Chapter 21: Among Peonies

At the entrance of the Ye residence

Ye Li had scarcely crossed the threshold when she encountered Ye Ying approaching with studied grace, attended by her retinue of maids like a constellation orbiting its brightest star. Behind her trailed Ye Lin and Ye Shan, their faces illuminated with joy—it seemed the vexing matter of the Hundred Flowers Festival invitations had found resolution.

Ye Li maintained only the most tenuous familiarity with these younger half-sisters. Even when they occasionally orchestrated small cruelties to curry favor with Wang Shi, she typically dismissed such offenses provided they remained within acceptable boundaries. After all, she had never fulfilled the obligations incumbent upon an elder sister; she could hardly demand the reciprocal affection such a role might otherwise command.

Upon perceiving Ye Li's presence, Ye Lin and Ye Shan advanced with visible reluctance, duty overriding preference.

"Greetings, Third Sister."

Ye Li inclined her head with measured courtesy. "Fourth Sister, Fifth Sister, Sixth Sister."

Ye Ying presented herself in a snow-white gown with wide sleeves, adorned with delicate pink cherry blossom petals that seemed to have settled upon the fabric by nature's own hand rather than human artistry. Her dark hair was gathered in a simple yet elegant bun, crowned with a golden hairpin depicting twin butterflies mid-flight. As she moved, the intricately wrought wings trembled with such verisimilitude that one might expect them to take wing. Ye Ying possessed an undeniable facility for self-presentation. In truth, all the Ye daughters carried beauty in their bones, yet even Ye Lin and Ye Shan, despite their careful attire, paled to insignificance beside Ye Ying. The faint pink cherry blossom petals painted between her brows lent her an ethereal, almost celestial quality—the capital's designation of her as foremost beauty was no idle flattery.

As Ye Li observed Ye Ying, the latter conducted her own assessment of this third sister whom both she and her mother regarded with distaste. Ye Ying had never devoted significant attention to Ye Li, who had eschewed the capital's social gatherings and appeared indifferent to fashion's dictates. From a distance, Ye Li's plain pale-green gown had merely confirmed these assumptions. Though Ye Li had declined to wear Wang Shi's calculated gift, such refusal hardly guaranteed superior judgment in dress.

Yet as proximity diminished the distance between them, Ye Ying discovered her initial assessment required revision. Ye Li's attire proved far from unremarkable. The seemingly simple pale-green fabric captured and refracted sunlight in subtle ways, revealing intricate patterns woven into the very warp and weft of the material, complemented by silver-thread embroidered peony branches. The ensemble bestowed upon the young woman an air of restrained elegance and noble grace—wealth that whispered rather than shouted.

And then there were those jade orchid hairpins inlaid with luminous pearls—recent arrivals at Elegance Pavilion that had captured Ye Ying's covetous attention. Her mother had refused the purchase. To discover them now adorning Ye Li's hair felt like swallowing broken glass.

Contemplating Ye Li's understated yet sophisticated presentation—simple yet dignified, refined yet accessible—Ye Ying, who had moments before taken considerable pride in her own appearance, suddenly wished she could retreat and tear her garments to shreds.

The recent intelligence that Ding Royal Palace had dispatched gifts to Ye Li only deepened Ye Ying's frustration. Since her betrothal to Prince Li, he had never graced her with a single present—not even a token acknowledgment.

"Since everyone's assembled, let us depart. Tardiness would be unseemly," Ye Li announced, withdrawing her gaze as she addressed her three sisters.

Beyond the gate, three carriages waited in ordered arrangement. The first belonged to Ye Li, followed by Ye Ying's conveyance. As daughters born of concubines, Ye Shan and Ye Lin were consigned to share a single vehicle. The youngest, Ye Shan, cast her gaze upon the rosewood carriage with its carved floral patterns, then toward Ye Ying's pearwood carriage adorned with delicate gauze curtains, before her mouth compressed into a resentful line as she regarded the shared conveyance assigned to her and Ye Lin.

Observing Ye Ying and Ye Li board their respective carriages without hesitation, Ye Shan's eyes sparked with mischief born of desperation. She darted toward Ye Li with sudden determination.

"Third Sister, may Shan'er ride with you?"

Ye Li, who had already settled within the carriage's interior, emerged from her contemplations and regarded Ye Shan's innocent, eager countenance. She nodded with studied indifference. "Come on up."

Ye Shan ascended with barely concealed joy, utilizing the embroidered footstool. Behind them, Ye Ying—who had evidently overheard their exchange—lifted a corner of her gauze curtain and smiled at Ye Lin, who remained standing in uncertainty. "In that case, Fifth Sister, you can ride with me. It'll save me from solitary boredom."

Ye Lin hastened to express gratitude and boarded Ye Ying's carriage with relief washing across her features.

---

The carriage progressed slowly and steadily toward the Peony Garden. Within, Ye Li observed the obvious and poorly concealed frustration etched across Ye Shan's face, finding it rather amusing. Was she already regretting her earlier maneuver, fearing it might have earned Ye Ying's displeasure?

Girls in this era truly overthink every interaction, Ye Li mused. Ye Shan wouldn't even achieve her thirteenth year for several months hence. Recalling her previous existence, even at twelve—when she had been compelled to memorize countless military treatises and strategic principles—she had remained nothing more than an unformed child. Her most sophisticated machinations had extended only to occasionally playing small tricks upon her grandfather or cousins, far removed from this byzantine social maneuvering.

Yet this was simply their method of survival, and Ye Li harbored no intention of deliberately complicating matters for the sulking girl. Excessive competitiveness rarely served one well. Handing her book to Qing Shuang for safekeeping, Ye Li studied Ye Shan's fluctuating expressions with anthropological interest. She remained young, after all, incapable of consistently concealing her thoughts and feelings.

"Y-you... what nonsense are you saying? I didn't do anything!" Ye Shan's childish face flushed crimson as she caught her lower lip between her teeth and glared at Ye Li.

"Is riding in my carriage truly so different from occupying your own?" Ye Li inquired with measured calm.

Ye Shan glared with fierce intensity, her eyes brimming with resentment and unwillingness, though her expression soon transformed to dejection. "That's right. Even if you're the least favored, you're still the legitimate daughter. Even after Prince Li annulled the marriage, you can still marry Prince Ding as his principal wife. But no matter how clever I prove myself, no matter how assiduously I please Father and Grandmother, I'll always be a concubine-born daughter. In the future, I'll either become someone's concubine or marry a bastard son as his wife."

Ye Li stared speechlessly at the indignant child. Twelve years old and already consumed by such concerns? Even after all these years inhabiting this world, she still struggled to acclimate. Moreover, this girl wielded her tongue like a blade—wounding others with words remained an unfortunate habit.

"Hmph!"

Ye Li couldn't be troubled to engage in argument. Only as they neared their destination did she murmur, as if addressing herself, "If your status is immutable, instead of coveting what remains forever beyond reach, why not optimize what lies within your grasp?"

Ye Shan froze, requiring considerable time to process these words before glaring at Ye Li with outrage. "Are you warning me not to aspire beyond my station?"

Ye Li felt momentarily choked by the misinterpretation. After a pause, she clarified, "I meant you're still young. There's ample time to contemplate such matters. Also, I believe we should disembark now."

Watching Ye Shan storm from the carriage ahead of her, Ye Li shrugged with amusement. Qing Shuang's pretty face darkened with indignation. "Miss, why trouble yourself with the Sixth Young Miss? She never misses an opportunity to diminish you. Truly ungrateful."

Ye Li patted her hand and lifted the carriage curtain with a philosophical smile. "She's merely a child. Everyone possesses their own method of survival. As long as she doesn't actually harm me, why should I harbor grudges against a child?"

---

The Peony Garden stood as the capital's—indeed, the entire Great Chu's—preeminent peony viewing site, drawing visitors from across the nation and beyond who traversed thousands of miles solely to witness the peonies' unrivaled magnificence. April marked the season when peonies achieved full splendor, their delicate fragrance detectable from considerable distance—perfume that required no artificial enhancement.

The Shangshu Mansion had recently acquired considerable renown throughout the capital—one daughter had been enfeoffed as Zhaoyi and carried the imperial heir, while two others had been betrothed to become the future Princess Li and Princess of the State. Thus, when their carriages arrived at the entrance, they immediately commanded numerous sidelong glances. While observers marveled at the capital's foremost beauty, more sympathetic—or perhaps pitying—gazes directed themselves toward the leading carriage.

When Ye Shan emerged first, the onlookers maintaining their pretense of casual observation experienced momentary confusion. Recovering their composure, they then witnessed a charming maidservant descend before lifting the curtain to reveal a serene and elegant young woman whose very bearing contradicted every rumor.

Was this the future Princess Ding?

The assembled crowd couldn't determine whether surprise or disappointment dominated their reaction. This Third Miss Ye clearly defied their expectations of coarseness or unattractiveness. Her composed and graceful demeanor unmistakably reflected excellent upbringing, evoking her maternal grandfather's family—the Xu Clan, a centuries-old aristocratic lineage distinguished by scholarly traditions. Compared to the ethereal and delicate Fourth Miss Ye beside her, the poised and dignified Third Miss seemed infinitely better suited to serve as mistress of a household.

Perhaps motivated by envy toward Ye Ying, many young noblewomen present began questioning the judgment of Prince Li—whom they had previously admired without reservation—while simultaneously experiencing newfound confidence in their own prospects.

---

Within the Peony Garden, flowers bloomed in profusion, and colorful butterflies performed their aerial ballet, while the young maidens lingering among them contributed to the vibrant tableau. The girls promenaded in small clusters with intimate friends, conversing and laughing with studied softness, creating an atmosphere of prosperity and manufactured peace.

By the time Ye Li's party reached the central gathering area, many had already assembled. The young ladies clustered together—some demonstrating their musical accomplishments on the qin, others engaged in strategic chess matches, painting, or composing poetry. Attendants from the Princess Manor moved with practiced grace among them, executing their service with impeccable discretion.

"Ying'er..."

Ye Ying's arrival prompted immediate warm reception. Several girls approximately her age advanced with evident pleasure, clearly intimate friends, while others offered welcoming smiles—the social currency of approval freely dispensed.

"Ying'er, you've finally come! We haven't seen you since your betrothal to Li Wang Dianxia," a brightly dressed girl declared cheerfully, claiming Ye Ying's hand with proprietary affection.

Ye Ying smiled, a faint blush coloring her beautiful face with becoming modesty. "Mother kept me at home. I've missed everyone dearly."

Following the requisite flurry of congratulations, the same girl inquired, "Ying'er, is this... Third Miss Ye?"

"I am Ye Li. Greetings to all the young ladies," Ye Li replied with a gentle smile that gave nothing away.

The assembled girls exchanged glances, collectively realizing that Third Miss Ye diverged significantly from rumored descriptions. Moreover, as the future Princess of the State, the true legitimate daughter of the Shangshu Mansion, and granddaughter of the esteemed Elder Xu, some hastened to extend their goodwill—pragmatism dressed as friendship.

"Pleased to meet you, Miss Ye. I am Qin Zheng, the second daughter of Censor Qin."

"My name is Murong Ting, daughter of General Yangwei."

The introductions continued, each calculating their investment in this unexpected development.

"Hmph! So this is the Third Miss Ye who was rejected by Jing Li gege."

The voice cut through pleasantries like a blade through silk—sweet poison delivered with a smile.

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