Golden Age Legitimate Fei

Chapter 12: Xian Zhao taifei

Xian Zhao taifei[1] was Li wang[2] fu’s[3] current zhumu[4] in charge of the household, but wasn’t Li wang Mo Jing Li‘s biological mother. Mo Jing Li and the current emperor were both born from the same empress dowager, whereas Xian Zhao taifei was the empress dowager’s tangmei[5]. These two people entered the palace pretty much at the same time, but they weren’t like any of the other imperial concubines who generally fought both out in the open and in secret. On the contrary, they had protected each other throughout a lifetime.

Xian Zhao taifei originally had a daughter, Princess Lin An, who already married Generalissimo Zhen Guo several years ago and followed Generalissimo Zhen Guo when he was stationed at the border, whereas Xian Zhao taifei followed Li wang in leaving the palace to be looked after. Actually it was also because the empress dowager was worried about this own child of hers living alone outside the palace, so she requested Xian Zhao taifei to look after him.

Ye Li changed her clothes and followed the housekeeper woman and arrived at Ye laofuren‘s[6] Rong Le Hall where it was currently happy and harmonious inside. Ye laofuren accompanied Xian Zhao taifei in sitting, Wang shi[7] naturally brought Ye Ying along as she accompanied her at the side, and in addition there were also some ladies who appeared to be of noble status sitting on the lower side.

What astonished Ye Li the most was that Mo Jing Li was actually also sitting at the taifei‘s lower side. Distracted for a moment, Ye Li only then vaguely remembered that the way this world treated male-female interactions in ancient times wasn’t as rigorous as she had heard in her previous life. Moreover, there wasn’t a rule that men and women couldn’t meet in person before their marriage. Of course the sons and xiaojie[8] of influential families meeting with their fiancés still needed to be accompanied by their yatou[9] and momo[10]. If it weren’t like this, how else would Ye Ying have the opportunity to fool around with Mo Jing Li?

“This female subject[a] pays respect to taifei niangniang [11], pays respect to His Highness Li wang. Greetings to zumu[12]. This younger generation greets every one of the furen[13].”

The temperament of the upper-class woman sitting upright at the head was noble and dignified, her pair of phoenix eyes (upturned eyes) slightly raised.

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Phoenix eyes (凤眼 – fengyan)
Although time has passed, but she had taken excellent care of her face and one couldn’t see even the slightest wrinkle. This Xian Zhao taifei didn’t count as being exceedingly beautiful, but wins in terms of having a magnificent flavour that makes people can’t help but hang around.

“Laofuren, this is third xiaojie?” Taifei looked at Ye Li and turned towards Ye laofuren to ask.

Ye laofuren smiled apologetically and said, “Replying to taifei, this indeed is that third yatou of mine.”

Taifei nodded and smiled, saying, “Such a vividly good child, it’s just a pity…it’s our Li er[14] (Li wang) who doesn’t have good fortune.” Taifei pulled Ye Li over right in front of her to give praise, easily taking an ice type of jade bangle off her wrist and putting it on Ye Li‘s hand, causing the eyes of Ye Ying who was standing next to Wang shi to turn gloomy.

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Ice type of jade bangle – 冰种玉镯子
This taifei‘s bangle–how could Ye Li dare to receive it; she promptly declined and said, “Many thanks for taifei‘s praise, such a precious object is only compatible for taifei to wear. Ye Li doesn’t dare receive taifei‘s magnanimous favour.”

Taifei held onto the bangle that she wanted to take off her hand and pretended to be angry, saying, “You yatou, is it possible that you despise this bangle of mine? This bangle was actually bestowed to me originally by the previous emperor, I have gotten old already so it’s you young people who would look good in wearing it. I would also be happy in my heart.”

The person even said it was bestowed by the previous emperor; if she continued to decline, wouldn’t it mean despising the previous emperor’s things? Ye Li only then decided to drop it, paying respects in good manner and shallowly smiling as she said, “Thanking taifei for the reward, this female subject will definitely carefully take good care of taifei‘s gift.”

Taifei seemed to be very satisfied towards Ye Li‘s behaviour, nodding her head with a smile on her face and only then let go of Ye Li. Ye Li then walked over to stand alongside Ye Ying behind Wang shi, well-behaved.

Seeing Ye Li, the furen present who came together with taifei were all somewhat surprised on the inside. The Ye third xiaojie‘s reputation inside the capital can be said to be almost as famous as that of the number one beauty Ye Ying. It’s just that one had all talent, looks, and virtue, and the other had no talent, no looks, and no virtue; hearing this, it was practically impossible for people to believe that they were from one family.

But this Ye third xiaojie was also a weird person, all this time she had rarely participated in the gatherings of the capital’s well-bred young ladies; to outsiders, it was only said that ever since the Ye family’s da furen[15] passed away, the third xiaojie‘s body had constantly been unwell. Today once again seeing the Ye third xiaojie‘s exquisitely clear and elegant appearance, her graceful style of conversation and her magnanimous manners, it faintly reminded people of the graceful bearing of the Ye furen who came from the prestigious Xu clan that year.

How could it be spread around that this kind of lady was so unbearable? Not just talking about gratuitously losing such a good marriage with Li wang, she was even bestowed to Ding wang–this lifetime could be considered to be ruined.

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Ye Li respectfully stood behind Wang shi, not even noticing in the slightest bit how Mo Jing Li had been staring at her gloomily and with his face sunk ever since she walked in. Only listening to everyone accompanying taifei in saying words of praise on one hand and on the other, staring at the sparkling and translucent jade bangle on her hand, her thoughts moving at lightning speed.

If one were to say it was because the taifei liked her or felt guilty due to Li wang breaking off the engagement and so gifted her a remnant of the previous emperor–don’t say that she doesn’t believe it, even the other people present wouldn’t believe it. Not to mention, just now taifei even nonchalantly mentioned Li wang; right now Ye Ying and Mo Jing Li were present–clearly it was most likely that she wanted her to be embarrassed. Then what was this pretense of a gesture of taifei‘s supposed to mean?

“Us laotaipo[16] will be here talking, you young people will surely find it very dull. It would be better if third xiaojie and fourth xiaojie were to take Li er (Li wang) outside for a stroll.” Xian Zhao taifei suddenly changed the topic, laughing cheerfully yet gently as she said it.

Hearing this, both Wang shi and Ye Ying‘s faces stiffened. Ye laofuren was also stunned, but very quickly recomposed herself and smiled as she said, “What taifei said is right. It’s this old self who have thought things inconsiderately and allowed Li wang to waste time by accompanying us. Ying er, Li er……”

Ye Li‘s heart jumped, she took a step forward and smiled towards Ye laofuren, saying, “Zumu, fourth younger sister and His Highness Li wang are harmonious with one another and so naturally would find it hard to avoid feelings of longing for each other, Li er certainly daren’t go be a big crimson lantern to annoy them to the point of getting fed up for no reason.” Finished speaking, she even stuck her little tongue out at Ye laofuren to make a grimace; the typical look of a young daughter acting lovable and silly causing laofuren and Wang shi who were used to seeing Ye Li‘s tranquil and calm appearance to be somewhat unable to recompose themselves. Ye Ying immediately turned very red at the words hitting the mark at what she was thinking about, staring wide-eyed at Ye Li and then bashfully and timidly stealing a glance at Mo Jing Li, her beautiful smiling face somewhat carrying an unparalleled flushed glamour.

When Mo Jing Li heard Ye Li‘s words, his complexion turned even more unsightly as he gave out a cold humph and stood up to say to Ye Li, “It’s good that you have self-knowledge!”

Ye Li‘s eyebrow raised at the tip, smiling as before without changing her smile and narrowed her eyes, saying, “Your Highness, how did you come up with such words? I’m indeed a very tactful person. How could I disturb fourth younger sister and meifu[17] from getting along? Me ah, I’d better stay behind and accompany zumu and taifei, as well as the furen. This female subject admires taifei‘s style, I still beg taifei not to despise me.”

Taifei looked profoundly at Ye Li and smiled, saying, “Since it is like this, Li er shall stay behind then.”

Mo Jing Li humphed and bringing Ye Ying, went out. Ye Ying was naturally happy from the bottom of her heart as she followed after this Mo Jing Li. Seeing this scene before her eyes, taifei‘s eyebrows wrinkled unobtrusively then very quickly smoothened out as she continued to talk with Ye laofuren.

Ye Li was all kinds of bored as she helplessly continue to stand behind Wang shi, listening to the capital’s upper class ladies chattering on one hand and on the other, picking out some chapters from the “Art of War” to recite twice in her mind–a habit that was developed in her previous life.

In Ye Li‘s previous life, she was from an influential military family; her zengzufu[18] had a poverty-stricken background who took part in China’s War of Resistance against Japan (1937-1945), frankly speaking he could be counted as a crude person. And this crude person in the end was precisely how others described him to be a crude person[b], so it was from the start of Ye Li‘s father’s generation that they were brought up in the direction according to Confucianism.

Laoyezi‘s[19] biggest hobby was punishing the younger generations in the family to recite from memory, moreover they were all from semi-incomprehensible kinds of ancient books. The younger generation children in the family couldn’t stand doing over and over again what was basically comparatively far from a school exam; during the holidays, even if you beat them to death they wouldn’t want to come home. But after doing it again and again for more than ten years, it still allowed the younger generations to benefit from it.

All the furen present were the kind of figures who had head and face (meaning they had prominence as well as reputation) inside the capital; although they showed an appropriate expression on their faces as they chattered, they didn’t at all neglect Ye Li who was standing behind Wang shi. The more they saw the more they felt that this third xiaojie was different from what was said in the rumours. No matter what they talked about, this xiaojie‘s face didn’t show an expression with the slightest amount of inquisitiveness or astonishment. Even when bringing up the subject of Li wang and Ye fourth xiaojie‘s wedding, there still wasn’t the slightest grievance or resentment.

No matter if there truly wasn’t or that she was pretending to not have any, it was enough for them to understand since long ago that a person whose nature couldn’t be seen had ability. This kind of ‘remaining indifferent whether favoured or disgraced’–don’t just say a woman from the boudoir (refers to a woman still waiting to get married), even among the men there also weren’t many who were able to do it.

“Speaking of which, usually it is very rare to see third xiaojie in the capital. I don’t know if third xiaojie will perhaps be joining this year’s Hundred Flowers Event?” Ye Li had been silently reciting a book when a furen suddenly asked a question.

Not waiting for Ye Li to answer, Ye laofuren smiled and said, “In these two years, Li er‘s health is much better. She is naturally going to attend it this year.”

Laofuren naturally understood Wang shi‘s intentions for not allowing Ye Li to attend previously, but now the two yatou‘s marriages are already fixed. If they once again didn’t allow Ye Li to participate, the sentiment and reasoning wouldn’t at all be justified. Although she regarded Ye Ying as somewhat more important, the shrewd Ye laofuren also didn’t plan on allowing this sunnu[20] who was on the verge of becoming Ding wangfei[21] to become bitterly disappointed with the Ye family.