I added a note to the titles of princess in the previous chapter. Gong zhu is for the official princess while jun zhu is for a secondary princess, or the daughter of a crown prince. Jun zhu is ranked lower than gong zhu.
Prisma hasn’t edited this chapter yet. Seems like I’m doing this myself at this point… And I still have to submit my thesis. Ugh. Sorry for the grammatical mistakes and awkwardly worded sentences. I’m too tired to proofread this. Sporadic updates for now.
Chapter 24: And together with the Ice Lord at the Qi Xi Festival (part 5)
This action by Bai Xi was extremely fast. By the time everyone in the hall had a chance to react, the butterfly hairpin had already accurately hit the column behind Ye Zi Ning. The butterfly hairpin hung above the exquisite peacock hairpin.
"That was really embarrassing. Recently, I haven't been practicing martial arts. I actually dared to let the flying insect that landed on the princess to escape. Ai, I am really sorry that I wasn't able to kill that pest," said Bai Xi. There was no apology on her face, particularly not in the last few words which she emphasised. Although from the beginning, this Ye Zi Ning hadn't said anything offensive or humiliating, but those women with her incited such things. Furthermore, she already wanted her life. She wanted to see if this woman had the qualifications to want her life!
"Bai - Xi! You dare to murder this princess!" Ye Zi Ning coldly blamed while grinding her teeth, every word revealed the evil thoughts in her heart.
"Second princess, although I recently have not been practicing martial arts. But if second princess feels that if I really wanted to kill you, would you even be able to say a word?" Bai Xi gazed at the column with the butterfly hairpin. This Ye Zi Ning was one you would need to give a little bit of face to.
Everyone looked at Ye Zi Ning, this time noticing that there was nothing wrong with her except for the peacock hairpin. Even her hair was not messy. They started to believe Bai Xi's words. For someone who did not practice martial arts, this level of skill was not low.
"Why are you all motionless? This person is causing this princess problems, so she should be beaten to death!" When she saw that woman smiling, she felt a little fear, but it only deepened her determination to eliminate this woman.
Immediately, the few eunuchs recovered from their shock, but they did not dare to go over because they were afraid that if they moved, the Bai family's second young miss would send her hairpin flying at them. But, they did not dare to disobey the second princess' order. This sort of situation was not good.
"No, nobody can take older sister Xi away. Second imperial older sister, older sister Xi said that she saw flies around imperial older sister's peacock hairpin. Why does imperial older sister want to put older sister Xi to death? Older sister Xi was just trying to save imperial older sister from the flying insect. Who knows if it was poisonous? Furthermore, older sister Xi was not saying frightening things just to cause alarm. The seventh month is originally called the ghost month. Did second imperial older sister forget that in a few days it will be the Ghost Festival? Actually, the Ghost Festival is called the Zhong Yuan1 Festival in the books." Because of her invitation to older sister Xi to come to the palace, she absolutely couldn't allow her to get into trouble. Also, they wanted to cause trouble for her and she didn't want older sister Xi to get tired of her.
"Mm, I think that Zi Yu and older sister Xi are both well-behaved children who like to read."
Bai Xi swept her gaze across everyone in the hall. So, it turned out the Ghost Festival was called the Zhong Yuan Festival. From the corner of her eye, she saw the ugly expression on Ye Zi Ning's face. Bai Xi had a crafty look in her eyes. "The reason why the seventh month is known as the ghost month is because from the first day of the seventh month, the ghost gate opens and will not close until the thirtieth day. During this time, the lonely souls in the netherworld rush forth into this world. According to legend, the ghosts who received injustice return to the human world to look for revenge against those who wronged them."
She did not believe the façade of Ye Zi Yu's arrogance and confidence. Her hands would not be soaked in blood, she would bet on it. After Ye Zi Ning heard her words, her whole body trembled as her eyes darted around as if searching for the vengeful ghosts.
"It really is like what was said in the book." Ye Zi Yu nodded in agreement, adding to the authenticity of Bai Xi's words.
"As they say, if one does not commit any deeds that would weigh on one's conscious, there is no need to be afraid of ghosts knocking at one's door." Bai Xi raised her teacup and drank to moisten her throat. She then continued to say, "Zi Yu, if the second princess insists on putting older sister Xi to death, you do not have to plead for older sister Xi. However, older sister Xi wishes that, before I die, you will send a couple of people to the Bai residence to see my older brother and tell him that I am unable to make the evening appointment because his younger sister's life is in the palace and cannot return.
Mm, not good. Saying it like this was not good. You should also tell my dad. Recently, because of military affairs, older brother's temperament is not very good. I worry about the people that you send over, so maybe tell my dad. My dad can also tell my older brother. Regardless of what you tell dad, his temperament will be better than older brother's. At least he shouldn't kill anyone."
Ye Zi Yu was in tears. After hearing Bai Xi's words, her eyes reddened further. She shouldn't have invited older sister Xi to the palace for the Qi Qiao Festival because she was lonely.
Mu Qiu's eyes were tearing up as she walked over. She wanted to protect the young miss. But when she moved 2 steps, a hand rose to bar the way. Mu Qiu was stunned. She did not understand her family's young miss.
Ye Zi Ning narrowed her eyes as she still glared at Bai Xi. Regardless of whether this woman wanted to die, her words reminded her that even if she wanted this woman dead, the Bai family was still behind her. People of the Bai family were not people she could easily execute. Not to mention that this woman was the much doted on younger sister of young general Bai.
"Hmph." It would be best for that woman to not be caught by her, otherwise she would let her die without a place for burial. Ye Zi Ning coldly snorted. After glancing at Ye Zi Yu, she turned to leave. Those women did not dare to continue to stick around and, one after the other, left. However, among them was one person wearing a simple green Chinese dress who looked over at Bai Xi before walking over with lily steps2.
When the irrelevant people scattered, Ye Zi Yu held Bai Xi and cried, "Older sister Xi, I am sorry I am no good. I ended up implicating you."
Bai Xi frowned, not understanding the words Ye Zi Yu said. But, the following words of Ye Zi Yu's imperial palace maid in colourful clothes allowed her to finally understand.
Actually, this Ye Zi Yu was a pitiable person. Her imperial concubine mother was doted on by the late emperor and was known as imperial concubine Yi3.When she was 10 years old, imperial concubine Yi had suddenly passed away. Without the support of her imperial concubine mother, she lacked a backing in the palace. After two years, the former emperor then passed away and she finally lost all her support. However, imperial concubine Yi was known to be a kind-hearted person who treated the slaves well before she passed away. So, after imperial concubine's passing, the imperial palace servants stayed and did their utmost to serve Ye Zi Yu. The other imperial concubines rarely came to cause trouble. In addition to the current emperor's love, she could spend her days in peace.
While this world had good people, it surely had its fair share of bad people, and Ye Zi Ning was certainly among them. She and the current emperor, Ye Mu Li4, had the same imperial concubine mother. She hated that Ye Zi Yu had snatched away the affection of her siblings and hated that Ye Zi Yu had taken her father's love and that was the main reason why the empress dowager hated imperial concubine Yi. So, Ye Zi Yu hated being inside. Throughout the years, Ye Zi Ning was influenced by the empress dowager, but it was not surprising that she had her temper.
Ye Zi Yu had inherited imperial concubine Yi's kind and gentle temperament, where she would not tell others about being bullied. Additionally, she had an optimistic disposition and would filter out many things, except for the people around her. Others would not know that in the past few years, she had been bullied and ridiculed as she grew up.
As far as her resolve to express her feelings to Feng Ming, she only felt that if a powerful person like Feng Ming could protect her, she would not need to be bullied by those people. In the end, she was unable to have the courage to take that final step.
Bai Xi found it difficult to believe that there was a dazzling halo on top of her head while she clung to her full of sincere smiles. This adorable Ye Zi Yu unexpectedly had such a bitter life compared to the schemes of the concubine mothers and younger sisters from the Bai residence. She appeared to be happier. At least those people's schemes did not genuinely want her life. Plus, she has the love of her grandfather, dad, and older brother who were still in this world. Oh, and she had recently added Zhang Shu Yi, this main wife.
"Young miss, the princess' life is not worth envying," Mu Qiu sighed.
"Little Qiu Qiu is actually perceptive this time! Ai, it's really a pity that I can't take a picture of little Qiu Qiu's appearance now!" Regardless of how Zi Yu's life was, she is able to see that she is able to be happy and relaxed. It's enough to live like that each day. Or else it would be scheming all day, exhausting the body and the heart.
"Young miss likes to make fun of this servant." Mu Qiu pulled the jade hand off her shoulder. When she was in the palace, she was nervous, and her movements were quiet. When she heard that the young miss was sentenced to die, she had almost fallen to the ground.
"After returning to the residence, I don't want you to tell older brother what happened at the palace, okay?" she immediately said. This event today, she couldn't let her brother know, and she couldn't say why she had this idea.
Ai, although this Qi Qiao Festival didn't have extensive celebrations, it was just her and Zi Yu. While it was simple, she felt that it was enough. She originally didn't intend to celebrate this sort of thing, the Qi Qiao Festival, the Qi Xi Festival, or whatever it was called.
The carriage gradually stopped and outside the carriage driver called, "Second young miss Bai, the Bai residence is here!"
After Bai Xi jumped out of the carriage, she smoothed the creases in her clothes. As she was about to enter the residence, someone behind her called out, "Second young miss Bai."
Bai Xi turned to look at the person behind her and blinked in surprise, as if she couldn't believe what she saw.
1.(中元節) this also refers to the ghost festival, but are different characters from the aforementioned ghost (鬼節). I have kept this festival with the pin yin name to differentiate the two.↩
2.(蓮步) - lily steps is a term used to describe a beautiful woman's graceful way of walking.↩
3.(怡) - Yi means happy/cheerful.↩
4.(夜沐璃) - Mu means 'be given favour' and Li means 'glass'.↩