Two days later
The Autumn Flower Festival was held in the largest flower garden in the southwest of the Emperor Of Xiling. Supposedly, this flower garden had originally belonged to the Emperor Of Xiling's family. Later, it had been bestowed to a certain Prince. Later, the Wang Fu declined, but the Imperial Family did not take it back. Instead, it flowed into the common people. In the last decade, it had fallen into the hands of the Sun Family. Compared to the blooming flowers of Da Chu State, Xi Ling did not have many famous flowers to admire at this time. However, there was still an endless stream of noblewomen who came to the flower festival, even more than in the past.
At the entrance to the garden, Sun Furen had been waiting with people outside for a long time. The noblewomen who came and went had naturally heard the news that the Sun Family was now attached to the Prince Ding Mansion. With Sun Furen's status, there was no need to say who could make her personally wait at the door. Many people who had the same thoughts as the Sun Family but were a step behind also waited at the door with Sun Furen.
Ye Li always had a sense of time and did not like to have people wait for her outside for a long time. So not long after, the Prince Ding Mansion's carriage came from the corner of the street. There were Black Cloud Riders dressed in black from the front, back, left, and right. The carriage in the middle of the Black Cloud Riders was simple in appearance, unlike the luxurious carriages of the Imperial Family and the Royal Family. The carriage stopped at the entrance to the flower garden. Sun Furen hurriedly led people forward and said with a smile, "Hui Niang welcomes Wang Fei."
Walking on the left side of the carriage, Qin Feng dismounted and lifted the curtain. The womenfolk all looked towards the carriage, wanting to see what Princess Ding looked like. They saw a white figure walk out of the carriage. White robes, white hair, cold and handsome. Who else could it be but Prince Ding?
Prince Ding jumped off the carriage and then reached out with a hand. He said with a smile, "Li, we're here."
He reached out his hand to help Ye Li out of the carriage. Before Ye Li could jump off the carriage herself, he reached out his hand to lift Ye Li up by the waist and gently placed her on the ground. Seeing Mo Xiuyao, Mrs Sun was also a little surprised. Because today's Flower Banquet was only for women, but when Prince Ding wanted to come, no one dared to stop him from entering. She went forward hesitantly, "Your Highness, Princess Consort, this …"
Mo Xiuyao waved his hand and calmly said, "I am only sending Wang Fei over. I will soon enter the palace to meet the Emperor Of Xiling. I will not disturb Sun Furen." Hearing this, Madam Sun secretly heaved a sigh of relief. One had to know that there were quite a number of nobles in West-Hill who had some thoughts about Prince Ding. There were also quite a number of unmarried ladies who came to participate in the Flower Meet today. If Prince Ding was present, it would be troublesome.
Mo Xiuyao did not look at anyone else. He lowered his head and said softly to Ye Li, "Li, I will come and pick you up when I leave the palace?" Ye Li nodded helplessly. She hadn't been sleeping well these past few days, and her appetite wasn't good either. Mo Xiuyao treated her like a porcelain doll that would break at the slightest touch. Sighing softly, Ye Li reached out to straighten his collar and said, "Be careful. I will wait for you."
Hearing this, Mo Xiuyao could not help but smile. Li Li had not been in a good mood these days. She had not spoken to him in such a soft voice for many days. Was she better now? "I know. Li Li also needs to be careful. I will go to the palace first. "But he did not know that his smile had stirred the hearts of many young women present. Mo Xiuyao's features were elegant and handsome, but there was often a hint of indifference in his expression. But this smile came from his heart and did not have any falsehood. It made him appear even more handsome and moving.
After giving some instructions to Ye Li and Qin Feng who was following beside Ye Li, Mo Xiuyao pulled a horse and rode away with his people. On the side, Madam Sun covered her smile and said, "Prince and Wang Fei are deeply in love. Many women in the world are envious." Ye Li smiled and said, "Madam, you flatter me. Is this your daughter?" Madam Sun was accompanied by a seven or eight year old little girl dressed in brocade. Her appearance was seventy to eighty percent similar to Madam Sun, but she seemed more exquisite. A pair of large eyes stared curiously at Ye Li. When Ye Li looked at her, she hid behind Madam Sun.
Madam Sun pulled the little girl out from behind her and said with a smile, "Isn't that so? This is my daughter, Sun Xiaofu. Fu 'er, greet Wang Fei. "
The little girl looked curiously at Ye Li. She took a step forward and said crisply, "Xiaofu greets Wang Fei." Ye Li happily stroked the little girl's hair and said with a smile, "Good child, no need to be so courteous." Thinking, she took off a purple pearl pendant she always wore and handed it to Sun Xiaofu as a greeting gift. Sun Xiaofu looked timidly at her mother. Seeing Madam Sun nod, she took it and said thank you to Wang Fei.
Seeing Princess Ding like this, the smile on Madam Sun's face became even more joyful. It was not easy for a widow like her to manage the family business. The value of what Princess Ding gave her was not important. What was important was that this imperceptibly expressed the attitude of the Prince Ding Mansion. As expected, the noblewomen present looked at Madam Sun with more eagerness in their eyes. Even those who disdained her identity as a merchant and a widow began to think twice about it.
"Refreshments have been prepared inside. Wang Fei, please come in," Madam Sun said with a smile.
Ye Li smiled faintly and said, "Madam, please."
The group of people followed Ye Li and Madam Sun into the flower park. It immediately became much quieter outside the door.
There was a carriage parked on the side of the road not far from the gate. Sitting in the carriage was the madam and di daughter of the Bai Family, Bai Qingning. When they arrived, they had seen the carriage of the Prince Ding Mansion coming over. Naturally, they could only move to the side and let the carriage of the Prince Ding Mansion pass first.
"Ning 'er?" Seeing her daughter in a daze, Madam Bai said worriedly.
Bai Qingning looked up and asked, "Was that Prince Ding just now?"
Madam Bai nodded and said, "It is said that Prince Ding has a head of white hair. I think it is him."
Bai Qingning nodded and sighed softly, "I didn't expect … Prince Ding to be so young. It is a pity that his white hair …" If he did not have that head of white hair, how elegant would Prince Ding be when his hair was like clouds?
In the flower park, Madam Sun walked with Ye Li. Although it was already early winter in Xi Ling, there were not many flowers in the garden. Even the most common flowers in Da Chu State in autumn and winter were rarely seen in Xi Ling. However, the Sun Family still decorated the flower park beautifully. Many places were decorated with silk flowers. It was one of the vibrant green trees and red flowers.
Because the weather was already cold, the location of the banquet was moved from the garden to a water pavilion in the corner of the flower park. The water pavilion was hollow on all sides and covered only by thin muslin. People sat inside to drink and make merry, but they could clearly see the singing and dancing performances outside. Ye Li was naturally invited to the highest seat. While there were high officials and even princesses and commanderies among the noblewomen present, everyone knew that the imperial city had changed owners long ago. The beautiful woman in blue robes in front of them was the future owner of the imperial city. Therefore, no one was unhappy about it.
As the host and guests sat down, Ye Li looked around. While she did not recognize most of the people present, she could see some from their clothing. It seemed that Madam Sun's business methods were good. It had to be said that many of the people present were not people that merchants could invite.
"Everyone, do not pay attention to me. Today's gathering is fate. Everyone, just drink and be merry." Seeing that everyone was a bit uneasy, Ye Li said with a smile.
But while she said this, how could these noblewomen with their own thoughts not be restrained? Madam Sun said with a smile, "Wang Fei is right. If there is anything that is lacking in hospitality, please forgive me."
Everyone hurriedly exchanged pleasantries, and the atmosphere gradually became harmonious. Many people were secretly looking at Ding Wang Fei who was sitting at the head seat, only to see that she didn't seem to be even twenty years old. Her features were picturesque, elegant and graceful. Her every move seemed to flow with a faint noble light that people were not willing to look at. Such elegance, she was like a beauty from an ancient painting. It was hard for people to think of the legendary heroine who could gallop on the battlefield. After some examination, many people who had planned to send their girls to the Prince Ding Mansion became depressed. In terms of appearance, the women of West-Hill were generally inferior to the women of the Da Chu State. Also, Princess Ding was so beautiful, how could their girls have a chance to win Prince Ding's attention?
"Princess Lingyun has arrived! Madam Bai has arrived! Miss Bai has arrived! "Someone announced loudly outside the water pavilion.
Everyone hurriedly stood up. No matter when West-Hill moved the capital, no matter what kind of thoughts they had, they were still the people of West-Hill. So when they saw Princess Lingyun, there was no doubt that they had to greet her as a monarch.
Princess Lingyun was still dressed in luxurious clothes. She walked quickly with a proud expression. Madam Bai, who was following behind her, did not look very good. Of course, they knew that the relationship between Princess Ding and Princess Lingyun was not good. Who knew that they would encounter Princess Lingyun after a delay outside, so they had to come in together. They only hoped that Princess Ding would not vent her anger on them because they came with Princess Lingyun.
"Greetings, Princess!"
Princess Lingyun snorted softly. She glanced at Ye Li, who was sitting and drinking tea, and then turned to Madam Sun. She raised her chin and her sharp eyes were filled with cold anger. Obviously, she had not forgotten that she had been kicked out of the banquet a few days ago.
"Welcome, Princess. Please take a seat," Madam Sun said with a smile.
Princess Lingyun sneered and said, "I thought that Madam Sun was also going to kick me out today?"
Madam Sun smiled in surprise and said, "How could it be? Who would dare to chase Princess Lingyun out of the door? Is she still alive? "
As soon as she said this, everyone present had a strange expression. A few young women could not help but secretly laugh. When Princess Lingyun came back from the Da Chu State in disgrace, not only did she not restrain her temper, but she became more and more fierce. The Emperor Of Xiling had no choice but to hastily arrange a marriage for her. Unexpectedly, Princess Lingyun might have been provoked in West-Hill. In the first month of her marriage, she killed one of her husband's concubines and a little girl in her mother-in-law's courtyard. The reason why she killed the girl was that her husband's mother was so angry that she fell ill and did not want to see her. She ordered the girl not to let her in. Because of this, her husband's mother was so angry that she fainted on the spot. She passed away in less than two months. This also became a joke in the Emperor Of Xiling's city.
Princess Lingyun's face was distorted, but she did not lose her temper on the spot. She sneered and said, "In that case, wasn't it Madam Sun's order that I was blocked outside the door a few days ago? Or did Madam Sun want to see if I dare to take your life?! "
Madam Sun's expression changed slightly and said lightly, "I remember what Princess said. Princess must be clear about the banquet that day. It was a banquet held by the unmarried women in the city. Although there were a few madams who attended, they were all model women with good character to teach the young ladies etiquette and self-cultivation. Even I could not attend such a banquet in person. I don't know why Princess … "
She only said half of this sentence, but it was even more embarrassing than finishing it. Princess Lingyun was already a married woman. She had neither talent nor virtue. Why should she attend such a banquet? Wasn't this asking the unmarried young ladies to follow her example?
You've already exceeded your reading limit for today. If you want to read more, please log in.
Login
Select text and click 'Report' to let us know about any bad translation.
