The First Jasmine - Chapter 10

Chapter 10: Concubine Zhao's Plea

"This slave begs the Third Miss to point out a path to survival for this slave," Concubine Zhao knelt on the floor with a thud, begging in a low voice.

Ye Li arched an eyebrow. Lowering her head, she toyed with the jewelry inside the box and said with a look of feigned confusion, "What sort of words are those, Concubine Zhao? Who in our estate doesn't know that Father dotes on you above all others? Aside from the Old Matriarch and the Madam, isn't every fine item in this household channeled straight to you first? Could it be... that you still harbor some dissatisfaction?"

The smile on Concubine Zhao's face turned somewhat bitter. "This slave wouldn't dare. Although this slave hails from a humble background, I did manage to read books for a few years, so how could I not know that my current lifestyle is immensely glamorous? It is only that... I fear that the moment the Madam frees up her hands, it will be the day of this slave's demise."

Qingshuang knitted her brows and countered, "What sort of nonsense is that, Concubine Zhao? Why are you spouting such words right in front of our miss? Furthermore, our miss is about to be married out in a couple of months; what could she possibly do to help you? If you have this kind of free time, you would be much better off begging the Old Matriarch and the Master." Qingshuang felt immense displeasure regarding Concubine Zhao's intent to drag her own mistress into confronting Madam Wang; this woman truly possessed immense audacity to actually try to utilize her mistress.

"Qingshuang speaks the truth. You likewise know that I am to wed and leave the estate in two months. Even if I can assist you for a fleeting moment, I fear it will be of little use down the line. Furthermore... why should I offend Consort Ye in the palace for your sake? So long as Consort Ye and Fourth Sister remain standing, neither you nor I possess the ability to topple the Madam," Ye Li stared at her, questioning flatly.

Concubine Zhao bit her cherry-red lips until they turned somewhat pale. How could she possibly remain ignorant of this reality? Yet even if she knew, what of it? She had originally thought that having a child would grant her a lifelong reliance, but that vicious Madam Wang refused to permit her to even carry a child to term; over these past few days, she had faintly perceived that something was amiss with the servants around her. Had it not been for this sudden imperial marriage decree, she feared Madam Wang would have already acted against her. "Third Miss, this slave begs for nothing else, only that the Third Miss can assist this slave in preserving my child. This slave will certainly be endlessly grateful for the Third Miss's monumental grace and virtue!"

"You...!"

With tears streaming down her face, Concubine Zhao nodded and said, "This slave has only been in the estate for a few short months, yet I have already lost one child. This child must be preserved regardless of the cost; I beg the Third Miss to lend this slave a helping hand."

Ye Li let out a soft sigh, nodding toward Qingshuang. Qingshuang stepped forward to assist Concubine Zhao to her feet, guiding her to sit upon a nearby chair. Qingshuang's right hand rested briefly upon Concubine Zhao's wrist before pulling back, offering a subtle, unnoticeable nod to Ye Li.

Ye Li accepted the handkerchief presented by Qingshuang and handed it to Concubine Zhao, speaking softly, "It is not that I am unwilling to assist you, but rather that I am genuinely incapable of helping. I am to leave the estate in two months, yet looking at your current condition, it will take at least several months more before the child is delivered, correct?" Hearing this, a trace of absolute despair flitted across Concubine Zhao's face. Clutching the handkerchief tightly in her hands as her tears spilled over, she murmured, "Could it be... could it be that this child is fated to never enter this world? I... I only pray that he can be birthed safely and live a proper life, even if it means he never stays within this Ye Estate or holds the status of a young master of the Ye family!"

Ye Li watched her anguished expression in silence. She could see with crystal clarity that every word Concubine Zhao uttered at this moment was entirely sincere; she was truly desperate for the survival of this child's life rather than scheming for any potential future wealth or status for herself. Ye Li was by no means a cold-blooded individual, yet by the same token, she was not someone easily swayed by impulsive passion either.

"Third Miss! So long as this slave can safely deliver this child, this slave is entirely willing to have him adopted under the name of the late Madam to continue her lineage and ancestral offerings! This slave can swear an oath to never acknowledge him as my own for the rest of my life!"

Ye Li's expression never faltered, looking upon her flatly as she countered, "My mother has already passed away for several years, and I care absolutely nothing for the so-called continuation of ancestral offerings. Furthermore, for one, the gender of this child remains undetermined. For another, given his age, even if you refuse to acknowledge him forever, won't he naturally harbor suspicions once he grows up? If he were adopted under my mother's name, this child would become a legitimate son, holding a status that directly supersedes Master Rong birthed by Madam Wang. I fear that even if he were birthed safely, he would still fail to survive. Ever since my mother passed away, not a single child has been born alive within this estate. Given Madam Wang's disposition, how could she ever permit someone to press down upon her own son's head?"

Concubine Zhao also realized that her words had been spoken out of sheer impulse. Lowering her head with a wave of vexation, her eyes thoroughly bloodshot, she murmured, "It was this slave who spoke improperly. I beg the Third Miss to save this slave; regardless of the circumstances... this child is ultimately a blood relative sharing the Third Miss's lineage..."

Ye Li contemplated for a brief moment, then questioned, "Father's exclusive dote or this child—which one do you want?"

Concubine Zhao froze, entirely uncomprehending as to why Ye Li would pose such a question. Yet she reacted swiftly, and after a brief pause, a trace of fierce resolve flashed across her face. Gritting her teeth, she declared, "I want the child! So long as this child lives a proper life, it matters not even if I can never gaze upon him for the rest of my days!"

"I have heard that some individuals possess a wretched horoscope that can negatively impact the marriage prospects and offspring of their household." A blanket of silence descended upon the room for a brief moment before Ye Li's voice drifted out in a leisurely manner.

"The Third Miss intends for me to...?!" Concubine Zhao stared in utter astonishment at the serene young lady before her.

"Do not execute it yourself, lest you leave any traces behind and end up spoiling the endeavor instead."

Concubine Zhao finally understood why Ye Li had questioned whether she desired the child or the Master's exclusive dote. Currently, the Fourth Miss of the estate was on the verge of marrying Prince Li as his primary consort, while the health of the only son birthed by Madam Wang had always been fragile. If she saddled herself with the reputation of possessing a wretched horoscope, she could forget about ever receiving the Master's dote again for the rest of her life. Instead, it was highly probable she would be expelled from the household or sent away to a suburban or a temple to convalesce. At present, the estate happened to be celebrating grand marriage alliances, so they would absolutely never expel her from the family easily; thus, she would merely be sent out of the estate. If they were to be a fraction more ruthless and send her further away, she feared she would never return to the capital for the rest of her days.

"This is the maximum extent to which I can assist you. What you said is correct; this child is ultimately my sibling regardless of the circumstances. Our family possesses a suburban located in Yunzhou; if you arrive there, I shall naturally guarantee the safety of both mother and child. Go back and contemplate it yourself; once you have thought it through completely, give me word." Having finished speaking, Ye Li paid no further heed to Concubine Zhao's reaction, rising to walk into the inner chambers.

Although Concubine Zhao hailed from a humble background, she had originally been a daughter of a scholarly household. She naturally knew exactly what sort of place Yunzhou was, and knew even better that Yunzhou was the precise location of Great Chu's premier academy—the Lishan Academy. And the Lishan Academy belonged to the Gu family. Ye Li's statement that she could guarantee her safety once she arrived in Yunzhou was by no means a superficial dismissal. In any case, given her own low status, even if Madam Wang fell from grace, she could never become the primary mistress of the household. Yunzhou was a gathering hub of cultural refinement and exceptional talents; if she could deliver a baby boy... it would be countless times better than remaining in this estate waiting to be put to death by Madam Wang. Having processed these realities, Concubine Zhao rose to her feet and knelt down once more. "This slave offers profound thanks for the Third Miss's monumental grace and virtue!"

Ye Li's footsteps faltered for a fraction of a second as she replied flatly, "This is your own choice." Her elegant, clear silhouette vanished completely behind the folding screen.

Ye Li sat down and casually retrieved a book to read. The matter regarding Concubine Zhao was by no means devoid of better solutions, but executing them would cause her to incur a massive amount of complications. Which woman in this era was not a pitiable creature? She could not possibly assist them all even if she wished to, and she simply lacked such grand capabilities. Before long, Qingshuang walked inside carrying a tray of tea. "Why is Miss reading books again? It isn't as though we are competing to become the Top Scholar."

"Has she departed?" Ye Li placed the book down and questioned.

Qingshuang nodded and replied, "She even made quite a scene at the courtyard entrance before finally leaving."

"Concubine Zhao is an intelligent woman. It is highly probable that upon her return, she will even lodge a complaint against me right in front of Father," accepting the teacup from Qingshuang's hands, Ye Li remarked with a smile.

Qingshuang felt a wave of anxiety. "The Master won't punish Miss, will he?"

"Even if Father is incredibly partial, he will never punish a daughter who is on the verge of marrying out over a few casual complaints from a mere concubine."

"That is reassuring then. I had almost forgotten—our mistress is the future Princess Consort Ding. Even that Princess Consort Li must curtsy and pay respects upon encountering our miss. But for Miss to agree to assist her so quickly... what if she turns around and bites us back in the future...?" Qingshuang remarked with a degree of worry.

"She is far too heavily favored, and the Madam cannot tolerate her existence. She is a clever woman, so she naturally understands the precise price that must be paid for utilizing me."

"It is enough that Miss has a clear plan in mind.”