by N/A
"Little junior sister, don't spray slander! Even if Nuo'er offended you, you don't need to frame her like this!" Wang Ze viciously glared at Du Xiao Li.
"Enough!" Hu Yi Jian suddenly shouted, and then looked to Du Xiao Li, "Xiao Li, this is a serious matter, do you have any evidence proving that Nuo'er put poison?"
"Shifu, since I'm this certain, I naturally have evidence." Du Xiao Li curtsied towards Hu Yi Jian and replied, "Disciple Nuo'er, last night, I lighted soul burning incense in my room. As long as someone enters my room, they'll get this smell on them, and it won't go away for ten days to half a month. Do you dare to let someone see if you have this smell or not?"
Burning soul incense is a kind of fragrance. As a kind of fragrance from a foreign country, it is very valuable, and its greatest trait is that lighting it once can let the furnitures in the room preserve this scent for half a month.
"I, I........"
"Never mind yesterday, ever since you all came, you probably have never entered my room before either." Du Xiao Li said, "So don't say you got it on you previously!"
"Even if I went to your room yesterday, I was merely curious what your room is like, and since I couldn't sleep either, I went in for a stroll. I simply never touch that box of yours!" Fan Nuo'er adamantly denied.
Last night, after she went back, she discovered that she had this smell on her, so when Du Xiao Li mentioned this, she just knew her going to Du Xiao Li's room was exposed. But she still was unwilling to admit to putting the poison.
"Nuo'er, just tell the truth. Did you put poison in the box or not?" Hu Yi Jian asked.
"Shigong, I really never touched that box before, and never thought of putting poison in the Grand Empress Dowager's medicine before either. Shigong, you watched me grow up, how can I lie to you?!" Fan Nuo'er quickly declared her stance.
Hu Yi Jian looked to Fan Nuo'er, seeing her dodging gaze. He closed his eyes and asked, "Nuo'er, I'll ask you again, did you do this or not?"
"Shigong, I really didn't!" Fan Nuo'er confidently said. She was certain that Du Xiao Li didn't have any evidence on her, so she won't admit even if it kills her!
"Xiao Li, bring out the evidence then. If you can't bring out evidence, then I can't let you slander Nuo'er either." Hu Yi Jian said.
"Yes, shifu." Du Xiao Li said, and then turned to Fan Nuo'er, "You said you never touched this box before, but I applied a layer of colorless and odorless medicine on the box. As long as one touches this medicine, it can't be washed off by normal water. Only using salt water can one wash it off, but if salt water encounters this medicine, it'll turn a pale red. Xia Yuan, go bring a basin of salt water over."
"Yes." Xia Yuan retreated from the hall and soon brought back a basin of salt water, placing it before Fan Nuo'er.
"If the water turns a pale red, I believe you won't be able to deny this. If the water doesn't turn pale red, then I'll admit, I wronged you, and freely allow for shifu to punish me." Du Xiao Li said.
Fan Nuo'er stared at the basin of water before her. Her hands reached the edge of the basin, but she didn't dare to reach into the water.
"Nuo'er, place your hands into the water. If it's really as you say, then it can prove your innocence." Seeing Fan Nuo'er still not moving, Niu Jing urged.
Fan Nuo'er lifted her head and looked to Niu Jing and the others. Cold sweat slid down along her forehead. Her hands stopped above the surface of the water, yet from beginning to end didn't dare to reach into the waters.
Seeing this reaction hers, everyone all understood.
"Nuo'er, you.........."
"Disciple Nuo'er, this is admitting to you?" Du Xiao Li asked.
Fan Nuo'er glanced at Du Xiao Li and overturned the water basin at once. The water spilled all over the ground. She bitterly glared at Du Xiao Li, asking: "How did you know I would go poison that medicine pill? Even rubbing on medicine on the box in advance?"
Du Xiao Li laughed and said, "I lied, there's nothing on the box."
When Fan Nuo'er heard Du Xiao Li's words, she instantly collapsed on the ground paralyzed.
Ch. 081.1 – She's here to buy soy sauce? (1)
She's here to buy soy sauce? (1)
(T/N: Title means along the lines of 'someone who's uninvolved just being there', or to describe an excessive person.)
Niu Jing and the others all somewhat shockingly looked to Du Xiao Li.
Du Xiao Li brightly smiled and said, "How would I know if someone wants to do something to the medicine, I'm not a prophet. That's why I lied about the medicine coated on the box."
When Wang Ze heard, he angrily berated, "How can you be this black-hearted and crafty at such a young age!? Deceiving Nuo'er like this, this scheming heart truly is impressive!"
"Junior brother Wang Ze, aren't your words a little unreasonable?" Niu Jing angrily said when he heard Wang Ze's words. "Little junior sister was merely testing whether or not Nuo'er put poison in the medicine, how can that be counted as being scheming? If one has to say scheming, one rather wants to ask Nuo'er, why did you want to do something to this pill? If this really were to be given to the Grand Empress Dowager, then the aftermath would be unthinkable!"
"Shigong, I didn't do it on purpose, I wasn't thinking of harming the Grand Empress Dowager, I was just, just........." Fan Nuo'er looked to Hu Yi Jian's gaze towards her. Inside was this unspoken understanding, her thoughts, how could he, someone who has one foot in a coffin, not understand?
"Nuo'er, earlier, I gave you a chance. If from the start, you confessed, I would have had this matter covered up for you. At most, punish you after we return. But........." Hu Yi Jian heartbrokenly said.
Hu Yi Jian's words, everyone all understood. Earlier, he'd repeatedly asked Fan Nuo'er whether or not she'd done anything to the box. If from the start, she confessed the truth, then he wouldn't be this heartbroken. After all, he did indeed watch her grow up. But she committed an offense, attempting in vain to frame someone of the same sect, and didn't even know to repent. This made him extremely disappointed in her.
"Shifu, Nou'er just momentarily strayed. In the future, she'll definitely repent, begging shifu to please give her another chance!" Wang Ze knelt down pleading.
"Qing Chen." Hu Yi Jian shouted, ignoring Wang Ze.
"This disciple is here."
"According to the Medicine King Valley's rules, framing someone of the same sect, how should one be dealt with?" Hu Yi Jian asked.
Hearing this, Fan Nuo'er instantly started bawling, crawling to Hu Yi Jian's side and pulling on this clothes, as she spoke through tears, "Shigong, shigong, I'm wrong, I won't dare to ever again, I really know wrong, shigong, won't you forgive Nuo'er just this once?"
"Qing Chen, I'm asking you!" Hu Yi Jian said.
"Framing someone of the same sect, driven out of Medicine King Valley without exception, henceforth no longer someone of the Medicine King Valley!" Qing Chen replied.
"Shigong, shigong, you promised my grandfather before that you would properly take care of me. Shigong, don't kick Nuo'er out of the Medicine King Valley! I really know I'm wrong!" The makeup on Fan Nuo'er's face was already ruined by the tears.
Hu Yi Jian lowered his head to look to Fan Nuo'er, "I already knew from the start that you were jealous of Xiao Li's medical skills, knowing that you were discontent with her. You were rude to her, I asked her to not bicker with you, but never thought that you would become like this now, harboring malicious thoughts! Moreover, that was the Grand Empress Dowager! If not on your grandfather's behalf, I would've spoken about this matter while the Emperor and the others were still here."
If the Emperor were to find out about this matter, Fan Nuo'er certainly would have been executed. That's why, he didn't expose Fan Nuo'er earlier. This was already considered preserving her life!
"Shigong........." Fan Nuo'er stopped crying, as she hazily gazed to Hu Yi Jian with teary eyes.
"Shifu, asking you to please forgive Nuo'er this time!" Wang Ze said as he kowtowed to Hu Yi Jian.
"Shifu, are you really going to be this merciless?" Wang Ze questioned as he looked to Hu Yi Jian.
Hu Yi Jian turned his head to one side, no longer looking at Wang Ze and Fan Nuo'er.
"Since shifu is this merciless and must have Nuo'er forced out of the Medicine King Valley, then have me expelled as well then." Wang Ze said, "Last night, I already discovered that Nuo'er went out, yet didn't stop her. As her shifu, I'm willing to leave together with her!"
"Shifu.........." Fan Nuo'er turned her head towards Wang Ze and shouted, but couldn't say anymore.
"As you please!" With that said, Hu Yi Jian got up and left the guest hall, leaving behind the rest looking to each other in dismay.
"Nuo'er, this place can no longer tolerate us, let's go." Wang Ze stood up and said to Nuo'er who was sitting on the ground.
"Shifu, where can we go?" Fan Nuo'er's gaze was distant, as if she didn't know how to continue living after leaving Medicine King Valley.
Wang Ze went forward and pulled her up, "You have shifu, there will always be a place for us to make home!"
"Shifu......." Fan Nuo'er emotionally looked to Wang Ze and nodded. Seeing Du Xiao Li, she ruthlessly said: "You better remember, this grievance, I will repay one day!"
"Sigh........" Qing Chen let out a sigh and looked to Wang Ze, "Your things, when time comes, I'll have someone send it to the old Zhang family outside the valley. When you have time, go fetch it. Remember, once you leave, you can't do anything that will let down the Medicine King Valley, and can't have the Medicine King Valley's matters spread out, else........"
"This rule, we know. The power of the Medicine King Command, we all understand." Wang Ze said, "Nuo'er, let's go."
Fan Nuo'er glared at Du Xiao Li and then followed after Wang Ze. That glare was full of resentment and murderous rage.
Du Xiao Li didn't expect that the final outcome would be like this. Getting expelled from the Medicine King Valley was relatively severe, but for using the Grand Empress Dowager's body as a tool to frame her, this was already considered light. Just as Hu Yi Jian said, if Han Ming Ze and the others were to know about this, Fan Nuo'er's life would've forfeited!
"Don't mind too much either. Wang Ze has always wanted to leave the Medicine King Valley. Perhaps, this was just the chance he was waiting for." Qing Chen, seeing Du Xiao Li somewhat blaming herself, went up to console her.
"Although Wang Ze is Nuo'er's shifu, but in reality, he was Nuo'er's bodyguard, and had promised her grandfather that he would always protect her. That's why if Nuo'er gets expelled from the Medicine King Valley, he won't stay behind." Niu Jing said.
"Who's Nuo'er's grandfather? Even shifu needed to give him face." Du Xiao Li asked.
"He was an old friend of shifu's, and had once saved shifu's life. Before he died, he had the infant Nuo'er entrusted to shifu. Wang Ze at the time was still the Fan family's servant. Since he already knew some medical skills and his natural talent also passable, shifu thus had him accepted as a disciple, letting him take care of Nuo'er in the valley. However, in these last few years, his mind has been drifting away from the valley more and more. Even without today's matters, in the future, he would still leave!"
"I'll go check on shifu." Du Xiao Li said.
"Go then. Shifu and the Grand Empress Dowager's relationship is very good. This matter today must have made him very upset. If the two of us went, shifu most likely won't see us, so why don't you go console him then. Sigh......." Niu Jing sighed.
Du Xiao Li went to Hu Yi Jian's room and discovered that he wasn't there. After searching in the courtyard for a while, she found him in the most remote pavilion. She let Xia Yuan wait at a distance, while she went over herself.
T/N: This author sometimes make me wonder if she just saving her villains so she can just recycle them later lmaoo.
Ch. 081.2 – She's here to buy soy sauce? (2)
She's here to buy soy sauce? (2)
"Shifu."
"Xiao Li, you've come." Hu Yi Jian's spirit was somewhat not good. Today's matter was quite a blow to him.
"Shifu, sorry, it's all my fault, if not for me........." Du Xiao Li said blaming herself.
"This isn't your fault." Today's matter, you can already be considered lenient. In the Grand Empress Dowager's room, you are completely able to have this matter revealed. After all, Nuo'er wanted to harm you.
"But if not for me, Nuo'er wouldn't be like this." Du Xiao Li heard a saying before, even if you don't do anything, your existence is also a kind of influence. If she didn't exist, Fan Nuo'er right now would still be the Medicine King Valley's princess.
But someone already wants her life, it was impossible for her to not counter! Not having counter an eye for an eye was already her enduring on the Medicine King Valley's behalf!
"That child's temperament is inadequate. I promised her grandfather to take care of her until she reached marriageable age. But having kept her in Medicine King Valley, no one in the valley caught her fancy, as a result held up her marriage. I can be considered to have completed her request. Now that she's gone, I only hope that she can restrain her temper, and properly live out her life." Hu Yi Jian said, "That's right, I heard that you'll be very busy in the following days. Tomorrow, after the Grand Empress Dowager returns to the palace, we also plan to move out."
"Shifu, you all are going back?" Du Xiao Li somewhat surprisingly asked.
"This time, I originally came just to see you. Since you didn't go to Medicine King Valley to see me, so I naturally could only come to see you. After all, we've never met before. If you weren't good, I would've also had you expelled from the sect! However, looks like, your eldest senior brother didn't lie!" Hu Yi Jian said.
"This disciple was unfilial." Du Xiao Li thought of how all these years she's been busy preparing her own influence, never once visiting the Medicine King Valley. This indeed was her fault.
"When I return, I will send someone else to come take Niu Jing's place. When that time comes, if you're free, you can return together with him." Hu Yi Jian said.
"This disciple will definitely go." Du Xiao Li replied with certainty.
Du Xiao Li stayed with Hu Yi Jian a little while longer, but seeing that his mood was still not very good, she just said, "Shifu, how about I play a piece for you on the flute?"
"Your matters, I've heard about from Niu Jing these last few days. He said during the mid autumn festival, your dance crushed the Eastern Li's third princess, though didn't know that you also know how to play an instrument."
"He naturally doesn't know. I very rarely perform in front of others." Du Xiao Li said, and then let Xia Yuan go bring a flute over, simultaneously also letting Qiao Zhu prepare for them a pot of tea.
After Xia Yuan brought the flute over, Du Xiao Li first tried the sound, then after Qiao Zhu finished pouring the tea for the two of them and retreated to the side, she began playing.
The relaxing melody and mellow tune very quickly entranced Hu Yi Jian. Those worries in his heart seemingly faded away along with the flute's melody. The corner of his mouth slightly raised up.
The flute's melody scattered out along with the autumn wind. Everyone on the estate all heard. The people working all couldn't help but stop their task at hand, and the people walking also stopped walking, wholeheartedly concentrating on her piece. Even the weeping little infant in aunt Xie's arms stopped crying.
As Du Xiao Li played, she also added her energy in and chose a piece that was rather soothing. One piece over, Hu Yi Jian's pent-up stress eased up as he smilingly said, "Your flute skills are quite good, letting one's mood improve quite a bit."
"As long as shifu thinks it's good." Du Xiao Li smiled.
After staying a little while longer in the pavilion, Xia Yuan came over to inform Du Xiao Li that it was time for lunch. Du Xiao Li thus accompanied Hu Yi Ji
an to the dining hall.
Bai Ning Yuan had left, Fan Nuo'er and Wang Ze also left already, and the Grand Empress Dowager, because needed to rest, didn't come either. The dining hall instantly felt much more empty.
While eating, Hu Yi Jian told Niu Jing and Qing Chen his plans to leave tomorrow. Although it was somewhat rushed, Qing Chen still expressed that there was no problem. And Niu Jing will also return once the Medicine King Valley send someone over to take his place.
After lunch, Du Xiao Li went to go see the Grand Empress Dowager again. Learning that she already drank the medicine, ate lunch, and was currently resting, she thus returned to her own room.
The next day, the lively estate finally settled down, because early in the morning, the people temporarily staying at the estate all returned. Qing Chen and Hu Yi Jian returned to the Medicine King Valley, while Du Xiao Li sent the Grand Empress Dowager, Meng Old Madam, and Meng Jiang Zhuo back to the capital. Niu Jing also returned to the Imperial Physicians Court early in the morning, letting Tong Tong take his things back.
Outside the gate, Xie Hen watched the horse carriages slowly depart, as he let out a long sigh, "Finally all gone."
Lately, quite a few buddhas came to this estate. The most noble man and woman of Feng Ming both came, even bringing along some other noble personages. Fortunately, nothing major happened during this period of time.
Looks like one needed to have a strong enough heart to follow this master!
Du Xiao Li had the Grand Empress Dowager sent to the palace gates, and didn't enter any further. Once the Grand Empress Dowager entered the palace, she then had Meng Old Madam sent back to the Meng Manor.
Meng Old Madam originally wanted to have Du Xiao Li come to the Meng Manor to play, but hearing her say that she still had matters to take care, she thus let the matter go.
After watching Meng Old Madam and Meng Jiang Zhou enter the gates, she put down the carriage curtains and said to the carriage driver, "Go to Sui Yuan." Shortly after, she let out a long sigh.