Once, Concubine Wei deliberately came to her and spoke maliciously, saying that if Mother had given birth to a younger brother, she would no longer be wanted. She even said Grandfather would stop loving her.
Angered, Ye Sangzhi pushed Concubine Wei. She was only a child then, with little strength, but Concubine Wei fell to the ground crying pitifully—just as Father walked in.
That time, Father wanted to punish Ye Sangzhi for Concubine Wei’s sake, ordering her to kneel in the ancestral hall and even preparing bamboo rods to whip her.
Mother arrived in time, quarreled with Father, and nearly harmed her pregnancy.
Grandfather, seeing Father so muddle‑headed and unjust, snatched the bamboo rod and struck him instead.
Father argued with Grandfather, who was so enraged he spat blood.
After that, both Father and Concubine Wei restrained themselves somewhat.
But when Mother went into labor, Concubine Wei had her servants sneak into Mother’s quarters and deliberately tell her of (maternal) Grandfather and Uncle’s peril on the battlefield.
Mother’s pregnancy had already been difficult. Grandfather had even gone to the palace to request an imperial physician to stabilize it. After much effort, she had carried to term, but during labor, she could not deliver.
“Impudent! How dare you reproach your father? Matters between me and your grandfather are none of your concern. As a daughter, to be so defiant and unfilial—I must teach you a lesson today.” Ye Yunchang was furious, nearly driven to death by this rebellious girl. He had to punish her to make her remember.
“Servants! Take the Eldest Miss to the ancestral hall to kneel. She may rise only when she admits her fault. No food or water during this time, and no slacking—watch her closely.”
Still unsatisfied, he added: “Guard her well.”
“Father, if kneeling in the ancestral hall is punishment, then I alone is not enough. Why not have your eldest son and second daughter kneel too? Let the ancestors see clearly the unworthy descendants of the Ye family.”
Ye Sangzhi showed no fear of kneeling in the ancestral hall. On the contrary, she looked expectant.
With mock regret, she added: “Too bad Concubine Wei isn’t qualified to kneel there. She’s only a concubine—the ancestors don’t recognize her.”
The Ye family had ancestral rules: unless a man reached forty without heirs, he could not take concubines.
Father was the first to break this rule. Naturally, the ancestors would not acknowledge it. Even Grandfather never did.
Concubine Wei had entered the household only because she was already secretly pregnant with Ye Qingzhou. When Grandfather and Mother discovered it, her pregnancy was visible.
And because Concubine Wei’s mother was Grandmother’s own younger sister, she knelt before Grandfather, begging him to relent.
At the time, Grandfather had prepared abortive medicine to end Concubine Wei’s pregnancy. The bowl was already at her lips.
But Concubine Wei’s mother made the matter public, stirring gossip.
In the end, Mother compromised, unwilling for the Ye and Zhang families to become a laughingstock. Thus, Concubine Wei entered the household.
Father did not escape punishment—Grandfather, Uncle, and Mother’s father all beat him in turn.
Every word Ye Sangzhi spoke struck Ye Yunchang’s sore spots. Humiliated and enraged, he raised his hand to strike her. “You dare say such things, you—!”
Ye Sangzhi caught his wrist firmly, sneering coldly. “Father, don’t be hasty. I haven’t finished yet.”
“Go back to your courtyard and reflect. Don’t appear before me again.” Ye Yunchang gnashed his teeth. He could do nothing with this daughter and refused to hear more of her “nonsense.”
Officials from the Censorate would also impeach him, leaving him disgraced inside and out.
“Go then—get out!” Ye Yunchang had reached the limit of his patience.
“And Father, you may punish me with reflection, but you cannot restrict my freedom. Otherwise, I don’t know what I might do.”
Restricting freedom—how could that be called reflection?
“Out!” His roar nearly tore his throat.
“Your daughter takes her leave. Father—calm your anger.” Ye Sangzhi’s lips curved in satisfaction as she walked away with ease.
With Ye Yunchang’s words, the accounts office quickly handed over the silver, and even Concubine Wei dared not protest.
But Ye Sangzhi’s courtyard staff suffered—any small mistake brought scolding or beatings.
The next day, the broker arrived with a group of servants.
After careful selection, Ye Sangzhi bought four men and four women.
The men were sent to Ye Lingzhou’s courtyard: two for chores, one skilled in martial arts to serve closely, and one literate to act as his study attendant.
Together with Aji, chosen long ago by Grandfather and loyal to Ye Lingzhou, he now had three attendants—enough.
It was laughable. In great households, study attendants grew up alongside their masters. Ye Lingzhou’s had long been dismissed.
The women remained in Ye Sangzhi’s courtyard, with Nanxing arranging their duties.
“Concubine Wei, Eldest Miss said our courtyard now has enough staff. Since these were arranged by you, their fate is yours to decide.”
“Eldest Miss is the household’s daughter. It’s only proper she have more attendants. Bianliu, take them back, or the Master will blame me,” Concubine Wei said with a smile, though her eyes were dark.
These were her carefully chosen spies, now returned. That wretched girl had done it deliberately.
“Eldest Miss said no. These people skulk about, neglect their work, stare into her rooms, and gossip behind her back. She dares not use such servants.”
Bianliu spoke bluntly. “And in Second Young Master’s courtyard too, some servants spread rumors, neglect him, and only encourage him to play. Recently, some even slandered Eldest Miss, sowing discord between siblings. They will also be sent here for you to deal with.”
“What do you mean? Are you saying these people act under Concubine Wei’s orders? How dare a servant speak so to her? Aren’t you afraid of being sold off?”
Concubine Wei’s attendant, Nanny Zhang, immediately jumped out. She had lost teeth from a previous beating, and now her words whistled through the gaps. Seeing Bianliu so defiant, she longed to strike back.
Wretched maid. Like master, like servant. All wretched. All hateful.
“I wouldn’t dare. If you don’t believe me, question them yourself.” Bianliu replied. As for selling her—Concubine Wei didn’t have that right.