The First Jasmine - Chapter 37

Chapter 37: The Eldest Miss of the Ye Family

Near the end of the fourth month, the Ye Manor sent people to fetch Ye Li back to the manor. Ye Ying’s wedding date was set for the final day of the fourth month, which was reportedly the only auspicious day of the entire month.

Xu Hongyu had with absolute composure sent away the people sent by the Ye family to fetch Ye Li, and only on the day before Ye Ying’s grand wedding did he allow Xu Qingbai and Xu Qingyan to personally escort Ye Li back. Although Minister Ye was highly displeased, out of a seemingly innate and inexplicable dread of his eldest brother-in-law, he ultimately did not say much, merely telling Ye Li to return to the Qingyi Pavilion to rest well.

When Ye Li had initially gone to the Xu residence, she had only brought the two maids, Qingshuang and Qingxia, with her; however, upon her return, she brought back Nanny Lin, Nanny Wei, and their entire families, totaling more than a dozen individuals. In addition, there were two senior maids, Qingluan and Qingyu, whom her grandfather had personally selected.

The originally small Qingyi Pavilion instantly felt somewhat crowded. Beholding the arrangement of the Qingyi Pavilion, Nanny Wei’s heart ached so much that she straight up wiped away tears, continuously declaring that this looked absolutely nothing like a place where a thousand-gold young lady ought to reside.

Ye Li didn't care either, merely advising with a smile, "No matter how magnificently it is arranged, won't it just benefit others once we leave?"

Nanny Wei still refused to comply, asserting only that her little mistress must not be wronged, before immediately directing the maids to rearrange Ye Li's room. Ye Li had no choice but to let her have her way; it seemed everyone was highly dissatisfied with her room, and her aunt had also nagged about it every single time she visited.

"Miss, the Eldest Miss has arrived," the maid waiting outside the door reported.

Ye Li set down the needlework in her hands, raising her head with a smile. "Invite the Heir's Side Consort inside."

Before long, a beautiful woman dressed in palace attire stepped into the room. Upon seeing Ye Li seated by the table, she could not help but break into a wide smile. "Third Sister."

Ye Li hastily rose to welcome her. "Greetings to the Heir's Side Consort."

This woman was none other than the Eldest Miss of the Ye Manor, the Side Consort to the Heir of the Southern Marquis, Ye Zhen.

Ye Zhen took hold of her, laughing, "I certainly dare not accept this. After Third Sister's grand wedding, I will still have to perform salutations to Third Sister. Right now, there are no outsiders present, so let us still address each other as sisters."

Ye Li nodded and smiled. "Eldest Sister, please take a seat."

Ye Zhen's biological mother had been a personal maidservant who grew up alongside Minister Ye since childhood, and she had passed away from illness when Ye Zhen was five years old. From a young age, Ye Zhen had been raised by the late Xu-shi. When Xu-shi passed away, Ye Zhen was already thirteen years old. Consequently, the relationship between Ye Li and Ye Zhen was quite decent; back when Ye Zhen was still at home, she would occasionally look after Ye Li. However, before she even reached fifteen years of age, her marriage had been settled by Wang-shi, marrying her off to the Heir of the Southern Marquis as a side consort.

It was said that the Heir of the Southern Marquis did not favor Ye Zhen very much, and after seven or eight years of marriage, she had not given birth to any children; thus, Ye Zhen rarely returned to the Ye family. Counting the years, the two sisters hadn't met for nearly two years; her return this time ought to be for the sake of sending off Ye Ying and contributing to her bridal dowry.

Ye Zhen lightly touched the bright red brocade resting on the table, her heart shifting slightly. "This is... Phoenix Brocade? Is Third Sister making her wedding dress?"

Ye Li nodded. She wasn't particularly picky about wedding dresses and such, which was why she hadn't been in a rush to make one during the previous period. Otherwise, she wouldn't have known what to do with the Phoenix Brocade that her Eldest Uncle had intentionally brought along to the capital. After all, according to the customs of Great Chu, every woman could only have one wedding dress, and making another was considered highly inauspicious.

With a trace of envy, Ye Zhen stroked the soft red brocade beneath her hand, looking at Ye Li as she spoke. "This wasn't prepared by Madame Wang, was it? I saw that what Fourth Sister is using is merely Mandarin Duck Brocade. It is said to have been bestowed by the Grand Empress Dowager in the palace."

Ye Li knit her brows slightly, feeling a touch of hesitation in the depths of her heart as she looked at the wedding dress before her. The Grand Empress Dowager had bestowed Mandarin Duck Brocade upon Ye Ying; if she were to use the even more precious Phoenix Brocade, she feared the Grand Empress Dowager's face would not look very good.

Having served as the Heir's side consort for so many years, Ye Zhen was not someone without worldly knowledge. After thinking it over, she said, "Phoenix Brocade is a fabric reserved exclusively for the imperial family of the Eastern Ling Kingdom; it cannot be woven by civilians and its sale is strictly prohibited. Originally, Eastern Ling, just like Nanzhao, would present some to our Great Chu imperial family as gifts every year, but it is said that during the lifetime of the late Emperor, the production craftsmanship of the Eastern Ling Kingdom was lost due to an accident. Third Sister, this Phoenix Brocade ought to be one of the two bolts bestowed upon the Xu family by the late Emperor back when mother was born, correct?"

"Eldest Sister has excellent insight; this was indeed sent into the capital by Eldest Uncle at Grandfather's request," Ye Li nodded in affirmation.

A wedding dress made of Phoenix Brocade had once been the thing most dreamed of by the thousand-gold young ladies of the capital. Unlike the magnificent and dazzling Mandarin Duck Brocade, Phoenix Brocade did not appear particularly eye-catching at first glance; it resembled an ordinary bolt of bright red silk. However, the moment it appeared in the light, a lifelike phoenix pattern would emerge upon it. If one wore it and walked around, it would give others an illusion of a phoenix dancing along with the person's movements.

Generally, the best method of production was to embroider patterns such as hibiscus or peony over the Phoenix Brocade. This way, when standing completely still, it would be a wedding dress displaying blooming hibiscus and competing peonies; yet once it appeared under the sunlight or lamplight, the exquisite sight of a phoenix threading through peonies was sufficient to make anyone marvel in astonishment.

Ye Li had already finished making the bridal veil for her head earlier, and she had long since discovered with astonishment that under the sunlight and lamplight—and even with changes in the intensity of the light—the color and form of the phoenix would undergo variations. The craftsmanship of this world had truly astonished Ye Li, a modern individual who could be considered highly knowledgeable. Furthermore, unlike the Mandarin Duck Brocade, which was rare but could still be found, Phoenix Brocade was something that probably couldn't be found in any nation even if one searched through them all. It could even be said that it was precisely the loss of the Phoenix Brocade's craft that had given rise to the current fame of Nanzhao's Mandarin Duck Brocade.

"Since it was bestowed by the late Emperor, and it just so happens to be a marriage bestowed by the current Emperor, Third Sister wearing this outfit can be considered perfectly complementary. At that time, it will certainly cause the entire capital to be filled with absolute marvel," Ye Zhen said with a smile, a flash of quick satisfaction darting through the depths of her eyes. She could practically imagine what kind of expressions Wang-shi and Ye Ying would have when Ye Li wedded wearing such an outfit.

Ye Li nodded, casually handing the unfinished wedding dress to Qingluan, who was waiting at her side, before smiling at Ye Zhen. "We've spent all this time speaking of my affairs; we haven't met for a long time, is Eldest Sister doing well?"

Ye Zhen lowered her eyes, the smile on her face fading slightly as she said, "What could be unwell with me? It's just living out my days like this."

Ye Li had also heard a bit about the reputation of the Heir of the Southern Marquis, but unfortunately, these matters were not things she could manage. Furthermore, her relationship with Ye Zhen was not close enough to warrant inquiring into her private affairs, so she could only state, "No matter what, oneself is still what matters most. If you do not even cherish yourself, who else can you count on to cherish you?"

Ye Zhen was startled, looking at Ye Li as she spoke. "Third Sister is right. These past years... Third Sister hasn't had it easy either. In the future... with the Xu family backing you, Third Sister's life will certainly not be harder than it is at home."

Ye Li offered a flat smile, rising as she said, "Has Eldest Sister gone to see Fourth Sister yet?"

Ye Zhen shook her head. "I just paid respects to Grandmother, and Fourth Sister was busy selecting newly delivered headpieces and jewelry, so it wasn't convenient for me to disturb her."

Ye Li smiled and said, "Then let us head over together. Qingxia, take out that set of 'Phoenix Facing the Sun' headpiece and jewelry; let us deliver it to Fourth Sister together."

Qingshuang spoke up, "Miss, wasn't that gifted to you by the Old Madame? Furthermore, it is the most precious piece among them; Fourth Miss wanted it before, but the Old Madame refused to give it to her. To gift it to her now is far too wasteful."

Ye Li waved her hand, stating, "I have no use for that anyway; since Fourth Sister likes it, let us gift it to her."

Regarding that majestic and heavy set of ornaments, Ye Li could only keep it at a respectful distance; she harbored absolutely no doubt that if she truly wore the full set, her neck would certainly ache afterward. In truth, Ye Ying probably wouldn't actually wear it either, since she had always maintained a delicate, soft, and otherworldly image. She was merely unable to stomach the fact that Old Madame Ye had given the item to Ye Li instead of her.

Ye Zhen carefully scrutinized the indifferent, unconcerned smile on Ye Li's face, sighing softly, "Among us sisters, Third Sister possesses the finest temperament after all."

Ye Li laughed, "It's not that my temperament is fine, but at any rate, we don't have to face each other day and night for a lifetime. It is merely for this remaining month or so; to squabble over these trivial matters is entirely meaningless."

Ye Zhen lowered her head, smiling gently. "Fourth Sister speaks the truth."