Pampered Consort of the Fragrant Orchard c1-234

by N/A

  "Oh? No wonder when this emperor entered, this emperor didn't see anyone else around!" Han Ming Ze said.

  "Yes, it definitely must have been Du third miss that schemed against us, that's why she brought us here and knocked us out!" Chen Yue echoed.

  "Hmph, still daring to talk nonsense!" Han Ming Ze suddenly changed face and reprimanded the two, "Clearly it was Meng Gu that hung you two on the tree branch, yet you want to say it was done by someone else. You yourself having committed an offense, yet don't know to repent, even trying in vain to pin the blame on someone else. Madam Du really raised a good daughter!"

  "Emperor, please quell your anger, the two children definitely must have been frightened, thus said some muddled words." The Empress Dowager said.

  "Your Majesty, this subject isn't saying nonsense, third sister really did come to the forbidden palace!" Seeing the Emperor get angry, Du Ke Xin trembled in fear on the ground.

  "Du third miss did indeed come to the forbidden palace, but she was invited over by master, and moreover came together with Meng Old Madam. Right now, she has already left." The mama that brought the Empress Dowager and the others inside said, "The Grand Empress Dowager has ordered, this matter, although she won't bother with anymore, if the two misses don't know to repent, she equally wants the Emperor to properly punish them. Also, the Grand Empress Dowager said, after finding them, asking everyone to immediately leave."

  "Hmph!" Han Ming Ze coldly snorted as he icily looked to the two kneeling on the ground, flinging his sleeve and leaving. With the Empress Dowager here, how can he still punish them?

  "Let's go." The Empress Dowager's expression wasn't good either, leading her own people away.

  The two servant girls supported their own miss as they followed their madam in leaving. After confirming that everyone all left, the forbidden palace's servant girl quickly disappeared into the forest and moments later, appeared inside the palace hall.

  "Master, they've already left."

  "Meng Gu, Hong Xiu, let's also prepare for the banquet. This grieving feels tonight's banquet will be very entertaining."

  After the Emperor exited the osmanthus flower forest, he directly headed to the banquet. The Empress Dowager seemingly was also somewhat angry, taking her own servant girls and leaving. However, because they were still relatives, she still sent someone to take Du Ke Xin and Chen Yue to go find a place to clean up.

  "Xin'er, you.......sigh." Zhong Mei Qing looked to the Empress Dowager's retreating back and sighed. "This time, you really angered the Empress Dowager. Just now, how could you just lose your manners like that?"

  Du Ke Xin also knew she'd angered the Empress Dowager and thus lowered her head, not saying a word.

  "Anyways, for now, go change your clothes. Right now, you only have the clothes for your performance to wear." Seeing her own daughter like this, even if she was angry inside, it was still difficult to let out right now, "Later, you definitely need to properly perform. If you perform well, and the Empress Dowager sees you have talent, she might just forget about the incident earlier!"

  "Yes, mother. Then I'll go change first." Du Ke Xin took the clothes the servant girl brought and entered the room to change.

  Chen Yue also went into another room, and after a while, the two finished changing and came out.

  Zhong Mei Qing looked to Du Ke Xin's appearance and nodded. This outfit of hers appeared elegant yet simple, but if matched with the zither's performance, it'll definitely be able to set off her temperament.

  "Assist your miss to the performance hall. There mustn't be anymore mishaps in between, else........"

  Zhong Mei Qing's words didn't finish, but Lu'er still understood her meaning and quickly replied with, "This servant will definitely serve miss well."

  "En, go then."

  Du Ke Xin and Chen Yue went to the resting lounge where the other young ladies were at. From the resting lounge, they can directly go onto the performance stage. While passing by the place where the banquet was held, she saw at a glance Du Xiao Li who was sitting behind Du Old Madam. Her two eyes let out a malicious glare.

  T/N: I think this is one of the few novels I've read in this genre that doesn't have MC sort out the antagonists directly, although the premise being that the side characters have their brain cells intacted. Though if you prefer novels where MC personally goes around sorting people out, I'd recommend checking out novels with black-belly MCs.

  Ch. 072.1 – Eastern Li's Third Princess (1)

  Eastern Li's Third Princess (1)

  T/N: Chapter sponsored by BasalGanglia, Annieca, Lilianetta, and Zarate!

  Du Xiao Li sat behind Du Old Madam, bored out of her mind. Ever since she came back after getting summoned by Han Ming Xiang, she discovered that the usually cold and indifferent towards her Du Old Madam actually voluntarily said a few words to her. Although it was only a short few words of, "You're back? You didn't offend Princess Changle, right?" After hearing Du Xiao Li say everyone was all good, she let her sit at her seat, and then continued chatting with Du Yun Han.

  Although separated during the resting period, during the banquet, male and female both sat together. The banquet was set in a large flower garden, in order to make it easier for everyone to admire the moon. The ground was completely covered in carpets, and the tables were divided into the right and left side. And how many rows each side had will be decided according to the number of people participating in the banquet from each family. The first row was the family's lord, the second row was the family's old madam and madam, and the third fourth row and such were the family's younger generation.

  And positioned in the middle were four seats, very obviously the Emperor, Empress, Empress Dowager, and Grand Empress Dowager's. Following below them was the seats of some imperial consorts, princes, and little princesses.

  Directly across from the dragon seat, that is their table's other end, was a propped up stage, specially provided for tonight's performance. In the back was the palace hall, and a few rooms among it were used as the resting lounge. Those young ladies were currently in the back resting lounge. After they finish performing, they can return to their family's seats and use the meal together with everyone.

  Because there were a lot young ladies in the capital, and their performances more or less the same, it was inevitable that it would produce fatigue. Thus, the sooner one performed, the better the effect.

  Du Xiao Li looked around. The attending officials for the most part all arrived already. Apart from the Emperor and them, having not arrived yet, between the imperial family's seats and their seats, there were still a few more empty tables. The tables were all separated individually, so it wasn't like those seats of the nobles.

  "Those tables were prepared for big brother Luo Qi and them." Du Xiu Heng saw Du Xiao Li's confused look and explained.

  "Big brother Luo Qi? Oh right, he's also attending the banquet tonight. But, isn't the Emperor coming soon? How come they're still not here yet?" Du Xiao Li asked.

  Du Xiu Heng put down the tea cup in hand and said, "Did you forget, Big brother Luo Qi and them are tonight's honored guests, and moreover, the people of the pugilistic world aren't governed by the imperial court, so they won't come this early."

  "Big brother, how do you know?" Du Xiao Li looked to Du Xiu Heng in confusion.

  "Previously, I heard them say." Du Xiu Heng casually replied, and then pulled Du Xiao Li to stand up, "The Emperor is here."

  "May my Emperor live for thousands of thousands of years, Empress Dowager for tens of thousands of years, Empress for tens of thousands of years." The entire courtyard of people all stood up and bowed towards the Emperor, Empress Dowager, and Empress, who walked from the side to the dragon chair.

  "All rise, everyone have a seat." The Emperor swung his right hand sleeve and sat down onto the dragon chair. "Today is the mid-autumn festival. This emperor arranged this banquet for everyone to celebrate together, no need to be this formal."

  "Thanking the Emperor."


  Everyone once again sat down, yet the atmosphere wasn't as lively as before. After all, the Emperor was here, and everyone all wanted to properly show off.

  At this time, from outside the palace hall, came a voice.

  "Eastern Li's third princess has arrived-----"

  Following the announcement a beautiful girl wearing a red dress matched with a cornelian pendant walked in. Behind her, only one servant girl followed. This must be the Eastern Li's number one beauty, Lu Jun Qi.

  "Greeting Feng Ming's Emperor, Empress, Empress Dowager." Li Jun Qi curtsied towards Han Ming Ze and the Empress Dowager and lightly performed her greetings.

  "Rise, for third princess to be able to come take part in my Feng Ming's mid-autumn banquet today is also a kind of fate." Han Ming Ze said with a smile, and then meaningfully glanced at Han Ming Yi below. "Please take your seat third princess."

  "Thank you, your Majesty."

  Lu Jin Qi followed the palace maid to her own seat and sat down. Afterwards, her gaze glued onto Han Ming Yi, who was diagonally across from her, but Han Ming Yi just drank his tea with his head lowered, completely disdaining the gaze she casted towards him.

  "Four Sea Manor's young master Luo Qi, Yu Sword Pavilion's Master, Moon Water Paradise's Shui Qing Fairy has arrived------"

  (T/N: 'Yu' here has multiple meanings, it can mean either imperial, or to defend or resist, though I think it should be the latter meaning, so 'to defend the sword' pavilion.)

  The announcing voice once again sounded. Luo Qi and the Yu Sword Pavilion's Master, Feng Ru Han, as well as a woman with a fairy-like bearing, slowly walked in from outside. When passing by Du Xiao Li and the others, Du Xiao Li blinked her eyes at Luo Qi who casually floated over.

  "Greeting your Majesty."

  "Hahaha, you three have also come, please rise and have a seat." Han Ming Ze said as he laughed out loud.

  "Thanking your Majesty."

  Luo Qi and Feng Ru Han sat to the left side, while Shui Qing Fairy sat down beside Lu Jun Qi.

  Eunuch Shan who was standing next to the Emperor asked: "Emperor, can we announce for the banquet to start?"

  "En, began." Seeing that everyone has all arrived, Han Ming Ze thus nodded his head.

  "This servant understands." Eunuch Shan straightened his back, and just as he was about to announce for the banquet to start, from the corner of his eye, he saw the Grand Empress Dowager walking over, startling him as he widened his eyes, inwardly thinking, 'How come she left the forbidden palace this year too?' However, when the words reached the tip of his tongue, they instead became, "The Grand Empress Dowager has arrived----"

  (T/N: The shiniest of golden thighs has arrived---)

  Following Eunuch Shan's voice, everyone all stood up from their seats and bowed towards the slowly entering Grand Empress Dowager.

  "Greetings Grand Empress Dowager---"

  "You all may rise." The Grand Empress Dowager faintly spoke.

  "Thanking Grand Empress Dowager."

  Han Ming Ze just slightly bent at the waist, and after getting up, he came to the Grand Empress Dowager's side, helping her onto her seat and asking with a smile, "If imperial grandmother wanted to come today, why didn't you tell this grandson, this emperor would've properly arranged for it."

  "En, I changed my mind at the last moment." The Grand Empress Dowager said, "Those two that had trespassed this afternoon made me suddenly want to come see tonight's banquet. Because it was a last moment decision, I wasn't able to inform you in time. I heard this year, you specially let those young ladies prepare a performance?"

  "Yes, imperial grandmother." Han Ming Ze said.

  "Alright, don't block in front of this grieving one anymore, go back to your own seat then. Meng Gu will attend to me." After the Grand Empress Dowager sat down, she waved her hand at Han Ming Ze as she said this.

  "Yes."

  Han Ming Ze returned to his own seat and nodded towards Eunuch Shan. Eunuch Shan thus took a step forward and said, "Start the banquet----"

  After saying this, he returned to Han Ming Ze's side. Han Ming Ze picked up his wine cup and stood up, "Today's gathering, one is for everyone to celebrate mid-autumn together. Additionally, there's also another purpose, and that is for our outstanding officers' heroic deeds. Many thanks to our valiant soldiers for defending our homeland for us, so that we're able to gather together at this time to spend our days peacefully! Many thanks to our Great General, Ding Wang, as well as all the people of the army. At this moment, we will toast a cup to express our gratitude!"

  "Many thanks to all the soldiers!"

  T/N: There more good fluff coming in this chapter and next ohohohohoo. If I have time I'll translate extra chapters outside of sponsored and regular chapters, though don't hold me to it because I don't know if I'll actually be able to, but I'll try my best. My life is constantly going from one sleep deprived day to another. _(´ཀ`」 ∠)_

  Ch. 072.2 – Eastern Li's Third Princess (2)

  Eastern Li's Third Princess (2)

  Have to say, this Han Ming Ze has quite a way with words. With these few words, he had the atmosphere stirred up. Everyone all stood up and downed the wine in their cups. And after the Emperor sat down, everyone finally sat back down again.

  Because the rewards were already given previously, the bestowment ceremony thus didn't go underway this time, directly starting tonight's talent performance. However, the first to warm up the stage wasn't some family's young lady, but rather a theater troupe. When the theater troupe's performance ends, it'll then be the young ladies' turn to perform.

  Speaking of which, this show also had the implication of finding a marriage match as well. Because the entire upper class nobles, for the most part, were all present. Those who see someone to their liking can then develop into the next step afterwards.

  Because this didn't have much to do with herself, Du Xiao Li, who'd seen all kinds of concerts and performances before in her past life, had her attention shifted onto the delicacies before her. She'd already watched the Spring Festival Gala for that many years, so no matter how good this talent performance was, it still couldn't compare, no?

  (T/N: Spring Festival Gala is the Chinese New Year's program specially broadcasted annually on the eve of Chinese New Years.)

  Unexpectedly the first young lady to perform was Chen Yue. Tonight's order of performing was decided through a lottery draw. Don't know whether to say her luck was good or bad.

  Chen Yue's performance was a dance. Du Xiao Li took a few glances and said, "Can't even compare to half of big sister Jiang Zhuo's abilities." Following which, she returned to concentrating on her delicacies.

  Because below the place where the members of the imperial family sat was also a platform, their seats were a little higher than the officials below. Furthermore, everyone's heads were mostly all turned towards the direction of the stage, thus Du Xiao Li's eating appearance stood out and very easily attracted everyone's attention.

  Han Ming Yi has always been very low-key, and towards the things in the surroundings, he didn't care for very much. Even this kind of setting couldn't attract his interest. Rather, a certain woman's appearance while gorging herself with food made the corner of his lips unconsciously go up.

  "To actually only know how to eat, really a person from the countryside, never seen the world before!" Ren Wang also noticed Du Xiao Li's appearance, but those table manners of hers, in his eyes, was just an uncultured wild girl who only knows to eat.

  Then again, normally in this kind of situation, no one would have their attention placed on the food. Food, in this kind of setting, was just a side character.

  Han Ming Yuan was originally bored anyways, only using the food and drinks to pass the time. Hearing Ren Wang's words and thinking that he was talking about himself, he lifted his head wanting to argue back, yet discovered that he actually wasn't talking about him. He followed Ren Wang's line of sight and saw an already full Du Xiao Li currently jabbing the food before her.


  "Pfft....." Han Ming Yuan instantly laughed out.

  This laugh of his drew the attention of the Emperor.

  "Did Ming Yuan think of something funny? Come share it with us." Han Ming Ze asked with a smile, "Or does this performance make you feel amused? Or, the person performing make you feel happy? Ming Yi and Ming Hong's wangfeis have already been settled, how about this emperor also set an engagement for you?"

  (T/N: Every Emperor's favorite pastime----matchmaking.)

  "Pffft---" The wine in Han Ming Yuan's mouth completely sprayed out. Fortunately, in the last moment, he turned to the side, thus sparing the delicacies before him.

  "Emperor, you're joking, right?" Han Ming Yuan said with a scared look, plotting inside that if this Emperor really does bestow him a marriage, then he'll just leave the palace and never return!

  "What do you think?" Han Ming Ze said with an ambiguous smile.

  "Emperor definitely must be joking, hehe." Han Ming Yuan lowered his head and took a sip of wine, thinking that when tonight's banquet ends, he'll leave immediately, definitely can not stay any longer, else what to do if the Emperor, in a moment of impulse, bestows him a marriage?

  Du Ke Xin's performance was the tenth one. Her performance naturally was playing the zither, and the piece she played was precisely the piece taught during Du Xiao Li's first day at school. Didn't know that she could play it this well now. Those difficult parts were all played very smoothly by her. However, Du Xiao Li evaluation of her performance was still 'plenty of skill but not enough emotion'.