Ye Li frowned and thought to herself that the daughter of Yang Family and the niece of Concubine Yang ought to be Mo Xiu Yao's cousin. Only that Ye Li was quite unfamiliar with this cousin since Yang Family wasn't a prestigious house to begin with. In fact, except Mo Lan Yun, the first Prince Ding, who married a princess of the former dynasty, later Princesses of Prince Ding's Manor were from lesser families. That the men of Mo Family didn't need a.s.sociates to consolidate their power was part of the story. On the other hand, it was probably an avoidance of the suspicion from the royal family. Ye Li knew that Princess Yang didn't have a legitimate brother from her maiden family to the best of her knowledge and Princess Yang's only brother who was born of a concubine died many years ago. Then, Yang Qian Ru was the orphan of this son of a concubine of Yang Family. "Cousin, you don't have to be so polite. Take a seat. His Highness must have forgotten you. It's strange that he hasn't mention you therefore I haven't prepared a present for you. Please don't mind that."
Speaking of that, Ye Li took off the jade bracelet on her wrist, putting it in Yang Qian Ru's hand and turned to Concubine Yang who was sitting by Yang Qian Ru's side and asked: "Does cousin live with you, Concubine Yang?"
Concubine Yang glanced at Ye Li and nodded: "Qian Ru is still young and doesn't have anyone else. So I take her with me, at least I could look after her. After all, she is not from the manor so it doesn't matter that she lives in the same yard with me."
Ye Li wasn't going to take the trouble and arrange another yard for her anyway. She nodded and smiled: "It's good as long as cousin and you feel fine. If you need anything, just send someone and tell me about it. Don't hesitate to do that."
Concubine Yang's eyes changed and said: "That's why I take her here to see you today. Qian Ru is almost seventeen this year. A marriage should have been arranged for her at an earlier time. However, there's no opportunity to see His Highness and I'm an old lady without much experience. Since you are Qian Ru's cousin-in-law, you can find a husband for her. Besides, she's still a girl and shouldn't wear such plain clothes everyday so she needs more clothes."
Concubine Yang was speaking, not paying attention to those around her while Yang Qian Ru lowered her head with her face all flushed and wouldn't look up. Ye Li was leaning cozily against her chair and listening to Concubine Yang's requests which started out as a discussion and turned into an order as she kept going. Ye Li looked at Yang Qian Ru who was in all white and couldn't help but frown: "Cousin, does anyone from the manor dock your expense?" No matter how disgusted Mo Xiu Yao was towards Concubine Yang, there was no reason for him to dock the expense of a girl. Look at the plain white clothes Yang Qian Ru was wearing. Even her hair was decorated by white silk ribbon. Someone who didn't know her well might think that she was observing a period of mourning for some deceased relatives. Those maids in higher status in the manor had more decent clothes than she did.
Yang Qian Ru lifted her head all of a sudden with tears and bewilderment in her eyes and said hurriedly: "No… the manor has never treated me harshly. Cousin-in-law, please don't mistake my cousin… It's me. It's all my own fault…"
Ye Li couldn't help but stroke her forehead. What was all that about? She rubbed the s.p.a.ce between her eyebrows and said to Qing Luan, who was by her side: "Go and find out if Sun mama has time and invite her here."
Sun mama came soon. Apparently, Qing Luan had already told her what all this was about and Sun mama had brought two stewards with her, one of whom was in charge of the account of the inner manor and the other expenses of the manor.
"Princess. Concubine Yang." The three of them paid their respect together.
Ye Li nodded and said: "Mama, please be at ease."
Sun mama stood up and said: "Thank you, princess. I've heard that you want to see me because of the expenses of Concubine Yang's yard so I decided myself and invited Steward w.a.n.g who is in charge of the account and Zhang mama who manages expenses as well. Princess, please forgive me for doing this."
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Ye Li smiled and said: "Mama, please don't say that. I'm still learning about the manor and know little about these things so I invited you here when Concubine Yang mentioned Miss Yang's expense. Then, Zhang mama, tell me about Miss Yang's expense. If Miss Yang has been mistreated and the outside world would take it as the manor's fault."
Zhang mama hurriedly walked up to Ye Li and looked a little unhappy: "Let me report to you, princess. Miss Yang's expense has been following the expenses for misses of the manor who are born of concubines though the manor hasn't seen a miss for several generations but the same rules remain. Me and my fellows wouldn't dare to dock Miss Yang's expense."
"Then, how much does Miss Yang have? If the old expense is indeed not enough it's ok to adjust it. Or take some out of His Highness and my expense." Ye Li said.
Zhang mama glanced at Yang Qian Ru who was sitting by the side and said: "Miss Yang has 30 Liang worth of silver to spend each month. Besides, her make-up is bought by the manor. There are four sets of clothes for each season and two sets of jewelries at the start of winter and summer. When it comes to spring festival and other celebrations there's money for Miss Yang as well. My family and I have been serving the manor for generations. I dare not to mistreat Miss Yang."
The steward who was in charge of accounts stood by her side and opened his mouth: "Princess, please know that due to your wedding, the whole manor received rewards. First Lady received 500 more, Concubine Yang another 200 Liang and Miss Yang 100 more. Servants of the manor have received rewards as well. I dare not dock that and have the accounts as evidence." After he said that, every eye in the pavilion turned to Yang Qian Ru. Look at her. Her all white clothes and weak looks which seemed like she could fall by a blow of wind really resembled someone who was bullied. Unhappiness pa.s.sed Sun mama's face which looked very serious and honest. Don't say that the manor didn't mistreat her. If there had truly been mistreatment, the manor at least provided for her, didn't it? What did she mean by wearing all white when it had only been a few days after Prince and Princess's wedding?
Those maids who followed Ye Li from Ye Family and came here were not happy about this Miss Yang either. The fourth miss was delicate and lovely enough. This one was even weaker to withstand a gust of wind. Besides, the manor treated her as good as how Ye Family treated its legitimate daughter. Their own miss only had 30 Liang when she was still in Ye Family. What's more, they had never heard of Miss Yang in the capital which meant that she had never went out and took part in social engagement so that she wouldn't need much money. She went too far coming here and complaining about how little expense she had so soon after their miss's wedding.
Ye Li looked at Concubine Yang with a frown. She was not mean about money. Since she had been here only a few days, there was no way that she was going to disobey the rules made by her predecessors and raise Yang Qian Ru's expense. Though Prince Ding's Manor was wealthy enough it was impossible to use money without any scruple. Without rules, nothing can be done. Besides, the manor treated Yang Qian Ru quite well. However, Concubine Yang obviously thought otherwise. Seeing how awkward Ye Li was, Concubine Yang couldn't help herself but speak angrily: "Princess, what do you mean by that? Qian Ru is at least His Highness's cousin by blood. Is it so difficult for her to spend some more money? If it is known by others that Prince Ding's Manor mistreats an orphan who has lost her parents, it's bad for His Highness's reputation." In a word, Concubine Yang was determined to put the name of mistreatment on Mo Xiu Yao.
"Then, Concubine Yang, how much expense do you think is appropriate?"
Concubine Yang said unwillingly with a frown: "At least 80 Liang each month. Besides, two sets of jewelries weren't enough. Those years Qian Ru hasn't been out much therefore she still doesn't have an engagement. Afterwards, she would have more opportunities to go out with you. Ask Fenghua Building to send four more sets of jewelries." Looking at how Concubine Yang took all this for granted, Ye Li couldn't help and rolled her eyes in her mind. When did she agree to take Yang Qian Ru with her? How could Consort Yang blame the manor for Yang Qian Ru not going out these years? If it weren't for Prince Ding's Manor, with Yang Qian Ru's family background she couldn't even compare with a daughter of Prince Ding's Manor who was born of a concubine.
"Concubine Yang, please mind your words. Princess is the hostess of Prince Ding's Manor. She couldn't take an unmarried girl with her when she goes out. Even if she's going to take some girls with her, it is only appropriate for her to take girls of the manor or her sisters from her maiden family." Sun mama said in all seriousness. Ye Li couldn't help but applaud for her secretly. She didn't want to bring a weak girl who would cry seeing a flower and become sad looking at rain to arrange her interviews to her proposed marriage partner. Having heard what Sun mama said, Yang Qian Ru's face had already become red. She yelped in a small voice and put her hands on the pit of her stomach, with tears welling up in her eyes which were going to fall out at any second.
Before Concubine Yang let out her anger, Ye Li frowned and said to the three servants: "Since I know all about it. Steward w.a.n.g and Zhang mama, you can go back now. Besides, take 10 Liang out of my expense each month and give it to Miss Yang. Anyone that comes to the manor is our guest. We can't put the guest to inconvenience."
"Yes. We will do as you bid." Steward w.a.n.g and Zhang mama withdrew with their answer.
Ye Li continued: "Concubine Yang and Miss Yang, please go back as well. As to Miss Yang's wedding, I will discuss with His Highness later, then I will give you an answer."
Concubine Yang wasn't quite willing to leave but seeing Ye Li's determination, she didn't dare to disobey her either. She could only leave in a rage with Yang Qian Ru who was in a grievance.
After the two left. Ye Li looked at Sun mama and said: "Sun mama. Add 10 more Liang to Steward w.a.n.g and Zhang mama's salary this month. Take that directly from my expense."
Sun mama answered yes. She looked at Ye Li and said: "Princess, you don't need to pay attention to Concubine Yang and Miss Yang. The manor has never treated Miss Yang unfairly. We didn't touch what Yang Family left to her either."
Ye Li had no choice but to say: "Look at what she is wearing today. What would others think if they see that?"
Sun mama pursed her lips and said: "Princess, you don't know that this Miss Yang is quite strange. It is said that she loves white very much. At first, the clothes we sent to her were in colors that girls liked but Miss Yang said they were in poor taste. She only wore white clothes. If there weren't white clothes in those sent to her, she would rather wear her old clothes, thus wasting quite some good clothes. The steward had no choice but choose as many white clothes as possible to send to her. Before your wedding, Zhang mama specially told them to send her a set of peach-red clothes and another set of light purple clothes. Who could have guessed that…"
Poor taste? Not necessarily. It reminded Ye Li of someone else who also loved to wear clothes with plain color.
"I'm afraid there would only be more guests around the manor. Don't let her out like that any more." After all, Prince Ding's Manor didn't deal with the outside world before. However, since Mo Xiu Yao was married now and had shown himself to the world, it wouldn't be possible for him close his door to visitors any longer.
"Later I would ask His Highness if he want to get rid of all his clothes in plain colors." Thinking about it, Ye Li smiled and said.
Sun mama stopped for a second and then came to realized something: "Princess, do you mean…"
"I've said nothing. I just don't like white clothes." Ye Li laughed.