Pampered Consort of the Fragrant Orchard c1-234

by N/A

  "Don't but. Let's quickly go look for your handkerchief. If it really gets picked up by someone, then you'll be screwed." Chen Yue said, "Xiao Li, we'll just have you take care of things here."

  Chen Yue said and dragged Du Ke Xin away.

  Du Xiao Li watched the two of them echo each other, saying like it was real. If they'd hadn't suppressed the rising smile on their lips when they turned around, she would have thought it was real.

  The two quickly headed out of the forest. Just as they were a few meters away from the exit, suddenly, as if they'd gotten hit by something, the two swayed a few times before falling to the ground with a thud.

  Du Xiao Li came to their side and had Du Ke Xin turned over, face facing upwards. At a glance, she already saw a corner of her handkerchief exposing from her chest.

  "Just knew she didn't have good intentions." Du Xiao Li had Du Ke Xin's handkerchief pulled out and coldly looked to the two of them, "But what did they lead me here for? Could it be that people aren't allowed to enter here?"

  Du Xiao Li looked around. This place didn't even have a guard. It was very quiet, presumably her guess was more or less on point. They deliberately had her brought here and then found an excuse to leave, waiting to see her get caught.

  "Should I repay the favor?" Du Xiao Li propped her hand under her chin and said, "To not reciprocate is against etiquette. I'd best send you all back then."

  Seeing that there was no one around, Du Xiao Li picked up each with one hand and had Du Ke Xin and Chen Yue dragged back under the hundred year old osmanthus tree, letting the two sit on the ground with their backs against the tree.

  "What are you doing?"

  An aged voice suddenly came from behind, startling Du Xiao Li. She turned around and saw an old mama standing behind her watching her. She had crane like white hair and a child's rosy complexion, wearing very simple clothes, unable to tell her identity.

  When did this old mama appear? Du Xiao Li felt fearful. She completely didn't sense her presence at all! If she were to secretly ambush her just now, she simply wouldn't have been able to dodge.

  "Eh, that, I......" Du Xiao Li momentarily didn't know what to say. The other party had seen her drag Du Ke Xin and Chen Yue here, so naturally she knew what she was doing.

  Getting caught red-handed was precisely her current situation, right?

  "Master wants to see you." The old mama coldly glanced at Du Xiao LI and turned around.

  Du Xiao Li looked to that old mama, then looked again to the two that were still on the ground. "Then what about them......"

  "Continue lying there." A cold voice drifted over. The indifference made Du Xiao Li pull back her neck, quickly catching up to the old mama's footsteps.

  She said her master wanted to see her, then could it be that she'd intruded into her territory, thus intends to silence her? But thinking back to the two that were still in the forest, she rejected this idea again. If that was the case, then she wouldn't have left Du Ke Xin and them there.

  But, for such a high level martial arts old mama in the palace, who could her master be? And why did they want to see her?

  Seeing the old mama already walking ahead, Du Xiao Li calculated how high of a chance she'll be able to successfully escape. After calculating in her heart, Du Xiao Li gave up on this idea. Never mind that later during the banquet, she'll be able to find her immediately, even now, she didn't have the confidence that she'll be able to escape from this old mama.

  Sigh, can only just follow her to go see her master.

  After recognizing the situation, with a tense mind, Du Xiao Li followed the old mama out of this piece of osmanthus forest.

  T/N: I'm not a mod for the disqus so I won't get notifications for all the comments on this novel, but I usually do check the comments on the recent chapters. If you need to ping me for broken links or typo edits tag me with my disqus handle @jenshaobao or msg me on Rebirth's Discord.

  Ch. 071.1 – Infected with Gu (1)

  Infected with Gu (1)

  T/N: Chapter sponsored by Anons and sakurako! Thank you for sponsoring!

  The old mama left the osmanthus forest with Du Xiao Li. She didn't even turn back to look at Du Xiao Li. She just directly passed through the flower garden in front of the forest and arrived at a palace hall.

  When Du Xiao Li exited the forest, she discovered that she'd followed Du Ke Xin to a rather remote area of the imperial palace. But this palace before her, although was in a rather remote area, it wasn't the least bit shabby. The decorations and whatnot all appeared grand and refine.

  As she studied this palace, she temporarily forgot to walk. The old mama that was already at the palace entrance turned around and coldly berated, "Still not coming!"

  "Oh." Du Xiao Li was startled and quickly walked over.

  The old mama lead her to the building in the middle and said, "Wait here." And then entered the building.

  Du Xiao Li looked around in all four directions. What was this place? To not even see a single guard or servant girl around. Could it be the legendary cold palace? But this decoration didn't seem like it either. Why would the cold palace be decorated this extravagantly? But if one were to say that some noble personage lived here, why would there not be the most basic guard or servant girl here?

  "Follow me."

  The old mama came out a moment later and said to Du Xiao Li. From beginning to end, her expression never changed. Afterwards, not waiting for Du Xiao Li's reply, she turned around and entered again.

  Du Xiao Li followed her inside. Never thought that this place was actually like her residence, need to go up to the second floor before seeing someone.

  She looked to the old mama in front her. The other party's footsteps up the stairs were actually silent. Don't know what kind of martial arts she practiced.

  "Master, the person is here." The old mama's aged voice sounded in front, pulling back Du Xiao Li's train of thought.

  "You're here ah, come over and let this grieving one see." A similarly aged voice, yet this voice carried a burst of high and above feeling. That was a kind of innate noble presence.

  This grieving one? Wasn't that the Empress Dowager or Grand Empress Dowager's self-address?!

  (T/N: Or as Jen likes to call it, the address of a wife to a dead emperor, because they supposed to be forever grieving for the dead emperor. Grand Empress Dowager is mother to the previous Emperor and grandmother to the current Emperor.)

  Du Xiao Li was still on walkway of the second floor. Hearing the voice inside, she took two steps forward, coming into the room. Inside there were two servant girls standing to the side. Additionally, two old women were sitting in front drinking tea, and one of them she recognized!

  "Girl, still not coming to greet the Grand Empress Dowager." Meng Old Madam looked to the shocked Du Xiao Li with a smile and called out to her.

  Du Xiao Li knelt down and said, "This subject Du Xiao Li greets Grand Empress Dowager!"

  "You're Du Xiao Li? Lift your head and let this grieving one see." The Grand Empress Dowager faintly spoke.

  Du Xiao Li lifted her head and looked to the grandly dressed Grand Empress Dowager, feeling her appearance somewhat resembled Han Ming Yi's.

  "A rather delicately pretty child." The Grand Empress Dowager looked to Du Xiao Li's appearance and evaluated, "Alright, get up then. Meng Gu, give her a seat."

  "Yes, master." Meng Gu, the old mama that had brought Du Xiao Li here just now, went to the side hall and brought a stool over, placing by Du Xiao Li's side.

  Du Xiao Li curtsied towards the Grand Empress Dowager before finally sitting down.

  "And the other two intruders?" The Grand Empress Dowager asked.

  "Got knocked unconscious by her and thrown under the big tree in the middle of the osmanthus flower forest." Meng Gu replied.

  "Then just let them stay there. Later, throw to the Emperor to take care of." The Grand Empress Dowager said and then looked to Du Xiao Li, coldly asking: "Du Xiao Li, why did you trespass the
forbidden palace?"

  (T/N: Not to be confused with the actual 'Forbidden Palace', the name here just means a palace that is forbidden to enter.)

  "Forbidden palace?" Du Xiao Li finally understood Du Ke Xin and Chen Yue's purpose. Facing the Grand Empress Dowager's questioning, she quickly knelt down, "This subject didn't know this is the forbidden palace. To have trespassed, asking for Grand Empress Dowager's forgiveness!"

  "Ai, second sister, look at how you scared the girl." Meng Old Madam looked to Du Xiao Li and felt somewhat heartache.

  "This grieving one didn't say was going to punish her. She got scared herself." The Grand Empress Dowager said, "Alright, quickly get up, else old three is going to think this grieving one wants to bully you again."

  "Thank you Grand Empress Dowager, thank you grandma Meng." Du Xiao Li got up after thanking and then returned to her seat.

  Actually, Du Xiao Li had already known the Grand Empress Dowager wasn't planning on punishing her. Else, she wouldn't have bestowed her a seat. However, since she asked like that, she needed to act accordingly no matter what.

  "Girl, how come you entered the forbidden palace? Don't you know the forbidden palace can't be entered without permission? If it weren't for me just happening to be here, you all would've been directly killed by Meng Gu earlier." Meng Old Madam said.

  "Speak, what did you all trespass the forbidden palace for?" Meng Gu fixedly stared at Du Xiao Li, like as if she was to lie, she will immediately punish her.

  Du Xiao Li explained that in the afternoon after she had parted ways with Han Ming Xiang and them, she'd encountered Du Ke Xin and Chen Yue and got dragged here by them. She also explained what happened afterwards.

  "So you thus had them knocked out and dragged back into the forest again?" The Grand Empress Dowager said.

  When Du Xiao Li heard Grand Empress Dowager say 'dragged', she recalled herself at the time having each in one hand. It was indeed very close-fitting. But, how did they know? Meng Gu's actions just now, as well as Grand Empress Dowager's words, all didn't indicate that she'd already had her actions at the time told to them?

  Could it be----

  She turned her head towards the outside. As expected, she saw the osmanthus forest. Moreover, with the forest's thickness, one can perfectly see the place where she knocked out Du Ke Xin and Chen Yue and also the path in which she dragged them back on.

  Turns out, her actions were all witnessed by them.

  "As soon as you all entered the forest, Meng Gu had already noticed. If you were ordinary trespassers, you would've long been killed by Meng Gu. If not for old three recognizing you, asking this grieving one to forgive you, you all would've had the same ending as the others." The Grand Empress Dowager said after seeing that Du Xiao Li already understood.

  Du Xiao Li once again got up and bowed towards the Grand Empress Dowager and Meng Old Madam, "Thanking Grand Empress Dowager for not killing, thanking grandma Meng for saving."

  "Alright, this time, this grieving one will let it go, but next time, if you dare trespass the forbidden palace again, you will be punished." With Grand Empress Dowager saying it as such, today's matter was overlooked just like that.

  "Yes, this subject will bear in mind." Du Xiao Li curtsied again and then returned to her stool.

  "Second sister, didn't you previously say you've been feeling lightheaded lately? How about letting this girl have a look for you?" Meng Old Madam said.

  "She even knows medicine?" The Grand Empress Dowager said in surprise.

  Ch. 071.2 – Infected with Gu (2)

  Infected with Gu (2)

  T/N: I had to change the chapter title to fit the translation; Gu is a mythical type of parasitic bug that's used in stories, many times it's tied to witchcraft, because it can be used to control the human body.

  "Previously, when I fell ill, it was precisely this girl that saved me." Meng Old Madam said, "Last time, when you had gone to see me, didn't I tell you it was a little medicine god? It's precisely her."

  "The imperial physicians all say they didn't have a way to save you, yet unexpectedly such a small child like her saved you." The Grand Empress Dowager said, "But Meng Gu also knows medicine. She has examined this grieving one, even she wasn't able to make out the cause."

  "Since the girl is here anyways, just let her have a look for you." Meng Old Madam worryingly looked to Grand Empress Dowager.

  "Then have a look." Grand Empress Dowager couldn't bear to reject Meng Old Madam, thus nodded in agreement.

  "Girl, come and examine second sister." Meng Old Madam waved her hand at Du Xiao Li, indicating for her to go over.

  Du Xiao Li went before them and said, "Forgive this subject for overstepping*." With that said, she grabbed Grand Empress Dowager's wrist and began taking her pulse. After a while, she put her hand down and retreated back two steps.

  (T/N: Not sure if I need to explain---but just in case; the phrase is similar to 'excuse me', the meaning here is that for someone of her status to touch the Grand Empress Dowager is considered overstepping proper etiquette.)

  "Girl, how is it? Is second sister's body alright?" Seeing Du Xiao Li's tense expression, Meng Old Madam asked.

  Grand Empress Dowager looked to Du Xiao Li's appearance, guessing that she might have discovered something yet didn't dare to say, thus opened her mouth, "If there's any problem, there's no harm in you saying it."

  "Yes." Du Xiao Li looked to Grand Empress Dowager and said, "Grand Empress Dowager's pulse appear very steady, but after careful consideration, it also seems somewhat problematic."

  "What problem is there?" Meng Old Madam asked.

  "Does Grand Empress Dowager often feel chest pain and short of breath lately, moreover can't stand to hear noise, and every day must smell osmanthus flower fragrance in order to feel a little better?" Du Xiao Li asked.

  "Yes." Meng Gu who was to the side replied. "That's why we had the servant girls and guards in the palace all transferred away, and moreover, had this place classified as a forbidden palace. No one is allowed to enter. Only Meng Old Madam would occasionally come to chat with Grand Empress Dowager."

  "Apart for this, does the Grand Empress Dowager also feel lack of appetite, and in addition, when forced to eat a little of something will always feel nausea?" Du Xiao Li continued.

  "Second sister, is it really like this?" Meng Old Madam looked to the Grand Empress Dowager and nervously asked.

  The Grand Empress Dowager closed her eyes and helplessly nodded. This was something she's been hiding all along. Unexpectedly, this girl exposed her immediately.

  "No wonder you body has been getting increasingly worse lately, losing this much weight." Meng Old Madam said, "Girl, since you know second sister's condition, quickly treat her!"

  "Is Grand Empress Dowager poisoned?" Meng Gu asked. Her medical skills were considered passable, but her poison skills were so-so. Recently, she wasn't able to detect any problems, that's why she suspected that Grand Empress Dowager was poisoned.

  Du Xiao Li shook her head and said, "Grand Empress Dowager isn't poisoned, but rather infected with gu."

  "What!?" As soon as they heard gu, everyone in the room all cried out in shock. Rather, it was the Grand Empress Dowager that was still somewhat calm.

  "Girl, are you certain?" Meng Old Madam's expression instantly turned grave and asked in a serious tone.

  "Certain. This subject has overstepped." Du Xiao Li came before the Grand Empress Dowager and pulled up her right sleeve, pointing to the streaks of faint white lines on her arm and saying: "This is the marking that would only appear after getting infected with gu."

  "But, didn't gu arts only exist over in the southwest Miao borders? Second sister recently has always stayed in the imperial palace, how can she get infected with gu?" Meng Old Madam said in disbelief.

  "This afraid will have to properly investigate the people of the inner palace." Du Xiao Li said.

  "What kind of gu is this gu? What should we do to get rid of it?" Meng Gu
asked.

  Turns out it was gu, no wonder she wasn't able to detect it.

  "Grand Empress Dowager is probably infected with the silkworm gu. This kind isn't a particularly high level gu. They just thought of a way to get the gu eggs into Grand Empress Dowager's body, then using her body as a bed, slowly nurture the gu into maturity. Afterwards, have it raised in the body. Normally, it won't have too big of an affect, just would make one be unable to handle noise and like quietness. But once the gu grows up and is awoken, it'll very quickly nibble away at the body. All the way until the body dies will the gu finally die. This kind of gu doesn't have any connection to the gu master. Once it enters the body, it'll survive based on instinct." Du Xiao Li explained.

  "This scary!" Meng Old Madam covered her own chest and said, "Girl, quickly get rid of the gu for second sister."

  "Getting rid of this gu is very simple, but right now isn't possible." Du Xiao Li shook her head.

  "Why?" Meng Gu asked.

  "Just now I already said, this kind of gu is very low level and isn't controlled by the gu master, so we can just force the gu out of the body. But this gu has already lived inside Grand Empress Dowager's body for this long. If we rashly force it out, afraid Grand Empress Dowager's body won't be able to bear it. Moreover, right now is when this gu is the most excited. Forcibly having it forced out of the body, afraid will cause it to resist, harming Grand Empress Dowager's body in the process." Du Xiao Li replied.

  "Then what to do?" Meng Old Madam asked.

  "This osmanthus flower scent is precisely the most important factor in provoking the gu. That's why, in the next few days, Grand Empress Dowager cannot inhale this osmanthus flower scent, so as to let this excited gu slowly calm down. Afterwards, also need to nurse Grand Empress Dowager's body in this period."

  "But regardless of what, whatever master eats will all get thrown back up. This way, how can we nurse master's body?" Meng Gu worryingly said.

  "I will think of a way to suppress the gu, let it reduce its influence on Grand Empress Dowager's body. Afterwards, we can additionally use some relatively less stimulating but also nourishing foods to adjust Grand Empress Dowager's body. However, with these, as long as we can guarantee that Grand Empress Dowager's body can handle it, we can force out the gu. The actual nursing will take place after the gu is force out." Du Xiao Li said.