Strolling through the streets of the Imperial City 29

  Window shopping

  Madam Zhao was indeed a clever person, and she didn't need Ye Li's help or reminders. The next day, news spread throughout the mansion that Madam Zhao was pregnant, and it was said to be a boy. Wang Shi almost immediately forgot about coming to bother Ye Li and instead began to deal with Madam Zhao in every way possible. She had already established her roots in the Ye family, so if she were to say she was worried about how Ye Li, who was soon to be married, would treat her, it would be a joke. The reason she targeted Ye Li was actually because of the jealousy and resentment she couldn't express towards Ye Li's birth mother. Now that it concerned the position of her precious only son in the mansion, Wang Shi naturally didn't hesitate to put other things aside.

  The Wang family didn't come to bother her, and Ye Ying was also disheartened by the Flower Festival, so Ye Li was carefree. At the Flower Festival, she made a stunning debut, which allowed her to gradually enter the social circle of the capital's noble ladies. Apart from continuing to prepare for her dowry, she could also spend leisure time playing with Qin Zhenghua, Tian Xiang, and Miao Ting. On the third day after the Flower Festival, Miss Qin Yueling, who was originally the first in poetry but later surpassed by Ye Li, sent a letter to Ye Li. Although they hadn't had much contact, Ye Li had a good impression of this iron-faced judge's sister. After exchanging letters several times, their friendship grew. With a good mood, Ye Li didn't mind Zhao Niangniang occasionally visiting her at Qingyixuan to chat and ask about her well-being. Ye Li knew Zhao Niangniang's intentions, but as long as she kept her promise and behaved herself, Ye Li wouldn't break her vow and would ensure that she safely arrived in Yunzhou and gave birth to the child.

  On this day, Ye Li accepted Qin Zheng's invitation to go out and stroll around. Ye Li had been idle for a few days and was planning to buy some books for herself. The books her mother left behind had been read thoroughly over the years, but she knew she didn't have the talent to become a versatile and accomplished woman like Qin Zheng, even if she memorized all the books in the world. In simpler terms, she lacked the innate gift, despite her mother being the number one talented woman in the capital city. More importantly, as someone with memories of her past life, her thinking and perspective had long been fixed, and no matter how many years passed, she still couldn't understand the ideas and thoughts of ancient people. Therefore, writing a few decent poems was probably the best she could do, but wanting to write outstanding poetry was basically impossible. Thinking this way, Ye Li felt that her grandfather, who had forced her to memorize so many classical texts, was actually quite wise, at least allowing her to come up with a couple of poems from memory when she couldn't avoid it.

  "Qin sister, Tianxiang, Murong." Yeli arrived at the agreed tea house when Qinzhuan and the other two had already arrived ahead of time, drinking tea and chatting.

  Qin Zhen turned around and looked at her, smiling: "Li'er."

  Murong Ting pulled her down and said: "You've finally arrived, how was it? Didn't your fourth sister give you a hard time?"

  Ye Li raised an eyebrow, "Sorry I'm late, but how did you think she would make things difficult for me?" These past few days, not only Wang Shi, even Ye Ying didn't know what to do. Where could anyone find the time to make things difficult for her?

  "It's better to be more careful. I heard that the Consort in the palace has been in a bad mood these past few days." Huatian Xiang held her tea cup, with a refined and elegant smile.

  Ye Li blinked her eyes and suddenly understood. She silently thanked Hua Tianxiang, who raised an eyebrow and lifted the teacup towards her.

  Murong Ting looked around at her good friends and couldn't help but laugh, "Alas, it's not easy to gain a friend, unfortunately, Ah Lian will be getting married soon."

  "We're still friends after getting married, right?" Ye Li said, "You won't deny me as a friend after we get married, will you?"

  Murong Ting, devoid of the elegance expected of a noble lady, lay on the table, dejectedly saying: "Of course not, but once you become the Crown Princess, where will you have the freedom you have now?"

  Hua Tianxiang pursed her lips and smiled slyly: "It will be the same when you get married."

  "I'd rather not!" Murong Ting shouted, her bright apricot eyes wide with anger. "I'll never marry that idiot!"

  "Huh? Ye Li was surprised and looked up, staring at Mu Rong Ting who was puffed up with anger, then shifted her gaze to Qin Zhen. Qin Zhen was secretly laughing while whispering in Ye Li's ear. Only then did Ye Li realize that Mu Rong Ting had been betrothed to the third son of the Town North General's household, Leng Huan Yu, since birth. However, compared to his older brother Leng Xing Yu who excelled in both literature and martial arts, Leng Huan Yu was a spoiled rich kid who indulged in food, drink, and pleasure. As the only daughter of the Yang Wei General from a military family, how could Mu Rong Ting possibly look up to Leng Huan Yu? The two had never gotten along since childhood, and would always fight whenever they met. Moreover, Mu Rong Ting had mastered the true transmission of the Yang Wei General's martial arts, and Leng Huan Yu couldn't even defeat her. Every time he was beaten until he was left in a sorry state, which made Mu Rong Ting look down on him even more."

  "Hmph! My dad is such a stubborn fool, saying that a real man should keep his promises no matter what, and he won't even consider backing out of the engagement. That idiot, if he dares to marry me, I'll beat him up so badly that his own father won't recognize him." Murong Ting said with her chin held high, still fuming.

  Hua Tianxiang lazily supported her chin, smiling and saying: "I think Leng Xiaoshi is quite good to you. In the entire capital city, have you seen any man who listens so obediently? When you tell him to go forward, he absolutely won't go backward; when you tell him to go left, he also never goes right."

  Murong Ting hummed and didn't answer.

  Ye Li watched her reaction with interest, and girls can't help but like excellent and powerful men. Leng San Gongzi, who couldn't even beat a woman, naturally made Mu Rongting look down on him. However, it seemed that Mu Rongting didn't dislike this fiancé as much as she thought. And... for a man who had been beaten since childhood, always losing and still coming to find trouble, was he really that weak? If so, then Leng Hua Yu was actually an M. Ye Li thought wildly in her mind. But she didn't open her mouth to advise Mu Rongting on anything, as interfering with her friend's choices wasn't something she liked to do, and besides, she really didn't understand this person Leng Hua Yu.

  Murong Ting quickly got over her anger and soon put that annoying fiancé behind her mind. She clapped her hands, stood up and said: "Let's go, let's go shopping. We didn't come out to just drink tea."

  Three girls and a pseudo-girl happily shuttled back and forth in the famous shops of the capital, selecting various jewelry and clothes that they liked. Before long, each person had gained a lot. Ye Li looked at the people following behind her with big bags and small bags in their hands, and smiled as she followed the three of them turning around everywhere. She couldn't help but admit that no matter which era, women's desire to shop was very strong. Ye Li didn't idle around either, while strolling along with the three of them, she also took a few glances at the progress of several shops under her that were currently being renovated. Although she didn't go inside, the results from outside looked satisfying, and she believed they could reopen a month before the wedding. At that time, maybe she could ask Big Brother to write a plaque for Cang Zhen Pavilion. Ye Li made plans silently in her heart.

  The servants who helped carry things were dismissed and sent back, and the girls who were tired from shopping decided to find a place for lunch. Murong Ting, who was most familiar with Beijing's cuisine, recommended Chu Xiang Ge, the most famous restaurant in Beijing.

  Chuxiang Pavilion is indeed the most famous restaurant in the capital, and as soon as you step into the hall, you can see that the luxurious decorations are not inferior to those of a noble family. Although they didn't arrive late, Chuxiang Pavilion's business was better than expected, and a neatly dressed young boy politely apologized to the four of them, saying that there were no more vacant private rooms available. Murong Ting often went out and didn't care much about having a private room, so she directly asked the waiter to lead the four of them upstairs to find a decent empty seat. Ye Li glanced around the hall and saw that there were also many noble young ladies dining in pairs or threes, so the four of them sitting outside didn't stand out particularly.

  "Chu Xiang Pavilion's squirrel mandarin fish is the best in Beijing. I've been here twice and never had it. Didn't expect that calling you all together today would actually get us some, guess today really is a lucky day!"

  Ye Li curiously asked: "Does Murong often come out to stroll around?"

  Murong Ting smiled and said: "My father doesn't like to take care of me, I myself can't stay still so I often come out and walk around. Moreover, my father loves to eat delicious food, I...I don't have much talent for this, just looking around to see where there's good food to buy back for him to eat." When she said this, Murong Ting looked a bit embarrassed, but anyone could tell that the relationship between General Yang Wei and his daughter was absolutely different from that of Ye Shangshu and Ye Li. At least it was absolutely different from the one between Ye Shangshu and Ye Li.

  "Hua Tianxiang smiled and said: 'So, usually when I go shopping, I'll take Murong with me. There's no place in the capital that she doesn't know.'"

  The four were chatting happily when the door of the VIP room suddenly opened from inside, and a stunning red figure rushed out. The four looked up to see who it was, and Mu Rongting exclaimed in surprise: "Huh? Isn't that... Xiaoxin!" Before she had even finished speaking, Mu Rongting had already jumped up and rushed out quickly.