Pampered Consort of the Fragrant Orchard Chapter 65.3

His Confession, His Promise (3)

The next day, Du Xiao Li got up early and had the blueprints drawn up. While washing herself up, she had the designs handed to Ying Ge.

Fortunately because Du Ke Xin and them all went to school, Du Xiao Li didn't need to go give her morning greetings to Du Old Madam. Du Old Madam's original words were 'Ke Xin and them all went to school, so why don't she also be excused. When school lets out, she can just come over together. Young people nowadays all like to sleep in late."

Although it sounded like she was quite considerate of Du Xiao Li, but Du Xiao Li more so believed that was because Du Old Madam didn't like her and just didn't want to see her everyday. 

However, that way, it was very better. She was also too lazy to go over every day. She had majority of her energy spent on the construction of the rear fence. 

Half a month later, the outermost wall finally was built. Du Xiao Li had Silver and Gold moved to that side. Outsiders also became curious towards the sudden perimeter wall, and wanted to come have a look, but after hearing Silver and Gold's cries, they thus halted their thoughts. And as for the people of the Du Manor, because Silver and Gold's cries also came from the direction of Du Xiao Li's courtyard, and because they normally weren't familiar with this side either, they all didn't notice anything unusual either. 

Knowing Du Xiao Li was very busy lately, Ji Liu Feng and them all didn't come to bother her. However, in between, she actually went out once. 

'Du du du---' (T/N: Knocking sounds)

'Creak---'

Niu Jing's front entrance was opened, and a child dressed as a medicine apprentice appeared behind the door, rubbing his hazy eyes. Seeing Du Xiao Li and the others, he mumbled in a soft voice, "You all looking for my shifu? He went to the palace."

"Then when will he return?" Du Xiao Li looked to the tender doll-like little face and asked with a smile.

"Today is shifu's day off on the rotation, so probably will be back around chen-hour (7-9am). Who are you all? What are you looking for my shifu for?" The little child asked. 

"Niu Jing is your shifu?" Du Xiao Li asked, "Then, I'm your shishu."

(T/N: Shishu - translates to teacher-uncle, but the term is used for both genders, used to address your own shifu's junior brothers and sisters.)

"Ah, you're Du family's third miss?" The medicine boy said in sudden realization, "I heard my shifu say, Du family's third miss is his little junior sister, older than me by two years, so must be you, greetings shishu, I'm Tong Tong."

(T/N: Pfft his name is literally child-child)

"Then, can we go in and wait for your shifu to return?" Du Xiao Li asked.

"Okay, shishu this way." Tong Tong has the door opened wide, letting Du Xiao Li, Xia Yuan and Qiao Zhu enter.

After entering the Niu Manor, Du Xiao Li discovered that Niu Jing's house not only looked not that great on the outside, the inside was also rather worn out, with many things wearing out from age. However, it was still considered rather clean, appearing mostly the same as the house in Du village. 

"Shishu, please have some tea." After Tong Tong lead Du Xiao Li to the guest hall, he went and made a cup of tea for her. Although he was only two years younger than Du Xiao Li, he still was very respectful.

"Thank you." Du Xiao Li said as she accept the tea.

"Shishu, last night when I was studying, I found some problems, can I ask you for guidance?" Tong Tong said.

"Alright." Du Xiao Li gladly replied.

Although she currently still haven't gone to the so called Medicine King Valley, but because of Niu Jing, as well as that medical book that she's already memorized by heart, she still had quite a sense of belonging towards Medicine King Valley. A place that can cultivate someone like Niu Jing naturally won't be lacking!

"Then I'll go get the medical book." Tong Tong said and immediately ran out, returning very soon with a medical book in hand. Du Xiao Li looked it over. It was already not the entry level kind. Looks like Tong Tong's gift in medicine was also not bad. 

"Here, here, and also here, I all don't understand very well." Tong Tong had the medical book flipped to the place he was reading last night and pointed out a few places for Du Xiao Li to see. 

When Niu Jing returned, what he saw in the guest hall was the two in deep discussion about medicine.

"Keke, Li girl, you've come?" Niu Jing walked in and somewhat unnaturally greeted Du Xiao Li.

"Shifu." Tong Tong turned around and called out to Niu Jing, "Shishu is currently explaining the places I don't understand."

"En, your shishu's medical skills are very unique, it's very beneficial for you to learn lots from her. Alright, go back and read it yourself." Niu Jing said with a nod.

"Yes, shifu." Tong Tong performed a bow towards Niu Jing, then bowed to Du Xiao Li, before finally withdrawing. 

"Grandpa Niu." Du Xiao Li looked to Niu Jing, who'd aged quite a bit these last few years. She suddenly sighed at the aging of time, and that shred of complaint towards him inside her heart also went away.

"Haha, clearly we're now senior brother and sister, you're still calling me grandpa Niu." Niu Jing said with a laugh.

"I'm used to it. Senior brother." Du Xiao Li looked to Niu Jing's smile and said.

"You came to interrogate me today?" Niu Jing asked, "Sigh, this matter indeed is my fault. Clearly, I'd promised your mother to not have your matters exposed, but I still wasn't able to do it."

"At the time, I was somewhat angry at senior brother, but afterwards, I heard that day was your madam's death anniversary, so I stopped being angry. Besides, some things you have to live in this environment to understand the feeling within. Perhaps, I might even encounter a different kind of truth." Du Xiao Li said with a sigh.

"You didn't come to punish me? Then that's good, if I'd known, I wouldn't have gone to the border station." Niu Jing said.

(T/N: I feel like my impression of this old man changed a lot from the first arc....)

Du Xiao Li smiled and took out the medical book Niu Jing had given her at the time, "Right now, I'm returning this intact to the rightful owner."

Niu Jing said in surprise, "You finished reading it?"

Du Xiao Li smiled and nodded, "I've already more or less comprehended it all."

"Haha, I just knew you'd definitely be able to do it!" Niu Jing slapped his own thigh and laughed out, "This book has been with me for ten years, yet can't compare to the six years it's been with you. Hahaha, not bad! Not bad!"

"Senior brother overpraises." Du Xiao Li said.

"Come, I'll take you to tour my residence. It's said that this place once belonged to an old official. Afterwards, he moved away, and his Majesty then had it bestowed to me. Don't look at how the front isn't that great, the rear's scenery is still quite good." Niu Jing suggested, his mood was currently quite good.

"Okay."

Du Xiao Li followed Niu Jing to the back of the residence, discovering that the river behind her own courtyard actually also passed through Niu Jing's courtyard. Moreover, because the terrain was flat, she could see the perimeter she built from here.

"That's your place?" Niu Jing pointed to the perimeter wall and asked.

"How did senior brother know?" Du Xiao Li asked in astonishment.

"Two days ago when I went up the mountain in the back to look for medical herbs, I heard wolf cries coming from inside." Niu Jing said, "Lately, everyone all say Prime Minister Du Manor's third miss doesn't know poetry or literature, doesn't like interacting with others, yet love being together with wild beasts. Haha, I suppose aside from you, no one else would dare to raise wolves."

"Eh, who cares what others say. Besides, I don't rely on them to live either." Du Xiao Li nonchalantly said.

"I heard about you and Ding Wang's matter. I never thought that his Majesty would bestow a marriage for you two." Niu Jing recalled, in the past, Han Ming Yi indeed did treat Du Xiao Li quite specially, but never thought that they would be tied together like this.

"Sigh." Speaking of this, Du Xiao Li let out a sigh. This was the so called 'the affairs of the world, difficult to predict'.

Niu Jing saw Du Xiao Li's look and said, "If you don't want to marry Ding Wang, you can go find shifu." 

"Go find Shifu?"

T/N: Our dearest sponsor Madam Daim has blessed us with 12 sponsored chapters, including the 3 regular chapters, I'll be doing 15 total chapters this week. I'll try doing 2 chapters a day. My goals for April is to better manage my time properly. 

Additional Chapters Queue: 12

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