Pampered Consort of the Fragrant Orchard

Du Xiaoli turned her head and saw the concern in Du Xiuheng’s eyes, so she reached out and closed the window, immediately blocking the cold air from coming inside. She walked back, pouring herself a cup of wine and drinking it.

“About the matter about the princess, don’t be too upset.” After all, having lived together for so many years, Du Xiuheng knew what Du Xiaoli was upset about.

“I also don’t want to, but this is the first time since arriving here that I have so deeply felt the powerlessness of inequality in feudal society. This is clearly a matter of men, yet they have an innocent woman shoulder their responsibility, leaving her no choice in her own fate.” Du Xiaoli thought of Han Mingxiang’s helpless smile, saying, “If– if the princess leads a troubled life in Northern Yuan, I will definitely bring her back.”

“Even if it would cause a war, you wouldn’t care?” Du Xiuheng asked.

“The world is at times divided and at times unified. Who amongst these countries hasn’t thought of conquering other countries? If that really happened, then taking over other countries and unifying into one nation would allow the masses to live and work peacefully and happily. Then there wouldn’t be any marriage alliances either,” Du Xiaoli responded.

“But Feng Ming, in its current state, no longer has the power and unified strength to withstand another war,” Du Xiuheng sighed.

“I know, so I can only watch firsthandedly as the princess is sent off for a marriage alliance. Since our country isn’t as strong, let’s properly build Feng Ming into a country no one dares to bully at their whim.” Du Xiaoli downed cup by cup of wine, “Later, I’ll find Han Mingze and tell him some methods of strengthening our country and have him build up Feng Ming. Whoever wants to go to war with us, for every person they send, we’ll kill one. For every pair of people they send, we’ll kill both! I know– I know many methods, many strategies from ancient times, enough to fill a huge basket, hehe……”

Du Xiuheng watched Du Xiaoli with slightly misty eyes, and taking her cup of wine from her, he said: “Little Sister, you’re drunk. The emperor’s name is not something we can call out.”

“I know I’m drunk. I just want to talk to you about these things, otherwise they get bottled up in my heart. I won’t say this to anyone else,” Du Xiaoli replied, “Back then we went through special training. Even if I’m so drunk I can’t tell north from south and west from east, I won’t let any secrets slip. Come, let’s keep drinking, seeing this snow makes me want to drink wine.”

After saying this, a fan appeared in her right hand and a swoosh of force reopened the closed window.

Du Xiuheng helplessly looked at Du Xiaoli before getting up to close the window. When he returned to his seat, he saw Du Xiaoli once again drinking from a wine glass, muttering, “This wine is so much more potent, much more than those fruit wines. I’ve only drunk this much and I’m already dizzy.”

“Only this much– out of this whole jug I only drank two cups, the rest all went to you. You still think it’s too little?”

The wine jug brought by Du Xiaoli was already larger than a normal wine jug and it had been filled to the brim. After drinking it all and drinking it so quickly, of course she felt dizzy!

Du Xiuheng listened quietly as Du Xiaoli spoke of her past life, spoke of the air conditioners in her past life, of the airplanes in her past life, and of much more.

Du Xiuheng had Xi Gu get Xia Yuan. Seeing the drunk Du Xiaoli, Xia Yuan hurriedly brought her back, asked Ying Ge to prepare hangover soup for her, gave her a bath, and then fed her the soup before letting her sleep.

Du Xiaoli couldn’t remember the last time she had let go of herself like this. The next day, she woke up with a headache, and only then did she remember how much she had drunk last night.

As she stretched her fingers to massage her temples, Xia Yuan brought in a bowl of honey water, saying, “I guessed you would be waking up now, Mistress. Have a bowl of honey water.”

Du Xiaoli took the bowl and drank it before handing the bowl to Xia Yuan. She collapsed back onto the bed and idly stared at the mosquito netting above her.

After heartily drinking so much, she suddenly thought through things. If Han Mingxiang’s life after being married off is okay then she would let this matter go. If her life was troubled, she would fight to bring her back. The worst case scenario was a war breaking out– either way, people loved to find all sorts of reasons to declare war so with or without a woman, wasn’t the result basically the same?

Not long after washing up, Du Yunhan sent someone to call her to the front parlor. Because her room was farther away, everyone else was already there when Du Xiaoli arrived.

Aside from Du Yunhan, Zhong Meiqing, and Du Kezin, there were two unfamiliar men.

“Greetings Father, Second Madam.” Du Xiaoli curtsied to Du Yunhan and then sat down at a side table.

“Xiaoli, this is your Third Uncle, this is your Youngest Uncle.” Du Yunhan gestured at the two men, introducing them.

When Du Xiaoli saw those two– Third Uncle Du Yunfei and Youngest Uncle Du Yunming, both of whom were Du Yunhan’s biological brothers– she rose and bowed to them, saying, “Xiaoli greets Third Uncle and Youngest Uncle.”

“This is Sister-in-law’s daughter, right? She was still swaddled in cloth when I last saw her, now she’s already grown up so much,” Du Yunfei observed with a smile.

“She looks just like her mother.” Du Yunming said, looking at Du Xiaoli.

“Yes, just like her mother.” Du Yunhan sighed.

“That’s right, where’s Xiuheng? I heard he won a placement in the Academy Competition, that’s not easy!” Du Yunfei said.

“Xiuheng went to the Academy to attend classes, he won’t be done until the end of the year,” Du Yunhan replied.

Du Xiaoli watched as Du Yunhan and her two uncles chattered along, silently wondering if he had called her here just to listen to chatter.

“Xiaoli.” Just as she was pondering this in her head, Du Xiaoli heard Du Yunhan call her.

“Father.”

“It’s like this. Today the weather in the capital is too cold, but your two uncles are here to bring your grandmother back home for New Year’s. In a little bit, check your grandmother’s health and see if she can withstand the long journey,” Du Yunhan said.

“Yes, Father.” Du Xiaoli answered.

“Mother hasn’t been back for New Year’s in years, it’s about time for her to come back and see how things are,” Du Yunfei added.

“Mm, Mother also said she misses her old home. She even said previously that she wanted to back and stay for a while, but I’ve been too busy and haven’t had the time to accompany her back. This time, since you guys have come to pick her up, she can go back and see how things are,” Du Yunhan said.

MoonWhisperer, skyrise's Thoughts

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