Note: The names are retained in traditional Chinese characters as the RAWs I’m translating from are in traditional Chinese and it also makes it easier for me when I’m translating. The new vocabulary terms on the other hand are in simplified Chinese.Characters Shown / Mentioned in this Chapter:
葉璃璃兒 – Ye LiLi er – Main Female Protagonist – first di daughter of the Ye family, but the third child in the family.
定王定國王墨修堯 – Ding w.a.n.gDing guow.a.n.g Mo Xiu Yao – Imperial Prince Ding of the highest rank
黎王 墨景黎 – Li w.a.n.g Mo Jing Li – Imperial Prince Li
Ye Family Members:
葉文華 葉尚書尚書大人 葉老爺 – Ye Wen Hua Ye Shangshu Shangshu daren Ye laoye – Ye Li‘s father who has the t.i.tle or position of official in charge of presenting memorials to the emperor and official correspondence / Minister of Revenue
葉老夫人葉老太太 – Ye laofuren Ye laotaitai – Ye Li‘s grandmother from her father’s sidethe old madam of the family
徐氏 – Xu shi – Ye Li‘s mother
王氏 – w.a.n.g shi – the current main wife of Ye Shangshu and current zhumu of the household
(葉夫人 – Ye furen – can refer to either Xu shi or w.a.n.g shi)
葉昭儀 (大小姐) 葉玥 – Ye Zhao Yi (da xiaojie)Ye Yue(?) – Ye Li‘s eldest sister
葉瑩瑩兒 – Ye Ying Ying er – 4th daughter in the family
葉容容少爺容哥兒 – Ye RongRong shaoye Rong ge er – Ye Li‘s younger brotherson of w.a.n.g shi
Imperial Family Members + Subjects:Nanzhao
棲霞公主 – Xi Xia gongzhu – Zhao Yang Chang gongzhu‘s fuma‘s niece
Others:
秦箏 – Qin Zheng – second daughter of Qin Yushi
慕容婷 – Murong Ting – General Yang Wei‘s daughter
華天香 – Hua Tian Xiang – young miss of the Hua Guo Gong fu
Bold – Names of people, placesItalic – Chinese terms in pinyinUnderline – Unknown
Fu Imperial Capital
Chapter 27: Zhuyan Precious Pearl(s)
“What did you say?! Ye Li got the Hundred Flowers‘ first place?!”
Ye fu[1] , inside Ye Ying‘s Hui Xue Ge[2], Ye Ying‘s voice that had always been tender and elegant before had an added trace of wordless harshness to it. In the reception pavilion that was arranged to look elegant and quietly secluded were serving yatou[3] kneeling on the ground, trembling with fear as she replied, “Replying…Replying to xiaojie[4] , there are indeed such rumours outside. Third xiaojie had already returned to the fu, also…Yushi[5] fu Qin family, Xu family, Hua Guo Gong[6] fu, General Yang Wei fu, Prime Minister fu, and Minister of Rites fu all had people send gifts to congratulate third xiaojie‘s victory.” A crack finally emerged on Ye Ying‘s dainty mien, one wave of a hand sweeping all the things placed on the table on the side onto the ground. The yatou kneeling at the most front was struck head-on yet didn’t dare to cry out in pain, promptly saying, “Xiaojie, quell your anger……”
“Quell what anger! Ye Li…how could that s.l.u.t Ye Li possibly become the Hundred Flowers champion?” Ye Ying shouted in disbelief. She had Ye Li pushed out precisely because she had observed how mother hadn’t at all specially invite anyone to teach her these years; compared to how she didn’t have the certainty of beating Xi Xia gongzhu[7] , she would’ve inevitably lost face. By that time, although she couldn’t get this year’s Hundred Flowers‘ first place, it was defeat without there even being a fight; it didn’t count as losing face. What’s more important was that by that time, everyone would all know that it was only she Ye Ying who was precisely the Ye family’s most outstanding daughter. Even if Ye Li was the Xu family’s waisunnu[8] , all the same she also wouldn’t be able to compete with her!
Although she was extremely angry, Ye Ying very quickly calmed down, reverting back to her usual self that was tender and elegant. She stood up and said, “Everyone stand up, let’s go to where mother is to see her.”
The yatou in the reception pavilion all secretly breathed a sigh of relief; those who ought to clean up the mess cleaned up the mess and those who ought to follow Ye Ying had hurriedly tidied up their appearances to follow Ye Ying in going to see w.a.n.g shi[9].
Rong Le Hall
Ye Li quietly sat upright, despite Ye laofuren[10] , Ye Shangshu[11] and w.a.n.g shi sizing her up. Ye laofuren smiled affectionately as she looked at Ye Li and said, “Li er[12] is indeed worthy of being my Ye family’s di[13] daughter; now she is actually an overnight celebrity. Our Ye family had after all produced two famous Hundred Flowers‘ champions. Who in this capital wouldn’t praise us for teaching our daughters correctly?”
Ye Li pursed her lips into a faint smile and said, “Zumu[14] has overpraised, it is all due to being taught well by zumu and fuqin[15].”
Ye Shangshu looked at the quiet and dignified daughter before his eyes with a very complicated expression. This daughter who he had never seriously paid attention to was entirely different from the other daughters in the family; she appeared unremarkable but if one were to look carefully, she had a special kind of impressive elegance and gracefulness of a large aristocratic family. This made him unable to help but recall the first time he had met his already deceased wife; it was also this kind of elegance and indifference. Beautiful in a way that caused one to admired from the heart, yet at the same time gracefully making people to feel inferior on the inside. Even though she wasn’t raised in the Xu family and she didn’t have the best upbringing, was the Xu family’s blood capable enough of making his other children to be far inferior? Remembering when he heard someone else mention the performances of several daughters at the Hundred Flowers Event, Ye Shangshu thought silently on the inside. Once again thinking of Ye Rong who had been spoiled by muqin[16] and w.a.n.g shi, Ye Shangshu felt even more regretful on the inside: why isn’t Li er a boy?
“Qin family, Xu family and also the Hua Guo Gong fu, Liu fu…for these households who have sent congratulatory gifts, you’ll need to be attentive when sending gifts in return.” Ye laofuren looked at w.a.n.g shi who was sitting at the side with lowered eyes and instructed her.
w.a.n.g shi promptly covered up the glimmer in her eyes as she respectfully said, “Laofuren, rest a.s.sured, this daughter-in-law is aware.”
Ye laofuren nodded contentedly, “As for those congratulatory gifts, send them all over to Qing Yi Xuan. If Li er sees any head ornaments, jewelry, clothes that she likes, buy some more once again. Each family had sent down invitations. Although it’s not necessary to go to all of them, you can’t not go to even one family. By that time, don’t make the Shangshu fu lose face.”
Ye Li still hadn’t answered yet when the yatou outside the door announced fourth xiaojie‘s arrival.
Ye Ying had changed into a flimsy outfit of white clothing, her face was also somewhat pale that made her appear even more delicate and powerless. She was supporting herself on a yatou‘s hand as she entered to pay respects to laofuren, Ye Shangshu, and w.a.n.g shi and only then said with a pale face, “Ying er had allowed the Ye family to lose face. I ask zumu and fuqin to please punish me.”
Ye laofuren‘s grizzly eyebrows slightly raised and she looked at Ye Shangshu not saying anything. Ye Ying was usually deeply doted on by Ye Shangshu; compared to Ye Zhao Yi who had already entered the palace, it was even more to a degree that he was in no way willing to punish her. w.a.n.g shi promptly took her daughter into her embrace as she softly consoled her, saying, “Silly child, how could we blame this on you? If not for the accident, presumably this year’s Hundred Flowers‘ first place would still be Ying er‘s.”
Ye Shangshu nodded and also followed w.a.n.g shi in saying, “What your mother said is right, things happen for a reason yet it cannot be for blamed on you. Still not quickly getting up; your body is weak and the floor is very cold.”
Seeing the happy and harmonious family of three before her eyes, Ye Li‘s expression was indifferent and unruffled; still showing an elegantly respectful face on the surface, though on the inside she had already started recalling the new friends she had made today. Particularly Qin Zheng, her future biaosao[17], as well as thinking of what gifts to send them in return. Recently there were a lot more matters and she didn’t have the time to take part in this senseless family ethics theatrics. Once again thinking of her future married life, perhaps she could get a husband who wasn’t too good nor too lacking. If possible, it would const.i.tute a calm, harmonious and happy household. Perhaps she could even have one or two of her own kids…..
((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))
While Ye laofuren was unwaveringly studying the young lady who was sitting up and who was dressed in nature-coloured clothing, Ye Li‘s mind had already long wandered off into pondering the things that she needed to do recently.
Ye laofuren watched the scene before her eyes and inwardly sighed. Previously she had seen that Ye Yue and Ye Ying were good and it was only now did she see clearly that it turned out that it was actually Ye Li who was truly not fond of showing off one’s talents in front of others. Just based on this calmness, Ye laofuren believed that if the one who had entered the palace was Ye Li, perhaps she would be able to go even farther. It was a pity that now Ye Li had been bestowed to the cripple Ding w.a.n.g[18] who was doomed to not have any prospects. It was truly the Will of Heaven messing with people….
“Zumu, elder sister winning the Hundred Flowers‘ first place is our Ye family’s big happy occasion. Shouldn’t we tell second elder sister to also make her happy?” Waiting until the family of three finally finished, Ye Ying then walked over to Ye laofuren‘s side and said with a pampered voice.
Ye Shangshu laughed as he said, “As it is rare for Ying er to have such aspiration, what was said is right. Muqin, you see…..”
“The matter you speak of, after a couple of days it will be the day to enter the palace to pay respects. At that time, report this good news to Zhao Yi niangniang[19] .” Ye laofuren nodded as she spoke, inclining her head to look at Ye Li and laugh as she said, “Your second elder sister usually treats you sisters excellently; from now on you each will be in charge of a fu, it would also be good to accompany her more often.”
“Zumu!” Ye Ying shyly covered her face as she called out, a blush swiping across her pale and lovable face. In comparison, Ye Li had less of a young girl’s bashfulness. Ye Shangshu looked at his young daughter with tender and also followed in chuckling.
Ye Ying looked at Ye Li, her beautiful eyes turning and softly laughed as she said, “It’s also been a long time since third elder sister had seen second elder sister, right? It would be best for mother to prepare a good gift on third elder sister’s behalf to give to second elder sister.”
w.a.n.g shi was startled for a moment, looking at Ye Ying while frowning. Contrarily Ye laofuren was jolted on the inside; her gaze once again turned towards Ye Li, hesitating for bit yet didn’t speak up. Ye Li took in Ye laofuren and Ye Ying‘s expressions, her thoughts turning and understood what was Ye Ying‘s meaning. Remaining calm and collected as she looked at Ye Ying, she was somewhat looking forward to her performance.
Ye Ying saw how w.a.n.g shi momentarily couldn’t understand her own words and how Ye laofuren also remained calm and collected, she couldn’t help but frown as she softly reminded, “Elder sister Zhao Yi is now pregnant; I heard that when a woman get pregnant, their appearance…..”
All the people present weren’t really the stupid kind of people; just by hearing the word ‘appearance’, w.a.n.g shi immediately reacted; the expression with which she looked at Ye Li also had the added bit of fervour, “Laoye[20] …..”
Ye Li helplessly sighed on the inside; in this family, there was really not one person who was an idiot ah.
“Ying er‘s words are reasonable. Li er, have the Zhuyan pearl(s) sent into the palace as a present for Zhao Yi niangniang. If you want anything, go ahead and ask for it from your muqin.” Ye Shangshu clearly didn’t feel that Ye Ying‘s proposal had any problems as he promptly made the decision.
Glossary:Fu (府 – official residence / family residence compound / household / term for family and home put together)Hui Xue Ge (回 – to return / to go back雪 – snow阁 – pavilion / court)Yatou (丫头 – young maidservant / young girl)Xiaojie (小姐 – Young miss / lady)Yushi (御史 – imperial censor)Gong (公 – duke)Gongzhu (公主 – imperial princess)Waisunnu (外孫女 – granddaughter through female descendant)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)Shangshu (尚書 – t.i.tle or position of official in charge of presenting memorials to the emperor and official correspondence)
Er (儿 – term of endearment for one’s child / child)
Di (嫡 – legitimate / of the official wife)
Zumu (祖母 – respectful or intimate way of addressing grandmother)
Fuqin (父亲 – respectful or intimate way of addressing father)
Muqin (母亲 – respectful or intimate way of addressing mother)
Biaosao (表嫂 – wife of older male cousin via female line)
w.a.n.g (王 – imperial prince)
Niangniang (娘娘 – term meaning ‘mother’ but is used when addressing the empress, imperial concubine, female royal, etc. by someone of lower rank)
Laoye (老爺 – master / lord of the household)