Chapter 32

Characters Shown / Mentioned in this Chapter:

葉璃璃兒 – Ye LiLi er – Main Female Protagonistfirst legitimate daughter of the Ye family, but the third child in the family

定王定國王  墨修堯 – Ding w.a.n.gDing guow.a.n.g Mo Xiu Yao – Imperial Prince Ding of the highest rank

黎王 墨景黎 – Li w.a.n.g  Mo Jing Li – Imperial Prince Li

Ye Family Members:

葉文華 葉尚書 – Ye Wen HuaMinister Ye – Ye Li‘s father who has the t.i.tle or position of official in charge of presenting memorials to the emperor and official correspondence / Minister of Revenue

葉老夫人葉老太太 – Elderly Madam Ye Elderly Lady Ye – Ye Li‘s grandmother from her father’s sidethe old madam of the family

徐氏 – Xu shi – Ye Li‘s motherdeceased

王氏 – w.a.n.g shi – the current main wife of Minister Ye and current matron of the Ye household

(葉夫人 – Ye furen – can refer to either Xu shi or w.a.n.g shi)

趙姨娘 – Zhao yiniang – a new, favoured concubine of Minister Ye

葉瑩瑩兒 – Ye Ying Ying er – 4th daughter in the family

葉昭儀 葉玥 – Ye zhaoyi Ye Yue – Ye Li‘s eldest(?) sister who is an imperial concubine

葉琳 – Ye Lin – 5th daughter of the family

葉珊 – Ye Shan – 6th daughter in the family

Imperial Family Members + Subjects:

Nanzhao

棲霞公主 – Xi Xia gongzhu – Zhao Yang zhang gongzhu‘s fuma‘s niece

Bold - Names of people, placesItalic - Chinese terms in pinyinUnderline - Unknown

Book 1: Imperial Capital

Chapter 32: Biaoge have arrived

Rong Le Hall

Ye Li sat upright in her seat like usual, looking concentrated as she faced everyone present–as though she didn’t see anything in general. Minister Ye looked at the calm-looking third daughter and the fourth daughter whose entire face showed a look of grievance, only feeling his forehead throb in pain. He originally wanted to blame Ye Li in general like he habitually did in the past, but seeing that expression of Ye Li‘s that could be said to be indifferent, the old fox who had become seasoned for several decades in the imperial court suddenly felt alert in thinking that this wasn’t at all the best idea. Furthermore, it could even trigger consequences he wouldn’t want to face.

Elderly Madam Ye was still as aloof and remote as before, taking in all the expressions of those who were present. Recalling again how an underling had just reported that it was Ding w.a.n.g‘s carriage that had personally sent her granddaughter to the residence’s entrance–although no one had seen Ding w.a.n.g himself, one could basically be certain that it was indeed Ding w.a.n.g who had personally sent Ye Li back. Once again looking at Ye Ying whose face showed hidden bitterness, Elderly Madam Ye felt an added trace of disappointment towards this pampered granddaughter; ever since Li er and Ding w.a.n.g had been bestowed with an engagement, Li w.a.n.g had displayed even more and more that he wasn’t as caring towards Ying er as purported to be. Of course, it was possible that it was caused by Ye Ying‘s reputation at this time. However, for this kind of obvious change that even she as an old woman who didn’t go out could sense, could it be that this intelligent and skillful granddaughter of hers didn’t even sense it one bit? Not thinking of a way to grab ahold of Li w.a.n.g, but was even frequently looking to trouble her own elder sister. Could it be that she doesn’t understand that no matter how unfavoured Li er was, she was still a daughter of the Ye family and would also be the Ye family’s helping hand in the future? Elderly Madam Ye once again somewhat suspected on the inside whether it had been a mistake in the end to have used Ye Ying to trade places with Ye Li in her engagement with Li w.a.n.g at that time.

“Enough. Ying er, Li er is your elder sister. Take heed to your propriety as a younger sister.” Elderly Madam Ye spoke up.

Ye Ying was startled, not daring to believe that Elderly Madam Ye would actually speak for Ye Li. Aggrieved, her eyes reddened as she nibbled on her captivatingly red lip and said, “But grandmother…she…how could she have caused Li w.a.n.g to be embarra.s.sed in a public place with numerous people…this made Ying er…”

Pa! Elderly Madam Ye heavily struck the table and said in a cold voice, “Caused Li w.a.n.g to be embarra.s.sed? When Li w.a.n.g made things difficult for Li er in front of so many people, why didn’t he think of whether he would cause the Ye family to be embarra.s.sed? Or is it that he thinks only my Ye family can be wrong and that he Li w.a.n.g can’t possibly be?”

Elderly Madam Ye somewhat disappointedly looked at Ye Ying who still wanted to say something. To completely disregard the family’s reputation and interest for a man–could she really hope that this kind of granddaughter would bring her Ye family any benefit in the future? One only feared that perhaps on a certain day, she would have sold off the Ye family for Li w.a.n.g. Or was it that she believed that if Li er‘s reputation was bad, her own reputation would become even better? When one thrives, all will thrive. When one loses, all will lose.1 If she didn’t even understand this, what on earth had w.a.n.g shi been teaching her all these years? As her cold gaze swept across w.a.n.g shi, w.a.n.g shi couldn’t help but shrink a bit, not daring to meet Elderly Madam Ye‘s gaze directly.

“Father…”

Minister Ye found it a real headache as he knitted his eyebrows. He was also somewhat dissatisfied towards Mo Jing Li. If Li w.a.n.g wanted to deliberately make things difficult for Li er, he could pretend not to know–but that would have to be in private. This kind of deliberately making things difficult and taunting out in the open–what he was. .h.i.tting wasn’t Ye Li‘s face (honor, reputation, etc.), but that of the Ye family’s by stamping on it beneath one’s own foot. If it weren’t for the second daughter(?) in the palace and the soon-to-be-born grandson, even if he were the emperor’s own related younger brother, so what? How could he be willing to put up with this? “Ying er, what your grandmother said is right. Even if you become Li w.a.n.gfei, you are still the Ye family’s daughter. Did you think that without the Ye family and your second(?) elder sister’s support, you would be able to stand stably in the Li w.a.n.g household? No matter if it was your second elder sister, eldest sister, third elder sister, fifth younger sister, or your sixth younger sister–as long as you sisters are harmonious and mutually a.s.sist one another, no one would be able to bully you in the future. Do you understand?”

“But…The one third elder sister offended isn’t just Li w.a.n.g, but also Xi Xia gongzhu. Perhaps even zhang gongzhu would also want to blame us.” Ye Ying was somewhat unreconciled as she glanced at Ye Li, not at all taking Minister Ye‘s words to heart. In Ye Ying‘s mind, other than her second(?) elder sister inside the palace, the other daughters in the Ye family weren’t at all worthy of being mentioned on equal terms with her. She was the future Li w.a.n.gfei; why would she require their a.s.sistance?

Ye Li looked up and softly said, “Fourth younger sister doesn’t need to be worried. When I came back, I already had someone send over a letter of apology and presents to the zhang gongzhu residence. The Ding guow.a.n.g household’s side will also dispatch people to go over and give an explanation to zhang gongzhu. Zhang gongzhu is magnanimous and looks upon righteousness; presumably she wouldn’t blame us immature juniors over this trivial matter.” Of course, there were also the Qin household, Murong household, and the Duke Hua household who had also gone to humbly apologize at the same time.

Hearing this, Elderly Madam Ye expressed a smile of admiration and said, “Li er handled this matter superbly. Since it was at a public place with numerous people at the time and moreover it was Xi Xia gongzhu who had erred first, Zhao Yang zhang gongzhu would usually distinguish between right and wrong and wouldn’t dispute with the younger generation. His Highness Ding w.a.n.g is also considerate. Later, send a gift to the Ding w.a.n.g residence in return. Just say that it’s to thank Ding w.a.n.g for personally sending Li er back. This matter…just leave it to Li er herself to handle. Whatever it is you want to send, you can just take it directly from the treasury.” After hesitating for bit, Elderly Madam Ye still handed this matter over to Ye Li. She honestly was somewhat discouraged towards w.a.n.g shi; although the Ye family now didn’t have to curry favour with the Ding guow.a.n.g household, they also couldn’t just allow this relationship they got ahold of to become even more terrible.

“Li er understands. Please be rest a.s.sured, grandmother.” Ye Li got up and answered.

w.a.n.g shi‘s complexion turned somewhat green; social relationship dealings were originally the responsibility of the matron in charge of the household. If it were due to Ye Li‘s private reputation being still good in allowing Ye Li to come handle things using the Ye family’s name, it would clearly cause her as the matron in charge of the household to be embarra.s.sed.

Elderly Madam Ye didn’t at all give her the chance to say anything as she said with her eyebrows creased, “If you have the spare time, you might as well sort out Ying er‘s dowry somewhat clearly. Don’t forget that there already aren’t many days left till the wedding date.”

“I will.”  w.a.n.g shi timidly replied.

“Master, Elderly Madam…”

The wet nurse working at Elderly Madam Ye‘s side hurriedly came in, intentionally glancing at Ye Li and only then walked over to Elderly Madam Ye‘s side and said, “Elderly Madam, Xu eldest gongzi as well as the Xu family’s second, third, fourth and fifth gongzi have come to pay a visit.”

“What?!” Minister Ye shot straight up from his seat in alarm. For the Xu family’s several gongzi to have come pay a visit at the same time, didn’t that mean that that brother-in-law of his who was hard to deal with had also already arrived at the capital? Of course, based on the Xu daye‘s proud and arrogant self, he definitely wouldn’t personally come to pay a visit to the Ye family that had caused his only treasured younger sister to die.

It was still Elderly Madam Ye who reacted slightly quicker, promptly saying, “Quickly, invite the several Xu gongzi to come inside.”

Ye Li was also somewhat surprised, actually not knowing that her jiujiu, biaoge and the rest have already arrived at the capital and that she hadn’t gone ahead to welcome them. This caused Ye Li to feel slightly guilty on the inside. When da jiujiu was still in the capital before, he had doted on her the most. After so many years of not seeing one another, even if it were Ye Li, she was also somewhat overwhelmed.

“Grandmother, Li er shall personally go to receive them.”

Elderly Madam Ye nodded and said, “Go then. Ying er as well as Shan er and Lin er should also go together.”

Ye Lin and Ye Shan who had been standing ignored at the side as they watched the bustling scene looked pleasantly surprised while Ye Ying looked discontented, yet they didn’t bother to consider what idea Elderly Madam Ye had come up with on the inside at this time. Ye Li got up to take leave and quickly stepped outside.Ye Lin and Ye Shan who were behind her also promptly followed after her. Only Ye Ying was left behind as she looked at Minister Ye somewhat unreconciled and unwilling. She was the future Li w.a.n.gfei; for what reason should she go welcome Ye Li‘s biaoge?

“Ying er!” Minister Ye somewhat had a headache; this daughter had truly been spoiled too much.

With one look at Minister Ye’s expression, Ye Ying knew that her father was really going to get angry. She could only bite her cherry-coloured lip as she turned around to go follow Ye Li and the others.

“Before Ying er‘s big wedding, have her come to Rong Le hall everyday to wait upon this grandmother.” Elderly Madam Ye looked at w.a.n.g shi as she coldly spoke.

“This…daughter-in-law still has many things I need to teach to Ying er, I only fear…” w.a.n.g shi said somewhat uneasily.

“You will teach? These years, take a look and see what’s the result of your teaching?” Elderly Madam Ye coldly said. “No sense of propriety, relied on favour and thus became arrogant. Just by wielding a bit of talent and learning and having some good looks and thus, is already unconcerned with the gravity of a situation. These things are nothing much inside the boudoir (a woman’s life prior to getting married), but after she gets married and needs to take control of a household, would those skills in poetry, singing and dancing that you taught her as well as those cautious thoughts of fighting and scheming against one another be able to hold up the Li w.a.n.g household’s prestige?”

Minister Ye nodded and said, “What mother said is right. Her ladyship zhaoyi was personally instructed by mother. Mother being able to give Ying er a pointer or two would be her good fortune.”

Seeing her husband readily agreeing to it with an expression that showed he wouldn’t allow her to refute it, w.a.n.g shi could only helplessly endure it.

Recently, those several s.l.u.ts have also become restless, especially that Zhao yiniang. She also didn’t have the skill to manage Ying er‘s matters.

“一榮俱榮一損俱損 – yirongjurongyisunjusun” is originally from “红楼梦 – hongloumeng“, a.k.a Dream of the Red Chamber”.