Readers, I just realized ZhaoYi is a t.i.tle and her name is Yue. So I have translated ZhaoYi as Lady of Bright Appearance. I’ll go through and edit previous chapters some time over the weekend. Sorry for any inconvenience.
Chapter 47: Emperor, Empress Dowager, n.o.ble Consort
Mo Xiu Yao"s speculation was not wrong. The bride price had not been delivered for two days before the Palace sent an invitation at the behest of the Lady of Bright Appearance Ye under the pretense of her missing Ye family"s Third Young Miss. Ye Li understood who actually wanted to meet her. When Ye Yue was still home, though their relationship was not to the point where others knew, it was definitely not any better compared to Ye Ying. Unfortunately, Ye Yue was still just a Lady of Bright Appearance, but since Ye Li was not officially Princess Consort Ding, Ye Li was not qualified to reject the invitation. She could only return to her courtyard and change into the appropriate clothes. Then, she accompanied the eunuch back to the Palace, bringing Qing Luan and Qing Yu.
The capital of Great Chu was in the northern region of the coutnry. The Imperial Palace was majestic and domineering. After alighting from the carriage, the imposing prestige of the Palace pressed down. It was different from other n.o.ble families. The Imperial Palace had meticulous craftsmanship, making the Palace even more regal and striking. A giant golden dragon stood atop a stone pillar, warning others of the inviolable power of the Imperial Palace. People who have never seen this sight before would be entralled and scared of its grandeur and strength. But to Ye Li who had already lived a lifetime, already seen skysc.r.a.pers, she could only give it a faint appreciation. At the gate of the Palace, Ye Li followed behind the eunuch and entered the inner sanctum of the Palace. As she walked, she observed her surroundings, taking note of where she was.
Pa.s.sing through one gate after another, she finally stopped in front of a magnificent palace. Ye Li raised her head up — Palace of Precious Flowers. Ye Li remembered that Ye Yue had been given the Palace of Precious Flowers.
"Ye family"s Third Young Miss, please wait a moment. This one will enter first and announce your arrival." The eunuch leading the way said in a squeaky voice.
Ye Li nodded: "Gong Gong, please go ahead."
After the eunuch entered, he did not quickly return. Ye Li waited for the time it took an incense to burn, but still did not see anyone come out.
Qing Yu whispered: "Young Miss, what does the Lady of Bright Appearance mean by this?!"
Qing Luan softly scolded: "Do not speak so much. The Young Miss had not yet spoken and it"s already your turn?"
Qing Yu understood that the Palace was not her family"s home. There are some words that cannot be spoken. Ashamed, she sealed her lips and remained silent.
Ye Li faintly laughed: "Be calm, there"s no need to rush."
Qing Luan looked around a bit hesitant. She whispered: "Young Miss, is it the Lady of Bright Appearance?"
Ye Li shook her head. "The Lady of Bright Appearance will not use these kinds of tricks."
Qing Yu and Qing Luan was very clever. Hearing Ye Li say this, they immediately understood. They both kept quiet, not adding another word. Was it not just standing and waiting? One was trained in martial arts. One was trained in the art of medicine. They were not weak.
After another half an hour, there was still no one from the Palace of Precious Flowers. On the contrary, there was a group of people coming towards the palace. Seeing such a grand precession, it was obvious that it was some sort of n.o.ble and precious person. Ye Li"s group of three turned and made way, not wanting to b.u.mp into the other people. Very quickly, a group of people arrived in front of the Palace of Precious Flowers. A bunch of maids and eunuchs surrounded two women in palace attire. They stopped not too far from Ye Li.
Of the two, the women in blue looked curiously at Ye Li and said: "Oh? This young miss does not look very familiar; why is she standing here?"
Ye Li could only step forward, delicately lower her head, and said: "This maiden is from the Minister of Revenue"s family, Ye Li. Ye Li greets the two Imperial Concubines."
"So it is the future Princess Consort Ding. We do not dare." The woman in white quickly said as she covered her lips and giggled. "Why is Ye family"s Third Young Miss standing here? Visiting the Lady of Bright Appearance?"
Ye Li nodded and smiled: "It is at the invitation of the Lady of Bright Appearance."
"If that is so, we can all enter together." The woman in blue came and pulled Ye Li.
Ye Li smiled and said: "This is Ye Li"s first time entering the Palace. Ye Li does not have a good understanding of the rules but does not dare to enter without being summoned by the Lady of Bright Appearance. There is no need to delay the two Imperial Concubines. Once again, Ye Li thanks you."
The two women shared a look. The woman in white said: "If that is the case, we will enter first. Lately, concubine sister"s body is easily fatigued, probably already asleep. The servants dare not bother. Ye family"s Third Young Miss please wait just a bit longer."
"Thank you."
"Young Miss, why don"t we follow them?" Qing Yu whispered. She did not know if it was her imagination, but the people taking this path seemed to have increased from when they first arrived.
Ye Li looked back at the servant. She softly said, "Take a guess, if we followed them, would we be thrown back out?"
"Should…not?" Qing Yu said a bit uncertain. Ye family"s Third Young Miss was driven out by another young miss from the same family. It truly would be very embarra.s.sing. The Lady of Bright Appearance would not be much better.
"Hey…here, come over here…"
Ye Li turned her head and saw a small head appearing behind a corner of a flowering tree. The person was giggling and beckoning towards her. Ye Li looked around before raising a finger and pointing at herself. With more than half of the body hidden, the child nodded. "Come here."
"Young Miss?"
Ye Li waved her hand and slowly walked towards the child.
"You are the future Princess Consort Ding of Imperial Uncle Ding?" A cute little girl with a loveable face, about 7 or 8, sat within a bush. A cute hairpin with two strings of pearls kept her hair in place. On her clothes was an embroidered golden Pheonix. All this showed that this child was not ordinary.
"En, I am. Who are you?"
"I"m not telling you." The little girl widened her eyes and stared at Ye Li and giggled.
Ye Li did not care, laughed, and said: "So you know Prince Ding? Have you seen him before? Lying is not something a good child should do. Everyone knows that Prince Ding has not left his manor for many years, roughly the same age as you."
The little girl gave her a contemptuous look. "Not seen, but can"t I hear from others? Sis Xiang Xiang told me. Prince Ding is the best martial artist in the world. Smartest in the world. Best in the world. When I grow up, I"ll marry him!"
Sis Xiang Xiang?
Ye Li looked at the serious look of the little girl and wanted to laugh. However, she did not want to break the girl"s heart. "Do you know how old Prince Ding is this year? By the time you grow up, he will be old. By that time, there will be someone who is a better martial artist. Someone smarter. And someone easier on the eyes. At that time, wouldn"t that person be the best. What would you do then?"
Ah…? The little girl was stunned. "That… what should I do? Wait, you lied to me. You want to marry Imperial Uncle Ding so you lied to me!"
"I didn"t lie to you. Look, aren"t I much older than you? You have to be as old as me to marry. At that time, I"ll be old. Prince Ding is even older than the two of us, at that time…"
Miserable, the little girl sighed. "At that time, Imperial Uncle will definitely be older than grandfather. If I married him, I will be laughed at be Eldest Imperial Sister. Fine, I will give Imperial Uncle Ding to you."
Ye Li tried to not laugh. She nodded and sincerely said: "Well, thank you, Your Highness Princess."
"How did you know that I am a princess?"
Ye Li blinked, "Not only do I know that you"re a princess, but I also know which princess you are."
"I don"t believe it. You have never seen this Princess."
Ye Li smiled and said: "I guess that you are the Empress"s daughter, Princess Chang Le. Right?"
The little princess turned her small head as she appraised Ye Li. After a moment, she said: "Alright, I agree with the words of Sis Xiang Xiang… You are really smart. This princess will reluctantly make friends with you. You are now a friend of this Princess."
Looking at the little girl trying to put on airs about being a princess and an adult, Ye Li smiled: "Well, thank you, Your Highness for your appreciation. Why did the esteemed Princess come here,and…?" She pointed at the flowering tree the princess was hiding behind. Princess Chang Le carelessly turned her body and continued to hide in the bushes.
"This Princess heard that the Ye family gave birth to a little beauty. The Lady of Bright Appearance also has a little sister that could be blown by a breeze, Ye Ying, famous for being a beauty. So, this Princess came to see if everyone from the Ye family is beautiful. Now, this Princess admits that you are more pleasing to the eye than the Lady of Bright Appearance and Ye Ying. If forcing it, you could also be considered beautiful. I guess that you will still have to wait for a while. How about you come play with this Princess instead?"
Ye Li is puzzled. "How do you know that I still have to wait a while?"
Princess Chang Le curled her small mouth. "My Imperial Mother said that the women in the harem are all idle and have nothing to do. So, they will try hard to find things for others to do. If the person is not pleasing to the eye, the person will have to wait a while when greeting. Forcing others to wait or kneel a while is what these women like to do the most. You can rest a.s.sure. My Imperial Mother would not do that."
Ye Li smiled and stayed silent. Princess Chang Le looked at her a bit dissatisfied. "In the end, are you going to come play with me?"
Ye Li could only shake her head helplessly. "I still have to wait for the summons of the Lady of Bright Appearance. You also know that once she summons, if I"m not there, it would be very troublesome. And… someone is coming."
Princess Chang Le stuck her head out for a look and immediately retracted her small head. "n.o.ble Consort Liu is coming. Don"t say that you have seen me. I hate her the most."
Ye Li nodded and helped the little girl rearrange the tree. "Got it. Hurry back. Do not make the Empress worry." After fixing the tree, Ye Li returned to where Qing Luan and Qing Yu stood, waiting for the entourage that was even more extravagant than the one before.