Du Xiao Li looked to that awkward looking servant girl. She was precisely the Xiao Cui that welcomed them that night they arrived in the capital, and even put up an attitude with them.
âWhat is madam looking for me for?â Du Xiao Li casted Xiao Cui a glance and asked. Actually, she didnât need to think to know what Zhong Mei Qing was looking for her for, but she still pretended to not know anything.
Xiao Cui recalled Zhong Mei Qing warning her not tell Du Xiao Li about Du Ke Xinâs situation, only needing to say that she felt after Du Xiao Li came, she hadnât properly looked after her, wanting to call her over to ask if she was lacking anything.
âMadam said, afraid third miss might be lacking some things, and wants to call you over to ask!â
When Du Xiao Li heard this excuse, she inwardly snorted, âI normally donât lack anything, so I wonât be going over, trouble you to thank second mother for me. If thereâs nothing else, I still have to entertain a guest! Liu Xia, letâs go in.â
Du Xiao Li said this as she gave Ji Liu Xia a meaningful look. Originally, sheâd intended on returning home after having Du Xiao Li sent back, but seeing Du Xiao Liâs look, she instantly reacted and jumped down from the horse carriage, âSpeaking of which, this is also my first time coming to the Prime Minister Manor. Xiao Li, you definitely have to give me a proper tour.â
âDefinitely.â
âLetâs go then.â
Du Xiao Li and Ji Liu Xia ignored Xiao Cui, and directly entered the gates, leaving behind the awfully anxious Xiao Cui staring at their backs with a dumbstruck look.
Du Xiao Li took Ji Liu Xia to her Jade Bamboo Courtyard. Ji Liu Xia looked to Du Xiao Li in shock, âXiao Li, you live in this small of a place? Isnât this courtyard of yours a little too small?!â
âNot a lot of people, so why have that big of place?â Du Xiao Li laughed, âLetâs go upstairs, the field of vision upstairs is pretty good.â
âAlright, previously only saw your residence from across the river, and thought that this was just a corner of your courtyard, never thought that this was your entire residence.â Ji Liu Xia lamented, clicking her tongue. Coming to the second floor, and seeing the rows of rooftops, she sighed again. This field of vision was indeed not bad.
âSigh, now can you tell me what that second mother of yours is looking for you for?â The two were sitting in the veranda in the back drinking tea.
âThat Du Ke Xin got poisoned, most likely wants to call me over to help cure her.â Du Xiao Li answered with a shrug.
âHa! That flower butterfly got poisoned?! Hahahaha!â As soon as Ji Liu Xia heard Du Ke Xin got poisoned, she slapped the table and burst into laughter, âXiao Li, let me tell you, donât go cure her poison, just let her get poisoned to death!â
Ji Liu Xia had just finished saying this, when she remembered that Du Ke Xin was Du Xiao Liâs older sister. Coughing twice, she said, âHehe, not that you canât save her, that um, you can wait until sheâs poisoned a little longer. Thatâs right, what did she get poisoned with? Even the imperial physicians donât have a way?â
Du Xiao Li had Du Ke Xinâs poison explained. Hearing that the antidote will make Du Ke Xin stink for many days, Ji Liu Xia nearly died laughing, âXiao Li, quickly go give her the antidote. Iâm so looking forward to seeing her stink all over!â
SweatâŚâŚâŚâŚ
Earlier still saying to not save Du Ke Xin, but after learning this, she immediately changed her mind. Looks like she still very much knew how to stab at oneâs wound!
âWeâll see when time comes. Right now, Iâll take you on a stroll around the Prime Minister Manor. Afterwards, Iâll go look for my father to have my older brother and big sister Ya Lanâs matter taken care of.â Du Xiao Li said.
âAlright!â Ji Liu Xia put down the teacup, âIâm also very curious towards this Prime Minister Manor. In the past, didnât get along with Du Ke Xin, so never came to visit before. Speaking of which, this fate is really quite interesting. I hate Du Ke Xin that much, yet find you very pleasing to the eyes, liking you as soon as I saw you. And now, big sister Ya Lan and your big brother have mutual feelings, perhaps someday you and big sister Ya Lan will become sister-in-laws!â
âIndeed, fate really is a marvelous thing!â Du Xiao Li sighed.
Du Xiao Li recalled a few years ago meeting Han Ming Yi and Ji Liu Feng in that little mountain village, becoming Niu Jingâs junior sister, and after coming here, also encountered Ji Liu Xia and the others. Although their time together wasnât long, their affections however were very deep. Really must say, this really is fate!
Du Xiao Li took Ji Liu Xia and strolled around the Prime Minister Manor for a while. Towards the Prime Minister Manor, she wasnât very familiar with either. The places she went to the most before were just Du Xiu Heng and Du Yun Hanâs courtyard. The majority of the other places, sheâd only just passed by. And for some places, it was even her first time going.
Ji Liu Xia wanted to let Du Xiao Li go cure Du Ke Xin, so after strolling a full circle, she returned home. Before departing, she even told Du Xiao Li to have that antidote made a bit more stinky, and its effect last a little longer.
Du Xiao Li had Ji Liu Xia sent off, and after seeing her leave, she finally turned around, preparing to go back. As soon as she entered the middle courtyard, she ran into Xiao Cui.
âThird missâs guest has left?â Xiao Cui asked as she bowed to Du Xiao Li.
âLeft already.â
âThird miss, madam said, once missâs guest is gone, asking you to go see her.â
This time, Du Xiao Li agreed rather frankly, saying: âOkay.â With that said, she started heading towards Zhong Mei Qingâs courtyard.
âThird miss, madam isnât at Plum Flower Courtyard. Madam is in second missâs courtyard.â Seeing Du Xiao Li agreeing to go, Xiao Cui relaxed a breath, but then seeing her heading towards Zhong Mei Qingâs courtyard, she hurriedly stopped her.
âOh.â Du Xiao Li responded, and then turned to head towards Du Ke Xinâs courtyard.
Although she knew, she still needed to feign ignorance.
When she arrived in Du Ke Xinâs room, she saw at a glance Zhong Mei Qing sitting by the bed wiping her tears and deeply wailing.
âMadam, third miss has come.â Xiao Cui returned to Zhong Mei Qingâs side and said.
Zhong Mei Qing wiped the corners of her eyes, and said, âXiao Li, youâve come!â
âSecond mother, why are you crying? And why is second sister laying in bed, is her body not well?â Du Xiao Li asked, pretending to be concerned.
Acting, she also knew how. If this was in her past life, she might even be able to get an Oscar.
âXiao Li, since yesterday afternoon to until now, your second sister has been unconscious the whole time. Weâd invited Imperial Physician Hu for a look, and he said your second sister is poisoned by a kind of poison called âsmelly fragranceâ. However, although he figured out what the poison was, heâd no way of developing the antidote. He even said that you can save your second sister. Xiao Li, why donât you save your second sister.â Zhong Mei Qing said.
Smelly fragrance. Every time Du Xiao Li heard this name, she just wanted to laugh. She really did admire Bai Ning Yuanâs ability to come up with names very much. Many of his poisons all had weird names.
For instance, Bai Ning Yuan had named a poison âcrawly bugâ. The name sounded very interesting, but it was because after someone is poisoned with this, many bug like spots will appear on the body, and furthermore, those spots were all rotting skin.
There was also a kind of poison called âlove you for three days and three nightsâ. Just hearing the name sounds like an aphrodisiac, but in actuality, was a kind of highly toxic poison. The poisoned the personâs body will become paralyzed, and their heart will ache for three days and three nights. Moreover, regardless of the pain, one all wonât fall unconscious, letting the person continuously be awake to experience through three whole days of heartache. And if not cured within those three days, then when time comes, the person will immediately die.