by N/A
"Thank you, big brother Yi." Du Xiao Li said, slightly exerting some strength, and had her hand pulled out from Han Ming Yi's.
"It's still early today, let's go find a place to sit." Han Ming Yi suggested.
"I still have some business and have to go out of the city, afraid I don't have time to accompany you." Du Xiao Li said.
"Oh? Then I'll accompany you out of the city." Han Ming Yi said and then turned to leave. Walking to the door, and seeing that Du Xiao Li still stood at her original spot, he said, "Still not coming along?"
Du Xiao Li rode in Han Ming Yi's horse carriage, and by the time they arrived at the estate outside the city, it was precisely when the sun was scorching hot. Different from a month ago, the grapes in the vineyard on the two sides of the path at the moment were already gradually ripening, and emitting a wave of fragrance.
"Miss, how come you came so early today?" Aunt Xie saw Du Xiao Li coming down from the horse carriage and quickly went up to welcome.
Aunt Xie was Xie Hen's wife. Previously she'd gone to go take care of her daughter-in-law who was in the one month confinement period after giving birth. She'd just returned ten days ago, and also had her daughter-in-law brought over. Last time when Du Xiao Li came, she even got to hold that little baby.
(T/N: Traditional one-month confinement period following childbirth, following a special diet, and observing various taboos to protect the body from exposure to the 'wind'.)
"Aunt Xie, the sun is too big, why are you waiting here?" Du Xiao Li looked to aunt Xie and said.
"I heard the horse carriage and thus came." Aunt Xie looked to Han Ming Yi coming down from the horse carriage and instantly knelt down, "Greetings your Highness Ding Wang."
"Quickly get up." Han Ming Yi lightly said. Smelling the fragrance in the air, he added, "Didn't expect that you would actually plant grapes here."
"Wangfei, can we go pick grapes to eat?" Leng Er squeezed up from behind and asked.
"Okay." Du Xiao Li nodded. Ever since the emperor bestowed the marriage, Leng Er just called her wangfei whenever he saw her, no longer calling her girl.
Leng Er excitedly walked a few steps, then turned around and asked, "You won't make me pay, right?"
"Pfft---" Du Xiao Li instantly bursted into laughter. Leng Er's look made her recall back when he wanted to drink snake soup back in Du village, and she made him pay. "Today I'm in a good mood, so I won't take your money."
"Miss, there's chilled grapes inside." Aunt Xie said.
"Is it the ones chilled at the bottom of the old well?" Du Xiao Li asked.
"Yes. My husband said miss will come over in the afternoon, so at noon, we had some grapes lowered into the well." Aunt Xie replied.
"Steward Xie really is great! Leng Er, you all don't need to go pick in the gardens anymore. The ones in the garden have been basking under sun and aren't as good as the ones chilled in the well."
"Really? Then that's great!" Leng Er walked back and said, "Wangfei, wherever you are, there's always good food!"
Three black lines dropped on Du Xiao Li's face. Why did his words sound so awkward?
"Don't tell me your master doesn't give you food? How about come work for me here?" Du Xiao Li teased.
"Master, how about we just disown Leng Er?" Leng San said with a laugh.
"Can be considered." Han Ming Yi stroked his chin and pretended to contemplate.
"Wangfei is also our master too, right, master?" Leng Er flattered with a smile.
"Just your mouth's smooth." Du Xiao Li shot a glare at Leng Er, then turned to enter the courtyard.
She came here today to teach the women in the estate how to ferment grape wine. Originally, she'd planned on coming over after school let out, but unexpectedly, not only did she come this early, she even brought along a bunch of people that wanted to eat grapes.
After satisfying the glutton, she had the women all called to the place where the grapes were stored, preparing to start working. Just as she was about to start, Han Ming Yi walked over and picked up a string of grapes, looking to her. That appearance seemingly was like he wanted to learn too.
T/N: Sorry I fell asleep half way through this last night so didn't finish until now.
Also I feel like some of you all are expecting too much from this author's writing abilities lmaoo. There's a lot more inconsistencies and mistakes than you think, I just fix a lot of them when I translate. A common one I see is a character doing the same action twice within 2 lines of each other. For example, she'll have a character enter the door, then two lines down have the character enter the door again even tho said character is suppose to already be in the room. I tend to just omit a lot of these parts, so you don't see them, but stuff like this happens like at least once every chapter. I mean WN are amateur work anyways so don't expect them to be too polished lmaooo.
Ch. 067.1 – Personally Ferment Their Wedding Wine (1)
Personally Ferment Their Wedding Wine (1)
Du Xiao Li looked to Han Ming Yi's appearance and helplessly held her forehead.
"Big brother Yi, with you like this, I can't work!"
With that said, she also looked to the women that were somewhat trembling because of Han Ming Yi's arrival. Although he didn't deliberately express it, his natural noble presence, and also that killing aura left by the battlefields, still wasn't something these ordinary commoners can't withstand. If he continues to stay here, how was she going to teach them how to ferment grapes?
"You all do as you please, just treat it as this prince isn't here." Han Ming Yi faintly said, and then innocently looked to Du Xiao Li.
"Big brother Yi, if you want to drink grape wine, Feng Xue Lou has readily made ones. Today, I came to teach them how to ferment wine. What are you doing joining in on the excitement here." Du Xiao Li was a little speechless at Han Ming Yi's gaze.
"This prince doesn't want to drink right now." Han Ming Yi said, and before Du Xiao Li got angry, added: "If I ferment some now, we can drink it when we get married."
The words Du Xiao Li wanted to say instantly got stuck in her throat. Han Ming Yi although said it very casually, he was being very serious. He really was planning on personally fermenting their wedding wine!
"Then you come join in too." Du Xiao Li said, "Stand at my side, and don't block them."
Han Ming Yi moved to the side a little, standing next to Du Xiao Li.
Du Xiao Li first let everyone wash their hands clean, and then while demonstrating, explained to them how to ferment grape wine. Han Ming Yi earnestly studied from the side, copying whatever Du Xiao Li did. Because the process wasn't difficult, everyone all learned very quickly. However, because the amount was rather high, by the time they finished fermenting, the sun had already set.
Han Ming Yi carefully had the wine jar nicely sealed, and then gave it to Leng Yi to the side, ordering him to properly store it away when they get back. Afterwards, he watched Du Xiao Li skillfully ferment grape wine.
"What are you making this many for?" Han Ming Yi asked.
"I also like drinking wine I fermented myself." Du Xiao Li said with a smile. Although there was a branch winery in a town not far from the capital, and also a large vineyard, in charge of providing wine for the capital and nearby cities, she still liked doing it herself. And only when she finished drinking the ones she fermented herself will she finally drink the ones provided by the winery.
"Alright, that's all for today. The rest of these grapes just share them with the people in the estate." Seeing there was only a little left, Du Xiao Li got up and said, "In the future, when the grapes mature, just use them to ferment wine. Every step needs to be carefully done, especially regarding sanitation, it can't be neglected, understand?"
"Yes, miss." Those people uniformly replied.
"Alright, find someone to have these fermented wine moved to the storage room." Du Xiao Li ordered, and then let someone have the wine she fermented moved to Han Ming Yi's horse carriage.
Before leaving, Du Xiao
Li went to the vineyard again to pick a large basket of fresh grapes, and then ordered them to have some grapes sent into the city tomorrow morning. Afterwards, she finally got on the horse carriage and left with Han Ming Yi.
"You won't be home in the morning, why send them into the city then?" Han Ming Yi asked.
"To eat of course." Du Xiao Li pulled open the curtains for a look. The sky outside was already dark, don't know if she'll get lectured by Du Yun Han when she gets back.
"Don't worry, I've already sent someone to your house...." Before Han Ming Yi could finish his words, he suddenly stopped, following which the horse carriage also stopped.
"You stay inside and don't come out." Han Ming Yi instructed, without waiting for Du Xiao Li to respond, and got up to go out.
The Leng named brothers all looked to the men in black that had them surrounded. The other party's strength wasn't weak, and moreover, there numbers were very high. When they'd gone out, they only brought along the seven Leng brothers. To have to face these near a hundred assassins was definitely going to be difficult. Especially when there was also Du Xiao Li, this future mistress that didn't know martial arts.
"Encountering assassins again?" Du Xiao Li came out from inside the horse carriage and looked to the people that had them surrounded. "Big brother Yi, when together with you, why do we always run into assassins?"
"Didn't I let you stay inside? Why did you come out?" Han Ming Yi had Du Xiao Li pulled to his side.
"Inside the horse carriage isn't safe either!" Du Xiao Li retorted. She also saw that the other party's strength wasn't low. Even if she stayed inside the horse carriage, they would still be able to sense her presence.
Han Ming Yi also realized this bit, and figured that if she stayed by his side, he could still closely protect her. Thus, he reached out his left hand and had her held tightly, saying: "In a bit, you have to follow me closely."
Du Xiao Li lowered her eyes towards her right hand that was being held by him. A peculiar feeling streaked across her heart as she nodded in reply, "Okay."
Because of the incident when she was little, everyone all subconsciously believed that she didn't have the ability to learn martial arts, and treated her as a weak maiden. Regarding her martial arts ability, only the few people close to her knew. She'd also intended to deliberately explain that she knew martial arts, but if they don't need her help, she was also more than happy to continue hiding it.
"Who are you all? To actually dare try to assassinate our master in Phoenix city, don't know this here is our territory?" The seven Leng guards had Du Xiao Li and Han Ming Yi encircled in the center, as they looked to the other party and asked.
"Hmph, we've already tailed you all for several days. Today, there's only you lot, if we don't act now, when will we have to wait until? Attack!"
One of the assassins finished saying and immediately flew over, while the others also attacked at the same time.
Du Xiao Li listened to that person's words, feeling his accent was strange, like it wasn't the manner of speaking of someone here.
"That is the northern country's accent." Han Ming Yi held a sword in his right hand and held Du Xiao Li's hand in his left, as he watched Leng Yi and the others fight with the other party, while still being able to pay attention to Du Xiao Li's thoughts.
"Northern country's accent?" Du Xiao Li was somewhat shocked. They were actually assassins sent by another country? Then how did they infiltrate into Feng Ming?
"En, don't know which of the three northern countries they're from." Han Ming Yi said.
The three northern countries, one was Northern Yuan that he and Ji Liu Feng defeated in battle previously. Northern Yuan and Feng Ming were connected at the border and was also the strongest of the three northern countries. Another was Norther Lan, and also Northern Qi. Northern Lan and Norther Qi's territories were a little smaller than Northern Yuan and were situated to the east and west of Norther Yuan.
"These years, Leng Yi and the other's strength have increased quite a bit!" Du Xiao Li watched the seven of them completely block off the other party and exclaimed in admiration.
"These years, they've accompanied me onto the battlefield and have indeed improve quite a bit." Han Ming Yi said in approval.
Ch. 067.2 – Personally Ferment Their Wedding Wine (2)
Personally Ferment Their Wedding Wine (2)
T/N: Chapter (7/12) sponsored by Madam Daim! Thank you supporting this novel!
Hearing Han Ming Yi's words, Du Xiao Li's heart suddenly jumped. His body was now filled with a sharp aura, greatly differing from that little boy back then. These probably were all formed from fighting in close quarters on the battlefield.
She previously had heard Ji Liu Xia say, that year the previous emperor had suddenly passed away, and the then only twenty year old Han Ming Ze succeeded the throne. Then, a coup occurred in Phoenix city, letting Feng Ming who was situated at the center of all the countries once again become a delicacy in the eyes of the other countries. Quite a few countries all once sent troops to invade Feng Ming before.
In the beginning, the battle progressed very harshly. In order to stabilize the army morale, the then only fourteen year old Han Ming Yi thus headed to the army camp, and afterwards, followed the army to the borders to fight. Relying on his exceptional talent in military affairs, he assisted the Great General, Li Lun, repel wave after wave of invasion, preserving Feng Ming's land in the process. He also stabilized the wavering foundation of their country, becoming a country that others won't dare to casually invade.
And he, also because of his outstanding military achievements again and again, got bestowed the title Ding Wang by the emperor, taking the meaning 'to stabilize(Ding) and bring peace to the country'. However, at the same time, he also became the thorn in the eyes of the other countries, and would frequently get attacked by assassins and whatnot.
Du Xiao Li and Han Ming Yi was observing Leng Yi and the other's fighting the whole time. Although the seven of them worked together in coordination well, but unfortunately, the other side had more people, and they faintly showed signs of retreating a little in defeat. Looks like, the other party very much understood Leng Yi and the other's abilities. The people they sent all weren't weak in strength.
"You stay here and don't move." Han Ming Yi glanced at Du Xiao Li, and after seeing her nod her head, he finally let go of her hand and shouted towards the people that were currently fighting, "Leng Yi, Leng Er, you two withdraw back and protect Li'er."
With that said, he then ran to Leng Yi and the other's position, and switched places with Leng Yi and Leng Er.
Leng Yi and Leng Er obviously knew Han Ming Yi's abilities, thus after hearing his orders, swiftly withdrew and came to Du Xiao Li's side.
This was Du Xiao Li's first time seeing Han Ming Yi kill people. His figure was quick like a cunning rabbit, with every attack like a ferocious dragon, fast, strong, and precise, seemingly all were a one-hit kill. The ones that Leng Yi and them had struggled against just now, in front of him, were just like fruits waiting to be cut.
"So strong!" Du Xiao Li couldn't help exclaiming in admiration.
Although if she were to use 'wind blowing snow', Han Ming Yi may not necessarily be able to beat her, but the time she's spent on practicing martial arts these years was rather high, while Han Ming Yi has been instead plagued by various miscellaneous tasks. In comparison, Han Ming Yi was indeed very impressive.
As soon as Han Ming Yi joined the fight, the opponent's strength began to dwindle, letting the Leng brothers' pressure instantly reduce by quite a bit.
Just then, marching sounds came from a path to the side. Du Xiao Li turned her head to look. It was the army!
After the army came, the discrepancy between the two sides' power appeared even more obvious. And Han Ming Yi also, after the army arrived, returned to Du Xiao Li's side, coldly watching the men in black get killed or caught.
"Wangye, the all assassins have already been apprehended." A military officer
came before Han Ming Yi, cupping both hands.
"Take back to interrogate." Han Ming Yi said, "Careful not to let them commit suicide."
"Yes, this subordinate will take them back right away." The officer finished saying and then lead the army and assassins away, even taking away the corpses as well.
Han Ming Yi looked to Du Xiao Li's face, not seeing the slightest look of panic, and sighed at her courage. He recalled a few years ago, that time when they'd encountered assassins in Zhou county. It was also the same then; she not only didn't panic, she instead even calmly treated Leng San and him.
Thinking of few years ago, he also recalled that kiss that wasn't considered a first kiss.
"Alright, let's go back then." Han Ming Yi said.
Du Xiao Li nodded and followed Han Ming Yi back onto the horse carriage. Leng Yi and them also got on their own horses, and the party continued heading towards the city.
Because of the assassination attempt just now, when they arrived at the city gates, the gates were already closed. Leng Yi took Han Ming Yi's plaque to go let the gate guards open the gate. And the horse carriage finally was able to enter the city.
Du Xiao Li pulled open the back window curtains, seeing the once again closed city gates, and thinking to herself, Han Ming Yi's influence was sure big. When the city gates were closed, aside from the emperor, even if it was the crown prince outside the city, they all didn't have the power to let them open the gate. But, the imperial guards that were guarding the gates, upon seeing Han Ming Yi's plaque, immediately had the gates opened. It can be seen how high his position was in Feng Ming.
"What are you thinking about?" Seeing Du Xiao Li deep in thought, Han Ming Yi softly asked.
Du Xiao Li put down the window curtains and turned around, "Big brother Yi, you all knew that there would be assassins today?"
Han Ming Yi saw Du Xiao Li's confident look, and slightly smiled, "What makes you think that?"