CH 5

General Above I am Below Chapter Five “Concubine Scheme”

Glossary

The next day, An taifei claimed that she had a headache, foot hurt and stomach ache, told Ye Zhao to do a simple tea ceremony, bestowed her a sheep-fat white jade bracelet for the new bride, then hurriedly leaved, leaving behind An Wangfei to manage.

An Wangye is disabled therefore his An Wangfei is only a four pin government officials daughter, her background is not prominent but is born with a clever mind, if becomes intimate with Ye Zhao she would offend her mother in law, if alienate Ye Zhao would offend Duke Zhenguo manor great generals, both side were awkward. She only lightly said a few words, sincerely mentions some important personnel structure in the residence to express goodwill, after that she asked to be excused and retires to attend the sick An taifei.

What about Xia YuJin?

He slipped out of the house early in the morning and never appeared from beginning to end.

Ye Zhao seems not to mind, she sits upright at the highest chair, leisurely drinks the tea. The slender figure is wearing a crimson, cross collar with a narrow sleeve military clothes, at the waist is a turquoise taotie design bronze buckle, on the foot is a black flying cloud steps boots, her long hair is bundled in a simple white jade hairpin, combined with a face with a distinctive foreign character, highlighting the burning heroic spirit. Making the small maidservants continuously turned around, to peek several times.

Maidservants carefully asked: “Junwangye concubines is outside the room waiting to pay respect, can they come in?”

“Alright!” Ye Zhao thought of Xia YuJin good-looking appearance, his concubine’s should be a matchless beauty. Recalled that in the barracks is difficult to see women, more difficult to see a beauty, it is worth looking forward to, her eyes looking at the entrance door is also slightly more eager, commanded: “Let them come in.”

Yang shi along the other two tongfang, slowly walk in and gave salutations.

Ye Zhao almost spurt out the tea.

Yang shi wears a green dress with a squirrel fur short lined coat, two pearl hairpin inlaid with silver bead flowers tilted in black hair, with a pearl stud earrings, although the face is ordinary but the manner is natural, is acceptable. The other two tongfang clothing is unspeakable ugly, obviously Mei Niang does not fit in gaudy colors but deliberately wears a dark purple short coat, combined with a white silk skirt, rouge powder painted grotesquely, cannot say which one is unsuited, but when combined is ugly to stare at. Xuan er is dressed in an extremely old clothes, without any jewelry, like a little bride afraid of strangers, no cosmetics, pale face, apparently at any time can faint.

This is her family’s concubines?

She remembered high official Huang family’s bewitching female singer, senate Liu head turner belle, commander-in-chief Yu voluptuous concubine ……

Her own husband visions in beautiful women is not good.

Ye Zhao finally felt deep disappointment.

Disappointed is still disappointed, nevertheless still need to give reward. Ye Zhao served in the army for many years, seized countless spoils of war, according to the default army rules, the best of all is to the Emperor, then next first class is able to keep a lot, among these there are no lack of Man Jin race precious stones and jewelry. She love battle array, not silks and satin’s[1], the attractive jewelry cannot enter her eye, take out to reward people without any stinginess.

Yang shi is articulate, behave dignified, although with no beauty but very temperament, so she favor the most, gave her the Man Jin Wangfei gold hairpin, carved into two magpies, holding two pearl beads chain, around a longan like sapphire, with starlight in the middle, brighten up under the sunshine. Mei Niang got a heavy gold bracelet, embedded with five large pearls, Xuan er got the gold earrings with simple diamond hanging chain.

The ordinary ladies in the capital city may not have such valuable jewellery.

The three women were so shocked that they were speechless.

Mei niang mind is blank, don’t know what is lady master intentions, receiving the jewelry her hand shiver a little.

Xuan er thought that the general wants to show goodwill first, blocking the crowd’s mouth, and then in one fell swoop to kill them all, then more and more want to cry.

Ye Zhao looked at the two people grief-stricken expression, deliberately considered that more than ten years have not come back to the capital, in addition never participates among the women activities, therefore has made a mistakes in the market price, too little reward?

Yang shi responded quickly, first went forward to thank for kindness, then smile apologetically said: “Nanping Junwang residence construction are almost complete, at that time when junwang and the general decide to move there, don’t know which people to take along from An Qinwang manor, or purchase from outside? Also the servant’s miscellaneous expenses, room arrangements, request the general to make decision early.”

Ye Zhao listened and frown, she is busy with military affairs and the newly enlisted soldiers, the good and bad are intermingled, must spend time to recheck. She is also a martial mania, come back home have the spare time also need to practice martial arts, how can she willing to manage these trivial matters? But the matters is urgent, have to handle it, she ponders for a moment, asked: “In the past who is in charge to managed Junwang affairs?”

Yang shi hastily answered: “The home is managed by An Wangfei, the miscellaneous matters in Junwang courtyard is this concubine and a big maidservant Ziteng in charge, but this summer Ziteng had a grace and was betrothed to the steward second son, next year will get married.”

Ye Zhao asked again: “Are you literate?”

Yang shi nodded: “In the past because this concubine wanted to share my mother burdens, also knew some words, but is only enough to read the account book.”

Ye Zhao quickly make decisions: “In the future these rear court affairs hands over for you to manage, the allocations of the servants for moving out is rely mainly in An taifei and Wangfei decision. Afterwards the people who come to the residence will also be received by you, act accordingly, I’m impatient to participate in the rear court gathering, if it’s the ordinary human communication, can reject then do it, cannot reject the invitations from imperial family then bring and give it to me to deal with, the remaining you can represent me to attend, unable to resolve then give it to me again.”

Yang shi eyes light up, nodding yes.

Mei niang and Xuan er is enlightened, finally recovered the spirit, recalled that Nanping Junwang house is a special place, other family’s house men are masters, furen will take charge of the residence and take duty to supervise every affairs so furen is the superiors. The country Great General of the army need to manage two hundred thousand man, absolutely cannot take care of residence matters, naturally will find someone on behalf to supervise. Although Junwang was free, also impossible to engage with women family’s affairs.

Therefore they did not have to think about the furen, rather is they have two big master.

After separate from the residence, can curry favor with the general, the one in charge of the house is the concubine, not the madam, but there is still the respectable furen.

That wretched Yang shi, these days in their ears discussed about the horror’s of general, desperately encouraged them to dressed awkwardly to hide away intelligent, is in order to take initiative for today’s, sure enough can obtain the desired wish.

Obviously the general looks so dashing, absolutely not like a monster that eat people!

Their intestines turning green from regret.[2]

Ye Zhao glanced at the three of them and said calmly, “Don’t need to bring along the accountant, in my army there is a specialize accountant, specifically responsible for the management of army provisions, is devoted and reliable, the execution is also very appropriate, now already older, just the right time to come into Junwang residence to enjoy retirement. Mei Niang and Xuan er are also free to go back to concubine Yang to see what they need to support. You are like a jade flower, should dress up beautifully, nothing more than to play together, should not restrain yourself.”

The command is exactly to employ people and delegate the power.

As long as she holds the financial in the hand, using the concubines to supervise, no one can cause any waves.

Yang shi grab the initiative and got a lot of benefits, at the present state is very satisfied and the heart is also happy. Furthermore, although she was able to deal with ordinary people, but had no control over other concubines, could not interfere in their actions and interests, nor could she affect junwang and the general, Mei Niang and Xuan er also like the current arrangement. The two people discovered that the general liked to look after beauty, went back to the room to get dress and groom themselves, wearing the rewarded jewelry pieces, feel beautiful enough and then run to serve the general, to invite favor again.

Ye Zhao is in the newly weds period, not required to attend the royal court, then goes to the study room to read book, keep them to serve at the side.

Mei Niang is lovely while Xuan er is elegant, one person grind the ink stick, the other one spread the paper, the red sleeve adds the fragrance, each possess the flirtatious expressions.

After Ye Zhao went to practices martial arts, Qiu Hua and Qiu Shui casually run over to them to chat, proudly flaunt about their general in those years at the north desert, ten thousand army clusters and then fetch the enemy general severed head, truly is a heroic quality.

Two beauties cannot help to have a deep interest.

Then once again take a look at the general elegant demeanor, thinks that junwang are fickle, all hates the good fortune of men, their heart crumbles into pieces.

Notes

[1]Love their battle array, not silks and satin’s is from Mao Zedong poem Militia Women Inscription on a Photograph.

[2]Intestines turning green from regret figuratively means dying from regret.