by N/A
"Father you said this to his Majesty?" Du Ke Xin looked to Du Yun Han in somewhat disbelief. He was that doting of her? Even if this would make him lose face, he didn't care either?
"Alright, other things you don't need to bother with, just properly go prepare your performance. Since you're already bestowed to Ren Wang, then you'll be representing Ren Wang. If you perform well, then once you marry over, he will naturally be good to you. Right now, just go back and prepare." Du Yun Han waved his hand and said.
"Yes. This daughter will withdraw!" Du Ke Xin resentfully glanced at Du Xiao Li, then turned and left Du Yun Han's study.
Du Xiao Li also didn't think that Du Yun Han would say that to the Emperor. Seeing Du Ke Xin angrily glare at herself, she was too lazy to bother, pretending to be nonchalantly looking around the study. Yet, on the wall next to her, she saw Su Su Xin's portrait.
"This is mother's portrait." She walked over, reaching out to touch the paper, as she muttered.
This painter's skills really were impressive, having Su Su Xin's appearance and charm imitated perfectly, like it was really her. It can be seen the painter's understanding and deep feelings towards her.
"This was painted by me." Du Yun Han also walked over, looking to the figure in the painting, his voice somewhat hoarse. "In the beginning, I'd thought that you all died, thus painted this painting. Look, this is you."
Du Yun Han's finger pointed to a certain place in the painting. Du Xiao Li looked over. That was Su Su Xin's abdomen. No wonder she felt it was a bit strange, because that place was slightly protruding, appearing just like a pregnant women. Furthermore, she was also holding the hand of a little boy, appearing to be two three years old, should be Du Xiu Heng.
Then this was their whole family's portrait!
"You and mother's matters, father, can you tell me?" Du Xiao Li touched Su Su Xin's abdomen and asked.
"Sigh, there's no harm in telling you." Du Yun Han let out a sigh, gazing to Su Su Xin's portrait, and began reminiscing the things that happened that year.
Du Yun Han actually was born into an official's family that have been serving as officials for three generations. Just they were all outside officials, and their position wasn't high either. According to the family's expectations, they hoped for him, the eldest di son, be able to take up an official post. But at the time, although he studied intensively, he didn't have too much interest in towards becoming an official. Thus, in his teenage years, he left home to explore the outside world.
(T/N: Outside officials meaning their post was outside of the capital.)
One day, while passing through a mountain range, he got stopped by mountain bandits, not only robbing him of his money, they even wanted his little life. In the crucial moments, an elegant woman in white flew down from the mountains, saving his life by the thread. That woman was Su Su Xin.
Afterwards, the two fell in love and traveled through jianghu together for a long while, experiencing many life and death situations. Their feelings also deepened little by little, to the point of discussing marriage.
But, their feelings didn't receive their family's approval. Especially Su Su Xin's family, very much against her marrying the descendant of an official's family. However Su Su Xin's mind was made, and for this, didn't hesitate to cripple her own martial arts to break away from the clan.
Du Yun Han had the injured Su Su Xin brought back home. Originally, the Du family also didn't agree to them being together, but Du Yun Han used entering officialdom as a condition. If they don't agree, he will cut ties from the family just like Su Su Xin, never to return.
Between the two options, the Du family finally agreed to their marriage, and after Su Su Xin recovered, held their wedding for them. And Du Yun Han also did as promised, taking Su Su Xin to the capital, and participated in the imperial exam, becoming the top scorer among the group.
Because his outward appearance was handsome, in addition to brimming talent, the elegant young man got fancied by the prime minister's youngest daughter, Zhong Mei Qing, letting her own older sister, the Empress at the time, put forward a word to the Emperor, letting the Emperor bestow a marriage for her and Du Yun Han.
Learning that Du Yun Han having already married, with a main wife, the Emperor thus bestowed Zhong Mei Qing as his equal wife.
At the time when the eunuch announced the decree, Du Yun Han didn't plan on accepting the decree, motionlessly kneeling on the ground. He'd vowed to Su Su Xin before, only marrying her alone. She'd sacrificed so much for him, how could he fail her again? Moreover, he'd given all his love to her, how could he accept another woman?
Just when the eunuch was about to get angry, preparing to report back to his Majesty that he was unwilling to accept the decree, Su Su Xin who was kneeling to the side got up and accepted that decree for him.
Although she wasn't willing to share her husband with someone else either, she could also see his heart, seeing him willing to defy the decree for her, so how could she bear for him to lose his future because of her, get thrown in prison, and even lose his life?
Thus, not long after, the Du family added an equal wife.
One was the noble daughter of the prime minister, and one was a woman of the pugilistic world that didn't even have a maiden family. The servants of the manor were all people that watched the wind and set the helm. If not for Du Yun Han protecting, Su Su Xin's days one can well imagine.
Afterwards, Su Su Xin gave birth to a son a few months ahead of Zhong Mei Qing, that was the current Du Xiu Heng, while Zhong Mei Qing gave birth to Du Ke Xin on the tenth month of the following year.
Ch. 069.2 – Mid Autumn Talent Performance (2)
Mid Autumn Talent Performance (2)
Two years later, Du Yun Han got sent out on official work and was gone for two months. Yet when he got back, he received news saying Su Su Xin had an affair with another man and escaped in fear of punishment. Prior to his return, she'd already fled for two three days.
Du Yun Han naturally didn't believe Zhong Mei Qing's words, but his mother that came over from the old home also clung to this, wanting Du Yun Han to divorce Su Su Xin, even if she'd already escaped, and then have Zhong Mei Qing raised to the main wife status. Du Yun Han didn't pay them any attention and like a madman, went to look for Su Su Xin's whereabouts everywhere. For this, he even stopped attending morning court, incurring the previous emperor's wrath.
(T/N: I'm glad that I only to have to deal with narrow-minded grandmas in this novel, and thank god she doesn't even appear that much--I would be so pent up if I had to deal with them in multiple projects.)
Originally, he was going to punish Du Yun Han, but after learning that he was looking for his wife and child, and in addition to the empress's urging, Du Yun Han was eventually pardoned. However, this matter also spread throughout the entire capital and became known by everyone.
A few days later, a pair of disfigured beyond recognition mother and child's body were found. The markings on them were exactly the same as Su Su Xin and Du Xiu Heng's. Everyone finally believed they'd already died.
Du Yun Han held that woman's corpse and sat in the mountains for a whole day and night. No matter who went, he all ignored. Afterwards, the old madam ordered someone to have him knocked unconscious, and finally had him brought back. And those two corpses, she also had someone bury.
Since then, Du Yun Han seemingly changed into a completely different person, putting all his thoughts onto official work. In addition to him being very capable already, his official career soared.
If not for Niu Jing getting drunk that time and had Du Xiao Li and Du Xiu Heng's matters blurted out, he wouldn't have known they were still alive, and further couldn't have possibly have the siblings brought back.
Bringing to light a segment of dust covered memories of past events, Du Yun Han's eyes held droplets of tears. That was his longing towards Su Su Xin, and also resentment towards himself for being powerless to protect his own wife and children.
Du Xiao Li neve
r thought that her parents would actually have such a beautiful past together. She thought, perhaps Su Su Xin, till her death, never resented Du Yun Han, what she felt was also probably just helplessness.
"Father, you previously said that Du Ke Xin and Du Ke Hui were made after waking from two times getting drunk, then what about fifth sister? Was she also the case? Also those two yiniangs, did you take them in?" Du Xiao Li asked.
"These few days, someone has been continuously investigating about Xie Yu, mother and daughter pair, that was you, right?" Du Yun Han said.
Du Xiao Li heard Du Yun Han's words and was startled inside. Although when she was investigating Xie Yu's matters, she encountered some hinderance, she never thought that Du Yun Han would immediately guess it was her!
Looking to his clear eyes, Du Xiao Li thought to herself, 'As expected, he was an old fox.' However, she still admitted with a nod.
"Actually, Xue Qi isn't my daughter." Du Yun Han said. "You should know, they were brought back to the manor when Xue Qi was a few years old, right?"
Du Xiao Li nodded. This bit wasn't even a secret in the manor, so she also knew.
"Actually, Xie Yu is the wife of a friend of mine that I met while traveling in my youth, and Xue Qi is their child." Du Yun Han continued.
"Xue Qi isn't your child?" Du Xiao Li felt shocked, but also felt like this was within expectations. Judging from how Xie Yu interacted with the people in the manor, she indeed didn't seem like a family member, rather more like a guest that was lodging here.
"That was a chivalrous warrior I met prior to meeting your mother. He once saved my life, and afterwards we became close friends. A few years ago, he brought Xie Yu and Xue Qi to me, saying he'd offended someone, and had his wife and daughter temporarily left in my care, and then left." Speaking to here, Du Yun Han let out a sigh and then continued, "Unexpectedly, he never returned, leaving behind the two of them. Originally, that day when they received news of his death, Xie Yu wanted to follow after him. In the end, she was stopped by Xue Qi's crying. Because we don't know who they offended, so I thus had them brought back home, and announced to the outside that she was my outside daughter. This matter your grandmother and second mother all know."
(T/N: Chivalrous warrior - Not exactly sure if this is the best translation for it, but it's the best I can come up with. Similar to a traveling warrior with a robin hood like trait.)
No wonder, with Zhong Mei Qing's personality, she actually was able to tolerate Xue Qi's existence. Turns out, she'd long known Du Xue Qi wasn't Du Yun Han's daughter and naturally wouldn't compete with her children either.
"Then what about fourth yiniang and fifth yiniang?"
"Your fourth yiniang and fifth yiniang were all sent to my side by others. Although they were very secretive, it still couldn't be hidden completely."
"Since you know their background is dubious, why didn't you eliminate them?" Du Xiao Li asked.
Du Yun Han returned to his desk and picked up the brush, writing on the paper eight words. Du Xiao Li walked over and saw 'casting a long line to catch big fish'.
Now that she already knows about these things, she didn't need to let Xia Yuan and them continue investigating this matter. Right now, she just needs to investigate what happened those two nights Du Yun Han got drunk.
"Oh, if there's nothing else, I'll just head back then." Du Xiao Li stretched her body.
"Can't you just keep me company? It's not like you need to go back and prepare for the talent performance." Du Yun Han glared at Du Xiao Li. Towards her wanting to leave right after finding out the truth, he was very unhappy. Could it be that keeping him company was just boring?
"But old fox, don't you have things to take care of?" Du Xiao Li looked to Du Yun Han's wronged appearance and said.
Du Yun Han's two eyes lit up and asked, "How did you know I have things to take care of?"
"The person in the tree in the courtyard has already been waiting for this long. Isn't he waiting to come report to you on something?" Du Xiao Li lazily said, "Alright, alright, seeing that you're this honest today, tonight I'll allow you to come eat dinner at my place. There, can I go now?"
"Alright, then tonight I'll go eat at your place. At that gathering yesterday, you all ate quite a few good things! You better not discriminate against me. Alright, you can go then." Du Yun Han smilingly said.
(T/N: Wonder if he knows about a certain prince sneaking into his daughter's room at night--)
"I know, alright! Really an old fox!" Du Xiao Li said as she headed out.
She actually didn't tell Du Yun Han about the gathering, others all didn't know, but he unexpectedly knew!
"That's right, I've run out of grapes today, let someone send some more over for your father! Else, I'll go pick them myself! Or perhaps, I'll just tell your grandmother where the grapes came from."
Du Xiao Li had just reached the door when she heard Du Yun Han's words, nearly making her run into the door frame. She turned around and shot a glare at Du Yun Han, before turning to leave again.
"You're also a little fox, hehe, as expected of my daughter." Du Yun Han was amused by Du Xiao Li's look just now. He looked to the sunlight shot in from outside with squinted eyes.
A black shadow entered the room following the sunlight.
"Master."
"Have you investigated the matter?" Du Yun Han no longer had that gentle appearance from earlier. His gentleness now was only for his daughter, even his son didn't have that fortune.
"Yes." The man in black had what he'd investigated reported, and then waited for Du Yun Han's orders.
"En, since that's the case, you don't need to go out anymore, go secretly protect Xie Yu mother and daughter. Don't let them be in any danger." Du Yun Han pondered for a moment and said.
"Yes, master." The man in black got up, preparing to leave. Just before departing, he said, "Master, third miss doesn't seem to be as simple as she appears on the surface, at least an wulin(martial arts community) master. I was hiding in the tree in the courtyard, yet was easily noticed by her. It can be seen that her martial arts might be above mine, or at least wouldn't be any worse than me."
"I know, you can withdraw." Du Yun Han said.
T/N: This the late regular chapter for Monday; I swear I'm working on catching up ;;;v;;;)
Also a little recap, regarding MC's half-siblings, her father said that he's only ever 'touched' the second wife on two occasions in their 15years of marriage, and she magically got pregnant both times in one shot while he was unconscious. Also he's never touched any of the other women either. The reason MC suspects them because the odds of that happening is like near impossible, you'd have to get the timing just right, and not to mention, with the hygienics of ancient times, that pregnancy rate is even lower. Even now, you have parents trying for years to conceive a child and are still unsuccessful, despite all our modern advances.
Ch. 069.3 – Mid Autumn Talent Performance (3)
Mid Autumn Talent Performance (3)
T/N: Chapter sponsored by Gilly and Kim! Thank you for sponsoring!
After the man in black left, Du Yun Han leaned against the back of the chair, softly laughing out loud.
No need for the man in black to remind him. He already knew this daughter wasn't simple, else why would he call her a little fox? How strong his subordinates were, he naturally knew. To be able to discover him hiding in the tree was already very impressive, but to be able to know that he'd been waiting for a long time, that wasn't something possible with just a little bit of power. However, that was his daughter, his and Su Su Xin's daughter. The stronger she was, the happier he as the father was.
"Hehe."
He got up and placed a long piece of fine writing paper onto the desk, picking up the brush one the desk, beginning to draw on the paper. Very soon, a silhouette appeared; naturally it was Su Su Xin's.
Before the portrait could be finished, another two men in black entered Du Yun Han's study. Du Yun Han saw the two of them and had the
brush put down, asking: "What have you gained during this trip to the Miao borders?"
(T/N: Miao is an ethnic group in the southwest of China.)
"......."
Du Xiao Li returned to her own courtyard, thinking back to Du Yun Han's expression when he spoke about Xie Yu mother and daughter pair. Looks like he encountered some troubles recently. Today's man in black perhaps had been sent by him to investigate matters regarding the pair. However, it still wasn't to the point where couldn't resolve the issue, so she didn't need to worry either.
Thinking about how in the following ten days, she all won't have to attend school, she felt refreshed inside. Of course, if this weather can be a little more cooler, that would be even better.
Not long after she'd returned to her own courtyard, Ji Liu Xia suddenly sent someone to come find her, inviting her to the General's Manor. She gave Du Yun Han a heads up, and then went out with Xia Yuan and them.
"Xiao Li, you're finally here."
Du Xiao Li followed the servant girl directly to Ji Liu Xia's courtyard. After arriving, she noticed Fu Ya Lan, Meng Jiang Zhuo and also Han Ming Xiang were all there.
"Didn't we just gather yesterday? How come you all gathered together again? And even had me called over too." Du Xiao Li asked in confusion.
Hearing her words, the other three looked to one another and laughed, making Du Xiao Li even more confused.
"They were all called over by me to help come up with an idea for me." Ji Liu Xia softly said.
"Come up with what idea?"
"Isn't it said that during the mid-autumn banquet, each family's young lady all have to perform a talent? Therefore, a certain someone is worrying." Meng Jiang Zhuo teased.
"Ahahaha." When Meng Jiang Zhuo finished, everyone all burst into laughter. Du Xiao Li also understood the reason why Ji Liu Xia called her over.
"Clearly knowing I don't know any of the four arts, but still insist on making me prepare a performance. My father even said, if I don't prepare a proper performance, he'll confiscate my treasured sword. I'm about to worry to death, yet you all are still laughing!" Ji Liu Xia said with a pout. Afterwards, she looked to Du Xiao Li and asked, "Xiao Li, what are you planning on performing?"