Chapter 28
Chapter 28: Refusal
Zhuyan Precious Pearl ah…Ye Li senselessly recalled that among the three prizes that she had received, the one that was most capable of making people drool over it was that l.u.s.trous bluish-green pearl. It was reportedly said that someone who wears the Zhuyan pearl as an accessory could stay young forever. For women who loved beauty, this indeed had even more appeal when compared to treasure jewelry and gorgeous clothes.
But for Ye Li who was of a much bigger age mentally and who was physically fifteen years old, it didn’t have that much of an appeal. The desire to look beautiful was something every person had; right now she was still very young. It would only be in the future that she would be a bit more diligent in maintenance, pursuing beauty at an extent that would basically match with one’s appearance and actual age.
If she were to still have the face of a twenty year old at the age of fifty, Ye Li wasn’t sure that she would really like it so much. What was even more was that, towards the Zhuyan pearl’s so-called ‘eternal youth’, she still maintained a skeptical approach towards it. At the very least the Zhuyan pearl’s original owner Zhao Yang Chang gongzhu[1] who although looked slightly younger than other people of the same age as her, still hadn’t reached the step of looking to be in the prime of her youth.
However…..her disregard didn’t at all mean that others could plunder as they pleased!
“Fuqin[2] , please forgive me. The Zhuyan pearl is already not here with Li er[3] .” Ye Lisaid indifferently.
“How is that possible?!” Ye Ying cried out in alarm and then looked doubtfully at Ye Li, saying, “Could it be that third elder sister is unwilling to part with the Zhuyan pearl? Ying er is thinking on the behalf of Zhao Yi niangniang[4] . After all, Zhao Yi niangniang is our Ye family’s pillar of support.”
At this, Ye Li snorted disdainfully on the inside. Pillar of support? Among the influential clans who were truly able to stand stably and not fall, how many of them depended on the support and favoritism due to a female relative’s influence?
“Fourth younger sister is thinking too much. It is just a pearl. I already gave it away.”
“Gave it away? How could you have the Zhuyan pearl given away?” w.a.n.g shi‘s[5]sharp voice called out. When it came to the Zhuyan pearl, which woman beneath the skies wouldn’t want it? If she weren’t thinking of her daughter in the palace, one only feared that w.a.n.g shi would also want to take the Zhuyan pearl for herself.
Ye Li oddly looked at her, perplexed as she said, “Li er is fifteen years old, still far from the time when I would need the Zhuyan pearl.” She certainly wouldn’t be like the people from ancient times in the same way in believing that the age of fourteen or fifteen would be the time that girls would be most beautiful. Even though the females of ancient times matured early, girls who were fourteen or fifteen years old also still appeared to be somewhat too young and tender. Even fo
r someone who was beautiful like Ye Ying, she would also actually be far inferior to Yao Ji that kind of twenty-year-old female’s charm and individuality.
Ye laofuren‘s[6] eyes sank, looking at Ye Li as she said, “What kind of person did Li er send it to? Let’s see if we can exchange it back. Even if we were to exchange it with something even more precious, it’s also doable.”
Ye Li frowned, the expression in her eyes not even changing for an instant as she looked at Ye laofuren, her expression somewhat queer, “Exchange it back?”
Ye laofuren had long been a person who had wizened with age; how could she not know that sending out a gift and then wanting to have it back was a kind of discourteous matter. However, the usefulness of the Zhuyan pearl for Zhao Yi niangniang was indeed too huge; one believed that after two days, the news of the Hundred Flowers Event would pa.s.s into the palace and Zhao Yi niangniang would also ask them for it. Furthermore, she also didn’t plan on using Ye family’s name to go get it back; it would be best to let Ye Li personally go to get it back. Of course, Ye laofuren was actually even more suspicious that this was only Ye Li trying to make an excuse, that Ye Liabsolutely wasn’t at all willing to bring out the item.
Squeezing out a kind smiling expression, Ye laofuren softly said, “Good child, zumu[7] knows that this is somewhat discourteous. However, you also know how important this Zhuyan pearl is to Zhao Yi niangniang. The days that Zhao Yiniangniang goes through in the palace are difficult; if she were to have the help of the Zhuyan pearl, she would be even more capable of getting the emperor’s favour…..”
Ye Li frowned, helpless as she said, “But zumu, I already had the Zhuyan pearl and Xue Yin zither sent over to da jiujiu[8] ah.”
Ye Shangshu‘s[9] face sank in displeasure, angrily glaring at Ye Li and saying, “Nonsense! What use would your da jiujiu need the Zhuyan pearl for?” If it were other people, perhaps Ye Shangshu could still a.s.sign people to obstruct it. But for things that were sent to his own deceased wife’s da jiuzi[10] , Ye Shangshu still really didn’t have the guts to obstruct it. Qing Yun xiansheng[11] at his knee had two sons and one daughter; the second son Xu Hong Yan now was the Xu clan’s direct descendant who was the only one who was still in the officialdom, whereas in actuality, the one that made Ye Shangshu feel most deeply pressured by was actually the da jiuzi Xu Hong Yu who had left the capital as early as ten years ago.((This translation is originally found on: h t t p : / / g u q i n t r a n s l a t i o n s . w o r d p r e s s . c o m))
At the same time, he was also currently the most prestigious great scholar beneath the skies. He was different from Xu Yushi‘s[12] refinement that was slightly sharp as well as rather principled, this individual that was for the people beneath the skies to commend; reportedly the blue-green coming from blue (means student surpa.s.sing teacher or later generation surpa.s.sing predecessor) kind of current, major scholar who forever had the elegant appearance of looking cultured and refined. However, if he finds someone unfavourable to the eye, that person would find it better to die than to live. This was also the reason why even when they undoubtedly had this level of relationship as in-laws these years, Ye Shangshu still didn’t dare to thicken his face to have Ye Rong sent to Lishan academy. This da jiuzi who originally didn’t have such an upright-looking outward appearance, he indeed learned rather deeply from experience that year.
Ye Li laughed shallowly and said, “A few days ago, da jiujiu sent a letter mentioning how waigong‘s[13] Song Feng zither was dropped and broken a few days ago, so in getting the Xue Yin zither, Li er in a moment of happiness immediately had someone send it over to waigong. Recalling in pa.s.sing how it would also be useless for Li er to keep the Zhuyan pearl, I also conveniently had the Zhuyan pearl sent over to da jiumu[14] together.” Of course she conveniently had that purple jade hairpin that was only said to have effects of maintaining one’s body sent over to second jiumu[15].
Ye Shangshu‘s facial features once again distorted; he didn’t know why when he heard his daughter say that yuefu[16] daren‘s[17] Song Feng zither was dropped and broken, he suddenly felt his back turn indescribably cold, an unexpected sense of guilt had even raised from the bottom of his heart. Thus towards Ye Li, he also didn’t exhibit any sort of unyielding att.i.tude; he was only somewhat reluctant as he scolded lightly, “You…this child, why didn’t you discuss it with fuqin and muqin[18] for a while.”
Ye Li heedlessly raised her eyebrows on the inside; had he, this fuqin, been a government official for too long that his brain can’t function well or did he really believe that w.a.n.g shi was virtuous and understanding? If sending presents to his former yuefustill needed to be discussed with the second wife who was raised from a concubine’s status, after discussing it, would she still be able to send out the items?
“It’s Li er who thought it over inconsiderately. It was all because da jiujiu said waigong is really angry. Li er is unable to do my filial duty in front of waigong. Today once I got the Xue Yin zither, in a moment of happiness I immediately had someone send it away.” Ye Li guiltily lowered her head.
Ye Shangshu smiled with difficulty and said, “Fuqin know that this is Li er showing filial piety.”
“Father……” Ye Ying anxiously called out.
Ye Shangshu‘s expression was respectful as he waved a hand and said, “This matter shall be dropped from this point onwards. No need to say it again. Later, send some more silver banknotes into the palace for Yue er . One mustn’t save when it comes to bribing up and down inside the palace.”
Although w.a.n.g shi felt unreconciled in her heart, she had followed Ye Shangshu for twenty years and knew her own husband better than anyone else. With one look at his complexion, she knew that it was the end of discussion on this topic; in her heart, she couldn’t help but resent Ye Li and the already deceased Ye furen[19]. Everytime it was like this! Just with one mention of the Xu family, her husband would never take one’s own self into consideration; could it be that the Xu family was his in-laws, but her w.a.n.gfamily on the other hand wasn’t?
Coming out from Rong Le hall, Ye Li was bored as she lightly breathed out, inclining her head to look at Ye Ying who had come out together with her from behind, “Fourth younger sister, I’ll go back first.”
As though Ye Ying didn’t hear Ye Li‘s words, she softly and slowly laughed as she said, “Third elder sister is truly magnanimous. For that kind of priceless treasure, without even taking a look, you had already changed hands and gave it away.”
“Fourth younger sister is making a joke. Waigong and my two jiumu aren’t outsiders anyway. Not to mention, the two jiujiu[20] and jiumu showed extreme consideration towards elder sister. Although elder sister was born in the Shangshu fu[21] , every blade of gra.s.s and every tree (all the small things) at one’s side weren’t acquired by one’s own self. Now that I finally have several kinds of presentable items, I naturally need to show filial respect to my elders. After all…people need to have the heart to be grateful, isn’t that right?” As for you people, these years spent eating up and using my mother’s dowry and money, was there even the least bit of consideration for her thoughts?
“What third elder sister is right. Younger sister has been educated.” Ye Ying gritted her teeth as she spoke in a low voice.
Ye Li laughed, “I’m a common person, only knowing to use these things to reciprocate elders’ care. I can’t compare with fourth younger sister’s elegant and refined way of not caring about these mere worldly possessions. Fourth younger sister, take care.”
“Third elder sister, take care!”
No longer paying attention to how Ye Ying‘s complexion would change from behind, Ye Li leisurely headed in the direction of Qing Yi Xuan, “Qing Shuang, have someone tell Zhao yiniang[22] that the day is near. Give furen something to do. These days, I don’t want to see them.”
“Yes, xiaojie[23].”Glossary:Gongzhu (公主 – imperial princess)Fuqin (父亲 – respectful or intimate way of addressing father)Er (儿 – term of endearment for one’s child / child)Niangniang (娘娘 – term meaning ‘mother’ but is used when addressing the empress, imperial concubine, female royal, etc. by someone of lower rank)Shi (氏 – clan name / maiden surname)Laofuren (老夫人 – old madam / t.i.tle for the mother of a n.o.ble or an official)Zumu (祖母 – respectful or intimate way of addressing grandmother)Da jiujiu (大舅舅 – eldest maternal uncle)Shangshu (尚書 – t.i.tle or position of official in charge of presenting memorials to the emperor and official correspondence)Da jiuzi (大舅子 – wife’s elder brother)Xiansheng (先生 – mister / teacher)Yushi (御史 – imperial censor)Waigong (外公 – maternal grandfather)Da jiumu (大舅母 – eldest maternal uncle’s wife / wife of mother’s eldest brother / first maternal aunt)Jiumu (舅母 – aunt who is the wife of maternal uncle)Yuefu (岳父 – wife’s father / father-in-law)Daren (大人 – adult / grownup / t.i.tle of respect toward superiors)Muqin (母亲 – respectful or intimate way of addressing mother)Furen (夫人 – lady or madam of the house / wife)Jiujiu (舅舅 – maternal uncle)Fu (府 – official residence / family residence compound / household / term for family and home put together)Yiniang (姨娘 – normal concubine)Xiaojie (小姐 – Young miss / lady)