Chapter 45: Bride Price and Returning
"This servant thanks the life-saving grace of Third Young Miss."
Concubine Zhao knelt in front of Ye Li, an elegant dress that made her beauty more enchanting, completely different from her previous appearance.
Ye Li raised a hand to signal Qing Luan to help her up. With a soft voice, she said: "No need for the ceremony. Once you have arrived in Yunzhou, there is nothing more to worry about. Naturally, there will be someone that has already arranged everything."
Concubine Zhao nodded and said: "This servant believes the words of Third Young Miss to be as heavy as a mountain. This servant knows her place and will rest her mind as she raises the child." She bent her head and stared at her flat stomach; Concubine Zhao"s eyes showed affection and adoration. In the future, this child will be her everything.
Ye Li nodded and instructed Qing Shuang: "Take out bank notes worth 500 teals for Concubine Zhao. Consider it money for the road."
Qing Shuang loudly answered; Concubine Zhao looked at Ye Li with gratefulness.
The entire manor was under the control of w.a.n.g-shi; of course, this included all of the surrounding properties. w.a.n.g-shi deducting her allowance was an inevitable thing; although she had some silver saved up, it was not much. In the entire Ye Manor, with the exception of the Old Madam and the Master, only Third Young Miss could take out such a large sum of money at once.
Concubine Zhao understood that though Third Young Miss was not a warmhearted person, as long as one understood their place, she was definitely a reliable person. "Thanking Third Young Miss for her pity."
"Once there, there will be someone responsible for your safety and the child. With father here, she won"t dare to be too blatant. But if you want a good life over there, it would depend on your own skills." Ye Li faintly reminded. Anyways, that place did not belong to her. If Concubine Zhao had the ability to control the house, the child would fair better.
Concubine Zhao was dazed, startled that Ye Li was able to see her intentions. However, she had already opened her mouth. The Xu family would help to some extent; as long as she can take control of this place, Yunzhou can become a good place for her and her child. Thinking to here, Concubine Zhao hurriedly thanked Ye Li once again. A bit more admiration rose in her heart.
"Young Miss, the bride price from Prince Ding"s Manor has arrived." Qing Yu happily came to inform Ye Li. "Master and Old Madam invites you to hurry over and take a look."
Ye Li nodded. Seeing the strange expression on Qing Yu"s face, she frowned and asked: "Is there more?"
The happiness on Qing Yu"s face turned a bit complicated. She looked at Ye Li and said: "His Highness Prince Li and Fourth Young Miss has also returned." Today is Ye Ying"s official return. One does not know if it was deliberate or if there could be something so coincidental. Fourth Young Miss"s return and Third Young Miss"s bride price had come on the same day.
Ye Li was a bit surprised. She had almost forgotten that Ye Ying would return today. "Has something happened?"
Qing Yu pouted and said: "Prince Li and our Young Miss"s groom arrived at about the same time. And that gloomy face, acting as if someone owed him tens of thousands of silvers and not repaying. Really bad luck!"
"Presumptuous." Ye Li lightly reprimands. Qing Yu blinked a few times, couldn"t hear any hints of anger from her Young Miss and stuck her tongue out. Covering her mouth, she ran to the side to hide.
Qing Shuang held a plain white purse and gave it to Ye Li. Ye Li turned and gave the bag to Concubine Zhao. "You can consider this a gift for my younger brother. When the time comes, I will not be able to send concubine off."
Concubine Zhao"s eyes reddened. Remembering that today was when Prince Ding"s Manor delivered the bride price, she held back her tears. She said goodbye, rearranged the gifts given and left.
Ye Li turned her head and said: "Let"s go. Go to see grandmother."
Because Prince Ding"s Manor did not have the existence of someone that could be counted as an elder, Mo Xiu Yao deliberately invited two highly ranked elders of the capital to come together. Ye Li had already met Imperial College of Supreme Learning’s First Sage, his Excellency Su Zhe, and the current Empress"s father, Old Duke Hua of the First Rank, once. These two can be considered very prominent within the capital. This made Minister Ye feel a great sense of pride. Seeing the long list of gifts from Prince Ding"s Manor, inevitably, there would be comparisons with when Prince Li"s Manor sent the bride price. Originally, Prince Li"s Manor"s bride price was very respectable, but now it looked like Prince Li was not sincere. So, Minister Ye"s face had a big smile as he invited his Excellency Su, Old Duke Hua of the First Rank, and Prince Ding into the study to speak. At that moment, he inadvertently ignored Ye Ying and Mo Jing Li who had arrived at the same time.
"Li-er greets grandmother; greets Old Madam Hua; greets the other Madams." Ye Li just stepped into the Hall of Melodies when she saw Old Madam Ye and Old Madam Hua conversing quite happily. Sitting beneath were familiar Madams that had come to add to the atmosphere. However, sitting on the side with a complicated face were Mo Jing Li, Ye Ying, and w.a.n.g-shi. w.a.n.g-shi and Ye Ying obviously could not partic.i.p.ate, while Mo Jing Li"s face made others dare not speak.
"Li-er, come quickly. Everyone take a look at this granddaughter of mine. Does she look good?" Old Madam Ye affectionately waved to Ye Li, her eyes filled with happiness. She treated Ye Li as if she was her most darling and precious granddaughter.
Ye Li obediently came forward. "Grandmother."
Old Madam Hua immediately pulled Ye Li to sit down next to her. She laughed and said: "Old Madam, don"t blame me for taking your granddaughter. The moment I saw Third Young Miss, I was smitten. No wonder, the little girl of mine, Tian Xiang, talks all day about looking for Third Young Miss to play."
Ye Li laughed: "Old Madam is too kind. Li-er also misses Tian Xiang."
Old Madam Hua repeatedly nodded. She said: "Good child, good child. You really take after your mother. No wonder that child Xiu Yao, who always refuse to come out, made this trip and specially invited our family"s Old Master to come along."
Ye Li bowed her head. Her elegant face had a touch of red. She giggled and whispered: "Old Duke Hua had ignored the mortal world for so many years, something so arduous, Ye Li is really…"
Old Madam Hua secretly nodded; though this girl was embarra.s.sed, she was still n.o.ble. Able to handle tough situations calmly, not like those delicate n.o.ble ladies, easily influenced. This is the kind of woman that could be matched with the large power and influence of Prince Ding"s Manor. She patted Ye Li"s hand gently, laughed, and said: "What is this? Old Master is idle with nothing to do. Naturally, he should care for the marriage of the younger generation. Our Family"s Master saw Xiu Yao grow up…" Thinking of the situation of Mo Xiu Yao today, Old Madam Hua could not help but sigh. She reminded Ye Li: "Afterward, the two of you will be family; you must live well…"
Ye Li pretended to be shy. Silently, she had already carved a 囧into her heart. (I think that means oops. Not completely sure.)
Seeming to think of the neglect towards…another pair of newlyweds, Old Madam Hua turned to Mo Jing Li with a smile: "This old one seems to have not congratulated Prince Li and Princess Consort Li. The Empress Dowager and Dowager Imperial Concubine Xian Zhao have been longing to hold grandchildren. Presumably, the two Precious Ones" yearnings could be answered."
Old Madam Hua had just opened her mouth and everyone rushed to congratulate Mo Jing Li and Ye Ying. In fact, it was Mo Jing Li"s ice cold face that scared people off. Even if they had wanted to congratulate, they were too scared to open their mouth. At this moment, Old Madam Hua had initiated, so everyone followed. Mo Jing Li looked at everyone with a cold face. After all, he had to give Old Madam Hua some face; so, he slightly nodded his head.
Ye Li sat beside Old Madam Hua and saw the gloomy look of Ye Ying. Ye Li found it a bit strange. Though some things did happen on that wedding day, Ye Ying was not involved. With Mo Jing Li"s affections toward Ye Ying, he would feel more guilty and treat her even better. But the two"s expressions did not resemble those of loving newlyweds. Perhaps it was because Ye Ying could not cover up her dark expression and w.a.n.g-shi"s face didn"t look great either. Fortunately, she could still see the situation and just kept a calm face, not attacking.
"Prince Ding arrives."
A voice announced from the door. Minister Ye accompanied Old Duke Hua, his Excellency Su, and Mo Xiu Yao through the door. The people had not come in yet, but Old Duke Hua"s boisterous laughter had already arrived. "Haha, this old man had waited for so many years. Finally, I can drink Prince Ding"s wedding wine…. Just a bit of work, what is it worth? Need to see what that little girl looks like. She even made my family"s little girl willingly lose."
"Ah Li"s age is still small. Old Duke will scare her." The voice of Mo Xiu Yao was gentle and content.
"This good child, not yet married and already knows to protect his wife."
There was silence in the great hall. Old Madam Hua nudged Ye Li and said: "Our family"s Master is a bit rough around the edges, Li-er should not blame him."
Ye Li smile and shook her head. She looked towards the door and saw the first person had a head of white hair. Although his age was almost seventy, he was still an extraordinary dragon. Ye Li had originally been a part of the military and could tell that this person had been on the battlefield for half of his life. She immediately had a good impression of this man.