The Houye Has Indeed Taken a Fancy to This Little Vixen
Xie Jin, deeply favored by the Emperor and possessing considerable skill, now served as the Commander of the Imperial Guards. He oversaw the surveillance of officials, gathered intelligence, and held the authority to arrest and interrogate, making him a figure feared throughout the court and the common populace.
Early this morning, he had been summoned by the Emperor and assigned a task: to investigate a corruption case in Xuzhou.
Although Xuzhou was not far—just three days away by fast horse—involving an investigation meant this trip would take at least half a month.
Returning to his residence to pack, Xie Jin discovered that the jade pendant he always wore was missing.
This pendant had been given to him by his late mother and could not be lost.
After some thought, he realized it must have been left at Ye Yiniang’s place.
When he woke up in the morning and saw the woman sleeping like a log, he hadn’t bothered to have her attend to him. Coupled with his hasty departure, it was easy to overlook something.
Xie Jin initially intended to send his personal attendant Jin Bao to retrieve the pendant. But glancing down at the fading bite marks from a beauty on the back of his hand and feeling the faint sting of scratches on his back, he changed his mind and decided to go to Yanliu Courtyard himself.
The intoxicating pleasures of the previous night lingered in his memory, making him crave another taste of that sharp-tongued little vixen before his departure.
However, upon arriving, Xie Jin found not even a maid to relay messages or sweep the courtyard. Frowning before even entering the room, he demanded,
“Where is everyone?”
“This servant will go inquire immediately,” Jin Bao replied nervously, his heart trembling.
He sensed that the Houye’s attitude toward Ye Yiniang had changed—he had become more attentive.
Yesterday, when they came, there had been no one attending outside either, but the Houye hadn’t paid it any mind.
Xie Jin pushed the door open and strode to the bedside, where he found Ye Qingzhi, her small face flushed with fever.
“So useless, falling ill already,” Xie Jin muttered, furrowing his brow as he touched her burning forehead.
The fever was high, and she was barely conscious.
For once, Xie Jin reflected on whether he had been too rough with her the previous night.
Three or four times—for a virgin, that was indeed excessive.
But who could blame him? She was so delicate and enticing, and her reactions were far from the stiffness of other women, making it hard for him to hold back.
“No skill, yet you kept clinging to this lord. Serves you right.”
After his moment of reflection, he shifted the blame back to her. Yet, as he gently pinched her fever-flushed cheek, he couldn’t help but frown and call out,
“Someone, summon Physician Zhang to examine her.”
Although Jin Bao was not present, his hidden guards were outside.
Ye Qingzhi had no idea Xie Jin had come.
Burning with fever, she had fallen into a deep, delirious sleep and began to dream.
In the dream, she lay in bed, seemingly gravely ill, coughing incessantly until she coughed up blood. The room was adorned in an antique style, with a maid attending to her by the bedside.
But the maid did not address her as “Yiniang”; instead, she called her “Madam.”
She seemed to be dying, yet aside from the maid beside her, no one came to her bedside to bid her farewell.
In the dream, she asked the maid to summon the young master, saying she wanted to see him one last time.
But the maid returned three times without success, only to inform her that the Houye was holding a wedding banquet in the front courtyard to marry a new wife, and the young master was too busy to come.
Ye Qingzhi didn’t understand the plot of this dream. Was she aspiring to rise from concubine to the Houye’s wife?
Good heavens, she hadn’t realized she harbored such lofty career ambitions. As a useless person, she hardly deserved the Houye’s favor to the point of discarding his wife and elevating her.
Moreover, her fate in the dream was utterly miserable. Here she was, on the brink of death from illness, while the Houye was in the front courtyard marrying another wife and holding a joyous banquet. Even her own child wouldn’t come to see her.
Ye Qingzhi didn't understand the chaotic plot in her dream, only feeling her heart turn icy cold, especially aggrieved and stifled.
Struggling to open her eyes, Ye Qingzhi saw Xie Jin before her and immediately burst into tears from the injustice she felt.
"Wuwuwu… I knew Houye wasn't so heartless. After all, we slept together once. Even one night as husband and wife brings a hundred days of affection. You still came to see me before I died.
Wuwuwu, but I don't want to die yet. I still have so much dowry silver I haven't spent, so many things I haven't enjoyed…"
Xie Jin's face darkened.
What utter nonsense!
Ye Qingzhi cried more and more mournfully, tears streaming endlessly.
"Stop crying, you're not going to die!" Xie Jin roughly wiped away her tears, rubbing her cheeks painfully, but it also brought Ye Qingzhi back to her senses.
"Houye?" Ye Qingzhi asked hoarsely, still confused.
"'Even one night as husband and wife brings a hundred days of affection'—your ambitions aren't small, are they?" Xie Jin snorted coldly.
"Houye misunderstands. This concubine has no such ambition, nor the capability. That was just a metaphor, a metaphor!
This concubine is just useless, understands nothing, and is merely a lowly merchant's daughter. Even if Houye were dazzled by this concubine's beauty and wanted to make me the mistress, I wouldn't be capable!
If Houye feels this concubine serves well and pities my hard work, just reward me with more silver, nice things, delicious food…"
Ye Qingzhi mustered all her strength to explain, clarifying her workplace abilities and aspirations.
A raise is fine, more bonuses and benefits are welcome—but absolutely no promotion!
"Sharp-tongued!" Xie Jin pinched her small mouth, his expression unreadable, unclear whether he believed her or not.
Just then, Yao Yinyin arrived with her maids and matrons. Seeing no servants in the courtyard, she smiled contemptuously and pushed the door open to enter the room, then…
"Houye?!" Yao Yinyin was dumbfounded upon seeing Xie Jin sitting by the bed, stunned for a long moment before regaining her senses.
The matrons and maids behind her were also shocked but, with professional composure, quickly knelt.
"This servant greets Houye." Instantly, they knelt in unison, their voices echoing.
"What are you doing here!" Xie Jin frowned, looking at Yao Yinyin.
Yao Yinyin came back to her senses, gritting her teeth to suppress the surging jealousy in her heart. She walked to Xie Jin's side and curtsied, glancing at the sickly Ye Qingzhi on the bed.
"Houye, this concubine heard Ye Yiniang was ill and came to visit."
Ye Qingzhi also looked at Yao Yinyin. Although she wasn't skilled at reading expressions, Yao Yinyin's resentment and murderous intent were undisguised. Her eyes weren't blind—she understood immediately.
"Houye, she didn't come to visit; she came to torment this concubine. Look at how she's staring at me—it's terrifying!
Wuwuwu, Houye, save me. I don't want to die so soon…"
Ye Qingzhi turned her head, grabbing Xie Jin's arm in panic as she tattled.
Here it comes, here it comes—her colleague Xiao Yao is here to harm her!
She just started her job, worked her first day, pulled an all-nighter that left her exhausted, and before she could catch her breath, workplace competition was already beginning. The pace was too fast.
Is this what workplace ecology without a probation period is like? The competitive pressure after starting the job is really intense.
Yao Yinyin was caught off guard by this direct accusation, unprepared and exposed in her intentions. Startled, she immediately knelt on the ground, instinctively defending herself.
"Houye, this concubine didn't do that. Ye Yiniang is slandering me!"
Xie Jin paid no attention to Yao Yinyin, instead scrutinizing Ye Qingzhi with a searching gaze, trying to discern whether she was foolish or clever.
Her eyes were sharp enough, and her tongue even sharper.
Ye Qingzhi didn’t speak either, just stared pitifully at Xie Jin with her large, clear, and frank eyes. Paired with her sickly, flushed little face, it was oddly endearing.