The Imperial Capital Rhapsody 45: Down the Marital Alliance and Back to the Nuptial Gate

  Lowering the sedan chair and returning home

  "Slave thanks Third Miss for saving her life."

  Aunt Zhao knelt before Ye Li, her simple and elegant attire a stark contrast to her usual coquettish demeanor. Ye Li raised her hand, signaling Qing Luan to help Aunt Zhao up, saying in a light tone, "No need for excessive courtesy, once we arrive at Yunzhou, you won't have to worry, someone will naturally take care of everything."

  Zhao Ayi nodded, saying: "I believe Miss Ye's words are as good as gold. I will also abide by the agreement and raise this child properly." She lowered her head to gently stroke her still flat abdomen, and her eyebrows were filled with softness and kindness. From now on, this child would be everything to her.

  Ye Lian nodded and instructed Qingfeng beside her: "Go get 500 taels of silver for Zhao Ayi as travel expenses." Qingfeng left immediately, and Zhao Ayi looked at Ye Lian with gratitude.

  The entire Ye Manor was under the control of Wang Shi, including all the estates in various places. It was inevitable that Wang Shi would secretly embezzle her allowance, and although she had saved some silver herself, it wasn't much. In the whole Ye Manor, only Old Madam, Old Master, and Third Miss could take out such a large sum of money at once.

  Zhao Ayi understood in her heart that although Third Miss was not a warm or approachable person, as long as she was obedient, she was absolutely reliable and trustworthy. "Thank you, Third Miss, for your kindness."

  "When you get there, someone will be responsible for your and the child's safety. With a father around, she won't dare to be too blatant. But if you want to live well over there, it depends on your own abilities." Ye Li reminded indifferently. Anyway, Zhuangzi wasn't hers, so if Zhao Niang had any ability, she would take care of the child herself and that would be better.

  Madam Zhao was taken aback, but secretly shocked that Ye Li could see through her thoughts. However, since she had spoken up, it meant that the Xu family would help her to some extent. As long as she had enough means to control the Cloud State's Zhuangzi, it could become a place for her and her child to settle down. Thinking of this, Madam Zhao hurriedly thanked Ye Li again, while deepening her reverence for him in her heart by several degrees.

  "Miss, the engagement has been finalized with the Duke's household." Qingyu walked in with a joyful face and smiled, "The old madam and master are asking you to hurry over."

  Ye Li nodded and saw Qing Yu's face looked a bit strange, raised an eyebrow and said: "Is there something else?"

  The joyful expression on Qingyu's face was somewhat entangled, and she looked at Yelü and said: "Lei Wang Gongzi and Fourth Miss have also returned." Today is the day when Ye Ying officially returns home. It's not clear whether it's intentional or just a coincidence that Fourth Miss's return home and Third Miss's engagement happened to fall on the same day.

  Ye Li was also stunned, she almost forgot Ye Ying was coming back today, "What's going on?"

  Qing Yu pouted and said, "Li Wang and Guniang arrived almost at the same time, but he had a gloomy face as if someone owed him tens of thousands of taels of silver and didn't return it. How unlucky!"

  "Shameless." Yeli said lightly. Qingyu blinked her eyes, hearing that there was no anger in Miss's words. She playfully stuck out her tongue and covered her mouth, hiding to one side.

  Qingfeng handed over a plain cloth bag to Yeli, who turned around and put it together with a golden lock piece into Zhao Niang's hands, saying: "This is my gift to my brother, so I won't give you one later, Auntie."

  Aunt Zhao's eyes turned red as she remembered that today was the day when Ding Wangfu came to propose. She hastily bid farewell to Ye Li, holding back her tears, and then walked out after packing up her things.

  "Let's go see Grandma."

  Because there was no one in the Dingguo Wangfu who could truly be considered a senior to Mo Xuyao, he specially invited two elderly men of great reputation from the capital to come together. Ye Li had seen once the Taixue Xuezhang Su Zhe Old Master and the current Empress's father, Hua Lao Guogong. Both of these were considered to be figures of great importance in the capital, also making Ye Shangshu feel that his face was honored. The long list of betrothal gifts from the Dingguo Wangfu made people recall the scene when the Li Wangfu came to propose marriage last time. Originally it looked not bad, but now compared to this one, how could the Li Wangfu be lacking in sincerity? Thus Ye Shangshu smiled and invited Su Lao Daren, Hua Lao Guogong and Ding Wang to speak in the study room, unintentionally somewhat neglecting Ye Ying and Mo Jingli who had almost arrived at the same time.

  "Lier greets her grandmother and has met with Mrs. Hua, as well as the other ladies." Ye Lier stepped into the Rong Le Hall and saw that Old Lady Ye was chatting happily with Mrs. Hua, while some familiar-looking ladies were also joining in on the fun. However, Mo Jingli and Ye Ying Wangshi sat on one side with unpleasant expressions. Wangshi and Ye Ying clearly couldn't get a word in edgewise, and Mo Jingli's expression seemed to deter others from speaking to him.

  "Li'er, come quickly, everyone take a look at my granddaughter, isn't she lovely?" Ye Lao Furen warmly beckoned to Ye Li, her somewhat cloudy old eyes filled with kind smiles. It was as if Ye Li were her most precious and beloved granddaughter. Ye Li obediently walked forward, "Grandmother." Hua Lao Furen pulled Ye Li over to sit beside her, laughing, "Don't blame me for stealing your granddaughter from you, I just can't help but love this third young miss. No wonder my family's Tian Xiang has been constantly talking about coming to play with the third young miss." Ye Li smiled, "You're too kind, Grandmother, I also miss Tian Xiang very much." Hua Lao Furen nodded repeatedly, "Good child, you really have your mother's demeanor. No wonder Xiāo Yáo's child refused to leave his house for many years, yet this time he specially came to our house to ask for the old master's hand in marriage."

  Ye Li lowered her head, and a faint blush appeared on her delicate face. She smiled softly and said: "Lord Hua has not interfered with worldly affairs for many years, yet he is so worn out; I really am..."

  Madam Hua nodded slightly, even with a hint of shyness, she responded elegantly and composedly, unlike the usual delicate and pampered young ladies. Only such a woman could hold up the grand household of the Dingguo King's estate. With a warm smile, she patted Ye Li and said: "What's wrong? Old Master is idle now, naturally he wants to worry about the marriage of his juniors... Xiu Yao also grew up under our old master's care..." As if remembering Xiu Yao's current situation, Madam Hua couldn't help but let out a soft sigh, instructing Ye Li: "From now on, you will be one family, take good care of each other and live a happy life..."

  Ye Li made a shy appearance, silently acknowledging it, with a big "囧" (a Chinese character indicating embarrassment or awkwardness) already written in her heart.

  It seems that she had forgotten to congratulate another newlywed couple, so Old Lady Hua turned around and smiled at Mo Jing Lei: "I haven't congratulated King Lei and Queen Lei yet. The Empress Dowager and the Virtuous Imperial Consort have been eagerly waiting for a grandson, I'm sure they will soon be able to fulfill their wishes." As soon as Old Lady Hua spoke up, everyone else also rushed to congratulate Mo Jing Lei and Ye Ying. It was really Mo Jing Lei's cold aura that intimidated people, making those who originally wanted to congratulate him not dare to speak up. At this time, when Old Lady Hua spoke up, the crowd naturally followed suit and congratulated them. Mo Jing Lei looked at everyone with a cold face, but ultimately couldn't be too impolite to Old Lady Hua, so he nodded slightly.

  Ye Li sat beside Mrs. Hua, just in time to see Ye Ying's expression clearly. Ye Li also found it strange that although there were some problems on the wedding day, they had nothing to do with Ye Ying herself. Given Mo Jingli's fondness for Ye Ying, he should be even more guilty and treat her better because of this. However, the expressions of these two people were really not like those of a loving newlywed couple. Perhaps it was because Ye Ying's gloomy expression was almost impossible to conceal, Wang Shi's face didn't look good either. Fortunately, she still knew how to behave in public, and just sulked without making a scene.

  "The Emperor has arrived."

  The voice of the maid reporting came from outside the door. Ye Shangshu accompanied Hu Lao Guogong Su Zhe Lao and Mo Xiuyao as they walked in together. Before they even entered, Hu Lao Guogong's loud laughter had already come in, "Haha, I've waited for so many years, finally going to drink the wedding wine of Ding Wang! What's a little hardship? Just right to take a look at how the future Ding Wangfei is doing, let my family's maid also acknowledge her inferiority."

  "A Li is still young, don't scare her, Old Master Guo." Mo Xiuyao's voice was laced with a warm smile.

  "Good boy, you're already protecting your wife before the big wedding."

  The room was quiet, and the old lady smiled and pushed Ye Li towards the door. "Our family's old master is a rough man, don't mind him." Ye Li smiled and shook her head, looking towards the entrance where she saw an elderly man with white hair and beard, who despite being nearly 70 years old, still had an extraordinary aura about him. As someone from a military background, Ye Li knew at first glance that this old master was also a renowned general who had spent his life on the battlefield, and couldn't help but feel a sense of admiration for him.