Chapter 284 Concubinage
Just as the Fengzhou officials outside the post station were shivering in the wind and snow, a convoy of more than a hundred people finally drove slowly in the wind and snow. The flag on the carriage had two large and ancient characters on it - Murong!
Seeing the convoy appear, the people waiting outside the post station were suddenly excited and prepared to greet Murong Yuliang. When the carriage arrived at the post station, without waiting for Murong Yuliang to get off, Wang Jin, who was eager to seek refuge, hurriedly said loudly:
"Your humble servant respectfully welcomes the arrival of Governor Murong!"

When Liu Zhengxian heard Wang Jin speak first, his brows slightly frowned. According to convention, when welcoming a superior, the person with the highest official position present should speak first, and the others should follow suit. However, he was a sixth-rank co-magistrate, and Wang Jin was a sixth-rank judge, so he should have spoken first. This time, Wang Jin violated a taboo in officialdom - he overstepped his authority.

Although he was very dissatisfied with Wang Jin's behavior, Liu Zhengxian had been an official for many years and still had some patience. He did not lose his temper, but bowed and said:
"We respectfully welcome Magistrate Murong!"

Amid the voices of the crowd, a middle-aged man in his fifties walked down from the carriage in the middle. Although he was old, he was still elegant, with an upright posture and a dignified appearance. When he was young, he was a first-class handsome man.

This person is the former fourth-rank scholar of the Hanlin Academy, the younger brother of the Minister of Revenue Murong Lun, and the father of the world's most talented woman Murong Qingwu - Murong Yuliang!
"I am truly overwhelmed that my colleagues have come all the way here to greet me!" Murong Yuliang bowed in return and said:
Everyone met Murong Yuliang one by one and exchanged a few words. Among them, Wang Jin was particularly warm and polite. He kept nodding and bowing, as if he wanted to worship Murong Yuliang like an ancestor, which made people feel very disgusted...
After excluding this little episode involving Wang Jin, everyone returned to the carriage in a warm and friendly atmosphere and headed towards Fengzhou City in a mighty procession.

After the convoy entered Fengzhou City, Ye Dong, who came on the orders of Ye Mingsheng, found Liu Zhengxian. With Liu Zhengxian's introduction, Ye Dong came to Murong Yuliang.

"Master Murong, this is Ye Dong, the captain of the personal guard of General Ye Mingsheng of Fengzhou. I am here to see you on the orders of General Ye!"

As Liu Zhengxian finished speaking, Ye Dong, who had been quietly observing Murong Yuliang, stepped forward and said with a folded hand:

"I am here to see you, Lord Murong. My general is busy with military affairs. He has been inspecting the war preparations in the Shiquan County military camp recently and is unable to come in person to greet you!"

"But my general has reserved the Yufude Restaurant in the city tonight to welcome Lord Murong. Please come and enjoy it!"

When Murong Yuliang heard this, a hint of strangeness flashed across his bright eyes. He then nodded at Ye Dong and said with a smile:

"When I was on my way, I also heard that General Ye led the Zhenwu Army to defeat the Khitan in Fengzhou and beat the bandit leader Yelu Yan to a pulp. This battle was really inspiring!"

"Fengzhou is a place where hundreds of battles have been fought. General Ye's military affairs are of utmost importance. Do not let my presence affect the war preparations!"

"Go back and tell General Ye that I appreciate his kindness, but I've been running around for days and I'm exhausted. I want to have a good rest."

After saying this, Murong Yuliang ignored Ye Dong and continued to chat and laugh with others.

After hearing Murong Yuliang's refusal, Ye Dong's face looked a little ugly...

These days, as Ye Mingsheng became more and more powerful, he was like a local emperor in Fengzhou. As the captain of his personal guards, Ye Dong's status naturally rose as well.

Although Ye Dong was only a small captain of the ninth rank in the Zhenwu Army system, for the sake of Ye Mingsheng, both Tongzhi Liu Zhengxian and Deputy General He Jingyun were very polite to Ye Dong. This also made Ye Dong, in addition to being respectful and loyal in front of Ye Mingsheng, a little arrogant at ordinary times. He had not been rejected like this for a long time.

Ye Dong originally wanted to scold Murong Yuliang loudly for being ungrateful, but after thinking it over, he suppressed his anger and did not lose it.

With Ye Mingsheng backing him up, Ye Dong didn't care that Murong Yuliang was the second master of the wealthy Murong family, nor did he care that he was the crappy Fengzhou prefect.

But he knew one thing, that Murong Yuliang was Murong Qingwu's biological father, and Murong Qingwu was the dream lover that his young master had been obsessed with for a long time.

But given the character of his young master, maybe one day this old man’s daughter, the most talented woman in the world, will become his young mistress, and this old man will become his young master’s father-in-law...
For Murong Qingwu's sake, although Ye Dong was a little angry at Murong Yuliang's attitude, he still did not lose his manners. He bowed to Murong Yuliang before retreating.

After returning to the Ye Mansion, Ye Dong came to the outside of the study room as if he was familiar with the place. Looking at the closed door of the study room, Ye Dong tactfully waited quietly in the middle of the courtyard.

After waiting for about half an incense stick of time, Jinyu, with a blushing face and messy clothes, reluctantly walked out of the study. As she walked, she did not forget to instruct Ye Mingsheng inside:
"Master, I have ordered some new clothes and learned some new things. You must come tonight..."

Hearing Jinyu's lewd words, Ye Mingsheng, who had just put on his clothes, couldn't help but think of the madness just now. He shook his head helplessly. There is really no such thing as a field that can't be plowed, only cows that can be worked to death. The ancients were right...
Because he was planning to marry An Miaoyi as his legal wife, Ye Mingsheng took this opportunity to give a status to Jinyu and Pei Zhixiu, the two women who had been following him without any status, before An Miaoyi came to marry him.

He officially took them both as concubines and brought them into his Ye family.

Although there are many rumors about An Miaoyi, most of them describe how beautiful she is, how ominous she is, and how much harm she brings to the country and the people.

But there is very little information about her personality and character.

So because I don't know what kind of personality this young lady from the An family I'm about to marry is,

Ye Mingsheng's move was a precautionary measure, so as to avoid any unnecessary troubles after An Miaoyi got married and reduce possible troubles.

Since it was taking a concubine, not marrying a wife, there was no need to make it grand. Ye Mingsheng simply held a simple ceremony in his general's mansion and asked Pei Zhixiu and Geunyu to serve tea to Ye Cui, and that was it.

Pei Zhixiu and Jinyu were very happy about Ye Mingsheng's actions. They both knew that one of them was from the palace and the other was born a maid. In this feudal society with strict hierarchy, there was no way for them to become the mistress of the Ye Mansion. Being able to be a concubine and accompany Ye Mingsheng was enough for them.
(End of this chapter)