Chapter 63
Ordinary Days after the Wedding (1)
In the early morning, Ye Li was sitting leisurely in front of the bronze mirror and let Qing Shuang have her way with her hair . Qing Shuang was very skillful and made Ye Li’s dark hair into a lily bun . Qing Xia took out the jewelry box which was filled up and let Ye Li choose . Ye Li didn’t have a choice . She looked herself up in the bronze mirror, frowned and said to Qing Shuang: “Couldn’t you make an easier bun?”
Qing Shuang laughed up her sleeve and said: “Miss, you should be satisfied with this . Newlywed women are supposed to dress lavishly . This is the simplest one I could manage . You wouldn’t bear those hairstyles that are popular among noble ladies of the capital . Your old hairstyles are meant for girls who haven’t got married . Now you can’t wear your hair like that any more . The jewelry is the set that Prince Ding has given you . You haven’t worn it at all . ”
Ye Li nodded . She did like that set of magnolia jewelry made of green jade . It seemed that the jewelry wouldn’t draw much attention to her either .
Qing Shuang smiled with closed lips . She brought the jewelry and put it on Ye Li’s hair . She nodded and said in praise: “It seems that I know you the best, Miss…”
“What Miss?” Lin mama and Wei mama came in .
Lin mama glared at those maids and said: “From now on there’s only Princess . Don’t let those in this manor think that people around the Princess have no manners . ”
“Yes, mama . Us maids meet princess . ” The four girls stood in a line, bent their knees and showed their respect to Ye Li .
Wei mama had already drawn Ye Li towards her and asked Ye Li in a small voice in distress . Naturally, two mamas knew that the prince didn’t rest in the nuptial room last night . Wei mama couldn’t help but feel sorry for the miss who she had been caring for since she was a little girl . Ye Li comforted two mamas with smiles . The two didn’t stop until they saw that there was indeed not a trace of distress on Ye Li face . They told themselves that their miss just arrived at Prince Ding’s Manor and wasn’t used to it yet . It was considerate for the prince to give her some time to get herself used to a new environment . But they still gave her a hint that she’d better consummate her marriage as soon as possible . After all, she was going to spend her life with the prince . Ye Li couldn’t help herself and the corner of her mouth twitched slightly . However, in the end she didn’t say anything and left them to their misunderstandings .
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“Prince Ding is here . ”
Mo Xiu Yao appeared outside the door and asked softly: “Ah Li, may I come in?”
Ye Li agreed, then Mo Xiu Yao left Ah Jin outside and rolled himself in in his wheelchair . He looked at Ye Li and asked: “Ah Li, did you have a good night of sleep?”
Ye Li nodded and smiled: “Yes . Well, you don’t look so good yourself . ”
Once Mo Xiu Yao was in the room, Lin mama led the maids and went outside . When Ye Li noticed that they were all gone there wasn’t anyone to serve tea either . She could only smile to Mo Xiu Yao, then she walked to the table and sat by it . There were indeed some signs of tiredness in Mo Xiu Yao’s eyes . He waved his hand and said: “Last night I sent a few guests away and went to bed a bit late . It doesn’t matter . ”
“Do we need to visit Princess Royal first? And our sister-in-law…” Prince Ding’s Manor only had one descendent left, that was Mo Xiu Yao, but it didn’t mean that there was nobody else in the family . The late Prince Ding, which was Mo Xiu Yao’s elder brother, his legitimate wife Wen-shi was still living and in good health . Only that it was said she lived at the family hall for worshipping Buddha for she remained unmarried after the death of her husband . She didn’t even show up at yesterday’s wedding . A concubine of Mo Liu Fang, Mo Xiu Yao’s father, was also alive . Besides… Ye Li didn’t ask before but she was really curious about how many concubines Mo Xiu Yao had himself .
Mo Xiu Yao shook his head and said: “Let’s first get some breakfast . Princess Royal is advanced in years and she was exhausted yesterday . She wouldn’t be up so early . As for our sister-in-law…” Mo Xiu Yao frowned slightly and said: “Since my brother passed away, she had taken some concubines with her and live in the hall of worship . Even I didn’t get to see her all the time . A few days ago she left a message that you could visit her after you are back from the visit to your parental home . ” Ye Li nodded . She had heard from her third brother about the former Princess Ding, who was a really poor woman . She wasn’t from a powerful family or a great clan, just a girl of an average family of scholars . She was married to Mo Xiu Wen at the age of sixteen and lost her husband when she was only eighteen . Shortly after their marriage, Mo Xiu Wen went away to the battlefield and the two of them didn’t even have a kid .
“Then… what do I need to do?” Ye Li asked .
Mo Xiu Yao looked at her and smiled slightly: “Apart from handling the internal affairs, there are some accounts that you need to attend to . You can do whatever you like once you are done with those stuff . If you feel bored, you can invite your friends here or go out . Ah Li, this is your home now . There’s no need to restrain yourself here . ”
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Ye Li nodded and said: “I see . I’m still getting used to it . Then, at the moment…”
“Let’s get some breakfast . Then I’ll introduce you to some people of the manor . ”
The breakfast was ready in Ye Li’s yard . It suited Ye Li’s taste well . After breakfast, the chief steward came in and reported: “Your Highness, all the stewards are here and are waiting for your order . ”
Mo Xiu Yao nodded . He turned around and said to Ye Li: “This is Mo Xin, chief steward of the manor . He’s also Ah Jin’s uncle . You can give him instructions directly whenever you have the need . ”
The chief steward walked up and paid his respect: “Princess . ”
Ye Li smiled slightly and said: “Chief steward, you are being too polite . I’ll have a lot to ask you to do from now on . ”
It was clear that Mo Xiu Yao attached much weight to this chief steward . Besides, he was Ah Jin’s uncle by birth . Ah Jin was always at Mo Xiu Yao’s elbow and he was definitely the most trusted subordinate of Mo Xiu Yao’s trusted subordinates . Getting such a deferential treatment from the princess, Mo Xin seemed quite a calm man in face of either honor or disgrace, but he had no arrogance in him and answered with respect and caution: “I’m flattered . Just tell me if you have any need, princess . ”
When they got to the reception pavilion, there were quite some people scattered in it . Seeing that Ye Li and Mo Xiu Yao were there, they all stood upright and paid their courtesy together: “Your Highness, princess . ”
Mo Xiu Yao took Ye Li’s hand and went into the reception pavilion . He pointed to the host seat and let her sit then he turned around and said: “Get up . This is my princess now . From now on, what the princess says is what I say . Do you understand?”
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“Yes, we will strictly obey princess’s order . ”
“Good . Ah Li, this is Sun mama . She’s the household stewardess and runs all the internal affairs . If you have any question, just ask her . ” The mama who was standing in the front of the crowd was Sun mama who used to take gifts to Ye Manor . She was also the first person that Mo Xiu Yao introduced to Ye Li .
Mo Xiu Yao thought about it and added: “Sun mama used to work for Mother Princess . ”
“Old servant meets Princess . ”
“Mama, you are too polite . ” Ye Li nodded and said .
“This is the external steward, Yang Ling . He is responsible for all the manor’s exchanges with the outside world . ” The middle-aged man in his forties who was standing by Sun mama’s side had quite sharp eyes . Just a look at him, Ye Li could tell that he was a shrewd man .
“Princess, I’m Yang Ling . ”
Ye Li frowned slightly . She had no opinion about how people call themselves but she could see their attitudes towards her by how they call themselves . It was obvious that this steward who managed external affairs didn’t have the same respect for her as chief steward Mo and Sun mama did . “Steward Yang, you are so polite . ”
After that, Mo Xiu Yao introduced Ye Li to some other stewards who were handling all kinds of businesses for the manor and several other important stewards . Ye Li gave those stewards presents for their first meeting and rewarded the servants of the manor . It was clear that the praise for this new princess in Sun mama and chief steward Mo’s eyes slowly increased . For them, though Ye Family wasn’t acting properly, their new princess apparently inherited a good manor from her mother’s side . She left room for maneuver and acted properly . She was even very careful about her presents to the stewards and rewards to the servants, and she did it appropriately .
“Your Highness, princess . ” Ah Jin appeared at the doorstep . Looking at the people in the reception pavilion, he hesitated but chose to speak anyway .
“Ah Jin, what is it?” Mo Xiu Yao asked .
Ah Jin held a long box and said: “Someone sent this just now and said that this was a wedding gift for princess . ”
Ye Li raised her eyebrows and asked: “Where is this person?”
“Gone . ”
Mo Xiu Yao and Ye Li looked at each other in the eye . Then Mo Xiu Yao said to Ah Jin: “Bring it to me . ”
Mo Xiu Yao held the box and examined it . He opened it and there was only a scroll painting in it . After he was sure that there was no problem about the scroll then he handed it to Ye Li . Ye Li lowered her head and unfolded the scroll . She couldn’t help herself and let out a gasp of surprise . It was a painting of a beautiful woman . One that had not seen this painting would under no circumstance imagine that there would be such a beauty in the world . Her arched eyebrows were dark without painting, her little mouth red without drawing . She looked so delicate and refined that no word of praise would do her justice . Though she was in the painting, one could still feel her watery eyes looking around . The girl in the painting was wearing plain clothes, holding an ordinary qin, and standing among the flowers with a charming smile . It seemed that the flowers all lost their colors with the girl among them . “Bright as the sun that comes out in the rosy dawn, luminous as a lotus that rises from the green water…What an unrivalled beauty…” Ye Li exclaimed in a low voice .
Moving her eyes to one side of the painting and written on it was Reigning Beauty of the Capital of Great Chu . And it was signed by Han Ming Yue .
Mo Xiu Yao was stunned as well . Seeing the girl in the painting and her glowing eyes, he quickly turned his eyes to Ye Li . Ye Li was silent for some time, then she lifted her head and smiled to Mo Xiu Yao: “I’ve heard that Han Ming Yue’s Reigning Beauty of the Capital of Great Chu is priceless . But it’s hard for me to feel good about myself getting such a gift the day after my wedding . ”
Mo Xiu Yao smiled slightly and looked at her: “You are great . ”