by N/A
"The other party had that many people, but you all weren't surprised at all. Moreover, you all didn't send out a help signal, yet those troops still rushed over. The army camp is still some distance from the assassination location, right?"
"Hehe, I just knew you would guess it." Han Ming Yi said. He'd always believed that when Du Xiao Li was little, although she sometimes didn't put some things to mind, it wasn't that she didn't understand, but rather she just wasn't interested in knowing, that's all. These things, as long as she thought about it, she'll be able to guess it. "You're right. We were already long aware that someone would come try an assassinate."
"Then, today, you purposefully accompanied me out of the city in order to create an opportunity to draw them out?" Du Xiao Li asked gloomily.
"Not really." Han Ming Yi explained, "After I'd returned to the capital, I noticed someone watching me. In the beginning, I'd thought that it was someone in the capital. But afterwards, Leng Yi and them caught one and discovered their appearance was like someone of the northern countries. Thus, we concluded that the others should be outside the city. If I didn't follow you out of the city today, I would've gone out tomorrow. Just, after hearing you wanted to come out, I temporarily decided to accompany you."
"Oh." Du Xiao Li returned a simple response and didn't say anything else.
"Angry?" Han Ming Yi looked to Du Xiao Li's appearance and asked.
"No." Du Xiao Li denied, but she also couldn't describe what she was feeling inside, only feeling a little strange.
When the horse carriage passed by Niu Jing's house, Du Xiao Li let them stop for a while and shared half of the grapes with Niu Jing and Tong Tong, before finally returning to the Prime Minister Manor.
"Directly have the horse carriage driven to the rear courtyard." Du Xiao Li said.
"Alrighty wangfei." The one driving was Leng Qi, and upon hearing Du Xiao Li's words, had the horse carriage circled all the way around the Prime Minister Manor to the back gate.
Leng Yi and them helped Du Xiao Li have the wine jars and half a basket of grapes moved into her courtyard. Because Han Ming Yi had his own additional basket of grapes, Du Xiao Li didn't leave him anything else.
"Thank you for today, big brother Yi. See you later." Du Xiao Li jump down from the horse carriage and waved her hand towards Han Ming Yi, before turning around and entering the Du Manor.
Han Ming Yi watched Du Xiao Li disappear inside, before finally putting down the curtains, "Return."
The horse carriage slowly left the Du Manor. In the horse carriage, Han Ming Yi looked to the two jars of wine. One jar he'd fermented himself, and one jar was fermented by Du Xiao Li. Recalling her appearance teaching him how to ferment wine in the afternoon, the corner of his mouth raised upwards. Soon after, he closed his eyes and nodded off.
As soon as Du Xiao Li entered the Du Manor, someone called out to her.
"Third sister."
Du Xiao Li looked to Du Xue Qi who'd appeared out of nowhere. She stopped her steps and asked, "Xue Qi, how come you're here?"
"I just ate dinner with mother and came out to digest the food." Du Xue Qi pointed to a pavilion next to the pond. Du Xiao Li followed her finger and looked over, seeing Xie Yu currently sitting in the pavilion, absentmindedly staring at the water. "Third sister, how come you came back this late, have you eaten dinner yet?"
Facing Du Xue Qi's large innocent eyes, Du Xiao Li reached out and patted her head, "Because I had some business to take care of, I came back late. Let's go over and greet your mother."
"Okay." Du Xue Qi replied with a smile, and pulled along Du Xiao Li's hand as they walked towards the pavilion.
Ch. 067.3 – Personally Ferment Their Wedding Wine (3)
Personally Ferment Their Wedding Wine (3)
T/N: Chapter (8/12) sponsored by Madam Daim!
Xie Yu heard the movements and turned around, seeing Du Xiao Li and Du Xue Qi coming over together. She quickly got up and bowed towards Du Xiao Li, "Why has third miss come? Is Xue Qi being mischievous again?"
"Third yiniang doesn't need to be so formal. I was just passing by here and saw you two, so came over to greet you." Du Xiao Li said. Although these concubines needed to bow when they see the di daughter, she still wasn't too use to it.
"Third sister, can I go to your courtyard to see the wolves?" Du Xue Qi recalled their earlier promise and asked.
"Xue Qi, don't be unruly. Don't add trouble for third miss." Upon hearing Du Xue Qi say she wanted to go see the wolves again, Xie Yu quickly stopped her.
"But last time I already said I wanted to go see the wolves." Having gotten told off by Xie Yu, Du Xue Qi lowered her head, feeling somewhat disappointed.
"You can't tonight. At night, Silver's temper isn't too good. It's best to come see them during the day." Du Xiao Li said, "En, tomorrow, I'm also busy, so how about this, the day after tomorrow, after I get back from school, you can come over, alright?"
"Really?" Du Xue Qi eagerly said, as she lifted her head to look at Du Xiao Li.
"Of course." Du Xiao Li said, "When have I lied to you before?"
"En en, I just know third sister is the best!" Du Xue Qi happily said.
"Really is troubling third miss." Xie Yu somewhat embarrassingly looked to Du Xiao Li.
"Third yiniang is too polite. You can just directly call me Xiao Li." Du Xiao Li said. The feeling Xie Yu gave off was really very gentle, like those Jiangnan women she'd seen before in her past life, carrying a graceful bearing.
(T/N: Jiangnan women are famously known to be graceful and elegant; there's even a saying that Jiangnan produces beauties.)
"How is that okay." Xie Yu shook her head, "You're the di daughter, I can't overstep."
Du Xiao Li and Xie Yu sat face to face across from each other, while Du Xue Qi stood at Du Xiao Li's side, playing with a lock of Du Xiao Li's hair. After seeing this, Xie Yu berated her and had her come over to sit by her side. However, Du Xue Qi didn't go over after letting go of Du Xiao Li's hair, and instead just sat down next to Du Xiao Li.
"Xue Qi has never really talked much with the people in the manor, and her personality is also rather reserved. Didn't expect that she would be this clingy to you." Xie Yu saw Du Xue Qi insist on sitting next to Du Xiao Li and sighed, "To have troubled third miss, really sorry about that."
"It's fine, Xue Qi is my younger sister, it's also good for sisters to get along more. I've just arrived in the capital and don't have many friends, having Xue Qi accompanying me is quite nice as well." Du Xiao Li said, "That's right, is third yiniang's old home in the south?"
"Yes. How did third miss know?" Xie Yu replied with a smile.
"Had a feeling." Du Xiao Li responded.
The two sat in the pavilion for a while, before Du Xiao Li got up and bid farewell. Right now, it was already very late. Xia Yuan and them are probably all about to come search for her.
As expected, before Du Xiao Li could leave the pavilion, Xia Yuan had already came over. Seeing Du Xiao Li and Xie Yu in the pavilion talking, she came over and bowed to the two of them, "Miss, dinner has already been prepared."
"Third miss quickly go back and eat then." Xie Yu said.
"Third sister, I'll come find you the day after tomorrow!" Du Xue Qi looked to Du Xiao Li.
"Okay, after I get back, I'll let Xia Yuan and them go to your courtyard to find you." Du Xiao Li finished saying and left with Xia Yuan.
Not long after leaving the pavilion, Du Xiao Li arrived at her own Jade Bamboo Courtyard.
Xia Yuan and them had the wine jars that Leng Yi and them moved in already all stored away. They'd thought that Du Xiao Li would return very soon, but after setting all the dishes, they still didn't see Du Xiao Li's figure. Thus, they let Xia Yuan come out and look for her.
After Du Xiao Li washed her hands, she came to the table. Seeing the light dishes on the table, she began eating in satisfaction. After she finished eating dinner, Du Xiao Li let someone have the grapes washed and divided into three shares. O
ne share, she let someone send to Du Yun Han, one share to third yiniang's courtyard, and the remaining share she will personally take to Du Xiu Heng's courtyard.
Du Xiu Heng had long moved to Pine Courtyard that was not far from Jade Bamboo Courtyard, so Du Xiao Li didn't have to walk far to reach him. Xi Gu saw Du Xiao Li and took her to Du Xiu Heng's study.
"Young master, miss has come over." Xi Gu called out into the study, then pushed open the study door and withdrew.
Du Xiao Li walked in carrying a basket and saw Du Xiu Heng still reading under the candle light. Upon seeing her come in, he finally had the book put down and asked, "Younger sister, why did you come over at this time?"
"This afternoon I went to the estate to teach them how to ferment grape wine. On the way back, I picked some grapes back. Just got back and ate dinner, and then thought to send some over to you." Du Xiao Li had the basket placed on top of Du Xiu Heng's desk and picked up the book in front of him, "It's already this late, don't read anymore. With the candle light this dim, your eyes will get damaged."
Du Xiu Heng didn't try to get back the book from Du Xiao Li either. He just reached into the basket and picked a grape, and after peeling the skin, placed it in his mouth. When he finished eating, he finally said, "Heard today something happened over at the girls' schoolyard side? Are you alright?"
"I'm fine." Du Xiao Li moved over a stool and sat down in front of the desk. She began chatting while eating grapes with Du Xiu Heng, and had what happened in the afternoon explained to Du Xiu Heng. While she was at it, she also had her situation at school these days relayed to him as well.
"This Miss Ji rather likes to cause trouble." Du Xiu Heng concluded after he finished listening, "However, for her to be willing to go so far for you, presumably, she still sees you as a friend."
"En, Liu Xia is quite good." Du Xiao Li said, "That's right, tomorrow let's go see grandma Meng together. She fell ill yesterday. Tomorrow, I need to go check up on her again."
"Grandma Meng is sick? Is it serious?" Du Xiu Heng asked.
"En, quite serious, if not treated well, she would've lost her life." Du Xiao Li said, "However, fortunately, it was treated in time, so right now, there shouldn't be anymore problems."
"Then tomorrow, after school lets out, wait for me. After I get out from class, I'll go together with you to see her." Du Xiu Heng said.
"Okay." Du Xiao Li nodded, "That's right, in another half a month or so, it'll be mid autumn. Before that, let's have Liu Feng and them called over for a gathering. In the beginning, I said when there's time, I'll cook for them, but ended up dragging it out until now and still haven't cooked for them. It just so happens that since coming to the capital, we still haven't gathered together yet either."
"Okay." Du Xiu Heng cheerfully agreed.
"Heard in a few days, it'll be the academy's rest day. Let's just choose that day then. The wolf park is already mostly finished. When the time comes, just let everyone come to our little enclosure for a gathering."
"Alright."
As the two talked, they also cleared out more than half of the grapes in the basket. When Du Xiao Li saw that it was getting late, she thus got up and went back.
The morning of the next day, the estate had the grapes Du Xiao Li wanted sent over. Du Xiao Li looked to them over; the quality was not bad. She then let someone divide them into four shares, sending them to Princess Changle's residence, Meng Manor, and also the General's manor. Afterwards, she had the smallest portion sent to Du Old Madam.
Once she finished taking care of everything, she finally got on the horse carriage and headed to school. Ever since the first day of school, after Du Ke Xin ditched her, they never rode to and from school together again. Every time, she just went alone.
Because of yesterday's matter, after Du Xiao Li and Ji Liu Xia arrived in the classroom, they both received everyone's stares. But the two of them pretended like they didn't see and just directly walked to the very back of the classroom.
After a whole day's worth of classes ended, Du Xiao Li and Meng Jiang Zhuo waited a while for Du Xiu Heng to head to Meng Manor together. After Ji Liu Xia and Fu Ya Lan heard, they thus said they were coming along too, and so they all waited outside the academy gate for Du Xiu Heng to come out.
A while later, Du Xiu Heng stepped out from the entrance gate. Because the sun was still rather strong right now, Du Xiao Li lend him her horse carriage, while she went to go ride in Meng Jiang Zhuo's horse carriage. As for the horse, they had Xi Gu ride it back.
When the party arrived at Meng Manor, they encountered Han Ming Xiang, who'd also came to visit Meng Old Madam, and thus the young ladies all entered together.
T/N: Something came up over the weekends and I couldn't finish working on the translations. I'll try my best to catch up as fast as I can.
Ch. 067.4 – Personally Ferment Their Wedding Wine (4)
Personally Ferment Their Wedding Wine (4)
"Greetings princess." Seeing Han Ming Xiang, the people of the Meng Manor all came to greet her. Han Ming Xiang went forward to help Madam Meng up, saying: "I'd heard just now that old madam is sick, and thus came over to see. Madam Meng doesn't need to be so formal."
"Thank you, princess." Madam Meng lead the people behind her in rising.
"How's old madam's illness?" Han Ming Xiang asked.
"Right now, her condition has already stabilized. She'd just slept for a while and had woken not long ago. Perhaps, she knew that you all were coming over and thus woke up!" Madam Meng spoke as she lead them into the room.
After Du Xiao Li entered the room, she saw Meng Old Madam leaning against the bedside. Her complexion right now appeared to have improved quite a bit, and she was currently eating the grapes the servant girl peeled for her. Seeing Han Ming Xiang, she wanted to bow to her, but got stopped by Han Ming Xiang.
Du Xiao Li came to the bedside and said, "Grandma Meng, let me take your pulse first."
Hearing Du Xiao Li say this, the servant girl to the side quickly brought a cushion over and had Meng Old Madam's hand placed on top, so as to make it easier for Du Xiao Li to take her pulse.
"Girl, the grapes you sent over today were very delicious." Meng Old Madam said after Du Xiao Li took her pulse.
"Right now, you still can't eat too many, but eating a little is rather beneficial to the body. Once you've recovered, it's not too late to eat more." Du Xiao Li picked up the cushion and handed it to the servant girl to the side. The servant girl then went to put it back. "Later, I'll perform acupuncture for you one more time and have your medicine changed again."
"Thank you, if not for you, this old life of mine would've long reported to King Enma's court." Meng Old Madam said.
"That's because grandma Meng is a fortunate person blessed by the heavens." Du Xiao Li said as she got up, and when she turned around, she just saw Ji Liu Xia and them looking to herself dumbstruck.
"You all are...?" Du Xiao Li felt her hair stand from their staring. Especially Ji Liu Xia's gaze, it was like she wanted to eat her.
In the end, it was Han Ming Xiang that broke the strange atmosphere. "Previously, I heard old madam's illness was very pressing, even the imperial physicians were bounded by the hands. Afterwards, she got saved by a little medicine god. At the time, I was still thinking who this little medicine god was, but didn't think it was actually Xiao Li."
"Xiao Li, you've really shocked us." Ji Liu Xia spoke in disbelief.
"En? Your older brother didn't tell you that I knew medicine?" Du Xiao Li asked.
"Nope, that guy actually didn't tell me that you have medical skills, and even a little medicine god. Wait until I get back, see how I'm going to mess with him!" Ji Liu Xia said through clenched teeth. If Ji Liu Feng had told her earlier, she wouldn't have been this surprised.
"I just knew Xiao Li isn't as the rumors outside say, yet didn't expect that you would be this shocking!" At the gathering last time, Fu Ya Lan already noticed that Du Xiao Li wasn't like how she appeared on the surface. T
hat's why, she told her grandfather to agree letting Du Xiao Li enroll in the academy. Unexpectedly, the shock she gave her was far more than what she'd imagined.
"Alright, you all don't just stand around. All of you sit down and chat with this old woman for a while. Then afterwards, just go out and play." Meng Old Madam said.
Madam Meng let the servant girl carry over a few stools to place by the bedside for Du Xiao Li and them to sit. Just then, Meng Old Madam finally saw Du Xiu Heng behind them and quickly called him over. However, because he was male, it wasn't too convenient for him to stay there, so after a while, he just left first. And Meng Jiang Zhuo thus also lead the others to the pavilion in the courtyard to admire flower, drink tea, and eat grapes.
"What fruit is this? So good! And also tastes a bit like grape wine." Ji Liu Xia asked in surprise after eating a grape.
"This is the grape that Xiao Li let someone send over this morning." Madam Meng explained from the side.
"This is a grape? Xiao Li where did you get this?" Ji Liu Xia looked to Du Xiao Li in shock. She very much liked drinking grape wine, but had never eaten grapes before.
"Picked it from the ground." Du Xiao Li said.
"This morning when I saw the grapes, I was also very surprised. Never thought that I'd actually be able to eat this kind of fruit." Han Ming Xiang said.
(T/N: I'm surprised as popular as the grapes are the imperial family hasn't made them offer some up as 'tribute'.)
"Ah, Xiao Li also sent you some too?" Ji Liu Xia pitifully looked to Du Xiao Li. That look very bluntly was complaining to Du Xiao Li, why there wasn't her share.
"You're a glutton just like your brother, so how can I forget yours? I also had someone send some to the General's Manor." Du Xiao Li said with a smile. "However, big sister Ya Lan's house, it wasn't convenient for me to let someone send them, so I was thinking to let you come with me to my house to get some later. That's why I didn't send any."
"It's fine. Xiao Li, you're already very considerate." Fu Ya Lan said with a smile. Although there weren't any sent to the manor, at least she didn't forget her share, no?