Strike While She's Ill
"Reporting to the concubine, it's been ten days late."
Concubine Qin pursed her lips tightly, raised her hand to touch her belly, and after a long while, she asked again, "How long has it been since Houye last came?"
"Three months." Chunxing's voice trembled slightly.
What this meant, Chunxing understood, and she was terrified.
Concubine Qin's expression changed. She bit her lip and instructed Chunxing,
"In a while, go out and inquire about Houye's schedule. You must invite Houye to our courtyard."
"Concubine, Houye is not someone this servant can invite." Chunxing's face twisted in distress.
Houye was not a master with a good temper, nor was he easy to fool.
"When you see Houye, say this…" Concubine Qin beckoned Chunxing closer and whispered into her ear.
Outside the door, the maid Hongtao, seeing that she could no longer eavesdrop, hurriedly turned and left to avoid being discovered.
After finishing breakfast, Concubine Qin went to pay respects to the main wife, as required by the Marquise.
The Marquise did not wish to engage in idle chatter with these concubines on an empty stomach.
Nor did she deign to torment them over such trivial matters.
The commotion caused by Houye last night was of concern to these concubines, and naturally, the Marquise, Zhang Jingyi, was also aware and even more concerned about it.
Her personal attendant, Granny Zhou, frowned and said to Zhang Jingyi,
"Madam, that Ye Yiniang already looks like a vixen, and now she shamelessly clings to Houye. We must properly teach her the rules, or else she'll think she can rule the Marquis's Estate with her bedroom tricks!"
Zhang Jingyi was displeased to hear about Xie Jin's wild night, and upon hearing Granny Zhou's words, she nodded,
"Indeed, she must be taught the rules. This shows that daughters of merchant families are no different from those brothel prostitutes—both are lowly and ignorant of propriety. If word spreads, our Marquis's Estate will lose face."
"Later, this servant will find two etiquette instructors to send to Yanliu Courtyard and supervise Ye Yiniang in learning proper conduct."
Granny Zhou said thoughtfully.
Learning etiquette was the most legitimate means for a main wife to discipline and torment concubines.
Because learning those rules was no easy task.
The topic concerning Ye Qingzhi ended there. The mistress of the household had only so much attention to spare for a newly favored concubine.
The Marquis's Estate had several hundred people, including masters and servants, and many matters required her decision. How could she spare so much thought for a concubine who had just served the master?
However, after Zhang Jingyi paid respects to her mother-in-law, had her meal, attended to the daily lives of her son and daughter, and admonished the several concubines and their children who came to pay their respects, she still had not seen Ye Qingzhi arrive to pay her respects!
"Madam, it's only the first day, and that Ye Yiniang is already acting arrogantly, showing no respect for you." Granny Zhou frowned, gritting her teeth and speaking viciously,
"Such an unruly lowly concubine should be given a lesson before teaching her the rules."
This lesson naturally referred to physical torments such as needle pricks, kneeling, or even whipping.
Zhang Jingyi also frowned in displeasure and glanced at the others present.
She was waiting for Ye Qingzhi to come pay respects, and the other concubines in the estate were waiting as well.
However, even after finishing the customary flower tea, Ye Qingzhi had not arrived. The concubines began a critique session, each adding their own comments.
"Madam, Ye Yiniang hasn't come to pay respects since she fell into the water. She's too arrogant."
"Madam is so benevolent, yet she delays our time to pay respects and still dares to defy her superiors and disregard the rules. It's truly infuriating."
"Disregarding the Marquis's health and engaging in such seductive acts deserves even greater punishment!"
"Hmph, she's just a lowly wretch. Madam, have her dragged out and beaten to death."
Yao Yinyin's words successfully silenced everyone else.
They shot her glances filled with resentment and panic, then fell silent.
Having entered the manor half a year ago, Yao Yinyin, relying on her family's backing, had already disciplined every woman in the rear courtyard except the Marquise herself.
Any concubine who served the Marquis would face her sarcastic remarks the next day and be tormented by her under various pretexts.
If a vote were held for the most hated person, Yao Yinyin would undoubtedly receive all the votes and claim first place.
Hearing her demand Ye Qingzhi's execution by beating, everyone waited gleefully for the spectacle.
Zhang Jingyi cast a disgusted look at Yao Yinyin and was about to speak when she heard commotion outside, as if someone was crying.
"Who dares to be so unruly!" Zhang Jingyi snapped angrily.
The other concubines wore expressions of curiosity, craning their necks to see outside.
Granny Zhou immediately went out to investigate and saw Ru Yi weeping inconsolably.
As Ye Yiniang was a noble concubine, she was allowed to bring a maidservant with her into the manor. Ru Yi was the maidservant Ye Yiniang had brought, and Granny Zhou remembered her.
"All this weeping and wailing—what a disgrace!" Granny Zhou scolded sternly, her face cold. The two maidservants in the courtyard immediately released Ru Yi and lowered their heads to defend themselves.
"Granny, she doesn't know the rules. We told her to wait outside for permission to enter, but she insisted on barging in. When we tried to stop her, she struck us."
"And Ye Yiniang? How does she discipline her people…"
Before Granny Zhou could finish her reprimand, Ru Yi threw herself to the ground, wailing loudly.
"Waaah… Granny, please let me see the Madam! My mistress is dying… waaah…"
Granny Zhou's stern expression cracked.
"Your mistress is dying? What happened?" Granny Zhou asked in shock, unable to believe it.
"Waaah… It's the Marquis, last night the Marquis… Anyway, my mistress is badly injured and can't even get out of bed. Please, Madam, send for a physician to save her!"
Ru Yi, an unmarried young woman, couldn't bring herself to utter words of intimacy and could only speak vaguely, crying about how pitiful her mistress was, making it sound as if she were on the verge of death.
Granny Zhou frowned deeply, instructed Ru Yi to wait, and hurried back inside to report the matter to Zhang Jingyi.
In truth, Ru Yi's voice was so loud that everyone inside had heard her.
The concubines' eyes flashed with jealousy or schadenfreude, each silently cursing Ye Qingzhi for her recklessness.
With the Marquis's prowess, how dare a virgin like her spend the entire night entangled with him? She deserved to be ruined.
"Even if she truly is dying, such matters should not be brought outside with weeping and wailing. This tarnishes the Marquis's reputation! She has no sense of propriety!" Zhang Jingyi angrily slapped the table, then added coldly, "Summon the manor physician, and you go along to see just how severe her injuries are."
Granny Zhou quickly acknowledged the order and turned to leave.
"If she's playing tricks, bring her to me immediately. I will personally teach her the rules of being a concubine!"
Zhang Jingyi called Granny Zhou back, her voice icy.
"This old servant understands," Granny Zhou replied before hurrying away.
"The rest of you may leave as well. Remember, be cautious with your words and actions. Do not tarnish the Marquis's dignity!" Zhang Jingyi said sternly to the other concubines.
"Yes, Madam."
The concubines rose one after another to acknowledge the order before departing.
Yao Yinyin, accompanied by her matron, headed straight for Ye Qingzhi's courtyard, her steps swift as if carried by the wind.
Strike while she is weak and seize her life!