Chapter 67: Chapter 66: A New Name
Yu Nianzhao snorted coldly, "Continue beating!"
That family of bloodsuckers made her furious just watching them.
"Yes, Princess Consort!"
Ye Qing gritted her teeth and continued to whip Ye Miao.
Having practiced martial arts since childhood, her strength was far greater than most women. After several lashes, Ye Miao was already dizzy with pain.
Seeing Mr. Ye and Mrs. Ye’s distressed and angry yet helpless expressions, a burden in Ye Qing’s heart eased a lot.
"Princess Consort, this commoner doesn’t know how Miao’er has offended you. Please forgive us." Mr. Ye had just this one son, and he cherished him dearly. He couldn’t bear to see him beaten like this, so he quickly knelt on the ground and kowtowed.
"You took so much silver from Ye Qing before. Can you repay it?"
"We... we can’t repay."
"Then just a beating to repay the debt, isn’t it so easy and simple? You’re still dissatisfied?"
"No, we wouldn’t dare!" Mr. Ye was about to cry.
"Who would dare to reach out to Ye Qing for money again?" Yu Nianzhao’s icy gaze swept over, her imposing presence making Mr. Ye and Mrs. Ye’s hearts tremble.
"We wouldn’t dare, really wouldn’t dare, please spare us, Princess Consort."
"I don’t believe what you say. Better to make a written agreement."
Yu Nianzhao waved a hand, and Yiu Renjian presented a prepared document along with a tray of red mud.
"Sign and seal it. If you go back on your word, you’ll owe me triple the silver coin." Yu Nianzhao handed the document to Ye Miao, "Of course, you can choose not to sign, but you know the consequences of offending Prince Su, don’t you?"
"I know, I know!"
Ye Miao sobbed, scrambling to grab the paper and pen, eager to sign and seal it.
Yiu Renjian showed Yu Nianzhao the signed document, and she seemed satisfied, telling him to keep it safe.
"If I see you coming to Ye Qing for money again, don’t blame Prince Su Mansion for being rude." Yu Nianzhao left one last harsh word.
"Yes, yes, we wouldn’t dare." Mr. Ye and Ye Miao were terrified and panicked, hugging each other, and there was no longer any arrogance in front of Ye Qing.
"Get lost!" Yu Nianzhao sneered.
"Thank you, Princess Consort, thank you, Princess Consort!"
Mr. Ye helped the injured Ye Miao to leave quickly. Once far away, he vented his frustration by kicking Mrs. Ye.
Mrs. Ye was kicked down to the ground and took a while to hunch up and climb back up.
Ye Qing watched this scene, her eyes flickering with pain and helplessness.
Yu Nianzhao snorted coldly, "Your mother is from the generation most poisoned by feudalism, willingly following such a man. She has the face of longevity but a fate of being abandoned by everyone. If you’re unwilling to see this, want to help her, follow your heart."
Ye Qing quickly knelt on the ground, emotionally saying, "Princess Consort has already done too much for this servant, even performing this play for me, willingly playing the bad guy. I’m endlessly grateful and will only be loyal to the master, no longer caring about strangers."
Indeed, she was now a maid by Princess Consort Su’s side, and the Mr. Ye, Mrs. Ye, and Ye Miao were no longer related to her.
Yu Nianzhao helped her up and winked at her, saying, "I’m not asking you to rescue her, but rather, not to waste your martial arts, occasionally becoming a heroine."
"A heroine?" Ye Qing showed a look of confusion.
"Mu Hongxuan, take Ye Qing to experience what it means to be a hero." Yu Nianzhao snapped her fingers, smiled at her, and pushed her out.
Mu Hongxuan appeared in front of Ye Qing, handing her a half-hidden black mask, "Put it on."
Although puzzled, Ye Qing obeyed and put it on.
"Follow me!"
Mu Hongxuan’s Qinggong was excellent, Ye Qing, though not as skilled, managed to follow him with difficulty.
Within moments, their figures disappeared from sight.
Dongfang Chenyuan, flamboyantly shaking a fan, came over to ask, "Where is Mu Hongxuan, that boring gourd, taking Ye Qing? Dressing like that in broad daylight, are they going to rob someone?"
Yu Nianzhao cast him a sidelong glance, "I said they were going to be heroes, what robbery? Does Prince Su Mansion look like it’s lacking money?"
"It does!" Dongfang Chenyuan blurted out, then caught himself, giving a sheepish laugh, "The Princess Consort may not know, but although the Prince’s salary isn’t small, training Dragon Shadow Guards often comes out of his own pocket. He could be described as clean, but the truth is he can’t figure things out properly. People even deliver gifts right to his door, and he almost didn’t seize them, and over time, Prince Su Mansion has become quite clean. Other than ghosts and Evil Qi, there’s nothing else."
"Is that so... It’s really hard to imagine Xie Jiuxiao accepting gifts and money." Yu Nianzhao waved a hand grandly, "But don’t worry, as long as he obediently provides Evil Qi, silver coin won’t be an issue, I can also support him."
"Providing Evil Qi?" Dongfang Chenyuan scratched his head in confusion, then let it go, only listening to the latter part, smiling as he said, "The Princess Consort is truly a living treasure, ever since she came to Prince Su Mansion, it feels like the mansion has become glorious."
"Enough, stop flattering me."
Before long, Ye Qing returned with Mu Hongxuan, her mask removed, her face flushed, her eyes shining, and her spirit evidently much better than before.
"How was it? Was playing the heroine fun?" Yu Nianzhao teased.
Ye Qing, feeling embarrassed, smiled slightly, "Yes, Mr Mu covered their heads and beat them up, it felt much better in my heart."
Dongfang Chenyuan, enlightened, "So that’s what you went to do?"
"How was it?"
"Great, really great!" Dongfang Chenyuan excitedly gave them a thumbs-up.
"The main problem lies with those two men. Not beating them is frustrating, thinking they’re so mighty, but only able to lay hands on women, truly disgraceful."
Yu Nianzhao scorned them, "I hope they really remember the lesson, because if it happens again, I’ll make them unable to remain as men."
Dongfang Chenyuan and Mu Hongxuan simultaneously felt their lower bodies chill, forcing a smile.
Ye Qing took a deep breath, knelt on the ground, kowtowed to Yu Nianzhao, "Princess Consort’s kindness, this servant will never forget for a lifetime."
"Alright, those close to me naturally won’t be bullied by others, get up! Though the surname Ye sounds unlucky, how about changing your name?" Yu Nianzhao pondered seriously, "The name Ye Qing was given by your unfortunate father, originally thinking you were a boy, named Ye Qing. The fortunes of them father and son aren’t good, better not to have anything to do with them."
Ye Qing looked at Yu Nianzhao admiringly, obediently saying, "Please give me a name, Princess Consort, whatever you decide."
"Then be called... Zhixi, from now on surely blessed, a fate flowing like a stream, endless." Yu Nianzhao thought for a moment and decided on the name.
Ye Qing... Oh, no, now it’s Zhixi, for the first time someone so seriously gave her a name, she was very touched, tears in her eyes, smiling, "Zhixi thanks Princess Consort for giving me a name."