No wonder she's favored!
"Right, right, Ru Yi wouldn't dare lie about this!" Ye Yongyuan said with a hearty laugh. "Ru Yi, coming back to the manor, does your lady have any instructions?"
"My lady says the silver isn't enough, so she sent me to fetch some more," Ru Yi replied.
"Ten thousand taels of silver still isn't enough? The manor provides all the daily necessities according to her allowance. Where could she possibly spend so much silver?" Ye Yingxue asked through gritted teeth.
Their family was wealthy, but money didn't grow on trees.
Ten thousand taels was an enormous sum, not something you could just produce at will!
"Second Young Lady, you probably don't know this, but that meager allowance is nowhere near enough. Moreover, there are so many places in the Marquis's Estate's inner quarters that require greasing palms, not to mention currying favor with Houye and the principal wife. Everything costs silver.
If you're unwilling to spend silver, yet still expect our lady to help the manor become an imperial merchant once she gains favor—how could such a bargain exist?"
Ru Yi's words left Ye Yingxue feeling stifled and pouting in frustration.
Ye Yongyuan thought Ru Yi made a valid point. Having already spent thirty thousand taels, he didn't mind parting with a few thousand more.
He decided to give ten thousand taels first.
Arrangements made!
He felt his daughter's momentum was promising; she had clearly captured Houye's heart. Perhaps she would soon become pregnant.
After receiving the ten-thousand-tael banknote, Ru Yi tearfully complained that her lady's health was poor, and that Houye had specially invited a royal physician to treat her, prescribing expensive medicinal herbs for her nourishment.
Upon hearing that Houye had actually summoned a royal physician for his daughter, Ye Yongyuan flushed with excitement—what immense face this brought!
By the time Ru Yi departed, besides the ten thousand taels of silver, she also took away a pile of precious tonics, including a hundred-year-old ginseng root!
Losing so much silver and valuable medicine at once not only angered Ye Yingxue but also displeased Gu Man, the lady of the house, whose expression darkened.
The silver in Ye Manor was meant to be left for her son and daughter!
They had already spent a considerable sum of thirty thousand taels on Ye Qingzhi.
Gu Man was unwilling to spend even one more tael on her.
With Ye Qingzhi's dull and uninteresting demeanor, how could Marquis Jiangyang possibly favor her so much?!
This truly caught her off guard.
If that little wretch really gained power, life for her and her children would become difficult.
Once Ru Yi left, Ye Qingzhi had no one attending to her. She summoned the two second-class maids who guarded the door.
As a noble concubine, besides Ru Yi, the maid she brought from her family home, the estate had assigned her two second-class maids responsible for night duty and personal service.
Two lower-ranking maids handled laundry and meal delivery, and there was also an elderly woman in charge of cleaning and sweeping.
However, she had previously never allowed the two second-class maids to serve inside her room, only assigning them menial tasks in the courtyard.
Now that she had officially taken up her position, her small department—Yanliu Courtyard—needed to start operating.
When the two maids approached, Ye Qingzhi said to them,
"According to a concubine's allowance, my courtyard is entitled to two first-class maids. Ru Yi already occupies one position. Between the two of you, only one can become a first-class maid, for a period of one month. Whoever performs better, I will promote. Understood?"
Empty promises without actual promotions or salary increases—who would be motivated to work hard?
Today's workers are shrewd; they follow the money and don't buy into lofty missions.
"This servant understands," the two maids replied, exchanging glances that revealed the competitive fire in each other's eyes.
They were well aware that this was the concubine's tactic to control them, preventing them from banding together to deceive her.
Yet, they had no right to refuse the rules set by the concubine, nor could they turn down the rewards she offered.
Because becoming a first-class maid not only elevated their status and reputation but also made it easier to receive rewards from their masters. There was even a chance to climb into bed and directly become a bedchamber maid.
Just in terms of monthly wages, first-class maids earned one tael more per month than second-class maids!
"You'd better all be maids loyal to the Madam. If I find out any of you are spies for others, don't blame me for being ruthless."
Ye Qingzhi continued lecturing them, clearly stating the one and only employee rule of Yanliu Courtyard:
"Remember, I am just a concubine. Your masters are not me, but Houye and the Madam!
Everything that happens in Yanliu Courtyard can be reported to Houye and the Madam, but it absolutely must not be told to anyone else. Doing so would be betrayal, understand?"
The two maids stared at Ye Yiniang with shock and surprise.
How novel.
This was the first time they had heard such a display of loyalty, but upon closer thought, there was nothing wrong with it!
Ye Yiniang really knew how to put on a show. Even her declarations of loyalty were more interesting than others.
No wonder she was favored!
"Chunyu, Xia Chan, first report to the Madam that I wish to build a pergola in the courtyard for shade.
I also want a small kitchen. Once the Madam grants permission, you can find the estate's stewards to handle these two tasks. I will cover the expenses myself.
By the way, are there any maids or older women in the estate with good culinary skills? I hope the Madam can assign one to me. Once the small kitchen is ready, I will handle my daily meals myself, using my own funds.
Also, the weather is too hot, and the ice provided by the estate isn't enough. Remember to buy more ice with my money."
With a few words from Ye Qingzhi, money flowed out like water, all for the sake of living comfortably and ensuring she didn't suffer in terms of food or accommodation.
Chunyu and Xia Chan hurriedly acknowledged her instructions, indicating they had taken note.
"Once Ru Yi returns, you can go report to the Madam. For now, bring me some chilled watermelon. Also, have someone tidy up the east wing for me to use as a study."
Ye Qingzhi gave further instructions.
Chunyu and Xia Chan dared not delay and quickly went to carry out the tasks.
Ye Qingzhi found a book, spread it open beside her, and read whichever page the wind turned.
Blissful.
Soon, the chilled watermelon arrived. Chunyu removed the seeds and fed small pieces to Ye Qingzhi one by one, ensuring no watermelon juice would splash around her mouth.
Ye Qingzhi swallowed the cool, refreshing watermelon and squinted her eyes in enjoyment.
So comfortable!
She truly hoped Houye would return from his business trip later, allowing her to extend her recuperation period for work-related injuries—again and again.
Days without work were simply too delightful.
By the afternoon, Ru Yi returned from Ye Manor, excitedly showing Ye Qingzhi her accomplishments.
Ten thousand taels in banknotes and a large quantity of precious medicines.
Chunyu and Xia Chan, who were attending nearby, stared wide-eyed at the stack of banknotes.
"Yiniang, you should have seen the Second Young Lady's face today—it was absolutely foul! She kept mocking you, saying you wouldn't remain favored. In my opinion, she’s just regretting not entering the Marquis's Estate herself…"
Ru Yi abruptly stopped speaking, realizing that continuing would touch upon her mistress's painful memories.
"And even the master, after hearing what I said, gave the silver so readily. When mentioning you, his smile could reach the heavens, and he was incredibly polite to me as well!"
Ru Yi chirped happily.
"All of this is the face Houye has given me. Without Houye's support, I am nothing." Ye Qingzhi wore an expression of being deeply moved, as if ready to work herself to death for her superior.
"Once I've fully recovered, I must serve the master well and repay him. I must also work hard to strengthen my body."
Ru Yi immediately blushed and softly suggested,
"Auntie, outside the mansion, everyone is saying you are a fox enchantress reborn, specially seducing men. Your reputation is very poor now, so let's say such things less in the future."