by N/A
"Xiao Li, this is?" Ji Liu Xia asked.
"Oh, this is big brother Luo Qi, he's the Four Sea Manor's fourth young master." Du Xiao Li introduced, then pointed to Fu Ya Lan and them and said: "This is Princess Changle, Cabinet Minister Fu family's big sister Ya Lan, Imperial Tutor Meng family's big sister Jiang Zhuo, and also General Manor's big sister Liu Xia."
"Ah!" Ji Liu Xia suddenly cried out. She looked to Luo Qi and said, "So he's the one known as one of the Jianghu Four Gentlemen's Four Sea Manor's fourth young master, Luo Qi? When I heard his name just now, I thought it was just the same name! Never thought it really was him!"
"Jianghui Four Gentlemen?"
"En, heard it's a nickname given to four young men of the pugilistic world. According to rumors, the four gentlemen, every single one, all possessed profound martial arts skills and bewitching appearances, not someone ordinary people can surpass." Ji Liu Xia explained. "Our Feng Ming has two. One is the fourth young master of the Four Sea Manor that has the title of 'number one manor in the world'. And one is Yan Luo Hall's master, Yan Luo."
(T/N: Yan Luo is just the pinyin for King Yama, the king of hell in buddhism; also Manor in this context is more like a village, it's basically like a clan village for jianghu people.)
"Yan Luo? What kind of name is that?"
"This is just his code name, no one knows his real name." Ji Liu Xia said, "Never thought that I'd be able to personally meet one of the four gentlemen's Luo Qi, truly too exciting!"
"Then the other two?"
"The other two, one is in Northern Yuan, and one in Eastern Li. What their names are, I'm not too clear."
"Hehe, didn't expect that the young miss of the General's Manor would know so much about the matter of our pugilistic world. The one in Northern Yuan is Bei Feng (northern wind), and the one in Eastern Li is Lu Xi Nian. However, these are all just the good favor of the people of the pugilistic world."
Han Ming Yi walked to Du Xiao Li's side and asked, "Are you all going back today?"
"En, the banquet will start tomorrow. We need to go back and try out the costumes and whatnot." Du Xiao Li nodded her head.
Luo Qi looked to Han Ming Yi talking to Du Xiao Li; his gaze flickered.
After eating lunch, everyone just returned to the capital city together. Luo Qi went to the guest inn the Emperor arranged, Han Ming Yi returned to the barracks, while Du Xiao Li and them went to the capital's largest clothing shop to fetch the clothes, and then headed to the Princess's residence to try on their clothes. After confirming that it was all good, everyone finally returned to their own homes.
After returning to the Prime Minister Manor, Du Xiao Li went to Du Yun Han's study, informing him of her return. Afterwards, she went to Du Xiu Heng's courtyard. Tomorrow is the mid-autumn festival, so they were also off from school today. After chatting a while with Du Xiu Heng, and telling him that Luo Qi has come to the capital, Du Xiao Li finally returned to her own Jade Bamboo Courtyard.
However, upon arriving, she discovered that Luo Qi was actually in her courtyard, waiting for her with an unclear expression.
"Big brother Luo Qi, what are you doing here?" Seeing that Luo Qi's expression wasn't very good, Du Xiao Li walked over and asked.
Luo Qi looked to Du Xiao Li, silently contemplated for a moment, before finally asking, "Heard you're engaged to Ming Yi?"
Du Xiao Li never thought that Luo Qi would ask this. Blanking, she nodded her head and said, "Yes. The Emperor bestowed the marriage."
"Then, do you want to marry him?" Luo Qi asked, "If you don't want to, I can take you away."
Du Xiao Li looked to Luo Qi and bafflingly asked, "Big brother Luo Qi, what's wrong? Why are you suddenly asking me about this?"
"Err, when I'd returned to the inn, I'd heard about the Emperor bestowing you a marriage and was too shocked. Thinking that you don't like being restricted, I thus came to ask you." Luo Qi felt somewhat guilty under Du Xiao Li's gaze, his words vague.
"Right now discussing this is still too early. I've talked to big brother Yi, if when the time comes, I really don't want to marry him, we can just marry and then mutually divorce. So you don't need to worry for me." Du Xiao Li said with a smile.
Luo Qi silently looked to Du Xiao Li, finally letting out a sigh after a long while, "It's good as long as you have an idea. I'll be leaving then." With that said, not waiting for Du Xiao Li to speak, he just flew off.
Du Xiao Li looked in the direction Luo Qi left in and heavily let out a sigh. She stood in the courtyard for a while, and afterwards finally went back to rest.
The next day was mid-autumn festival. In the afternoon, at wei-hour (1-3pm), everyone in turn entered the palace, heading to the designated resting place. The officials and their sons were in one place, while the womenfolk were in another.
Du Xiao Li simply dressed herself and then entered the palace together with Du Yun Han and them. When she saw Du Old Madam also going, she even felt slightly surprised inside. She didn't expect that this banquet actually invited her grandmother's generation as well.
However, thinking about it, mid-autumn originally was a day for families to be together. If one's descendent all entered the palace, how can the elders be left alone to celebrate the holiday.
Most likely there'll be quite a lot of people in the palace today.
After entering the imperial palace, Du Yun Han took Du Xiu Heng and Du Ke Hui and followed the guiding eunuch away. Du Old Madam took Du Xiao Li and them and followed the palace maid to the other side, to the palace hall where the womenfolk rested.
"Du Old Madam, you've come!"
"Aiya, Chen Old Madam, you've sure come early."
"These old bones of ours haven't met in a long time, right? Today, we'll have to nicely have a chat. Those girls just let them play on their own."
"That's so true."
As soon as they arrived at the resting place, someone immediately recognized Du Old Madam and warmly called out to her. Du Xiao Li looked to the girls next to that old madam. It was Chen Yue and another two slightly older women. One was still in an young lady's attire, the other was in an married young woman's attire. Presumably that was the Chen family's married daughter.
T/N: Finally caught up with all the chapters, though I still have to catch up on my other two project ;;v;;) Also I will be taking a week break from PCFO this week. I need to clear up some time to take care of some life things.
Ch. 070.4 – Entering the Palace (4)
Entering the Palace (4)
Zhong Mei Qing sat together with the other middle aged women to chat, while Du Ke Xin naturally went with Chen Yue to go mutter to the side. As the they chatted, they even glanced at Du Xiao Li from time to time.
Du Xiao Li sat alone in the courtyard, staring off blankly. The young ladies here, a large part, were all from the academy. They all knew Du Xiao Li was a girl from the countryside and didn't have any culture, so naturally they were unwilling to chat with her. Just when she was bored out of her mind, a servant girl walked over and bowed to Du Old Madam.
"Du Old Madam."
"You are?" Du Old Madam looked to this little servant girl, feeling she was unfamiliar.
"Du Old Madam, this servant is Princess Changle's servant girl Bi'er. My family's princess wants to invite Miss Xiao Li over for a chat." Bi'er said.
Princess Changle?
Du Old Madam glanced at Du Xiao Li, not knowing why Han Ming Xiang would look for Du Xiao Li, and faintly said, "Xiao Li, since the princess is looking for you, then go attend to her. Be careful not to offend the princess."
"Yes, Xiao Li understands." Du Xiao Li bowed to Du Old Madam and then followed Bi'er away from this palace hall.
When the exited the palace hall, Du Xiao Li finally let out a long sigh, saying: "Bi'er, how come you came so late? I was about to suffocate to death inside."
Bi'er laughed and said, "My family's princess said, you'd most likely be bored here, so as soon as she entered the palace, she immediately sent this servant to c
ome get you."
"You'll just entered the palace?" Du Xiao Li asked. Shouldn't they have long arrived?
"Yes. Previously, when princess was picking out the bamboo flute, she hesitated for a while, and then on the way here, we ran into Eastern Li's princess and got held up a bit. When we reached the palace, it was already this late." Bi'er explained.
"Eastern Li's princess?" Du Xiao Li instantly thought of that princess that got thrown out by Han Ming Yi.
"Yes, precisely the so called Eastern Li's number one beauty, the third princess, Lu Jun Qi. Never thought that princess would run into our princess's horse carriage, and not only was she unwilling to apologize, she even began making a ruckus, really lacking in the basic substance." Bi'er grumbled.
"It really was her?" Du Xiao Li didn't expect that it actually was that princess. Just, the mid-autumn festival, such an important time, why did she come here?
(T/N: Generally spend mid-autumn with your own family so----)
"That's right, I heard this princess had secretly ran out, by the time the Eastern Li Emperor noticed, she was already in our borders. With no other choice, Eastern Li's Emperor could only ask out Emperor to take care of her on his behalf and will send people to come take her back soon after." Bi'er said.
Really a willful princess! Daring to run away with only a few people, completely disregarding her own safety. If she got captured, then for Eastern Li, that would certainly be another big mess. Moreover, bumping into Han Ming Xiang's horse carriage, but not knowing to apologize, instead relying on one's status to wantonly make trouble. This bit, compared to Han Ming Xiang who was similarly a princess, simply just can't compare.
Du Xiao Li followed Bi'er to Han Ming Xiang's previous palace. This place the place where she once resided as a child. Because she was favored by the previous emperor since childhood, her palace was decorated very beautifully. Many valuable things she all left here and didn't move out.
"Greetings princess."
After seeing Han Ming Xiang, Du Xiao Li cleverly performed her greetings.
"Aiyoo, why so formal between us? Quickly get up." Han Ming Xiang looked to Du Xiao Li and laughed with her mouth covered.
"Aren't we in the palace? What if someone were to see and say that you don't have a princess's dignity." Du Xiao Li said as she got up.
"See, wasn't I right? As soon as Xiao Li comes here, she becomes stiff." Ji Liu Xia walked out from inside.
"Xiao Li is indeed more attentive than us." Meng Jiang Zhuo said.
"Ai, it's still more comfortable staying together with you all." Du Xiao Li took a sip of the tea Bi'er brought and said with a sigh.
"We just knew you wouldn't like this kind of banquet." Meng Jiang Zhuo said.
"Watching those people smiling pretentiously really feels boring." Du Xiao Li said.
"Xiao Li, you have to be careful of that Eastern Li Princess. This time, she might have come for you." Fu Ya Lan said.
"Coming for me?" Du Xiao Li skeptically looked to Han Ming Xiang.
"En, we all think this is the case. Last year, she got ruthlessly rejected by fifth brother. Originally, she thought that he wasn't interested in any women. That way, she still can endure this breath. But now, it got out that his Majesty bestowed a marriage for you and him, and it was even one where he personally asked for the decree. So that Eastern Li Princess definitely must have come this time to find trouble for you." Meng Jiang Zhuo said analyzing the situation.
(T/N: So----she okey if he was gay?)
"Sweat, not likely to go that far, right?" Du Xiao Li felt this wasn't too likely. How can that princess possibly run to another country specially to look for her? She didn't have that time to play with her.
"I also think so." Han Ming Xiang said. "On the way here, I just happened to run into her. To say she's unruly and willful isn't exaggerating in the least. This kind of person would feel unable to swallow that anger. So, for her to come looking for trouble for you is also possible."
"Moreover, I heard that Eastern Li Princess is very unreasonable."
"Eh....." Du Xiao Li looked to them all looking at her with a 'you're screwed' look. Three black lines dropped down her forehead. However, she didn't want to continue this topic, thus she turned and asked, "You don't have any problems with your performance, right?"
"Xiao Li, if you didn't say, I wouldn't have thought about it, but now that you said it, I'm starting to get nervous again." Ji Liu Xia tightly grabbed her own two hands.
"No need to be nervous. Right now, you can just practice once more time here. Get a feel for dancing in the imperial palace's atmosphere." Du Xiao Li said.
"Alright, you all watch for me." Ji Liu Xia said as she picked up the prop and began dancing.
For the entire afternoon, everyone all stayed in Han Ming Xiang's palace, all the way until they needed to head to the front palace hall where the banquet was held did they finally go separate ways. Because she didn't need to perform, she needed to go sit together with Du Old Madam and them.
"Xiao Li, you can pass through from the front courtyard. After directly passing through a flower garden, you'll be able to see the place where Du Old Madam and them are resting." Han Ming Xiang said, "Alright, we'll be going now."
T/N: I was looking at old city map drawings of ancient china, because I was thinking about the logistics of MC having a mountain in her backyard, the things I do on my free time are weird, don't question my hobbies. But after looking at some, it's totally possible.
The most interesting one I found was this one below; it's the entire map of the Qing Imperial Summer Residence; the drawing dates back to 1730s. Everything in those walls is part of the imperial family's villa, this ain't even their main residence lol. They got multiple mountains in their backyard. Thinking back I feel like the summer palace was literally built on a mountain in the middle of the city too. Don't underestimate rich people in ancient times lol.
(Click Here for Full Size)
Ch. 070.5 – Entering the Palace (5)
Entering the Palace (5)
T/N: Chapter sponsored by Annieca, Kiem, Kim, and ShiroiYuki! Thank you for sponsoring!
Du Xiao Li watched Han Ming Xiang and them walk in another direction, before finally heading in the direction they pointed out for her. As soon as she walked out of the courtyard, she saw Du Ke Xin and Chen Yue approaching from the opposite direction.
"Third sister."
Du Ke Xin walked over from the other side and looked to Du Xiao Li with a smile.
As soon as Du Xiao Li saw Du Ke Xin's smile, she inwardly rolled her eyes. She clearly hated her very much, yet still can smile at her this warmly. Unfortunately, the hatred in her eyes wasn't covered up.
"Second sister." Du Xiao Li faintly replied.
"Third sister, what are you doing here? We were just about to head to the imperial gardens to admire the flowers, why don't you come with us?" Du Ke Xin looked to Du Xiao Li and said.
"Isn't the banquet about to start? I need to go back." Du Xiao Li said and just went around Du Ke Xin and Chen Yue.
"Eh, I heard there are many osmanthus flowers planted in the imperial gardens, and right now is precisely the time when osmanthus flowers are blooming. Let's go pick a few branches of osmanthus flowers." Chen Yue went forward and pulled Du Xiao Li's hands, dragging her towards another exit of the courtyard. Du Ke Xin also went forward and dragged Du Xiao Li along.
Du Xiao Li looked to Du Ke Xin and Chen Yue, who obviously had ulterior motives. She wanted to struggle free and leave them, but seeing them this energetic, she suddenly changed her mind, "Are there really osmanthus flowers? I like osmanthus flowers the most! Then I'll go together with you. You don't need to drag me, I'll walk on my own."
Hearing Du Xiao Li say she was willing to go together with them, they finally let go of her. "Then let's quickly go. The banquet is about to start soon, so we need to quickly head back."
(T/N: I totally would have turned and bolted the moment they let go.)
Du Xiao
Li didn't know what Du Ke Xin was scheming inside, but she still followed them, passing through several palaces and arriving at an osmanthus flower forest.
"There's so many osmanthus flowers here!" Du Xiao Li indeed quite like osmanthus flowers. Seeing the courtyard full of osmanthus flowers, she couldn't help but close her and deeply inhale a breath.
(T/N: I can't help but think that she likes them because they're edible.)
"How about it, we didn't trick you, right?" Chen Yue said, "Let's go inside, heard there's an osmanthus tree that's already more than a hundred years old."
Chen Yue finished saying and dragged Du Xiao Li inside.
Du Xiao Li got dragged towards the inside of the osmanthus flower forest. Originally, she thought this was just their excuse to get her here, but unexpectedly, in the middle of the forest, there really was a three-story building tall osmanthus tree. The tree trunk needed both arms to wrap around, and on there, hung full of light yellow flowers.
"So big....." Du Xiao Li couldn't help but exclaim.
"Aiyaaa." Du Ke Xin suddenly called out.
"What's wrong?" Chen Yue quickly asked.
"My handkerchief is gone." Du Ke Xin anxiously said.
"When did you lose it? How come you just noticed now?" Chen Yue also began worrying.
"What to do? If some man were to pick it up, what face will I have to continue living?!" Du Ke Xin said as she was about to cry.
"Don't worry." Chen Yue said, "While there's still a bit of time right now, let's quickly go look for it."
"It's not too late to look for it right now?" Du Ke Xin had a very scared look. Her hand that was holding onto Chen Yue continuously trembled.
"Whether it's too late or not, we all have to go look for it! Let's hurry." Chen Yue said.
"But we still haven't picked osmanthus flowers back for grandmother and them." Du Ke Xin said with a troubled look.
"How about this, let Xiao Li stay here and pick a few branches of osmanthus flower back for your grandmother." Chen Yue looked to Du Xiao Li and said.
"But...."