Professional Ethics of a Concubine

After hearing Ye Qingzhi's crazy idea, Zhang Jingyi wanted to scold her for being perfunctory, but after thinking about it carefully, it was not a bad idea.

Anyway, each of the three has his or her own strengths, and Ye has no particular preference for any one. It is enough for her to have Ye Qingzhi as a capable assistant, and there is no need to think about promoting or winning over anyone.

Loyal and capable generals are more valuable in quality than in quantity. With Aunt Ye's ability and her current backers, she is more than enough to overcome everything.

"Okay, let's do as you say and draw lots." Zhang Jingyi nodded.

This time it was Ye Qingzhi's turn, "???"

-

The next day, Ye Qingzhi was specially called to attend a small "paying respects" meeting because there was an important matter today, which was to decide who would be promoted to a noble concubine.

As soon as Zhang Jingyi said that she wanted to choose one of the good concubines to be the noble concubine, Ye Qingzhi saw that those colleagues who were expected to be promoted were so excited that they couldn't sit still.

Even though Aunt Qian knew that she had no children and was not qualified, she was still looking around and ready to make a move.

Among the remaining three, Aunt Wu gave birth to a bastard's son, and her status as a mother is enhanced by her son. Moreover, her family background is not bad among the concubines. She is the daughter of a sixth-rank military general. She most hopes to be promoted to a noble concubine.

However, Aunt Xia was born into the Xia family, a wealthy merchant family in Beijing. She also gave birth to a daughter and was related to the lady in some way. Perhaps the lady was interested in her and would give her face.

Then there is Aunt Huo, who also has a great background. Her father is Huo Qitai, the former Minister of the Ministry of Revenue. He was accused of withholding military pay, sentenced to prison and his property was confiscated. Aunt Huo, who was only eight years old at the time, was enrolled in the Music Bureau.

Five years ago, Aunt Huo was awarded to Xie Jin by the Emperor. During an accidental investigation of an old case, Xie Jin found out that in the case of Huo Qitai, he was not the mastermind but was implicated. This cleared some of his grievances and overturned the case.

Therefore, Aunt Huo was promoted from a lowly concubine to a good concubine, and gave birth to a daughter who was just one and a half years old.

Because of her past experiences, Aunt Huo has always been cautious in her words and actions. She is knowledgeable and intelligent. If it weren't for Ye Qingzhi, Zhang Jingyi would have wanted to win her over to be her capable subordinate.

As they waited excitedly, Zhang Jingyi asked Madam Zhou to take out the tools for drawing lots and said to them,

"Madam Wu, Madam Xia, and Madam Huo, you have all given birth to children for me, which is a great contribution. If I promote any of you, it will disappoint the other two. After thinking it over, I think it's better for you to draw lots and decide."

Aunt Wu and others, "???"

Can you do this?

"Hehe, this is called taking your destiny into your own hands. Madam is wise. Drawing lots this way is especially fair and just. No one can complain." Ye Qingzhi tried to smooth over her bad idea.

"What Aunt Ye said is right." Zhang Jingyi said with a smile, "Your destiny is in your own hands. The three of you come over and draw lots."

Aunt Wu and the others were speechless and nervously went over to grab the paper ball.

In the end, Aunt Wu was lucky enough to catch the piece of paper with the word "Noble Concubine" written on it.

The results came out. No matter how sour they felt in their hearts, Aunt Xia and Aunt Huo smiled and congratulated her. Everyone else also congratulated Aunt Wu.

Ye Qingzhi looked at the round-faced and blessed-looking Aunt Wu, and thought of how she had become pregnant not long after entering the mansion, and had a boy at once, and now she had drawn lots to be the concubine, and she couldn't help but click her tongue twice.

This person must be truly blessed with good luck.

She had never won any kind of sweepstakes or lottery in her previous life, so she had a very strong physique.

People cannot be compared.

So envious.

-

In the blink of an eye, more than a month has passed. The weather has turned from autumn to cooler, with a hint of the chill of winter. Nothing new is happening in the backyard.

Nowadays, Ye Qingzhi seems to be the only one favored. Except for the first and fifteenth days of the lunar month, when Xie Jin goes to his wife's room, whenever he comes to the backyard, he basically goes to find Ye Qingzhi.

The other women in the backyard knew that Ye Qingzhi's mother was now the most favored concubine of Prince Su, so even if they felt jealous, they would not take the initiative to find fault with her.

Can't be bothered, can't be bothered.

There was nothing new in the backyard. The only thing worth mentioning was that Xie Mingqing from the eldest wife was arranged to take the re-examination in a smelly dormitory and was still admitted.

He even performed better, which is enough to show that he is a promising talent with a determined mind.

When Mrs. Wang from the first wife heard the news, she cried with joy and was even more relieved that her terrible husband had been exiled and would not come back to hold her son back in the short term.

Even in her dreams at midnight, thinking of her son's excellence and her husband's miserable state, Mrs. Wang became more determined to get rid of the father and keep her son.

For this reason, Mrs. Wang felt somewhat grateful to Xie Jin and no longer wanted to cause trouble for Zhang Jingyi.

The entire Jiangyang Marquis Mansion was filled with an atmosphere of peace, joy, and well-being.

In contrast, the Pingnan Marquis Mansion was probably shrouded in dark clouds, gloomy and depressing.

Moreover, when Xie Xiuhan took the examination for the scholar, although he finally passed, he was ranked at the bottom, which did not match his reputation as a child prodigy at all.

Therefore, since he became an adopted son from a legitimate son, the servants in the mansion no longer had any respect for him.

He began to skimp on food, clothing and other expenses, and his words and eyes were filled with contempt and ridicule.

The other young masters in the mansion, who had disliked Xie Xiuhan before, now laughed at him even more unscrupulously, saying that he was a down-and-out phoenix that was worse than a chicken, and that the title of child prodigy was a joke.

Today in school, Xie Xiuhan was bullied by some naughty kids from the clan school, and they even smeared ink on his face.

Xie Xiuhan washed the ink off his face, wiped away the tears of humiliation in the cold wind, returned to the mansion, and tried to find a way to see his mother.

Suddenly his life fell apart and he wanted to know why.

He went to ask his father, and his father only said that his mother had done something wrong and harmed his mother, and that he deserved to be stripped of his status as a legitimate son.

However, Xie Xiuhan never got to see Zhao Xinlan. Standing outside the yard where his mother was under house arrest, he could faintly hear the painful crying coming from inside.

Xie Xiuhan was terrified and frightened, and tasted the taste of despair once again.

How nice it would be if mother were still alive!

-

Prince Su's Mansion.

Ever since Mu Nianqiu started preparing for pregnancy seriously, Prince Su asked the chief physician, Dr. Sun, to come every three days to check her pulse, and also arranged for two experienced maids to take care of her daily life.

Because he has been eating vegetarian meals all year round, Mu Nianqiu only consumes plant protein from soy products and does not eat meat, so he is somewhat lacking in nutrition.

If pregnant women do not adjust their diet after becoming pregnant, they will easily suffer from iron, zinc and calcium deficiency, which is not good for their health and is extremely detrimental to the development of the fetus.

Ancient people did not understand these delicate principles. Although Ye Qingzhi had never been pregnant, she had two sisters-in-law who gave birth to lovely nephews and nieces for her!

At that time, she learned every day at home what her sisters-in-law should eat when they were pregnant, what foods contain a lot of iron, zinc, and calcium, so she knew a little bit about it.

Therefore, Ye Qingzhi sent some corresponding dietary suggestions to her mother.

Regardless of whether you are pregnant or not, if the mother can overcome the psychological and physical factors, she should not only eat vegetarian food in the future. It would be better to eat some minced meat.

Wine and meat pass through the intestines, but Buddha remains in the heart. As long as you sincerely believe in Buddhism, everything else is just a formality.

Mu Nianqiu has always been a person who listens to advice, and she is more willing to listen to her daughter's suggestions.

Moreover, she is also trying hard to make her body better. If she really gets pregnant, she hopes that the fetus will be healthy.

Prince Su had always felt sorry for her because she ate too much vegetarian food every day. When he saw that she was willing to try some meat, he was extremely happy. He even called two chefs from the imperial kitchen to prepare different kinds of food for Mu Nianqiu.

The emperor also knew that the two of them were trying to get pregnant, so he turned a blind eye to Prince Su poaching his people to please his concubine Mu.

If Mu can really get pregnant, it will be a great joy!

Today is the day when Imperial Doctor Sun comes to check Mu Nianqiu's pulse.

"How is it?" Prince Su stared at Doctor Sun and asked, "Is there anything wrong?"

The elderly Doctor Sun stroked his beard and shook his head.

"Is there any good news?" Prince Su asked again.

Even though he asked so diligently, as if he was hoping Mu Nianqiu would get pregnant soon, Prince Su actually wasn't that eager. He was enjoying his current good life.

If she really gets pregnant, won’t he be able to recite sutras and do evening prayers with her every night?

Prince Su thought he would see Doctor Sun stroking his beard and shaking his head again, but he didn't expect the old man to smile at him and say,

"Congratulations, Your Majesty. Concubine Mu is pregnant."

Prince Su, "???"

Prince Su, "!!!"