General’s Mansion.
Wang Shi had regained consciousness, but she was severely dizzy and constantly nauseous.
The fall had injured her neck and tailbone, and even the slightest movement caused such pain that sweat beaded on her forehead.
She insisted she had been harmed by someone and demanded her daughter and husband seek revenge.
However, Ye Wantang had the mansion thoroughly searched and found no signs of intrusion or any suspicious traces at the scene.
Several physicians were consulted, all stating that Wang Shi’s qi and blood were disordered, her internal organs injured, requiring complete rest and avoidance of exertion. Yet none could determine the cause.
Unwilling to accept this, Wang Shi demanded more physicians be summoned.
In the dead of night, Ye Zhengqing grew irritated by her demands.
He said impatiently, “A perfectly fine person, drinking this tonic today, soaking in that medicinal bath tomorrow—perhaps you’ve brought this upon yourself with all that fuss.”
He was confident that although he lacked martial skills, he would have sensed if someone had entered his room.
Moreover, with all the guards in the mansion, they weren’t just for show.
From his perspective, the scene clearly indicated Wang Shi had slipped on a fallen bead.
Tormented by pain and irritability, Wang Shi was furious at his words.
She complained to Ye Wantang, “He’s developed other ideas since hearing Ye Zhen gained control of the household. Now that I’m in no state to deal with Ye Zhen, he’s probably delighted inside. He’s still dreaming that Ye Zhen will help him get a promotion, Wantang. He doesn’t care about us mot—”
He doesn’t care about us, mother and daughter. Only himself.
“What nonsense are you spouting?”
Ye Zhengqing hurriedly covered her mouth. “Have you lost your mind from the fall?”
Although the three of them had long acknowledged their relationship, it was only in private.
Now, there were many people outside the room.
Although Wantang currently managed the General’s Mansion, most people remained loyal to her out of respect for Ye Jinghong.
If they were to learn of Wantang’s true origins, it could spell serious trouble.
Ye Wantang’s expression darkened as she told Wang Shi, “I will investigate this matter. For now, focus on recovering. There’s no need to act against the Xie family for the time being. If Xie Jinyao can’t even handle Ye Zhen, what face does she have to act arrogantly before me in the future?”
As the daughter of Da Yuan’s foremost female war goddess, she had been the object of admiration among Jingcheng’s noble ladies since childhood.
Only Xie Jinyao from the Zhongyong Hou Estate always sought to compete with her.
After Ye Jinghong’s death in battle and Zhongyong Hou’s rise in favor, Xie Jinyao became increasingly determined to surpass her.
Previously, when Wang Shi joined forces with the Marquise, she hadn’t intervened because Ye Zhen truly could no longer be tolerated.
Yet a mere Ye Zhen wasn’t worth dirtying her hands over, so she had let them handle it. She never expected the Marquise to be so incompetent.
However, this very failure made the Marquise and her daughter more desperate to eliminate Ye Zhen. Why should they do someone else’s dirty work?
Her birth mother was still somewhat lacking in wit.
Seeing her daughter’s displeasure, Wang Shi dared not say more.
But she still insisted, “Wantang, investigate further. I truly believe someone harmed me. And could you please summon a few imperial physicians to examine me? I’m in terrible discomfort.”
She hadn’t yet had her fill of good days and had no desire to die.
Ye Wantang gave perfunctory assurances but was inwardly displeased.
Managing to summon one or two imperial physicians was already a significant favor. Wang Shi casually asking for several truly believed the General’s Mansion was still as it was when Ye Jinghong lived.
She cared for Wang Shi as her birth mother, but only so long as Wang Shi didn’t jeopardize her interests.
The favors Ye Jinghong had left behind were finite. With birth parents who lacked capability, she needed to conserve them for her own ambitions.
She didn’t consider this selfish, because she clearly understood that only when she was well could her parents be well.
Therefore, after leaving, she didn’t order anyone to summon the imperial physician. Instead, she instructed a thorough search of the mansion to confirm whether someone had truly infiltrated.
It was only after witnessing this that Xie Tingzhou turned and left.
His brow remained furrowed the entire way. The former First-Rank General Residence had been as tightly guarded as an iron barrel—even he would have found it difficult to infiltrate unnoticed.
Yet tonight, both he and Ye Zhen had moved freely through the mansion without anyone detecting them.
If General Ye knew of this from beyond the grave, one could only wonder what he would think.
Moreover, the Ye couple actually intended to deal with Ye Zhen—why?
Even Ye Wantang was involved in this—what strangeness lay within?
Meanwhile, as soon as Ye Zhen returned, Wan Xing insisted on applying medicine and made her drink a bowl of nourishing soup before allowing her to retire for the night.
Lying in bed, Ye Zhen couldn’t sleep.
Holding a jade whistle, she fell into reminiscence.
The jade whistle had been given to her by her mother before her passing, along with a secret manual.
It was said to be a reward for her diligent martial arts training, specially sent from the battlefield to the estate.
But her mother had instructed her not to disclose it unless absolutely necessary, and to burn the manual immediately after memorizing its contents.
Today, when she punished Wang Shi, she had used the Sound Transmission Skill recorded in the secret manual.
Channeling her inner energy, she directed the whistle’s sound into Wang Shi’s ears, injuring her internal organs.
She was unwilling to inform Xie Tingzhou, both because her mother had instructed so and because Ye Zhen didn’t want Xie Tingzhou to know too much about her capabilities.
Remaining unpredictable was the only way to make others wary.
Thinking of Xie Tingzhou, Ye Zhen’s heart grew heavy. This man had also gone to the General’s mansion tonight—was it to follow her, or did he have other intentions?
With too many thoughts weighing on her mind, Ye Zhen decided against sleeping and instead sat in meditation to circulate her energy.
The next day, just after she finished breakfast, the palace physician arrived.
After the examination, Ye Zhen saw the physician out, then went to the kitchen to prepare several dishes for Marquis Zhongyong as a gesture of thanks.
At the same time, she requested permission to take Wan Xing out to buy some things.
Marquis Zhongyong was somewhat surprised—why would she need his approval just to go out?
Then he recalled Ye Zhen’s past experiences in the Marquis Estate—likely, Liu Shi had rarely allowed her to leave.
Guilt towards Ye Zhen surfaced once more, and he immediately said, “You are the Shaofuren of the Marquis Estate, and in the future, its mistress. You may come and go as you please—there’s no need to seek permission from now on.”
Ye Zhen left gratefully.
Marquis Zhongyong, having returned from martial practice and feeling hungry, ordered the table to be set.
Today, all the dishes Ye Zhen had prepared were meat-based.
Though Marquis Zhongyong wasn’t one to indulge his palate, he found Ye Zhen’s cooking very much to his taste.
Pleased, his heart softened further.
“Take a thousand taels to the Shaofuren. Also, check with the accounts office whether her monthly allowance has been paid on time all these years. If not, have them make up the full amount at once.”
Ye Zhen had expressed gratitude twice now, both times by sending food. Marquis Zhongyong guessed she must be financially strained, with nothing else to offer.
A daughter-in-law was like half a daughter, and also his child. His child, Xie Bang’s child, shouldn’t suffer unnecessary hardships.
When his attendant returned after delivering the silver notes, he reported, “The accounts show the allowances were issued, but the silver all ended up in the Madam’s hands.”
As expected.
Marquis Zhongyong’s face darkened. “I see Ye Zhen is in good spirits. Tomorrow, have the keys and tallies sent to her.”
When Xie Jinyao heard about this, she smashed two vases.
“That worthless creature actually uses such lowly methods to curry favor with Father! And Father—has he never tasted good food before? To be fooled by Ye Zhen’s rustic cooking like this!”
Her maid hurriedly reminded her to watch her words.
With the Marquise currently away from the estate, the young lady’s standing depended entirely on how much the Marquis cared for her. They absolutely must not offend the Marquis.
Xie Jinyao understood this reasoning well, yet the anger in her heart remained unquelled. She commanded, “Let’s go. I want to see what she intends to do outside today.”
What did Ye Zhen want to do?
She wanted to investigate some matters.
Previously, the Marquise had publicly accused her of having an affair with a male servant in the estate, claiming to show Ye Zhen exceptional mercy by only punishing the servant.
Since the Marquise dared to make such claims openly, it meant there truly was a male servant in the estate who had been punished.
After returning, Ye Zhen had Wan Xing make inquiries and learned that indeed, a male servant had been beaten to death a few days earlier.
That person was the Marquise’s coachman.
But Wan Xing couldn’t uncover the reason why the male servant had been punished.
Ye Zhen vaguely guessed something. She wanted to start from the male servant’s death to uncover her enemy’s weakness…