Golden Age Legitimate Fei Chapter 22

Chapter 22
Chapter 22: Hundred Flowers Event (3)

“Hmph! I wondered who it was? So it turned out to be the Ye third xiaojie[1]  who had her engagement broken off by Jing Li elder brother ah.”

A peaceful scenario’s atmosphere would always give off one or two discordant voices; everyone turned around to see a gorgeously made up n.o.ble young lady surrounded by others walking over.

Ye Li slightly recalled for a moment and understood the ident.i.ty of the young woman before her eyes; she was the daughter of the emperor’s biaomei[2] Zhao Ren Chang gongzhu[3] , Zhao Yang Chang gongzhu‘s niece Rong Hua junzhu[4].

Although Ye Li wasn’t familiar with the well-bred young ladies of the capital, jiujiu[5] had let jiumu[6] send some information pertaining to all the prestigious and influential families in the capital over to her, and there was even a further a.n.a.lysis emphasizing which among the several were worth especially paying attention to; this Rong Hua junzhuhappened to be precisely one of them.

“Rong Hua junzhu has an impatient temper. Ye xiaojie, be a little careful.” Someone suddenly said in a low voice from right next to Ye Li.

Ye Li lifted her head and happened to see that Qin Yus.h.i.+‘s[7] daughter Qin Zhengsmiling benevolently towards her. Ye Li gratefully nodded her head. Qin Zheng also answered with a smile.

“Greeting junzhu.” Everyone present promptly stepped forward to pay respects to Rong Hua junzhu.

Rong Hua junzhu gave a light humph and walked over in front of Ye Li, watching her attentively as she sized her up for quite a while and only then loftily said, “So you are Ye Li?”

Ye Li nodded her head, “Replying to junzhu, that is correct.” Not knowing why, Ye Livery keenly was able to detect the hostility this Rong Hua junzhu had towards her. Under the circ.u.mstances of having never met Rong Hua junzhu before, Ye Li was somewhat unable to understand where this junzhu‘s hostility was coming from.

“Hmph, I heard that you knew that you looked ugly and didn’t dare to come out to meet people. How is it that after getting discarded by Jing Li elder brother, you couldn’t wait to come running back out? Don’t you feel embarra.s.sed?” Rong Hua junzhu‘s exquisitely made up face was full of disdain; the well-bred young ladies standing at the side heard these words of hers and also starting discussing in lowered voices one after the other.

A faint trace of coldness streaked across Ye Li‘s eyes, her sight unflinchingly fixed on the respected, imposing and threatening spoiled young woman. Even though Ye Li had always posed herself as having a peaceful mentality, she also had to say that this yatou[8]  was really too unlikable.

“I have troubled junzhu to become worried. Ye Li had come out this long and yet I haven’t scared a single person. Perhaps it was me who had previously undervalued myself too much.” Ye Li‘s manner of speaking was gentle

and yet wasn’t the least bit weak nor avoidant, “As for His Highness Li w.a.n.g[9] …it is indeed Ye Li who is unworthy of him. His Majesty being able enough to select another good match for His Highness Li w.a.n.g is indeed extremely wise.”

“You having self-knowledge is good!” Rong Hua junzhu also didn’t expect that Ye Liwould say these kinds of word and got distracted for a bit before speaking in disdain.

Ye Ying who was at the side promptly came forward and apologized with a smile as she said, “Rong Hua, elder sister had never attended a gathering of the capital before. If she had offended you in any way, I still request that you do not cast blame.”

Ye Ying obviously wanted to act as the good younger sister helping her elder sister out of trouble in front of everybody. But it was Rong Hua junzhu who didn’t at all want to give her this face (means honour or reputation). One hand brandis.h.i.+ng away the hand that Ye Ying reached out in wanting to pull her hand, she loathingly shot a glance at Ye Ying and said, “She is rubbish, you are even more not a good thing. Whether this junzhu will cast blame or not, is it for you to say?”

Ye Ying‘s perfect smile immediately turned rigid on her face, motionless as she also forgot to retrieve the hand that was slapped aside for awhile. “Rong Hua, you…..”

Rong Hua junzhu proudly raised her chin, loathingly looking at Ye Ying as she said, “This junzhu‘s original name is also for you to say?”

Seeing Rong Hua junzhu glaring at Ye Ying with eyes that clearly showed her angry loathing and jealousy, Ye Li‘s mind had a little bit of a basic understanding. If one were to say that Rong Hua junzhu was impolite towards her, then towards Ye Ying, it was precisely the openly and without fear kind of rejecting and humiliating the person. It could be a.s.sumed that one was unable to escape from something to do with that Highness Li w.a.n.g whose name moved the capital. She slightly shook her head on the inside; although she didn’t hold much affection towards this younger sister, Ye Li also equally didn’t think highly of Li w.a.n.g and Rong Hua junzhu. The marriage of close relatives wasn’t anything of good benefit ah.

Ye Ying looked as though she were wronged as she stared at Rong Hua junzhu, her cherry lips moving as though she wanted to say something. Ye Li moved first as she stepped forward to hold her hand turned back to look at Rong Hua junzhu, “I heard that the relations.h.i.+p between junzhu and younger sister had always been rather good. Younger sister offending junzhu just now was my, this elder sister’s, failure in teaching her, I still request junzhu to be magnanimous enough to be forgiving.”

Rong Hua junzhu raised a beautiful eyebrow, “Are you not afraid that this junzhu would penalize you? Or are you still thinking of inviting trouble by yourselves just like Ye Ying?”

Ye Li frowned and shallowly laughed, “Junzhu is generous, for sure you wouldn’t get angry over this bit of trivial matter. After going back, Ye Li would definitely report to fuqin[10] and muqin[11] . By that time, we would make a special trip to go to the Gongzhufu[12] to beg for forgiveness from junzhu, gongzhu, and fuma[13].” So now could you not torment people?

Rong Hua junzhu stared fixedly at Ye Li for quite a while and looking pensive, said, “You are actually a bit more suitable in being seen in public compared to Ye Ying. Jing Li elder brother’s vision is still really not so good.”

Obviously able to feel that Ye Ying‘s wrist in her hand was somewhat stiff, Ye Liinwardly couldn’t help but be speechless and look to the skies: Rong Hua junzhu, would you die if you don’t incite disharmony?

((This translation is originally found on: h t t p : / / g u q i n t r a n s l a t i o n s . w o r d p r e s s . c o m))

“Junzhu had erroneously praised, His Highness Li w.a.n.g‘s vision and reputation had always been for the people to commend.”

In the end, Rong Hua junzhu heavily gave a humph and brought a large group of people with her as she majestically stormed off in a huff. Everyone who was left behind had an expression of sympathy, pity, and worry; offending this particular spoiled junzhuwasn’t at all a good thing.

“Fourth elder sister, are you alright?”

Seeing Rong Hua junzhu walk far off, Ye Shan and Ye Lin only then promptly made their way over to inquire in concern. The other several daughters who had a good relations.h.i.+p also surrounded Ye Ying to enquire solicitously about her well-being. Even if Ye Ying had offended the Gongzhu fu and Rong Hua junzhu, don’t forget that she was still the future Li w.a.n.gfei[14]. His Highness Li w.a.n.g was deeply favoured by the emperor and empress dowager; Li w.a.n.gfei‘s position was actually much higher when compared with Rong Hua junzhu.

“Rong Hua junzhu precisely has this kind of temper, don’t mind it.” A gentle and elegant voice said softly from beside Ye Li.

Ye Li lifted her head to see the scholarly Yus.h.i.+ xiaojie smiling beautifully before her eyes and calmly smiled, saying, “I’m alright. Many thanks to Qin xiaojie‘s reminder just now.”

Qin Zheng also smiled generously and said, “No need to thank me, my muqin and Xufuren[15] are close friends. Xu furen would frequently mention you. I had already wanted to meet you early on, but it’s a pity that you seldom partic.i.p.ate in gatherings, actually was continuously unable to meet.”

Ye Li remembered that this Qin xiaojie‘s father Qin Yus.h.i.+ seems to be precisely her waigong[16] Qing Yun xiansheng‘s[17] school’s disciple. The most important was that Qin Zheng and her second biaoge[18] Xu Qing Ze seemed to also have this arranged marriage from before they were born kind of engagement. It was no wonder that biaogesaid that second biaoge coming to the capital this time plans to dwell here; the second biaoge who was already nineteen-years-old indeed ought to get married. Thinking till here, the smile on Ye Li‘s face had the added bit of even more sincerity, “Calling me by my name is fine. Before, I wasn’t fond of going out but fortunately, I hadn’t missed out on you, this kind of good friend. But….from now on we will be even more familiar with one another, isn’t that right?”

Qin Zheng obviously understood what she was referring to and her pretty face turned slightly red as she glanced at her and said, “I’m older than you by half a year, you can call me elder sister. I’ll introduce some of my good friends for you to get acquainted with.”

As a result, Ye Li and Ye Ying were pulled apart to either side and Qin Zhengintroduced Ye Li to her own good friends. Without incident, these several young ladies were all the ones who had taken the initiative to greet Ye Li before; when they discovered that Ye Li wasn’t at all as unbearable as was rumored and instead was the kind of unmarried n.o.ble daughter who had a graceful bearing and a magnanimous style of conversation, everyone also cheerfully accepted this new friend.

Sitting together with newly made friends at a spot and discussing some interesting things in the capital, Ye Li discovered that these girls weren’t at all as dull as she had originally thought. Indeed, as the unmarried n.o.ble daughters groomed with utmost care of famous and influential n.o.ble families, the majority of them would become these influential clans’ zhumu[20]  managing the household in the future. Naturally they would all be intelligent women who possess both talent and capability, and not like the lovesick characters in those books where they are written to be willing to live and die for love.

“Ye xiaojie, you had better stay away from that younger sister of yours a bit.” Murong Ting clearly inherited her father’s, General Yang Wei’s, outspoken and straightforward character, aiming a glance at Ye Ying who was standing not far away and who was currently comparing notes on the art of playing the zither with other people as she spoke.

Ye Li raised her brows and said, “How could you say these words?”

Murong Ting waved her hand as she said, “Ye Ying‘s reputation right now doesn’t at all sound good. I heard that originally Zhao Yang Chang gongzhu hadn’t at all wanted to send out an invitation to her. Who knew that she somehow managed to persuade Xian Zhao taifei[19] to personally speak favourably on her behalf so that she could get an invitation. Zhao Yang Chang gongzhu conducts herself as upright and hates those people who do not abide by the rules the most. If you were to get too close with her, Chang gongzhu might even vent her anger out on you.”

Ye Li knew that Ye Ying‘s reputation right now wasn’t good, but she was still somewhat surprised that it wasn’t good to this extent. She had thought that this era wouldn’t at all  be as strict towards the woman as that of previous generations of old.

“If it had been an ordinary bestowed marriage then just forget it. Even if there was someone who was jealous, it would also be hard to say anything.” Another Hua Guo Gong[21] fu‘s xiaojie‘s beautiful eyebrows knitted as she took up someone else’s remark and said, “When there still hadn’t been a decreed marriage yet, she had already had underhanded dealings with her future jiefu[22] ; this kind of sister, who could tolerate it? In the past, Rong Hua junzhu and Ye Ying‘s relations.h.i.+p was the best. As a result, once the marriage was decreed, Rong Hua junzhu then had a fallout with Ye Ying.”

Murong Ting said in disdain, “I heard that at the time, Li w.a.n.g and Ye Ying meeting together was for the most part because of Rong Hua junzhu. Rong Hua junzhuprobably felt that she had been used by Ye Ying.”

Qin Zheng‘s eyebrows creased as she said, “Alright, what are you guys doing saying these in front of Li er[23]?”

The two people only then remembered that Ye Li was precisely the most direct victim in this matter. It originally made the capital’s well-bred young ladies admire Li w.a.n.gfei, but now it changed to Ding guow.a.n.gfei[24] being sympathized with by everyone. They couldn’t help but remorsefully look towards Ye Li, momentarily not knowing how they ought to speak up to apologize.

Ye Li covered her lips as she laughed, saying, “It’s not even a big matter, it’s just meaningless talk. You don’t need to be this worried.”

Qin Zheng worriedly looked at her and said, “Li er…you……”

Ye Li waved her hand and said, “The emperor’s life is a tough job. Since it’s already like this, it’s only natural that I need to accept reality. Pitying and blaming myself would also be of no use, wouldn’t it? Not to mention, before Ding w.a.n.g met with a mishap, he was also an exceedingly outstanding person. These years, I also hadn’t heard anything about him having a bad temper. Surely it wouldn’t be hard for us to get along with one another.”

The originally somewhat serious topic immediately lightened up a lot due to Ye Li‘s carefree att.i.tude. The four people chatted and laughed for awhile until a maid from the Gongzhu fu came to invite every one of the xiaojie to go ahead to attend the banquet. At this, the four people stood up as companions and went. Everyone far away went after, the originally noisy garden became a lot more peaceful and only the sound of the distant yet unhurried young women’s laughter came through. Behind the fake rock mountain with towering stacks of peaks emerged a nature-coloured (blue/green/black)silhouette, a lean figure sitting upright in a wheelchair staring in the direction of which the young women distantly went in, his gentle and refres.h.i.+ngly cool eyes flas.h.i.+ng a trace of profoundness…

Glossary: Xiaojie (小姐 – Young miss / lady) Biaomei (表妹 – younger female cousin via female line) Gongzhu (公主 – imperial princess) Junzhu (郡主 – a type of imperial princess lower in rank from a ‘公主 – gongzhu’) Jiujiu (舅舅 – maternal uncle) Jiumu (舅母 – aunt who is the wife of maternal uncle) Yus.h.i.+ (御史 – imperial censor) Yatou (丫头 – young maidservant / young girl) w.a.n.g (王 – imperial prince) Fuqin (父亲 – respectful or intimate way of addressing father) Muqin (母亲 – respectful or intimate way of addressing mother) Fu (府 – official residence / family residence compound / household / term for family and home put together) Fuma (驸马 – emperor’s son-in-law / consort prince / husband of an imperial princess) w.a.n.gfei (王妃 – consort princess / wife of an imperial prince or “王 – w.a.n.g“) Furen (夫人 – lady or madam of the house / wife) Waigong (外公 – maternal grandfather) Xiansheng (先生 – mister / teacher) Biaoge (表哥 – elder male cousin via female line) Taifei (太妃 – imperial concubine of the previous emperor) Zhumu (主母 – owner ‘mother’ / mother in charge of the household) Gong (公 – duke) Jiefu (姐夫 – elder sister’s husband) Er (儿 – term of endearment for one’s child / child) Guow.a.n.gfei (国王妃 – consort princess / wife of an imperial prince of the highest rank or “国王 – guow.a.n.g”)