Pampered Consort of the Fragrant Orchard

Discovering a Clue

Du Xiao Li held the snake’s head and tail in one hand, and used the other hand to slowly stroke down the protruding abdomen. Once she felt something hard, she slit a cut underneath, and had the snake gall inside extracted out. After using water to rinse it clean, she threw it into the wine jar that she’d just moved out. Afterwards, she skillfully had the snake dissected, using the knife to cut it into approximately five millimeter size pieces. Then, she put on fresh ginger and other seasonings, and began to stew it.

“Big brother, are you hungry? What do you want to eat, I’ll make it for you.” Du Xiao Li saw Du Xiu Heng silently sitting on the short stool below the eaves, and walked over to ask.

Du Xiu Heng shook his head, still not saying anything.

Du Xiao Li saw Du Xiu Heng’s appearance and thought that he was still frightened because he got bit by a snake. Because in the past, there was someone in the village that got bitten to death by a snake. She crouched down and reached out to hug Du Xiu Heng’s waist. She had her head leaned against his arm, lightly shaking, as she said, “Big brother, rest a.s.sure, with me here, I won’t let anything happen to you.”

Speaking of which, she was actually quite reliant on Du Xiu Heng. Thinking about how she was someone who’s lived twenty some years in her past life, and he was just a ten year old child, even she herself felt it was somewhat laughable.

But in her past life, she’d lived for that many years. In her childhood, she’d attended all kinds of supplementary cla.s.ses. Just in music, there were already quite a few cla.s.ses, zither, flute, piano, and so on. She even got awards in all of them before. At that time, her parents never asked whether she was willing or not.

(T/N: eeeeeeeeeee <– the=”” sound=”” of=”” your=”” translator=”” cringing=”” at=”” all=”” these=”” cliche=”” skills=”” getting=”” piled=””>

Afterwards, during that period when she lived in the village, she further didn’t have a sense of self. In ordered to not get kicked out, she could only work at all cost. And after being discovered by the organization, she further wasn’t asked whether she was willing to do this mission or not, willing to kill someone or not.

If she could, she would definitely say, she wasn’t willing. But, no one asked.

That’s why, when Du Xiu Heng said she could do whatever she wanted and he would support her, when the very poor him was willing to take out ten* taels of silver to make those silver needles for her, he’d already walked into her heart. What she wanted was actually very simple, just to simply be cared for, that’s all.

(*T/N: I have no idea why the author wrote ten taels here when it should definitely be one tael of silver, I don’t think they even have ten taels of silver to begin with….)

Du Xiu Heng looked to the person nestled up against his side, and could feel her dependence and concern towards himself. He used his other hand to stroked her head, his gaze looked into the distance, distant and deep.

After Du Xiao Li had the snake stew cooked, she poured a bowl for Du Xiu Heng and placed it on the stool next to him, saying: “Big brother, this snake stew is very nutritious. Let it sit for a while first, and drink it when it cools, okay.”

Afterwards, she also poured a bowl for herself. When she finished, she went to go flip the drying medical herbs she dug up yesterday.

When it was about noon, Niu Jing and the others returned. Seeing them, Du Xiao Li shouted, “Grandpa Niu, I left the snake stew for you!”

“Oh? Perfect, I just happened to be thirsty and hungry. Get me a bowl then.” Niu Jing walked in, and found himself a stool to sit down.

Leng Er also very causally found a placed to sit down, yelling to Du Xiao Li, “Don’t forget about me, I paid money.”

Du Xiao Li poured two bowls, one for Niu Jing, and one for Leng Er, saying with a smile, “How could I forget you!”

“That’s good.” Leng Er giddily accepted the bowl and took a sip, saying in shock, “What did you put in here? How come the flavor is this delicious!”

“Family’s secret recipe, can’t be told to an outsider. Besides, even if I say, you still wouldn’t know.” Du Xiao Li replied.

Leng Er very quickly finished one bowl and ran to pour himself another bowl. He’d already paid that much money anyways, can have as much as he wanted. He saw that there was still a lot of soup in the pot, and said to Han Ming Yi and Leng Yi, “Young master, Yi, come try some too. The flavor really is quite good!”

Niu Jing also said from the side, “The flavor certainly is quite good. You two can try some.”

Leng Yi glanced to Han Ming Yi, and seeing that he didn’t object, prepared to go pour him a bowl. Du Xiao Li continued to flip her medical herbs, while saying, “I said, if you want to drink some now, need to pay extra!”

Leng Yi glanced to Du Xiao Li, took out one tael of silver, and threw it to her. Afterwards, he found two bowls, used water to wash them twice, and gave one bowl to Han Ming Yi and one to himself.

“Little girl, you really only see money in your eyes!” Leng Er teasingly said with a laugh.

“That’s right, I do only see money in my eyes. I wish that the sky would rain money, and even if it crushes me to death, it would still be good!” Du Xiao Li didn’t get angry, and followed along his words. That tone made both Niu Jing and Leng Er burst into laughter.

“One laugh, ten years younger, just laugh then.” Du Xiao Li said, and then turned around to continue flipping her herbs.

After Niu Jing finished drinking the stew, he placed the bowl next to the stool. Afterwards, he came to Du Xiao Li’s side. Looking at the medical ingredients she dug up, he discovered that there were several kind he hadn’t taught her before mix in. He picked up a piece of plantain herb and asked, “This plantain herb, I didn’t explain to you before, how did you know it is a medical herb?”

“I saw it in the medical book.” Du Xiao Li replied.

“Oh? Then do you know what kind of medical effect it has?” Niu Jing asked.

“Help with difficulty urinating, turbidity, edema, summer diarrhea, reddened eyes, and cough from phlegm. Grandpa Niu, am I right?” Du Xiao Li asked.

Niu Jing nodded his head, and then picked up another type of medical ingredient. Du Xiao Li also correctly answered.

“Li girl ah, Leng Yi said last time young master’s symptoms acted up, it was you that saved him?” Niu Jing suddenly spoke.

Here it comes!

Du Xiao Li’s heart tightened. As expected, she was being suspected? She resentfully glanced to Han Ming Yi and pursed her lips, “Yeah, last time I saved him. He not only didn’t thank me, he even kicked me.”

Du Xiu Heng heard Du Xiao Li’s words and shot a glance at Han Ming Yi. Han Ming Yi somewhat unnaturally lowered his head and drank his soup.

Niu Jing softly chuckled, then asked, “Then how did you know that using that method can save young master?”

“I don’t know either.” Du Xiao Li shook her head and said, “After I fell ill last time, I discovered that there’s a lot more things in my head. As soon as I thought, the idea popped out. Grandpa Niu, do you think I encountered an immortal deity?”

“Immortal deity?” Niu Jing strangely looked to Du Xiao Li.

“That’s right!” Du Xiao Li nodded her head and said, “Last time, I felt that I’d clearly already died. Afterwards, I arrived at a place with lots of beautiful women. They said that I shouldn’t go there, and then pushed me. After that I woke up, and then I got better.”

Niu Jing shared a glance with Han Ming Yi and the others, unsure whether they should believe Du Xiao Li’s words or not. If they had to say that it was an immortal deity that saved her, and gave her a lot of knowledge, just thinking about it felt impossible. But a seven year old child knowing how to treat Han Ming Yi’s twitching disease, this also made one feel unimaginable.

“Perhaps it was really given to you by an immortal deity!” Niu Jing said, “However, since it was given to you, you should properly cherish it, understand?”

“Grandpa Niu, can you not tell anyone else?” Du Xiao Li carefully looked to Niu Jing.

“Why?”

“Because I don’t want others to treat me like a monster!” Du Xiao Li pitifully lowered her head saying, “If the people in the village were to know that I’d died once, would they think I’m a monster, then have me driven away?”

Niu Jing thought for a moment, and felt this was possible. The people of the village have never seen the majority of the world, spending their whole life living here. It was inevitable for their views to be somewhat old fashion. If they really were to know, who knows how they will treat her!

“Alright, I promise you.”

“Thank you grandpa Niu!” Du Xiao Li happily said.

Once Han Ming Yi finished the soup in his bowl, Niu Jing took them back with him. As soon as they were out of the courtyard, Han Ming Yi finally spoke, “You believe her words?”

“Regardless, this was the best explanation.” Niu Jing turned his head and looked to the lonely courtyard at the waist of the mountain, saying with a sigh.

Du Xiao Li waited until after they left, before going to pour another bowl for Du Xiu Heng. This time, Du Xiu Heng didn’t take the bowl, instead grabbing her wrist, and asking with a heavy expression: “Who are you?”

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