Pampered Consort of the Fragrant Orchard c1-234

by N/A

  "Second mother, you also know that I'm rather busy at the moment. This antidote, no matter what, still needs three to four days for it to be ready." Du Xiao Li contemplated for a moment and conservatively said.

  "Four to five days?! Why does it need to take that long? This won't negatively affect your second sister, right?" Zhong Mei Qing cried out.

  (T/N: At first I thought my eyes was messing with me but nope, original chinese really does say three-four days at top, then four-five in next line........the author gets amnesia between the lines quite often, I'm used to it already.)

  "Second mother don't worry, as long as one take the antidote within seven days of getting poisoned, all will be fine." Du Xiao Li said, "During this time, you don't need to be anxious either, just give second sister a slice of ginseng to put in her mouth."

  "Is it really okay like this?" Zhong Mei Qing worryingly asked.

  "Second mother, if you don't trust me, you can also ask for someone else." Du Xiao Li angrily said.

  Zhong Mei Qing didn't expect that Du Xiao Li would actually put up an attitude with her, and wanted to lash out at her, but recalling Imperial Physician Hu's words, saying that only Du Xiao Li is able to save Du Ke Xin, she swallowed her anger back down. "How can I not trust you! Even that Eastern Li third princess was saved, so our Xin'er will definitely be fine too. Four five days it is!"

  "Since second mother trusts me, all is good." Du Xiao Li said, "However, I have something I need to say first. This smelly fragrant, presumably Imperial Physician Hu also explained, its antidote, incomparably smelly. Moreover, after taking it, the body will stink for quite some time. When time comes, and I have second sister saved, don't say that I didn't concoct the antidote right."

  Zhong Mei Qing had indeed heard Imperial Physician Hu say this before. Although she was unwilling to see Du Ke Xin stink, but compared to being unconscious, or even losing her life, this still can be tolerated! Moreover, Du Xiao Li knew that this antidote was smelly, indicating that she knew this antidote. Then, saving Du Ke Xin shouldn't be a problem.

  "You just need to worry about making the antidote."

  "En, then I'll go back and research this antidote first." Du Xiao Li said as she got up.

  "Alright. Xiao Cui, send third miss back!" Zhong Mei Qing quickly ordered the servant girl.

  "Third miss, please." Xiao Cui went forward and bowed to Du Xiao Li.

  Du Xiao Li curtsied at Zhong Mei Qing, then turned and left.

  When she returned to the Jade Bamboo Courtyard, Xia Yuan went forward to greet her. Seeing Xiao Cui still not leaving, she asked, "Miss, how's second miss's situation?"

  "Just got poisoned by the smelly fragrance, I need to make the antidote for her. If there's nothing urgent over at Sui Yuan, then no need to call for me."

  Hearing Du Xiao Li say this, Xiao Cui finally went back to report to Zhong Mei Qing.

  Seeing Xiao Cui leave, Xia Yuan said, "Miss, she left."

  Du Xiao Li turned around and swept at glance at the departing Xiao Cui, saying to Xia Yuan: "Finally able to relax, need to properly rest up this afternoon. Then, later tonight, go looking for my old fox father to discuss some things. You all go take care of your own matters."

  Concocting the smelly fragrance was merely something that only takes an hour. However, she doesn't intend to finish it this soon for Du Ke Xin, just let her sleep for a few more days.

  Originally, she planned on using the remaining time in the afternoon to practice her inner martial arts, but Fu Wan San had Feng Xue Lou's account books brought over, insisting on letting Du Xiao Li examine them.

  Since the account books were already brought over, she thus spent two hours looking over the account books for the last three months. When she finished, Xia Yuan told her that Du Yun Han had returned, and was in the study taking care of work. She thus had the account books handed to Ying Ge, letting her send them back to Feng Xue Lou. Afterwards, she headed to Du Yun Han's study alone.

  Outside Du Yun Han's study, Chang Feng was standing guard. Seeing Du Xiao Li, he let her wait a moment, while he went in to report, before finally letting Du Xiao Li go in.

  "Xiao Li, do you need something from father?" Du Yun Han put down the brush in hand and looked to Du Xiao Li.

  Du Xiao Li looked to the memorandums placed on the desk, recalling previously hearing the rumor, how ordinary matters were usually all directly given to Du Yun Han to take care of. Never thought that this was actually true. She furrowed her brows, looking to Du Yun Han and asking, "Father, you're helping the Emperor handle the memorandums?"

  "These are all some not too important memorandums from the cabinet ministers." Du Yun Han replied.

  "Father, how come these memorandums are sent here?"

  "For a long time, the Prime Minister has always helped the Emperor take care of some daily affairs, and only the remaining memorandums are sent to the Emperor." Du Yun Han replied.

  Hearing Du Yun Han's words, Du Xiao Li was shocked. This kind of thing was actually passed down from the past!

  Presumably the Emperor that started this must be an incompetent Emperor, thus would let this kind of country governing affair land in someone else's hand.

  (T/N: Prime Minister daddy has a lot of work //insert shock pikachu face)

  But Han Ming Ze, based on their past interactions, simply didn't seem to be the kind that would willingly let someone else come govern his own country! His ambitions and aspirations were all plainly displayed in that pair of astute eyes of his.

  Moreover, Han Ming Yi was already full of outstanding merits and contributions, and had quite a bit of power in had too, in addition to the power in Du Yun Han's hand, if the two families were to then connect by marriage, then what kind of situation would that be? Would someone like Han Ming Ze let this kind of situation appear?

  The more Du Xiao Li thought, the more anxious she got. It's not that she was forced to be paranoid, but rather, since ancient times, Emperors have always been paranoid and distrusting. Even if it was one's own brother, they probably still can't truly be at ease, right?

  (T/N: Aren't brothers like number one on most emperor's people to be suspicious of list, isn't this like basic history, or common sense really........)

  "Father......"

  Du Yun Han saw Du Xiao Li's complexion turning somewhat unsightly and asked in concern, "Daughter, what's wrong?"

  "Father, how can others be allowed to peacefully sleep next to the couch*! It's probably best you hand the memorandum reading duty back to the Emperor." Du Xiao Li worryingly looked to Du Yun Han.

  (*T/N: The imperial throne is pretty much like a cushioned golden couch.)

  "I'd also considered this matter before, just never had the chance to have this 'hand scalding sweet potato' handed over, that's all." Du Yun Han sighed.

  "Father, you also know that this is a hand scalding sweet potato. This although is something Prime Ministers of the past would do, but this current Emperor isn't the same as the Emperor of the past. He won't allow this situation to exist." Du Xiao Li said, "Quickly find an excuse to have this power handed over."

  "Your father, I, also have this intention, but still need a reasonable excuse at least." Du Yun Han said.

  "If father also thinks this, then how about using the matter of the competition between the countries this time." Du Xiao Li analyzed the situation, "If my guess is right, the Emperor also wants to have this power retracted back."

  "But if it's just this, then what about after the competition?" Du Yun Han looked to Du Xiao Li and asked.

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  Ch. 085.3 – Smelly Fragrant (3)

  Du Xiao Li moved a chair over for herself, sitting down across from Du Yun Han. "That year, the previous Emperor died from illness, the crown prince succe
eded the throne, and the second prince launched a coup. Although in the end, it was subdued, eliminating a bunch of officials that supported the second prince, there's still quite a bit of power grasped in the hands of the people that supported the second prince. Afterwards, we encountered foreign aggression, the Emperor, whose wings have not fully grown out, had no choice but to have some of the power once again placed into the hands of those officials, causing this current situation, where the imperial power is not centralized. In the military side, although General Ji supports the Emperor, many military officials below don't truly support the Emperor. And now, with father also weakening the Emperor's powers, the imperial power appears to be in imminent danger. If this was a cowardly Emperor, this state of affairs wouldn't be a problem, but Han Ming Ze isn't a sheep. He's a lion biding for power. It's very hard to ensure that he won't, for the sake of regaining power, do something unfavorable to father, thoroughly resolving this hidden danger."

  Du Yun Han listened to Du Xiao Li analyze the current state of affairs, holding a smile in the corner of his mouth, his eyes revealing a praising light.

  The things Du Xiao Li said, he was long aware of, and have also carefully pondered over how to walk the next step. Originally, he wanted to scheme for an even brighter future for Du Xiao Li and them, but seeing Du Xiao Li's attitude, he already knew what she wanted, and at the same time, made a decision in his heart.

  "This matter, I'll go take care of in the next two days. What were you looking for me for?" Du Yun Han asked.

  Du Xiao Li knew that these things, Du Yun Han was definitely aware of, letting her explain was merely wanting to see her attitude and stance. And now, since he was saying this, he should have already made his decision.

  "Yesterday, big brother Yi was present, so there were some things I didn't tell you."

  "Oh? What things?"

  "Yesterday afternoon, after I was brought to the foot of Swallow Mountain, someone else was there too." Du Xiao Li said, "She and the deceased Luo Fu know each other, calling him uncle Luo."

  "What?! Such an important information, why are you only telling me now? Who's that person?" Du Yun Han asked.

  "Second sister."

  "Ke Xin? Why would she go there? Isn't she unconscious?" Du Yun Han realized something and said, "Ke Xin fell unconscious because of your poison?"

  "She wanted to kill me and came into the horse carriage. There just happened to be poison inside the horse carriage, that's all." Du Xiao Li said, shrugging her shoulders. If not for her wanting to kill her, she wouldn't have gotten poisoned either.

  When Du Yun Han heard that Du Ke Xin wanted to kill Du Xiao Li, he slammed his hand against the table, "She actually wanted to do something like this?! I definitely won't let her off!"

  "Right now, she's still unconscious, how are you going to 'not let her off'?" Du Xiao LI looked to Dun Yun Han's palm, inwardly thinking to herself, since he doesn't have inner energy, and with that slap just now this loud, would his hand hurt?

  "Alright, we'll wait until after you wake her up." Du Yun Han said, "Just now, you said Ke Xin recognized Luo Fu?"

  "Yes, and their relationship is even quite good! When you all are investigating, you can try investigating along this line." Du Xiao Li said.

  "En, this I know."

  "Also, there's one more thing I need to tell father."

  "What thing?"

  Du Xiao Li smilingly looked to Du Yun Han and said, "Father, you and Cabinet Minister Fu's relationship seems to be quite good."

  "Indeed, what's wrong?" Du Yun Han looked to Du Xiao Li and asked, "Aren't you and that Fu Ya Lan also quite close?"

  "En, however our family and their family can become even closer."

  "You're saying......." Du Yun Han narrowed his eyes at Du Xiao Li, this girl even wants to be a matchmaker?

  Du Xiao Li nodded, and giddily said, "Father, big brother and big sister Ya Lan both like each other, and big sister Ya Lan also reached marriageable age yesterday, can you go propose marriage for big brother?"

  "This Xiu Heng, not knowing to properly study, and actually stirring up spring waters?!" Du Yun Han's face was somewhat not good. "If he doesn't perform well in next year's imperial exam, I will have him skinned!"

  "Big brother is also at the age to settle down and get married, setting up an engagement is very normal. Besides, youths are frivolous, when you were big brother's age, you already left home to travel around, right? And not long after, encountered my mother, right?" Du Xiao Li gave Du Yun Han a side glance, instantly having Du Yun Han's anger inside extinguished.

  "Keh, keh." Du Yun Han unnaturally coughed a few times. When this daughter of his spoke, it really made him somewhat unable to hold his own. "Letting me go propose marriage is also doable, but need to wait until after the competition this time has ended. This time, he's also one of the participants. If he performs well, I will go propose this marriage for him. When your father, I, go propose, still need to have some face. If he doesn't perform well, the cabinet minister might not be willing to have his daughter married off to him."

  "Then, in other words, father has agreed?"

  Du Yun Han nodded, "I have agreed, but don't forget my conditions just now."

  "Ha, I'll go pass on your words to big brother right away. Must let him stand out during the competition this time."

  With that said, Du Xiao Li got up and left. Du Yun Han looked to her retreating figure, and helplessly shook his head. However, carefully looking, one would discover that he was actually smiling.

  He rubbed his own face and muttered, "Am I very old.....?"

  (T/N: In the previous line, Du Xiao Li had referred to him as 'lao ren jia' which means 'this elderly person', it's a polite term to address the elderly, but it doesn't fit well in translation. So she'd said, 'your (insert polite term for elderly) words')

  Du Xiao Li went to Du Xiu Heng's courtyard, having Du Yun Han's intention clearly relayed to him, and letting him work hard for his own happiness.

  When Du Xiu Heng heard Du Xiao Li's words, he was so excited that he almost had the cup in hand dropped onto the floor and got laughed at by Du Xiao Li and Xi Gu.

  In the following three days, Du Xiao Li occasionally practiced her sound attack at home, and in between, went out on one of those days. In the morning, she went to Sui Yuan. The space for the competition was already prepared, right now, just waiting for the people from the other countries to arrive and check in. In the afternoon, she went to Feng Xue Lou, teaching the chefs two new dishes. All the way until the night of the third day did she finally set out to prepare the antidote for the smelly fragrance. After she finished, she called up Xia Yuan, and personally went to deliver it.

  When she arrived in Du Ke Xin's courtyard, aside from Zhong Mei Qing, Du Yun Han was surprisingly also there.

  Seeing Du Xiao Li, Zhong Mei Qing quickly asked, "Xiao Li, did the antidote come out already?"

  Du Xiao Li glanced at Xia Yuan. Xia Yuan had the container handed before Zhong Mei Qing. Zhong Mei Qing looked to the container and asked, "This is the antidote?"

  "Yes, second mother, quickly feed it to second sister." Du Xiao Li said, "That umm, this smell is a bit stinky. Before opening the container, you need to be mentally prepared."

  Zhong Mei Qing didn't wait for Du Xiao Li to finish speaking, having the container opened directly. Instantly, a wave of stink assaulted her, and she nearly dropped the container on the ground.

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  Ch. 086.1 – Handing Over the Power (1)

  Zhong Mei Qing couldn't bear the smell, and quickly had the container shut, using one hand to pinch her nose and saying: "Why is it this smelly!?"

  Du Xiao Li also used her hand to pinch her nose and replied, "Second mother, didn't I tell you that this m
edicine was rather smelly. You moved too quickly, I couldn't even stop you in time."

  Du Yun Han also got assaulted by this smell. He looked to the container in Zhong Mei Qing's hands with a disgusted look, "Xiao Li, is this really an antidote? How come I don't know there's even such a smelly antidote?"

  "Of course it is, the poison king's antidotes have always been very strange. I even spent a really long time to concoct this antidote!" Because Du Xiao Li was pinching her nose, even her voice somewhat changed, "Second mother, you best let second sister quickly take the antidote."

  Zhong Mei Qing looked to the smelly antidote in hand and asked, "With it this smelly, would if be effective on Xin'er?"

  "Second mother, in the beginning, Imperial Physician and I both said that this antidote would be very smelly. If you don't believe me, you can go find Imperial Physician Hu to come see whether or not that's the antidote in your hand!" Du Xiao Li said in discontent.

  "Since Xiao Li said this is the antidote, then it's the antidote. What are you still hesitating for, quickly let someone feed it to Ke Xin!" Du Yun Han said.

  "Xiao Cui, take it and give it to your miss." Zhong Mei Qing handed the container to Xiao Cui.

  Xiao Cui, who was to the side, went forward and took the container. Opening it up, she saw a peanut sized pill inside. She gave Lu'er a meaningful glance. Lu'er poured a cup of water, and the two of them fed Du Ke Xin the antidote.

  "Wuu------"

  Very soon, Du Ke Xin groaned a few times, as she creased her brows, and slowly opened her eyes.

  Zhong Mei Qin, who was standing by the bed, upon seeing Du Ke Xin waking up, cried tears of joy. Using a handkerchief to wipe her tears, she leaned over and said, "Xin'er, you've awaken?"

  Du Ke Xin blinked and looked to Zhong Mei Qing, weakly asking, "Mother, why are you here? What happened to me? My head hurts."

  "You got poisoned and was unconscious. You took the antidote just now and finally woke up." Zhong Mei Qing explained.

  "I was poisoned? Wasn't I knocked unconscious?" Du Ke Xin asked in slight surprise. She remembered her wanted to kill Du Xiao Li, but was stopped by Luo Fu, following which she was knocked unconscious by him and didn't wake up. Hearing Zhong Mei Qing say she was poisoned, she still didn't come to realization.