The Pearl in the Palm – Chapter 11
The next day, Ye Lizhu woke up bright and early. Yusha waited on her as she dressed. Ye Jiayou was heading to the academy, and before leaving, he dropped by Ye Lizhu’s quarters to check on her.
Hearing that Ye Lizhu was heading to the Empress’s palace, Ye Jiayou said, “Zhuzhu, Her Majesty the Empress is the mother of the nation—broad-minded and kind-hearted. You don’t need to be nervous. Just go, let the imperial doctor take your pulse and examine your illness, share a meal, collect some rewards, and you’ll be right out of the palace.”
Ye Lizhu nodded.
Ye Jiayou added, “The Crown Prince is refined and gentle. If you end up having a good impression of him, Dad and I can completely understand. However, Zhuzhu, the imperial palace is not a good place. It is not suitable for our family.”
Ye Lizhu nodded once more. “Jiayou, I know.”
Ye Jiayou said, “Then I’m off to the academy.”
Ye Lizhu pulled him over and gently straightened his collar. “Be careful on the road. Go on.”
After Ye Jiayou left, Yusha fastened Ye Lizhu’s sash. Ye Lizhu’s waist was truly extraordinarily slender; her entire figure swayed gracefully like a newly sprouted willow branch in spring. Yusha was older than Ye Lizhu and already understood the ways of the world. She knew perfectly well that men absolutely adored this specific type of young woman—seemingly delicate and fragile, yet soft, warm, and delightfully full when pulled into an embrace.
Once her outer robes were on, Nanny Chen brought in her medicine. Ye Lizhu took her medicine first before heading to the outer room for breakfast.
She hadn’t even finished her morning meal when news arrived from outside that the Empress’s people had set out incredibly early. Before the hour of Chen was even over, Her Majesty’s entourage had already left the palace gates.
Yusha offered a cup of tea for Ye Lizhu to rinse her mouth. “They will be here in less than two quarters of an hour. The Master’s people said it would be the hour of Si. The imperial palace has so many rules, yet they deliberately arrived early.”
After washing her hands, Ye Lizhu leaned languidly against the daybed. She had only managed a few bites this morning and simply couldn’t stomach any more. The mere thought of having to ride in a carriage soon made her body feel even more thoroughly unwell.
Yusha dispatched a few junior maids to pack things up, while she walked over, knelt down, and gently massaged Ye Lizhu’s legs. “Is the Miss nervous? It’s perfectly normal…”
Ye Lizhu lifted her eyes. “Nervous about what?”
Yusha smiled. “After all, you are going to meet the Empress. Her Majesty is the most noble woman under heaven. Is the Miss truly not the slightest bit intimidated?”
Ye Lizhu genuinely didn’t feel any fear. The Empress was indeed noble, but Ye Lizhu hadn’t committed any wrongs, so why should she be afraid?
It was just a routine visit to pay her respects and let the imperial doctor take her pulse, nothing more.
Ye Lizhu said, “Let nature take its course. As long as I can come back early, it will be fine.”
Before long, the maids and eunuchs from the Empress’s palace arrived. The Empress’s head maid, Auntie Lanxin, followed Madam Wu into Ye Lizhu’s Jingshui Pavilion. As Ye Lizhu stepped out of her room, Madam Wu introduced her: “This is Auntie Lanxin.”
Ye Lizhu smiled faintly. “Greetings, Auntie Lanxin.”
The inner palace was as full of beauties as the sky was full of clouds, and Auntie Lanxin had seen countless stunning faces, yet upon laying eyes on the Ye family’s Miss, she still found herself momentarily dazed. Recovering a moment later, Auntie Lanxin beamed, “Greetings, Miss Ye. Truly, seeing it once is better than hearing about it a hundred times. With your exquisite appearance, Her Majesty will certainly be delighted when she sees you.”
Madam Wu chimed in, “The Miss grew up in an ancient temple deep in the mountains and doesn’t understand the palace’s etiquette. Auntie Lanxin, I hope you can offer her some guidance and bear with her.”
Auntie Lanxin replied, “Naturally. Miss Ye, please board the carriage.”
Several palace maids carefully helped Ye Lizhu step up.
The carriage exited the Ye estate and rolled along the broad capital avenues. Because it was still morning, there weren’t too many pedestrians. The carriage bore the imperial crest, so ordinary carriages and commoners all scrambled out of the way. Ye Lizhu sat uncomfortably inside, her head spinning in waves of dizziness. She pulled a Qinxue (Snow-Infused) Pill from her embroidered pouch and slipped it into her mouth.
Suddenly, the carriage jerked to a halt. The leading eunuch hastily scrambled down from the front.
The wretched, sick feeling in Ye Lizhu’s body instantly receded significantly. Feeling a bit surprised, she lifted a corner of the curtain and peeked secretly outside.
Only to squarely crash into a pair of narrow, deeply majestic eyes.
It was the man she had run into yesterday.
This man must also be a tremendously high official, actually forcing the eunuchs from the Empress’s palace to drop to their knees!
Seeing the man sitting on a tall, powerful steed with a massive blade slung at his waist, looking incredibly awe-inspiring, Ye Lizhu assumed he was a grand general.
Ti Xiao had originally planned to enter the palace today as well, but Duke Dun had invited him over early in the morning to discuss some matters, so he had to head to the Duke’s estate first. As luck would have it, he collided perfectly with the Empress’s entourage right on this road.
Before Ti Xiao could even speak, he saw the carriage curtain peek open just a tiny fraction, a small, exquisite face faintly visible behind it. He found it highly amusing in his heart.
This little woman is truly bold. Not having stared enough yesterday, she actually dares to continue staring today!
What kind of proper, golden-branched noble lady acts like this?
Left with no choice, Ti Xiao shot Ye Lizhu a chilling, icy glare, warning her not to casually stare at men.
Sure enough, Ye Lizhu was frightened out of her wits by Ti Xiao’s terrifying gaze. She dropped the curtain in a flash, not daring to show her face again.
Ti Xiao simply tossed a few instructions to Auntie Lanxin, ordering her to treat the guest exceedingly well and absolutely not neglect her. Just before he left, he shot another glance toward the carriage—but this time, Ye Lizhu did not lift the curtain again.
He knitted his brows, feeling suddenly, inexplicably even more displeased.
Inside the carriage, Ye Lizhu’s chest was no longer stifling, and her head was no longer dizzy. Although she marveled at the change, her mind was entirely consumed by the look Ti Xiao had just given her.
Ye Lizhu knew she had been too bold this time. As a proper young lady from an illustrious family, she shouldn’t casually peek outside, let alone lock eyes with a man. Perhaps that man hated her too; otherwise, why would he scare her with such a cold glare?
Ye Lizhu decided that if she ever ran into this man again, she definitely had to hide far, far away from him, so she wouldn’t have to suffer his cold glares anymore.
The carriage continued moving forward. The further it went, the more that heavy, suffocating sensation returned.
Ye Lizhu took a sip of tea to suppress it. Before long, the carriage entered the imperial palace walls. The maids invited her to step down, and she transferred to a colorful palanquin, heading straight for the Empress’s Zhaoyang Palace.
Empress Ti was currently in her palace chatting with Consort Xian and two lower-ranking concubines. Hearing the maids announce the arrival, she smiled gracefully. “Quickly, bring Miss Ye in.”
Ye Lizhu was ushered inside.
Zhaoyang Palace was resplendent in gold and jade, and Empress Ti was dazzlingly radiant. Dressed only in apricot-yellow everyday robes embroidered with auspicious birds, she was in her early thirties but barely looked twenty. Consort Xian sat to the lower right, while the two lower-ranking concubines sat even further down.
Ye Lizhu briefly noted everyone’s seating arrangements, then immediately lowered her eyes to the thick carpet on the floor and offered a graceful, flowing curtsy. “This official’s daughter, Ye Lizhu, pays respects to Her Majesty the Empress.”
Smiling, Empress Ti signaled the maids beside her to help Ye Lizhu up. Auntie Lanxin hastily supported her and introduced, “This is Her Highness Consort Xian, this is Noble Lady Jia, and this is Concubine Du.”
Ye Lizhu greeted them one by one. Consort Xian, Noble Lady Jia, and Concubine Du all knew she was coming today and had prepared meeting gifts. Consort Xian was incredibly generous, directly rewarding Ye Lizhu with a full peck of pearls, while the two lower-ranking concubines gifted gold bracelets and fine silks.
Empress Ti beckoned her over. “Good child, come sit by this Palace.”
Ye Lizhu sat beside her, and Empress Ti wrapped an arm affectionately around her shoulders, turning to Consort Xian. “Look at this girl, so endearingly lovely and exceptionally beautiful.”
Ye Lizhu offered a shy smile.
Looking at Ye Lizhu’s appearance, figure, and elegant bearing, Empress Ti genuinely liked her in her heart, feeling that the Ye daughter was indeed a worthy match for the Crown Prince. There was only one fatal flaw—the little girl was simply too frail. She really didn’t look like someone who could easily bear children.
The words Ye Fu’an had spoken in the grand hall that day had, naturally, found their way to Empress Ti’s ears. If Ye Lizhu couldn’t bear children and refused to allow anyone else to bear them either, wouldn’t the Crown Prince be completely doomed?
Without showing a trace of these complex emotions on her face, Empress Ti merely hugged Ye Lizhu’s shoulders and said tenderly, “Dear child, what medicines do you usually take? Looking at you, it seems you rarely step out of your doors. This Palace will have Imperial Physician Xu take your pulse.”
Translator’s Anecdote: Ti Xiao really glared at the girl for looking at him, and then immediately got offended when she actually stopped looking at him—sir, please pick a struggle.(~˘▾˘)~