Originally, after Lu Jun Qiâs body recovered, sheâd planned on returning to her country, but before she was able to set out, sheâd learned that Phoenix city was holding the competition. As a member of the imperial academy, Lu Jun Qi already had a place in the dancing competition to begin with, thus she continued staying in Feng Ming, staying in the government inn waiting for the people of Eastern Li to arrive and move into Sui Yuan together with them.
In order to protect his older sister, Lu Jun Wu also stayed behind, staying together with them.
Lu Jun Qi was just looking at Du Xiao Li, when the other party suddenly looked over, having her caught red-handed. She unnaturally had her gaze shifted to another place.
âAh, that smell is coming from you! Youâre really smelly!â The first person to call out leaned into Du Ke Xin and smelled her a few times. Afterwards, they pinched their nose with one hand and pointed at her with the other shouting.
Du Ke Xin, since entering the palace, has kept her distance from the others, precisely for the sake of not letting others discover the smell on her. However, she was unexpectedly discovered by someone and was even pointed out to the crowd. She quickly denied, âNo, itâs not coming from me, why would there be a stinky smell coming from me! This miss must be joking!â
âNonsense, I never lie, itâs precisely coming from you!â That girl unhappily said.
âI said, itâs not coming from me. Donât take nonsense!â Du Ke Xin glared at that girl.
âWhat are you glaring at me for, comparing who has bigger eyes?! My eyes are also very big!â That girl, seeing that Du Ke Xin actually glared at her, widened her two eyes, glaring back with her hands at her hips.
âYounger sister!â A man walked over, and disapprovingly looked to that girl.
âImperial brother, tell this smelly woman, I never lie!â The girl pulled the man and said.
âWhat? What happened, such ruckus!â Although he didnât like Du Ke Xin, it was still his daughter after all. Du Yun Han asked as he walked over with Du Xiao Li.
Du Xiao Li stopped at a relatively far distances away from Du Ke Xin, but even standing here, she could still smell that stinky smell from Du Ke Xin.
The one that pointed out the smelly scent on Du Ke Xin was Northern Qiâs youngest princess, Bei Ling Yu. She was the same age as Du Xiao Li, having just passed her thirteenth birthday. Since childhood, sheâs been spoiled and pampered by the Northern Qi Emperor growing up, but she didnât have those arrogant and willful bad temper, instead growing up somewhat innocent and naive, simple and straightforward. From a glance, one could tell she was protected very well.
At first when Du Xiao Li saw her, she truly couldnât figure out why the eldest elder princess that had married to Northern Qi would end up like that.
The one that criticized Bei Ling Yu was Northern Qiâs seventh prince, Beiling Yi Cheng, currently seventeen years old, and currently still studying at the imperial academy. He was a key candidate in the competition this time.
And Beiling Yu, reportedly, her dance was equally matched with Lu Jun Qiâs. Moreover, she even had a special act. However, what that special act was, everyone all didnât know.
Lu Jun Qi and Beiling Yuâs dancing skills were both very good. In the other countryâs contestantâs eyes, they were the contenders for first place.
âFather.â Du Ke Xin saw Du Yun Han and scooted over to his side, calling out in grievance.
Du Yun Han glanced at Du Ke Xin and asked, âWhat happened?â
âPrime Minister Du, this is your daughter? Why is she this smelly? And even said I was lying, really is too hateful! The entire Northern Qi all know, I never lie!â Beiling Yu recognized Du Yun Han, but didnât expect that the person she was arguing with was actually Du Yun Hanâs daughter.
âPrincess Ling, this oneâs daughterâŠâŠ..â
âPrincess Ling, my second sister, because fell ill a few days ago, has been taking medicine these last few days. That is the scent of the medicine, itâll be gone tomorrow. Thatâs why, this isnât my second sisterâs scent. Anyone can get sick, and when one gets sick, needs to take medicine, no? Asking princess to please not mind.â Du Xiao Li, seeing Du Yun Han with a difficult look, replied with a smile.
She wanted to punish Du Ke Xin, and also wanted to find out through her the person behind the kidnapping incident, but she didnât expect that the smelly Du Ke Xin would actually come today too. Losing face here was also losing the Du familyâs face, she couldnât just ignore it either.
âThen the smell is still coming from her, why wonât she admit to it? Not the least bit honest!â Beiling Yu said with a pout.
âBecause ever since my second sister fell ill, her nose hasnât been well. Thatâs why sheâs unable to smell the scent in her surrounding. My second mother worries that my second sister would be upset, so didnât let anyone tell her that she smelled. Thatâs why she didnât know there was a smell coming from her. Right, second sister?â Du Xiao Li looked to Du Ke Xin and said.
âReally?â Beiling Yu looked to Du Ke Xin and asked.
âEh, yes, yes, I recently canât smell anything.â Although she hated Du Xiao Li very much, since she already gave her the best way out of this situation, she could only pull down her face and admit to it.
âWhy didnât you say so earlier.â Beiling Yu said, then pulled along Beiling Yi Cheng and returned to the Northern Qiâs ranks.
Seeing that there was nothing left to watch, the others also respectively continued admiring flowers and chatting. Du Yun Han was also pulled away by Yuan Lin for a chat. Du Xiao Li came to a pavilion alone and sat down for a rest.
âYou did it on purpose!â Du Ke Xin came into the pavilion and viciously looked to Du Xiao Li.
Knowing that Du Ke Xin smelled, everyone all stayed far away from her. At the moment, there was no one near the pavilion, so no one heard her words.
âSecond sister, you should thank me. If not for me, you wouldâve lost even more face today!â Du Xiao Li smilingly looked to Du Ke Xin.
âThank you? Keep dreaming! You purposely left behind this smell on my body, precisely for the sake of seeing me make a fool of myself in front of everyone, right?â Du Ke Xin said, very sure of herself.
She just knew, where would there be such an antidote, making one continuously emit a foul stench after eating, and letting her not dare to meet others. This definitely was Du Xiao Li purposefully harming her!
âSecond sister, I didnât do anything to the antidote. This antidote was like this to begin with.â Du Xiao Li said. âIf not for my smelly antidote, afraid, you wouldnât even be alive right now! If you donât believe me, Imperial Physician Huâs words, you should at least believe, right?â
âImperial Physician Hu said this scent will take ten some days to disperse, why did you say itâll be gone by tomorrow?â Du Ke Xin asked.
âOf course I know. When you go back, let second mother look for some bitter celery wormwood to boil into a medicinal bath for you to sake for an hour, then that smell will be gone. Of course, if you want to keep that smell on you, you can also not soak!â Du Xiao Li shrugged.
âThis method will be able to get rid of the smell on me?â Du Ke Xin skeptically asked.
âBelieve it or not!â Du Xiao Li said, too lazy to continue bothering with her. She turned her head to look at the fish in the pond.
âIf you knew, why didnât you say so earlier?â Du Ke Xin temporarily believed Du Xiao Li. But recalling that she actually knew a method, yet waited until now to tell her, anger flames rose in her heart again.
Du Xiao Li turned around and looked to Du Ke Xin. Seeing her âyou shouldnât be like thisâ look, she smiled.