Pampered Consort of the Fragrant Orchard c1-234

by N/A

  "Then what about when you were at Feng Xue Luo's gathering, why did you chose to sing, letting everyone all think you really don't know any talents?" Han Ming Hong angrily looked to Du Xiao Li as he voiced his doubts.

  "But no one made rules on not allowing one to sing either? Only said that whoever the cup spun to, that person will have to perform something, didn't say that one wasn't allowed to sing. In the past, this subject was used to singing in the village, so that's why decided to sing for everyone." Du Xiao Li said.

  T/N: Sorry for the delay, I figured it'd be better to post both chapters at the same time hurhurr---it gets better in next chapter.

  Ch. 072.5 – Eastern Li's Third Princess (5)

  Eastern Li's Third Princess (5)

  Han Ming Hong instantly leaned back against his chair with a 'having gotten shot' look.

  Du Xiao Li was right, she'd never personally admitted to no knowing any talents. At the gathering, they also didn't request to not allow singing. It was all their own assumptions, believing that Du Xiao Li didn't know any talents. That's why when she chose to sing, they all subconsciously thought that she didn't know any instruments, thus would choose to do such.

  (T/N: I want to point out that singing is a talent, just the talent that is being referred to in this context is the scholarly talents of the aristocratic circle.)

  "Then Prime Minister Du also doesn't know?" Han Ming Ze asked.

  "Replying to your Majesty, this one's father also doesn't know, because he's never asked me what I know, and I've never specially mentioned either." Du Xiao Li replied.

  Han Ming Ze looked to Du Xiao Li, then to Du Yun Han, unsure what he was thinking.

  "Your Majesty, didn't you say you were going to reward them?" Han Ming Yi saw the somewhat impatient look in Du Xiao Li's eyes and thus said to Han Ming Ze.

  "Ming Yi, this is heartaching for your future wangfei? Hahaha, regardless of what, you all's performance tonight indeed dazzled everyone's eyes, definitely have to properly reward! Each of you will be bestowed a pair of jade ruyi scepters, what do you think, Empress?"

  (T/N: When I was little I thought these things were fancy backscratchers; they're really just a symbolic lucky object/art display.)

  "Emperor's idea is very good." The Empress said with a smile.

  The palace maids very quickly brought over five pairs of jade ruyi and carried before Du Xiao Li and them. Du Xiao Li and the others accepted the jade ruyi and simultaneously curtsied, saying: "Thanking your Majesty for the bestowment!"

  "You all can withdraw!" Han Ming Ze waved his hand. He picked up the wine cup in front of him and took a sip of wine.

  "Wait-----"

  Just when Du Xiao Li and the others were planning on leaving, a delicate voice came through, stopping their steps.

  "Third princess, is something the matter?" The Empress looked to Lu Jun Qi and asked with a smile.

  Lu Jun Qi didn't reply to the Empress. She got up and came to the center, looking to Du Xiao Li and asking, "You're Du Xiao Li? The person engaged to Ding Wang? Han Ming Yi, at the time, you rejected me for her? No matter how one looks, she's still just an immature brat, and not even pretty, just what do you like about her?"

  Lu Jun Qi's words made the atmosphere instantly change. This was trying to pick a fight?!

  At the time, Lu Jun Qi stripping naked to seduce Han Ming Yi and then getting thrown out by him was something everyone all knew. Looks like she came today to pick a fight!

  Du Xiao Li listened to Lu Jun Qi's words and her heart jumped. Seems she really did come for her? She glanced to Han Ming Xiang and the others. They all had a 'we didn't guess wrong' look.

  Han Ming Yi put down his wine cup and looked to Lu Jun Qi, coldly saying: "Third princess, this prince's wangfei, you have no right to comment on!"

  "Where did she come from? We've been acquainted for three years, how long have you known her to be this protective of her?" Lu Jun Qi looked to Han Ming Yi's angry appearance, feeling both wronged and unresigned.

  "This prince's woman, this prince naturally have to protect, don't tell me I need to defend an outsider like you?" Han Ming Yi turned to Du Xiao Li, not even willing to give a single glance to Lu Jun Qi.

  Seeing herself being ignored like this, the raging flame in Lu Jun Qi's heart directly rosed up, and her rationality got drowned out by anger. She grabbed the whip at her waist and waved it towards Du Xiao Li.

  "Careful!"

  Lu Jun Qi's movements caused a wave of disturbance. Du Yun Han directly charged out from his seat, but he didn't know martial arts and simply couldn't stop Lu Jun Qi.

  Ji Liu Xia actually knew martial arts, but she also didn't dare to singlehandedly catch the viciously approaching whip. Just when she was planning on disregarding everything and save Xiao Li first, the whip was caught by someone. Du Xiao Li was also gathered into a faint orchid scented embrace.

  Seeing Du Xiao Li get saved, Ji Liu Xia and Du Yun Han both let out a heavy sigh. Luo Qi, who'd already stood up, sat back down without leaving a trace.

  Du Xiu Heng's tightly clenched fist slowly released, and his tense body finally relaxed.

  "You all withdraw first." Han Ming Yi said to the four behind him.

  Han Ming Xiang and the others worryingly glanced to Du Xiao Li from behind, and then returned to their respective seats.

  "Let go!" Lu Jun Qi's whip was in Han Ming Yi's hand, and she couldn't retracted it back.

  "Third princess, carrying a weapon into my Feng Ming's imperial palace, we didn't have you hand over the whip, yet you used it to commit an violent act." Han Ming Yi's left hand held Du Xiao Li, while his right hand grasped the whip, coldly sneering, "Moreover, it was even directed towards this prince's future wangfei. Say, do you think I'll let go?"

  "Han Ming Yi, don't be too much of a bully!" Lu Jun Qi saw the coldness emitting from Han Ming Yi's body and subconsciously took a step back.

  "Oh? Bullying this prince's woman, then you need to prepare for the worst." Han Ming Yi finished saying and flung his hand. The entire whip was shaken into several pieces.

  "You! This is the nine-segment whip that my imperial father bestowed me!" Lu Jun Qi blankly looked to the whip on the ground and heartbrokenly said.

  "If not seeing on Eastern Li Emperor's behalf, the one lying on the ground right now won't be the whip, but you." Han Ming Yi said and turned to return to his seat with Du Xiao Li in arm.

  Du Xiao Li didn't expect that Han Ming Yi would suddenly run over to protect her. She sensed that he really was angry, knowing that if Lu Jun Qi wasn't Eastern Li's princess, the one lying on the ground perhaps really would be her. She looked to the arm around her shoulders. Her somewhat restless heart calmed down. However, hearing him, in such a public place with numerous people, say 'this prince's wangfei', or 'this prince's woman', one after the other, still made her slightly blush.

  "Didn't scare you just now, right?" Han Ming Yi lowered his head and asked in a gentle voice.

  "No." Du Xiao Li shook her head and followed him towards the seating area.

  "Du Xiao Li, stop right there!" Lu Jun Qi heard Han Ming Yi's words towards Du Xiao Li, and seeing the two's dense honey like passion, she shouted towards Du Xiao Li, no longer bothering with the whip on the ground.

  Dense honey like passion? If Du Xiao Li knew what Lu Jun Qi was thinking inside, her two eyes definitely would've rolled to the skies. Where did they have dense honey like passion?!

  "Third princess, what else do you need?" Du Xiao Li asked. She didn't want to bother with this kind of spoiled princess! This will give you a headache, but if you don't respond to her, she'll annoy you to death.

  Han Ming Yi casted Lu Jun Qi a glance and said, "No need to pay attention to her."

  "Du Xiao Li, I want to compete with you!" Lu Jun Qi said pointing to Du Xiao Li, "Didn't you choreograph such a stunning performance? Then you must be very talented. I want to compete with you. If you lose, then leave Han Ming Yi's side, get as far away as you can, don't keep clinging aroun
d him. Do you dare to compete?"

  "Why should I compete with you?" Du Xiao Li asked indifferently.

  "Hmph, are you scared of competing with me? The person by Ding Wang's side must be a talented and beautiful person. You already don't have looks, could it be that you don't even have talent either? This kind of you, for what reason, gets to stand by Ding Wang's side? Or could it be, you women of Feng Ming are nothing more than just that? Regardless of courage or talent, all can't compare with my Eastern Li." Lu Jun Qi resentfully said, as she looked to Du Xiao Li with an unresigned look.

  Nothing more than an immature silly little girl, how can she compare to her, this Eastern Li's number one beauty? But why, in his eyes, there just wasn't her(LJQ) shadow?

  Du Xiao Li looked to Lu Jun Qi. As soon as those words came out, her path of retreat was completely blocked. Right now, even if she didn't want to compete, she'd still have to. Not only did she have to compete, she also had to win, because this concerned Feng Ming's face. Han Ming Ze certainly won't let her shrink back!

  As expected-----

  "Du Xiao Li, since Eastern Li's third princess wants to compete with you this much, then why don't you measure yourself against her, see if you are able to stand by Feng Ming's Ding Wang's side!" Han Ming Ze instructed.

  "This subject accepts the decree." Du Xiao Li curtsied, and then looked to the confident Lu Jun Qi and asked, "Don't know what third princess wants to compete?"

  T/N: I swear this Emperor is probably enjoying the drama, then again this is as good as entertainment gets in ancient times lol.

  Ch. 073.1 – One Dance Shocks the World (1)

  One Dance Shocks the World (1)

  Du Xiao Li calmly looked to Lu Jun Qi. She didn't expect that attending this banquet today, would cause this many things to happen. However since there was already no retreat, then she'll just have to bravely advance.

  She didn't like trouble, but has never feared trouble either!

  "Since Miss Ji just now said her sword dance was taught by you, then surely your dance skills must be pretty good. Then let's compete in dancing!" Lu Jun Qi although was arrogant and willful, she didn't want to fight a one-sided battle either. She didn't know what kind of talents Du Xiao Li knew. Thinking that dancing was her strong suit, and Du Xiao Li shouldn't be bad at it either, competing like this should be a little more fair.

  "If you don't want to, you can not compete." Han Ming Yi tightened his arm, letting her sense his presence.

  "No need." Du Xiao Li lifted her head and smiled at him, then said to Lu Jun Qi, "Dancing it is then. Since third princess has put forth a request, then does it mean that Xiao Li can also put forth a request?"

  "Of course!" Lu Jun Qi said.

  "Thank you third princess. Xiao Li's request is very simple. Although I still haven't married Ding Wang, but since the Emperor has generously bestowed Ding Wang and I this marriage, then Ding Wang is considered mine. I've never liked other people coveting after my people and things, so if Xiao Li beats princess by chance, then asking princess to please stop clinging to him in the future." Du Xiao Li said.

  (T/N: MC staking her claim on her man lmaooooo)

  "Ss---"

  "This is just too arrogant! What Ding Wang is hers, this is too disgraceful!"

  "Such disregard for propriety!"

  All the officials and womenfolk present were startled by Du Xiao Li's 'Ding Wang is considered mine'. Since ancient times, it was alway 'with the husband as the sky', yet unexpectedly she actually said such arrogant words.

  When Luo Qi heard Du Xiao Li's words, his hand around the wine cup tightened and suddenly looked towards Du Xiao Li. This was her acknowledging Han Ming Yi's identity? Or could it be, he's already walked into her heart, just she's still unaware herself?

  Han Ming Yi, who was next to Du Xiao Li, heard her words and his handsome face that usually never smiles for the first time, let out a smile in front of others, instantly letting the even moonlight lose color.

  "En, this prince is Li'er's person, you have to protect me, and not let other women take advantage of me."

  Lu Jun Qi looked to Du Xiao Li's aggressive appearance. Her view towards Du Xiao Li rather changed a little. "Alright, it's a deal! Whoever lose won't be allowed to cling to Ding Wang anymore! However, everyone here are all your Feng Ming's people, who should we pick to be the judge? If not picked right, they'll all lean towards you!"

  "Whoever third princess chooses." Du Xiao Li spread her arm out and said.

  Lu Jun Qi looked around, and then said to Luo Qi, Feng Ru Han Shui Qing Fairy, "Asking for you all to be the judge this time."

  "Hahaha, this one has always heard Eastern Li's third princess's dancing is crowned the best in the world. For us to be able to judge for you today is our honor." Feng Ru Han said with a hearty laugh.

  "Shui Qing also wants to witness you two's graceful bearing!" Aside from greeting the Emperor, these were Shui Qing Fairy's first words tonight. That voice sounded like a burst of clear spring, directly flowing into everyone's hearts.

  Du Xiao Li glanced towards Shui Qing Fairy, seeing the other party smile towards her.

  "Haha, then we'll be troubling you three to be the judge for this competition!" Han Ming Ze said with a smile, and then looked towards Du Xiao Li and Lu Jun Qi and asked, "Do you all need to prepare anything?"

  "No need, just directly let the musicians play for me." What she was wearing today was a dress that could be used to dance in anyways, so she can just directly start dancing.

  "This subject needs to prepare some props and change into dancing clothes." Du Xiao Li said.

  "If you don't have dancing clothes, you'll be in trouble." The Empress said.

  "Sister Jiang Zhuo and I are similar in size. When the time comes, I can just change into her clothes. However, preparing the props need some time, probably need about a quarter or two of an hour." The moment Lu Jun Qi mentioned competing, Du Xiao Li had already made up her mind.

  "Then quickly go, after two quarters, we'll begin the competition!" Lu Jun Qi said and then headed towards her own seat.

  Du Xiao Li curtsied towards Han Ming Ze and the others, and as she was turning to leave, Han Ming Yi grabbed her hand and said, "I will give you a vast sky, letting you spread your wings as much as you like. Whether it'd be wind or rain, I will all block for you. Your splendor need not be hidden away. Go, let them see just how outstanding the wangfei I chose is."

  (T/N: Alright HMY how many romance books did you read in the last 6 years to become this smooth------help I'm dying here.)

  "You just believe in me this much?" Du Xiao Li asked.

  "Of course. Your everything, I all believe, especially that confidence leaking from your eyes. I just know you're capable of it. I'm relying on you to protect after all." Han Ming Yi patted Du Xiao Li's hand and continued, "Go prepare then, just worry about dancing, everything else, I'll take care of."

  "En, then I'm going." Du Xiao Li nodded her head and said.

  "Alright, you two, don't be this lovey-dovey in public. Du Xiao Li, quickly go prepare, this grieving one is still waiting to go back after watching your competition!" The Grand Empress Dowager saw how Du Xiao Li was still not moving, opened her mouth to push things along.

  Du Xiao Li and Han Ming Yi both spoke relatively quietly, but seeing the smile on their faces, everyone all could guess what they were saying.

  "Imperial grandmother, I'm very familiar with the palace, how about I go together with Xiao Li, see if there's anything I can help with." Han Ming Xiang got up and said.

  "En, go then." The Grand Empress Dowager waved her hand.

  Du Xiao Li, Meng Jiang Zhuo, and Han Ming Xiang left the banquet site, preparing to use the resting palace hall for Du Xiao Li and Meng Jiang Zhuo to change clothes. But, after Du Xiao Li saw the unused dance clothes inside, she changed her mind, because she saw an even more fitting outfit. After changing, she let Han Ming Xiang help her prepare some props for dancing.

  With Han Ming Xiang, this prin
cess, here, those palace maids and eunuchs were all swift and orderly with their work. In less than two quarters, the props Du Xiao Li needed were prepared.

  "Didn't you go change clothes with Jiang Zhuo? Why aren't you wearing that one?" Ji Liu Xia and Fu Ya Lan were worried, so the two quietly snuck over too. Seeing her not wearing Meng Jiang Zhuo's clothes, they curiously asked.

  "En, discovered this dress, so decided to wear this one." Du Xiao Li said.

  "The things you wanted, are they ready?" Fu Ya Lan asked in concern.

  "En, everything's fine now, let's go back."

  When Du Xiao Li returned, Lu Jun Qi saw her wearing a cerise color dress and found it somewhat strange, but didn't say anything either. She got up and said, "Since you're here, then let's begin. You first or me first?"

  "During that time just now, I suppose princess has already finished preparing, so asking princess to please go first." Du Xiao Li said.

  "Hmph, then I won't hold back!" Lu Jun Qi looked to her servant girl, who at the same time, was also her musician. The two then quickly headed towards the stage.

  T/N: There's 2 sponsored chapters in queue, if I don't finish them tonight I'll post them together tomorrow. Also this chapter is only 4 parts. Tbh compared to Du Ke Xin I like this third princess a lot more ahahha she's much cuter in comparison. You guys have no idea how hard it is to translate these chapters with straight face. This novel is going to be the death of me.

  Ch. 073.2 – One Dance Shocks the World (2)

  One Dance Shocks the World (2)

  T/N: Chapter sponsored by Dee, Annieca, Anon, and Ann! Thank you for sponsoring!

  During the time Du Xiao Li was preparing her props, Lu Jun Qi also borrowed a guzheng from Han Ming Ze. Examining the tone, there was no problem, and after testing a few notes, this guzheng* became Lu Jun Qi's instrument.

  (*T/N: 13 to 25 string large zither; the usual guqin is a seven string zither.)