20 Flower Festival 1

s she waved her guards to continue searching for the intruders and turned back to him: “Did the noise scare Miss Chu Where is she”Dark Number Two replied indifferently: "Miss lives in the inner courty...The Imperial Capital Ode 20. The Grand Festival of a Hundred Flowers (Part 1)

20. The Grand Festival of a Hundred Flowers (Part 1)

Ding King's Manor

"I understand, you may leave."

In the slightly desolate waterside pavilion, a man in blue robes gazed out at the lake and spoke calmly.

The severe look on Madam Sun’s face betrayed her helplessness as she watched the lonely figure before her. Ultimately, she silently withdrew without saying anything.

"It seems that Madam Sun also has a good impression of Miss Ye San; it's not an easy feat to get her to speak up for someone." On another side, Feng Zhiyao was still dressed in his flamboyant attire and lazily smiled at the friend before him. Mo Xiuyao turned around and looked at him with a calm and gentle expression. "So what"

"So what!" Feng Zhiyao sat up and glared at him, even raising his usually lazy voice. "Ao Yao, Miss Ye San is your future wife; she's the one you'll spend the rest of your life with. Don't you want to see her"

"If she is really as good as you say, do you think... it would make it easier for me to marry her Don't forget that there's the Xu family behind her," Mu Xiuyao said calmly.

"What does that mean" Feng Zhirao frowned. Could they be up to something else

Mu Xiuyao lowered his gaze, quietly looking at his hand resting on the wheelchair armrest. "On the day when Li王府 proposed marriage, Virtuous and Sage Imperial Concubine specially summoned Ye Li."

Feng Zhirao curled up the corner of her mouth disdainfully. "Could it be that Mo Jingli has changed his mind again Even if he did, what can he do about it Does he think that the Dingguo王府 and the Xu family are just playthings for him to toy with"

Mu Xiuyao's deep and gentle eyes flashed a hint of coldness. "The matter of breaking off the engagement was initiated by Mo Jingli first, without seeking permission. Back then... the late emperor had his reasons for arranging Ye Li's marriage to Mo Jingli. When Ye Li was born, Ye Wenhua was merely a newly appointed third-rank official, so how could the late emperor have chosen such an impoverished family for his favored son It must have been because of her maternal grandfather’s Xu family. Unfortunately, over these years as the Xu family gradually withdrew from court politics, even those inside and outside the palace have largely forgotten just how influential the Xu family once was.

If that's the case, why would the Emperor give Ye Miss Third to you

"If Ye Miss Third is truly a woman without talent, beauty, or virtue, who has also been jilted by her previous fiancé, then why did the Emperor choose her for me" Mu Xiuyao asked coolly in return.

Feng Zhirao shrugged indifferently; after all, people from the royal family weren't exactly known for their sanity. "So are you going to attend the Hundred Flowers Festival at the Peony Courtyard Are you planning on meeting your fiancée"

Moxiu堯 turned and looked at the lake in silence, Feng Zhirao nodded inwardly as he observed. Since that incident happened, Yao had become increasingly uncomfortable.

Ye Li found herself with a headache looking at the table piled high before her. The rather large table was divided into two sides, each side holding a set of clothes and corresponding accessories. On the left was a white robe with blue flowers, on which snow-white butterflies danced in light shades of blue; sunlight streaming through the window made it seem as though the butterflies were about to take flight. Qinger and Tiane carefully held up the clothing, with the youngest Tiane exclaiming with surprise, "These butterflies aren’t embroidered! They look so pretty!" Qinxia said with a smile, "This is kesi silk, very precious. Usually, kesi patterns are extremely elaborate; it’s rare to see such elegant and simple designs like this one. Moreover, the thread seems unusual." The clothes felt weightless in her hands but did not appear thin at all—clearly they were made of something extraordinary. Qingshuang curiously looked from left to right and then turned to look at Ye Li, "Both Auntie’s and His Royal Highness’ gifts are very beautiful. Which one should the young miss wear" After looking at her aunt's ice silk blue butterfly kesi robe, she cast her eyes upon a brocade box placed on the right side of the table. Inside was a light green water cloud gauze embroidered with delicate silver peony patterns. The cuffs and hem were outlined in graceful auspicious clouds—simple yet elegant, exuding unparalleled sophistication and comfort.

"This one then. Auntie’s gift should be kept well for me; I’ll wear this at Uncle’s birthday next month." Ye Li made her decision quickly. Putting effort into clothing was necessary, but wasting too much time on it wasn’t worth it.

The maids hurriedly carefully packed away the white robe with blue butterflies and then brought out the set of clothes from Ding Kingdom to help Ye Li change into them.

A moment later, in her servants' awe, Ye Li emerged from behind a screen. The light green color perfectly suited her calm and elegant demeanor, while the delicate silver thread patterns on it made this simple design not appear monotonous. A form of understated luxury, Ye Li thought to herself with quiet admiration. Even though Ding Kingdom was no longer as powerful as before, their gifts were still extraordinary: "Water cloud gauze!" Jiwén, who had been standing by and unable to assist much earlier, exclaimed.

Qinxia’s expression was also somewhat shocked. The mandarin duck brocade, water cloud gauze, and lotus flower silk were collectively known as the Three Treasures of Nanzhao, one of the most precious products in the kingdom. Furthermore, they weren’t items traded between both countries; each year, gifts were exchanged instead. Even among these treasures, only ten pieces of water cloud gauze would be given to the palace annually.

Ye Li smiled at Jiwén and said, "You have good eyes."

Jiwén’s face changed slightly but forced a smile: "I’ve seen this once from Fourth Miss. It was gifted by Consort Lady Zhao." She had indeed seen it before with Fourth Miss, though not as clothing but rather a silk handkerchief. Although the water cloud gauze was called ‘gauze’, it differed from regular brocade in its lightness and elegance; unless one looked closely at the hidden luxurious patterns, they wouldn’t realize this was water cloud gauze. Last year, Fourth Miss had received a piece of water cloud gauze as a gift from Consort Lady Zhao, but it wasn’t enough to make clothes, so Ye Ying had carefully stored it away instead. Since that day when Jiwén had acted on her own initiative and brought up the past without informing anyone at Qingyi Hall, Ye Li hadn't said anything despite this; Jiwén was still always being careful, fearing Third Miss would find an excuse to punish her. Little did she expect that in a moment of surprise, she’d caught Ye Li’s attention.

Ye Li nodded and ignored the somewhat anxious Qingwen, turning to sit in front of the bronze mirror. Qingxia and Qingshuang, holding accessories sent over by Duke Ding's府, selected suitable ones to fix her hair.

Qingwen quietly stood at one corner, feeling awkward and resentful as the maids bustled about efficiently. Her eyes fell on a casually placed box of accessories on the table; she quickly lowered her head and dared not look again, unaware that Ye Li sitting in front of the bronze mirror had seen her unhidden expression clearly.

Qingshuang's nimble fingers deftly inserted the last jade hairpin, smiling contentedly: "Miss will surely outshine all the ladies of the capital today."

"What nonsense. If others heard you, they'd laugh their heads off." Ye Li glanced at confident Qingshuang and gently rebuked her.

Qingshuang blinked playfully and said with a smile: "In Qingshuang's eyes, Miss is the most beautiful woman in the world."

"Whether one is beautiful or not isn't important; it just needs to be decent." After everything was set, Ye Li stood up and said, "Let's go. Don't be late."

Qingshuang and Qingxia hurriedly followed behind Ye Li. Qingshuang couldn’t help but mutter softly: "I wonder if the Prince of Ding will attend the Hundred Flowers Festival."

Qingxia glanced at Ye Li walking ahead, whispering lowly: "The Hundred Flowers Festival is a gathering for the ladies and young misses of the capital. Although some reputable figures are invited every year to judge, it seems that the Prince of Ding has never attended before.ength, and stamina. But for them, such masters of their caliber, physical strength doesn't matter anymore. Therefore, as long as Lord Murong wasn't on his deathbed from old age, they wouldn’t have a c...