Professional Ethics of a Concubine

"I have learned a little, but I only have a rough understanding. I still need Madam to teach me more." Ye Qingzhi said to Madam Zhang with a smile.

"By the way, Mammy, what kind of food do you like to eat? I'll ask the kitchen to prepare a few dishes according to your taste. I like sweet and sour pork the most. Mammy, do you want to eat it?"

"Auntie Ye, I'm just a servant. You don't have to consider my taste. Just eat something delicious." Aunt Zhang's eyebrows softened a little, but she said

"I have a hunch that Mammy's favorite foods should be shepherd's purse dumplings, purslane eggs, and cold-mixed dandelions?"

Ye Qingzhi smiled and asked, "Mammy, am I right?"

"Auntie Ye, I'm here to teach you the rules, not to joke with you." Aunt Zhang suppressed her suspicion and said with a dignified face.

"Okay, then Madam, let's officially get started." Ye Qingzhi said with a smile.

"I just had a small talk with Mammy to warm up the atmosphere and get to know each other better. I hope Mammy won't take it to heart if I'm offended in any way."

Nanny Zhang nodded with a stern face and refused to respond to her nonsense. She just asked her to take off her outer clothes, put on only her bellyband and the small pants underneath, and stand up straight.

Ye Qingzhi did as she was told obediently.

Nanny Zhang looked at Ye Qingzhi and was puzzled to see that she was calm about the undressing inspection and did not look humiliated or shy at all.

Most women would react strongly if they were stripped naked and examined like this, but she was fine. She even asked if she wanted to continue stripping naked.

“…No need.” said Nanny Zhang.

She stared at Ye Qingzhi in front of her with a serious face, ignoring the signs of love on her body, and looked her over carefully from head to toe and then from toe to head.

"Mammy, I heard that the imperial palace selects concubines in this way. Is it true? Do they have to strip naked for examination like this?"

Ye Qingzhi asked curiously, her beautiful big eyes twinkling, full of curiosity like a curious baby.

Very simple and innocent.

Aunt Zhang responded with a cold face, but she actually explained to her patiently.

“When selecting a concubine for the Emperor, the standards are naturally stricter, the examination is more detailed, and every inch of the body must be touched and examined.

The old slave asked the aunt to take off her outer clothes just to make it easier to check her body shape and make corrections later."

"Oh." Ye Qingzhi flattered with admiration, "Mammy also wants to help correct my body shape. Wow, Mammy is so amazing."

Aunt Zhang,...

After calming down, Aunt Zhang continued with a stern face,

"Congratulations, Auntie. Auntie Ye has a beautiful and well-proportioned figure. You don't need to spend any more effort on this aspect."

"Mammy, you also think I have a great figure, right? In addition to my natural beauty, I also worked hard. I do yoga every day, which is body training movements."

Ye Qingzhi excitedly showed off and took credit for it.

Once again, Aunt Zhang...

"Madam Ye!" Nanny Zhang could only raise her voice slightly and continued to speak majestically.

"However, Aunt Ye, your back is too relaxed and your waist and back are not straight enough. This will make you look more coquettish and lose your dignity and grace."

"Madam is right." Ye Qingzhi said with a smile, "However, as a concubine, why should I be so dignified and annoy the master?

Mammy, do you know Aunt Qian? I heard that she was born in Baihua Tower and was a most beautiful courtesan back then. She was extremely beautiful and charming.

But after entering the mansion, she began to learn to be dignified and polite like a lady from a noble family. Even the master is not willing to enter her courtyard. What are you doing? You are learning nothing and you have lost your original advantage in winning favor. "

Nanny Zhang held her forehead with her hand, and had the urge to cover Aunt Ye's mouth.

Really! She had never seen anyone like Aunt Ye.

You say she is domineering? No. You say she despises you? No either. She is very easy-going and very kind to her. She even gossips with her as if she is an elder.

Nanny Zhang has lived in the rear house for most of her life and has developed a pair of sharp eyes. She can tell whether someone is pretending or being sincere.

Aunt Ye's kindness towards her was genuine. If it was fake, then she was really good at pretending.

She also couldn't hate someone who treated her sincerely. Nanny Zhang found that she couldn't even get angry with Aunt Ye.

I just have a headache.

No matter what you say, she will open her little mouth and talk a lot.

"Madam Ye, I don't know if the Marquis dislikes Madam Qian because she is too dignified, but this is the rule that women should abide by, and it is also what you have to learn."

Aunt Zhang could only keep a straight face and continue with a very unhappy expression.

"You should put away your little thoughts and learn from me carefully."

"Yes, yes, I'll listen to you, Madam." Ye Qingzhi said with a smile, being well-behaved and sensible.

Nanny Zhang nodded with a stern face and began to teach Ye Qingzhi the first lesson, how to perform etiquette, how to greet, how to walk, sit and lie down, etc.

"Auntie, pay attention to my movements. I will only demonstrate them once."

As Aunt Zhang spoke, she demonstrated the movements of greeting, walking, sitting and lying down, while explaining the key points of the movements.

Ye Qingzhi looked at it carefully. The more she looked, the more familiar it seemed to her. It was not difficult at all.

This feeling was too familiar. It was obvious that she had inherited the blessing of the original owner.

"Aunt, please demonstrate the movements of bowing and greeting first." After Aunt Zhang explained the key points, she asked Ye Qingzhi to do it.

Ye Qingzhi did it very carefully and asked, "Mammy, what do you think? Is it standard?"

"Aunt is very smart." Aunt Zhang nodded in surprise, praised her, and breathed a sigh of relief.

Aunt Ye is smart and studious, and she is also relaxed.

But as the teaching progressed, Aunt Zhang began to find that something was not right.

Ye Qingzhi could learn any rules quickly and her movements were very standard.

Moreover, whenever she wanted, her manners when walking, sitting or lying down were dignified, graceful and beautiful, just like those ladies and noblewomen who had already engraved these rules in their bones.

In a word, as long as she wants to follow the rules on a daily basis, Ye Qingzhi doesn't need to learn the rules at all!

"Madam Ye, since you have learned all the rules, why don't you tell the Madam and the Marquis?" Madam Zhang asked with a frown.

She didn't want to get involved in the fights among the wives and concubines in the back house, so she was very dissatisfied with this.

"Mammy, actually my brain isn't very good and I don't remember learning these rules." Ye Qingzhi said.

"Auntie Ye, are you deliberately teasing me?!" Aunt Zhang became more and more angry.

"Mammy, please don't be angry. Eat this watermelon smoothie to cool down your body." Ye Qingzhi handed it to her coquettishly.

"Of course I didn't play a joke on you, Madam. I tried to commit suicide twice, and after escaping death, I did forget a lot of things."

When Aunt Zhang heard her say that she had attempted suicide twice, and then looked at her bright smiling face, she suddenly felt a little sad.

She couldn't help but think of her master. If her master was still alive and could have escaped death and been rescued, how great it would be.

When the master was young like Aunt Ye, he also loved to laugh like this, but later...

"Auntie Ye, the Marquis's favor cannot last long. The Marquis's wife is a tolerant mistress. In addition to vying for favor, you must also please the wife the most.

If you can make the lady accept you and be willing to protect you, then that is your real ability.

It is a good idea for the aunt to send a pavilion and ice to the lady, the young masters and the young ladies.

However, when Auntie is wronged, she hits others in the face directly. This is too much. Next time you feel wronged, ask Madam and the Marquis to help you. You shouldn't do it yourself!"

Nanny Zhang couldn't help but say a few heartfelt words to Ye Qingzhi.

"Mammy, don't worry, I know these principles and I won't get lost." Ye Qingzhi comforted her in return.

However, she understands the principle, but whether to do it or not is another matter.

Aunt Zhang suppressed the strange feeling in her heart and continued,

"Madam Ye, since you know all the rules, I will report to Madam tomorrow and will not come here again."

"That's impossible! Mammy, learning the rules is my punishment, and I have to learn for a full month!"

Ye Qingzhi immediately objected,

"Also, although I know most of these rules, I can only remember them after Mammy's reminder. If Mammy doesn't tell me, I won't remember them. Mammy, just help me review. You have to teach me all the rules you have changed."

Nanny Zhang thought what she said made sense, so she agreed again, and it took only about a month.

"Mammy, what job do you do in the mansion? Which courtyard are you in? Who is your master?"

Ye Qingzhi said earnestly again,

"Mammy, I am surrounded by young maids who know very little. I just need an experienced maid to give me some advice. Would you like to come to my side?"

Ye Qingzhi wanted to dig Nanny Zhang to be by her side.

Although she didn't know why, she obviously had special feelings for Aunt Zhang. What's more, Aunt Zhang was also a capable person, and she was in need of such a veteran!

When Aunt Zhang heard that she wanted her to serve her closely, she was stunned and shook her head to refuse.

"This old slave is not fit to serve my aunt."

"Is it because of my status as a concubine that I am not worthy of the nanny?" Concubine Ye asked seriously.

"Auntie, you are joking. I am just a servant and you are the master." Auntie Zhang smiled and didn't want to say more. She just stood up and bowed to Ye Qingzhi to say goodbye.

"I'll take my leave."

"Madam, wait a moment. You have worked hard today. Chunyu, give you ten taels of silver."

Ye Qingzhi ordered.

Nanny Zhang was stunned, took the ten taels of silver, knelt down to thank her and left.

Ye Qingzhi watched her leave.

"Ruyi, go out and find out about Aunt Zhang. Ask for as much information as you can. Don't be afraid to spend money."

Ye Qingzhi turned around and gave instructions to Ruyi.

"Miss, do you really want Nanny Zhang to come and serve you?" Ruyi asked.

"You go and find out the news first." Ye Qingzhi waved her hand, too lazy to explain so much.

-

It is not difficult to find out information about an old maid, because it does not involve gossiping about the master. Just pay some silver to some servants in the mansion and you can get a lot of information.

In addition, although Ye Qingzhi was punished, she was indeed favored. When Ruyi went out, the maids would call her Sister Ruyi, and the old women would call her Miss Ruyi.

Very polite.

In just half an hour, Ruyi brought back a lot of news about Nanny Zhang.

"Auntie, the origin of this Aunt Zhang is really not that simple."

Ruyi kept it a secret for a while, and when Ye Qingzhi handed her a frozen grape, she took it with a smile on her face and said,

"Auntie, Aunt Zhang is not from our West Garden, but from the Pingnan Marquis Mansion in the East Garden."

"Marquis Pingnan's Mansion?" Ye Qingzhi muttered to herself, feeling a sense of familiarity and resentment rising in her heart.

Ye Qingzhi suddenly...

No, she doesn't know whether she can get better. Why is her body like this after traveling through time and space? It's like the signal connection is bad, and there are always inexplicable reactions.

How did this Pingnan Marquis Mansion touch her? Was it also related to the original owner?

She hasn't figured out what's going on with Ye Yingxue and Chen Yuankai yet!

"Yes, Auntie, you must know that our Jiangyang Marquis Mansion and Pingnan Marquis Mansion are from the same ancestor. We live next to each other. The wall in the middle was opened up and a corner gate was left to facilitate the servants to move around. When talking about the two mansions, we usually say that our side is the West Garden and that side is the East Garden."