In the evening, the royal banquet was held in a strange atmosphere. When Ye Li and Mo Xiu Yao went inside the chamber, every eye was on her. Apparently, the game in the imperial garden this afternoon made her the center of attention. In a mere afternoon, not only those n.o.bles who were in the imperial garden at that time but also those who attended the banquet knew about what happened in the afternoon. Seeing Murong Ting winked at her sitting by Qin Zheng's side and Xu Qing Feng's outright praise, Ye Li had no doubt that the capital knew about it already. She only wondered what they talked about her, that she was versed in civil and martial affairs or that she was so formidable a woman as to scare the arrogant and willful princess of Xi Ling to tears?
Thinking of the later possibility, Ye Li couldn't help but lowering her head and laughing quietly.
The so-called royal banquet was nothing more than good wine and delicious food as well as a show of peace and prosperity. Ye Li listened to the emperor's exchange of courtesies with envoys from every country from time to time and the whispers of those ministers sitting beside her. Meanwhile, she would pick up food she liked to eat. She didn't really count to fill up her stomach at such a banquet since she could always have a midnight snack back home.
Only when a woman in bright red dress appeared in the chamber did Ye Li asked, looking at her exceedingly beautiful dances with a little surprise: "What is Miss Yao doing here?"
Mo Xiu Yao smiled slightly and said: "I think she has been invited to perform in the palace. After all she came from the official musical school and is the best dancer in the capital. Last year at the empress dowager's birthday celebration she was also invited to dance in the palace."
Ye Li raised her eyebrows and asked: "Your Highness, how do you like it?"
Mo Xiu Yao answered: "It's good, naturally. What do you think, Ah Li?"
Ye Li turned to look at her for a good while before she nodded and said: "It's indeed very good." She had heard several times about Miss Yao who could be considered as a remarkable woman in the capital. Miss Yao came from the official musical school and gained her reputation in the capital for her skills of playing zither and dancing. Then she became the owner of the best brothel, House of Exceeding Beauties, in the capital when she wasn't even 25 years old. She had contact with many n.o.bles in the capital. It was said that Mu Yang, the eldest son of Marquis Mu Yang was a close friend of hers and the third son of Feng Family was also a friend. Remarkable women often came from the lower rank of the society. In a time like this, only a woman like Miss Yao could live so freely and at ease.
A dance by the best performer in the capital was indeed stunning. Looking across the chamber, at least 70% of the men present had a look of unrestrained greed in their eyes. Women, on the contrary, were jealous with resentment. There were certainly people who purely enjoyed her show, but only a few of them. After her dance, Miss Yao disappeared outside the chamber and left a trace of delicate fragrance behind. Ye Li only felt more bored seeing those people bustling about with different looks. She told Mo Xiu Yao that she wanted to go out and have some fresh air, then she left the chamber quietly with Qing Luan and Qing Shuang.
Outside the chamber, the night wind whistled lightly, gradually brushing off the smell of rouge and wine she brought with her from the chamber. Ye Li took a deep breath. She didn't pay any attention to the music played inside the chamber. The night in the palace seemed exceptionally quiet to her. Walking slowly along a peaceful path, Ye Li felt her mood lightened as time pa.s.sed by. She was about to take a seat in the pavilion ahead when she and the two maids were blocked by an unfamiliar maid: "Princess Ding."
Qing Luan took a step ahead and stood in front of Ye Li. She asked: "Who are you?"
The maid took a bow and said: "I'm a maid in Lady Ye of Bright Deportment's palace. Lady Ye of Bright Deportment has invited Princess Ding to Yaohua Palace for a chat."
Ye Yue was pregnant so she didn't attend the banquet. She had sent a maid to invite Ye Li in the afternoon when Ye Li refused her invitation. Ye Li naturally knew what Ye Yue had on her mind but she didn't intend to let Ye Yue and Ye Family take advantage of her mainly because what Ye Yue had planned was way too ridiculous. If Ye Yue watched out for herself and kept her place she might be able to give birth to a kid without any trouble. By then, she would have a kid to rely on. But if she kept plotting… Even though Ye Li hadn't seen Ye Yue for many times, she didn't think that Ye Yue who was pregnant received as much favor as Ye Family had thought.
"I'm a little tired today. Tell Lady Ye of Bright Deportment if she has anything I can talk to her later when I come to the palace to wish His Majesty health. Not today."
The maid looked a little anxious and said: "Princess, please forgive me. Lady of Bright Deportment does have something important to talk to you."
Ye Li said indifferently: "If it is something important, I'm afraid I won't be of much help. Well, Lady Ye of Bright Deportment's mother Lady w.a.n.g is also in the chamber. How about I send somebody for her. How about that?"
"Princess, Lady of Bright Deportment only asked you to present yourself before her." The maid said. It sounded a little compulsory when she mentioned the word present.
Ye Li turned gloomy in an instant. She sneered and said coldly: "I don't know that I have to present myself before a Lady of Bright Deportment in the middle of the night." She put stress on the word present. Princess Ding held a place of great honor. Even she was in the palace, she only had to take a full bow in front of the empress and empress dowager and half a bow in front of a n.o.ble consort, let alone some Lady of Bright Deportment. If they did b.u.mp into each other, Ye Yue ought to take half a bow to Ye Li in order to show respect to Prince Ding's Manor.
"I… I was indiscreet. Princess, please forgive me for that. Lady Ye of Bright Deportment dose have something important to consult you. Please come with me since you are sisters with Lady of Bright Deportment."
Ye Li looked at that maid with some doubt and said slowly: "Come to think of it, I've been to Yaohua Palace. You don't look familiar."
The maid forced a smile: "I am very plain. It's possible that you don't remember me, princess."
Ye Li shook her head: "That's not it. I'm sure that you aren't among the six chief maids and eight maids who served in the inner chamber of Lady Ye of Bright Deportment. It's not possible that she would send a maid of labor to invite me."
"I…" The maid turned frightened. She turned around and wanted to leave. Ye Li gave Qing Luan a hint with her eyes. Qing Luan took a step forward and struck the back of that maid's neck not expending the slightest effort. Then the maid pa.s.sed out and hit the ground.
"Princess." Qing Yu frowned. She raised her eyes and waited for Ye Li's instruction.
Ye Li scowled slightly then she suddenly turned to the flower shrubs along the path: "Who's there?"
"Princess Ding." A slender body walked out. The moon added a bit of quietness to her bewitching face.
"Miss Yao." Ye Li said: "Why are you here?"
Miss Yao gave her a charming smile and said: "You flatter me, princess. Just call me Yao."
Miss Yao walked over. She glanced at the unconscious maid lying on the ground and smiled at Ye Li with her eyebrows raised: "Princess Ding, who is this?"
Ye Li smiled: "Didn't you hear it? It's nothing really. Odd things happen is the palace from time to time."
Ye Li waved to her back and a shadow like a ghost appeared behind her: "Princess."
Ye Li pointed at the maid on the ground: "Take her and don't frighten anyone." Then shadow took the maid quickly and disappeared in the dark in a few jumps.
"I've heard from Feng San a long time ago that Princess Ding is frank and straightforward. Today I've seen with my eyes that you deserve the reputation." Miss Yao laughed.
"The third son of Feng Family mentioned me?" She remembered that she didn't know the third son of Feng Family who was famous in the capital well.
Miss Yao covered her mouth and laughed, her eyes watery: "Feng San thinks highly of you. I admire him for his ability to see through people. It's really an honor to meet you today, princess."
Ye Li lowered her eyes and smiled: "It's a pleasure to see your gorgeous dance."
"I'll keep my mouth shut about what just happened." Miss Yao winked and her enchanting face looked a little naughtier.
Ye Li smiled: "Thank you. By the way, why are you here at such a late hour?"
Miss Yao sighed slightly: "Some people and things are such a headache so I just want to find a place to hide. It turns out we are predetermined to meet each other, princess."
Ye Li understood her. Many people at tonight's banquet must have had a l.u.s.tful intent towards Miss Yao since she was both beautiful and talented. But whoever dared to pester her in the palace wouldn't be a n.o.body. "How about I send someone to escort you out of the palace?"
Miss Yao looked grateful. She said: "Then, thank you very much, princess."
"That's nothing." Ye Li turned around and talked to Qing Yu before she parted with Miss Yao and returned to the chamber full of songs and dance.
Seeing that Ye Li came back, Mo Xiu Yao looked at her with inquiry. Ye Li shook her head grudgingly. She walked towards Mo Xiu Yao and sat beside him. Then she told him what happened in the imperial garden in a small voice.
Mo Xiu Yao nodded and said: "Later I will send someone after it. Stay by my side tonight, Ah Li."
Ye Li nodded coolly. Only by then did she find the chamber felt stranger than when she had left. The songs and dance had stopped. Everyone indistinctly looked towards where envoys of Xi Ling and Nan Zhao were and not many had noticed that Ye Li came inside quietly.
Hua Tian Xiang gave Ye Li a strange smile, pointing towards envoys of Xi Ling with her chin ambiguously. Ye Li looked over only to see Princess Ling Yun of Xi Ling crying with her eyes red. Apparently, it wasn't Princess Ling Yun's lucky day. How come she cried again in such a short time?
"What happened?" Ye Li asked in a small voice.
Mo Xiu Yao smiled coldly: "The eldest son of Prince Zhenan said Xi Ling wanted to form a marriage alliance with Great Chu like Qin and Jin. Before he even finished… Princess Ling Yun objected. Finally… His Majesty agreed to a marriage alliance but Princess Ling Yun won't go to the palace."
"Then what?"
"Then Nan Zhao presented a letter of credence from the king of Nan Zhao that Nan Zhao would love to let Princess Qi Xia marry in Great Chu."
"His Majesty means to marry Princess Qi Xia and let Prince Li marry Princess Ling Yun."