Pampered Consort of the Fragrant Orchard Chapter 68.3

Ji Liu Xia's Engagement (3)

T/N: Chapter (11/12) sponsored by Madam Daim!

"Gentleman Qu? Big sister Liu Xia is already engaged?" The meat chopping knife in Du Xiao Li's hand halted, as Du Xiao Li looked to them and asked.

"Naturally." Fu Ya Lan said, "Soon, she'll be fifteen, so of course she'll be of marriageable age. Previously, before Great General went out to war, he'd already arranged a marriage for her, and the other party is Gentleman Qu. Right now, just waiting for Liu Xia's coming of age ceremony and then complete the marriage!" 

"I don't want to marry that bookworm!" As soon as Ji Liu Xia recalled that Qu Yi, she couldn't help but want to complain. That completely wasn't the type she liked!

Du Xiao Li had heard, Qu Yi's grandmother was once a member of the imperial family, and his father also occupied a high position, just he was a literary official without any real power. That's why, when it comes to family status and what not, they were comparable with the General's Manor. 

Recalling them saying that Ji Lun arranged the marriage for Ji Liu Xia prior to leaving for war, she also felt a wave of lament inside. He most likely was afraid that he and Ji Liu Feng might die in battle, thus tried to find someone to rely on for her. That way, even if something happened to them, Ji Liu Xia won't be too miserable. 

"Even if you don't want to marry, you still have to marry. The betrothal gift has already been received, don't tell me you can still go back on it?" Meng Jiang Zhuo playfully smiled.

"Has the wedding date already been set?" Du Xiao Li asked.

(T/N: I'm speechless---MC throws tantrum about her own engagement being against her will; what's that good friend engaged to someone they don't like, hahah congratulations, not my problem.)

"En, already set, at the beginning of next year." Fu Ya Lan said.

"Haha, then the good matter isn't far away!" 

"Right."

"Hmph, you all are all older than me, it'll be your turn soon!" Getting teased by everyone, Ji Liu Xia was somewhat embarrassed. 

"That's right, should be soon. Just, don't know where one's good match is at." Han Ming Xiang somewhat disappointedly said.

Among the five of them, her age was the oldest. Already sixteen, but still haven't encountered someone that could move her heart. This marriage also still hasn't been settled. Recalling some of her older sisters' fate, she seemingly saw her own future.

"Princess, you will encounter your other half of the circle." Du Xiao Li looked to Han Ming Xiang and said.

"Other half of the circle?" Everyone all looked to Du Xiao Li.

"Some elders say, you and your other half are a circle, only by encountering the right person, can you finally became a full pair." Du Xiao Li said.

"Unfortunately, we all don't have the chance to encounter our other half." Fu Ya Lan faintly said.

"That's right, our marriage simply isn't something we have any say in." Meng Jiang Zhuo's mood also dropped. 

Seeing everyone all of a sudden become somewhat sad, Du Xiao Li wanted to say something like 'to grasp fate in their own hands', yet realized that these words, in this time period, were the most powerless of words. She swung a few times the knife in hand and said, "Alright, no matter how everyone's life in the future will be, right now we're still together at least, and still enjoying our beautiful youth. Today is my first time inviting everyone for a gathering, don't all just stand around frowning. Else, my mood will also be down, and add a spoonful of salt, salt you all to death! Let you all turn into water buckets this afternoon."

"Pfft---"

Meng Jiang Zhuo and them all were amused by Du Xiao Li's words and bursted into laughter. "En, no matter what the future will be like, at least we all still have each other!" 

"That's right, in the future, no matter what, we'll all have each other! We'll forever stand by each other!" Ji Liu Xia also said with a smile. 

"En." Fu Ya Lan heavily nodded her head, and even Han Ming Xiang also vowed as well.

Seeing them no longer depressed, Du Xiao Li finally began concentrating on chopping meat again. That adept chopping technique made Ji Liu Xia and them all stupefied from watching. Even afterwards when they finished washing all the vegetables, they still didn't leave, circling around to watch Du Xiao Li cook.

"Xiao Li, if you go open a restaurant with your skills, you'll definitely be able to out compete Feng Xue Lou." Ji Liu Xia and them each held a pair of chopsticks, tasting the dishes Du Xiao Li made, all praising to the high heavens.

'Feng Xue Lou's chefs were all brought up by me!' Du Xiao Li thought to herself.

"No wonder my brother said the things you make were delicious, still remembering your cooking from that time after all these years. If it was me, this kind of delicious flavor, I wouldn't forget either!" Ji Liu Xia picked up a marinated chicken feet, and said after finishing it. 

"Even the imperial chefs might not necessarily be able to compare with Xiao Li's cooking skills." Han Ming Xiang very elegantly picked up a chicken feet and took two bites.

"So you all were hiding in the kitchen to secretly eat!" Just when everyone was joyfully gnawing on chicken feet, a person who came following the delicious scent appeared.

"Eh, Xian Wang, what are you doing here?" Du Xiao Li, while holding a spatula in hand, looked to the person that suddenly appeared and asked. 

"I came out for a stroll, and smelling the fragrance, thus came over. But never thought that I would see you all, these reputable young ladies of the capital, actually secretly eating in the kitchen. Tsk tsk, don't know how it will affect your reputation if it gets out." Han Ming Yuan flipped open his fan with a swoosh, "However, if you all come bribe me, I'll just have to keep the secret for you." 

Sweat--

Everyone all felt there were three black lines dropping from the back of their heads. The bribe Han Ming Yuan mentioned, needless to say, everyone all knew.

Sure enough, Han Ming Yuan directly went to wash his hands, and then came over, picking up a marinated chicken feet and saying: "Dragging me down into the water, you all won't need to worry about me spreading rumors. En, flavor is really good!" 

"Imperial brother....." Han Ming Xiang used her other hand to cover her eyes, seemingly unable to look at him directly. 

At noon, Xia Yuan and them had Du Xiao Li's dishes carried to the dinning hall. Once everything was all set, they went to the reception room to call Han Ming Yi and them over to eat. Of course, the servants and guards' table were in another room. 

When everyone saw the delicious meal on the table, all couldn't help but exclaim in admiration, and once they had a taste, each and everyone almost swallowed their tongues. Those who couldn't handle the spice, downed water as their tears and snot streamed down, but their chopsticks still continued to send food into their mouths. Then, with the addition of grape wine, this meal, everyone all didn't have any moderation, eating carefreely. 

After eating the afternoon meal, everyone all didn't go rest, because Du Xiao Li then took out a new plaything for everyone to play.

"What's this?" Han Ming Yuan curiously asked as he looked to the little square table placed in the lounge, and displayed on there were these little blocks.

"This is called mahjong, it's a kind of game played with three or more people." Du Xiao Li sat down and said, "You all come sit down, I'll tell you all how to play."

Everyone all sat down. In the room, there were three sets of mahjong prepared, letting them all be able to play.

"This actually is also a type of gambling." Du Xiao Li said, "First, let's get familiar with what this mahjong is. Mahjong altogether is divided into three suits. Each one has one to nine, nine total digits. Each digit is four tiles, so altogether there's 108 pieces. The game rules are relatively simple, yet also full of twists and turns......"

Du Xiao Li was referring to her past life's Sichuan Mahjong. It only had one to nine, and didn't have red(红), middle(中), blank, east(东), west(西), north(北), and south(南), these tiles. 

T/N: After getting free laborers, MC gonna teach them to gamble away all their possession to her. 

Additional Chapters Queue: 2

Chapter end