concubine Zhao should be saved?"

Ye Li shook her head. "Can't be considered as save. Everything is for my own self-interest. These past days, Concubine Zhao helped me quite a bit. Moreover, I see that Madam's teachings to Rong-er have not amounted to much. In the future, the Ye family still wants someone to give incense to the ancestors."

Lin-mama immediately said: "Just afraid that Concubine Zhao will become more ambitious."

Ye Li shook her hands, smiled, and said: "If she is clever, she should know that we do not have a conflict of interest."

After a thought, Lin-mama laughed and said: "Young Miss is thoughtful; this servant has worried too much."

Ye Li smiled and shook her head. "In the end, I am still young. There are things that I have not thought of. Later, I still need instructions from mama and wetnurse."

In the evening, w.a.n.g-s.h.i.+ did not know what to say to Minister Ye to have Concubine Zhao sent to the Ye family's old home to await giving birth. Of course, Concubine Zhao wailed and cried for a while. The other concubines in the manor saw Concubine Zhao's miserable look and could not help the pity that formed. Ye family's ancestral home was not fertile or rich, but in the southwest region of Great Chu close to the prefecture of Bingzhou. Not only was it in a mountainous region, it was also thousands of miles away from the capital. Since Minister Ye took a government post in the capital and brought Old Madam Ye along, the Ye family had not returned to their former home. In the earlier years, even the ancestral hall was moved to the capital. In Bingzhou, there was only the old house and a bit of land handed over to other members of the family to look after. Do not ask if Concubine Zhao will be alive if she were there; since she is pregnant, first one should consider if she would be alive during the journey.

Minister Ye's face was a bit dour, but seeing his beloved concubine beg with such a miserable and pitiful look, he did not open his mouth from beginning to end. Ye Li looked calmly at Concubine Zhao as her face changed from a bit of sadness to total despair; though there were some elements of acting, there were hints of truth beneath. Minister Ye's heartlessness caused Concubine Zhao to feel cold.

"Father." Seeing all the noise, Ye Li opened her mouth and spoke. "Not speaking of how far Bingzhou is, traveling on the roads is also difficult. Ordinary people may not be able to make it, let alone Concubine Zhao is pregnant."

Minister Ye's face changed. Fretting, he looked at Ye Li and said: "Then, what ideas does Li-er have?"

Ye Li lowered her eyes and calmly said: "Madam has the intention for Concubine Zhao to leave the capital to rest. Why do we have to send her all the way to Bing Zhou? If something were to happen on the road…. Older Sister Zhao Yi has the dragon heir, we should do moral things on her behalf."

w.a.n.g-s.h.i.+'s face paled. She was so angry; her heart and liver quivering. Saying it was her intention? Also, cursing her daughter and grandchild!

Old Madam Ye frowned. "Then, what does Li-er think would be more appropriate?"

Ye Li smiled weakly. "Though we must believe in destiny and fate, we cannot fully believe it. Anyway, Concubine Zhao is pregnant with a child of the Ye family. If others knew, they would say that the Ye family does not care for familial relations. As for where Concubine Zhao should go, presumably, father and grandmother already have their own plans."

Minister Ye measured Ye Li. With an intent to probe in his eyes, he said: "Our family still has a place in Yunzhou; the weather of Yunzhou is also quite comfortable. How about we send Concubine Zhao to Yunzhou?"

"Naturally, everything is decided by father and grandmother."

Old Madam Ye considered Concubine Zhao. She looked at Ye Li, laughed, and said: "What your father said is very good. Yunzhou is the center for scholars and educated people. Perhaps, this could pressure the child's destiny."

Ye Li respectfully said: "Grandmother is right. It could only be done as such so that our Ye family would prosper." Destiny? A baby who isn't even born, where is this destiny coming from?

Old Madam Ye nodded, satisfied that Ye Li understood this logic. "It is still Li-er that is sensible. In that case, this matter should be settled like this."

Concubine Zhao kneeled in the hall and glanced at w.a.n.g-s.h.i.+ with a face full of unwillingness. She respectfully bowed to Old Madam Ye, "This servant thank Old Madam for her grace. Thanking Master and Third Young Miss for their grace."

Ye Li smiled and said to Concubine Zhao, "Concubine Zhao, quickly get up. This is grandmother and father's grace. We, of the younger generation, could only listen. This time the journey that Concubine will embark on will be long and arduous. Once younger brother is born, he will still depend on Concubine. Do not let down grandmother and father."

Concubine Zhao nodded, "This servant thank Young Miss for the reminder."