Pampered Consort of the Fragrant Orchard Chapter 69.3

Mid Autumn Talent Performance (3)

T/N: Chapter sponsored by Gilly and Kim! Thank you for sponsoring!

After the man in black left, Du Yun Han leaned against the back of the chair, softly laughing out loud.

No need for the man in black to remind him. He already knew this daughter wasn't simple, else why would he call her a little fox? How strong his subordinates were, he naturally knew. To be able to discover him hiding in the tree was already very impressive, but to be able to know that he'd been waiting for a long time, that wasn't something possible with just a little bit of power. However, that was his daughter, his and Su Su Xin's daughter. The stronger she was, the happier he as the father was.

"Hehe."

He got up and placed a long piece of fine writing paper onto the desk, picking up the brush one the desk, beginning to draw on the paper. Very soon, a silhouette appeared; naturally it was Su Su Xin's.

Before the portrait could be finished, another two men in black entered Du Yun Han's study. Du Yun Han saw the two of them and had the brush put down, asking: "What have you gained during this trip to the Miao borders?"

(T/N: Miao is an ethnic group in the southwest of China.)

"......."

Du Xiao Li returned to her own courtyard, thinking back to Du Yun Han's expression when he spoke about Xie Yu mother and daughter pair. Looks like he encountered some troubles recently. Today's man in black perhaps had been sent by him to investigate matters regarding the pair. However, it still wasn't to the point where couldn't resolve the issue, so she didn't need to worry either.

Thinking about how in the following ten days, she all won't have to attend school, she felt refreshed inside. Of course, if this weather can be a little more cooler, that would be even better.

Not long after she'd returned to her own courtyard, Ji Liu Xia suddenly sent someone to come find her, inviting her to the General's Manor. She gave Du Yun Han a heads up, and then went out with Xia Yuan and them.

"Xiao Li, you're finally here."

Du Xiao Li followed the servant girl directly to Ji Liu Xia's courtyard. After arriving, she noticed Fu Ya Lan, Meng Jiang Zhuo and also Han Ming Xiang were all there.

"Didn't we just gather yesterday? How come you all gathered together again? And even had me called over too." Du Xiao Li asked in confusion.

Hearing her words, the other three looked to one another and laughed, making Du Xiao Li even more confused.

"They were all called over by me to help come up with an idea for me." Ji Liu Xia softly said.

"Come up with what idea?"

"Isn't it said that during the mid-autumn banquet, each family's young lady all have to perform a talent? Therefore, a certain someone is worrying." Meng Jiang Zhuo teased.

"Ahahaha." When Meng Jiang Zhuo finished, everyone all burst into laughter. Du Xiao Li also understood the reason why Ji Liu Xia called her over.

"Clearly knowing I don't know any of the four arts, but still insist on making me prepare a performance. My father even said, if I don't prepare a proper performance, he'll confiscate my treasured sword. I'm about to worry to death, yet you all are still laughing!" Ji Liu Xia said with a pout. Afterwards, she looked to Du Xiao Li and asked, "Xiao Li, what are you planning on performing?"

As Ji Liu Xia asked, everyone all turned their attention to Du Xiao Li. Although they knew she had medical skills, it's not like she could perform treating a patient, right?

Du Xiao Li shrugged and said, "I don't need to perform a talent."

"Why?!" Ji Liu Xia's voice instantly went up several decibels and resentfully glared at Du Xiao Li.

"Because my father told the emperor I don't know anything, so the emperor exempted me from performing." Du Xiao Li explained.

"Prime Minister Du is that good? I also don't know anything, but how come my father throwing me up? This is unfair, wuuwuu...." Ji Liu Xia was about to cry from worrying.

"Sweat, you three all didn't help her think of a good idea?" Du Xiao Li looked to the three sitting there eating grapes and asked.

Han Ming Xiang had the grape skin spit into a little plat to the side and said, "How do we help her? What we can do, she's all unable to do, or perhaps should say, anything an ordinary girl can do, she all don't know how to do."

Being said like this by Han Ming Xiang, Ji Liu Xia also shut up and sat down, "Picking up a brush, or an instrument, I just feel powerless all over. Only when picking up the sword do I feel I'm alive." 

Du Xiao Li also found a chair and sat down, "You don't have anything you can do?"

Ji Liu Xia pondered for a moment. Although she very much wanted to think of something she could do, but after trying hard for a long while, she still could only give up and shake her head, "Nothing."

"The three of us have already helped her brainstorm for a long time, but after coming up with that many ideas, not one suited her." Fu Ya Lan said. For their own friend to be like this, they also worried!

"Well, I originally wanted to teach her a dance, but her movements were very stiff, it simply won't do." Meng Jiang Zhuo said.

"But I only know martial arts moves, letting me dance those soft and flexible movements, I really can't do it!" Ji Liu Xia also felt very wronged.

Dance? Du Xiao Li suddenly had a flash of inspiration, asking: "Do you know sword dance?" 

"Sword dance? What kind of dance is that?" As soon as Du Xiao Li's words came out, the other four all uniformly looked to her. Even Meng Jiang Zhuo, who was the most adept at and knowledgeable about dance, had never heard of this kind of dance before.

"Sword dance, is it a dance related to swords?" Ji Liu Xia, as expected, was very sensitive towards sword and instantly guessed it.

"Yes." Du Xiao Li nodded, "Since you're uninterested in all other talents, and only know how to play with swords, perhaps this is suitable for you."

"But what kind of dance is sword dance?" Fu Ya Lan asked.

"It's where you have the sword's moves combined with dance. For her, it should be relatively simple." Du Xiao Li explained, and then felt her explanation wasn't very clear, thus asked Ji Liu Xia for a sword.

Ji Liu Xia knew Du Xiao Li wanted to demonstrate for her, thus quickly had a servant girl fetch her sword, and handed it to Du Xiao Li.

Du Xiao Li had the sword's sheath removed and placed onto the tea table. She got up and walked to the center of the room. Her right hand held the sword in reverse, placing it before her left shoulder. The sword laid horizontal across her chest. Left hand pinched into a sword style and placed before the sword, forming a cool pose.

(T/N: Author's chinese was really broken the last two lines so it's not my fault if it sounds confusing.)

Not waiting for the others to admire, she began moving. The sword's style matched with the dance's movements, and amidst the coolness, there didn't lack gentleness, making Ji Liu Xia and them all blanked from watching.

Du Xiao Li only danced for a bit before stopping. She looked to Ji Liu Xia and asked, "This kind of dance, can you dance?"

"Wow, that really was too pretty!" Ji Liu Xia's two eyes glistened as she gazed to Du Xiao Li.

"Whether or not it was pretty is rather secondary. The question is, this kind of dance, are you able to dance?" Towards Ji Liu Xia's ability to catch the important point, Du Xiao Li admitted defeat.

"Can, this kind of dance, I definitely will be able to dance." Ji Liu Xia quickly nodded her head, "As long as it's not those soft and flexible dances, then it's not a problem. Furthermore, I can even hold a sword. When time comes, I'll definitely be very energetic!" 

(T/N: Why does she sound like she's cursed and needs to hold the sword for power.)

"This kind of dance, I've never seen before. Never thought that there was actually such a pretty dance!" Meng Jiang Zhuo had both hands crossed before her chest, appearing very excited.

"Indeed very pretty. To think Xiao Li knew this kind of dance, really makes one exclaim in admiration!" Fu Ya Lan said.

(T/N: Best kinds of friends to make when you transmigrate is ones that don't ask too many questions.)

"Right, Xiao Li's dancing really was great, making my heart itch from watching and want to go dance too!" Han Ming Xiang also nodded with a praise.

"I also want to too, but I'm simply not suited for this kind of dance. Even if I know the moves, I still can't display that kind of strength coupled with gentleness feeling." Meng Jiang Zhuo somewhat regrettably said.

"Actually, if you all have to perform, then you can assemble into one performance." Du Xiao Li looked to them and said.

T/N: When I'm translating the passages always feel so long, but then when I reread through feel so short. I wanna clone myself so I can translate more aijfoasidjfi ;;;;v;;;;) 

Chapter end