The First Jasmine - Chapter 18

Chapter 18: The Partial Grandmother

Lord Minister Ye did not make another appearance until Ye Li personally escorted her cousin and aunt away. Madam Xu had clearly given up all hope regarding the manners and propriety of the Ye family. At any rate, were it not for the sake of her niece, Ye Li, the Ye family—who had caused her sister-in-law to die of depression—would no longer have any connection whatsoever with the Xu family. Ye Li was not angry either. As she turned back toward the Courtyard of Clear Serenity, she cast a flat glance in the direction of Madam Wang's Fangyi Pavilion, a rare, mocking cold smile curling at the corners of her lips: Was Madam Wang trying to give her a display of authority?

"Third Sister..."

Before she could even step into the Courtyard of Clear Serenity, Ye Ying approached in a swaying, undulating manner, supported by her maidservant's hand. Ye Li stopped in her tracks and calmly sized up the number one beauty before her. It seemed that while things appeared fine on the surface these past few days, Ye Ying’s life had not been easy either. Her usually exquisite and beautiful little face had gained a few fractions of pallor and exhaustion, and the watery eyes gazing at Ye Li held a bit more melancholy and mist, which inexplicably caused Ye Li to shudder slightly. Grief manifested upon her two dimpled cheeks; a delicate fragility wrapped her entire sickly frame. Tears shimmered in her eyes, her soft breaths slight... Ye Li could not help but think of those lines describing the otherworldly celestial maiden from the timeless masterpiece Dream of the Red Chamber. It was just a pity that when one looked closely at the sharp gleam occasionally flashing within those watery eyes, where was there even half a shred of the Crimson Pearl Fairy's noble, untainted purity?

"What is the matter with Fourth Sister?" Ye Li asked softly. "If you are feeling unwell, why aren't you resting in your room?"

"Thank you for your concern, Third Sister. Ying'er is fine," Ye Ying said softly, though her melancholy and aggrieved appearance really did not look like she was fine.

Ye Li nodded with a face full of understanding. "Since it is nothing, Fourth Sister may take your stroll slowly. Third Sister will head back first."

"Third Sister..." Seeing that Ye Li was about to turn and leave without a shred of hesitation, a flash of annoyance flickered in Ye Ying's eyes, but it vanished without a trace just as quickly. Lightly biting her vermilion lip, she gazed at Ye Li and said, "Ying'er merely wished to ask Third Sister, have you received the invitation to the Hundred Flowers Grand Gathering?"

Ye Li nodded. She had received the invitation yesterday morning; the Hundred Flowers Grand Gathering was scheduled to be held seven days later at the largest Peony Garden in the capital. Looking at Ye Ying's appearance, Ye Li's thoughts turned, and only then did she understand why Ye Ying had barred her path. "Fourth Sister has not received her invitation yet?"

Ye Ying shook her head aggrievedly, her heart filled with immense resentment toward the Ye Li before her. Had it not been for Ye Li's maternal uncle impeaching her father in the imperial court, how could she, the legitimate daughter of the Minister of Revenue and the future Princess Li, fail to receive an invitation to the Hundred Flowers Grand Gathering? "Third Sister, are you... not going this year either?" Ye Li could not help but laugh in spite of herself. Could Ye Ying possibly be planning to take her invitation to the Peony Garden? But then again, she was the future Princess Li; even if someone recognized that the name on the invitation was not hers, absolutely no one would dare to drive her away.

"My health is much better this year, so naturally, I will be going." The moment Ye Li finished speaking, she clearly saw Ye Ying's countenance sink. Not wishing to entangle herself any further, Ye Li said, "I still have matters to attend to, so I will not keep Fourth Sister company."

"Third..."

Seeing that Ye Ying still wanted to say something, Ye Li arched her eyebrows and said, "Fourth Sister might as well go request an audience with Grand Imperial Concubine Xian Zhao to see. This year's invitations were personally issued by Grand Princess Zhaoyang. If I do not go, wouldn't that make the Grand Princess think our Ye family is refusing to give her face?" Hearing this, Ye Ying finally suppressed the words that were about to leave her mouth. Grand Princess Zhaoyang was the biological elder sister of the current Emperor and the sole daughter of the late Emperor's original Empress. She was notoriously ill-tempered; sometimes she would not even give face to the current Empress or the Empress Dowager. Ye Ying did not dare to act up before her. That she had not received an invitation by now made it plain that Grand Princess Zhaoyang was dissatisfied with her.

"Third Miss, Fourth Miss, the Old Matriarch requests both young ladies to make a trip to the Rongle Hall." Just as Ye Li was about to return to her room, a senior maidservant from the Old Matriarch's side came to deliver the message.

When Madam Xu visited today, the Old Matriarch had directly excused herself by claiming she was unwell, not even sending a single person over to check on them. Ye Li naturally knew that the Old Matriarch was dissatisfied with the Xu family's actions over the past few days. She nodded flatly and said, "I understand. Thank you for your trouble, Nanny." The nanny repeatedly claimed she dared not accept the thanks, turned around, and returned to the Rongle Hall.

Within the Rongle Hall, the Old Matriarch slightly narrowed her somewhat clouded old eyes, sizing up her two granddaughters who entered side by side. Ye Ying had been doted upon since childhood; not only was she intelligent and gentle, but she was also born with a national grace and heavenly fragrance. Both the Old Matriarch and Minister Ye held immense expectations for her. Had it not been for Ye Yue entering the palace first to become an Imperial Concubine, Ye Ying would certainly have entered the palace as well. Now that she could marry the Emperor's biological younger brother, Prince Li, as his primary consort, she could naturally elevate the Ye family to a higher level. As for Ye Li, who was originally the most honorable daughter of the first wife of the Ye family, the Old Matriarch had always harbored a small knot in her heart toward the late Madam Xu, and she had paid little heed to this granddaughter since Madam Xu's passing. Now, as she sized her up carefully, she discovered that Ye Li was actually not inferior to Ye Ying in any way. She even possessed a bit more of the grand elegance and composure characteristic of a scholarly lineage. The Old Matriarch knew this was inherited from her mother of the Xu family, a grand clan of a century's standing—and this was precisely the reason why the Old Matriarch disliked Ye Li and the late Madam Xu.

"Grandmother." Ye Li and Ye Ying paid their respects in unison.

With a face full of loving affection, the Old Matriarch gestured for the two of them to sit beside her, asking gently, "The Hundred Flowers Grand Gathering is just a few days away. Has your mother prepared everything for you?"

Ye Ying lowered her head, her expression crestfallen. "Granddaughter did not receive a Hundred Flowers invitation, so everything Mother prepared can no longer be used."

Ye Li arched her eyebrows and asked with a look of incomprehension, "Grandmother, does one need to prepare anything to participate in the Hundred Flowers Gathering?"

Hearing this, a gleam flickered in the Old Matriarch's eyes as she thoughtfully sized up Ye Li's expression. "It is nothing much... it is always good for young ladies to dress up beautifully before going out. Go back and have your mother make a few sets of new clothes and headpieces for you."

Ye Li allowed her to size her up with a calm expression. Madam Wang had indeed not prepared anything for her, nor had she even mentioned a single word about it. It was foreseeable that if she went to the Hundred Flowers Grand Gathering wearing her ordinary clothes on that day, she would certainly be mocked and lose all face. "Thank you for your guidance, Grandmother. Li'er understands." Ye Li revealed a trace of delight, appropriately displaying a young lady's love and joy for new clothes and jewelry.

The Old Matriarch nodded and said nothing more. It was not that she did not know how Madam Wang treated Ye Li in private, but as long as it did not create a scene before outsiders and humiliate the Ye family's face, she did not want to interfere too much. Instead, Ye Ying offered a remorseful smile to Ye Li and said, "Mother had already prepared Third Sister's clothes and jewelry long ago, it was just that Rong'er returned yesterday, so for a moment she forgot to have someone send them over to Third Sister."

"Is that so? There are still several days before the Hundred Flowers Grand Gathering, so there is no need to be in such a rush." Ye Li smiled faintly. Had they finally brought the topic around to Ye Rong?

The moment Ye Rong was mentioned, the Old Matriarch's originally smiling face sank somewhat. Looking at the two of them, she said solemnly, "Rong'er is still young. If there is anything he does incorrectly, you, as his elder sisters, should guide him properly. Today, your father gave him such a beating with the boards in front of outsiders; how can a mere child like him endure it?"

Ye Ying's delicate brows knitted slightly as she said with a face full of heartache, "Grandmother is right, it is all because Ying'er did not guide our younger brother well. However, Rong'er has also learned his lesson today; when Ying'er came out just now, he was still crying from the pain. He certainly will not dare to clash with Third Sister again in the future. I ask Third Sister not to blame him anymore."

Wasn't it said that he only took a few hits? Why does it still hurt, and has a physician been called? The moment she heard that her sole grandson was unwell, the Old Matriarch grew anxious, and the gaze she directed at Ye Li became increasingly cold and detached. Ye Ying hastily comforted her, saying, "Grandmother, rest assured, Mother has already had a physician look at him. He just needs to lie in bed for some days, though it is feared this will delay his studies for a period."

The Old Matriarch frowned, glaring at Ye Li with a fair measure of annoyance as she said, "You are an elder sister as well, why couldn't you yield to Rong'er a fraction? Would you be happy if his body was harmed and his studies were delayed?"

Ye Li sneered in her heart, yet her face altered not a single bit. She said flatly, "Grandmother's lecture is correct. Li'er will certainly guide Rong'er well in the future. This disposition of his indeed needs someone to teach him. Today, it was naturally nothing for him to clash with Li'er. As siblings of the same family, Li'er will naturally yield to him. But if one day he were to clash with some noble personage, what would be done then?"

Hearing this, the Old Matriarch's countenance turned even more unsightly. It was only when she recalled Ye Li's marriage alliance that she suppressed the anger in her heart and waved her hand to dismiss her. Ye Li turned and took her leave, listening to Ye Ying behind her sweetly talking about how things would be with her elder sister and Prince Li around... Since the Old Matriarch could not take her words to heart, she did not care either. She only hoped that Imperial Concubine Ye in the palace and Prince Li could truly clean up Ye Rong's rotten messes for the rest of his life.