HomeSheng Shi Di FeiChapter 19: Visitors from Prince Dingguo's Mansion

Chapter 19: Visitors from Prince Dingguo’s Mansion

Madame Wang indeed quickly sent over the clothes and jewelry she had prepared for Ye Li. Seeing the haughty expressions of the matrons and maids who delivered them, Ye Li didn’t get angry. She merely glanced casually at the items on the table, gave them a meaningful look, and offhandedly instructed her maid, “Qingxia, put these things away.”

Seeing Ye Li’s dismissive and indifferent manner, the maid holding a jewelry box became dissatisfied. Lifting her chin to glance at Ye Li, she said, “Third Miss, these were specially prepared for you by our Lady.”

Ye Li’s clear, serene eyes blinked once as she smiled at the maid and said in a gentle tone, “I understand. Is there anything else?” The maid was taken aback. She was Madame Wang’s favored head maid, and everyone in the household treated her with respect. She couldn’t understand what was wrong with this Third Miss – her words seemed polite but somehow felt particularly grating to the ear. Remembering Madame Wang’s instructions, she gathered her courage and said, “Lady instructed that Third Miss must wear these new clothes and jewelry at the Hundred Flowers Gathering, lest people think the Minister’s daughter doesn’t even have new clothes.”

“Must?” Ye Li leaned back against her chair, lazily propping her chin with her right hand as she looked at the proud maid before her. “You’re Cuizhu?”

“Yes, Third Miss, this servant is Cuizhu.” Somehow, the maid called Cuizhu suddenly felt a chill down her spine as she responded to the young lady who sat with lazy yet elegant poise.

“Are you certain… that the Lady instructed you to ensure I wear these clothes?” Ye Li asked softly.

Cuizhu hesitated for a moment but still firmly replied, “Yes. These were specially prepared for the Third Miss by the Lady. Does Third Miss intend to reject the Lady’s kind intentions?”

Ye Li looked at the pretty but arrogant maid before her and suddenly smiled. She extended her delicate fingers to lift a piece of fabric from the brocade box, saying languidly, “This sort of thing… would it be better than wearing old clothes?”

The clothes in the brocade box were indeed new and even made of expensive cloud brocade. However, with those gaudy colors and rigid style, if worn out, people might think she was eager to get married rather than attend a gathering of the capital’s young ladies. Could Madame Wang think that because she hadn’t attended gatherings for years, she didn’t understand anything? Such bright red colors and complex intertwining flower patterns would only displease Princess Imperial Shaoyang who was hosting the event and make the capital’s noble young ladies look down on her.

“Third Miss! How… how dare you…” Cuizhu’s eyes widened, seemingly unable to believe that the usually quiet and non-confrontational Third Miss would say such bold words. The others who came with her also showed shocked and displeased expressions.

“Since these were specially prepared by the Lady, take them back for Fourth Sister. Tell her if she can attend, she should use these, so as not to waste the Lady’s kind intentions. As for me… presumably, the Lady doesn’t know my preferences, so she needn’t trouble herself.” Ye Li casually put the clothes back in the brocade box and said calmly. A flash of anger crossed Cuizhu’s face as she forced out a smile and said, “The Lady has already prepared things for Fourth Miss, these are for Third Miss.”

“Miss,” Qingshuang, standing behind Ye Li, said brightly, “Since the Lady has prepared these, it wouldn’t be right to reject her intentions. If Miss doesn’t like them, why not bestow them on this servant?”

Ye Li turned to look at Qingshuang, nodding with a smile, “Have I treated you maids poorly? Very well, all of you can pick what you like.”

Qingshuang didn’t hesitate, stepping forward to select a pair of gilt ruby earrings, “This servant thanks Miss for the reward.”

The other maids weren’t as bold as Qingshuang, looking at the ruby earrings in her hands with envious but hesitant expressions. Cuizhu hadn’t expected Third Miss to dare give away the Lady’s prepared items right in front of her. Her expression turned ugly, while also feeling envious that Qingshuang had such a generous mistress. Even as Madame Wang’s most favored head maid, the Lady had never rewarded her with such valuable jewelry. Seeing the maids’ expressions, Qingshuang’s eyes sparkled as she smiled, “Sister Qingxia, Miss is rewarding you, why don’t you pick something? If you don’t choose, Yun’er and the others won’t dare either.”

Qingxia quickly glanced at Ye Li, seeing that she didn’t seem angry and was looking at Qingshuang with a hint of indulgence. Only then did she step forward to select a gold hairpin and thank Ye Li for the reward? Seeing that Qingxia had taken something, the younger maids also came forward to choose one or two items they liked, their faces full of joy. After all, unlike the personal maids who often received rewards from their mistresses, these lower-ranking maids rarely had such opportunities. Though the Miss didn’t care for these exquisite and valuable ornaments, having even one piece as part of their future dowry would be quite respectable.

“Third Miss, you’ve given away the items Lady prepared for you to the maids. Surely you don’t expect the Lady to prepare another set? Each young miss only gets one set – won’t Third Miss’s actions put the Lady in a difficult position?” Cuizhu said with an ugly expression.

Ye Li stood up and said, “Once the Lady gave these things to me, they became mine. Since each sister only gets one set, naturally I won’t be an exception. Or… do you still insist that either I or Fourth Sister wear such a ‘magnificent’ outfit?” She looked at her with interest, deliberately emphasizing the word ‘magnificent’.

“This… this servant wouldn’t dare.”

“If you don’t dare, then that’s good. Go back and thank the Lady for me.”

“Miss, the Lady has arrived,” the temporary embroidery maid, now renamed Jingwen, announced from outside.

Before Ye Li could speak, Madame Wang had already entered with her people. However, her originally smiling face froze slightly upon seeing the items on the table and in the maids’ hands. “Li’er… do you not like what mother prepared for you?”

“Thank you for the Lady’s consideration, but Aunt sent me a set a few days ago. I didn’t want to waste the Lady’s kind intentions, so I gave them to Qingshuang and the others. I’m sure they’re all grateful to the Lady,” Ye Li said carelessly, though her gaze fell on the several matrons and maids who had entered with Madame Wang, clearly not people from the Ye household.

Qingshuang led the maids in quickly thanking the Lady. Madame Wang forced out a smile and said to Ye Li, “Li’er is indeed kind-hearted. These are the household managers from Prince Dingguo’s mansion. Li’er, please meet them.”

Before Ye Li could step forward, the lead matron came forward with a serious expression and bowed to Ye Li, “This old servant pays respects to Third Miss. This old servant is the Prince’s household manager, surname Sun. By the Prince’s command, we’ve brought some items for Third Miss. Please accept them.”

At Matron Sun’s gesture, two elderly servants and two maids came forward holding brocade boxes and greeted Ye Li, “Greetings to Third Miss.”

Qingshuang and Qingxia quickly stepped forward to help Matron Sun up. Ye Li nodded with a smile, seemingly not noticing Matron Sun’s subtle examining gaze, and said with a light smile, “Thank you for your trouble, Matron Sun. Please convey my thanks to His Highness.”

Matron Sun’s shrewd old eyes swept over the items on the table and caught Madame Wang’s expression. A look of satisfaction flashed in her eyes, and her stern face gained a hint of a smile. She bowed to Ye Li again and said, “Then this old servant shall take her leave.”

Ye Li nodded and said to Qingshuang, “Qingshuang, see Matron Sun out for me.”

Qingshuang acknowledged, and as Yun’er and the other maids stepped forward to take the items, Qingshuang personally escorted Matron Sun and her group out.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

Latest Chapters