Professional Ethics of a Concubine

After visiting her beautiful mother, Ye Qingzhi went to the Ye Mansion for a walk.

Feng Shengxue and her elder brother's child is five months old and is also very plump and white.

The little guy loves to laugh. He will laugh when someone teases him. He will giggle, showing his toothless little gums, and drool. He is very cute and very lovable.

Anyway, as long as the child’s grandfather Ye Yongyuan is at home, except when he is sleeping, the fat grandson is basically in his arms and he takes him wherever he goes.

Not only that, he would call over a few good friends from time to time, set up a banquet, and start showing off.

He showed off his viscountship, his business, how much money he made every day, and what new things he had come up with;

Show off how much the daughter is favored by the prince, how much the emperor values ​​her, and what rewards their family has received;

Xuan's eldest son has become a seventh-rank official in the Ministry of Revenue, and by the end of the year, he may even be promoted to the sixth rank;

Xuan's youngest son is good at studying and is often praised by the teachers in the Imperial College. He is sure to pass the imperial examination in two years.

Finally, here comes the point: his big fat grandson is the main object of his show-off.

Ye Yongyuan held his big fat grandson in his arms, and started praising the child for his high forehead and his intelligence. He then praised his cute little nose and big eyes, and then praised his powerful little feet for kicking people... and so on, and he could talk for a quarter of an hour.

The guests smiled and applauded, but complained in their hearts, but they were willing to visit again next time.

There's nothing else to say, this is Concubine Ye's parents' home!

Moreover, Ye Yongyuan was drunk and was so happy that he really threw money out.

What kind of business cooperation? It’s just given as soon as you say it.

Ye Qingzhi also knew that Old Man Ye loved to show off and spend money lavishly, but she didn't think it was a bad thing.

On the contrary, the Ye family is already extremely wealthy now. If you continue to be a miser, putting money into your pocket without spending it outside, you will only make enemies and cause resentment.

It is better to show off in a harmless way than to keep a low profile.

Such a show of arrogance without any ulterior motives, which will not really hurt anyone, will make those in higher positions feel more at ease.

-

After visiting these two official families' homes, Ye Qingzhi accompanied Xie Niankang to the Anle Marquis' Mansion to visit her father, mother, brother and sister-in-law.

In order to avoid suspicion, she only occasionally exchanged letters with the Anle Marquisate and seldom visited the mansion. However, she was not short of New Year gifts and festival gifts.

This time he was on a long trip and hadn't heard from him for a long time. Xiaokang also wanted to visit his grandparents, so he came here together.

Because they had received the visiting card one day in advance and knew they were coming, Lady Fan Qiaozhen, the Marquis of Anle, wanted to clean the house thoroughly. The servants in the house were under her command and were busy preparing various things, including the ingredients for entertaining the guests tomorrow.

People like Anle Hou Lin Yongnian and his sons all held official positions and it was not a holiday, so they took a day off to prepare for the arrival of Ye Qingzhi and others.

On the next day, Lin Yongnian, Fan Qiaozhen and their family arrived at the door early to greet them, looking forward to it.

Ye Qingzhi and Xie Niankang also went out a little earlier. When they arrived at the gate of Anle Marquis' Mansion, they saw the people waiting at the door. They looked at each other and felt helpless.

"Grandpa and grandma are just too polite." Xie Niankang muttered softly.

"Then you should be more enthusiastic." Ye Qingzhi touched his head, smiled and whispered, "Auntie has to be a little bit more polite, and it's up to you to liven up the atmosphere."

"Leave it to me." Xie Niankang patted his chest, then lifted the car curtain, and jumped out without even using a footstool to get out of the car, then enthusiastically rushed towards Lin Yongnian and the others.

"Grandfather, grandmother, I miss you so much! And my eldest uncle, second uncle, fourth uncle, fifth uncle, eldest aunt... Oh, there are too many people, I won't call them one by one.

I want everyone anyway!

I also brought gifts for each of you. They are specialties from the Western Regions that we can’t buy in Great Zhao!”

Lin Yongnian and the others were stunned by his fiery enthusiasm, but soon they smiled happily, looking at him with a grin from ear to ear.

"Good boy, grandma misses you too. You look very tanned and thinner... You must have suffered a lot out there."

"Hahaha... I think Nian Kang has become much stronger. He jumped off the carriage so smoothly just now. Very good, not bad!"

My grandparents have different focuses, but they are both filled with deep love for him.

The uncles and aunts also laughed heartily.

Even his cousins ​​laughed when they saw his enthusiastic little monkey look, and when they heard him say that he had brought gifts from the Western Regions, they looked at him expectantly.

Xie Niankang immediately made the atmosphere warmer, the awkwardness and politeness disappeared, and the relationship became much closer.

At this time, Ye Qingzhi stepped down from the carriage in a manner befitting a favorite concubine, stepping on a footstool and being supported by her maid and Nanny Zhang.

When Lin Yongnian and the others saw her get off the carriage, they all looked serious and bowed to greet her, and their sense of class was immediately apparent.

Ye Qingzhi sighed secretly inwardly, and said with a gentle smile, "Quickly, don't be polite."

"Oh, Grandfather, Grandma, I brought my aunt here today. There's no need to be too strict about the relationship between the emperor and his subjects. My aunt is very easy-going. If there are too many rules, everyone will feel uncomfortable."

Xie Niankang started making the fusion agent again and spoke.

Ye Qingzhi gave him an appreciative look, then echoed his words and said with a smile,

"Yes, seeing how you guys follow the rules, I have to put on airs too, but it will be exhausting. You follow the rules more than I do in the East Palace. There's no need for that."

Lin Yongnian and the others all laughed and indeed relaxed, then invited Ye Qingzhi and Xie Niankang into the house.

With Xie Niankang, a little expert who can liven up the atmosphere, and Ye Qingzhi, a big expert who can talk, it is impossible for the atmosphere to be dull.

After drinking a cup of tea and exchanging pleasantries about daily life, the gifts were distributed. The children were dazzled by the number of gifts, all of which they had never seen before and which were all Western-style items.

Seeing that his cousins ​​were all very supportive, Xie Niankang was also very excited. While distributing the gifts, he also talked about the origins of the gifts and some interesting stories he saw in the Western Regions.

Not to mention the children, even the adults listened with great interest, making various exclamations of praise and surprise from time to time, and urging Xie Niankang to stop keeping the secret and speak quickly.

"This trip to the Western Regions has helped Xiaokang grow a lot," Lin Yongnian said with satisfaction.

"A man should go out and see more. The eldest, second, fourth, and fifth brothers should also apply for transfers. Don't stay in the capital all the time. Your horizons will be narrowed and your abilities will not improve."

"Today is a family dinner, why bring up these things!" Fan Qiaozhen glared at Marquis Anle, not wanting him to talk about officialdom.

It sounded as if they had something to ask of Concubine Ye and needed her to take care of the external transfer.

"It's my fault, let's not talk about this." Lin Yongnian said quickly.

"It's okay." Ye Qingzhi said with a smile, "You want to be transferred to a local government to serve as a local official, rectify the local officialdom, and benefit the people. This is also what His Royal Highness the Crown Prince wants to see.

His Royal Highness the Crown Prince often praises the abilities and character of the Lin family masters, as well as the Lin family's ethos.

If you really want to be transferred, I will mention it to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince and ask for his opinion. If there is a suitable position, you will be given priority."

Hearing this, Lin Yongnian was somewhat surprised and delighted, but he was also afraid that it would embarrass Ye Qingzhi and make His Royal Highness the Crown Prince dislike her or something.

Xie Niankang's uncles all looked at each other, feeling surprised but also a little helpless.

Because Ye Qingzhi gave the benefits so easily and said it didn't matter.

"Don't be too nervous. This is nothing. I am just taking advantage of my position within reasonable limits. You are capable people. It's not like you are taking advantage of my favor and asking for benefits from His Highness without thinking."

Ye Qingzhi said with a smile,

"If I can't even do such a small thing, then I am unworthy of the title of favorite concubine and can be laid off."

"Don't say that!" Fan Qiaozhen was terrified when she heard her daughter say that. She said softly,

"You can't make such jokes. You still have to be respectful."

They only hope that their daughter can live comfortably and peacefully this time, and not be abused and tortured again.

"Okay, okay." Ye Qingzhi agreed and let the matter go. Then she asked about the third brother, Lin Qingyun.

"General Lin hasn't been back for a year. Has he sent any letters? When can he go home to visit his family?" Ye Qingzhi asked.

"He wrote to me a few days ago, saying that the border with Chu State is a little unstable and there are many frictions between the two countries. He will not be returning to Beijing in the short term."

Lin Yongnian said,

"He was originally a general, and he could only return home if summoned by the king. It was wrong for him to come back to visit his family without permission. It was thanks to you that he was able to come back and stay for a while last year."

Ye Qingzhi nodded to show her understanding, but she couldn't help wondering in her heart, is the war between Chu and Zhao going to start earlier?

-

After lunch, Ye Qingzhi took Xie Niankang away.

Both of them were a little full from eating, and they sat in the carriage, rubbing their stomachs, feeling a little uncomfortable.

"Next time I come, I must not eat so much!" Xie Niankang said distressedly, "I always eat too much every time I come here. My grandmother and the others are so welcoming."

Ye Qingzhi agreed with this deeply, but also felt a little overwhelmed.

I ate a little of this and a little of that, and because there were so many choices, I ended up eating too much.

"I have to go back to the Pingnan Marquis Mansion tomorrow. Will you go with me, aunt?" Xie Niankang asked.

"I won't go. You can ask Mingyu and Mingyan to go back and visit the old lady. The old lady likes energetic children like you."

Ye Qingzhi said with a smile.

"Well, Mingyu and I will go back together." Xie Niankang said immediately, "Forget about the princess. It's very uncomfortable to be with the princess."

Ye Qingzhi,...

Ye Qingzhi couldn't help but ask, "Are you very repulsive to Mingyan? You two are both young, you can still play together, there's no need to be strict about gender separation."

"I will be twelve soon, and the princess will be ten soon, so how can we not be particular?" Xie Niankang shook his head seriously, and then said seriously,

“Childhood sweethearts and the like never have a good ending. Once they are unhappy, they will bring up the past.

She will still be a princess in the future, and maybe even an empress or something, so I have to keep my distance from her."

"..."Ye Qingzhi.

Son, you are only twelve, not twenty, how do you know so much?

Besides, is it too early to think about these things now?

"Okay, then you decide for yourself." Ye Qingzhi suppressed all the thoughts in her mind and chose to respect his choice.

Although the child is only twelve, he is mentally mature. I don't know whether he has the so-called rebellious period of adolescence. Since it is harmless, there is no need to intervene.