The sudden imperial decree of marriage caught the whole Ye Family off-guard, and Ye Wangshi and Ye Xia were even more despairing, as they rapidly lost weight within just a few days. Unable to bear the atmosphere at ho, Ye Borong spent his days managing the family’s business, anwhile preparing Ye Xia’s dowry. After all, regardless of their reluctance, the imperial decree was final, and there was no room for regret.
"Eldest Lady, please have so food, otherwise, you won’t be able to bear it," urged Ye Xia’s leading maid.
Yet, she suddenly knocked the food on the table to the ground, screaming, "Eat, eat, eat, how can I have the appetite to eat now? Get out, all of you get out!"
As the maid left, she still advised, "Eldest Lady, you have to take care of your body. If you continue like this, you’ll be in worse shape than the Second Lady."
"Don’t compare with that sickling," Ye Xia angrily roared, her eyes then suddenly flickered.
At night, a low growl emanated from Ye Wangshi’s courtyard: "This is deceiving the emperor, if it is discovered, you’ll be beheaded."
Ye Xia, with her bright eyes full of sches, pleaded, "Mother, can you really bear to watch your daughter die? Mother, please pity your daughter! I’m still too young to die."
Hearing her daughter’s words, Ye Wangshi’s face showed intense reluctance, "But this is a matter concerning our family’s honor. If there is any slip-up, none of us will survive, moreover, that’s your own sister!"
"Mother!" Ye Xia clung to Ye Wangshi’s arm, acting coquettishly, "How could anything go wrong? My sister and I are twins, we look quite alike. Outsiders usually can’t tell us apart. Besides, Prince Li is still a prince, perhaps marrying him might allow my sister to seek even more skilled doctors for her illness. We are really doing this for her own good."
"But you and Qiu’er have completely different temperants, outsiders will notice as soon as they see you!" Ye Wangshi seed to be swayed, but still very hesitant.
"What’s there to worry about? Isn’t Prince Li known to jinx his wives? My sister is frail, marrying her to him will only make outsiders believe it’s due to Prince Li’s fate. As for , I can stay at a manor under the pretext of recuperating for a year or two. Later, we can just say I’ve recovered and send back the servants who are familiar with us, wouldn’t that cover everything?" Ye Xia grew more excited as she spoke, convincing herself with her rationale.
"But, but..." Ye Wangshi, influenced by her elder daughter, felt her heart pounding, her face a mixture of shock and uncertainty.
Seeing the opportunity, Ye Xia pressed on, "Oh, Mother, please pity your daughter. This is the first ti your daughter has ever begged you like this. Do you really have the heart to watch your daughter die? We are not harming my sister, if we don’t do this, do you think she’ll ever have another chance to marry? An unmarried woman neither belongs to her husband’s family nor can she enter her mother’s family’s ancestral tomb. Do you have the heart to see her beco a lonely ghost? Once we switch identities, she’ll be a Princess Consort and entitled to enter the imperial mausoleum. We are doing this for her benefit, and besides, no one in the capital can cure her illness, perhaps marrying Prince Li and moving to the Northwest might heal her? Mother, you’ve loved my sister for so many years, why not consider what’s best for her?"
The more Ye Xia spoke, the more she felt justified, even faintly feeling magnanimous. If it weren’t for her strategizing and enduring through the selection process, would there even be this imperial decree of marriage? Ye Qiu should thank her!
Ye Wangshi kept silent, her hesitant expression growing stronger. Ye Xia knew, this was a sign her mother was wavering, so she intensified her efforts.
"Mother, once my sister marries Prince Li, we will then be Imperial Relatives. Although Prince Li holds no real power, and might never return to the capital in this lifeti, hence our family can’t rely on his influence, but I am still here. After a year or two, your daughter can still enter the selection process. By then the situation will stabilize. This ti your daughter was granted marriage by the Holy Emperor, next ti with experience, I will perform even better. By then, would you worry about our family’s status anymore? But if my sister stays, what can she possibly contribute to our family?"
As soon as Ye Xia finished speaking, Ye Wangshi clenched her handkerchief, then she smiled winningly, "Mother, think about Aunt Chen’s arrogance, think about your son’s future prospects, what else is there to hesitate about?"
"I still need to discuss this matter with your father," declared Ye Wangshi with apparent resolution.
Ye Xia’s smile was uncontrollable, "Actually, mother doesn’t need to worry too much about being exposed. Once Prince Li gets married, he will imdiately return to the Northwest, and then daughter will go to the manor to feign illness. As long as our own family doesn’t ntion it, who would notice sothing is wrong?"
"You go back first. Don’t talk about this matter to anyone, especially your younger sister," Ye Wangshi instructed solemnly.
Ye Xia was delighted inside, "Mother, daughter understands the gravity, I will take my leave now."
Two days later, Ye Borong, Ye Wangshi, and Ye Xia arrived together at Ye Qiu’s Luoxia Courtyard. Seeing the guilty looks in Ye Borong and Ye Wangshi’s eyes, and the seemingly mocking and gracious expression on Ye Xia’s face, Ye Qiu set down her teacup, knowing that what was inevitable had finally co.
"Why did father, mother, and elder sister co today? Please have a seat," invited Ye Qiu, then personally poured tea for them, occasionally coughing twice.
"It’s almost spring, why is your health still not good?" Ye Wangshi seed genuinely concerned.
Ye Qiu smiled gently, "It’s precisely because of the change of seasons, so I’m a bit uncomfortable."
"Are you taking your dicine on ti?" Ye Borong rarely asked.
Ye Qiu obediently replied, "Yes, it’s all my body’s fault for not being strong, causing father and mother to worry."
What followed was a room filled with silence; thinking about their plan, both Ye Borong and Ye Wangshi were too embarrassed to speak, as neither wanted to bear the guilt of pushing their daughter into a dire situation themselves.
However, Ye Xia beca anxious upon seeing this situation, fearing her parents might change their minds. Having grown up in the capital, she had no desire to suffer in the Northwest. She heard that won’s skin there was rougher than here – she did not want to beco ugly.
"Mother, don’t you have so good news to tell second sister? Say it quickly and make second sister happy!"
Although the eldest daughter’s expression was sowhat inappropriate, Ye Wangshi could not bear to scold her and instead curled the corners of her lips to Ye Qiu, saying, "Mother indeed has sothing to tell you."
"What is it?" Ye Qiu said innocently, "Is it about elder sister getting married to Prince Li? Daughter has also heard those rumors; although Prince Li has outlived three wives, elder sister has always been fortunate, she surely won’t have any issues. Parents should prepare more money and servants for elder sister, so even if she goes to the Northwest, she must not suffer."
This concerned expression of Ye Qiu, planning for Ye Xia, made Ye Wangshi swallow back the words she was about to say, as if she couldn’t bear it.
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