When her grandfather and Grandfather Cen were mentioned, Ye Sangzhi lost her earlier casualness. Her expression turned cold. “Grandfather and Grandfather Cen taught me much. One lesson was that a person must know propriety, righteousness, integrity, and shame. Father—have you remembered that?”
“Grandmother passed early. Grandfather endured hardship to raise you, planning everything for you. How have you repaid him, repaid the Ye family?”
“You… matters of your father are not for you to question,” Ye Yunchang faltered, suddenly guilty.
His father had indeed devoted himself to him, but also controlled him from childhood, forcing him into many things he disliked. He felt guilt, but also resentment. If his father cared so much, why not let him have his way?
“Father, rest assured—I have no interest in your affairs, nor do I care.” Ye Sangzhi’s lips curved in a mocking smile. “But asking me to apologize to a concubine’s son who deserved a beating? Impossible. I will never coexist peacefully with Wei and her children. Father should know this well. If you have nothing else, please leave.”
“Zhi’er, I know you resent your mother’s death in childbirth. But that had nothing to do with Concubine Wei. It was merely a foolish servant in her courtyard who spoke nonsense. Even without that, your mother would have died in childbirth. You should let it go after all these years.” Ye Yunchang tried to defend his beloved Wei, unwilling for her to be misunderstood.
“Father, I won’t see you out!” Ye Sangzhi dismissed him outright, treating his words as nonsense, and ordered him to leave.
“You are unreasonable, utterly unreasonable!” Ye Yunchang, seeing he could not persuade her, stormed off.
At the courtyard gate, he stopped to warn: “This time, I’ll let it pass. But from now on, you must not bully Qingzhou and Sangli. They are your siblings too, and they bear the Ye name.”
Ye Sangzhi ignored him.
“Hmph!” Ye Yunchang, seeing his daughter impervious, finally left in anger.
The courtyard fell quiet again.
“Miss,” Nanxing said indignantly, “Master is far too muddle‑headed. That Concubine Wei is clearly scheming.”
Before returning, Miss had lived freely, happily. Now, in this household, no one was truly on her side. Better she had never come back.
Ye Sangzhi, however, was calm. “It doesn’t matter. I’ve long known Father’s nature. With no expectations, there’s no disappointment. Hurry up—we must finish this medicine for Old Madam Zhou tomorrow.”
The next morning, Ye Sangzhi went out again.
When word reached Concubine Wei, she fumed. “I manage this household. That wretched girl should at least inform me when she goes out. Such lack of manners—no upbringing at all. Every day, she runs about instead of learning rules. Raised outside, she’s grown wild. If others knew, they’d laugh.”
“Mother, Second Sister asked me to go shopping with her—to buy rouge and powder. I’ll go.” Ye Sangli, prettily dressed, came to Concubine Wei. Seeing her anger, she coaxed: “Let Sangzhi go out. She’s wild and ignorant of rules. If she offends someone outside, all the better.”
“True. Let her. Better she’s out of sight. If she causes trouble, she’ll suffer for it.” Concubine Wei smiled, stroking Ye Sangli’s hair. “But you should take your Second Sister around the capital. She’s unfamiliar here. Otherwise, people might say we neglect the second branch.”
“I’ll go then.”
“Go ahead.”
At the Zhou residence, the servants welcomed Ye Sangzhi politely.
“Madam, Miss Ye has arrived,” a servant announced, then withdrew.
“Miss Ye, hello. You are the one who saved my mother‑in‑law?” Madam Zhou, graceful and elegant though not yet thirty, asked with a warm smile. Her husband, Zhou Zhengyan, had only been transferred to the capital two years earlier, serving as a Censorate Inspector—the youngest official in the bureau.
When they first moved to the capital, her mother‑in‑law had stayed behind, unwilling to burden them. A few months ago, hearing of her poor health, they had written several letters urging her to come. She finally agreed. On the journey, however, she met with misfortune. Fortunately, Ye Sangzhi had rescued her and treated her illness.
After arriving, the old lady recounted everything to the couple. They only knew her savior’s surname was Ye, but not her family or residence. Luckily, she said her illness required one more course of treatment, and Miss Ye had promised to visit.
So when they received a visiting card yesterday stating that the Eldest Miss of Earl Huaiyi’s household would be coming, Madam Zhou asked her mother‑in‑law to confirm. But the old lady recalled her rescuer had traveled simply, with two maids of similar age, dressed modestly—not like a noble young lady.
Thus, Madam Zhou asked directly.
“Madam Zhou, yes, it was me. How has the old lady been these past days?” Ye Sangzhi replied sweetly.
Zhou Zhengyan was a censor, subject to both flattery and scrutiny. Madam Zhou kept her distance from other families, fearing a misstep might harm her husband. Still, she wasn’t ignorant of gossip. She had heard things about the Ye family’s eldest daughter. Now, seeing her, she realized the rumors were not accurate.
“My mother‑in‑law speaks of you constantly, saying you are not only beautiful but also a skilled healer. Today I see it’s true. Let me take you to her.”
“Thank you, Madam.” Ye Sangzhi followed obediently, speaking little, looking little.
Madam Zhou’s impression improved further. Clearly, saving her mother‑in‑law had been a chance, not a calculation.
Soon they met the old lady. After a few pleasantries, Ye Sangzhi got to work, taking her pulse and examining her.
“Old Madam Zhou’s illness is not severe. In her youth, she worked too hard, neglected her health, and accumulated chronic ailments. The fright on the journey worsened her condition. But she has rested well these days. With one final month of medicine, her pain will vanish.”
Ye Sangzhi had Nanxing present the prepared pills and handed over a prescription. “Take the medicine as directed. One pill before bed each night. Keep your mood light, avoid agitation or anger. When the weather improves, spend time in the sun and walk more. That’s all.”