HomeSheng Shi Di FeiChapter 13: Battle of Words in the Garden

Chapter 13: Battle of Words in the Garden

Though Ye Li didn’t enjoy social gatherings, she understood that unmarried young ladies were different from married women. When an unmarried lady avoided gatherings of noble young ladies, people would at most think she was introverted and preferred solitude, or truly in poor health. However, after marriage, especially for a woman who would manage a household, if she still refused to integrate and socialize, people would consider her arrogant and ungracious. In serious cases, it could even affect her husband’s family. The current master of Prince Ding’s residence was the disabled Prince Mo Xiuyao, and although there were several ladies in the mansion, she would need to take charge of managing the household after marriage. Therefore, hearing Old Madam Ye’s words, Ye Li responded with a smile, displaying great anticipation for this year’s Hundred Flowers Festival.

After seeing off the Virtuous Dowager Consort and her entourage, Ye Li bid farewell to Old Madam and returned to Clear Leisure Pavilion. Old Madam Ye and Madam Wang were still rejoicing in honor of the Virtuous Dowager Consort personally delivering the betrothal gifts, so they didn’t detain Ye Li. As she left Glory Hall and walked absent-mindedly along the corridor, Ye Li recalled the meaningful look the Dowager Consort had given her before leaving. Somehow, she felt there was something deeply significant in that glance.

“Young Lady, look,” whispered Qingshuang in her ear as they passed the garden while Ye Li was lost in thought.

Looking up, she saw a striking couple in the pavilion by the garden path – the man handsome and stern, the woman exceptionally beautiful and delicate. Who else could it be but Mo Jingli and Ye Ying? Ye Li was puzzled – why weren’t they enjoying a romantic moment in a more secluded spot, instead of sitting at this busy garden entrance? It almost seemed as if they were deliberately waiting for her. Stepping forward, she said, “Greetings to Prince Li.” Mo Jingli glanced at the several maids following her and sneered, “You certainly know how to put on airs now.” In the past when Mo Jingli had observed Ye Li from afar, she’d always had only one maid with her, appearing rather provincial. Now, just after being granted a marriage, Ye Li not only dared to embarrass him but was also putting on grand airs. For some reason, Mo Jingli always felt irritated whenever he saw Ye Li. Thinking of the nearly twenty thousand taels of silver that had fallen into Ye Li’s hands made him grind his teeth. It wasn’t that Prince Li’s residence couldn’t afford this sum, but Ye Li’s actions clearly showed she didn’t care about him, which was why she had so boldly demanded money from him.

Ye Li covered her mouth and smiled, her calm gaze moving between the two of them, “Your Highness jests. This is merely the proper etiquette for young ladies. I know Fourth Sister and Your Highness are in love and naturally… but you haven’t yet married, and Fourth Sister should still have maids accompanying her… even if they follow at a distance. This would prevent others from gossiping.”

“Third Sister, how can you say such things…” Hearing Ye Li’s words, Ye Ying’s bright eyes immediately reddened, crystal tears welling up as she looked at Ye Li with extreme grievance, “The relationship between His Highness and me is pure. Even if I’ve wronged Third Sister, this wasn’t… this wasn’t my intention. Third Sister, why would you…”

Ye Li slightly raised her hand, calmly interrupting her, and asked with some amusement, “Fourth Sister misunderstands. Who said your relationship with His Highness was improper? Just tell me who, and if Grandmother and Father won’t stand up for you, Third Sister will.” She then swept a questioning glance over everyone behind her. Qingshuang covered her mouth and smiled, “This servant hasn’t heard such talk. But since the Fourth Young Lady mentions it, there must be something to it. Why don’t we report to Old Madam and thoroughly investigate to find those who are slandering Fourth Young Lady and Prince Li?” Ye Ying’s expression changed, and she shot Qingshuang a hateful glare before turning to look pitifully at Mo Jingli, “Your Highness…” If Grandmother learned of this, she would surely scold her, and if the matter grew larger, even nonexistent rumors might become real.

“Enough! Ye Li, nothing you do will work. This prince will never be interested in you, so give up that idea,” Mo Jingli coldly rebuked, his gaze filled with apparent disgust and loathing.

Ye Li was so surprised she couldn’t quite process it. What was Mo Jingli saying? Could he possibly think her behavior was some kind of playing hard to get? Where did he get such an inflated sense of self-importance?

Feeling scrutinized by Ye Li’s examining gaze, Mo Jingli grew embarrassed and angry, coldly snapping, “Have you looked enough? Shameless!”

Ye Li mentally rolled her eyes heavenward in exasperation, restraining herself from saying “You need medication.” She curtseyed to Mo Jingli, “Enough. Your Highness, Fourth Sister, please continue your conversation. I’ll take my leave.” Without waiting for Mo Jingli’s response, she turned and walked toward her Clear Leisure Pavilion.

Behind her, Mo Jingli stared at her departing slender figure with a dark expression. Ye Ying noticed and her heart tightened. She said softly, “Your Highness, Third Sister has always been like this. Please don’t take offense.”

Seeing the beautiful face before him filled with worry and pleading, Mo Jingli’s expression softened. He took Ye Ying’s hand and snorted lightly, saying softly, “Don’t worry. Since she’s your sister, this prince will overlook it for your sake.” Ye Ying’s eyes flickered slightly as she lowered her head shyly, “Thank you, Your Highness.”

Just as she entered Clear Leisure Pavilion, she heard several idle servant girls excitedly discussing how generous the betrothal gifts from Prince Li’s residence were, and what good fortune Fourth Young Lady had to become Prince Li’s primary consort. Of course, they couldn’t help but mention how unfortunate it was for the Third Young Lady to marry the prince known throughout the capital as useless. Qingshuang’s face turned white with anger, and before Ye Li could speak, she severely rebuked them: “How dare you! Who gave you the right to discuss your masters?!” Those few maids had been so absorbed in their gossip that they hadn’t even noticed the six or seven people standing behind them. Hearing Qingshuang’s voice, they turned around and immediately collapsed to their knees in fright.

Ye Li walked past the kneeling maids with a calm expression. Just as the maids were sighing in relief, thinking they had escaped punishment, they heard Ye Li say: “Go receive twenty strokes each.”

“Please no… Young Lady, forgive us, we won’t dare again…” Although Clear Leisure Pavilion wasn’t favored within the mansion, for these menial maids, there wasn’t much difference between serving here or elsewhere. They wouldn’t benefit from any good fortune in other courtyards anyway, and Third Young Lady was the easiest master to serve in the entire Ye residence. She never made unreasonable demands that would trouble the servants, never got angry and took it out on the maids, and never punished anyone in her courtyard. So these little maids inevitably thought Third Young Lady was soft-hearted and grew lax. They hadn’t expected that just a few casual words today would earn them twenty strokes.

“Go!” Tired of hearing their pleas, Ye Li left with a wave of her sleeve.

“Young Lady, why bother getting angry at such lowly people? It’s not worth making yourself upset,” Qingshuang followed behind Ye Li, quietly advising.

Ye Li turned back to glance at her and smiled, “You think I’m angry?”

“Young Lady… then why?” It had been years since they’d seen the Young Lady punish any maids.

Ye Li gave a cold laugh and said, “I’m not punishing them for gossip, but for betraying their master.”

“Oh?”

“If you were a maid, would you stand right at the courtyard entrance gossiping about your masters where anyone could walk in?”

Qingshuang finally understood, but asked puzzled, “Then who instructed them to do this? Surely not Madam Wang? What benefit would she get from this besides possibly upsetting Young Lady?” And that wasn’t even guaranteed.

Ye Li frowned slightly, shook her head, and told Qingshuang, “Tomorrow, personally deliver a letter from me to Second Uncle at the Imperial Censor’s residence. Tell others I have some matters I need to consult with the Second Aunt about and request her to visit when she has time. Oh, and tell Aunt there’s no rush.”

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