The news of Ye Shaohua’s recovery had already been relayed to the Old Madame of the Ye residence.
The Old Madame, who had been attending to the eldest young master with Madam Ye, hadn’t had time to deal with the affairs of this mother and son pair. It was only after the eldest young master, Ye Shaoming, woke up that she had the steward bring Ye Shaohua, Concubine Mei, and the others before her.
“Jinniang, I am going to punish your fourth brother and your mother, Concubine Mei, by sending them to the manor outside the city. Do you hold any resentment in your heart?” The Old Madame placed her teacup on the table. Instead of questioning Concubine Mei first, she looked at Ye Jin.
Ye Qingweng had one principal wife and three concubines. Concubine Mei was the most timid among them.
And also the one with the lowest status, hailing from the pleasure quarters.
From a very young age, Ye Jin knew her status wasn’t as high as her other half-sisters and half-brothers, which was why she strove with all her might to climb higher.
She had finally managed to please the Old Madame.
Now, hearing the Old Madame’s words, she knelt down and kowtowed with a solid thud. “It was originally Fourth Brother’s fault. Whether to punish or beat is entirely up to you, Old Madame. Jinniang holds not a shred of resentment.”
Seeing Jinniang like this, the Old Madame gave her a glance. “If you can’t bear it, I can show leniency.”
“This time he caused Eldest Brother to catch a chill. Eldest Brother and I are like true siblings. How could Jinniang plead for someone who harmed Eldest Brother?” Ye Jin kowtowed again.
She knew her fourth brother and her mother were of the same mold—timid and cowardly.
Having finally managed to curry favor with the Old Madame, how could she possibly sacrifice that relationship for the sake of those two?
Those two fools would only cause her trouble if they stayed in the Ye residence. Being sent to the manor was perfect—it saved her from being implicated by them in the future. Ye Jin was precisely wishing for this, so why would she ever plead for them?
After Ye Jin left the Old Madame’s quarters, she encountered Concubine Mei waiting for her at a crossroads.
A flicker of disgust and impatience flashed in her eyes.
“Pack your things and leave with Fourth Brother immediately,” Ye Jin said, standing several steps away from Concubine Mei. “I have nothing to give you. As my birth mother, you’ve been unable to give me anything since I was little. I ask nothing of you, only that you and him stop ruining things for me.”
Concubine Mei wiped her tears. “Jinniang, if we’re sent to the manor, how will he continue his studies with the teacher? You share the same mother. Please, beg the Old Madame for leniency. If Fourth Young Master passes the imperial examinations in the future, won’t you also share in the fortune?”
“The imperial examinations? He drove away the Top Graduate himself! If it weren’t for Father having some face, Eldest Brother would have been dragged down by him already,” Ye Jin said impatiently. “He hasn’t even read ‘Historical Records,’ yet dares to speak of the imperial examinations? He can forget about any imperial exams in this lifetime!”
After saying this, she had her maid block Concubine Mei and returned to Madam Ye’s courtyard.
Concubine Mei watched her daughter’s completely cold eyes, her heart filled with sorrow.
She knew her daughter had always despised her background. She also hated herself for being unable to give her daughter anything. She, a woman from the pleasure quarters, had foolishly believed Ye Qingweng’s sweet lies.
After giving birth to Ye Jin, because it was a daughter, she and her daughter almost starved to death.
Later, fortunately, she gave birth to Ye Shaohua. She had no choice but to bribe the midwife she knew to raise her little daughter as a boy, which finally gave them a chance to breathe.
Otherwise, how could she and Ye Jin have survived safely until now?
Yet she never expected that once Ye Jin grew a little older, she would grow distant, forever resenting her for not providing the best.
“Fourth Young Master,” Concubine Mei returned to the courtyard in a daze. Seeing Liu’er, the maid who had stayed with them, packing their luggage, grief welled up within her. “It’s your concubine-mother who failed you, unable to give you a good background!”
Earlier, someone from the Old Madame’s courtyard had come, looking down their nose, to inform them that Ye Shaohua was to go live at the manor outside the city.
Ye Shaohua had then instructed Liu’er to pack their things.
Hearing Concubine Mei’s words, she reached out and patted her shoulder. “Mother, what have you failed me in? I should be thanking you for giving birth to me. As for a good background?” Ye Shaohua said nonchalantly, “I’ll earn it myself. In the future, I’ll have you enjoy fortune and honor. Don’t mind what others say.”
What’s so great about relying on family?
This was what Ye Shaohua found most tiresome about ancient times—the excessive emphasis on social status. The identity she transmigrated into this time was rather low, and her father seemed biased. Fortunately, she was still in male disguise, otherwise, there would be many things she couldn’t do.
Listening to Ye Shaohua’s words, Concubine Mei couldn’t help but be startled.
Staring at Ye Shaohua, she even forgot to cry for a moment.
Why did it feel like her daughter seemed different from before?
Ye Shaohua didn’t dwell on Concubine Mei’s current thoughts. She simply tapped the back of her hand lightly.
As for Ye Jin…
Since she was so eager to draw a line, Ye Shaohua was more than happy to oblige. It saved her the trouble of having a clingy tagalong in the future when she became wealthy.
Mother and son were being sent to the manor, so they couldn’t bring much. Concubine Mei only packed a few pieces of fine clothing and rolled some valuables into the bundle. It was actually quite pitiful.
As the two walked to the main gate, a dilapidated carriage and a coachman were waiting outside.
“Let’s go.” Seeing them approach, the steward waiting outside the gate said indifferently.
Just then, a splendid carriage returned.
Vice Minister Ye Qingweng, still handsome in middle age, was returning from the Court of Judicial Review.
Seeing the mother and son with their luggage, he paused. “Concubine Mei, what are you and Shaohua doing?”
“The Old Madame is sending us to the other manor…” Concubine Mei performed a slight curtsey.
The other manor? Ye Qingweng’s brows furrowed.
The steward beside him spoke up first. “Reporting to the Master, the Old Madame consulted a master from the Guardian Temple. He said Fourth Young Master’s fate clashes with Eldest Young Master’s. Before Eldest Young Master turns eighteen, it is unsuitable for them to be in the same place, as it will affect Eldest Young Master’s future career. Therefore, the Old Madame ordered Fourth Young Master to go to the other manor.”
“Affect Eldest Young Master’s career?” Ye Qingweng’s expression changed.
The Top Graduate had only accepted Ye Shaoming as a disciple in the Ye residence, saying Ye Shaoming’s talent was decent and his future career would surely be smooth.
As for this fourth son of his, stubborn and ignorant, how could a man be as timid as a mouse? Where was the slightest hint of a man’s spirit?
Neither accomplished in literature nor martial arts.
Comparing the two, Ye Qingweng naturally valued Ye Shaoming more.
