Ye Shaohua had already returned to the Pear Courtyard.
Seeing that Plum Concubine had grown visibly thinner and all the decorative pieces she had bought for her were gone, her eyes instantly turned cold.
“What happened? Where’s the fountain? Where’s Old Wang?” Ye Shaohua scanned the room. Seeing nothing, she patted Plum Concubine’s hand and turned to Liu’er. “I told you to go to the owner of Xuan Pavilion if anything happened. Did you not go?”
Liu’er was quite resilient. For the past month, the Ye Manor had basically ignored Plum Concubine.
Not even three meals a day were sent over; Liu’er had used her own silver to have food bought from outside.
Ye Shaohua never mistreated those close to her, so Liu’er herself had a sizable savings.
“Let’s not bother with this,” Plum Concubine, unaware of the news outside, pulled Ye Shaohua closer, looking her over. “The Madam’s maternal uncle is a wealthy merchant from the south of the Yangtze. He contributed a lot of provisions for this war…”
Ye Shaohua interrupted Plum Concubine and looked at Liu’er. “You continue.”
“Young Master Four, you don’t know,” Liu’er felt her heart settle the moment she saw Ye Shaohua return. “After news of you and Young General Yang spread, the Yang family didn’t come to see Plum Concubine either. Rumors spread in the capital that you both had already… Plum Concubine and I were confined to the manor, not allowed to take a single step outside. Coincidentally, the Eldest Young Lady was getting married and took a fancy to the dog you gave Plum Concubine, along with most of the decorative pieces. To gather news about you, Plum Concubine gave everything to them. They made excuses, saying they couldn’t find out anything about you…”
“I’m just happy knowing you’re safe. Those are merely worldly possessions. You’re marching to war now and still need the provisions funded by my uncle.” Over the past few years, Plum Concubine had come to understand her daughter’s temperament. While she was glad her daughter could protect her,
she was also a woman of the inner chambers, not entirely ignorant of how the world worked.
The reason she had asked her uncle to inquire about Ye Shaohua was primarily because he had donated a significant amount of provisions.
“To hell with his provisions!” Ye Shaohua sneered. “He should look at who he’s doing his biggest trade with right now!”
“Young Master, the owner of Xuan Pavilion and the manager of Ever Spring Inn are here to see you,” a young attendant Ye Shaohua often employed came in, announcing respectfully.
Ye Shaohua nodded. “I’ll be right there.” Then she turned to Plum Concubine. “Mother, before I left for the battlefield, I said I would win you the title of a Lady of Rank. The imperial edict will arrive shortly. Also, regarding the things the Ye family took, I want every single item returned intact by tomorrow!”
Plum Concubine watched Ye Shaohua walk out. “Shaohua, don’t be impulsive!”
“Greetings, Madam,” the young attendant Ye Shaohua often used smiled at Plum Concubine. “You needn’t worry about the Fourth Young Master. As for that wealthy merchant from the south, from what I know, he’s currently doing business with the Fourth Young Master’s Xuan Pavilion. And about the provisions, the provisions for this campaign were largely provided by the Fourth Young Master. Those merchants only followed suit and contributed after seeing the Fourth Young Master take the initiative. Their contributions were merely adding flowers to brocade for the Fourth Young Master.”
Hearing the attendant’s words, Plum Concubine felt like she was listening to a fantasy. “Shaohua… provided the provisions? And Xuan Pavilion?”
“You didn’t know?” The attendant was also taken aback. “Xuan Pavilion belongs to the Fourth Young Master. He is the wealthiest person in the land.”
Plum Concubine pinched her thigh hard. Feeling the pain, she still felt like she was dreaming.
When Madam Ye and the others arrived,
they happened to see the Chief Eunuch, the Emperor’s favored right-hand man, arriving with three imperial edicts. A large crowd in the courtyard knelt to receive the decrees.
One edict conferred upon Plum Concubine the title of a Lady of Rank.
One was Ye Shaohua’s appointment letter, naming her Minister of War, a first-rank official.
The third stated that Ye Shaohua’s Minister’s residence had been renovated and was ready for her to move in on a selected date.
Following this, a large group of palace servants began carrying rare treasures and jewels into Plum Concubine’s quarters.
After proclaiming the edicts, the Chief Eunuch smilingly helped Plum Concubine up himself, his manner extremely polite and courteous. “Lady Mei, no need for such formalities. This humble servant must congratulate you. Lord Ye is truly a young talent of remarkable ability.”
When Liu’er tried to offer silver to the Chief Eunuch, he declined. He dared not accept any reward from the Fourth Lord.
Everyone around the Emperor now knew this Fourth Lord was even more favored than Yang Ziji.
Who was the Chief Eunuch, the Emperor’s most capable assistant?
Even the Grand Tutor wouldn’t dare offend him, as he was the Emperor’s confidant. A single word from him while serving tea could shift the winds.
His attitude towards Plum Concubine indicated just how highly Ye Shaohua was regarded by the Emperor.
Madam Ye and the Old Matriarch paid their respects to the Chief Eunuch, then looked at Plum Concubine with complex expressions.
The title of a Lady of Rank, which they had sought for a lifetime but could never obtain, had been granted to Plum Concubine so effortlessly.
“Mother…” Ye Jin finally had a chance to speak openly to Plum Concubine after the others had finished.
The moment Plum Concubine saw Ye Jin, the smile on her lips faded. “So it’s the Third Young Lady. To what do we owe this grand visit? Is there something you need?”
Ye Jin gave a bitter smile. “Mother, must you speak to me like this? Is Fourth Brother your only son? Am I not your own flesh and blood?”
Ye Jin watched the palace servants carrying in the rare treasures, her eyes burning with envy.
Especially considering Plum Concubine’s current status as a Lady of Rank. She was no longer the lowly daughter of a concubine.
With such a status, marrying the Third Prince was not just possible; even entering the palace as a consort wouldn’t be out of the question.
Thinking this, Ye Jin’s mind began to race.
“You dare speak to me like this now?” Plum Concubine, having experienced great joy and sorrow, felt calm upon seeing Ye Jin. “When I begged you to go to the Madam and our uncle half a month ago, your attitude was quite different.”
Hearing this, Ye Jin burst into tears, looking at Plum Concubine with accusation. “What could I do? I’m merely a concubine-born daughter, with a mother from the pleasure quarters. I could only curry favor with the Madam and the Old Matriarch, treading every step with utmost caution. Have you ever cared for me all these years? Everything I have today, I earned myself!”
