by N/A
(T/N: Well if there's not one now, someone's gonna punch one there.)
"Previously didn't hear anyone report that the wall in that courtyard was broken!" Zhong Mei Qing was somewhat startled.
Du Yun Han coldly snorted, "Hmph, can't even take care of this bit of matter, how can you even manage the household? Has Xiao Li's courtyard been arranged?"
Being scolded in front of the servants, Zhong Mei Qing's expression turned very unsightly, saying: "Replying to master, earlier had everyone transferred to Jade Bamboo Courtyard, and has already tidied that place up."
As soon as Du Yun Han heard it was Jade Bamboo Courtyard, his brows furrowed, "How can she stay at Jade Bamboo Courtyard? That place is so remote! And the buildings are also somewhat old."
T/N: I was suppose to finish this earlier but the power went out around noon from the thuderstorm and I forgot to charge my laptop soooo... _(:3」∠)_
Also I didn't think so many of you would freak out about my sleep schedule, is it really that bad...(^◇^；) I swear I'm just a full fledged night owl, I still sleep at least 6hours. Brain is dead in the mornings.
An accurate depiction of your translator Jen
Ch. 060.3 – Degenerate Father is a Good Father (3)
Degenerate Father is a Good Father (3)
T/N: Chapter (2/2) sponsored by Meh-train! Thank you for sponsoring!
Having continuously been scolded twice, Zhong Mei Qing carried an unconcealable grievance on her face, saying: "Master, right now, the other courtyards still haven't finished building, only this Jade Bamboo Courtyard, because construction was relatively small, is nearly finished. The remaining work was even finished this morning after having everyone all transferred over. Master, the courtyards in the manor are all being rebuilt. This is also something master and mother agreed on. How did we know that Xiao Li and them would arrive in the capital this soon, I, I also......."
Speaking to here, Zhong Mei Qing took out her handkerchief and wiped the corner of her eyes, that appearance looked as if she was shedding tears of grievance.
"Xiao Li, how about you go live at father's place?" Du Yun Han looked to Du Xiao Li, feeling somewhat troubled. This renovation matter, in the beginning, Zhong Mei Qing indeed did mention to him, but because he and his mother both agreed, he thus had this matter handed to them to take care of themselves. He didn't expect that something like this would end up happening.
"How can Xiao Li live in father's courtyard? Since there's a place to live, and don't need to live in the same courtyard as big brother, then anywhere is fine. Second mother has been busy over our matter for this long, so father don't blame second mother anymore." Du Xiao Li spoke.
"Then I'll let them have the things placed into the courtyard for you, then call up your brother, and take you both to go see your grandmother." As long as Du Xiao Li didn't fuss about leaving, letting him not blame anyone, all wasn't a problem.
"Okay." Du Xiao Li nodded, fully like an obedient daughter.
"You go tell mother first. Later, I'll bring the two of them to pay their respects to her." Du Yun Han looked to Zhong Mei Qing and said, "That's right, quickly let them have the other courtyards fixed up and have Xiu Heng move over. Also have someone quickly repair that broken wall. The Prime Minister Manor's wall all broken, what will happen if outsiders saw!"
"Yes, master. This wife will go arrange first." Zhong Mei Qing bowed and turned to leave.
Du Yun Han brought Du Xiao Li to a courtyard and waited outside for a while, before Chang Feng brought Du Xiu Heng over.
"Younger sister." Du Xiu Heng saw Du Xiao Li and quickly walked over, completely ignoring Du Yun Han who was next to her.
"Big brother, did you eat breakfast this morning?" Du Xiao Li asked.
"Ate already. Didn't know where to go eat, so I just let Xi Gu go out and buy something." Du Xiu Heng said.
"No one prepared breakfast for you all?" Du Xiu Heng asked.
"Hmph, I just knew you don't want us to come back, never mind arranging younger sister and I into one courtyard, didn't even tell us where the kitchen was. Don't want to let us live, don't want to let us eat, why did you even bother calling us to the capital?" Du Xiu Heng looked to Du Yun Han and questioned.
"It's okay big brother, you've also already eaten breakfast anyways, let's go pay our respects to grandmother." Du Xiao Li tugged on Du Xiu Heng's clothes and consoled.
"Let's go." Du Yun Han also said, as he lead the siblings into the courtyard with a unsightly expression.
Du Xiao Li followed behind Du Yun Han and studied the vast courtyard. Fake mountains, man-made pond, garden, shady little paths and what not, there was a little of everything. Looks like this place was indeed suited for one to enjoy one's later years.
Du Yun Han brought them before the main hall. A few guards stood at the doorway, and several servant girls were working around the courtyard. Seeing Du Yun Han, they all stopped and bowed to him.
"Master, old madam is already waiting for you all." A finely dressed servant girl saw Du Yun Han coming from the entrance and went forward to greet.
"I know." Du Yun Han nodded. He turned and looked to Du Xiao Li and Du Xiu Heng and said, "Let's go in, no need to be nervous."
Du Xiao Li nodded, while Du Xiu Heng still had no expression.
Du Xiao Li followed Du Yun Han into the room. In front, she saw sitting in the main seat a white-haired old woman, her eyes bright and full of expression as she watched the three of them enter, but the expression on her face wasn't that happy.
Below her sat a few middle-aged women, looks like they should be Du Yun Han's concubines. There weren't many. Aside from Zhong Mei Qing, there were only three other women, much less than she'd imagined.
"Mother, I brought Xiao Li and them over to pay their respect to you." Du Yun Han said.
"En." Du old madam answered. She can be considered to be giving her son face. "You all are Su Su Xin's children?"
"Xiao Li greets grandma~." Du Xiao Li smilingly performed her bow to Du old madam.
(T/N: MC calls her 'zhu nai nai' which is a cuter way to say grandmother, it's like formal and cute at the same time.)
"Xiu Heng greets grandmother." Du Xiu Heng also said.
When Du Xiu Heng had left the Du Manor, he was still very young, only about three years old. Towards the matter of the Du Manor, for the most part, he didn't have too big of an impression of. He only faintly remembered the people and matters at the time that caused him and his mother to leave home. Towards this grandmother and Du family's family background, he completely didn't have any impression of.
"En." Du old madam didn't seem to like Du Xiao Li very much, but towards Du Xiu Heng, she was rather warm. "Xiu Heng, how have you been all these years living outside? Do you still remember this home? Someone, come give young master a seat, just place it by my side."
This was completely ignoring Du Xiao Li!
"Get miss a seat too." Du Yun Han said.
Du old madam glanced at Du Yun Han and didn't say anything. Afterwards, she shifted her sight back onto Du Xiu Heng and continued asking his situation.
"Xiu Heng, Xiao Li, this is your second mother. You've already met at the door just now." Du Yun Han pointed to Zhong Mei Qing and said. Afterwards, he pointed to a simple but elegantly dressed woman below her and said, "This is third yiniang."
(T/N: Yiniang is the address for concubines.)
"Eldest young master, third miss." Third yiniang slightly smiled at Du Xiu Heng and Du Xiao Li and greeted them.
Although they were yiniangs, that is Du Yun Han's concubines, this kind of status in a household actually was just slightly higher than servant girls and can't really be considered masters of the house. But the di son and di daughter, now that is the family's true masters, their status were don't know how many times higher than the yiniangs! That's why, this third yiniang should rightfully greet Du Xiao Li and them first.
"This is third yiniang's daughter, your younger sister, Du Xue Qi. She's 8 years old this
year." Du Yun Han pointed to the little girl next to third yiniang.
"Hello big brother, big sister." Du Xue Qi sweetly smiled at Du Xiao Li and cleverly called out.
"This is your fourth yiniang, and this is fifth yiniang." Du Yun Han pointed to the other two women and said.
Du Xiao Li glanced to them. Unlike third yiniang's simple elegance, fourth yiniang looked to be the rather seductive kind, but didn't lose in sophistication either. And fifth yiniang just looked like she came from prostitution.
"Eldest young master, third miss." Fourth yiniang and fifth yiniang also voluntarily greeted Du Xiao Li and them.
"On your second mother's side, you have an older sister, called Du Ke Xin. She's reached marriageable age this year (15years old). And also a younger brother, called Du Ke. He's a few months younger than you. They must have gone out today." Du Yun Han continued.
"Heard you've already passed the provincial exam, and next year will be participating in the national exam?" Du old madam looked to Du Xiu Heng and asked.
"Yes." Du Xiu Heng indifferently replied, and didn't because of this become arrogant.
"Haha, good! good! This year, you don't need to do anything else, just stay at home and properly review your knowledge. Later, after your father sort out matters with the Four Way Academy for you, you can go there to study." Upon hearing Du Xiu Heng's affirmative answer, Du old madam finally let out a smile.
"Mother, the matters with the Four Way Acadamy, I'll go take care of later. Right now, I'll first take Xiao Li down to unpack her luggage, just let Xiu Heng stay here and chat with you." Du Yun Han said.
"Go then, Xiao Li, if you see anything lacking in the courtyard, just let your second mother know." Du old madam waved her hand at them. Although she was saying words of concern, her attention never left Du Xiu Heng. Looks like those words were just said on Du Xiu Heng, this older brother's, behalf.
"Yes, thank you grandma. Then, Xiao Li will withdraw first." Du Xiao Li got up and bowed towards Du old madam and Zhong Mei Qing.
"That's right, the two wolves Xiao Li raised, I will let her keep in the courtyard. However, if you all don't have anything, don't go to her courtyard, careful not to get bit by a wolf." Du Yun Han said and left with Du Xiao Li.
T/N: Dad don't just drop a bomb like that and walk away are you stupid.....
Ch. 060.4 – Degenerate Father is a Good Father (4)
Degenerate Father is a Good Father (4)
T/N: Chapter sponsored by Anon and Madam Daim! Thank you for sponsoring!
The people in the room were all frightened. Du old madam patted her chest and said, "How, how can there be wolves? Heavens, there's actually wolves in the house! No, no, what happens if someone gets bit? These wild beasts all just bite people on instinct!"
"Mother, this matter, I better discuss with master, how can wolves remain in the home, this....." Zhong Mei Qing also was somewhat afraid. They were all just weak and feeble women, just thinking of that terrifying wild beast living in a courtyard with them made their hearts jump to their throat.
"Alright, we'll......"
"Grandmother, grandmother, don't panic. Silver and Gold won't just casually bite people." Du Xiu Heng, seeing them becoming more and more serious, quickly explained.
"How can that be, such ferocious animals like wolves, how can they not bite people?" Zhong Mei Qing said.
"Second mother, Silver has been raised in our house for five to six years now. When younger sister had him brought back, he hadn't been born long, and didn't have much feral tendencies. In the past, when we were in the village, he's never causally bit anyone before, else how could the villagers let us have him raised this big?" Du Xiu Heng comforted.
"Really?" Du old madam still looked frightened, appearing very much afraid still.
"Really, how could this grandson dare use this matter as a joke? That's why....."
After Du Xiao Li left the room, she could still hear the movements inside. Imagining them losing their heads from fear inside, she faintly laughed.
"Let's go, I'll take you to Jade Bamboo Courtyard. That place is rather remote, but just stay their for a few days for now. Once the front courtyards are finished in a few days, I'll have you moved over." Du Yun Han said.
"Okay."
Du Xiao Li followed Du Yun Han to Jade Bamboo Courtyard. The southern fretwork wall was different; the northern courtyard wall didn't have that many patterns. Both were repaired directly using bricks, both tall and thick. In front of the courtyard, there was an octagon gate. On the two sides of the gate, there were two simple fretwork windows. The gate was directly facing a screen carved from stone. On there were carvings of scattered green bamboo.
Octagon Gate
After entering, it was a very small courtyard. On the two sides of the courtyard, there were two multisided flower shrubs decorations. Inside, the fresh flowers brightly bloomed. A little further in were two patches of green bamboo. And at the end of the courtyard was a two-story small building, with eight rooms below, and only four rooms upstairs. One of the rooms was built very long lengthwise. Aside from the corridor in front, there was actually a small balcony in the back.
Du Xiao Li stood atop the balcony, seeing that there was a wall in the back, but outside the wall was a small river. Under the sunlight, the water was like a white necklace. And on the opposite side of the bank was a flat plain, and in the distance, a range of mountains. On the tallest mountain peak, there was even a faint white color, must be snow that hasn't melted yet.
"Xiao Li, just stay here for a few days for now, once the front....." Du Yun Han stood next to Du Xiao Li and said.
"No need, I like this place very much." Du Xiao Li said. At first glance, she'd already taken a liking to this place. Although it was quite a bit smaller than the other courtyards of the manor, it had both the southern specialty, and the northern style, especially this balcony and the plains in the back, both deeply favored by her. In the future, she can just let Silver and Gold happily run around there, and don't need to keep them constrained in this tiny courtyard.
"But this place is too small." Du Yun Han said.
"Small is peaceful." Du Xiao Li said. "I also don't like having too many people around. That's right, that piece of land in the back, who does it belong to?"
(T/N: Small remote courtyards perfect for late night rendezvous ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°) )
"It doesn't belong to anyone. Normally, our houses are all built on this side of the river. That side has never been used by anyone. Because it's near the district where officials live, ordinary commoners can't reside or cultivate there either. So it's just been empty all this time." Du Yun Han said.
"Then can I let Silver and them go there and play?" Du Xiao Li asked.
"Yes, just be careful not to let them bite anyone." Du Yun Han nodded, and then suddenly realized something, "So it's because of this, that's why you want to live here!"
"Yes." Du Xiao Li said, thinking to herself that there was actually another reason, but she won't tell you. And that reason is that this place and the outside were only just separated by a wall, so it'll be very convenient to go out.
"Since you like it, just do as you please." Du Yun Han said.
"Thank you father." Du Xiao Li said with a smile, "Father, who designed this courtyard?"
"An official that previously resided here. However, the houses here have all been renovated." Du Yun Han said, "What's wrong?"
"Nothing, just felt it's quite unique." Du Xiao Li said, "Father, if I want to have that piece of land outside bought, is it possible?"
"You want to buy it?" Du Yun Han somewhat surprisingly asked.
"Yes, can I?" Du Xiao Li asked.
"Since you want to buy, later I'll go talk to the Ministry of Revenue." Du Yun Han said, "What do you plan on doing with it after you buy it?"
"After buying it, have it fenced in, and then turn it into a place for my Silver and Gold to play around in. Also can use it to plant some things I like." Du Xiao Li said.
/> "En, later, I'll go to the account room to get the money and have this matter taken care of for you." Du Yun Han said.
"Father, I don't want others to know that this place was bought by me. If you go to the account room to draw money, the family will definitely know." Du Xiao Li said.
"But father doesn't have much money either, that bit of salary of mine simply isn't enough."
"I have a plan." Du Xiao Li mysteriously smiled and went out to call up Xia Yuan who was tidying up their luggage downstairs.
"Master, miss." After Xia Yuan came up, she bowed to the two of them.
"Xia Yuan, go get thirty thousand taels of silver." Du Xiao Li said.
Xia Yuan was somewhat surprised, but still quickly went downstairs to fetch the banknotes for thirty thousand taels of silver, using a container to hand it to Du Xiao Li. Du Xiao Li then had the container passed to Du Yun Han.
Du Yun Han accepted the container, opening it up to see placed inside thirty one-thousand taels banknotes, saying in shock: "How come you have this much money?"
"Didn't steal, didn't snatch, I earned it all." Du Xiao Li said. "Using these to buy the land should be enough, right?"
"Shouldn't be a problem." Du Yun Han was in a daze.
"Father, you have to keep this secret for me." Du Xiao Li once again instructed. After seeing that piece of land in the back, Du Xiao Li originally planned on letting Fu Wan San or someone else go help herself buy. But afterwards, hearing that this was land for official families, and needed to go to the Ministry of Revenue to take care of, she knew Fu Wan San and them might not be able to handle it, so she could only look to this father of hers.
Fortunately, he was still rather doting towards her, so there shouldn't be too big of a problem.
T/N: Why do I feel like she's probably already the richest person in the capital. Also I'll finish the last part to this chapter later tonight, so I can start on next chapter. There's only 2 more full chapters till ML returns.
Ch. 060.5 – Degenerate Father is a Good Father (5)