The First Jasmine - Chapter 28
Chapter 28: Refusal
The Retaining Radiance Pearl… Ye Li idly recalled that most coveted of the three prizes she had received, a translucent green, brilliantly shimmering pearl. It was said that whoever wore the Retaining Radiance Pearl could retain their youth forever. To a beauty-loving woman, this was far more enticing than rare treasures, exquisite jewelry, or fine and splendid apparel. However, to Ye Li—whose psychological age was vast despite her physical age being fifteen—it did not hold that much appeal. A love for beauty was common to all; she was still very young, and she preferred to pursue beauty by merely devoting a bit of care to maintenance in the future, keeping her appearance basically aligned with her actual age. If she reached fifty yet still sported a twenty-year-old face, Ye Li was not certain she would truly like it all that much. What was more, she still maintained a skeptical attitude toward the so-called eternal youth of the Retaining Radiance Pearl. At the very least, its original owner, Grand Princess Zhaoyang, though younger than her peers, was still far from being in the absolute prime of youth. But… just because she did not care for it did not mean others could simply plunder it at will!
"Father, please forgive me, but the Retaining Radiance Pearl is no longer with Li'er," Ye Li said flatly.
"How is that possible?!" Ye Ying cried out in surprise, then looked at Ye Li with suspicion. "Could it be that Third Elder Sister is unwilling to part with the Retaining Radiance Pearl? Ying'er is also thinking for the sake of Her Ladyship Zhaoyi. After all, Her Ladyship Zhaoyi is the reliance of our Ye family."
To this, Ye Li sneered in her heart. Reliance? How many of the truly prominent and eminent clans that could stand stable for a century without collapsing relied on petticoat-string relationships for support?
"Fourth Sister thinks too much. It is merely a luminous pearl. I have already gifted it to someone else."
"Gifted it away? How could you possibly gift the Retaining Radiance Pearl to someone else?!" Wang-shi shrieked. Which woman under the heavens would not want the Retaining Radiance Pearl? If she had not been thinking of her daughter in the palace, Wang-shi herself would likely have wanted to claim the pearl as her own.
Ye Li gave her a strange look, saying with feigned confusion: "Li'er is just fifteen, far from the time of needing a Retaining Radiance Pearl." She would not, like the ancients, believe that fourteen or fifteen was a girl's most beautiful age. Even if ancient women matured early, a fourteen- or fifteen-year-old girl still appeared a bit too tender and juvenile. Even someone as beautiful as Ye Ying was actually far inferior in charm and poise to a twenty-year-old woman like Yaoji. Old Madam Ye's eyes darkened slightly as she looked at Ye Li and said: "To whom did Li'er gift it? Let us see if we can trade it back. Even if we have to exchange it for something more precious, it would be acceptable."
Ye Li knit her brows, her gaze fixed unblinkingly upon Old Madam Ye with a somewhat peculiar expression. "Trade it back?"
Old Madam Ye had long since grown old enough to be a shrewd spirit; how could she not know what a breach of etiquette it was to demand back a gift that had already been sent out? However, the utility of the Retaining Radiance Pearl to Her Ladyship Zhaoyi was truly too immense. She believed that when the news of the Hundred Flowers Grand Gathering spread into the palace in a couple of days, Her Ladyship Zhaoyi would also ask them for it. Moreover, she had no intention of demanding it back in the name of the Ye family; in the end, she would let Ye Li personally go and demand its return. Of course, Old Madam Ye actually suspected even more that this was merely an excuse for evasion on Ye Li's part, and that Ye Li was simply unwilling to bring the item out. Squeezing out an amiable smile, Old Madam Ye said softly: "Good child, Grandmother knows this is somewhat a breach of etiquette. But you also know how vital this Retaining Radiance Pearl is to Her Ladyship Zhaoyi. Life is difficult for Her Ladyship Zhaoyi in the palace; if she has the aid of the Retaining Radiance Pearl to gain more of the Emperor's favor..." Ye Li furrowed her brows, saying helplessly: "But Grandmother, I have already had the Retaining Radiance Pearl and the Xueyin Qin delivered to Eldest Uncle."
Minister Ye's face darkened with displeasure, and he glared angrily at Ye Li, snapping: "Nonsense! What use does your Eldest Uncle have for the Retaining Radiance Pearl?" If it were anyone else, it could not be said that Minister Ye wouldn't dispatch people to intercept it. But for an item gifted to the eldest brother-in-law of his deceased wife, Minister Ye truly lacked the courage to intercept it. Under Mr. Qingyun's lineage, there were two sons and one daughter; the second son, Xu Hongyan, was currently the only member of the Xu family's direct line still in officialdom. Yet in reality, the one who gave Minister Ye the greatest sense of pressure was the eldest brother-in-law, Xu Hongyu, who had left the capital as early as ten years ago. He was also the most renowned contemporary orthodox scholar under heaven today. Unlike Censor Xu, who was elegant yet slightly sharp and highly principled, this contemporary orthodox scholar—praised by the people of the world and said to have surpassed his master—always maintained a thoroughly gentle, refined, and elegant demeanor. However, if he found someone displeasing to his eye, that person would absolutely find life worse than death. This was also the reason why, despite clearly possessing the bond of marriage alliance all these years, Minister Ye still dared not have the thick skin to send Ye Rong to the Lishan Academy. This eldest brother-in-law was by no means as upright as he appeared on the surface; back then, Minister Ye had experienced this quite profoundly.
Ye Li smiled faintly and said: "A few days ago, Eldest Uncle mentioned in a letter that Grandfather's Matsu-wind Qin was accidentally smashed and broken recently. Therefore, upon obtaining the Xueyin Qin, Li'er was so delighted that she immediately had someone send it to Grandfather. Along the way, it occurred to me that keeping the Retaining Radiance Pearl was of no use to Li'er, so I casually sent the Retaining Radiance Pearl along to Eldest Aunt as well. Of course, while I was at it, I sent that Purple Jade Hairpin, which is said to have health-nurturing properties, to Second Aunt."
Minister Ye's face contorted in another wave of distortion. For some unknown reason, upon hearing his daughter mention that his father-in-law's Matsu-wind Qin had been smashed, he suddenly felt a strange chill run down his spine, and a trace of guilt arose from somewhere deep in his heart. Consequently, he could no longer put on any hardline attitude toward Ye Li, merely offering a somewhat strained and thin reproach: "You... child, why didn't you discuss this with your Father and Mother first?" Ye Li raised her brows with indifference in her heart. Had this father of hers been an official for so long that his brain no longer functioned properly, or did he truly believe Wang-shi was virtuous and kind? To send gifts to her former maternal grandfather required consulting the stepmother who had been elevated from a concubine; once consulted, would she still be able to send the items out?
"It was Li'er who failed to consider thoroughly. It was just that Eldest Uncle said Grandfather was absolutely furious. Li'er cannot fulfill her filial duties before Grandfather's side; obtaining the Xueyin Qin today made me so happy that I immediately had someone send it away." Ye Li lowered her head in remorse.
Minister Ye forced a smile and said: "Father knows Li'er possesses a heart of filial piety."
"Father..." Ye Ying called out anxiously.
Minister Ye’s expression turned solemn, and he waved his hand, saying: "Let this matter drop here. There is no need to speak further of it. In a turn, send more banknotes into the palace for Yue'er. Sparing expenses for managing connections inside the palace cannot be permitted."
Although Wang-shi felt unwilling in her heart, she had followed Minister Ye for twenty years and understood her husband better than anyone. One look at his countenance and she knew there was no room for negotiation on this matter. She could not help but feel resentment toward Ye Li and the deceased former Madam Ye. It was always like this! Whenever the Xu family was mentioned, her husband would never spare a thought for her. Could it be that the Xu family was his maternal family, but her Wang family was not?
Emerging from the Rongle Hall, Ye Li exhaled a gentle breath of annoyance. Turning her head to look at Ye Ying, who had come out behind her, she said: "Fourth Sister, I shall return first."
Ye Ying acted as though she had not heard Ye Li's words, smiling with soft, leisurely speech: "Third Elder Sister is truly generous. A priceless treasure like that, yet you passed it on to someone else without even a second glance."
"Fourth Sister jokes. Grandfather and my two aunts are not outsiders. Furthermore, my two uncles and aunts have taken exceptional care of Elder Sister. But though Elder Sister was born in the Minister's Manor, not a single blade of grass or tree around her was obtained by her own hand. Now that I finally have a few items that can be presented, I must naturally honor my elders. After all... a person must possess a heart of gratitude, must they not?" And you all, having eaten and used my mother's dowry money all these years, have you ever spared even a shred of thought for her?
"What Third Elder Sister says is right; Little Sister accepts the instruction," Ye Ying said through gritted teeth in a low voice.
Ye Li smiled. "I am a vulgar person, only knowing how to use these playthings to repay the care of my elders. I cannot compare to Fourth Sister's refined and unconventional nature, which cares nothing for these external possessions. Take care on your way back, Fourth Sister."
"Take care on your way back, Third Sister!"
No longer paying heed to how the expression on Ye Ying's face shifted behind her, Ye Li leisurely made her way toward the Qingyi Pavilion. "Qingshuang, have someone inform Concubine Zhao that the time is about ripe. Find some matters to keep the Madam occupied. Recently, I have no desire to see them."
"Yes, Miss.”