Golden Age Legitimate Fei

Chapter 57: A Great Sword Unsheathed (1)
Translator: asassin
After a long talk, Xu Hong Yu left Ye Li a bunch of books of official history, unofficial history and secret history and asked her to read them when she had the time. After that, he and Xu Hong Yan left immediately while Minister Ye was quite uneasy. Ye Li looked straight into her father’s complicated eyes, showed him a curtsy and went back to Qingyi Pavilion to read the history books.

The wedding of Ye Li and Mo Xiu Yao was going to be held on May 20th, which was said to be the best day of May. It was said that at first Minister Ye wasn’t happy about the date, since it wasn’t a 100% propitious day. What happened on Ye Ying’s wedding had already annoyed Minister Ye. If something happened again on Ye Li’s wedding, there was no way for him to find Ye Shan and Ye Lin a husband. However, Prince Ding’s Manor, Xu Family and Ye Li didn’t care about getting married on a propitious day. Besides, if they didn’t hold the wedding on that day, they would at least wait till August to get married, since both June and July weren’t suitable for weddings. Now that Ye Li was kidnapped a short while ago, neither Prince Ding’s Manor nor Xu Family would allow the wedding to be postponed. So naturally nobody cared about Minister Ye’s little discontent.

it was only early May when Ye Li said her goodbyes to her once leisurely and carefree life. The once quiet Qingyi Pavilion now became bustling with noise and excitement and greeted a busy flow of people each day. Countless stuffs were sent to Qingyi Pavilion on a daily basis. Ye Li herself had to go through countless accounts and documents as well. Though with the instruction and assistance of two mamas, Ye Li was still quite exhausted. Seeing that Ye Family, Xu Family and Prince Ding’s Manor weren’t affected by the rumor at all and preparing for the wedding, some people of the capital who at first half-believed the rumor now changed their minds. The rumor was gradually forgotten.

“Li-er, I envy you so much! The wedding in Prince Ding’s Manor must be the most lavish wedding in recent years.” At Qingyi Pavilion, Murong Ting cried, lying on her stomach on the soft chair, not caring about what she looked like while holding the rare silk just sent to Qingyi Pavilion.

Ye Li, Qin Zheng and Hua Tian Xiang were working through the accounts and sitting quietly not far from them, were Ye Shan and Ye Lin, who were doing needlework. Outside the door, it was the noise and excitement of people passing by. Hua Tian Xiang, who was working on the accounts, took some time and looked at Murong Ting, said: “Li-er didn’t ask you to come here and envy her. If you have the time to waste your breath you’d better come over and see what you can help with. But… I have to agree with you.”

Qin Zheng was writing on the account book when she asked: “Is Lady Wang not going to help you with the wedding at all? It will harm her reputation if that goes out.”

Ye Li smiled thinly and said: “Old Lady gave me quite some dowry in addition. She feels unwell recently. As for Lady Wang, it was said that fourth sister was sick at Prince Li’s Manor, she went out early in the morning to take care of her.” Murong Ting snorted disdainfully to that: “I’ve never heard about any mother goes to take care of her daughter in less than a month after her wedding. But… Ye Ying wouldn’t really be sick, would she? I haven’t seen her around and made a show of herself since the past few days.” Hua Tian Xiang raised her eyebrows and laughed: “Then she should have the strength to make a show. If Prince Li treats her well she probably will come back and show how happy she is since her wedding. But I’ve heard that Princess Qi Xia has been pestering Prince Li. Ye Ying would be lucky if she doesn’t turn out to be a resentful wife in her boudoir.”

Qin Zheng shook her head. She didn’t care about those gossips but she was more concerned about Ye Li’s wedding: “I don’t know what’s in Lady Wang’s head. Everyone knows how many betrothal gifts were sent by Prince Ding’s Manor. Even if Ye Family gave you more dowry, there wouldn’t be any loss to her. She’s only going to make Ye Family look bad by doing that.” Hua Tian Xiang said: “We all know the background of Lady Wang. Though she’s the legitimate wife of Minister Ye, she does not have the capacity to take charge of Li-er’s wedding. I’m afraid Old Lady Ye needs to preside over the whole thing when the wedding comes. Besides, there is no female who’s in charge at Prince Ding’s Manor. Li-er, does Prince Ding mention who runs things in his Manor?”

Ye Li nodded and said: “At first, Princess Royal Zhaoyang had the intention to help. However, though Prince Ding calls Princess Royal Zhaoyang aunt, it was said that they shared the same rank in their family hierarchy. So Princess Royal Zhaoyang meant to ask Princess Royal Xi Fu for help.”

“Wow…” Murong Ting cried in shock and almost jumped up from the soft chair. Seeing that everyone was looking at her, she laughed: “Princess Royal Xi Fu… she’s the late Emperor’s sister. Even the Prince Ding before the late Prince Ding had to call her imperial sister in respect. I’ve heard that Princess Royal Xi Fu is seventy-five years old this year.” Qin Zheng nodded and said: “To be honest, if it weren’t for Li-er’s wedding, I wouldn’t know that Princess Royal Xi Fu is still around. I’ve heard that Princess Royal Xi Fu has left all the things behind over twenty years ago. It never occurs to me that she would run Prince Ding’s wedding.”

Hua Tian Xiang waved her hand and laughed: “It isn’t rare, come to think of it. My grandpa said that among the younger generation, Princess Royal Xi Fu favored Prince Ding the most. She even held Prince Ding when he was born. I’ve heard that when the incident happened to Prince Ding and there was only half a life left in him, it was still Princess Royal Xi Fu who spared no efforts and took care of him day and night. In a word, that Prince Ding asked Princess Royal Xi Fu to hold his wedding shows his sincerity towards Ah Li.” Murong Ting beamed and said: “That’s why I said Ah Li’s wedding is going to be the most lavish one in recent years. It is said that influential officials from other countries would attend the wedding as well.”

Ye Li frowned and said: “What does the wedding in Prince Ding’s Manor have anything to do with influential officials from other countries?”

“Ah Li, don’t underestimate the prestige of Prince Ding’s Manor. Since its establishment a century ago, it is fair to say that Prince Ding’s Manor has wiped out numerous enemy troops. Any country that has any connection with Great Chu has at some point come into contact with Prince Ding’s Manor.”

Ye Li nodded: “I see. They are here for a good laugh.” Nothing could please those influential officials from other countries more than the fact that the only descendant of the once powerful and prestigious Prince Ding’s Manor, the current Prince Ding was a disfigured good-for-nothing in a wheelchair. Perhaps royals of those countries were more interested in this wedding than a new emperor of Great Chu. They went silent for a while and couldn’t help but sigh. She was right, envoys from those countries couldn’t be coming and congratulating Prince Ding on his marriage. No, they were going to be there to see how downtrodden the only descendant of Prince Ding’s Manor became after seven years of no news whatsoever and they wanted to see if he was still a threat to them.

“Li-er…”

Ye Li waved her hand since she didn’t mind that and said: “It’s not a big deal. It’s not like they can do anything to me in the capital of Great Chu. You’d better put these things away than to worry about that. Second aunt is going to check them tomorrow.” Ye Li looked at those various accounts and lists of gifts in front of her, her head ached. Only by then did she realize the advantages of Arabic numerals and double entry bookkeeping. But at the moment it wasn’t time to show off. She would have a lot more time to rearrange them after she was in Prince Ding’s Manor. Hua Tian Xiang and Qin Zheng looked at the accounts in front of them in silence and couldn’t help but lower their head. They were determined to learn from their mothers about how to run a family and keep all the accounts, after all there were simply too much of them.

Ye Lin and Ye Shan was listening to them. While Ye Lin and Ye Shan envied Ye Li on one hand, on the other hand, they were sympathetic to her. They knew they didn’t have anything to say about that so they just lowered their head and focused on what they were doing with their ears sharp.

“What?” Murong Ting, who was lying on the soft chair feebly, jumped up and rushed to the half-open window all of a sudden. She finally drew back after reaching out and looking around for quite some time, confusion all over her face.

Hua Tian Xiang looked at her and asked: “What? Is there something outside the window?”

Murong Ting shook her head, looked at Ye Li and said nothing. Ye Li smiled thinly and said: “Just now, I saw a beautiful green bird flying by outside the window. Did you see that too, Murong?” Murong Ting blinked her eyes and said in annoyance: “Yes, I saw a gorgeous bird. Who would have known it would be gone by the time I got to the window.” Qin Zheng chuckled. She covered her lips and said: “Birds are quick flyers. They won’t be waiting for you.” Hua Tian Xiang squinted at Murong: “When did you become a bird person? If you really like them, just ask your father to catch one for you or just buy a beautiful bird. You don’t have to be so flustered.”

“I’d love to.” Murong Ting held her chin up and proudly lay back again on the soft chair. Meanwhile, she gave Ye Li a secret stare. Ye Li smiled with closed lips. She certainly knew what Murong Ting heard. For the past few days, there had been people who wanted to ‘visit’ Ye Manor without going through the main entrance but they were all thrown out by secret guards sent by Mo Xiu Yao. However, it was rare that someone would break into Ye Manor in the middle of the day.

“Miss, the eldest son of Prince Zhennan of Xi Ling send someone carrying a congratulatory gift to congratulate on the happy event of Prince Ding and your wedding.” Outside the door, the steward of Ye Manor reported himself.

Ye Li frowned and said: “The eldest son of Prince Zhennan of Xi Ling? Shouldn’t they send the gift to Prince Ding’s Manor?” The steward said respectfully: “the eldest son of Prince Zhennan said that the gift was specially prepared by Xi Ling for the future Princess Ding so they must send it directly to you to show their sincerity.”

“Where is the eldest son of Prince Zhennan at the moment? Is father with him?” Ye Li asked.

“He’s in the main hall. Master just got back and is keeping him company.” The steward said.

Ye Li nodded: “I see. Tell them I will be there in a minute.”