The First Jasmine - Chapter 35

Chapter 35: A Leisurely Life vs. Deep Water and Scorching Fire

Only after arriving at the Xu family estate did Ye Li realize that when Xu Qingchen had mentioned back at the Ye Manor that she needed to learn many things, it hadn’t been entirely to put off Old Madame Ye.

In fact, on the very second day of Ye Li’s stay at the Xu family’s private villa, her Second Aunt personally invited the Madame of the Duke of Hua to instruct her on how to manage a household, as well as the intricate social relations and gift-exchanges between the royal family, nobility, and high-ranking officials. In addition, an old nanny who had come out of the imperial palace taught Ye Li the rules of palace etiquette.

Furthermore, every afternoon, Xu Hongyu would personally explain strategies and psychological maneuvers to Ye Li, while Xu Qingchen would teach her the appreciation of antiques and rare treasures, simultaneously breaking down the details and factions of the various forces within the capital.

Ye Li had always considered herself someone who had lived a lifetime longer than others, so the things she had learned shouldn’t be considered few. Only now did she realize that in the eyes of her maternal uncles and cousins of the Xu family, she was still a far cry from an exceptional young lady of a great clan. Consequently, Ye Li began to live a life reminiscent of her past life’s quizzes, high school entrance exams, and college entrance exams, striving to cram the knowledge taught by her uncles into her brain to the greatest extent possible within a mere month.

"Miss, Miss Qin has arrived," Ye Li was currently sitting in a cooling pavilion playing chess with Xu Qingbai, while Xu Qingyan watched the match from the side. Qingshuang entered to report.

During these days, not only was Ye Li receiving an almost force-fed education, but even Qingshuang and Qingxia, who had accompanied her, had been thoroughly trained and disciplined by Nanny Lin. Although the time spent was still short, Qingshuang had already become quite a bit more stable and composed than before.

Xu Qingyan’s eyes lit up, and he laughed, "Oh? Is it my future Second Sister-in-law?"

Xu Qingbai set down his chess piece and smiled at Ye Li. "Since a guest has arrived, let us resume tomorrow."

Ye Li was naturally more than glad to comply; compared to Go, she actually preferred Xiangqi (Chinese Chess). In Ye Li's view, Go heavily emphasized intuition and feel, requiring macro-strategy, a calm demeanor, and mutual infiltration. On the other hand, Xiangqi was much more rapid—cavalry charging, lances crossing, and soldiers clashing directly. In her heart, Ye Li still preferred that kind of hearty, incisive satisfaction, just as she had in her past life.

Setting down her chess pieces along with Xu Qingbai, Ye Li looked up and smiled. "I am not skilled at chess; I'm afraid Fourth Brother has long since grown impatient?"

Xu Qingbai rose, shook his head, and laughed, "Compared to Little Five, I would rather play with you. Xu Little Five is the number one chess lunatic of the Xu family—a total Go idiot. He plays a dreadful game, yet he is utterly obsessed with it. It’s just a pity that in the Xu family, even the servants disdain playing with him."

Hearing Xu Qingbai's words, Xu Qingyan wore a miserable expression and stared at Ye Li filled with grievance. Ye Li could not help but twitch the corner of her mouth, truly not knowing whether Fourth Brother was praising her or mocking her.

Qin Zheng was quickly invited inside, and Xu Qingbai also dragged Xu Qingyan out with him.

"Li'er, it seems you are living quite well in the Xu family?" Qin Zheng stood outside the cooling pavilion, looking at Ye Li with a smile.

Ye Li’s face was entirely ash-colored from exhaustion. Pulling Qin Zheng inside, she said, "I never knew that I actually had so many things to learn."

Qin Zheng covered her lips to hide a chuckle, saying, "Aunt Ye passed away early, so you naturally have a bit more to learn. Which one of us didn't learn these things from childhood? Besides, the household you are marrying into is no ordinary family; that is the Prince Ding Manor. It’s no wonder Uncle Xu and the others are being so meticulous."

Ye Li thought of the two books on military strategy currently resting in her study—which could absolutely be described as massive volumes—and her face could not help but stream with black lines. Those who didn't know better would think she wasn't about to get married, but was instead about to go to war. However, compared to the books regulating female conduct brought by Nanny Lin and her wet nurse, Ye Li had wisely chosen the military manuals, which possessed far more practicality and interest.

"Hehe, let’s not talk about that. Has Sister Qin seen my Second Brother yet?" Ye Li asked, looking at Qin Zheng with a beaming smile.

Qin Zheng’s lovely countenance turned slightly crimson. She glared at Ye Li before whispering, "The Eldest Young Master and Second Young Master have both gone out."

Ye Li let out a soft sigh of pity. "Then that means you haven’t seen him yet." After thinking for a moment, she leaned closer to Qin Zheng’s side and laughed in a low voice, "It doesn't matter; they will always come back."

Seeing her meaningful smile, Qin Zheng’s face grew even redder. Out of annoyance, she reached out her hand to pinch her. Ye Li hastily begged for mercy while dodging, "Oh, Sister Qin, I was wrong... I know I was wrong... spare my life..."

Only after Qin Zheng gave her another fierce glare did she speak, "You girl! You... when you saw Prince Ding that day, how could you not have a single..." Ye Li's calm performance that day had left quite a deep impression on Qin Zheng. Comparing it to her own current anxious and unsettled state of mind, Qin Zheng could not help but feel a bit disheartened and uneasy.

Ye Li rubbed her nose rather awkwardly. How could she have the face to tell the young lady before her that she had long since passed the age of blushing whenever she faced a good-looking, handsome guy?

"Ahem, about that... just maintain a normal state of mind. It’s really nothing; everyone is meeting for the first time, and no one is inferior to anyone else," Ye Li advised, speaking rather superficially.

Qin Zheng gave Ye Li an annoyed roll of her eyes. She finally understood that a strange anomaly like Ye Li simply didn't comprehend the delicate and beautiful sentiments of a young maiden.

Ye Li cried out at the injustice in her heart: Who says I don't understand...

While Ye Li was living a busy yet pleasant life at the Xu family's private villa, the Ye family and the Prince Li Manor were caught in a state of deep water and scorching fire.

The events that had transpired at the Chu Fragrance Pavilion that day spread through various channels across the capital, naturally accompanied by all sorts of speculations and deductions from the general public. In the marketplace gambling dens, people were even placing bets on exactly when Prince Li would abandon the Fourth Miss of the Ye family again.

The scandalous news involving Prince Li and Princess Xixia also spread inexplicably: the Princess of Nanzhao and the Prince of Great Chu had fallen in love at first sight, yet due to their respective identities, they had been forced to part like separated swallows. The Princess could not forget her old affection and had traveled ten thousand li from afar, only to find that her lover already held another beautiful woman in his arms... Such a heart-wrenching romantic tragedy was just short of being written into script books to be sung in tea houses and wine shops.

Because of this, Ye Ying went to Mo Jingli to weep and complain. Coincidentally, Mo Jingli was currently being driven utterly frantic by the situation, and the two parted on bad terms. Consequently, the rumors grew even more turbulent and fierce.

"Your Highness, the Grand Imperial Concubine requests your presence."

Mo Jingli stepped into the princely manor with a dark and gloomy expression. The head butler, who had been waiting for a long time, hastily stepped forward to report.

Mo Jingli nodded. Turning away from his original path back to his own courtyard, he headed toward the courtyard of Grand Imperial Concubine Xianzhao.

"Imperial Mother."

Grand Imperial Concubine Xianzhao sat on a soft couch, propping up her forehead, her expression rather unsightly. Only when Mo Jingli entered did she barely squeeze out a slight smile, saying, "Li'er has arrived; come and sit."

"Does Imperial Mother have some instructions?" Mo Jingli walked over to the lower seat and sat down to ask.

The Grand Imperial Concubine shook her head and said, "Your mother merely wants to ask you how the matter is being handled. Seeing that the wedding date is fast approaching, if any more incidents occur, it will not look good on the Emperor's side either."

Mo Jingli said in a deep voice, "Imperial Mother may rest assured; it is merely some rumors, nothing will go amiss."

Grand Imperial Concubine Xianzhao frowned and said, "Originally, your mother did not agree to you marrying that Ye Ying, but seeing that she is the younger sister of Consort Zhao, I endured it. Now, things have been stirred up to such an unseemly state. Will she still be able to maintain the facade and dignity of the Prince Li Manor in the future?"

A sharp gleam flashed through Mo Jingli's cold eyes, and he said respectfully, "She is ignorant of worldly matters; in the future, I will have to trouble Imperial Mother to discipline and guide her well."

Grand Imperial Concubine Xianzhao waved her hand, saying with some vexation, "Forget it, things have already reached this point, so it can only be thus. Go and tell Ye Ying to stay at home peacefully and await her marriage during these days. Since she is to be the Princess Consort of the Prince Li Manor, she must have the weight and dignity of a Princess Consort. Especially... tell her not to go and provoke her Third Sister!"

"Imperial Mother?"

The Grand Imperial Concubine let out a cold sneer, looking at Mo Jingli with helplessness. "Li'er, this time you have truly misjudged someone. Although your mother cannot discern the depths of that Third Miss of the Ye family for the time being, how could that woman truly be a 'three-lacking' young lady as others claim? Furthermore... even if she truly were a 'three-lacking' young lady, as long as she isn't a fool, she is far more valuable than that Ye Ying. I have heard that the head of the Xu family, Xu Hongyu, along with several young masters, have all arrived in the capital. Now you ought to know the weight of the importance the Xu family places on Ye Li."

Mo Jingli let out a cold snort and said, "No matter how deep the Xu family's heritage runs, they have already withdrawn from the imperial court. Besides... that Ye Li possesses absolutely no feminine virtue to speak of; she is unfit to be the primary Princess Consort of the Prince Li Manor."

The Grand Imperial Concubine let out a soft sigh, nodding as she said, "Forget it, as long as you have a clear idea in your mind."

Yet Mo Jingli did not know that the recent days were merely the beginning of his string of bad luck. Even if they had already withdrawn from the imperial court, the energy and influence of a centuries-old great clan that had spanned across two dynasties was not something a mere prince could withstand.