Crowned Consort in Golden Age-Chapter 28. Reject
28. Rejection
The Everlasting Youth Pearl... Ye Li recalled absentmindedly that among the three rewards she had received, the most coveted one was this emerald-green pearl, which shone with a lustrous light. It was said that those who wore the Everlasting Youth Pearl would remain youthful forever. For women who cherished beauty, this was even more attractive than precious jewelry or luxurious clothing. However, for Ye Li, who was mentally mature but physically only fifteen years old, it held no such great appeal. Everyone desires beauty, and she was still very young. As long as she took care of herself properly in the future, she could pursue beauty that was appropriate for her actual age. If she still had the face of a twenty-year-old when she was fifty, Ye Li wasn’t sure she would truly like it. Moreover, she was skeptical about the so-called everlasting youth provided by the Everlasting Youth Pearl. At least, the previous owner of the Everlasting Youth Pearl, the Eldest Princess Zhaoyang, although somewhat younger-looking than her peers, was far from being in the full bloom of youth. However... just because she didn’t care didn’t mean others could arbitrarily seize it! 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝙬𝙚𝓫𝒏𝓸𝓿𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝙤𝓶
"Father, I beg your understanding, the Everlasting Youth Pearl is no longer with Li’er," Ye Li said indifferently.
"How is that possible?!" Ye Ying exclaimed, then looked skeptically at Ye Li. "Third Sister, could it be you are reluctant to part with the Everlasting Youth Pearl? Ying’er is also thinking of Her Highness Zhao Yi; after all, Her Highness is our Ye Family’s pillar of support."
Ye Li scoffed inwardly at this. Support? How many aristocratic families that have stood for a hundred years without falling truly rely on support through marriage connections?
"Fourth Sister, you’re overthinking. It’s just a pearl. I have already given it away."
"Given it away? How could you give the Everlasting Youth Pearl to someone else?" Ms.Wang shrieked. What woman in the world wouldn’t want the Everlasting Youth Pearl? If she weren’t thinking of her daughter in the palace, Ms.Wang herself would probably want to claim the Everlasting Youth Pearl.
Ye Li gave her a strange look and said with feigned puzzlement, "Li’er is only fifteen; it’s still a long time before I would need the Everlasting Youth Pearl." She wouldn’t, like the ancients, believe that fourteen or fifteen was a girl’s most beautiful age. Even if girls in ancient times matured early, a fourteen or fifteen-year-old still seemed too tender. Even someone as beautiful as Ye Ying was, in truth, far less uniquely charming than a woman in her twenties like Yaoji.
Madam Ye’s eyes grew somber. Looking at Ye Li, she asked, "Who did Li’er give it to? Let’s see if we can get it back. Even if we have to exchange it for something more valuable, that would be acceptable."
Ye Li frowned, her gaze fixed unwaveringly on Madam Ye, her expression somewhat peculiar. "Get it back?"
Madam Ye was old and shrewd; how could she not know how impolite it was to ask for a gift back? But the Everlasting Youth Pearl was simply too useful for Her Highness Zhao Yi. She believed that in a few days, when news of the Hundred Flowers Festival reached the palace, Her Highness Zhao Yi would also ask them for it. Besides, she didn’t intend to ask for it back in the Ye Family’s name; it would be best if Ye Li could personally retrieve it. Of course, Madam Ye was actually more suspicious that this was just Ye Li’s excuse, that Ye Li was simply unwilling to hand over the item.
Forcing a kind smile, Madam Ye said softly, "Good child, Grandmother knows this is somewhat impolite. But you also know how important this Everlasting Youth Pearl is to Her Highness Zhao Yi. Life in the palace is difficult for Her Highness. If, with the help of the Everlasting Youth Pearl, she could gain more of His Majesty’s favor..."
Ye Li frowned and said helplessly, "But Grandmother, I have already sent the Everlasting Youth Pearl and the Snow Sound Zither to my eldest maternal uncle."
Minister Ye’s face darkened with displeasure. He glared at Ye Li and barked, "Nonsense! What use would your eldest maternal uncle have for the Everlasting Youth Pearl?" If it were anyone else, Minister Ye might have been able to send someone to intercept it. But he truly didn’t have the courage to intercept something sent to his late wife’s eldest brother. Mr. Qingyun had two sons and one daughter. The second son, Xu Hongyan, was now the only one from the direct line of the Xu Family still holding an official position. But in fact, what truly made Minister Ye feel immense pressure was Xu Hong Yu, his late wife’s eldest brother, who had left the Capital City ten years ago. He was also the most renowned great scholar in the world today. Unlike Imperial Censor Xu, who was known for his Confucian elegance, sharp intellect, and strong principles, this contemporary great scholar—renowned throughout the land and reputedly even more brilliant than his father—always maintained a gentle and graceful demeanor. However, if he took a dislike to someone, that person would undoubtedly find their life unbearable. This was also why, despite the marital ties, Minister Ye hadn’t dared to brazenly send Ye Rong to Lishan Academy all these years. This eldest brother-in-law of his was far less upright than he appeared; Minister Ye had experienced that deeply back then.
Ye Li smiled faintly. "Some time ago, my eldest maternal uncle sent a letter mentioning that Grandfather’s pine zither had been broken recently. So, when I received the Snow Sound Zither, I was overjoyed and immediately had it sent to Grandfather. Then, remembering that I, Li’er, had no use for the Everlasting Youth Pearl, I sent it along to my eldest maternal aunt as well." Of course, she had also taken the opportunity to send the purple jade hairpin, said to have health benefits, to her second maternal aunt.
Minister Ye’s expression contorted again. For some reason, when he heard that his father-in-law’s pine zither had been broken and his daughter had consequently sent the Snow Sound Zither, he suddenly felt an inexplicable chill run down his spine, and a baseless sense of guilt welled up in his heart. Therefore, he couldn’t maintain a harsh attitude towards Ye Li any longer and only chided her somewhat reluctantly, "You... you child, why didn’t you discuss this with your father and mother?"
Ye Li inwardly raised an eyebrow. Had her father been an official for too long and his brain had become muddled, or did he truly believe Ms.Wang was virtuous and kind? To send a gift to her deceased mother’s father, she would have to consult with her stepmother, who had been elevated from a concubine. If she discussed it, would she even be able to send the gift out?
"It was Li’er’s thoughtlessness. It’s just that my eldest maternal uncle said Grandfather was very angry. As Li’er cannot personally attend to Grandfather to show my filial piety, and today, upon receiving the Snow Sound Zither, I was so happy that I immediately had it sent," Ye Li said, bowing her head guiltily.
Minister Ye managed a smile and said, "Father knows Li’er acted out of filial piety."
"Father..." Ye Ying called out anxiously.
Minister Ye’s expression turned solemn. He waved his hand and said, "This matter is closed. Say no more. Later, send more silver bank notes to Yue’er in the palace. The necessary expenditures for managing affairs and connections within the palace cannot be stinted on."
Although Ms.Wang was resentful, having been with Minister Ye for twenty years, she knew her husband better than anyone. Seeing his expression, she knew the matter was not up for discussion. She couldn’t help but feel bitterness towards Ye Li and the late Madam Ye. It’s always like this! Whenever the Xu Family was mentioned, her husband never sided with her. Was it that the Xu Family were his in-laws, and her Wang Family was not?
Coming out of Rongle Hall, Ye Li let out a soft sigh of annoyance and glanced sideways at Ye Ying, who had followed her out. "Fourth Sister, I’ll head back first."
Ye Ying seemed not to hear Ye Li’s words, saying with a faint smile, her voice soft and drawn out, "Third Sister is truly generous, to casually give away such a priceless treasure without even a second look."
"Fourth Sister, you jest. Grandfather and my two maternal aunts are not outsiders. Moreover, my two maternal uncles and aunts have always taken good care of me. Although I, your elder sister, was born in the Minister’s Mansion, not even a blade of grass or a piece of wood around me was truly my own. Now that I finally have a few presentable items, it’s only natural to show filial respect to my elders. After all... one must have a grateful heart, mustn’t one?" And you all, who have been eating and using my mother’s dowry money all these years, have you ever spared a single thought for her?
"What Third Sister says is right. Younger sister has learned her lesson," Ye Ying said through gritted teeth, her voice low.
Ye Li smiled. "I am a common person, only knowing how to use these trinkets to repay the care of my elders. I cannot compare to Fourth Sister, who is so elegant and unworldly, unconcerned with such material possessions. Fourth Sister, please take your time on your way back."
"Safe journey, Third Sister!"
Ignoring the shifting expressions on Ye Ying’s face behind her, Ye Li leisurely headed towards Qingyi Pavilion. "Qingshuang, have someone inform Concubine Zhao that the time is about right. Find something to occupy Madam Wang; that should settle things. I don’t wish to see them for a while."
"Yes, Miss."
