"Ah? I usually come back this late anyway." Ye Zhi was confused, her cheeks showing a coquettish naivete. Was today a special day?
Just as she reached the gate of the mansion, she saw a woman anxiously waiting. It was Yun Xiu, her mother's personal maid.
Clad in peach-colored clothing, she stood by the stone lion at the gate, appearing quite small.
"Today is the day Sister Fu returns. She is currently waiting with the madam in Lianxiu Garden. Please, Miss, follow me." After speaking, she lightly swung her skirt and led the way.
This matter had been mentioned by the Ye Family to Ye Zhi two days ago, but unexpectedly, she had forgotten. Yun Xiu's brow furrowed slightly as she walked, sweating it out for her.
The sky was getting dark, the sun quietly setting, and the yellow afterglow was slowly dissipating, giving off a sense of desolation.
This was exactly how Ye Zhi felt at the moment. She had actually forgotten that today was the day her sister was returning to the mansion.
Her mother had repeatedly reminded her not to go out today, yet she went out with the guards like any other day.
In the following days, she would probably be restricted and have to focus on embroidery again.
She followed Yun Xiu's footsteps and walked forward.
When she first arrived here, the original body had knocked her head, and Ye Fu came to visit Ye Zhi, showing quite a bit of concern. She was a gentle, beautiful woman.
At that time, the Fourth Prince also came, remaining silent and serious. After visiting, the couple returned to the mansion. She was too groggy to have much of an impression then.
The two departed with hurried footsteps, and Ah Tao lifted her skirt to catch up quickly.
This left Shen Chen standing alone, and after a moment, he stepped onto the stone steps, walking forward neither hurriedly nor slowly.
As soon as he crossed the threshold of the Ye Mansion, he heard a seasoned, stern voice: "Stop, where did you go today?"
"Miss Ye asked me to accompany her out of the mansion," Shen Chen replied without a ripple in his voice, gambling that he wouldn't dare confront Ye Zhi.
In the Daqing Dynasty, the class system was strict. As a servant, one needed to sign a contract of life or death. Regardless of the type, behaving obediently in the master's house and not questioning the master's itinerary without legitimate reason was a severe taboo.
The Ye Family, being a prestigious family passing down official ranks from generation to generation, was even stricter in disciplining their servants.
"As a servant, being allowed by Miss Ye to accompany her out of the mansion is a blessing. You must not act recklessly. As a servant, you should use the side door. This main gate of the Ye Mansion is not for you to enter. Go back to your yard and kneel for two hours. No dinner for you, so you'll remember this lesson."
He won.
The elderly man with a strict voice had a goatee and a face full of wrinkles, glaring sharply at his grandson, his tone as if dealing with an enemy.
He was Shen Wan.
Long ago, a Divination Master had said that his grandson would bring ruin to his parents, a calamity that would bring disaster to the nation and its people.
He hadn't believed it at first, but later, when his daughter-in-law and son died one after another, he attributed all the blame to Shen Chen. It was all his fault his son died. He was a jinx, not worthy of being his grandson.
Thinking of his deceased son, a hint of malice flashed through Shen Wan's eyes, his eyes almost bursting with anger. It was all this murderer's doing.
His son had been a Deputy General back then, and if he were still alive, with his bravery and talent, he would undoubtedly be a general. The old man's murky eyes began to fill with longing.
A cool night breeze gently blew past.
Their hair was softly tousled, and their clothes lightly swayed in the wind.
Neither of them spoke.
"Why are you still here, standing stupidly? Just seeing you makes me furious. If you dare to slack off and not kneel, you know what the consequences will be when I pass by."
"So young yet already lazy, you think relying on our Miss makes you something special. Such a cursed star should not live on this earth. If I were you, I'd follow my parents and die..."