Chương 2: Chapter 0002 Starting Point Too Low
"Many thanks, Fujin!" Consort Li said, her every move dripping with coquetry as she curtsied gracefully.
No sooner had everyone settled down, than the voice of Su Peisheng announced, "Fourth Master has arrived!"
Everyone hastily rose to their feet, including the Fujin and concubines, bowing deeply, "We greet Fourth Master with respect."
Fourth Master strode in grandly, not lending a hand to anyone, and simply took his seat at the head, "You may all rise and be seated."
The assembly quickly thanked him again.
In her heart, Ye Zao crossed Fourth Master off her list. So many women here, including your chief wife, and not even a helping hand? What a scoundrel!
Once seated, Consort Li smiled, "Elder Princess and Second Prince have missed you dearly. You have finally returned."
At the mention of his children, Fourth Master nodded and glanced towards the two youngsters.
The Second Prince had no recollection of Fourth Master, but the Elder Princess remembered. She quickly stood up, "I pay my respects to Father."
"Hmm, good, take your seat," Fourth Master gave what passed for his attentions to his children.
Consort Li had stolen the limelight, but Fujin seemed not to mind, and soon asked with a smile, "Was everything smooth with your affairs?"
They were helpless; Fourth Master had been back in the residence for three days, and only now did he visit...
"The Fujin's household management is appreciated, everything went well outside," Fourth Master responded indifferently.
With the wife and concubine having spoken, the princesses dared not say more, and the concubines certainly could not. They had no choice but to commence the banquet.
The family banquet was set in the small garden of the main courtyard, which was neither too cold nor uncomfortable now.
Ye Zao took the last seat at the table. She had no choice; after all, she was the latest addition to the household.
The dishes were indeed exquisite, but she dared not eat her fill, and thus ate slowly, taking small bites.
She listened to Consort Li above her, making merry and trying to win favor with her laughter.
Fourth Master seemed slightly impatient, his gaze wandering briefly until it fell upon a woman eating cucumber shreds one by one, head lowered.
He only saw the side of her face, but she was quite pretty.
When the banquet concluded, Consort Li endeavored to take Fourth Master to her room, but with stern principles, he dismissed the idea with a wave, "That will be all. It is getting late."
Fujin forced a smile, "I've been too eager for my sisters' company."
Fourth Master didn't pursue the conversation but walked towards his room. Seeing no apparent embarrassment, Fujin instructed everyone to retreat to their quarters.
Consort Li, though reluctant, didn't dare make a scene at such a time and left with her two children.
Ye Zao followed the crowd, heading towards her own dilapidated lodge at the back.
She made a point not to leave her room unnecessarily, and several days passed.
This day, she had been contemplating asking the Imperial Kitchen to prepare something delectable, as she was quite tired of plain dishes, when Hong Tao came running back, practically panting, "Miss… Miss…"
"What's the matter?" Ye Zao startled, Could it be? She hadn't done anything wrong!
"It's Master… Master… Master is here!" Hong Tao gasped, her flush face reflecting her urgency.
"…Isn't that a good thing?" Ye Zao blinked.
Hong Tao also blinked, then slapped her thigh vigorously, "I'm such a fool! It's a good thing, indeed! No time to change clothes; hurry out to greet him!"
Ye Zao took a deep breath, her face breaking into a smile of mysterious joy mingled with fear as she headed towards the door.
Just as she approached, she saw Fourth Master, clad in a silver-grey robe, approaching with brisk steps.
She knelt at the doorway, "Your servant greets Master. May Master be auspicious."
Fourth Master first gave her a few looks, then hummed an acknowledgment and walked inside.
After the mythical beasts had stampeded through her head, Ye Zao could only look up to Su Peisheng, damn it, was she to rise or not?
Su Peisheng smiled and said, "Miss, aren't you going to attend to the matter quickly?"
You'd better be smart about it! The master's mood has just spiked, and missing this chance would be a loss.
When Ye Zao entered, she saw Fourth Master sitting in front of that broken table, with one hand on the surface, tapping gently.
"Pour tea for your master," Ye Zao said with her head bowed as she poured a cup of freshly brewed tea for Fourth Master, which was quite timely.
He lifted the cup of tea very graciously… Hm, he didn't drink it.
It was undrinkable, nearly like wash water.
Ye Zao felt slightly embarrassed but did not apologize; for a concubine, such apologies seemed somewhat false.
Fourth Master set the teacup down and glanced at her: "How old are you?"
"Responding to your question, I'll be fifteen after the New Year," Ye Zao replied with a hint of shyness and trepidation.
Fourth Master gave a grunt and looked around before suddenly standing up: "Rest for now."
Ye Zao quickly showed a disappointed and frightened look: "This servant bids farewell to the master."
This time, Fourth Master did not even grunt an acknowledgment before swiftly exiting. He walked away quickly, disappearing within a few steps.
Hong Tao dared to come in only after Fourth Master was far away: "Why did the master leave just like that? Was he angry?"
"No, it's broad daylight." Could he stay any longer? Probably just happened to pass by and remembered, oh, there's a woman of his here? Might as well take a look then…
Fourth Master returned to the front courtyard, changed his clothes and then suddenly said, "Bring her over tonight."
Su Peisheng was stunned for a few seconds before hastily acknowledging with a "Yes."
He thought to himself, this Miss Ye, it seems she's about to be favored for a few days. Well, with her looks, she should be favored for a few days.
Mainly because, right now, there was no one in the mansion to the master's liking.
Fujin has always been out of favor, and Consort Li's situation is becoming increasingly unseemly… The master probably doesn't feel like holding her up either.
Princess Song, Princess Yin, all the same sort of thing, might as well be made of wood.
So, the search had to continue among the concubines, and thankfully there would be selections for the draft next year. There were bound to be some appealing new additions, or else what would the master do?
In the front courtyard, when the message came to take Miss Ye to the front, Ye Zao was surprised.
She could receive such treatment? But then it clicked; her shabby lodge no longer suited Fourth Master… So, of course, that was why he was taking her to the front courtyard, wasn't it?
However, in the front courtyard, the top four hands were Su Peisheng, Su Wanfu, Li Anhe, and Li Ankang, and none of them were involved. Instead, it was a lower-ranking little eunuch named Xiao Guizi who came.
"Miss, please come with me," Xiao Guizi said with a smile.
Ye Zao sighed and got up, "Let's go then!"
Damn it, she hadn't had her evening meal; a concubine's life was tough, waiting until dark and still no call!
They passed through the garden on their way to the front courtyard.
In the front courtyard, it was brightly lit. Outside Fourth Master's chamber, even Xiao Guizi couldn't enter; they had to find Su Wanfu first.
After scrutinizing Ye Zao for a moment, Su Wanfu looked rather disdainful: "Wait here, the master is busy."
Ye Zao responded with a smile and stood with proper demeanor; even Hong Tao couldn't accompany her, which really showed how low her status was…
About half a Shi Chen later, which is one hour, Su Peisheng came out: "The master asked why hasn't the person been brought yet?"
Su Wanfu blinked and said with a smile, "This servant did not want to disturb the master's affairs. Miss Ye has been waiting."
"You cur, aren't you going to invite her in?" Su Peisheng hit him on the forehead.
Ye Zao didn't utter a word from start to finish. It was easy to deal with King Yama, but difficult to ward off these little devils. With these dog servants, not one was pleasant to deal with; she must not offend them at all costs!
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