coobybook Chapter 6 The Maid Judges the Master
Chapter 6 The Maid Judges the Master
"Ye Geng has just gained military power and has now achieved military merits. He is currently enjoying great prestige. How many people in the court do not want to win him over? Ye Shishu wants to use me to cancel her marriage with the Wei family. Why don't I go with the flow and use her as well?"
"Think about it, I am now a 'crippled man'. Right now, I want to win over Ye Gengxin. Do you think the people behind the scenes who want to kill me will sit still?"
After his explanation, Wenmo and Wenyan suddenly understood, their initial confusion instantly turning into admiration. They exclaimed in unison, "Your Highness, your move is truly brilliant!"
Why did their prince return from the battlefield in this 'broken' state? It was all to find out who wanted to take his life!
Ye Shishu's current initiative to associate herself with the Prince Cheng's residence will inevitably arouse the suspicion of some people. As long as they can't sit still, they will surely slip up...
only……
Wenmo suddenly frowned and said in a low voice, "Your Highness, the Wei and Ye families have been friends for decades. It is said that Miss Ye and that Young Master Wei are childhood sweethearts and have a very good relationship. Today, Miss Ye suddenly broke off the engagement and used you as an excuse to get close to you so openly. I am not worried about anything else, but I am worried that she is being instructed by someone, like Ni Xiao before..."
Yu Chi Ling narrowed his eyes slightly, pondered for a moment, and then said in a low voice, "She is the legitimate daughter of General Zhihe's mansion. If she has ambitions, the person she should be targeting is the Crown Prince, not me. With her father Ye Gengxin's current achievements, she is qualified to be the Crown Princess. She doesn't need to be a pawn to deal with me."
Although his analysis made sense, Wen Yan couldn't help but say, "Your Highness, it's best to be cautious."
Yu Chi Ling nodded. "Keep a close eye on her. If she really was sent by someone to be a spy by my side, then it will save us a lot of trouble."
As he finished speaking, a hint of murderous intent flashed in his dark eyes.
Wenmo and Wenyan didn't ask any more questions.
If Ye Shishu is innocent and is merely using their prince to annul the marriage with the Wei family, then they will use Ye Shishu to lure out the person who wants to kill their prince.
If Ye Shishu is a spy, then it's even easier; just capture him alive and torture him to extract a confession!
In the side room next to the master bedroom—
While tidying up Ye Shishu's clothes and belongings, Dong Qiao asked in confusion, "Miss, Young Master Wei cares about you so much, why did you break off the engagement with him? Now that you've moved to Prince Cheng's Mansion, the Wei family is afraid of becoming the laughing stock of the entire capital. I really don't know how the Wei family will treat you after you marry into the family."
Ye Shishu glanced sideways at her busy figure, his eyes flashing with a cold light.
In her previous life, Dongqiao served as her dowry maid and remained loyal until her death. However, Dongqiao was also present when Wei Yonghuai and Luo Lixian flirted and celebrated at her bedside just before she passed away.
What could have allowed a maid to remain calm and watch her mistress be betrayed and murdered?
Does the answer need to be stated explicitly?
That means the people who accompanied her in her dowry were bribed by the Wei family!
Including Dongqiao, the head maid who had been working for her since she was ten years old!
"Everyone says that marriage should be between equals. You've been by my side for seven or eight years now. Don't you think that my marriage to Wei Yonghuai is him marrying above his station?"
Dong Qiao was slightly taken aback. She turned to look at her and saw that she was smiling and did not seem angry. She then replied, "Miss, the Wei family is indeed marrying above our General's Mansion. However, your marriage to Young Master Wei was arranged by Madam and Madam Wei when Madam was alive. Our Madam and Madam Wei were sworn sisters, so the marriage agreement between the two families cannot be compared with that of ordinary families."
Ye Shishu chuckled, "Really? Then how about this, I'll have my father adopt you as his goddaughter, and you can fulfill my marriage agreement with Wei Yonghuai on my behalf, how about that?"
Upon hearing this, Dongqiao was startled and quickly knelt down. "Miss, such an important matter is not something to be joked about. Moreover, I am of lowly status, how could I dare to dream of such a marriage?"
Ye Shishu glanced at her sideways, "Since you don't want to marry him, then don't speak up for outsiders anymore. Now I like Prince Cheng and am willing to climb the social ladder by attaching myself to him. As my head maid, you should at least think about my wealth and glory, since you can benefit from my honor, right?"
Dongqiao lowered her head and replied, "I was short-sighted before, please forgive me, Miss."
"Get up." Ye Shishu turned and headed towards the door.
"Miss, where are you going?" Dongqiao got up from the ground and hurriedly tried to catch up with her.
"I came to Prince Cheng's residence as a maid, so of course I'm here to serve His Highness Prince Cheng!"
"..."
Dongqiao stared at her with her mouth agape, as if she had something to say, but because of the whipping in her words, she dared not speak. At the same time, her gaze was filled with complexity, as if she felt a sense of unfamiliarity with her mistress.
Just as Ye Shishu stepped out of her room, intending to ask someone about Prince Cheng's whereabouts, a guard suddenly ran up to her, bowed, and said, "Miss Ye, the Marquis of Yufeng's residence has sent someone to tell you that the eldest daughter of the Marquis's residence invites you to visit Ziqiong Manor tomorrow. The Marquis's residence also said that a carriage will be sent to pick you up at 3:45 AM tomorrow."
As night fell, Shu's gaze turned cold.
The Marquis of Yufeng's residence, her maternal grandfather's home.
Her maternal grandfather was a renowned merchant in the Kingdom of Ye. During times of social upheaval and foreign invasion, he provided the kingdom with vast amounts of grain and supplies. In recognition of his generosity and righteousness, the late emperor bestowed upon him the title of Marquis of Yufeng. During the late emperor's reign, the You family was an unparalleled and prestigious imperial merchant family in the Kingdom of Ye.
Unfortunately, after her maternal grandparents passed away, the Yufeng Marquis's Mansion gradually declined, and under the management of her maternal aunt, Madam Wen, its reputation was almost ruined.
Her maternal uncle, You Jianbin, was not cut out for business. When her maternal grandfather was alive, he had finally managed to obtain the title of marquis, hoping to pave the way for his son's career. However, under the instigation of the Wen family, her maternal uncle only cared about the small profits of a merchant and insisted on making him abandon his official post and go into business.
As a result, the business failed, not only losing the reputation of a royal merchant but also nearly bankrupting the family business. Now, her eldest uncle is nearly fifty years old and has no chance of entering officialdom.
The current Yufeng Marquis's Mansion has nothing but a hereditary marquisate.
What's most despicable are her aunt's two children. The son, You Qingbo, spends his days indulging in sensual pleasures, while the daughter, You Qingrou, is not only unruly and domineering, but also constantly extorts money from her.
In her previous life, she was indifferent to fame, fortune, and wealth, respected her age, and valued her family above all else. No matter who her relatives were, she would do her best to help them in any way she could. As a result, in the eyes of others, she was an easy target.
So, her cousin You Qingrou would often come to her and ask for things.
Forget it.
Her maternal aunt, Madam Wen, also had a close relationship with Madam Wei, Madam Ge.
These two families are truly birds of a feather!
She pondered for a moment, then said to the guard, "Please tell the people at the Marquis's residence that I understand."
"Yes."
After the guards left, Ye Shishu gave up the idea of going to find Prince Cheng and turned back to her room.
"Miss, weren't you going to find Prince Cheng?" Dongqiao asked, puzzled, as she returned to her room.
"I'm not in the mood to go." Ye Shishu walked to the table and sat down, looking anxious. "Last time, my cousin asked me to make her a set of gold hairpins. I not only agreed to it, but I also promised to find the patterns for her. She went to the General's Mansion today and didn't see me. She must be angry with me, which is why she invited me to Ziqiong Manor tomorrow. But I forgot about the gold hairpins. Even if I go to see her tomorrow, what will I give her?"
Seeing her anxious look, Dongqiao's previous sense of unfamiliarity vanished instantly. She quickly comforted her, "Miss, don't worry. Even if Miss Biao doesn't see the gold hairpin, you can give her something else and coax her a little. She'll calm down."
Ye Shishu gave a subtle, cold smile.
What a 'good maid'!
But outwardly, she still asked with a troubled expression, "Then what should I do to please her?"
Dongqiao thought for a moment, "Miss, don't you have a red jade bracelet? Last time, when Miss saw that red jade bracelet, I thought she liked it quite a bit. Why don't we give that red jade bracelet to Miss?"
Ye Shishu clenched her fists tightly. If she had a knife, she would have killed this traitorous bastard with one blow!
Still need to pay compensation...
The bandits were scheming to steal her things, and instead of protecting her, her head maid advised her to give up her wealth to please the bandits.
How blind and naive must she have been in her previous life to think that Dongqiao was cowardly and weak, which is why she advised her to be accommodating to outsiders!
Seeing that she was keeping her eyes down and not speaking, Dongqiao asked, "Miss, are you worried that Prince Cheng will not let you go back to the General's Mansion to get your things? Why don't I go back to the manor for you?"
Ye Shishu raised her eyes, a faint smile playing on her lips, and asked, "Dongqiao, the dowry my mother left me is more than I could ever spend in several lifetimes. How about I give it all to my cousin? That way she won't keep finding excuses to ask me for more every few days."