Cuckolding the Marquis
“I’m going on a long trip. You are not to step out of Yanliu Courtyard until I return.”
Xie Jin took the jade pendant, thinking she handled things quite properly, but he still placed Ye Qingzhi under house arrest.
Xie Jin was afraid that in his absence, she might fall into another trap and be killed by someone else.
He was still quite fond of this little beauty. He hadn’t had his fill of her yet and didn’t want her to die so soon.
“Oh, I understand. This concubine will not go out. I wish Houye a safe journey and success in all matters.”
Ye Qingzhi bid farewell listlessly, barely lifting her eyelids to glance at him before letting them droop again—her attitude couldn’t have been more perfunctory.
Seeing her insolent little demeanor, Xie Jin’s hands and heart itched again. He wanted to discipline her, to bite her until she cried.
But it was getting late; he had to leave.
“Granny Zhou, inform the Madam that Ye Yiniang is under house arrest. Without my permission, she is not to be let out, nor is anyone else allowed into Yanliu Courtyard.”
Xie Jin spoke as he walked out.
“Yes, Houye.” Granny Zhou replied respectfully, though she was seething inside.
How distrustful was Houye of this little wretch, going to such lengths to protect her before his long trip?
“Also, when Physician Zhang arrives later, have him prescribe more tonics for Ye Yiniang. Her constitution is too weak; if she can’t withstand a little exertion, how can she satisfy me?”
Xie Jin added another instruction.
“Yes, Houye.” Granny Zhou’s face nearly twisted in anger.
He even summoned Physician Zhang?!
Having a respected imperial physician treat a mere concubine—only their master would do such a thing. And the physician wouldn’t dare complain; he’d just have to swallow his pride.
After all, their master was the Commander. Who wouldn’t show him some reverence?
After Xie Jin left, Granny Zhou walked to the bedside and looked at Ye Qingzhi, who appeared as delicate as a flower battered by rain. She gritted her teeth and said,
“Ye Yiniang truly has remarkable skills, winning Houye’s favor in such a short time.”
“Granny overestimates me. With my useless appearance, unappealing temperament, dull mind, and frail body, how could Houye truly care for me? I’m just like a cat or a dog—Houye finds my foolishness amusing and toys with me for fun.” Ye Qingzhi replied listlessly.
Granny Zhou, …
To be fair, Ye Yiniang wasn’t arrogant or domineering, nor did she flaunt any favor. Her words even demeaned herself to the lowest degree, yet hearing her speak was so infuriating.
It stirred an urge in people to strangle her.
“It’s good that Ye Yiniang understands!” Granny Zhou ground her teeth and continued,
“Ye Yiniang should also learn some propriety and understand what should and shouldn’t be said. The words you spoke to Houye earlier were even more wanton than those of a brothel prostitute. If word got out, it would be utterly disgraceful.”
“Oh.”
“What does ‘oh’ mean? Does Ye Yiniang truly understand?” Granny Zhou clenched her fists, suppressing her anger.
“It means I understand.” Ye Qingzhi had a headache. Earlier, she had engaged in all that banter with Xie Jin—it was like working while sick, serving the boss. But now that the boss was gone, who would keep working?
“Granny Zhou, bring me a bowl of contraceptive soup.” Ye Qingzhi ordered calmly.
“Yes. This old servant will—”
The commanding tone of a superior made Granny Zhou instinctively agree, but after realizing what had happened, her old face flushed with embarrassment. She forced herself to say,
“Ye Yiniang is quite sensible, knowing to ask for contraceptive soup on your own.”
A merchant’s daughter—how could she have such a strong presence? But now, looking at her again, she seemed listless and devoid of any manners or upbringing.
As if the commanding aura of a matriarch earlier had just been her imagination.
"Ye Yiniang's constitution is such that she need not drink the contraceptive brew. With her uterine cold and frail health, pregnancy is extremely unlikely."
Doctor Sun said from the side.
Upon hearing this, Ye Qingzhi was displeased.
She hated the phrase "extremely unlikely to conceive" the most—it still implied there was a possibility of pregnancy.
What if Xie Jin was just that virile, and with so many encounters, she ended up unlucky enough to conceive?
The contraceptive brew must be taken; a child absolutely must not be born.
She was just here to work, not to carry a baby.
Working while raising a child was far too difficult.
Who had the hardest time in the workplace and faced the most discrimination? Pregnant women!
She absolutely could not have a child!
Moreover, the dream she had just experienced served as a wake-up call: never raise a child. After all the exhausting effort, it would most likely turn out to be an ungrateful wretch.
Why go through such hardship?
"Granny, just to be safe, please bring a bowl. I don’t want to die so early," Ye Qingzhi insisted firmly.
Granny Zhou looked at Ye Qingzhi with surprise and wariness, reassessing her opinion of her.
This was actually a clever woman.
But whether she posed a threat to the mistress remained uncertain.
"She really said that? She insisted on drinking the contraceptive brew?" Zhang Jingyi was also surprised after hearing Granny Zhou’s report.
"Yes," Granny Zhou nodded. "This old servant personally brought her the contraceptive brew and watched her drink it."
"She’s quite obedient," Zhang Jingyi nodded with satisfaction. "And she has her methods too. News just came that Concubine Yao was thrown into the pond by Houye."
"Ah?" Granny Zhou was stunned for a moment, unable to process it. "For Ye Yiniang?"
"What else?" Zhang Jingyi said with a distant expression, her voice calm. "If you please a man in bed, you can indeed get whatever you want."
"Mistress, relying on beauty to serve others is nothing but a lowly trick used by base women. You are the Hou Furen, and no one can surpass you. Houye respects you as well."
Granny Zhou quickly tried to comfort her.
Zhang Jingyi waved her hand lightly, signaling her not to say more. How could she not understand these principles? The respect she enjoyed today as the mistress of the household was also due to Houye.
Seeing that the mistress didn’t seem to mind, Granny Zhou grew more spirited and couldn’t help but stir trouble for Ye Qingzhi.
"Mistress, although Ye Yiniang seems sensible, Houye truly cares for her. You didn’t see how doting he was toward her—not only did he have Doctor Zhang examine her, but he also placed her under house arrest to protect her…"
"Enough. It’s rare for Houye to take a liking to a beauty, and she happens to be clever. As long as she keeps Houye happy, we’ll protect her a little, so she doesn’t die too quickly and upset Houye."
Zhang Jingyi waved her hand, stopping Granny Zhou from saying more.
Just then, a maid from outside came to report that Hongtao, the maid serving Concubine Qin, requested an audience.
Zhang Jingyi allowed her to enter, and Hongtao cautiously reported,
"Mistress, Concubine Qin’s monthly cycle has been delayed for over ten days this month. She retched during breakfast earlier, and these past few days she has been unusually drowsy. This servant suspects she might be pregnant. I beg for your decision on the matter."
"Wretched servant!" Zhang Jingyi’s expression changed sharply upon hearing this, and she cursed harshly.
Hongtao trembled with fear. She knew the truth about Concubine Qin’s pregnancy, which made her even more afraid—afraid that the mistress might silence her.
After regaining her composure, Zhang Jingyi began instructing Hongtao, "Pretend you know nothing for now. Keep a close watch on Concubine Qin’s every move. Report immediately if anything unusual happens."
Hongtao acknowledged, then added, "Concubine Qin still wishes to see Houye and wants to inquire about his schedule. She seems to have a way to be certain that Houye will go to the Begonia Courtyard to meet her, but I don’t know what method it is."
Upon hearing this, Zhang Jingyi immediately understood Concubine Qin’s intentions and snorted coldly, "You needn’t concern yourself with that. Go back for now."
Houye had left the estate on official business and wouldn’t return for ten days to half a month—that wretched woman would be driven mad with impatience.