The First Jasmine - Chapter 44

Chapter 44: The Concubine's Destination

"Miss, the Madam has arrived."

Within the comfortably and elegantly arranged Qingyi Pavilion, Ye Li was holding her needle and thread, contemplating the embroidery piece in her hand, when Qingxia entered to report.

Ye Li set down her embroidery and raised her head. "How does she still find the leisure to come here?" Ever since Ye Ying's wedding suffered such a massive fiasco two days ago, Wang-shi had been busy to the point of utter chaos. To make matters worse, a rumor had just spread through the manor over the past two days claiming that the child in Concubine Zhao's womb clashed with the fates of Ye Ying and Ye Rong, throwing the household into absolute turmoil.

Minister Ye was also suffering from a massive headache. On one side was his daughter who had just become the Princess Consort of Prince Li and his only son; on the other side was his most favored concubine and his future son. It wasn't that Minister Ye could not clearly distinguish which side carried more weight, but looking upon Concubine Zhao's pear-blossom-bathed-in-rain, weeping countenance, his heart remained somewhat unable to let go.

Unfortunately, on the second day after Ye Ying's grand wedding, Ye Rong's horse carriage was inexplicably startled on his way to the academy, frightening him to the point that he had been lying in bed for the past two days. Because of this, Wang-shi had raised an even greater uproar.

When Wang-shi walked inside, the expression upon her face bore a geniality that was exceptionally rare whenever she faced Ye Li. Unfortunately, Ye Li was neither a concubine-born son or daughter who had to rely on her countenance to survive, nor a pathetic little thing who was young and understood absolutely nothing. Consequently, she merely rose to her feet and flatly paid her respects. "Fourth Sister is about to make her ceremonial return to her maternal home; how does the Madam possess the leisure to come over?"

Wang-shi wore a smile she deemed to be amiable and kind, stating, "The Prince Ding Imperial Manor has already selected a date and will be coming over within these next two days to deliver the betrothal gifts. Li'er, your wedding date is also drawing near, so I came to see if there is anything that hasn't been thoroughly prepared."

Ye Li invited Wang-shi to take a seat, replying, "With Nanny Lin and my wet nurse managing matters, and with Maternal Aunt and Clan Aunt also coming over to look after things several times, everything is already without any issues. I must trouble the Madam for keeping it in your thoughts."

The smile upon Wang-shi's face stiffened slightly. To her ears, Ye Li's words sounded practically as though she were declaring that she, the legal mother, had been derelict in her duties. In truth, Ye Li genuinely didn't harbor such a thought in her mind, because she had never believed that Wang-shi possessed an obligation to orchestrate her wedding. As long as appearances were kept up on the surface, it would suffice.

"In truth... I came today because I possess another matter I wish to discuss with you, Li'er." Wang-shi very quickly restored her countenance, looking at Ye Li with immense earnestness.

Ye Li's elegant brows rose slightly, looking at her with mild bewilderment.

Wang-shi let out a long sigh. "You must have also heard of the occurrences over these past few days, Li'er. It isn't that I, the legal wife and mother, cannot tolerate others, but that child of the Zhao clan truly clashes with the fates of the Ye manor's legal-born children. The day before yesterday, I deliberately went to the Shuiyun Daoist Temple to entreat Daoist Master Lingxu; he stated that this child of the Zhao clan shared an enmity with our household in a past life, and was born solely to bring disaster upon our Ye family. Look for yourself... ever since the news spread that she was pregnant, absolutely nothing has gone smoothly for our household. Yet the Master still blindly protects her..."

Ye Li calmly listened to Wang-shi ramble on and on, voicing her dissatisfaction toward Concubine Zhao and Minister Ye. Wang-shi had deliberately dragged out the narrative of Concubine Zhao's child clashing with the Ye manor's legal-born line; yet when it came to being legal-born, who in the Ye family was more authentic and legitimate than Ye Li? If it were someone else who lacked her foresight and truly believed in such superstition, after witnessing Ye Ying's disastrous wedding, they might genuinely have developed an aversion toward Concubine Zhao and her unborn child.

"What is the Madam's meaning then? No matter what is said, that child is ultimately the flesh and blood of our Ye family, and is also Li'er's paternal younger sibling; Father naturally cherishes it." Ye Li feather-lightly tossed the problem straight back to Wang-shi. If it weren't for the fact that Concubine Zhao guarded herself strictly, leaving Wang-shi entirely unable to find an opportunity to strike, why would she have come to discuss matters with her? If she truly fell for the trap and offered some sort of counsel, whenever an incident occurred in the future, that bucket of dirty water could fundamentally only be consumed by herself.

Wang-shi was startled, grinding her teeth as she forced a smile. "No matter what is said, that child is feared to be... Ying'er's affair has already caused the Ye family to lose all face. If any further issue arises with Li'er's wedding, our household will truly possess no face left to speak of."

Ye Li lowered her eyes and offered a shallow smile, stating, "I am afraid I cannot make the decision regarding this matter; Madam had still better thoroughly discuss it with Father and Grandmother. As a daughter, once I wed, I must follow my husband. Furthermore... Li'er's wedding possesses no face left to speak of anyway. Once I am wed, my surname will change to Mo. Even if that child truly intends to clash with someone's fate, it would still be the turn of those who still bear the surname Ye first, would it not?"

Beholding Ye Li being so completely impervious to both soft and hard approaches, Wang-shi also knew she could not obtain the result she desired here. Faking a round of comfort toward Ye Li, she then clutched her nearly deformed handkerchief within her hand and departed.

"Miss, this Wang-shi's intentions are so sinister; you must absolutely never fall for her trap." The moment Wang-shi left, Nanny Lin and Nurse Wei emerged from the inner room, Nurse Wei's face entirely covered in fury as she spoke.

Ye Li raised her brows and laughed. "Wet Nurse perceived her meaning?"

Nurse Wei stated, "What other meaning could there be? She wishes to act disadvantageously toward Concubine Zhao herself, yet she dragged Miss along to serve as a shield. If Miss were soft-eared and truly listened to her words, once word spreads in the future that a daughter interfered in the affairs of her father's chambers—showing a lack of benevolence toward a concubine mother and a lack of kindness toward a younger sibling—it would bound to ruin Miss's reputation."

Nanny Lin comforted Nurse Wei with a smile, saying, "Sister, do not be anxious either; I see that Miss bound to possess her own calculations in her heart."

Ye Li nodded her head and said, "Wang-shi will inevitably find herself unable to tolerate Concubine Zhao. It is merely that there are currently too many affairs inside the manor, leaving her without an opportunity to strike."

Nanny Lin spoke with deep thought, "Does Miss's meaning imply that we should save that Concubine Zhao?"

Ye Li shook her head. "It cannot truly be considered saving her; we are merely each deriving our own benefits. Over these past days, Concubine Zhao has also aided me with quite a few matters. Furthermore, I see that Rong'er has been taught by the Madam to be somewhat lacking in proper decorum; the Ye family must ultimately still leave behind a trace of incense and lineage for the future."

Nanny Lin remarked, "It is merely feared that Concubine Zhao's heart will grow too ambitious in the future."

Ye Li waved her hand and laughed. "If she is intelligent, she ought to know that there is no conflict of interest between myself and her."

Nanny Lin pondered for a moment before smiling. "Miss's considerations are thorough; this old servant was overly anxious."

Ye Li shook her head with a smile. "I am young after all, so there will always be areas I fail to consider. In the future, I must still trouble Nanny and Wet Nurse to offer more pointers."

By the time evening arrived, Wang-shi had somehow successfully swayed Minister Ye to agree to send Concubine Zhao back to the Ye family's ancestral estate to await childbirth. Concubine Zhao naturally engaged in a massive bout of weeping, wailing, and pleading, and the remaining few concubines inside the manor could not help but display expressions of intolerance upon beholding Concubine Zhao's wretched state.

One must know that the Ye clan's ancestral home was no flat and prosperous land; it was precisely Bingzhou, located near the borders of Great Chu's southwest. Not only was it a place of barren hills and treacherous waters, but it was also separated from the capital by a distance of thousands of miles. Ever since Minister Ye achieved an official post in the capital and fetched Old Madame Ye over, the Ye family had never returned to their ancestral home. In earlier years, even the ancestral hall had been entirely relocated to the capital, leaving behind only an old manor and a small plot of land in Bingzhou to be overseen by the clan relatives of the main house. Let alone whether Concubine Zhao could live well after returning, whether she could even survive the journey there while carrying a pregnancy was itself a massive ordeal.

A trace of intolerance also surfaced within Minister Ye's expression, yet looking upon his former beloved concubine's bitter pleading, he consistently refused to relent. Ye Li flatly watched the expression upon Concubine Zhao's face gradually transform from initial grief into absolute despair. Although there were components of acting involved, there was clearly also a fraction of genuine emotion within. Minister Ye being so completely heartless must have truly caused Concubine Zhao's heart to turn cold.

"Father." Beholding that the commotion was roughly sufficient, Ye Li opened her mouth to speak, "Not to mention that the distance to Bingzhou is exceedingly remote, traversing the roads is also exceptionally arduous. Even an ordinary individual might not necessarily endure it, let alone Concubine Zhao who is currently carrying a pregnancy."

Minister Ye's expression shifted slightly. Looking toward Ye Li, he asked, "Then what thoughts does Li'er have?"

Ye Li lowered her eyes, stating flatly, "Since the Madam's meaning is to send Concubine Zhao away from the capital to be provided for, why must she absolutely be sent to Bingzhou? In the event that an accident occurs on the road... Eldest Sister Zhaoyi is currently carrying the imperial lineage; we ought to accumulate blessings for her instead."

Wang-shi's face turned white, her heart trembling with absolute fury. What did she mean by it was her meaning? She was even cursing her precious daughter and grandchild!

Old Madame Ye knit her brows and asked, "Then where does Li'er deem suitable?"

Ye Li offered a shallow smile. "Although the saying of standard horoscopes and fates cannot be entirely disbelieved, it cannot be completely believed either. No matter what, the one Concubine Zhao carries is ultimately still a descendant of our Ye family. If outsiders learn of this, they will say our Ye family does not care for our own flesh and blood. As for where Concubine Zhao goes, presumably Father and Grandmother naturally possess your own plans."

Minister Ye cast a deep glance at Ye Li, his eyes blatantly carrying a trace of testing as he spoke, "Our household possesses an estate villa in Yunzhou, and the climate of Yunzhou is also pleasant. How about we send the Zhao clan to Yunzhou instead?"

"Naturally, everything shall be decided by Father and Grandmother."

Old Madame Ye re-evaluated Concubine Zhao for a moment, before looking toward Ye Li with a smile. "What your father says is correct. Yunzhou is a land of spiritual grace and talented individuals, having produced numerous scholars and sages throughout successive generations; perhaps it can suppress this child's horoscope."

Ye Li spoke respectfully, "Grandmother speaks the truth. As long as the Ye family is well, only then will we be well, will we not?" Horoscope? Where does an unborn child derive a horoscope from?

Old Madame Ye nodded her head in satisfaction. For the sake of Ye Li'er's understanding of the greater decorum, she stated, "Li'er remains the sensible one. Since it is so, this matter shall be settled as such."

Kneeling in the center of the hall, Concubine Zhao stole a glance at the thoroughly unwilling Wang-shi, before respectfully kowtowing toward Old Madame Ye. "This servant offers many thanks for the Old Madame's grace. Thanks to the Master and the Third Miss for your grace."

Ye Li smiled. "Concubine Zhao, please rise quickly. This is entirely the grace of Grandmother and Father; we juniors can only listen. The journey for the Concubine's departure this time is remote; you must be careful along the way. Once my younger brother is born, I also hope the Concubine will teach and raise him well, so as not to let down the intentions of Grandmother and Father."

Concubine Zhao nodded her head repeatedly. "This servant offers thanks for the Miss's pointers.”