Golden Age Legitimate Fei - Chapter 1

CHAPTER 1: BREAKING OFF ENGAGEMENT? BESTOWING MARRIAGE?
“Xiaojie (小姐 – Younger miss / woman)! Xiaojie, one thing dangerous occurred!”

In a sparsely furnished yuanzi (院子 – a small residence inside a household residence compound) that seemed quiet and secluded, a light-weight inexperienced determine rushed into the internal room just like the wind. The wind chime hanging on the door let loose a peal of jingling sounds.

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院子 – yuanzi
Inside the straightforward but elegant room, a slim determine was sitting and dealing with the half-opened window. The needlework in her arms didn’t cease in any respect regardless of the disturbance of the sudden entrance of another person. The younger lady waited till the little yatou (丫头 – younger maidservant) began panting for air earlier than placing a cease to the needlework in her arms and rotated with a smile, saying, “What matter has prompted you to be this flustered?”

The lady’s look was serene and stylish. It was simply that apart from the hint of a fragile look within the eyes, there was additionally some surprising nimbleness and astuteness together with it. She was absolutely wearing plain garments and her lengthy hair was held along with solely a single jasper hairpin (instance). If others had been to see her, they’d have discovered it onerous to imagine that this lady was really the dignified eldest di (嫡 – official / of the official spouse) daughter of the Shangshu fu (尚書 – title or place of official in control of presenting memorials to the emperor and official correspondence | 府 – official residence / household residence compound / family / time period for household and residential put collectively).

“Xiaojie! You continue to have the temper for embroidery. Don’t you already know…don’t you already know you’ve had your engagement damaged off by Li wang (王 – imperial prince)!” The little yatou grabbed the embroidery from her arms, anxiously stamping her toes. Ever since Li wang broke off the engagement three days earlier than, she had been so anxious she might catch hearth. But quite the opposite, her family’s xiaojie seemed like she didn’t even care in regards to the matter.

“Qing Shuang, Li wang already broke off the engagement three days in the past. Isn’t your nervousness now a bit too gradual of a response?” Not caring about her impolite motion, Ye Li checked out her personal family’s little yatou in amusement.

“Xiaojie!” Qing Shuang blew her high as she stared at their family’s xiaojie. “I’m positively not anxious due to Li wang.” Her family’s xiaojie herself didn’t care about Li wang so what can be the purpose of her caring that a lot about such matter? However… “Aiya, xiaojie. The emperor has bestowed a wedding upon you! Laoye (老爺 – grasp / lord of the family) desires you to exit to obtain the edict.”

“A bestowed marriage once more?” Ye Li was startled for a second and couldn’t assist however frown. She initially thought that as a result of Li wang breaking off the engagement, she would have the ability to stay in peace for the following few years. In any case, there weren’t many individuals prepared to marry a lady whose engagement had been damaged off by the opposite occasion on this period. “Our household is barely a Shangshu fu and nothing extra, why would the emperor be this attentive?” Three days in the past she had been subjected to a damaged off engagement, three days later was bestowed a wedding once more. Is it as a result of the emperor regarded Shangshu fu as too precious or is it as a result of he thought-about the person who had damaged off the engagement to be displeasing to the attention?

Qing Shuang reddened with anger to the purpose of gritting her tooth from resentment. “It’s Ding wang! For certain it was da xiaojie (大小姐 – eldest younger miss / woman) who incited the emperor. Ever since she was younger, she liked to bully xiaojie and now she really…really let xiaojie get betrothed to Ding wang. Wuwu…..”

Ye Li helplessly checked out their very own family’s yatou. This yatou who liked to cry being named “Qing Shuang” was absolutely in useless.

(清 – qing – clear / quiet / pure | 霜 – shuang – frost / frosting)

“Okay la, these sorts of phrases shouldn’t be carelessly mentioned outdoors. Let’s go to obtain the edict.”

Ye Household Corridor

“Feng Tian (奉天 – previous title for a spot in North-East China) to just accept the mandate of Heaven, Emperor’s imperial order says: The Ye clan’s eldest daughter Ye Li is clever and virtuous, to have each expertise and advantage as a superb match. Specifically betrothed to Ding guowangye* Mo Xiu Yao as his zhengfei (正妃 – important imperial consort spouse / official spouse of an imperial prince or “王 – wang“). Choose a propitious day to get married. By the Emperor himself.”

((*Notice: The title used right here is “国王爺 – guowangye“. “王 – wang” refers to an imperial prince. “国 – guo” means nation or nation. “国王 – guowang” means king in accordance with MDBG. I assume it might imply nation’s imperial prince on this state of affairs, however I’m not fully certain about this and it would imply one thing else on this historic / cultural context.))

Everybody of the Ye clan gave thanks in unison. The eunuch delivered the imperial decree over to Ye Li‘s arms with a smile and mentioned, “Congratulations to Ye furen (夫人 – woman or madam of the home / spouse), congratulations to Ye xiaojie.”

Ye Li acquired the imperial decree and endured the eunuch’s ear-piercing laughter with an detached smile, saying, “Because of gonggong (公公 – time period used to deal with a eunuch), I’ve troubled gonggong.”

The eunuch chargeable for delivering the imperial decree checked out Ye Li considerably stunned. It was reported that the Ye household’s di third* daughter was identified within the capital because the sanwuqianjin (三无千金 – derogatory nickname used within the novel to explain a noble daughter missing in three areas: seems to be, expertise, and advantage), well-known for missing expertise, seems to be, and advantage.

((Notice: Ye Li is the third daughter within the household, however the first to be born from a di spouse.))

Nevertheless, wanting once more on the lady in entrance of him who was though inferior to the palace’s Ye Zhao Yi‘s garish and exquisite disposition and in addition didn’t have the unparalleled beauty of the capital’s primary magnificence fourth xiaojie of the Ye household, however she might nonetheless be thought-about a uncommon form of a quiet and beautiful magnificence. As well as, she had a sleek bearing and her method of speech was magnanimous. How was she something like Ye Zhao Yi described in having no sense of propriety and was somebody who couldn’t be seen in public?

Taking a look at how unbridled all of the members of the Ye household on the aspect had been of their schadenfreude*, the eunuch chargeable for delivering the imperial edict was already clear in his thoughts. Though he considerably felt sorry for this Ye xiaojie, this sort of matter wasn’t one thing he as a eunuch would have the ability to deal with, to make a sound after which not dare to conveniently take one’s go away on the identical time.

((Notice: The precise phrases used right here was “幸災樂禍” (xingzailehuo) which accurately means ‘to take pleasure in calamity and enjoyment of catastrophe’, an idiom that means to rejoice in others’ misfortune / schadenfreude))

The Ye household’s zhumu (主母 – proprietor ‘mom’ / mom in control of the family) attentively had the guanjia (管家 – housekeeper / butler / individual managing a family) personally ship off the individual, earlier than casting a sidelong look at Ye Li and pretended to smile affectionately, “It’s with success that the emperor is good and sage-like, to have given third xiaojie a superb marriage once more. In any other case…” In any other case how would a lady who had a damaged engagement have the ability to get married?

Ye Li‘s complexion was as normal, laughing coldly on the within. A superb marriage, considering that she didn’t like going out and thus didn’t know something. When Ding wang Mo Xiu Yao was eighteen, he had been critically injured to the extent that each his legs had been crippled and his seems to be had been fully destroyed. Since then he had been lingering within the sickbed. He had as soon as married two zhengfei (正妃 – important imperial consort / official spouse of an imperial prince) in succession; one by chance died from drowning in lower than half a month of getting married, the opposite was frightened to loss of life on the marriage evening. There have been rumours that mentioned it was as a result of seeing Ding wang‘s face that led to her being scared to loss of life. If it weren’t for that, relying on Ding wang‘s identification and standing, how might he have reached the age of twenty-five and nonetheless not have a zhengfei?

“It’s as furen (夫人 – woman or madam of the home / spouse) mentioned. It doesn’t matter what is alleged about Ding wang, he’s nonetheless a first-rate succeeding wangye (王爺 – time period for addressing an imperial prince). Certainly it’s Li er (儿 – time period of endearment for one’s baby) rising up socially.”

The Ye household’s zhumu‘s (主母 – proprietor mom / mom in control of the family) face stiffened earlier than taking a look at Ye Li and saying, “Since you already know that, it’s best to get your self correctly ready to get married. Don’t carry disgrace to our Shangshu fu‘s repute. After a couple of days, your fourth youthful sister may also be getting married. The fu shall be very busy in these following days.”

“I do know. I’ve allowed furen to really feel troubled.”

“I’m this Ye household’s zhumu. I’ll naturally really feel troubled over these issues.” The Ye household’s zhumu mentioned. Seeing Ye Li‘s calm demeanor, she snorted out loud earlier than strolling away.

Ye Li had a smile on her face as she watched the Ye household’s zhumu go away, elevating her eyebrows and never saying something. Though she was the di (嫡 – official / of the official spouse) daughter of the Ye household, she was not born from the present zhumu Wang shi (氏 – clan title / maiden surname). As an alternative, she was born from Ye Shangshu‘s first spouse and furen Xu shi . Xu shi got here from an aristocratic household with a literary repute. After giving start to Ye Li, she was repeatedly feeling unwell. Ye Shangshu favored his concubine Wang shi who was the primary to reach* extra and after Xu furen had gotten critically in poor health, even the ability over the fu (府 – official residence / household residence compound / family / time period for household and residential put collectively) altogether was handed over to Wang shi. When Ye Li was seven, Xu shi took her final breath and it was additionally at the moment that Ye Li turned the Ye Li of immediately.

((*Notice: 先進門 – xianjinmen – lit. first to go within the door [of the family/house] | Right here, it’s saying that Ye Shangshu already had Wang shi as a concubine earlier than formally marrying Xu shi as his first important spouse.))

After Wang shi was promoted from being a concubine to a spouse’s standing, for worry of others saying that she was treating the primary spouse’s di daughter harshly, she didn’t dare abuse her, however usually finally made issues troublesome for her which was fully subtle by Ye Li‘s calm and picked up persona, due to this fact additionally inflicting Wang furen to dislike her much more.

“Third elder sister, congratulations to you.” Among the Ye household’s younger girls nonetheless within the boudoir got here ahead, their faces exhibiting all kinds of expressions of pity and schadenfreude to go along with their phrases of congratulations.

The primary to talk was sixth xiaojie Ye Lin. She was the daughter of a concubine. Since she was younger, she liked to tag together with and revolve round Wang shi‘s di daughters together with sometimes oppressing Ye Li to win their favour. Ye Li was typically unwilling to trouble together with her. It was nothing greater than a shu nu‘s (庶女 – concubine’s daughter) technique of survival. So long as it didn’t go overboard, she additionally didn’t need to dispute with a baby who had simply turned ten.

“What good is there to congratulate third elder sister. Having to marry Ding wang, simply desirous about it makes me scared. That Ding wang is disabled in addition to ugly, and even scared one wangfei (王妃 – consort princess / spouse of a an imperial prince or “王 – wang“) to loss of life. Perhaps even the primary wangfei was additionally scared to loss of life by him. We should always congratulate fourth elder sister as an alternative. Only one extra month after which fourth elder sister shall be Li wangfei.”

Fifth xiaojie Ye Shan ingratiatingly seemed on the capital’s primary magnificence fourth xiaojie Ye Ying, her eyes unable to hide her envy and jealousy.

Ye Ying was certainly worthy of being known as the capital’s primary magnificence with eyebrows like willow leaves, eyes like limpid autumn waters, an beautiful and completely lovely jade-like complexion that might radiate in all places, and her each transfer held a form of female and sleek attraction that made individuals need to take pity on her.

It was simply that this sort of mild and exquisite look within the eyes of Ye Li who had seen sufficient of numerous lovely individuals in her previous life was missing a sure breathtaking high quality to it.

“Everyone seems to be sisters right here, it’s not about what to congratulate and what to not congratulate. Sooner or later, mom for certain would additionally select a really perfect husband for fifth youthful sister and sixth youthful sister. ” Ye Ying mentioned softly, her voice mild and sweet-sounding, her breath smelling like orchids, and her each transfer carrying a form of grace that would make individuals get addicted. Everybody who was wanting as soon as once more felt a burst of envy rising with out restraint. “As for third elder sister, the matter of Li wang…nonetheless hope that you may forgive me.” Her autumn eyes full of apology as she checked out Ye Li.

Ye Li confirmed Ye Ying a beneficiant smile, saying, “It’s alright, it’s most likely that Li wang and I don’t have the destiny to be collectively. We can not at all times–due to a person–sever our relationship as sisters, proper?”

Ye Ying was startled for a second as she was unable to get the response she wished, making her really feel unreconciled. Three days in the past, she initially thought that receiving information of her damaged engagement would trigger her to be in a lot ache that she’d need to die, however what made Ye Ying fully disillusioned was that her very personal third elder sister was solely silent for a second earlier than saying that she understood after which simply went again to her room on her personal to take a relaxation. At present, she as soon as once more didn’t see even the slightest haggard look. Li wang in spite of everything was the perfect husband that each one the single daughters of noble homes dreamed about, she didn’t imagine that she actually wasn’t upset about it!

It was solely after awhile that she confirmed a shy smile, saying, “I do know that third elder sister dotes on me essentially the most. Sooner or later, if third elder sister has any form of difficulties, you’ll be able to go to Li wang fu to search out Ying er.”

Ye Li faintly complied, too lazy to take a look at the hardly hid happy look on her face. Bidding farewell to this pile of sisters itching to oppress her, Ye Li introduced Qing Shuang together with her to slowly stroll again in the direction of her personal xiaoyuan (小院 – a small residence inside a household residence compound / one other time period for yuanzi ‘院子’, pictured above).

On the best way, Qing Shuang continued muttering apprehensively in indignation. “What did fourth xiaojie even imply by that, it was clearly her who stole Li wang, however was nonetheless performing all sympathetic again there. Actually makes one really feel disgusted!”

Ye Li rotated laughing at her. “Okay la, if individuals had been to listen to this, watch out you may get punished*. It actually doesn’t matter to me whether or not I get married to Li wang or Ding wang ah.”

((*Notice: What she actually mentioned was “小心你的皮肉疼” (xiaoxinnidepirouteng) which accurately means “Watch out your pores and skin and flesh will damage”. It sounds fairly awkward to say it in English, so I amended it to be a bit extra straight to the purpose because it does appear to allude to getting bodily punished.))

“How can it not matter to you?!” Qing Shuang stared at her, “Li wang is understood within the capital as a distinguished and admirable gongzi (公子 – son of the Aristocracy / younger man), the emperor’s personal little brother. Who doesn’t know that Ding wang is crippled in each legs, his seems to be destroyed by the intense sickness he’s bedridden with to the purpose of being…uh…” Pondering that Ding wang will quickly turn out to be her personal family’s xiaojie‘s husband, Qing Shuang strove onerous to swallow again the phrase “trash”.

“So what?” Ye Li raised an eyebrow, look amusedly at Qing Shuang. “Is it doable that after seeing how Li wang seemed, you wished to comply with me in my marriage to go turn out to be a yiniang (姨娘 – regular concubine)?” Whether or not or not he was good-looking, Ye Li didn’t care sufficient to know. Even when her former fiancé was mentioned within the capital to be just like the 4 legendary lovely males of lore*, however that Mo Jun Li‘s character would positively not be higher than that of Ding wang.

((*Notice: Usually, individuals discuss in regards to the 4 legendary beauties (of China) – 四大美女 (sidameinu) – which refers to Xishi 西施, Wang Zhaojun 王昭君, Diaochan 貂蝉 and Yang Yuhuan 杨玉环 (a.okay.a Yang guifei – 杨贵妃). On this case, it refers back to the male equal: 潘安 (Pan An), 兰陵王 (Lan Ling Wang), 嵇康 (Ji Kang), and 卫玠 (Wei Jie). These males had been mentioned to have a typical characteristic, which is that they’ve each beauty and expertise, in addition to possess different noteworthy expertise. It was additionally mentioned that after they go travelling, there can be a big mass of individuals flocking to see them.))

She didn’t hear in regards to the information of Mo Jun Li and Ye Ying playing around collectively earlier than, however the motivation and mentality behind Mo Jun Li having to attend until it was nearing the date of the marriage earlier than solely then breaking off the engagement was price pondering over. Pondering till right here…for the emperor at the moment to betroth a lady with a damaged engagement to Ding wang likewise was additionally price desirous about. ‘Clever and virtuous, to have each expertise and advantage as a superb match’…within the capital, who didn’t know that the Ye household’s third xiaojie was well-known for having an unpleasant look, her expertise an oversight, and inelegant within the female arts–the sanwuqianjin (三无千金 – derogatory nickname used within the novel to explain a noble daughter missing in three areas: seems to be, expertise, and advantage)?

Was it saying that she, the sanwuqianjin, and the Ding guowang mentioned to be trash are very well-matched?

“Xiaojie!” Qing Shuang flushed with anger as she stamped her toes. “I positively don’t need that! Qing Shuang would fairly marry a nucai xiaosi (奴才|小廝 – slave | male servant) than to turn out to be a yiniang.” A very powerful was that she would positively not turn out to be her personal family’s xiaojie‘s husband’s yiniang.

Qing Shuang‘s mom was initially the shiqie (侍妾 – a concubine decrease in rank from a “侧妃 cefei – secondary spouse, ranked under the principle spouse” however not thought-about to be a low rank) of a wealthy household’s family. After her father handed away, she and her mom had been kicked out of the family by the zhengfang (正房 – major spouse) to stay on the streets. After Qing Shuang‘s mom had died from a severe sickness, she had nearly been offered right into a brothel. Fortunately, she was purchased by xiaojie who even gave her the title “Qing Shuang” and taught her how one can learn and write. Qing Shuang wasn’t somebody who kicks their benefactor within the tooth and she is going to always remember this kindness.

Seeing the little yatou (丫头 – younger maidservant) getting actually impatient, Ye Li couldn’t maintain herself again from laughing out loud. “Okay la, can’t I even make a joke?”

“Xiaojie…..”