The First Jasmine - Chapter 23

Chapter 23: The Hundred Flowers Grand Gathering (Part IV)

"The Grand Princess Zhaoyang has arrived!"

Upon a lush, vibrant green lawn within the Peony Garden, neatly arranged low tables were filled with all kinds of rare delicacies and fresh fruits. Cloistered young ladies dressed in bright, magnificent attire sat in order of rank, conversing in soft voices. Hearing the announcement of the Grand Princess’s arrival, they hastily rose in unison to pay their respects. "Greetings, Grand Princess." Grand Princess Zhaoyang was clad in an elegant, simple palace robe; though she was nearly forty years old, her slightly cold and aloof countenance was still exceptionally well-preserved. Her beautiful willow-leaf brows were arched slightly, making it immediately apparent that this Grand Princess's temperament was by no means gentle and yielding. Commandery Princess Ronghua followed obediently by the Grand Princess’s side, looking completely different from the arrogant and overbearing manner she had displayed in the courtyard earlier. Walking alongside her was an exceptionally beautiful young lady dressed in brocade robes, whose eyes were filled with smiles as she sized up the surrounding young ladies with curiosity. However, even after combing through her memories, Ye Li could not guess this young lady's identity, so she simply stopped thinking about it.

"At ease. Present the seating."

The crowd rose once more to express their gratitude before taking their seats.

Only then did Grand Princess Zhaoyang speak: "Today’s grand gathering is merely a casual get-together for the cloistered young ladies of the capital during their leisure time. Everyone need not be overly constrained; please feel free to act entirely at your ease."

Although the Grand Princess spoke in this manner, those who truly dared to act entirely at ease were, after all, few and far between. On the contrary, Commandery Princess Ronghua sat right by the Grand Princess’s side, holding the Grand Princess’s arm in a spoiled manner. A few hints of softness also emerged upon the Grand Princess’s otherwise cold face; it was obvious that the childless Grand Princess still deeply doted on this young niece of hers.

"Who is that girl beside the Grand Princess? She is truly beautiful." The young ladies discreetly and curiously sized up the peerless young lady next to the Grand Princess, whispering to exchange opinions with their close friends. A few even cast subtle, fleeting glances toward Ye Ying. The smile on Ye Ying's face had also grown somewhat strained. That young lady sat at the right-hand head position of Grand Princess Zhaoyang, so her status was clearly not inferior to Commandery Princess Ronghua's. Furthermore, her appearance was vastly superior to Commandery Princess Ronghua's. Ye Ying prided herself on being the Number One Beauty of the Capital, but that brocade-robed young lady possessed refined and brilliant features; unlike Ye Ying’s fragile and slender grace, she was far more capable of drawing the eyes of others. A beautiful woman would always be the first to notice a woman who was even more beautiful than herself.

"Hehe, I wonder who that girl is. It looks like Ye Ying's title of Number One Beauty of the Capital is about to be forfeited," Murong Ting said, covering her lips with her sleeve as she laughed softly.

Hua Tianxiang cast a glance at her and smiled gently. "She is the niece of Grand Princess Zhaoyang’s Imperial Son-in-law."

"The Grand Princess's Imperial Son-in-law... Isn't that..." Qin Zheng was also somewhat surprised. She hesitated for a moment before asking, "Is she a certain commandery princess from the Nanzhao Kingdom?" Grand Princess Zhaoyang’s Imperial Son-in-law had been a hostage prince sent from the Nanzhao Kingdom to Great Chu. It was said that back then, Grand Princess Zhaoyang and the hostage prince had been mutually in love, and she had sworn to marry no one but him. Helplessly, the late Emperor had married his most beloved younger sister to a hostage prince. After their grand wedding, the Imperial Son-in-law and the Grand Princess had also shared a deeply affectionate bond, living in harmony as a devoted couple. Who could have known that before three years had passed, the Imperial Son-in-law would succumb to illness and pass away? In the presence of the late Emperor, the Grand Princess had made a solemn vow that she was unwilling to remarry, choosing to maintain her chastity for the sake of the Imperial Son-in-law for the rest of her life. Hearing this, Ye Li also looked toward Hua Tianxiang with a trace of curiosity. Hua Tianxiang was a young lady of the Duke Hua Manor and the niece of the current Empress, so it was not surprising that she knew of certain matters unknown to others. Hua Tianxiang glanced at the Grand Princess and the peerless young lady seated at the front, shaking her head as she replied, "She is the youngest daughter of the current King of Nanzhao, Princess Qixia, who holds the title of the Number One Beauty of Nanzhao."

"It is often said that Nanzhao produces beauties; this Princess Qixia is indeed extraordinary."

Hua Tianxiang blinked her eyes, looking at Ye Li as if she wanted to say something but hesitated. Ye Li arched her brows, looked at her, and smiled. "Is there something that cannot be said?"

Hua Tianxiang laughed and said, "Although this is our first time meeting, I feel that you are a wonderful person. There is no harm in telling you. This Princess Qixia... it seems it is said that she will reside in our Great Chu long-term in the future."

"Reside long-term?" Murong Ting also lost her interest in watching the song and dance performances, looking toward Hua Tianxiang with an expression of incomprehension. "This Princess Qixia looks to be around the same age as us. If she is to reside here long-term, doesn't that mean..." Doesn't that mean Princess Qixia intends to marry into Great Chu? A marriage alliance between two nations was a monumental affair; how could there be not even the slightest rumor about it outside? Hua Tianxiang gave a soft cough, covering her lips as she whispered in a low voice, "Princess Qixia ran over to Great Chu on her own accord. Do you all still remember that last year, His Highness Prince Li once went on an imperial mission to Nanzhao..."

"Are you saying—?!" Murong Ting was so shocked she nearly failed to control the volume of her voice. Qin Zheng gave her a secretive pinch under the table, which allowed her to calm down. Seeing that the people at the two neighboring tables could not help but look over, Murong Ting hastily assumed a dignified posture and placidly took a sip of the Hundred Flowers fruit wine before her. Seeing that the gazes of the others were no longer focused on her, Murong Ting smiled apologetically at the other three. Hua Tianxiang and Qin Zheng clearly understood her personality well, and both returned her smile, not minding it in the least. Murong Ting knitted her brows, looked at Ye Li, and said, "Although it is improper to say these words, I still want to say them. Dissolving the marriage contract with Prince Li might truly not be a bad thing."

Taking a shallow sip of the light fruit wine in her cup, Ye Li agreed with a smile, "What you say is very correct."

"Can you guess who the judges for the Hundred Flowers Grand Gathering are this year?" Hua Tianxiang asked.

Ye Li only possessed a rough idea of the procedures of the so-called Hundred Flowers Grand Gathering, merely treating it as a social gathering for the cloistered young ladies of the capital. Shaking her head with indifference, she caused Hua Tianxiang to grow annoyed enough to poke her with a finger. "This is your first time participating in the Hundred Flowers Grand Gathering. No matter what, you must take the field to display your skills, lest you be looked down upon by those fellows whose eyes are fixed on the ceilings."

Ye Li blinked her eyes and looked toward the dancers who were floating gracefully in the center of the field. "Are you saying you want me to go up there and sing or dance? It would scare people; I do not know how to dance." Furthermore, she was not someone with a great desire to show off; there were no celebrity talent scouting shows in this era anyway.

Qin Zheng explained in a soft voice, "Ordinary young ladies would not choose song and dance. However, competitions are held for the qin, chess, calligraphy, painting, poetry, lyrics, and song compositions. Every year, the top three selected can obtain an exceptionally precious prize."

"A prize?"

"Do you all participate?"

Murong Ting said sheepishly, "Aside from me, Zheng'er and Tianxiang are both very formidable. The year before last, Zheng'er took the crown in three categories—poetry, calligraphy, and painting—winning first place. Last year, Tianxiang was first in chess and third in qin skills. Last year’s first place winner was that Fourth Sister of yours, the future Prince Li Consort. She won first place in both qin skills and dance, and fifth place in composing poetry."

Ye Li cast a glance at Ye Ying, who was sitting one table away conversing with someone, and smiled. "This, I know. Yet I did not know that Zheng'er and Miss Hua are both rare talents."

Hua Tianxiang waved her hand and said, "Madam Ye was the Number One Talented Woman of the Capital back then. This year, neither Zheng'er nor I will participate. Among us few, we will have to count on you."

Ye Li spoke helplessly, "I am truly not proficient in these things."

Qin Zheng held her hand and laughed, saying, "Ye Ying will definitely participate again this year. Li'er must not be bested by her."

Hua Tianxiang was also brimming with enthusiasm. "Exactly. Ye Li must avenge my grievance from last year. Last year, I worked so hard, yet I was bested by Ye Ying. It was so embarrassing."

Murong Ting also did not forget to join in the excitement, looking at her eagerly. "If it were a competition of martial arts, I could indeed win first place every year, but unfortunately, no one competes with me. Li'er, you must work hard."

Ye Li was caught between laughter and tears by these newly acquainted companions. She truly was not proficient in these things. Although she had been taught by her mother since childhood and knew a bit of everything, when compared to those who specifically dedicated immense effort to bitter practice, she would be outmatched by a vast distance. Take Ye Ying’s dancing for instance; although she had not seen it, it was said that there were as many as five or six dance masters specifically hired to teach Ye Ying alone. Every single dance was specially choreographed, and Ye Ying had indeed invested bitter, hard effort into this aspect. As for her, ever since her mother passed away and she regained the memories of her past life, her interest in these things had plummeted by more than ten folds. Furthermore, Madam Wang would not specifically hire exceptionally fine masters to instruct her.

"I'm afraid that even if you do not wish to participate this year, it will be impossible," Murong Ting said while eating the exquisite pastries on the table. "The winners of the competitions at the Hundred Flowers Grand Gathering possess the qualification to select anyone present to exchange pointers. Trust me, if it weren't for the fact that you haven't stepped out of your doors all these years, I'm afraid the person challenged the most every year would have been you. Previously the fiancée of Prince Li, and now the future Prince Ding Consort—in the eyes of many people, Ye Li's fortune is so good that it invites jealousy. I'm afraid they are dying to see you make a fool of yourself."

"Hurry up and eat something. Once it officially begins, there probably won't be much opportunity to eat today," Hua Tianxiang reminded.

Ye Li looked speechlessly at the pastries and dishes before her. It turned out that after lingering for more than an hour, this so-called Hundred Flowers Grand Gathering had not even begun yet.