At the Minister’s Mansion
From early morning, people were coming and going amidst much commotion. Ye Li sat with Ye Shan and Ye Lin in the Old Madam Ye’s Hall of Glory, keeping her company. The courtyard where Ye Ying lived had been busy since before dawn. Madam Wang found Ye Lin and Ye Shan to be in the way and was even more worried that Ye Li might take the opportunity to cause trouble. She didn’t want them accompanying Ye Ying, instead bringing two nieces from her own family to attend to her. Ye Li was naturally happy to be free of the duty. After paying her morning respects to the Old Madam, she remained to keep her company – she couldn’t possibly stay alone in Clear Leisure Pavilion all day anyway, as that would only invite gossip.
Old Madam Ye’s face was full of joy, her expression even becoming much more kindly when facing others. Ye Lin and Ye Shan naturally wouldn’t miss this opportunity, amusing the Old Madam with flattering words. Ye Li calmly drank her tea while silently calculating whether she should go join the crowd to watch the show today.
As noon approached, Old Madam Ye’s graying eyebrows gradually furrowed, and she instructed those around her, “Go out and see if the wedding procession has arrived.”
After a while, the person who had been sent out hurriedly returned, wiping sweat while reporting, “Old Madam… the wedding procession hasn’t arrived yet.”
Old Madam Ye’s previously smiling face immediately darkened. It was almost past noon, and having the wedding procession arrive in the afternoon would be inauspicious.
“Is Prince Li going to abandon Fourth Sister again?” Ye Shan, the youngest, suddenly said.
“Shan’er!” Ye Shan’s birth mother turned deathly pale.
“How dare you! Today is Fourth Sister’s wedding day, what nonsense are you spouting? Get out now!” Ye Li said sternly, glaring at Ye Shan before the Old Madam could become angry. Ye Shan moved her lips wanting to say more, but Ye Lin quickly grabbed her, and together with her birth mother, pulled Ye Shan out.
“Shan’er is young and speaks without thinking. It’s my fault for failing to guide her properly. Please calm your anger, Grandmother,” Ye Li said softly to Old Madam Ye.
“Third Miss speaks truly. Sixth Miss is young and naturally has some childish thoughts. Since we’re all family here, I hope Old Madam will overlook it for Fourth Miss’s joyous day,” said Concubine Zhao, who had been granted a seat due to her pregnancy, as she quickly rose to plead. Old Madam Ye was in no mood to truly blame Ye Shan now, waving her hand and saying, “Go invite the Master to come. Also, send people to check again.” Knowing the Old Madam was in a poor mood, the servants dared not say more and hurriedly complied.
The atmosphere in the Hall of Glory grew heavy, but Ye Li continued sitting quietly drinking tea. Concubine Zhao sat sideways, occasionally stealing glances at Ye Li, but found the young lady’s face completely devoid of emotion. As if nothing had happened at all. For a moment, Concubine Zhao couldn’t tell whether today’s events had anything to do with Third Miss. Seeming to notice Concubine Zhao’s gaze, Ye Li looked up at her. The completely unreadable look in her eyes made Concubine Zhao’s heart grow cold. She nodded slightly to Ye Li, then turned aside to rest against her chair with closed eyes.
As noon had clearly passed and the messenger keeping watch at the main gate still hadn’t returned, it seemed Prince Li’s wedding procession was destined to be late today. Minister Ye hurriedly entered with Madam Wang, and Old Madam Ye stared at her son and daughter-in-law, demanding sharply, “What exactly is going on? Have you found out anything?” Minister Ye’s face was also dark with storm clouds as he said gravely, “Mother, please calm down. The people sent to inquire have returned. Prince Li’s residence… has already set out.”
“Already set out?” Old Madam Ye laughed in extreme anger, repeating “good” several times before pointing at Minister Ye, “Has there ever been a bride’s family where the groom’s side could forget even the auspicious time for collecting the bride? After today, our Ye family will be the laughingstock of the entire capital! What exactly does Prince Li’s residence mean by this? They’re already slapping our Ye family’s face before the bride has even entered their door?”
Minister Ye frowned and said, “Perhaps something truly delayed them?”
Old Madam Ye snorted coldly, “What could be more important than collecting the bride?”
Minister Ye was immediately speechless, and Old Madam Ye could only sigh deeply, momentarily at a loss. Prince Li’s residence being late for the wedding was already a joke, but no matter how angry they were, they still had to send Ye Ying out. Otherwise, Ye Ying’s reputation would truly be completely ruined. She glared at Madam Wang, “What are you standing there for? Go check if Ying’er is ready – as soon as the wedding procession arrives, send her out immediately.” Madam Wang couldn’t dwell on feeling wronged or angry at this point, and quickly replied, “Everything is prepared. We’re just waiting to bid farewell to Old Madam before departing.” Old Madam Ye snorted and said no more.
By the time servants finally came to report that the wedding procession was approaching, it was already late afternoon. Ye Ying was supported by her dowry maids and matrons to the Hall of Glory to bid farewell to Old Madam Ye. Though her face bore elaborate makeup, Ye Li sat close enough to see that beneath the powder her complexion was somewhat pale, her eyes slightly swollen – Ye Ying had already been crying. But it didn’t matter much – wasn’t a bride supposed to cry when leaving home? Old Madam Ye personally helped Ye Ying up, spoke some words of encouragement and admonishment, and after Ye Ying also bid farewell to Minister Ye and Madam Wang, she was veiled and supported toward the main hall. Ye Li also rose to follow behind Minister Ye and Madam Wang.
In the Main Hall
Mo Jingli wore ceremonial red robes embroidered with four-clawed golden dragons, his already handsome features gaining an additional air of stern dignity. However, Ye Li saw several traces of unusual stiffness in that cold expression. Looking again at his unnaturally pale complexion and the undisguisable shadows under his eyes, Ye Li’s mood, after being forced to sit quietly all morning, miraculously improved somewhat. She would bet her elder cousin’s top scholar title that Mo Jingli was wearing makeup.
Mo Jingli spotted Ye Li, dressed in light purple and standing beside Minister Ye, almost at first glance. A flash of fire crossed his eyes, his gaze so intense he even ignored his bride.
Minister Ye cleared his throat somewhat disapprovingly, and only then did Mo Jingli unwillingly shift his gaze to greet Minister Ye, “This prince came late, please forgive me, Honorable Father-in-law.”
If he hadn’t brought it up they might have let it pass, but mentioning it only filled Minister Ye with more anger, his tone growing cold as he said, “I wouldn’t dare. I only hope Your Highness will treat Ying’er well in the future.”
Mo Jingli knew he was in the wrong and quickly agreed, promising to treat Ye Ying well. But looking up, he met Ye Li’s ambiguous smile, and remembering his experience last night, Mo Jingli wanted nothing more than to rush over and tear her apart. From childhood until now, he had always been the one tormenting others. Apart from Mo Xiuyao in the past, this was the first time someone had dealt with him so terribly. He had awakened from unconsciousness before dawn to find himself tied up and thrown in a pond, but no matter how he called out, the guards he had brought and hidden nearby in the grove didn’t find him until daybreak. Though it was nearly May, that pond was cold year-round, and by the time he was pulled out, he was so frozen he could barely move. He barely recovered after drinking ginger soup and medicine for the cold at the villa outside the city, then rushed back into the city fighting his discomfort to collect his bride, yet still missed the auspicious time. Compared to himself, Ye Li, now watching him with complete composure and a slight smile, was doing infuriatingly well.
This prince will not let you off! Mo Jingli’s gaze grew dark and vicious.
Ye Li gave a light smirk. She no longer held any hopes for Mo Jingli’s intelligence. She simply returned his look with one of her own: Looking forward to it!
What Ye Li didn’t know was that this brief exchange of glances between her and Mo Jingli appeared completely different in the eyes of those with ulterior motives. Standing beside Ye Ying, Madam Wang observed their interaction, a flash of ruthlessness quickly crossing her downcast eyes.