Capital City Rhapsody 13: The War of Words in the Garden

  13. The War of Tongues in the Garden

  Although Ye Li didn't like to join in the excitement, she also knew that a maiden and a married woman were different. When waiting for marriage, not wanting to participate in gatherings of other maidens might make outsiders think this girl was introverted and liked quietness, or maybe she really wasn't feeling well. However, after getting married, especially if one had to take charge of the household, if they still refused to integrate and socialize with others, people would think that person looked down on them and didn't know how to show respect, and in serious cases, it could even affect their husband's family. The current master of the Dingguo Wangfu was none other than the already disabled King Ding Muxi Yao, although there were still several female members in the household, she would definitely have to take charge after marrying into the Dingguo Wangfu. Therefore, hearing Ye Lao Furen's words, Ye Li also smiled and nodded in agreement, pretending to be very much looking forward to this year's Hundred Flowers Grand Festival.

  After seeing off the Empress Dowager Xianzhao and her entourage, Ye Li bid farewell to Old Lady Ye and returned to Qingyuan Hall. Old Lady Ye and Wang Shi were still basking in the glory of Empress Dowager Xianzhao's personal visit and gift-giving, so they didn't detain Ye Li for long. As Ye Li walked out of Rongle Hall, she strolled along the corridor with a distracted mind, but couldn't help thinking about the glance Empress Dowager Xianzhao gave her when she left. For some reason, she felt that there was something profound and meaningful in the empress dowager's gaze.

  "Miss, look." As she passed by the garden, Ye Li was lost in thought when Qingfeng softly reminded her in her ear.

  As she looked up, she saw a couple sitting in the pavilion by the garden path. The man was handsome and stern, while the woman was beautiful and delicate. Wasn't that Mo Jing Lei and Ye Ying? Ye Li was somewhat puzzled - why were these two people not strolling under the flowers and moonlight, but instead sitting at the entrance of the garden where people came and went? It seemed as if they were deliberately waiting for her. As she approached, "I've met His Highness Mo Jing Lei before." Mo Jing Lei glanced at the several maids following behind Ye Li and sneered, "You're quite good at putting on a show." In the past, Mo Jing Lei had seen Ye Li a few times from afar, but each time Ye Li only had one maid by her side. It looked like she was trying to appear humble. Now that she had just been granted marriage, not only did Ye Li dare to make things difficult for him, but she also put on airs. For some reason, Mo Jing Lei always felt a bit out of sorts whenever he saw Ye Li. Thinking about the nearly 20,000 taels of silver that had fallen into Ye Li's hands made Mo Jing Lei grit his teeth. It wasn't that the Mo Palace couldn't afford this sum of money, but rather Ye Li's actions made it clear that she didn't care about him, which was why she had so boldly asked him for money.

  Ye Li covered her mouth and smiled, her gaze drifting between the two of them. "The prince is joking, this is just a rule that should be followed in a girl's family. I know that the fourth sister and the prince are well-matched and it's hard to avoid... but after all, they haven't had a big wedding yet, so it's better for the fourth sister to have a maid follow her when she goes out... even if it's from a distance. This way, it will also prevent others from gossiping."

  "Third sister, why are you saying this..." After hearing Ye Li's words, Ye Ying's bright and clear eyes suddenly turned red, with crystal tears welling up in her eyes, looking at Ye Li with extreme grievance, "I am innocent and clean with regards to the prince, even if as a younger sister I owe an apology to third sister, but... this is not what I meant, third sister why must you..."

  Ye Li slightly raised her hand, calmly calculating her words, and asked with a hint of amusement: "Fourth sister misunderstood, who said you and the king were unclear? You just speak out, even if grandmother and father don't take charge for you, third sister will take charge for you." After finishing, she scanned the crowd behind her with an inquiring expression. Qingfeng covered her mouth and smiled: "I haven't heard anything about it. However, since fourth miss said so, there must be something. Why not go back to old madam and investigate thoroughly? It's bound to uncover the person who slandered fourth miss and King Lei." Ye Ying's expression changed, and she glared at Qingfeng with resentment, then turned her face and pitifully looked at Mo Jinglei: "King...". If grandmother finds out about this, she will definitely scold herself. If it gets out of hand, the originally non-existent rumors might become true.

  "That's enough! Ye Li, you're useless no matter what you do. I, the king, will never look at you with favor. You might as well give up on that idea." Mo Jing Lei coldly scolded, his gaze at Ye Li seeming to be filled with disdain and disgust.

  Ye Li was shocked and couldn't react for a moment. What was Mo Jing Lei saying? Could it be that he thought this appearance of his was a deliberate attempt to lure her in? Where did this guy get such a good sense of self-importance?

  Under Ye Li's scrutinizing gaze, Mo Jing Lei felt a surge of anger and coldly said: "Have you had enough? Don't you know shame!"

  Ye Li couldn't help but roll her eyes in her heart, holding back the words "You should take your medicine" that were on the tip of her tongue. She bowed to Mo Jing Lei and said, "That's enough, Fourth Princess Wang will chat with you slowly. I'll take my leave first." Without waiting for Mo Jing Lei's response, she turned around and walked towards Qing Yi Xuan.

  Behind him, Mo Jing Lei stared at the slender figure that was walking away, his face gloomy. Ye Ying saw this and her heart tightened, softly saying: "Prince Wang, third sister has always been like this, don't mind her."

  Looking at the beautiful face in front of him, full of worry and pleading, Mo Jing Lei's expression softened a bit. He pulled Ye Ying and hummed softly: "Don't worry, since she is your sister, I will let it go for your sake." Ye Ying's eyes flickered, and she lowered her head shyly, "Thank you, Your Majesty."

  As soon as she entered the Qingyixuan, she heard several idle maidservants chattering and marveling at the lavish betrothal gifts sent by the Li King's mansion today. The fourth young lady was indeed very fortunate to be able to marry the Li King as his official consort. Of course, they couldn't help but mention the misfortune of the third young lady marrying that useless prince who was known throughout the capital. Qingfeng's face turned pale, and before Ye Li could speak, she sternly scolded: "How dare you! Who gave you the nerve to discuss our master's affairs?!" Those maidservants must have been too engrossed in their conversation, for they didn't even notice when six or seven people stood behind them. Only when they heard Qingfeng's voice did they turn around, and they were so frightened that they knelt down on the ground with a thud.

  Ye Li walked calmly past the kneeling maid, just as the maids thought they had escaped and let out a sigh of relief. Suddenly, Ye Li said: "Each of you will receive twenty slaps."

  "Oh no... Miss, please forgive us, we slaves dare not..." The Qing Yi Xuan courtyard in the mansion was not favored, but for these rough-serving maids, it didn't make much difference. In other courtyards, there were no good things that would come to them anyway, and Third Miss was actually the most considerate master in the entire Ye Mansion. She never made excessive demands or scolded the maids, and rarely punished anyone in the courtyard, so these little maids thought she was soft-hearted and became lax themselves. But unexpectedly, today they were punished with twenty slaps just for saying a few idle words.

  "Get out!" Too lazy to listen to those pleading words, Ye Li left a sentence and turned away with a flick of her sleeve.

  "Miss, why bother getting angry with that despicable person, it's not worth ruining your own mood for nothing." Qingfeng followed behind Yueli and softly advised.

  Ye Li turned her head and glanced at her, smiling: "Do you think I'm angry?"

  "Miss... how about that?" It's been a few years since I've seen Miss punish the maid like this.

  Ye Li coldly smiled and said: "I punished them not because they were gossiping, but because they betrayed their master."

  "Huh?"

  "If you were a servant girl, would you dare stand at the entrance of the courtyard and chew your master's tongue?"

  Qingfeng suddenly realized, with some puzzlement, and asked: "Who exactly instructed them to do this? It couldn't be the mistress, could it? What benefit would she gain from this, apart from annoying Miss?" And even that wasn't certain.

  Ye Li furrowed her brow slightly and shook her head at Qingfeng, saying: "Tomorrow you go to the Imperial Censor's residence in person and deliver a letter for me to my second uncle. Tell outsiders that I have some things I don't understand and want to ask for Second Aunt's guidance, invite her to come over when she has time. Oh, and tell Aunt not to rush."

  Digression

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