The Favorite Mate of Prince

Hong Tao dared not say anything more, she hurried to support her, asking her to allow her entire weight to rest upon her.

With difficulty, they made their way back to her own chamber, where Ye Zao had already turned pale and could barely stand.

Not to mention having had no dinner the night before, she had been entertaining Fourth Master, who wildly tormented her several times throughout the night; being able to walk back was already a feat.

At this moment, she didn't feel like crying, but her feelings toward Fourth Master had plummeted to rock bottom in her heart.

"Master didn't give any rewards..." Hong Tao said softly.

"I want to take a hot bath, do we have any ointment? My pain is severe." Once Ye Zao lay down, she couldn't get up again.

Hong Tao shook her head, where would they get that from...

"Go get it with silver, if I don't apply ointment, I might as well be dead." Ye Zao gritted her teeth.

When she had entered the manor, her cheap uncle had given her one hundred taels of silver, which she had been reluctant to spend; now was not the time to feel sorry for the silver.

Hong Tao acknowledged with a sound and went to rummage for a piece of silver to go out with.

Perhaps seeing how badly she was suffering, Old Madam Song came in: "Miss, are you in pain?"

Ye Zao nodded: "My skin is a bit tender. Aunt Song, do you have any remedies?"

Old Madam Song sighed: "There's no remedy for that, just heat some water for Miss to soak in, and endure it, Miss. We are the lowest servants..."

We don't have the right to talk about being wronged.

"Isn't that what I'm doing, enduring it? I'm troubled, Aunt Song, today I really can't get up." Normally, the affairs of this chamber were done together by the three of them.

It was normal for a concubine to be unattended. She was already fortunate.

"What are you talking about, we must support each other. You just lie down, servant will go heat the water! I'll heat a big pot, and after you soak, it'll be better," Aunt Song said.

"Aunt, do you have anything to eat? I'm hungry." Ye Zao rubbed her stomach with grievance: "I missed breakfast... I didn't have dinner last night either."

Old Madam Song looked at her pityingly, a beautiful young lady, ruined by her heartless uncle who sent her here.

"Wait, servant will get it for you." It was not as bad as all that; at this time, it was certain that no one could order around the Imperial Kitchen, but one or two plates of pastries would still be available.

After having some pastries and soaking in the bathwater, she finally felt some relief.

Hong Tao also brought back a small bottle, exactly the ointment needed.

After applying it herself, she could no longer hold on.

Once she fell asleep, Hong Tao and Old Madam Song sighed: "To think that after serving for the first time, she didn't even receive any rewards." How was she to establish herself hereafter?

"Let it be, there are benefits to not being given." At least others needn't be too cautious around her.

"That's not how you should think, how can you not strive to advance..." Hong Tao stomped her foot.

"You, Maid, what's the use of striving? A concubine is a concubine, even if you strive, can you become a Consort Fujin?" Old Madam Song huffed and went about her business.

In the room, Ye Zao slept, oblivious to the world.

She didn't indulge in self-pity; she had always known life would certainly be hard. What was this but a beginning? The real difficulties were yet to come.

Before midday meal, Fujin sent someone to deliver a reward.

In the main residence, Lady Ulaanala had finished breakfast and taken a short rest when she inquired, "Was it Lady Ye who served yesterday?"

"Replying to the Master, it was Lady Ye who served, she stayed in the front courtyard the whole night. However, Master did not give any reward," Xiu He said while massaging her legs.

"Is this because the service wasn't satisfactory? That's how the Master is." Lady Ulaanala smiled: "Still, by the rules, a reward should be given, see to it."

Xiu He answered affirmatively, and in a while, she instructed someone to send the reward.

A pair of gilded bracelets. It is customary for a concubine serving the master for the first time to receive a gift.

Ye Zao had not yet risen, and that lazy maid lacked patience, too; but it saved Ye Zao the trouble of getting up to express her gratitude.

Ye Zao held the pair of bracelets with a smile, "Put them away." It must have been hard for Fujin to find such a disgusting pair, even with dirt embedded in the patterns.

She didn't make much of it, figuring Fujin had only brought the reward near midday, guessing that probably meant nobody else would give anything.

Indeed, come evening, there were no rewards from Consort Fujin Li or the two princesses. Ye Zao was not at all surprised.

In the blink of an eye, three days passed. During those three days, Fourth Master never entered the back courtyard, leaving early and returning late, as if he were quite busy.

By the time of the morning greetings in the main courtyard, Ye Zao was much better, at the very least, not in pain.

She wore her usual modest padded jacket to the main courtyard.

When everyone had arrived and greetings were given, Consort Fujin Li said, "Oh, would you look at that, Lady Ye is quite pretty, isn't she? Did you spend the night in the front courtyard serving our master the other day? But really, the master should have given you something, anything, as a reward. It's the least he could do, right?"

Those words were truly distasteful.

The tone one might use to reward a kitten or a puppy.

Ye Zao stepped forward and knelt, "This servant is clumsy and did not serve the master well. It is only right that I do not receive a reward."

Seeing her respectful attitude, Consort Fujin Li snorted, "Since you didn't serve well, you'll be punished by kneeling for one Shi Chen. Serving the master is your good fortune, and yet you failed in your duties. You deserve punishment."

Ye Zao, fearing someone might speak up for her and make things worse, quickly agreed and went out to kneel in the main courtyard.

After kneeling, Ye Zao let out a sigh of relief.

Since Consort Fujin Li had meted out punishment, there would be no more trouble. It was far better than her holding a grudge.

Lady Ulaanala was unhappy, but only because Lady Li had overstepped in punishing Ye Zao. She had no other thoughts on the matter.

One Shi Chen equates to two hours. It was definitely an intimidation tactic from Lady Li.

Ye Zao knelt there, quietly reciting books in her heart. She mentally went over the ancient poems she remembered.

When the morning greetings were over, Consort Li walked at the forefront.

Seeing Ye Zao kneeling straight as a rod, she approached while arranging her hair, "The weather is quite nice today. Lady Ye, I do hope you won't hold a grudge against me."

"Consort Fujin Li provides guidance to this servant. I am endlessly grateful and dare not hold any grudges," Ye Zao responded promptly.

"Good, get up once you've knelt long enough," Consort Fujin Li said, then huffed and walked away, supported by her maid.

In her mental ledger, Ye Zao solemnly recorded a second name, Consort Fujin Li.

The first was Yu Ning from the front courtyard.

Yes, she was a concubine, but... the future Emperor had to be Fourth Master, didn't he?

As long as he ascended to the throne, she always had a chance of turning her fate around, right? When the time came, it would be normal to seek retribution and settle grievances, wouldn't it?

Maybe she would not live to see that day, but it didn't stop her from keeping accounts.

So, Ye Zao knelt with calmness, neither rushed nor flustered.

Not until her time was up, and Fujin's servant called her back.

Ye Zao rose, kowtowed gracefully towards the main courtyard, and then left with the aid of Hong Tao's hand.

Now her status was lower than others, with everyone considering themselves superior. However, such circumstances surely couldn't last forever, right?

Ye Zao's lips curled up pleasantly as she joyfully returned to her quarters.