Crowned Consort in Golden Age-Chapter 47. Emperor, Empress Dowager, Noble Consort

47. The Emperor, Empress Dowager, and the Noble Consort

Mo Xiuyao’s guess was indeed accurate. Barely two days after the betrothal gifts were sent, a palace messenger arrived with Ye Zhaoyi’s decree, saying she missed Third Miss and requesting her presence in the palace for a visit. Ye Li knew perfectly well who truly wanted to see her. Although her relationship with Ye Yue had not deteriorated to the point where everyone was aware of it, it definitely wasn’t better than her relationship with Ye Ying. Unfortunately, although Ye Yue was just a Zhaoyi, Ye Li, who had yet to officially become Princess Consort Ding, didn’t have the right to refuse her. So, she had no choice but to accept the decree, return to her courtyard, change into suitable attire, and then, accompanied by Qingluan and Qingyu, follow the eunuch who had delivered the message to the palace.

The Capital of Great Chu was in the northern part of Great Chu, and its palaces were mostly majestic and imposing, exuding an extraordinary aura. As soon as she alighted from the carriage, the magnificent royal aura washed over her. Unlike the meticulous carvings favored by ordinary noble families, the Imperial City emphasized its vastness and grandeur. The five-clawed golden dragons coiled around enormous stone pillars seemed to be warning the world of the inviolability of imperial power. Anyone visiting for the first time would undoubtedly be awed by its majestic splendor. However, Ye Li, who had long been accustomed to hundred-story high-rises and famous historical sites both at home and abroad, could only offer it faint praise. After alighting from her carriage at the palace gate, Ye Li followed the eunuch leading the way into the inner palace. As she walked, she subtly observed her surroundings, memorizing her location.

After passing through one palace gate after another, they finally halted before a magnificent palace. Ye Li looked up—Yaohua Palace. She recalled that Ye Yue had been assigned to reside in Yaohua Palace.

"Third Miss Ye, please wait here while I go in and announce your arrival," the eunuch leading the way said in a shrill voice.

Ye Li nodded. "Please do."

After the eunuch went in to announce her arrival, he did not re-emerge promptly. Ye Li found herself standing outside for the better part of an hour, yet no one came out of the palace. Qingyu whispered, "Miss, what is Her Highness Zhaoyi planning?!"

Qingluan whispered sharply, "Hush! Miss hasn’t spoken, what are you prattling on about?"

Qingyu understood that the Imperial Palace was not a place like home where one could speak freely. Somewhat ashamed, she blinked and fell silent.

Ye Li smiled faintly. "Be patient."

Qingluan hesitated for a moment, glanced around, then asked in a low voice, "Miss, could it be that Her Highness Zhaoyi..."

Ye Li shook her head and said with a smile, "Ye Zhaoyi wouldn’t use such crude methods."

Qingyu and Qingluan were both very clever; hearing Ye Li’s words, they immediately understood. They both closed their mouths and said no more. It was just standing and waiting, after all. One of them was a martial artist, and the other had studied medicine since childhood; neither was a delicate, wilting flower.

After another ten minutes or so passed, still, no one emerged from Yaohua Palace. Instead, a procession approached with a leisurely sway from not too far away. Judging by the display, it was clear that some important personage was out. Ye Li and her two maids stepped to the side to avoid causing any offense. Soon, the retinue arrived at the entrance of Yaohua Palace, a group of palace maids and eunuchs surrounding two women in palace attire. They halted not far from Ye Li. One of them, a woman in blue, looked at Ye Li with curiosity. "Hmm? This young lady looks unfamiliar. Why are you standing here?"

Ye Li had no choice but to step forward and curtsy gracefully. "Ye Li, third daughter of the Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, greets you, noble ladies."

"Oh, the future Princess Consort Ding. We wouldn’t dare accept such a title from you," the woman in pink palace attire quickly stepped aside, covering her mouth with her hand as she giggled. "Why is Miss Ye standing here? Are you here to visit Ye Zhaoyi?"

Ye Li nodded and smiled. "Yes, I am here by order of Her Highness Zhaoyi for an audience."

"In that case, we should go in together," the woman in blue said, reaching out to take Ye Li’s arm.

Ye Li smiled. "It’s my first time in the palace, and I am unfamiliar with palace etiquette. I dare not enter without being summoned by Her Highness Zhaoyi. I wouldn’t want to delay you, noble ladies. Ye Li thanks you again."

The two women exchanged a glance. The pink-clothed woman laughed. "In that case, we will go in first. Sister Zhaoyi is pregnant and tires easily these days. She’s probably asleep, and the servants wouldn’t dare disturb her. Miss Ye, please wait a while."

"Thank you."

"Miss, why didn’t we accompany them?" Qingyu whispered. She didn’t know if it was her imagination, but it seemed like there were more people moving back and forth on the road than when they first arrived.

Ye Li turned to look at her and asked with a soft laugh, "Do you think we would have been thrown out if we had gone in with them?"

"We... we shouldn’t have been, right?" Qingyu said, somewhat uncertainly. If a Miss from the Ye Family were thrown out, it would certainly be humiliating for our Miss, but Ye Zhaoyi wouldn’t look good either, would she?

"Hey... over here, over here..."

Ye Li turned around. A small head peeked out from behind a flowering tree at the corner of the palace, smiling and waving at her. Ye Li glanced around before raising her hand and pointing at herself. The child, whose body was mostly hidden by the flowering tree, nodded at her. "Come over here."

"Miss?"

Ye Li gestured with her hand and slowly walked over. "Are you Uncle Prince Ding’s future Princess Consort?" Squatting in the bushes was a lovely little girl with delicate and cute features. She looked to be about seven or eight years old, her hair done up in adorable buns. Two strings of lustrous pearls adorned her hair, and the exquisite clothes she wore were embroidered with golden phoenix patterns, indicating her extraordinary status.

"I am. And who are you?"

"I won’t tell you." The little girl stared at her with bright, big eyes, smiling sweetly at her.

Ye Li didn’t seem to mind and said with a smile, "Do you know Prince Ding? Have you seen him? Lying isn’t what good children do. Everyone knows that Prince Ding hasn’t left his home for many years. Probably for as many years as you’re old."

The little girl gave her a contemptuous look. "Even if I haven’t seen him, can’t I hear about him from others? Cousin Xiangxiang told me. Uncle Prince Ding is the man with the best martial arts in the world, the smartest, most handsome, and most powerful man. I want to marry him once I grow up!"

Cousin Xiangxiang?

Looking at the earnest little girl, Ye Li couldn’t help but want to laugh. But she didn’t wish to damage the little girl’s fragile heart. "Do you know how old Prince Ding is? By the time you grow up, he’ll be old. By then, there will be those whose martial arts are better than his, who are more intelligent, and more handsome than him. Then he won’t be the most powerful person anymore. What will you do then?"

"Hmm?" The little girl was bewildered. "Then... what should I do? That’s not right, you’re lying to me! You’re going to marry Uncle Prince Ding yourself, that’s why you’re lying to me!"

"I’m not lying to you. Look, I’m much older than you right now, aren’t I? You’ll have to grow to be as old as I am now before you can marry. By that time, I will also be old. Prince Ding is older than both of us. By that time..."

The little girl sighed mournfully. "By then, Uncle Prince Ding would be even older than my maternal grandfather. If I marry him, I will become a laughingstock. Alright, I’ll let you have Uncle Prince Ding then."

Ye Li suppressed her laughter and nodded sincerely. "Alright, thank you, Your Highness Princess."

"How do you know that I am a princess?"

Ye Li blinked. "Not only do I know you’re a princess, but I also know which princess you are."

"I don’t believe it, you’ve never met me before."

Ye Li smiled faintly. "I guess you are Princess Changle, the daughter of Her Highness the Empress, am I right?"

The little princess tilted her small head and looked at Ye Li for a while before nodding. "Alright, I agree with what Cousin Xiangxiang said; you are indeed intelligent. This princess will reluctantly accept you as a friend."

Looking at the little girl trying hard to act mature and put on a princess’s airs as she gazed at her, Ye Li’s face lit up with a smile. "Alright, thank you for your esteem, Your Highness Princess. What brings you here, and...hmm?" She pointed at the flowering tree where the little princess was hiding.

Princess Changle, not minding at all, shifted her body and continued to hide in the bushes. "This princess heard that the Ye Family produces beauties. Ye Zhaoyi and that Ye Ying, who looks like a gust of wind could blow her away, are renowned great beauties. So, this princess came to see if all the women of the Ye Family are truly beauties. Now, this princess admits, you’re more pleasing to the eye than Ye Zhaoyi and Ye Ying. You barely count as a beauty. I guess you still have to wait a long time. How about it, come play with this princess?"

Ye Li was puzzled. "How do you know I have to wait for a long time?"

Princess Changle pouted. "My Imperial Mother said that the women in the palace are all idle and have nothing to do, so they strive to find things for others to do. When they see someone they don’t like, they make them wait longer or kneel longer when paying respects; these are the things these women love to do most. But don’t worry, my Imperial Mother wouldn’t do such things."

Ye Li smiled but said nothing. Princess Changle glared at her, dissatisfied. "Are you going to play with me or not?"

Ye Li shook her head helplessly. "I have to wait for Ye Zhaoyi’s summons. You know, if she wants to see me and can’t find me, it will be very troublesome. Also... someone is coming."

Princess Changle glanced out and immediately withdrew her head. "Noble Consort Liu is here! Don’t tell her you saw me. She’s the worst."

Ye Li nodded and helped her rearrange the flowering tree back to its original state. "Understood. Quickly go back. Don’t let Her Highness the Empress worry." After arranging the bushes, Ye Li stood up and returned to where Qingluan and Qingyu were standing, waiting for the arrival of an even grander entourage than before.

A faint floral fragrance could be sensed from afar. A group of palace maids and eunuchs surrounded a woman approaching in a goose-yellow palace gown embroidered with hibiscus and phoenix patterns. Her slender figure, accentuated by the well-fitted dress, showcased her graceful curves. Her skin was as fair as jade, her cherry lips slightly pursed, exuding seven parts allure and three parts coldness. Among all the beautiful women Ye Li had seen these past few days, Qin Zheng was as elegant as an orchid, Hua Tianxiang was as majestic as a peony, and Princess Qixia was as exquisite as a peach blossom. But this Noble Consort Liu was like a pear blossom—pure white and alluring, seemingly delicate yet carrying a hint of unreachably cold aloofness.

"You’re Ye Li?" Noble Consort Liu stopped in front of Ye Li and asked indifferently.

"I am indeed. Greetings, Noble Consort Liu." Ye Li curtsied slightly.

Noble Consort Liu’s delicate willow-leaf brows arched slightly. "You shouldn’t have entered the palace before, right? How do you know who I am?"

Ye Li smiled faintly. "A few years ago, this humble servant had the fortune to witness Your Highness’s graceful demeanor during His Majesty’s Heaven Worship Ceremony, so I remembered."

Noble Consort Liu was slightly startled, then said somewhat wistfully, "That... must have been five or six years ago, right? It’s commendable that you, at such a young age back then, could remember."

"Your Highness’s peerless beauty is extraordinary; naturally, it would be difficult to forget," Ye Li said with a faint smile.

"You are more likable than your second sister. Why are you standing here? Come in with me. Ye Zhaoyi must have fallen asleep, to leave the future Princess Consort Ding unattended here at the palace gate," Noble Consort Liu said indifferently, yet her tone carried an air of undeniable authority.

Ye Li paused for a moment, then curtsied slightly. "In that case, please, Your Highness, after you."

Inside Yaohua Palace, when Ye Yue saw Ye Li arriving with Noble Consort Liu, she couldn’t help but be visibly stunned. Noble Consort Liu looked at her coolly and said, "Sister saw Third Miss Ye waiting outside, so I invited her in. Sister, you wouldn’t blame me for being meddlesome, would you?" Although she said so, Noble Consort Liu’s expression showed not the slightest fear of causing offense.

Ye Yue twitched her lips and forced a smile. "Noble Consort, you jest. It’s my fault; I’ve been rather listless these days and keep forgetting things. If Your Highness hadn’t brought Third Sister in, Third Sister would have been kept waiting for a long time. It’s all your fault, you servants! Why didn’t any of you remind me!" Her charming phoenix eyes swept over the palace maids and eunuchs in the hall, and instantly, the palace was filled with pleas for mercy.

Noble Consort Liu frowned with some impatience and said, "Alright, Sister. If you forgot, you forgot. Why torment the servants? I’m sure Third Miss Ye won’t blame you. Isn’t that so?"

Ye Li had no choice but to go along with her. "Her Highness Noble Consort jests. This humble servant was only made to wait a short while; why would I take offense?"

Only then did Ye Yue finally relax. She pulled Ye Li to sit beside her and said with a smile, "Third Sister doesn’t like to go out much. I haven’t seen you since I entered the palace. It’s good that I’m seeing you now. After not seeing you for a year or two, Third Sister has become even more outstanding. How’s everyone at home?"

Ye Li answered all her questions. Ye Yue kept asking Ye Li about ordinary family matters, and Ye Li respectfully responded. Strangely, Noble Consort Liu seemed completely unaware that it was a family reunion between sisters and just sat there listening. She didn’t mind at all that there was no place for her to interject, simply sitting there with a faintly cold smile. Ye Yue also seemed accustomed to Noble Consort Liu’s behavior and showed no intention of asking her to step away or of taking Ye Li elsewhere herself.

"I couldn’t attend Fourth Sister’s wedding. How is she getting along with Prince Li?" Ye Yue asked with a smile, gently stroking her slightly protruding abdomen.

Recalling Ye Ying’s gloomy face when she returned to the Ye Mansion a couple of days ago, Things were certainly not good. However, Ye Li didn’t intend to say it now and add to Ye Yue’s worries, so she simply said with a smile, "Fourth Sister and Prince Li are newlywed; naturally, all is well. I... have been rather busy lately and haven’t had a chance to speak with Fourth Sister."

Ye Yue had long known that Ye Li and Ye Ying’s relationship wasn’t good, so she didn’t mind. She just held Ye Li’s hand and said with a smile, "We are all sisters. After marrying, it’s not like when we were at home, able to see each other and jest all the time. It wouldn’t hurt to visit each other more often. I have no way to do so from within the palace, but you sisters outside can look out for one another. To prevent Father and Grandmother from worrying. Don’t you agree?"

Ye Li nodded. "Her Highness speaks very true."

As the sisters were discussing matters of the Ye Mansion, a palace attendant entered and announced that the Empress Dowager had summoned Third Miss Ye. Ye Yue paused for a moment, then turned to Ye Li with a smile. "Since the Empress Dowager has summoned you, Third Sister, you should hurry. The Empress Dowager’s grace extends throughout the world, and she is most benevolent towards the younger generation. There’s no need to be afraid. Sister... it’s not convenient for me, so I won’t accompany you."

Ye Li nodded. Watching Ye Yue’s perfectly manicured jade-like fingers gently stroking her abdomen, Ye Li nodded faintly. "This humble servant thanks Her Highness for her guidance. In that case, this humble servant will take her leave."

Ye Yue smiled. "Take care, Third Sister. Someone, escort Third Miss out for me."

"Sister, I too am on my way to pay my respects to the Empress Dowager. I’ll go with Third Miss Ye," Noble Consort Liu stood up and said.

Ye Yue nodded. "In that case, I’ll trouble you, Sister Noble Consort."

Noble Consort Liu nodded coolly. "Third Miss Ye, let’s go."

Ye Li followed Noble Consort Liu out of Yaohua Palace, glancing back at the opulently decorated palace gate. If I didn’t see wrongly, Ye Yue was nervous when the Empress Dowager’s summons was mentioned. And Noble Consort Liu... Ye Li glanced at Noble Consort Liu, who was walking ahead with her attendants. Even now, I can’t tell if this Noble Consort Liu is friend or foe. Accompanying me into Yaohua Palace, and then accompanying me to see the Empress Dowager? I’m certain that if Noble Consort Liu hadn’t been sitting there, Ye Yue would have wanted to say much more than she did today. But to say Noble Consort Liu was being kind to me... Not only have we never met, but the disdain she barely bothered to conceal beneath her faint arrogance makes it impossible for me to believe. Shrugging helplessly, Ye Li calmly followed. The people in this palace are truly troublesome...

The Empress Dowager’s residence, Zhangde Palace, was located in the Northwest part of the entire Imperial City. Its area, comparable to two Yaohua Palaces, and its magnificent pavilions and halls, proclaimed the noble status of this Emperor’s birth mother.

"Zhangde Palace was specially built for the Empress Dowager after His Majesty ascended the throne," Noble Consort Liu turned to Ye Li and said coolly as they stood before Zhangde Palace awaiting summons. "Also, don’t listen to your sister’s nonsense. The Empress Dowager is not a good-tempered person. Be careful."

Ye Li responded with a faint smile, "Thank you for the guidance, Your Highness." 𝒇𝒓𝒆𝒆𝙬𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝒎

Noble Consort Liu snorted lightly, flicked her sleeve, and stepped into Zhangde Palace first. Ye Li followed behind, her face calm, but her mind had already spun hundreds of times. Although she had only been in the palace for a short time, the strangeness here already exceeded her understanding. It was said that the current Emperor was single-handedly supported onto the throne by the Empress Dowager. The current Empress Dowager was also known as a wise and virtuous consort and empress, yet Noble Consort Liu, as the Emperor’s favored consort, showed not a shred of respect for the Empress Dowager. And... She looked up at the three large characters, written with flourishes like flying dragons and dancing phoenixes, on the plaque beneath the eaves. Zhangde—I hope this was written willingly by the Emperor.

"Your humble servant, Ye Li, pays her respects to Your Majesty the Emperor, and to Her Majesty the Empress Dowager." Entering the main hall and seeing the tall man dressed in a bright yellow robe, only a flicker of surprise crossed Ye Li’s face before she quickly and respectfully bowed.

"Rise. Shang’er, what brings you here?" Mo Jingqi glanced at Ye Li, his gaze quickly shifting to Noble Consort Liu at his side. Rising from his seat, he descended the steps of the hall to draw Noble Consort Liu closer.

Noble Consort Liu snorted lightly and said, "What, does His Majesty think that I cannot pay my respects to the Empress Dowager?"

Mo Jingqi sighed and said gently, "You know I didn’t mean that."

"Emperor!" A voice, tinged with sternness and displeasure, came from the head of the hall. Ye Li discreetly glanced over. The Empress Dowager must have been a peerlessly beautiful woman in her youth. Although she was the elder sister of Grand Consort Wise Zhao, the Empress Dowager looked even younger. It was just that her phoenix eyes currently held an indescribable sharpness, but Ye Li knew that in her youth, those eyes must have been captivating and beautiful. At this moment, the Empress Dowager wasn’t looking at Ye Li; instead, her sharp gaze was fixed on Noble Consort Liu. One could even feel a few wisps of killing intent in her stare. Clearly, the Empress Dowager intensely disliked Noble Consort Liu.

"Imperial Mother." Mo Jingqi furrowed his brows and led Noble Consort Liu up the dais. "Imperial Mother, Shang’er came to pay respects to you. She must have just run into Third Miss Ye and came with her."

The Empress Dowager spoke indifferently, "Pay respects? It’s quite rare for Noble Consort Liu to remember to pay respects to me today."

"Imperial Mother, you know Shang’er’s health hasn’t been good since she gave birth to Jing’er." Mo Jingqi looked somewhat embarrassed but still steadfastly shielded Noble Consort Liu by his side. Seeing the Empress Dowager’s gloomy face, Ye Li couldn’t help but feel a twinge of sympathy for her in her heart. After finally giving birth to two sons, outliving the late Emperor’s first empress to become Empress herself, and then exhausting all her efforts to put her son on the throne and become Empress Dowager, she should have been enjoying her blessings. Who would have thought that, never mind her younger son being occasionally foolish, her elder son, the Emperor, was one who prioritized his wife over his own mother.

"Imperial Mother, didn’t you say you wanted to see Third Miss Ye? Let’s first see how the Princess Consort chosen for Xiuyao is." Seeing the Empress Dowager’s face was truly unsightly, Mo Jingqi hastily interjected.

Your Majesty, are you trying to divert disaster onto me?

As expected, the Empress Dowager quickly turned her gaze back to Ye Li. In her heart, Ye Li silently decided it was better to trust Noble Consort Liu’s words. Just the Empress Dowager’s gaze landing on her was not something an ordinary person could endure.

"Are you Ye Li?" After a long while, the Empress Dowager finally spoke.

Ye Li respectfully lowered her gaze and replied, "Replying to the Empress Dowager, this humble servant is indeed Ye Li."

The Empress Dowager frowned, saying, "Raise your head and let me have a look at you."

Ye Li raised her head as instructed, allowing the Empress Dowager and the Emperor to examine her.

"This grieving one met your mother a few times in the past. The maternal granddaughter of the Xu Family is indeed not comparable to those unpresentable ones. Such a pity..." The Empress Dowager didn’t say what was a pity, and naturally, no one was tactless enough to ask. Ye Li’s sharp eyes noticed that Noble Consort Liu, who was sitting next to the Emperor, did not look very pleased. Ye Li was slightly puzzled. The Empress Dowager shouldn’t be indirectly criticizing Noble Consort Liu, right? After all, the daughter of Prime Minister Liu was definitely not someone from an unpresentable background.

"This grieving one’s Li’er is still immature. Miss Ye, please don’t take the previous matters to heart," the Empress Dowager said, her sharp phoenix eyes fixed unblinkingly on Ye Li.

Ye Li smiled faintly. "The Empress Dowager overstates it. It is simply that Prince Li and this humble servant were not fated to be. Compared to discovering incompatibility after marriage, His Highness Prince Li bringing it up before the wedding is a good thing for both himself and Ye Li. This humble servant is very grateful."

"Oh? How does Miss Ye view the events at Li’er’s wedding?"

"This... This is His Highness Prince Li’s private matter. This humble servant should not presume to speculate."

"What if this grieving one insists on hearing your opinion?" asked the Empress Dowager.

"This humble servant thinks... it could be that His Highness Prince Li was so excited about his grand marriage that he did not get enough rest the previous night," Ye Li said with a harmless, faint smile, and a hint of almost imperceptible fear as she looked at the Empress Dowager. "Who in the entire Capital City doesn’t know that His Highness Prince Li and Fourth Sister are deeply in love? When the Prince was finally about to marry his beloved, it’s understandable that he would be somewhat excited, wouldn’t it?"

"Miss Ye, I’ve heard that a few days ago, you said that Prince Li bought things without paying, and you demanded a considerable sum of silver from him?" Noble Consort Liu, who sat to the side, suddenly interjected with a laugh.

The temperature in the main hall suddenly dropped considerably. Ye Li blinked in confusion, her face filled with embarrassment. "This humble servant was ignorant. Please, Empress Dowager and Your Majesty, forgive me. This humble servant... since my late mother passed away, I have rarely left the house. It was my first time managing affairs, and I somewhat lost my sense of propriety. My grandmother also reprimanded me afterwards. This humble servant also had someone return the silver to Prince Li’s Mansion and apologize to His Highness. But..." They were thrown out, along with the silver. Afterwards, Ye Li gave two hundred taels of silver to the dispatched steward as compensation for psychological damages, and then pocketed the rest with a clear conscience.

This was originally Mo Jingli’s wrongdoing. Even the imperial family wouldn’t really be shameless enough to find fault. Seeing Ye Li’s face of surprise and guilt, Mo Jingqi coughed lightly, gave Noble Consort Liu a warning glance, and soothed, "Enough. This matter was Jingli’s lack of consideration; it’s not Miss Ye’s fault. Imperial Mother also has no intention of blaming you."

Ye Li delightedly expressed her thanks. "This humble servant thanks Your Majesty and the Empress Dowager for your magnanimity."

The Empress Dowager nodded indifferently. "Enough. This grieving one had no intention of finding fault. Grant Miss Ye a seat."

Two palace maids brought an embroidered stool and placed it behind Ye Li. She thanked them before carefully sitting on only two-thirds of it. She felt not a shred of gratitude in her heart for the Empress Dowager’s bestowing of a seat; if she could choose, she would rather continue standing. Sitting down not only made someone already in a lower position appear even shorter, but it also severely impacted one’s field of vision. Moreover, the way well-bred young ladies were supposed to sit was simply more strenuous than practicing the horse stance in childhood. At least with the horse stance, you could use your legs for support; sitting so elegantly and demurely, if you weren’t trained from a young age, you could only pray not to fall off the stool.

"Miss Ye, how is Mr. Qingyun?" Mo Jingqi looked at Ye Li, his eyes reflecting a touch of inquiry.

Ye Li said with a faint smile, "Thank Your Majesty for your concern. My maternal uncle has mentioned that my maternal grandfather’s health is still quite robust."

Mo Jingqi said with a smile, "There’s no need to be so nervous. Back then, I also witnessed Mr. Qingyun’s distinguished style and couldn’t help but greatly admire him. It’s just that many years have passed without seeing him."

Ye Li lowered her head guiltily. "Ever since my mother passed away, this humble servant also hasn’t seen my maternal grandfather for many years. Not being able to serve at his knee on behalf of my mother, this humble servant is truly ashamed of failing my maternal grandfather’s affection."

"Oh? Miss Ye is marrying Prince Ding. I presume Mr. Elder Qingyun won’t miss his only granddaughter’s wedding?"

"My maternal grandfather is of advanced age and cannot withstand the rigors of travel. I’m afraid he won’t be able to personally witness this humble servant’s... However, my maternal grandfather has already sent my eldest maternal uncle to the Capital City to preside in his stead. This humble servant is also very happy."

Mo Jingqi’s eyes flashed slightly. "Oh? Mr. Hongyu is already in the Capital City? What about... Eldest Young Master Xu..."

Ye Li said with a calm smile, "My eldest male cousin and several other male cousins have also come to the Capital City. My maternal uncle holds no official position, so there was no need for any announcement."

Mo Jingqi laughed loudly. "The Xu Family has always disliked empty fame and prefers tranquility. However, Mr. Hongyu can also be considered my esteemed teacher. For him to come to the Capital City and for me not to have gone to welcome him is truly somewhat discourteous."

Ye Li quickly said she wouldn’t dare presume such a thing, but inwardly, she disagreed. Her eldest maternal uncle had merely, by order of the late Emperor, provided him with some academic guidance. How could he be called his esteemed teacher? Besides, if he truly intended to welcome him, he would have done so long ago. She refused to believe that Mo Jingqi truly didn’t know when her eldest maternal uncle had arrived in the Capital City.

Mo Jingqi clearly had no intention of dwelling on this issue. Looking at Ye Li, he said, "Miss Ye won the first prize at this year’s Hundred Flowers Festival. Even Commandery Princess Ronghua has praised Miss Ye several times before the Empress Dowager. I wonder if Miss Ye could allow me and the Empress Dowager to feast our eyes." Without giving Ye Li a chance to refuse, he waved his hand, and palace attendants had already brought over a carved writing desk, complete with brush, ink, paper, and inkstone.

"This humble servant will make a poor show of her skills."

While Ye Li stood behind the desk, preparing to paint with a brush, she had already cursed the Emperor on the dais a hundred times in her heart. She truly couldn’t understand the pleasure these ancient emperors derived from randomly grabbing people to write poems or compose lyrics. After all, not everyone enjoyed chanting poetry and composing couplets, and certainly not everyone possessed such quick wit. What if one was called upon by the Emperor but couldn’t produce a poem? What then?

Ye Li painted a conventional orchid painting and, by the way, added a Poem of Orchid that her maternal grandfather had composed in his earlier years. The only thing that could be called outstanding was probably her calligraphy. Watching the expressions of the people on the dais change from inquiry to surprise, and then to disappointment, Ye Li remained unconcerned. She stood respectfully behind the writing desk, awaiting the Emperor’s judgment.

"A solitary orchid? Is this Mr. Qingyun’s poem?" Noble Consort Liu asked with a frown.

Ye Li said guiltily, "This humble servant is truly not very proficient in poetry. Please forgive me, Your Majesty."

A hint of disdain flashed in Noble Consort Liu’s eyes. She glanced at the painting and said, "Miss Ye’s calligraphy, however, is quite good."

The Empress Dowager, rarely, agreed with Noble Consort Liu’s words. Ye Li’s work from the Hundred Flowers Festival was currently in the palace. The painting was indeed not stunning, merely conventional. And the poem... the three on the dais unanimously suspected that the stunning peony poem from the Hundred Flowers Festival was definitely not Ye Li’s own work. After all, the Xu Family had nothing in abundance except talented scholars. Casually finding a ghostwriter for Ye Li would undoubtedly involve a heavyweight figure, so producing such a poem wouldn’t be surprising. "Miss Ye’s calligraphy is indeed good."

Ye Li clearly sensed the dwindling interest in her from the three people above. Although she didn’t quite understand why ancient people believed that skills in zither, chess, calligraphy, and painting represented a person’s abilities and intelligence, at least this result wasn’t bad for her.

It was not until the afternoon that the Empress Dowager had Ye Li escorted out of the palace. During that time, she contributed her calligraphy to transcribe a volume of scriptures for the Empress Dowager. Because no one remembered to have her go to Yaohua Palace to bid farewell to Ye Zhaoyi, Ye Li was too embarrassed to trouble the people sent by the Empress Dowager and had to pretend to forget as well. Accompanied by palace attendants, she left the Imperial City with the gifts bestowed by the Emperor, the Empress Dowager, and Noble Consort Liu. It wasn’t until she was seated in the carriage that Ye Li slowly released the breath she had been holding in her chest for most of the day.

"Miss, make sure you rest a bit. Your complexion doesn’t look too good," Qingyu took Ye Li’s pulse and said softly.

Qingluan said helplessly, "Miss must have been a little nervous on her first visit to the palace. It’s a pity we couldn’t enter the Empress Dowager’s palace to accompany you."

Qingyu smiled faintly. "Even if you had gone in, you would probably have only scared yourself. It’s better not to cause trouble for Miss."

Ye Li leaned back in the carriage to rest and replayed the events that had occurred in the Imperial Palace that day in her mind. In the palace, one had to be careful and cautious at every turn; there was simply no time to think deeply about many things. The Emperor, the Empress Dowager, Noble Consort Liu... each person seemed normal, yet they also seemed to be hiding some unknown, tangled relationships. And Ye Yue...

No! Something’s wrong!

Ye Li suddenly opened her eyes. Qingluan and Qingyu were startled. "Miss, what’s wrong?"

"The carriage is going the wrong way!" Ye Li exclaimed. Before her words had even faded, WHOOSH, a long arrow pierced through the carriage wall and shot inside.