by N/A
"Neither arrogant nor impatient, startled at neither favor nor insult, Miss Du has good temperament!" Yuan Lin praised once again.
"Tsk, merely just a immature little child!"
A sharp female voice came through. Everyone looked over, yet didn't see the person that spoke. Most likely she was blocked by someone.
Du Xiao Li smiled and said, "Father, let's take them in first."
"Alright, Teacher Yuan, please." Du Yun Han made a gesture at Yuan Lin, and after Yuan Lin took the step, he followed after.
"Young misses, please."
The two courtyards prepared for Norther Yuan weren't separated very far. Everyone entered together, and when they reached the middle, the male and female separately moved into their respective courtyards.
Du Xiao Li lead those young ladies to the courtyard, letting them each pick a room. Just now, she'd silently counted. There were twenty-eight male students from Northern Yuan, and sixteen female students. Each courtyard had fifty some rooms, so it wasn't crowded at all. Moreover, every room all came with a little room, prepared for the servant girls.
After picking the rooms, she let Xia Yuan go count up how many people want to take a bath right now, and then let someone have the prepared hot water and bath bucket sent to them. Shortly after, she let them nicely rest up, while she returned to her own courtyard.
The male side was also the same service. Everyone took a bath and then went to nap, eliminating the weariness from the trip. Near evening someone had their dinner sent to the courtyards.
Dinner was prepared according to Norther Yuan's customs. With tasty food and considerate service, this made the Northern Yuan students all rather satisfied.
During the afternoon, Du Xiao Li had Qiao Zhu and Ying Ge return to Jade Bamboo Courtyard, having her frequently used things moved over. Starting from today, all the way until the end of the competition, she'll be living here.
Han Ming Yi knew the people of Norther Yuan would arrive today, so in the afternoon, he'd also came over for a look, and talked to Du Xiao Li about the security measures here. In addition, he also gave Du Xiao Li a pile of information on the important students that are participating in the competition this time from each country. Inside, their identity, specialty, and personality were all written clearly.
Du Xiao Li looked to the thick stack of papers, sighing at the greatest of Han Ming Yi's power. Although it was just the information on the important students, to want to have the people from the different countries all investigated clearly wasn't a simple thing either.
Han Ming Yi stayed all the way until nighttime before finally leaving. After he left, Du Xiao Li lit a lamp and began studying these people.
The morning of the next day, the people of Northern Qi also arrived, and in the afternoon, the people from Eastern Li also arrived. When there was still three days until the competition, all the participating students have gathered.
The next day, Han Ming Ze had all the students called into the palace. Four countries, 220 participating contestants, all gathered in the vast imperial garden.
Du Xiao Li was also called over, however not as a student, but rather as a organizer.
Over the last two days, each country's students have also got to know Du Xiao Li a little, learning that at a young age, she'd already established Sui Yuan Club on her own, and even without Du Yun Han's power. Towards her, they all very much admired, and seeing her also appearing together with them, they didn't have any objections either.
But, majority of them still only knew that Du Xiao Li was very good at earning money, and towards her other matters, they weren't clear in the slightest.
Han Ming Ze hadn't arrived yet. Everyone just waited in the imperial garden, admiring the chrysanthemums and quietly chatting, when suddenly a delicate voice sounded.
"Wuuu, what smell is this, why is it this smelly?"
"Really, so smelly!"
"Why is this imperial garden this smelly?"
The crowd began getting worked up, drawing other people's attention.
Du Xiao Li was in the middle of taking to Du Yun Han when the two heard the ruckus, and both looked over. At a glance, she saw Du Ke Xin among the crowd. Seemingly she was afraid that everyone would find out that the smell was coming from her, so her expression was somewhat in a panic.
Apart from this, she also saw not far from Du Ke Xin, among the crowd from Eastern Li, Lu Jun Qi and Lu Jun Wu.
Ch. 086.4 – Handing Over the Power (4)
T/N: Chapter sponsored by Nightowl87! Thank you for sponsoring!
Originally, after Lu Jun Qi's body recovered, she'd planned on returning to her country, but before she was able to set out, she'd learned that Phoenix city was holding the competition. As a member of the imperial academy, Lu Jun Qi already had a place in the dancing competition to begin with, thus she continued staying in Feng Ming, staying in the government inn waiting for the people of Eastern Li to arrive and move into Sui Yuan together with them.
In order to protect his older sister, Lu Jun Wu also stayed behind, staying together with them.
Lu Jun Qi was just looking at Du Xiao Li, when the other party suddenly looked over, having her caught red-handed. She unnaturally had her gaze shifted to another place.
"Ah, that smell is coming from you! You're really smelly!" The first person to call out leaned into Du Ke Xin and smelled her a few times. Afterwards, they pinched their nose with one hand and pointed at her with the other shouting.
Du Ke Xin, since entering the palace, has kept her distance from the others, precisely for the sake of not letting others discover the smell on her. However, she was unexpectedly discovered by someone and was even pointed out to the crowd. She quickly denied, "No, it's not coming from me, why would there be a stinky smell coming from me! This miss must be joking!"
"Nonsense, I never lie, it's precisely coming from you!" That girl unhappily said.
"I said, it's not coming from me. Don't take nonsense!" Du Ke Xin glared at that girl.
"What are you glaring at me for, comparing who has bigger eyes?! My eyes are also very big!" That girl, seeing that Du Ke Xin actually glared at her, widened her two eyes, glaring back with her hands at her hips.
"Younger sister!" A man walked over, and disapprovingly looked to that girl.
"Imperial brother, tell this smelly woman, I never lie!" The girl pulled the man and said.
"What? What happened, such ruckus!" Although he didn't like Du Ke Xin, it was still his daughter after all. Du Yun Han asked as he walked over with Du Xiao Li.
Du Xiao Li stopped at a relatively far distances away from Du Ke Xin, but even standing here, she could still smell that stinky smell from Du Ke Xin.
The one that pointed out the smelly scent on Du Ke Xin was Northern Qi's youngest princess, Beiling Yu. She was the same age as Du Xiao Li, having just passed her thirteenth birthday. Since childhood, she's been spoiled and pampered by the Northern Qi Emperor growing up, but she didn't have those arrogant and willful bad temper, instead growing up somewhat innocent and naive, simple and straightforward. From a glance, one could tell she was protected very well.
At first when Du Xiao Li saw her, she truly couldn't figure out why the eldest elder princess that had married to Northern Qi would end up like that.
The one that criticized Beiling Yu was Northern Qi's seventh prince, Beiling Yi Cheng, currently seventeen years old, and currently still studying at the imperial academy. He was a key candidate in the competition this time.
And Beiling Yu, reportedly, her dance was equally matched with Lu Jun Qi's. Moreover, she even had a special act. However, what that special act was, everyone all didn't know.
Lu Jun Qi and Beiling Yu's dancing skills were both very good. In the other country's contestant's eyes, they were the contenders for first place.
"Father." Du Ke Xin saw Du Yun Han and scooted over to his side, calling out in grievance.
Du Yun Han glanced at Du Ke Xin and asked, "What happened?"
"Prime Minister Du, thi
s is your daughter? Why is she this smelly? And even said I was lying, really is too hateful! The entire Northern Qi all know, I never lie!" Beiling Yu recognized Du Yun Han, but didn't expect that the person she was arguing with was actually Du Yun Han's daughter.
"Princess Ling, this one's daughter........"
"Princess Ling, my second sister, because fell ill a few days ago, has been taking medicine these last few days. That is the scent of the medicine, it'll be gone tomorrow. That's why, this isn't my second sister's scent. Anyone can get sick, and when one gets sick, needs to take medicine, no? Asking princess to please not mind." Du Xiao Li, seeing Du Yun Han with a difficult look, replied with a smile.
She wanted to punish Du Ke Xin, and also wanted to find out through her the person behind the kidnapping incident, but she didn't expect that the smelly Du Ke Xin would actually come today too. Losing face here was also losing the Du family's face, she couldn't just ignore it either.
"Then the smell is still coming from her, why won't she admit to it? Not the least bit honest!" Beiling Yu said with a pout.
"Because ever since my second sister fell ill, her nose hasn't been well. That's why she's unable to smell the scent in her surrounding. My second mother worries that my second sister would be upset, so didn't let anyone tell her that she smelled. That's why she didn't know there was a smell coming from her. Right, second sister?" Du Xiao Li looked to Du Ke Xin and said.
"Really?" Beiling Yu looked to Du Ke Xin and asked.
"Eh, yes, yes, I recently can't smell anything." Although she hated Du Xiao Li very much, since she already gave her the best way out of this situation, she could only pull down her face and admit to it.
"Why didn't you say so earlier." Beiling Yu said, then pulled along Beiling Yi Cheng and returned to the Northern Qi's ranks.
Seeing that there was nothing left to watch, the others also respectively continued admiring flowers and chatting. Du Yun Han was also pulled away by Yuan Lin for a chat. Du Xiao Li came to a pavilion alone and sat down for a rest.
"You did it on purpose!" Du Ke Xin came into the pavilion and viciously looked to Du Xiao Li.
Knowing that Du Ke Xin smelled, everyone all stayed far away from her. At the moment, there was no one near the pavilion, so no one heard her words.
"Second sister, you should thank me. If not for me, you would've lost even more face today!" Du Xiao Li smilingly looked to Du Ke Xin.
"Thank you? Keep dreaming! You purposely left behind this smell on my body, precisely for the sake of seeing me make a fool of myself in front of everyone, right?" Du Ke Xin said, very sure of herself.
She just knew, where would there be such an antidote, making one continuously emit a foul stench after eating, and letting her not dare to meet others. This definitely was Du Xiao Li purposefully harming her!
"Second sister, I didn't do anything to the antidote. This antidote was like this to begin with." Du Xiao Li said. "If not for my smelly antidote, afraid, you wouldn't even be alive right now! If you don't believe me, Imperial Physician Hu's words, you should at least believe, right?"
"Imperial Physician Hu said this scent will take ten some days to disperse, why did you say it'll be gone by tomorrow?" Du Ke Xin asked.
"Of course I know. When you go back, let second mother look for some bitter celery wormwood to boil into a medicinal bath for you to sake for an hour, then that smell will be gone. Of course, if you want to keep that smell on you, you can also not soak!" Du Xiao Li shrugged.
"This method will be able to get rid of the smell on me?" Du Ke Xin skeptically asked.
"Believe it or not!" Du Xiao Li said, too lazy to continue bothering with her. She turned her head to look at the fish in the pond.
"If you knew, why didn't you say so earlier?" Du Ke Xin temporarily believed Du Xiao Li. But recalling that she actually knew a method, yet waited until now to tell her, anger flames rose in her heart again.
Du Xiao Li turned around and looked to Du Ke Xin. Seeing her 'you shouldn't be like this' look, she smiled.
Last sponsored chapter for now. I won't be doing anymore extra sponsored chapters for the time being. Update schedule will still remain the same.
Ch. 087.1 – Competition Start (1)
"Second sister hasn't even reached marriageable age yet has already gone senile? As soon as you woke up, you started wantonly cursing at me, yet you still want to let me get rid of the stinky smell on your body? You really are optimistic!"
After Du Xiao Li's reminder, Du Ke Xin finally recalled how she treated Du Xiao Li after waking up. Seeing the sneer on her face, she let out a 'hmph' and turned to leave the pavilion.
"While I'm at it, let me remind you, just soaking once isn't enough, need to soak again after twelve hours. Hopefully, tomorrow, second sister can appear before everyone smelling pleasantly."
Du Ke Xin paused her steps, following which she immediately headed towards Du Yun Han, and after informing Du Yun Han, turned and left the imperial gardens. Seeing that hasty appearance, presumably in a hurry to go back and soak in the bath.
Shortly after, Eunuch Shan's sharp voice yelled out 'his Majesty has arrived'. Du Xiao Li got up and left the pavilion, coming to Du Yun Han's side. Very soon, Han Ming Ze's figure appeared before everyone.
"Greetings to the Emperor." Everyone uniformly bowed.
"You're all excused." Han Ming Ze glanced at the people in the imperial gardens. These were the students participating in the competition this time, each and every one all appearing quite outstanding. "Today, this emperor invited everyone here in order to give you all a welcoming reception to wash away the dust, and at the same time, also to wish you all the best in the competition this time, and all be able to win a quick victory!"
Du Xiao Li nearly laughed out loud. If everyone all were to win a quick victory, then who would be in first, and who would be in last?
Han Ming Ze began admiring the flowers with everyone, saying that at noon, he will hold a welcoming feast for everyone. Du Xiao Li was bored, thus asked Han Ming Ze to excuse her, saying that she wanted to go examine the Grand Empress Dowager's body. Hearing this, Han Ming Ze thus agreed, letting someone take her to the forbidden palace.
Du Xiao Li arrived outside the forbidden palace gates. As soon as the eunuch that brought her over left, Hong Xiu immediately appeared at the entrance.
"Miss Du, please come with me."
"Thank you Hong Xiu-gugu." Du Xiao Li said with a smile and followed Hong Xiu in.
Hong Xiu brought Du Xiao Li to the Grand Empress Dowager's resting chamber. The Grand Empress Dowager was currently resting on the recliner with her eyes closed. Meng Gu was next to her slowly fanning with a fan. Hearing the sound of the door opening, she opened her eyes.
"This one greets the Grand Empress Dowager, wishing the Grand Empress Dowager good health!" Du Xiao Li greeted with a curtsy.
"Quickly get up, come sit before this grieving one." Chun Ming moved a stool over and placed it before the recliner. The Grand Empress Dowager sat up and said, "Just now, when Meng Gu said you'd come, this grieving one was even somewhat surprised. With you being that busy, how would you be able to come see these old bones. Coming to the palace this time, is it for something?"
"Replying to the Grand Empress Dowager, his Majesty invited the students participating in the competition this time into the palace to admire the flowers, so this subject also came together with them, and thinking that ever since Grand Empress Dowager returned, this subject had yet to come visit you, thus asked his Majesty for instructions, coming over to examine your body. Grand Empress Dowager, please extend your hand."
The Grand Empress Dowager extended her hand, while Hong Xiu brought a cloth cushion over. Du Xiao Li let the Grand Empress Dowager place her hand on top as she took her pulse.
"Grand Empress Dowager's body is recovering nicely. Right now, can already stop taking the medicine, and can just nurse one's health using medicinal meals. The medicinal meals should still be the same as before, and put an
end to dishes with generous amounts of meat and fish." Du Xiao Li said as she retracted her hand.
"The chefs you trained, as expected, have great skill. The things they make are much more delicious than the meals the imperial chefs previously made." The Grand Empress Dowager happily said.
"That's because Grand Empress Dowager, your body previously wasn't good, so anything you eat all feels unappetizing, and those medicinal meals can only be made by those that have training, that's why this one let specialists come cook for you. Now that your body has recovered, when eating the dishes prepared by the imperial chefs from before, you'll also feel it's delicious." Du Xiao Li smilingly replied.
"Haha, you're still this good with words." The Grand Empress Dowager held Du Xiao Li's hand and said with a smile.
Du Xiao Li accompanied the Grand Empress Dowager for a while, then went to the forbidden palace's little kitchen to teach the new chefs how to make another medicinal dish.
This chef originally was Feng Xue Lou's specialist in medicinal dishes. When Du Xiao Li went to go treat Lu Jun Qi's poison, she had them called over to the estate to prepare medicinal meals for the Grand Empress Dowager. Because his skills were all taught by Du Xiao Li, that's why his cooking was quite good. Afterwards, the Grand Empress Dowager returned to the palace, and Du Xiao Li had him enter the palace as well, taking care of the Grand Empress Dowager's daily three meals in the forbidden palace.
Agreeing to the Grand Empress Dowager's request, Du Xiao Li prepared the medicinal meal as she demonstrated to the imperial chefs. Once the imperial chefs figured it out, she'd also finished making the meal. While she was at it, she also cooked two light stir-fried dishes and carried them to the dining hall, eating the afternoon together with the Grand Empress Dowager and chatting with her. And only after the Grand Empress Dowager left to go take her afternoon nap did Du Xiao Li finally leave.
When she returned, the banquet feast on the other side had already scattered, and the students were currently preparing to return to Sui Yuan. Du Yun Han had already left at an unknown time.