The Favorite Mate of Prince

Having left the main courtyard, Ye Zao didn't carry the items back herself.

Consort Fujin had a Little Eunuch help her carry the things.

When she returned to her pavilion, Ye Zao gave the Little Eunuch a piece of silver, without intending to be overly familiar.

Hong Tao looked at the pile of fabrics and jewelry, and the row of silver, which amounted to a hundred taels, "Is this a reward from Consort Fujin? She treats you quite well!"

Ye Zao hummed in response, sitting there, "All this kindness is earned."

Hong Tao pouted, "Life could just go on like this; now that we have fabric, let's make clothes to wear. I'll help you with it."

"I don't know how." The original body surely knew how, but Ye Zao didn't want to know.

In her heart, there was an idea that hadn't been put into action yet, but it would always need to be.

As for making clothes, sorry, she wouldn't do it.

"There's no rush to make them; with nothing important to do, you can rest for a bit. There's always a lot to do every day, and I will fetch the dinner tonight." Being a Concubine, personally fetching dinner isn't a big deal.

Hong Tao huffed and indeed went to rest.

Ye Zao sat in front of the dressing table, examining her own face.

If this were in modern times, she would be an Empress of the Screen! No need for makeup, her natural beauty was really too... enchanting.

But such appearances were certainly the type that men liked the most, weren't they?

On the dressing table, there weren't any good items, only inferior rouge and face powder.

She dipped the rouge on her hand and wrote the words "Hong Tao" on the tabletop, then slowly stroked them out one by one.

"I'm sorry, I want to establish myself, and to start, I have to turn you away." Having something unsettling around was really too terrifying. One couldn't be at ease with anything, it was like a ticking time bomb.

At dinner time, Ye Zao indeed went to the Imperial Kitchen herself.

Outside the Imperial Kitchen, many people were stunned upon seeing her.

The amazement in their eyes also made Ye Zao understand that her appearance could indeed move Fourth Master.

"Greetings to all the eunuchs, Ye from the Jinyu Pavilion is here to pick up the evening meal." Previously, she got sick as soon as she entered the household, and until her predecessor's death, she had not visited here.

If it hadn't been for the illness, there wouldn't be anyone to serve her. That's how Hong Tao came into the picture.

After her transmigration, she hadn't visited either, so this was actually her first time in the Imperial Kitchen.

"Oh, Miss, why have you come yourself? Is that maid Hong Tao being lazy?" Xiao Shunzi asked.

"Not at all, Hong Tao and I are the same, she's just not feeling up to it today, so I came." Ye Zao smiled as well.

Xiao Shunzi nodded, "Alright, wait here, I'll bring it to you immediately."

Ye Zao nodded and waited patiently.

Once it was brought out, she took it and smoothly stuffed a purse into Xiao Shunzi's hand.

Xiao Shunzi hadn't had the chance to say much when Ye Zao had already left.

Xiao Shunzi tucked the purse away, not daring to weigh it, surely there was too much given...

Perhaps as much as ten taels of silver?

This lady, quite interestinghah...

Winning someone over wasn't something that could be achieved in one go, Ye Zao had merely started, and she had to see if Xiao Shunzi was up to the mark. Thus, she returned quite calmly.

After dinner, news that Li Consort Fujin was pregnant again reached her ears.

Ye Zao smiled, "That's a joyous occasion."

Hong Tao voiced her surprise, "Miss, if you were pregnant, that would be the real celebration!"

"Don't talk nonsense, as a Concubine, would my being pregnant be considered a celebration? Even you getting pregnant would be better than me." Ye Zao huffed and entered the inner room.

She wasn't angry, but rather let Hong Tao think she was.

Hong Tao didn't catch on and just felt... that comment was interesting.

She couldn't help but fantasize, after all, wasn't Consort De originally a Palace Maid? After serving His Majesty, she became a consort.

However, she also knew that if one became Fourth Master's woman, then... the prospects weren't great.

She shook her head and glared fiercely at the inner room, muttering to herself, "Ye Zao, you're a concubine yourself, yet you're pushing me into this!"

Lady Li Fujin was pregnant, which was a major event in the residence. Fujin bestowed quite a few gifts, and so did Fourth Master.

For a time, she was indeed the center of attention.

However, there were disadvantages too, namely, being pregnant meant she could no longer serve in the bedchamber.

Now that the Second Prince was better, there was no reason to keep Fourth Master around every day.

After living alone for a few days, Fourth Master began to think of Ye Zao again.

When Ye Zao was summoned, she still wore a pink banner dress that was neither new nor old. But she had changed her hair ornaments.

She wore three items: a golden hairpin, a pearl flower with broken gemstones, and a small, delicate Qiang Wei flower hairpin—that was considered quite fine.

She was naturally beautiful, and even without hair accessories, she was radiant. Now, with these minor embellishments, she exuded both allure and elegance, which made her even more enticing.

Fourth Master hadn't read today, having just finished practicing boxing. He was sweaty and said, "Come, help me with my bath."

Ye Zao complied and followed Fourth Master into the bathing room.

Yu Ning handed over a cloth with a smile, "Please, miss." In front of Fourth Master, Yu Ning dared not talk back, despite her dissatisfaction.

Fourth Master decisively sent everyone away, leaving only Ye Zao to serve him.

Ye Zao blushed appropriately as she washed Fourth Master.

Fourth Master leaned against the bathtub, enjoying the sight of Ye Zao's slightly flushed face as she scrubbed him.

"Harder," he commanded casually.

"Yes," Ye Zao responded, applying a bit more pressure.

By the time she finished attending to Fourth Master, Ye Zao had worked up a fine sweat.

Fourth Master glanced at her, "Go ahead and clean yourself."

There was still water on the side, both cold and hot.

Ye Zao expressed her thanks and then washed herself.

When she came out, Fourth Master had changed into a casual bamboo-green robe and was reading a letter.

Ye Zao just stood quietly to the side, occasionally stealing glances at Fourth Master.

After putting away the letter, Fourth Master called for Su Peisheng, "Take this away."

Only then did he turn to Ye Zao, "Read a passage for me. There's tea over there." After all, he couldn't expect her to read until her throat was hoarse without offering her tea, could he?

"Thank you, Master. I… I will read now," Ye Zao responded with apparent delight.

But when she picked up the text, she was dismayed—it was the Avatamsaka Sutra.

Not daring to question, she began to read.

Fourth Master knew it; he lounged on the couch, initially curious, but now he had his answer.

Lady Ye definitely wasn't doing it intentionally, and she even managed to be quite skilled, but the sound of her voice as she read... it was still seductive.

A genuine scripture turned into something that made Fourth Master burn with desire...

"Stop reading, let's go to bed," Fourth Master eventually lost his restraint.

Ye Zao felt defeated too. She had never read in such a way before, but these last few times made it clear—it really seemed as if the heavens enjoyed... provoking people.

So she somewhat listlessly climbed into the bed.

Fourth Master was taken aback, "Are you reluctant to serve?"

Ye Zao hurriedly shook her head vigorously, "No, I... my throat... I didn't do it on purpose, it's scripture."

Even if one didn't believe in the Buddha, she herself felt dismayed. To read scripture in such a manner... it was too disrespectful.

Fourth Master said nothing, just held her, thinking to himself, 'Well, it's all good, this is a skill in itself.'

It was Ye Zao's third time serving in bed, and it concluded successfully. When she left, it was still when Fourth Master was off to the court, but this time, a little palace maid carrying a lantern accompanied her.