Crowned Consort in Golden Age-Chapter 22. Blooming Flowers Festival (3)

22. Blooming Flowers Festival (3) 𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ𝓋𝑒𝑙.𝑐𝘰𝑚

"HUMPH! I was wondering who it could be. It turns out to be Third Miss Ye, the one whose engagement with Brother Jing Li was annulled."

In a peaceful atmosphere, there will always be a discordant voice or two. Everyone turned around and saw a gorgeously dressed, noble-looking young lady walking over, surrounded by a crowd.

Ye Li took a moment to recall and then understood the identity of the young lady before her. She was the current emperor’s cousin, the daughter of the Eldest Prudent Princess, and the niece of Eldest Princess Zhaoyang—Commandery Princess Ronghua. Although Ye Li was not familiar with the young ladies of Capital City, her uncle had instructed her aunt to send her a file containing information about all the prominent aristocratic families in the capital. Among these, several individuals were highlighted for special attention, and Commandery Princess Ronghua happened to be one of them.

"Commandery Princess Ronghua is quick-tempered, Miss Ye, please be careful," someone murmured beside Ye Li.

Ye Li looked up and saw the kind smile of Imperial Censor Qin’s daughter, Qin Zheng. Ye Li nodded gratefully, and Qin Zheng responded with a smile.

"Greetings to the Commandery Princess," everyone present hurried forward to pay their respects to Commandery Princess Ronghua.

Commandery Princess Ronghua snorted lightly, walked up to Ye Li, and stared at her for a good while before proudly asking, "Are you Ye Li?"

Ye Li nodded. "Indeed, I am, Your Highness." Why is that, I wonder? She keenly sensed Commandery Princess Ronghua’s hostility towards her. Having never met the Commandery Princess before, Ye Li couldn’t quite understand where this animosity stemmed from.

"HUMPH, I heard you knew you were ugly and didn’t dare show your face. Now that you’ve been abandoned by Brother Jing Li, why are you in such a hurry to come out again? Aren’t you embarrassed?" The Commandery Princess’s exquisitely made-up face was full of disdain. Hearing her words, the young ladies standing around began to whisper among themselves.

A faint chill flashed in Ye Li’s eyes, but her gaze remained fixed on the arrogant, overbearing young lady before her. Even though I always pride myself on my composure, I have to say, this girl is truly insufferable.

"Your Highness is very considerate. I’ve been out and about for some time now and haven’t frightened anyone. Perhaps I was too self-deprecating in the past," Ye Li replied softly, her tone showing no hint of weakness or evasion. "As for His Highness Prince Li... it is indeed true that I am not worthy of him. It is truly wise of His Majesty to choose a more suitable match for His Highness Prince Li."

"It’s good that you know your place!" Commandery Princess Ronghua, not expecting Ye Li to respond in such a manner, scoffed after a moment of surprise.

Nearby, Ye Ying quickly stepped forward, offering an apologetic smile. "Ronghua, my sister has never attended gatherings in Capital City before. If she has offended you in any way, please don’t take it to heart."

Ye Ying clearly intended to play the role of a good sister, helping Ye Li out in front of everyone. However, Commandery Princess Ronghua had no intention of giving her any face. She waved away Ye Ying’s outstretched hand, glanced at her with disgust, and said, "She’s a waste, and you’re no better. Is it up to you whether I take offense or not?"

Ye Ying’s perfect smile instantly froze on her face. Her hand, brushed aside, remained suspended in mid-air as if she had forgotten to retract it. "Ronghua, you..."

Commandery Princess Ronghua arrogantly tilted her chin up, looking at Ye Ying with loathing. "Is my given name something you’re qualified to use?"

Observing the blatant anger, disgust, and jealousy in Commandery Princess Ronghua’s eyes and on her face as she glared at Ye Ying, Ye Li began to understand. If Commandery Princess Ronghua was merely being impolite to her, she was outrightly scornful and humiliating towards Ye Ying. This is likely related to the renowned His Highness Prince Li, Ye Li thought, shaking her head slightly. Although I have no particular affection for this sister of mine, I also don’t view the union between Prince Li and Commandery Princess Ronghua favorably. Consanguineous marriages rarely bring any good.

Ye Ying looked at Commandery Princess Ronghua with a sense of grievance, her lips moving as if she wanted to say something. Before she could speak, Ye Li stepped forward, took her hand, and turned to Commandery Princess Ronghua. "I have heard that the Commandery Princess and my younger sister have always shared a rather good relationship. If my sister has just now offended Your Highness, it is my fault as her elder sister for failing in her upbringing. I implore Your Highness to be magnanimous."

Commandery Princess Ronghua raised an eyebrow. "Aren’t you afraid I’ll punish you? Or do you wish to disgrace yourself like Ye Ying?"

Ye Li lowered her gaze and smiled faintly. "Your Highness is magnanimous and generous; you certainly wouldn’t become angry over such a trivial matter. When I return home, I will definitely report this to my father and mother. Then, we will make a special trip to the Princess Mansion to offer our apologies to Your Highness and the Prince Consort." So, can we please stop this fuss now?

Commandery Princess Ronghua stared at Ye Li for a long moment, then said thoughtfully, "You are indeed more presentable than Ye Ying. Brother Jing Li’s judgment truly isn’t all that great."

Clearly feeling Ye Ying’s wrist stiffen in her hand, Ye Li couldn’t help but sigh inwardly. Commandery Princess Ronghua, must you always stir up trouble?

"Your Highness overpraises me. His Highness Prince Li’s discernment and reputation have always been lauded by all."

Finally, Commandery Princess Ronghua let out a heavy grunt and swept away with her large entourage. Those left behind exchanged looks of sympathy, pity, and concern; offending this spoiled Commandery Princess was certainly not a good thing.

"Fourth Sister, are you alright?"

Watching Commandery Princess Ronghua recede into the distance, Ye Shan and Ye Lin hurried over to ask with concern. Several other young ladies who were on good terms with Ye Ying also gathered around her, offering words of comfort. Even if Ye Ying had offended the Princess Mansion and Commandery Princess Ronghua, they hadn’t forgotten that she was still the future Princess Consort Li. His Highness Prince Li was deeply favored by His Majesty and the Empress Dowager; the status of Princess Consort Li was considerably higher than that of Commandery Princess Ronghua.

"Commandery Princess Ronghua is just like that; don’t pay her any mind," a gentle, elegant voice said softly beside Ye Li.

Ye Li looked up to see the gently smiling, scholarly daughter of Imperial Censor Qin before her. She smiled calmly and said, "I’m fine. Thank you for your reminder earlier, Miss Qin."

Qin Zheng also smiled generously. "You’re welcome. My mother and Madam Xu are childhood friends; Madam Xu often speaks of you. I’ve wanted to meet you for a long time, but unfortunately, you rarely attend gatherings, so we never had the chance."

Ye Li recalled that this Miss Qin’s father, Imperial Censor Qin, seemed to be a disciple of her maternal grandfather, Mr. Qingyun. And most importantly, Qin Zheng and my second maternal cousin, Xu Qingze, seem to have a betrothal arranged from childhood! No wonder my eldest cousin said Second Cousin was planning a long stay in Capital City this time. At nineteen, Second Cousin really should be getting married. Thinking this, Ye Li’s smile became more genuine. "Just call me by my name. I used to dislike going out, but I’m glad I haven’t missed the chance to make a good friend like you. Besides... we’ll get to know each other even better in the future, won’t we?"

Qin Zheng clearly understood her meaning. Her pretty face flushed slightly as she gave Ye Li a playful glare. "I’m half a year older than you; you can call me sister. Let me introduce some good friends to you."

Thus, Ye Li and Ye Ying were drawn into separate groups. Qin Zheng introduced Ye Li to her close friends. Unsurprisingly, these young ladies were the ones who had proactively greeted Ye Li earlier. Upon discovering that Ye Li was not as unbearable as the rumors suggested, but rather a well-mannered and articulate young lady from a prominent family, they all happily accepted this new friend.

Sitting with her newly made friends, discussing some of the interesting happenings among the young ladies of Capital City, Ye Li found these women to be far less dull than she had initially imagined. Indeed, these well-cultivated young ladies from esteemed families, most of whom would become the Madams of House for these great aristocratic families in the future, were naturally intelligent women possessed of both talent and capability, not the love-struck fools who live and die for passion as depicted in some storybooks.

"Miss Ye, it would be best for you to keep some distance from that sister of yours," Murong Ting, clearly having inherited the forthright nature of her father, Grand General Yang Wei, remarked, glancing towards Ye Ying, who was practicing her zither skills with others not far off.

Ye Li raised an eyebrow. "Why do you say that?"

Murong Ting waved her hand. "Ye Ying’s reputation isn’t very good right now. I heard that Eldest Princess Zhaoyang initially didn’t want to send her an invitation. Who knows how she managed to persuade Grand Consort Wise Zhao to personally intercede for her to get one. Eldest Princess Zhaoyang is a person of integrity and detests those who don’t abide by the rules. If you are too close to her, the Eldest Princess might redirect her anger towards you."

Ye Li knew Ye Ying’s reputation wasn’t good, but she was still somewhat surprised it was this bad. I had assumed the expectations for women in this era weren’t as strict as in the ancient times of my previous life.

"If it were an ordinary betrothal, that would be one thing; even if someone were jealous, they couldn’t say much," another young lady, from the State Duke Hua’s Mansion, interjected with a frown. "But to have clandestine dealings with one’s future brother-in-law before the imperial betrothal decree—what sister could tolerate that? Commandery Princess Ronghua and Ye Ying used to be very close, but as soon as the betrothal was announced, Commandery Princess Ronghua fell out with her."

Murong Ting said disdainfully, "I heard that Prince Li and Ye Ying’s meetings mostly happened because Commandery Princess Ronghua made them possible. Commandery Princess Ronghua probably feels like Ye Ying used her."

Qin Zheng frowned. "Alright, why are you two discussing this in front of Li’er?"

Only then did the two recall that Ye Li was the most direct victim of this affair. Once envied by the young ladies of Capital City as Princess Consort Li, she was now pitied as the Princess Consort of the King of Ding Kingdom. They looked guiltily towards Ye Li, momentarily unsure how to apologize.

Ye Li covered her mouth with her hand and chuckled. "It’s not such a big deal, just idle talk. You needn’t worry so much."

Qin Zheng looked at her with concern. "Li’er... you..."

Ye Li waved her hand. "The Emperor’s command is hard to defy. Since things are already this way, one must naturally accept reality. Wallowing in self-pity and resentment is of no use, is it? Besides, Prince Ding was an exceptionally outstanding person before his accident, and in all these years, there has been no talk of him having a bad temper or anything of the sort. He probably won’t be difficult to get along with."

Ye Li’s nonchalant attitude instantly lightened the originally somewhat heavy topic. After the four had chatted and laughed for a while, a maidservant from the Princess Mansion came to invite the young ladies to the banquet. The four of them then rose and departed together.

After everyone had left, the once bustling garden grew much quieter, with only the faint, distant sound of young ladies’ laughter drifting through the air. From behind a towering, craggy rockery, a figure in green emerged. Slender and seated in a wheelchair, he gazed in the direction the young ladies had gone, his serene, cool eyes flashing with a hint of profound depth...