Pampered Consort of the Fragrant Orchard c1-234

by N/A

  By the time Du Xiao Li was more or less done with eating, it was already almost time for Ji Liu Xia and the others' performance. She gazed over towards the stage, just happening to see a nervous Ji Liu Xia standing behind the stage with both hands tightly clenched. Thus she said a word to Du Yun Han and quietly went to the resting area.

  Du Ke Xin looked to her retreating figure with a pensive look.

  "Xiao Li, Xiao Li, what to do, I'm nervous!" Ji Liu Xia saw Du Xiao Li and grabbed her hand at once.

  "You have to believe in yourself! You can do it!" Du Xiao Li grasped her hand and said.

  "But I don't believe in myself! I keep feeling that I'll mess up this performance." Ji Liu Xia said.

  "You might not believe in yourself, but do you believe in me?" Du Xiao Li asked.

  Ji Liu Xia nodded, "I believe you, I've always believed in you." Although Du Xiao Li was younger than all of them, but in their subconscious minds, the four of them all very much believed in her.

  "Then I say you'll be fine, and this performance of yours will also be fine. You all will definitely be the best tonight!" Du Xiao Li softly said with a smile.

  "Really?" Ji Liu Xia asked in uncertainty.

  "Of course! Think about it, who arranged this perform of yours? Who taught you this dance?" Du Xiao Li asked back.

  "All you!" Ji Liu Xia deeply inhaled a breath and said, "You're right, we've spent a lot of time and thought on it. It'll definitely be fine! However......"

  "However what?"

  "However, if we perform well, then you have to make good food for me as a reward!" Ji Liu Xia shamelessly said.

  "Pfft------alright, if you can perform smoothly, then I'll invite you all for a feast!" Du Xiao Li said.

  Meng Jiang Zhuo and the others just happened to walk out at this moment. Hearing Du Xiao Li's words, she said, "We all heard! A certain someone said, if our performance tonight goes smoothly, will invite us for a feast!"

  "How are your preparations?" Du Xiao Li looked to the already dressed few and asked.

  "En, we've checked everything." Fu Ya Lan said with a nod, "After this performance finishes, it'll be our turn."

  "Alright, good luck!" Du Xiao Li cheered them on with a smile.

  "Even if it's just for the sake of that grand meal of yours, we'll still do our best!" Meng Jiang Zhuo smilingly said.

  "Hehe, I'll be waiting for you all to come slay me! Alright, their performance ended, it's your turn. I'll go to the side to watch you all!" Du Xiao Li encouragingly nodded at them and then headed to the lateral side of the stage, perfectly standing behind the osmanthus flower tree, blocking everyone else's line of sight.

  "Next is the last performance, collectively prepared for everyone by Imperial Tutor Meng family's Miss Meng Jiang Zhuo, General Ji's daughter, Miss Ji, Elder Fu family's Miss Fu Ya Lan, as well as Princess Changle."

  Ch. 072.3 – Eastern Li's Third Princess (3)

  Eastern Li's Third Princess (3)

  T/N: Chapter sponsored by Zarate, Melanthe, and Anon! Thank you for sponsoring!

  "Hehe, didn't expect Changle to also join in on the fun!" Hearing Han Ming Xiang's name the Empress Dowager and them all smiled.

  "Heard that in order to prepare for this performance, she'd been staying at the estate outside the city for the last few days to practice!" The Empress said.

  "This kind of group performance is rather rare." Han Ming Ze gazed towards the stage, faintly looking forward to this group performance somewhat.

  'Shua----' Just as the eunuch in charge stepped off the stage, something suddenly dropped from above the screen behind the stage, startling everyone present, who'd thought that the screen had fallen. Next, the lanterns from the stage to the middle of the banquet all went out. Instantly, the stage was surrounded in darkness with only the moonlight left illuminating.

  "What's this?"

  "Could there be assassins?"

  "Quick protect the Emperor!"

  Just as everyone was on the border of panic, the lantern behind the screen suddenly lit up. Everyone finally saw that the red cloth curtains from earlier, at this moment, had already turned into a layer of thin writing paper. Because of the bright light from behind, the words on the paper were clearly shown.

  "This is a poem?"

  "Doesn't seem like a poem either? This kind of rhyming scheme has never been seen before."

  "This is very well written!"

  "Not bad, not bad!"

  After everyone finished reading the words, they began studying it one after the other. It can be seen written on the paper in the back was the piece, 'Ballad of Mulan', the lines flying off the tongue, a complete narrative, and the beautiful and carefree calligraphy, instantly winning the praise of everyone present.

  "Could it be that they wanted to show everyone this calligraphy? I see this handwriting is probably also from a single person's hands." The Empress Dowager said as she looked to the large writing paper on the stage.

  "It is a single person's handwriting, but I believe Changle and the other's performance isn't just this." The Empress said with a smile.

  "En, let's just watch for now." The Empress Dowager also felt it wasn't just this bit.

  Just as everyone finished reading 'Ballad of Mulan', the lights surrounding the stage suddenly lit up again. Those palace maids finished lighting the lanterns and then withdrew back to the side. The bright light illuminated the stage, and three figures appeared on the originally empty stage.

  Han Ming Xiang was on the left side of the stage, while Fu Ya Lan was on the right. In front of them was the stand for their instrument. Additionally, in the middle of the stage, there was also a woman kneeling on the ground.

  Fu Ya Lan and Han Ming Xiang mutually nodded at one another. Han Ming Xiang then had the bamboo flute placed to her lips and began playing. After playing a few notes, the person kneeling on the ground began standing up. Everyone all recognized that this was precisely Imperial Tutor Meng family's Meng Jiang Zhuo.

  Shortly after, the zither joined their ranks, together showcasing the happy life of a young lady of the boudoir, then in the later half, display an enormous amount of worry and melancholy.

  Because of the words behind them, in addition to embellishment of the music and dance, everyone instantly understood the meaning it wanted to transmit. Facing such a creative performance, everyone all couldn't help but nod to express their praise.

  The zither's sound ended first, following which the flute's sound gradually softened. At the same time the flute sound ended, Meng Jiang Zhuo retreated to the edge of the stage. At this time, the lanterns surrounding the stage extinguished once more.

  "This is the end?"

  "But we still haven't seen General Ji's daughter? Didn't they say she'd be performing together?"

  "Zheng----" The sound of the pipa pierced the darkness, and at the same time, answered the audience's doubts. Meanwhile, the lanterns were once again lit by the palace maids.

  "Zheng----"

  After the second sound of the pipa dropped, Ji Liu Xia spun onto the center of the stage from the side holding the prop sword, and following the music, began dancing the sword dance Du Xiao Li taught her.

  The tune of 'Ambush on Ten Sides' seemed to have brought everyone into a place filled with war fire, and Ji Liu Xia's dance was just like an unyielding woman killing enemies to defend the country, making everyone be unable to avert their eyes, enjoying the impact of this moment with their eyes and ears.

  Everyone's costumes all were from the same set, but Meng Jiang Zhuo's clothes has more of a gentle beauty of a girl of the boudoir look, while Ji Liu Xia's embodies the unwavering determination of a young woman taking her father's place in joining the army.

  "Good!" Ji Liu Feng saw his younger sister's stunning performance and couldn't help but clap his hands and applaud. Even Ji Lun, who was sitting in the front, also had a big smile.

  "Not bad, not bad!"

  "Danced really well."

  "What dance is this, never
seen before. Looks different from the dances we've seen in the past!"

  Du Xiao Li watched Ji Liu Xia's performance from the side and couldn't help but cheer for her, guessing whether if it really was that feast's appeal that made Ji Liu Xia, who still had stage fright earlier, instantly become thus confident?

  Following the pipa sound's end, Ji Liu Xia spun off the stage from the left, and at the same time, Meng Jiang Zhuo spun on from the right. Despite being the same move, the two gave everyone different feelings.

  In order to let Fu ya Lan have time to change instruments, the xiao flute sounded first, letting the stage's atmosphere that was filled with dense battle spirit just now turn, becoming the honor and great changes of a woman returning home in triumph, and at the same time, also carry faint sentiments.

  Although it was the same person, the same clothes, yet Meng Jiang Zhuo gave off an entirely different feeling this time, brilliantly portraying the form of a woman returning home in glory after experiencing hardships.

  "Good!" Even the Emperor exclaimed in admiration.

  Han Ming Yi's eyes shifted from the stage to the figure hiding behind the tree. Never thought that she actually designed such a brilliant performance! What he saw at the persimmon orchard yesterday was a completely different feeling from what he was seeing right now!

  "Good! Good! Good!" After the performance ended, the Empress couldn't help but say three words of good.

  "Really was great. Looks like they've indeed put their hearts into it." The Empress Dowager also nodded in agreement.

  All the way until the four of them came on to the center of the stage to give thanks did the crowd below finally burst out the warm applauses. Regardless whether it was the officials or the womenfolk, or even the servant girls, servant boys, and guards, all were applauding with all their might.

  Ji Liu Xia saw the praise in Ji Liu Feng and Ji Lun's eyes and smiled like a flower.

  "Hahaha, Xiao Li, we did it! Look at them cheering for us!" As soon as Ji Liu Xia jumped down from the stage, she had Du Xiao Li pulled into a hug and excitedly said.

  "En, I just know you all could do it!" Du Xiao Li said with a smile.

  "We'll be waiting for your feast!"

  "Alright, no problem!"

  Just when they were laughing, Eunuch Shan's voice came through, "Summoning Princess Changle, Ji Liu Xia, Meng Jiang Zhuo, Fu Ya Lan before the Emperor------"

  T/N: I wasn't able to finish 2 chapters for today but I'll have 2 for tomorrow! One of my favorite moments is in part 5. I realize I have a masochistic relationship with cheesy lines, cringes but still feels fluffy inside.

  Ch. 072.4 – Eastern Li's Third Princess (4)

  Eastern Li's Third Princess (4)

  T/N: Chapter sponsored by egosumqt! Thank you for sponsoring!

  "The Emperor is calling for you all, quickly go. I'll return to my seat first." Du Xiao Li pushed Ji Liu Xia and quietly returned to her own seat. Just as she sat down, she felt two pair of burning hot gazes. Lifting her head, she saw Han Ming Yi and Luo Qi both looking towards her. Luo Qi even secretly gave her a thumbs up.

  "Younger sister, this performance really is great!" Du Xiu Heng said. The people to the side thought that he was praising the performance just now, but Du Xiao Li knew he was praising herself.

  "It's merely just a group performance, what's so good about it." Du Ke Xin although was shaken inside by the performance, she refused to acknowledge it out loud. She looked towards Du Xiao Li, inwardly trying to figure out what Du Xiao Li went to the stage for.

  "Greeting the Emperor, Grand Empress Dowager, Empress Dowager, and Empress!" Han Ming Xiang and the others arrived at the front using the passageway in the middle, perfectly stopping at the place across from Du Xiao Li. The performed their greetings to the Emperor.

  "Rise." Han Ming Ze said with a smile, "Your performance just now was very stunning, making everyone present all praise endlessly."

  "Thanking your Majesty for the praise!"

  "How did you all come up with this performance?" The Empress Dowager asked.

  Meng Jiang Zhuo and them mutually looked to one another, thinking to themselves whether or not to say Du Xiao Li's name out loud. From the corner of her eye, Fu Ya Lan saw Du Xiao Li faintly shaking her head and thus replied, "A classmate from school taught us."

  "Can't say the name?" Han Ming Yuan asked.

  "Imperial sister, just say it, to be able to choreagraph such a good performance, surely she must be a person brimming with talent. Say it out loud so that everyone will all know." Han Ming Hong said.

  (T/N: Han Ming Hong is Ren Wang is case anyone forgot---cuz I sure did; was like, who dis again...)

  This performance truly shocked him too much, making him feel as if he really saw such a marvelous woman, taking her father's place in joining the army. Waves of ripples emerged in his heart, unable to settle for a long time, and towards the creator of this performance, he was furthermore curious. But after filtering through all the women in the capital, he couldn't find anyone with this kind of talent. The more Han Ming Xiang and them refused to say, the more he wanted to know who this person was.

  "But we promised her not to say, we can't go back on our word." Han Ming Xiang has always never liked Han Ming Hong, especially after learning that he had broken his engagement with Du Xiao Li. This made her further not have a good impression of him.

  (T/N: The phrasing for 'breaking engagement' here is kinda particular---the literal translation would be 'divorce before marrying'; so the line she's saying he 'divorced' MC before even marrying her.)

  "It seems they're also a rather low-key child." The Empress said.

  Young ladies that were still attending the academy all were still very young in age. Many still haven't reached marriageable age, that's why the Empress would use the word 'child' to describe her.

  "This is difficult, we all really want to know who she is!" Han Ming Ze had a troubled look, "Originally wanted to call her out to reward together, but looks like she'll have to miss out!"

  When Du Xiao Li heard Han Ming Ze's words, she inwardly screamed 'not good'. Before she could even give them a meaningful look, she already heard Ji Liu Xia's soft voice, "How about we just have Xiao Li revealed?"

  Although she said it very quietly, it still made Du Xiao Li slap her forehead. Even she heard it, and there were quite a few people with good hearing present, how could they not hear?!

  As expected, before Fu Ya Lan and them could say anything, Han Ming Hong already opened his mouth in shock, "Xiao Li? Could it be Du Xiao Li? Miss Ji, don't joke around!"

  "How am I joking? How can it not be Xiao Li?" When Ji Liu Xia heard Han Ming Hong's words, she instinctively retorted.

  "Hmph, she's a girl that grew up in the countryside, how can she choreagraph such a good performance? Even if you say so, no one would believe you! This prince orders you all to have the real person revealed!" Han Ming Hong bluntly said, his eyes filled with 'refusing to believe'.

  "You......." Ji Liu Xia stomped in anger, "Don't look down on Xiao Li, the things she knows, you might not even know! My dance was choreographed by her for me, do you know how?"

  At her seat, Du Xiao Li already couldn't use speechless to describe her feelings right now. Ji Liu Xia, in order to defend her, wanted to have everything exposed! This simple and protective personality really does make her feel both happy and helpless.

  "Liu Xia, don't be rude!" Ji Lun stood up and berated.

  "Father, where am I being rude, I was merely telling the truth!"

  Ren Wang got choked up by Ji Liu Xia and wanted to retort, "This prince......"

  "Alright, enough." Han Ming Ze saw how Ji Liu Xia had a look of wanting to fight Ren Wang and thus spoke out to stop them.

  "This quarreling is giving this grieving one a headache." The Grand Empress Dowager rubbed her head and said.

  "This grandson knows wrong!"

  "This subject knows wrong!"

  Hearing Grand Empress Dowager's words, Han Ming Hong
and Ji Liu Xia quickly admitted to their mistakes. Ji Liu Xia even knelt to the ground.

  "Isn't this a good thing? Whether or not it's Du Xiao Li, call her out for some questions and we'll know." The Empress softly said to the Emperor.

  "En, the Empress is right." Han Ming Ze nodded, "Du Xiao Li?"

  From the moment Ji Liu Xia said Du Xiao Li's name, Du Ke Xin has been using killer eyes to glare at Du Xiao Li. However, Du Xiao Li didn't have the mind to bother with her right now. Hearing the Emperor call her name, she quickly got up and knelt down beside Ji Liu Xia, "This subject is here."

  "That performance, was it choreographed by you?" Han Ming Ze asked.

  "Replying to your Majesty, this subject merely just made some suggestions. It is still mainly these big sisters' hard work." Du Xiao Li said, avoiding the important points, dwelling on the trivial details.

  "How can it be you? Didn't you grow up in a mountain village?" Seeing Du Xiao Li admit to it, Han Ming Hong seemed as if he'd received a blow, as he asked in disbelief.

  "What, Ren Wang has something to say about this prince's future wangfei?" Han Ming Yi faintly spoke. Although he didn't look to Han Ming Hong, he still gave the other party a kind of invisible pressure.

  "You all get up." Han Ming Ze glanced at Han Ming Yi and then said.

  "Thanking your Majesty." Ji Liu Xia and Du Xiao Li said, and got up together.

  "Du Xiao Li, I once heard you don't have 'a drop of ink on your chest', no talent, no virtue. Even Prime Minister Du said you don't know any talents, so how did you come up with this performance? And even know to teach Ji Liu Xia this something sword dance?" Han Ming Ze asked.

  The abacus in Du Xiao Li's heart klacked loudly. This Emperor spoke very lightly, but if she says anything wrong, he can still crown her with the crime of deceiving the Emperor!

  "Replying to your Majesty, this subject has never said to not know any talents." Du Xiao Li said.

  "Then where did those rumors come from?"

  "Those rumors began spreading before this subject even arrived in the capital. This subject felt, the mouth is grown on other people, I can't control it either, so after coming to the capital, I didn't specially go refute the rumors." Du Xiao Li replied.