At the end of April, the Ye household sent people to bring Ye Li back. Ye Ying’s wedding date was set for the last day of April, supposedly the only auspicious date that month. Xu Hongyu calmly dismissed the people sent to fetch Ye Li, and only had Xu Qingbai and Xu Qingyan personally escort her home the day before Ye Ying’s wedding. Though Minister Ye was quite displeased, due to an inexplicable innate fear of his brother-in-law, he didn’t say much and simply told Ye Li to return to Qingyi Pavilion to rest well.
When Ye Li went to the Xu residence, she only took two maids, Qingshuang and Qingxia. But when she returned, she brought back Matron Lin, Matron Wei, and their entire household of more than ten people. There were also two senior maids, Qingluan and Qingyu, personally selected by her grandfather. The originally modest Qingyi Pavilion now seemed somewhat crowded. Looking at the pavilion’s arrangements, Matron Wei couldn’t help but wipe tears from her eyes, saying how could this be a place for a noble young lady to live? Ye Li didn’t mind, only smiling as she consoled her: “No matter how luxuriously we decorate it, won’t it just benefit others after we leave?” Matron Wei still wouldn’t have it, insisting they couldn’t let the young miss be wronged, and directed the maids to redecorate Ye Li’s room. Ye Li could only let her proceed helplessly, as it seemed everyone was dissatisfied with her room—her aunt would comment on it every time she visited.
“Miss, the Eldest Young Lady has arrived,” reported the maid serving outside.
Ye Li put down her needlework and looked up with a smile, “Please invite the Heir Consort in.”
Soon after, a beautifully dressed woman in palace attire entered. Seeing Ye Li sitting by the table, she broke into a smile, “Third Sister.”
Ye Li quickly rose to welcome her, “Greetings, Heir Consort.” This woman was the Ye family’s eldest daughter, Ye Zhen, the Secondary Consort of the Southern Marquis’s heir.
Ye Zhen held her hand, smiling, “I dare not accept such formality. After the Third Sister’s wedding, I’ll have to pay my respects to you. Since there are no outsiders now, let’s address each other as sisters.” Ye Li nodded and smiled, “Please sit, Elder Sister.” Ye Zhen’s birth mother was a close maid who had grown up with Minister Ye, but she died when Ye Zhen was five. From childhood, Ye Zhen was raised by Madam Xu and was already thirteen when Madam Xu passed away. Thus, Ye Li and Ye Zhen had a fairly good relationship. When Ye Zhen still lived at home, she would occasionally look after Ye Li. However, before she turned fifteen, Madam Wang had arranged her marriage as a Secondary Consort to the Southern Marquis’s heir. It was said that the heir didn’t particularly favor Ye Zhen, and after seven or eight years of marriage, she hadn’t borne any children. Ye Zhen rarely returned to the Ye family. The sisters hadn’t seen each other for nearly two years, and this return was probably for Ye Ying’s wedding preparations and dowry.
Ye Zhen lightly touched the crimson brocade on the table, her heart-stirring slightly, “Is this… Phoenix Brocade? Third Sister, are you making your wedding dress?”
Ye Li nodded. She wasn’t particularly fussy about wedding attire, so she hadn’t rushed to have it made earlier. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have known what to do with the Phoenix Brocade that her eldest uncle had specially brought. After all, according to Da Chu’s custom, each woman could only have one wedding dress, and making another was considered very inauspicious. Ye Zhen stroked the soft red brocade with a touch of envy, looking at Ye Li and saying, “This wasn’t prepared by the Madam, was it? I see Fourth Sister is only using Mandarin Duck Brocade. I heard it was bestowed by the Empress Dowager.” Ye Li frowned slightly, looking at the wedding dress before her with some hesitation. The Empress Dowager had bestowed Mandarin Duck Brocade on Ye Ying, and if she used the more precious Phoenix Brocade, it might not have looked good on the Empress Dowager’s face. Having been a Secondary Consort for many years, Ye Zhen was no ignorant person. After some thought, she said, “Phoenix Brocade is the imperial fabric of the Xiling Kingdom, which commoners not only cannot weave but are strictly forbidden from selling. Originally, like Nanzhao, Xiling would send some as gifts to our Da Chu royal family each year, but it’s said that during the Late Emperor’s time, Xiling’s manufacturing technique was accidentally lost. Third Sister’s Phoenix Brocade should be one of the two pieces the Late Emperor bestowed on the Xu family when the mother was born, right?”
“Elder Sister has good eyes. This is indeed what Grandfather asked Eldest Uncle to bring to the capital.” Ye Li nodded. A wedding dress made of Phoenix Brocade was once the most coveted item among the capital’s noble young ladies. Unlike the dazzling Mandarin Duck Brocade, Phoenix Brocade didn’t appear striking, looking more like an ordinary crimson silk. However, when it appeared in the light, lifelike phoenix patterns would emerge. When worn and in motion, the wearer’s movements would create an illusion of phoenixes in flight. Generally, the best method was to embroider additional patterns like lotus or peony on the Phoenix Brocade. Thus, when still, it appeared as a wedding dress adorned with blooming lotus and competing peonies, but once in sunlight or lamplight, the exquisite phoenixes among peonies would amaze any viewer. Ye Li had already made the wedding veil and was amazed to discover that sunlight and lamplight, even the intensity of light, would affect the color and form of the phoenixes. The craftsmanship of this world truly astonished Ye Li, who could be considered quite worldly by modern standards. Unlike Mandarin Duck Brocade, which was rare but still obtainable, Phoenix Brocade was scarce not just in Da Chu—one would be hard-pressed to find a few pieces in any country. It could be said that the loss of Phoenix Brocade’s technique led to the current fame of Nanzhao’s Mandarin Duck Brocade.
“Since it was bestowed by the Late Emperor, and your marriage was arranged by the current Emperor, it’s perfectly fitting for Third Sister to wear this. It will surely astound everyone in the capital.” Ye Zhen said with a smile, a flash of satisfaction crossing her eyes. She could easily imagine the expressions on Madam Wang and Ye Ying’s faces when Ye Li would appear in such attire at her wedding.
Ye Li nodded, casually handing the unfinished wedding dress to Qingluan standing beside her, and smiled at Ye Zhen, “We’ve talked enough about my matters. How have you been, Elder Sister? It’s been so long.”
Ye Zhen lowered her eyes, her smile fading somewhat, “What’s there to say about me? Just living day by day.”
Ye Li had heard some things about the Southern Marquis’s heir’s reputation, but unfortunately, these matters were beyond her control. Moreover, her relationship with Ye Zhen wasn’t close enough to allow her to inquire about such private matters. She could only say, “No matter what, taking care of yourself is most important. If you don’t cherish yourself, who else will?” Ye Zhen started, looking at Ye Li and saying, “Third Sister is right. These years… haven’t been easy for you either. In the future… with the Xu family behind you, it surely won’t be harder than being at home.” Ye Li smiled faintly and stood up, “Has Elder Sister visited Fourth Sister yet?”
Ye Zhen shook her head, “I just paid my respects to Grandmother. Fourth Sister was busy selecting newly arrived headdresses and jewelry, so I didn’t want to disturb her.”
Ye Li smiled, “Then let’s go together. Qingxia, bring out that set of Morning Sun Phoenix headdresses and jewelry, let’s take it to Fourth Sister.”
Qingshuang said, “Miss, wasn’t that given to you by the Old Madam?” It was also the most precious piece, which the Old Madam had refused to give to Fourth Miss when she had wanted it. How wasteful to give it away now.
Ye Li waved her hand, “I won’t be able to use it anyway, if Fourth Sister likes it, let her have it.” Ye Li could only respectfully decline such magnificent and heavy ornaments, not doubt that if she were to wear the complete set, her neck would surely ache. Ye Ying probably wouldn’t wear it either, given that she always maintained an ethereal and delicate image. She was just upset that the Old Madam had given it to Ye Li instead of her. Ye Zhen carefully observed the casual smile and indifference on Ye Li’s face, sighing softly, “Among us sisters, Third Sister has the best temperament.”
Ye Li smiled, “It’s not that I have a good temperament, but we won’t have to face each other day and night for life anyway. It’s just over a month more, it’s pointless to quarrel over such small matters.”
Ye Zhen lowered her head, smiling slightly, “Fourth Sister is right.”