The Favorite Mate of Prince

The next morning, Fourth Master did not attend court.

But he still woke up very early.

When he woke up, Ye Zao did not wake up in time. Fourth Master then turned to look at her for a while.

She was indeed extraordinarily enchanting. With such a woman, it's no wonder Lady Li would plot against her.

As Fourth Master rose to change his clothes, Ye Zao finally woke up, kneeling on the couch in a panic, "This servant deserves death."

"Get up and go back, your servants are waiting for you," said Fourth Master indifferently.

But Yu Ning and Yu Jing could tell, Fourth Master had no intention of blaming this concubine who had overslept.

Yu Ning felt jealous inside, but dared not say much on the surface.

Ye Zao quickly dressed herself, and carelessly tied up her hair, "This servant takes her leave."

Fourth Master looked at her once, and hmm-ed in response.

Upon leaving the main courtyard, Ye Zao took a deep breath. The early morning in deep autumn was indeed very pleasant today.

She walked slowly back, only to see two young girls standing outside the door, seemingly about thirteen or fourteen years old.

Seeing her come out, they stepped forward, "This servant Ah Ling meets the young lady." "This servant Yu Er meets the young lady."

Ye Zao quickly put on a smile, "We're all the same, rise, rise."

The two maids were very respectful, clearly aware that being chosen to serve this young lady meant they were not ordinary!

"Please bestow names upon us," said Ah Ling.

Ye Zao smiled, "Bestowing names is too much, but Yu Er... should change hers. In the main courtyard, all the older maids are of the 'Yu' generation. Your name might cause trouble if encountered, especially Yu Ning, with eyes so high in the sky."

"Yes, the young lady is correct. This name isn't my real name anyway. Could the young lady think of a good one for me?" Yu Er said with a smile.

Yu Er had a round face, quite cute.

After some thought, Ye Zao said, "How about Ah Yuan? Ah Ling doesn't need to change, it's quite nice."

"Thank you, young lady. You must be tired, why don't you rest for a while? I will go prepare a meal for you," Ah Yuan said with a smile.

Ye Zao nodded and entered the inner chamber.

At that moment, after Fourth Master had his morning meal, Su Peisheng came with a report.

"Master, I have inquired clearly. The Ye family, to which Miss Ye belongs, is not just any common folk," he said.

Fourth Master was interested, "Go on."

"Ah, the Ye Family, originally held a position as the Magistrate in a county under Jingzhou, Hubei. Old Master Ye was genuinely a Jinshi. He just served as a Magistrate in the locality for over a decade without being promoted. Miss Ye's uncle is not her blood uncle. Miss Ye is born of a concubine. Old Master Ye's legal wife has never given birth. But he has three children by concubines: the eldest son Ye Feng, the eldest daughter Ye Zao, and the second daughter Ye Gui."

Fourth Master nodded, thinking to himself that although the Ye Family was a Scholarly Family, the names they chose were... quite unappealing.

"Old Master Ye offended someone, and after being bullied to the point of not being able to stay locally, he resigned and returned to the Capital. The Ye Family has some ancestral property, so Miss Ye had people to serve her; the family is not lacking a cook or a housekeeper. And the young lady's brother is a successful candidate in the imperial examinations, awaiting the next exam session," Su Peisheng continued.

"Qi Tai's sister seems rather kind, treating these children of the concubines well. However..." Su Peisheng hesitated to continue.

"Speak," said Fourth Master with a glance.

"Yes, this Miss Ye, I'm afraid, was not willingly..." Su Peisheng knew the details, and it was simply...

It was more than unwillingness. Lady Ye was tricked into the residence by her so-called uncle.

No wonder she fell ill upon entering the residence and did not recover for half a year.

Wasn't that already quite daring of them, otherwise wouldn't she have tried to hit the wall?

"Qi Tai has quite the nerve," Fourth Master said angrily.

Lady Ye, with her background, could still marry honorably even if she isn't considered an official's descendant and is exempt from the selection process. Besides, her biological mother is Manchu, and she would be eligible for the selection process. Given Lady Ye's appearance, had she truly participated in the selection, upon entering the Princes' inner courtyards, she would have been a Princess at the very least.

Although there's only one rank difference between a Princess and a Concubine, the distinction is significant.

A Princess could be promoted in rank, and upon bearing children, she could become Consort Fujin, which means entering the imperial jade records.

But a Concubine is a servant, unable to rear her own children, nor does she have the opportunity for promotion…

Qi Tai's actions were truly despicable.

What's most important is that the Ye Family might think he acted out of lust, coveting the Ye Family's daughter.

That entire family must be cursing her by now.

"Send for Lady Ye," Fourth Master, with a bellyful of anger, did not know how to vent.

Over here, Ye Zao had just finished her meal and combed her hair when Xiao Guizi showed up again.

She was surprised but dared not say much; without taking anyone with her, she went to the front courtyard.

Su Peisheng was outside; seeing her, he smiled and said, "Master is inside, Miss, please enter."

Ye Zao nodded, understanding that something was amiss.

Upon entering, she saw Fourth Master sitting with a stern face, drinking tea.

Ye Zao knelt down: "This servant pays her respects to Master."

Fourth Master did not bid her to rise, instead gently placing down the teacup: "Lady Ye, how did you enter this residence?"

Ye Zao shivered on cue: "This servant... this servant is... is..."

"Stand up and speak! The truth, only the truth!" Fourth Master hummed.

Ye Zao promptly stood, lowering her head: "This servant is... did so willingly..."

"Lady Ye! You dare deceive!" Fourth Master slammed the table fiercely.

Ye Zao immediately knelt again, internally complaining, why did you ask me to stand up then?

"Speak!" Fourth Master seemed on the verge of exploding.

"Master, I dare not deceive you; I truly didn't know it was to enter the residence," Ye Zao said in panic: "My uncle... my uncle and aunt told my mother that there was an excellent marriage opportunity, and they took me away, only saying that the lady of the house wanted to meet me, and then... my uncle... my uncle said it was... it was Fourth Master who took a fancy to me, and that... I had to enter the residence, or else... or the whole family would... I didn't dare disobey..."

At first, Ye Zao truly believed it was Fourth Master's intention.

But having been in the residence so long without being summoned by Fourth Master, the original host understood.

Now, even clearer, with Fourth Master so furious, she feared the uncle had deceived both sides.

How convenient for the uncle, boldly taking such risks.

"Very well! Very good!" Fourth Master clenched his teeth: "Rise. Do you wish to return home?"

"Master... This servant... This servant does not... I belong to Master..." Ye Zao hurriedly put on a terrified expression.

Fourth Master frowned: "Speak properly."

Ye Zao then nodded vigorously, calming herself a bit: "Although... I was coaxed by my uncle, I have no regrets. To have met Master, for me... is a blessing from past lives."

Indeed, Fourth Master's expression improved slightly.

Even if she was tricked into entering the residence, he didn't want Ye Zao to wish she weren't there.

Moreover, he would not allow a woman he had been involved with to be with anyone else.

"Given your status, being made a Concubine might wrong you. However, having entered the residence, I shall naturally treat you kindly," he said.

"This servant doesn't feel wronged, I am very willing. I... have only one thing to ask of Master," Ye Zao hurried to say.