Prince of First Rank’s Mansion
“I understand. You may leave,” the man in blue robes said calmly, gazing at the lake through the window of the quiet, somewhat lonely waterside pavilion.
Matron Sun’s stern face, which often appeared harsh due to its severity, flashed with helplessness as she looked at the solitary figure before her, wanting to speak but holding back. In the end, she said nothing and withdrew dejectedly.
“It seems Matron Sun also has a good impression of Third Miss Ye. You know it’s no easy feat to get Matron Sun to speak up for someone.” On the other side, Feng Zhiyao, still dressed in his characteristically flashy and magnificent clothes, lazily smiled at his close friend. Mo Xiuyao turned to look at him, his gaze calm and gentle. “So what?”
“So what?!” Feng Zhiyao sat up straight and glared at him, his usually languid voice rising considerably. “Ah Yao, Third Miss Ye is your future wife, the person who will spend her life with you. Are you not going to see her?”
“If she’s as good as you say, do you think… I would be allowed to marry her smoothly? Don’t forget she has the Xu family behind her,” Mo Xiuyao said impassively.
“What do you mean?” Feng Zhiyao frowned. Could there be some scheme afoot?
Mo Xiuyao lowered his gaze, quietly looking at his hand resting on the wheelchair’s armrest. “On the day the Li Prince’s mansion sent the betrothal gifts, Noble Consort Xianzhao specifically summoned Ye Li.”
Feng Zhiyao sneered, “Don’t tell me Mo Jingli is having regrets again? Even if he does regret it, so what? Does he think the Prince of First Rank’s mansion and the Xu family are his playthings to be toyed with?”
A cold glint flashed through Mo Xiuyao’s deep, gentle eyes. “The matter of breaking the engagement was something Mo Jingli decided without prior imperial approval. Initially… when the late Emperor betrothed Ye Li to Mo Jingli, it wasn’t without reason.” When Ye Li was born, Ye Wenhua was merely a newly promoted third-rank official. How could the late Emperor possibly choose such a humble family background for his beloved prince’s primary consort? It was naturally for the sake of Ye Li’s maternal grandfather’s family, the Xu family. Unfortunately, in recent years, the Xu family has gradually withdrawn from court affairs, causing most people both inside and outside the palace to forget just how influential the Xu family truly was.
“If that’s the case, why would His Majesty betroth Third Miss Ye to you?”
“If Third Miss Ye were truly a woman without talent, beauty, or virtue, and one who had been rejected from a previous engagement, why wouldn’t His Majesty betroth her to me?” Mo Xiuyao asked quietly in return.
Feng Zhiyao shrugged indifferently—after all, the royal family members were all somewhat peculiar. “So, are you going to attend the Hundred Flowers Gathering at the Peony Garden? Are you going to meet your fiancée?”
Mo Xiuyao turned back to gaze at the lake’s surface in silence. Feng Zhiyao observed this and nodded inwardly in understanding. Ever since that incident, Ah Yao had become increasingly awkward.
Ye Li looked at the table before her with a slight headache. The spacious table was divided into two sides, each displaying a set of clothes with corresponding accessories. On the left was a white garment with blue flowers—butterflies seemed to dance across the snow-white fabric in pale blue, and when sunlight from the window fell upon it, one could almost imagine the butterflies about to take flight. Jing’er and Tian’er carefully held up the garment, with the youngest Tian’er exclaiming in wonder, “These butterflies aren’t even embroidered—how beautiful!”
Qingxia smiled, “This is kesi silk. It’s very precious. Usually, kesi silk features extremely ornate patterns, so one as elegant and simple as Young Miss’s is quite rare. Moreover, the silk thread seems quite extraordinary.” The garment felt weightless in hand, yet it didn’t appear flimsy at all, clearly made of no ordinary material.
Qingshuang looked curiously from left to right, then turned to Ye Li, “Both the clothes from Aunt and the Prince are beautiful. Which will Young Miss wear?”
Ye Li glanced at this ice silkworm blue butterfly kesi garment her aunt had sent, then turned her attention to the brocade box on the right. Inside was a light cyan water-cloud silk decorated with subtle yet exquisite silver peony patterns. The sleeves and hem were delicately outlined with elegant auspicious cloud patterns, simple yet understated, but immediately conveying an incomparable elegance and comfort.
“This one,” Ye Li decided quickly. While it was necessary to put some thought into clothing, spending too much time on it was unnecessary. “Keep my aunt’s garment well—I’ll wear it for uncle’s birthday next month.”
The maids hurriedly and carefully put away the white garment with blue butterflies and brought out the set from the Prince of First Rank’s mansion to help Ye Li change.
Moments later, Ye Li emerged from behind the screen amid the maids’ exclamations. The light cyan color perfectly suited Ye Li’s quiet and elegant temperament, while the exquisite silver thread patterns prevented the simple style from appearing plain. A subtle luxury, Ye Li silently admired. Although the Prince of First Rank’s mansion was no longer as prominent as before, the gifts they sent were still extraordinary.
“Is this water-cloud silk?!” Jingwen, who had been standing aside somewhat helplessly, exclaimed.
Qingxia also looked shocked. Mandarin duck brocade, water-cloud silk, and lotus gauze were known as the Three Treasures of Nanzhao, among the most precious specialties of the Nanzhao Kingdom. Moreover, these items were not part of regular trade between the two countries, only exchanged as annual gifts between the nations. Even the palace received no more than ten bolts of water-cloud silk, the foremost of the Three Treasures, each year.
Ye Li smiled at Jingwen, “You have good eyes.”
Jingwen’s expression changed slightly, forcing a smile, “This servant saw it once at Fourth Miss’s place. It was bestowed by Noble Consort to Fourth Miss.” She had indeed seen it at Fourth Miss’s place, though it was merely a silk handkerchief rather than a garment. Although called silk, water-cloud silk differed from ordinary silk’s luxurious heaviness, instead being light and elegant—if not for the hidden elaborate patterns visible up close, one wouldn’t recognize it as water-cloud silk. Fourth Miss had received a piece of water-cloud silk from Noble Consort Ye last year, but it wasn’t enough to make clothing, so Ye Ying had carefully stored it away. Since that day when Jingwen had taken the liberty of bringing up past events at Qingyi Pavilion without announcement, although Ye Li hadn’t said anything, Jingwen had remained cautious, fearing the Third Miss would find an excuse to punish her. She hadn’t expected her momentary surprise would draw Ye Li’s attention now.
Ye Li nodded and stopped paying attention to the somewhat anxious Jingwen, turning to sit before the bronze mirror. Qingxia and Qingshuang brought over the accessories sent by the Prince of First Rank’s mansion, selecting suitable pieces to style her hair.
Jingwen stood quietly in a corner, watching the busy maids working systematically with both awkwardness and reluctance. Her gaze fell on the casually placed accessory box on the table, and she quickly lowered her head, not daring to look further. However, she didn’t realize that Ye Li, sitting before the bronze mirror, had caught her poorly concealed expression perfectly.
Qingshuang’s deft hands inserted the final jade hairpin, and she smiled with satisfaction, “Young Miss will surely outshine all the young ladies of the capital today.”
“What nonsense are you talking about? Others would die laughing if they heard this,” Ye Li glanced at the confident Qingshuang, gently scolding.
Qingshuang winked mischievously and smiled, “In Qingshuang’s eyes, Young Miss is the most beautiful lady in the world.”
“Beauty isn’t important—being presentable is enough,” Ye Li said as she stood up once everything was ready. “Let’s go, we shouldn’t be late.”
Qingshuang and Qingxia hurriedly followed behind Ye Li, with Qingshuang not forgetting to mumble softly, “I wonder if the Prince of First Rank will attend the Hundred Flowers Gathering.”
Qingxia glanced at Ye Li walking ahead and said quietly, “Although the Hundred Flowers Gathering is a meeting for the capital’s young ladies, and some renowned people are invited each year to judge, the Prince of First Rank seems to have never attended.”