Chapter 47: Emperor, Empress Dowager, n.o.ble Consort
Even from a distance, there was a faint floral scent. Maids and eunuchs surrounded a woman in yellow; her robes were embroidered with lotus flowers and a Pheonix. The clothes wrapped around her body, revealing the curvaceous figure underneath. Snowy white skin. Lips of cherry red. Seventh-tenths charming and three-tenths icy. In these days, Ye Li had seen many beautiful women. Qin Zheng was like an elegant orchid. Hua Tian Xiang had the grace and n.o.bility of a peony. Princess Qi Xia was like the beautiful peach blossoms. But this n.o.ble Consort Liu? She was like the pear blossom: pure white and charming. It carried an unmistakable majestic dignity that could not be reached.
"You are Ye Li?" n.o.ble Consort Liu walked towards Ye Li and stopped.
"Yes, it is this maiden. Greetings to n.o.ble Consort Liu." Ye Li slightly bent her knees in the ceremonial greeting.
n.o.ble Consort Liu"s exquisite eyebrows furrowed, "You have probably not entered the Palace before? How do you know who this seat is?"
Ye Li faintly smiled: "A few years ago, the emperor had gone to pray to the Heavens. This maiden had the fortune to see the Consort then and can still remember."
n.o.ble Consort Liu was slightly startled. She said: "Then… Was that not something of five or six years ago? At such a young age, yet can still remember so clearly."
"The n.o.ble Consort is peerless and unmatched. Naturally, it something that others cannot forget." Ye Li said with a smile.
"You"re much more loveable than your second sister. Why are you standing here? Follow this seat in. Lady Ye is probably asleep, even letting the future Princess Consort Ding waiting out here." n.o.ble Consort Liu said with a tone of not letting Ye Li reject.
Ye Li paused a moment and said, "Then after the n.o.ble Consort."
In the Palace of Precious Flowers, when Ye Yue saw Ye Li enter alongside n.o.ble Consort Liu, she could not help but be a bit startled.
n.o.ble Consort Liu looked at her indifferently. "Sister saw Ye family"s Third Young Miss waiting outside and invited her in. Little Sister would not blame big sister for being meddlesome, right?" The words are said as such, but n.o.ble Consort Liu didn"t show any fear of being rebuked.
Ye Yue"s lips trembled. She laughed and said: "Consort Sister must be joking. It is this little sister not feeling well these past few days, always forgetting this and that. If not for big sister inviting Third Younger Sister, Third Younger Sister would"ve been mistreated. It’s all because of you servants. Why did you not remind this seat!" The dazzling eyes looked around the hall and suddenly the only sound was those of begging for mercy.
n.o.ble Consort Liu impatiently frowned. "That"s enough. If little sister forgets, then let it be. Why torment those lowly people? Ye family"s Third Young Miss will not blame you. Isn"t that right?"
Ye Li could only follow along and nod. "The n.o.ble Consort is joking. This maiden had only waited a little while. What is there to blame?"
It was only now that Ye Yue"s face relaxed. She pulled Ye Li to sit in front of her and said: "Third Younger Sister doesn"t like to go out. I haven"t seen sister since I entered the palace. Can finally see her today. One or two years without seeing, Third Younger Sister has changed. Is the family doing well?"
Ye Li answered each question. Ye Yue picked a few questions about the family to ask. Ye Li could only respectfully answer. The curious thing was n.o.ble Consort Liu. It was like she was unaware that sisters of the same family were reuniting. She kept sitting and listening. SHe didn"t care that there was no place for her to speak. She held a chilly smile and sat there. Ye Yue seemed accustomed to this. She didn"t find a way to get her to leave nor did she find a way to have Ye Li avoid or evade the Consort.
"When Fourth Younger Sister married, I was not able to attend. Is she and Prince Li doing well?" Ye Yue stroked her slightly protruding belly with a smile.
Ye Li remembered the bleak look of Ye Ying. It could not be considered good. However, she did not intend to say anything to Ye Yue. She only smiled and said: "It is best if sister asks personally about the wedding of Fourth Younger Sister and Prince Li. Younger sister… have been a little busy recently and have not been able to catch up with Fourth Younger Sister."
Ye Yue knew that the relationship between Ye Li and Ye Ying was not good and so did not care. She just pulled her hand and said: "We are all sisters within the same family. Once married, it is not the same as at home where it is easier to meet. If sisters don"t mind, you should come into the Palace more often. I am in the Palace and have no other choice, but you guys are outside. It is easier to take care of each other. It"ll make it easier on father and grandmother. What do you say, little sister?"
Ye Li nodded and said: "The Lady is right."
The two sisters are speaking of matters within Ye Manor. Outside, a servant came with a summons from the Empress Dowager for Ye family"s Third Young Miss.
Ye Yue was a bit stunned. She turned and said to Ye Li: "The Empress Dowager has summoned sister. Third Younger Sister should go quickly. The Empress Dowager mothers all and is the most loving to the younger generation. Third Younger Sister doesn"t have to be afraid. Big sister… is a bit inconvenienced and cannot accompany younger sister."
Ye Li nodded and looked at the well-maintained, jade-like fingers of Ye Yue, caressing her abdomen. "This maiden thanks the Lady for reminding. This maiden asks to be excused."
Ye Yue smiled: "Third Younger Sister go leisurely. Someone come and escort the Third Young Miss out."
"Younger Sister, this seat coincidentally also wants to go great the Empress Dowager and will accompany the Ye family"s Third Young Miss." n.o.ble Consort Liu stop and added.
Ye Yue nodded. "Since this is the case, little sister will trouble big sister."
n.o.ble Consort Liu nodded in return, "Third Young Miss, we should go."
Ye Li followed n.o.ble Consort Liu from the Palace of Precious Flowers. She turned to look at the magnificent gate. Earlier when it was heard that she was summoned by the Empress Dowager, if she was not mistaken, Ye Yue was nervous. And n.o.ble Consort Liu… Looking at the straight back of n.o.ble Consort Liu in front, until now, she could not tell if the Consort was a friend or enemy. Accompanying her into the Palace of Precious Flowers? Now, accompanying her to see the Empress Dowager? Ye Li dared to guarantee that if n.o.ble Consort Liu had not been sitting there, the words Ye Yue wanted to say would not have been what was said today. However, if one were to say that n.o.ble Consort Liu had good intentions…. Not to mention that the two had never met, just that disdain and disregard made Ye Li unable to believe it. She shrugged helplessly. Ye Li calmly followed behind. The people in this Imperial Harem are really troublesome.
The Palace of the Empress Dowager occupied the entire northwest of the Imperial Capital. Two Palaces of Precious Flowers made up one Palace. With the numerous splendid pavilions inside, it could be seen the honorable status of the emperor"s biological mother.
"The Palace of Clear Virtue was where the Emperor stayed and was later renovated for the Empress Dowager after the Emperor ascended to the throne." Standing in front of the Palace of Clear Virtue waiting to be summoned, n.o.ble Consort Liu turned and said to Ye Li. "What"s more, don"t listen to your sister saying this and that. The Empress Dowager is not someone with a good temper. You should be more mindful."
Ye Li smiled and said: "Thanking the n.o.ble Consort for the reminder."
n.o.ble Consort Liu sneered, flicked her sleeve, and entered the Palace of Clear Virtue. Ye Li followed; her face not showing any fear. Her mind had already taken a few hundred laps. Although she had just entered the Palace, the strange events had surpa.s.sed her expectations. It is said that the Empress Dowager supported his Majesty the Emperor in winning the throne. The Empress Dowager is known as wise and bright, but n.o.ble Consort Liu, the empress"s favored concubine, did not have any respect for this Empress Dowager. And… Looking up at the words hanging over the door — Clear Virtue— like dragons flying over the four seas, she hoped that the emperor had willingly written it.