Chapter 68.4 – Ji Liu Xia’s Engagement (4)

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

After Du Xiao Li’s explanation, everyone very quickly understood how to play mahjong, with each and every one

beginning to play mahjong in high spirits. At first, because they weren’t familiar, there would often be a flower

hand*, causing quite a bit of laughter.

(*T/N: I know nothing about mahjong and couldn’t figure out what flower hand is referring to; it’s a term used in

Hong Kong Mahjong, but all the threads I tried reading don’t really explain it. From context it might just mean a

garbage hand, I really have no idea.)

And for those that didn’t play, Du Xiao Li also prepared for them Go and such to while away the time. The entire

afternoon, everyone all played to their heat’s content.

Du Xiu Heng and Han Ming Yi were in the room next door playing chess(qi). And hearing that side’s wave of

shouts, they both helplessly smiled. Really not the least bit like the image of a noble lady of the capital.

“Ha, I got a hand! Three set match.” Han Ming Yuan’s voice came through, sounding exceedingly excited.

“Your Highness Ding Wang, you really want to marry my younger sister?” After setting down a piece, Du Xiu Heng

gazed to Han Ming Yi and asked with a serious expression.

“Naturally.” Han Ming Yi confidently replied, without a trace of hesitation nor deception.

Du Xiu Heng stared at Han Ming Yi for a while, seemingly as if seeing from his face a trace of insincerity, yet in the

end, still nodded his head, saying: “If you don’t treat my younger sister well, I believe she will punish you herself, so

no need for me to worry. However, my younger sister has pet peeves about relationships. She may appear to not care

about anything, but in actuality, she cares more than anyone about these inside.”

“I know.” Han Ming Yi said.

Her perseverance, her one and only, the eternal devotion she wanted, he’d already understood years ago. He didn’t

want to touch her minefield, nor was he willing to go touch. That year, his consort mother was just one among

numerous imperial concubines. That kind of feeling, before encountering Du Xiao Li, he’d already experienced

before. Seeing his own mother bathed in tears everyday, and in the end, even perish amidst the struggle in the

harem. At that time, he’d already decided, in this life, he won’t repeat his own imperial father’s disastrous ways. So

much so that after seeing the true faces of those in the harem, he figured in this lifetime, he probably won’t

voluntarily fall for any woman.

But, that trip to the countryside unexpectedly made his heart move for a seven year old little girl. After recognizing

his own heart, he felt it was unbelievable, yet also felt as if everything was all within reason.

Love, in that moment, quietly descended.

Du Xiu Heng watched Han Ming Yi sink into his memories. He didn’t disturb him, instead gazing to the chessboard,

and began deeply contemplating.

Compared to Du Xiu Heng side’s quietness, the other side seemingly was like a battlefield. The sound of calls, the

sound of mahjong tiles striking the table, the sound of shouting, and also the sound of everyone’s laughter

continuously played without stop.

The grapes that were submerged in the old well became everyone’s most popular fruit, and after learning that there

was a grape vineyard outside the city, everyone all requested to go see next time.

“Xiao Li, this place really is a good place!” Ji Liu Xia stuffed a grape into her mouth with one hand, while the other

hand played mahjong.

“Of course, you all should look at your own appearance, where was there still the noble, dignified, and virtuous look

when outside?” Fu Ya Lan was the quietest one among them, but was still much more unrestrained than in the past.

In the past, when everyone would gather, all they would think about is how to protect their own image, and how to

win face for their family. Because they would always gather in restaurants or teahouses, they needed to worry about

outsider’s views. Where would it be anything like today, going crazy with the doors closed.

“So happy from playing today, and the greatest part was being able to also eat this many chilled grapes!” Ji Liu Xia

said

“This game is also very fun, couldn’t stop playing.” Meng Jiang Zhuo said.

At this time, Du Xiao Li came in from outside, saying with smile, “Once you all become familiar with it, let’s bet

money next time. One set, one tael, two set, two taels, three set, four taels, four set, eight taels, and so on, how about

it?”

“Alright, this is a good idea.” Ji Liu Xia was the first to agree.

“Xiao Li, where did you go? Why didn’t you play with us?” Han Ming Xiang had just won a set and was waiting for

the others to finish.

“I went to prepare the ingredients for tonight’s dinner.” Du Xiao Li said, “Now that the sky’s almost dark, we can go

eat dinner.”

“Ah? The sky’s grown dark this soon?”

Everyone all looked outside, finally discovering that the sun had already leaned towards the western horizon and

about to set.

“Since it’s this late already, let’s stop playing.” Ji Liu Xia pushed down her tiles and got up. Coming to Du Xiao Li’s

side, she reached out embraced her shoulders, saying: “Xiao Li, tonight, are we going to be eating that something

oven of yours? How should that thing be eaten?”

“Won’t you know once you get there?” Du Xiao Li looked to her impatient appearance, just not going to tell her.

Once the other two tables finished, everyone headed out together. At this time, Du Xiu Heng and Han Ming Yi also

came out. After Du Xiao Li let everyone go wash their hands, she then lead them into the courtyard.

“Xiao Li, are we going to be eating out in the open?” Ji Liu Feng looked to the long table placed in the courtyard. In

addition, there was also a few small square tables, and three iron stove.

“En, tonight we’ll be eating here. Everyone eating together, you all won’t feel awkward, right?” Du Xiao Li asked,

“Else, I’ll just fix up a separate place for Leng Yi and them.”

“No need.”

Everyone all knew Du Xiao Li was from the countryside. Her sense of status hierarchy wasn’t very strong. Even if

Leng Yi and them were servants, in her eyes, they were all treated the same. Since they were all here as her guests,

then they needed to go along with her view.s

Moreover, they have also followed Han Ming Yi through thick and thin and weren’t ordinary guards.

Du Xiao Li clapped her hands three times. Xia Yuan and them thus had the food carried onto the long table next to

them, and not to the square table they were sitting at.

“Girl, how can you carry them over and not let us eat?” Niu Jing smelled the delicious scent of the food and then

looked to the empty plate before him.

(T/N: I totally forget this old man was also here—-)

“Tonight, we are eating a buffet.” Du Xiao Li said.

“What’s a buffet?”

Du Xiao Li had buffets quickly explained, then let Han Ming Xiang, Han Ming Yi, and Han Ming Yuan go pick the

dishes they wanted to eat first.

They’d all never seen eating like this before, and momentarily found it rather novel. Furthermore, in the past, the

dishes were all prepared beforehand, so they’d never thought that they would actually have to do it themselves here.

However, they also felt it was very novel.

“Master, how about letting this subordinate do it for you?” Leng Yi came to Han Ming Yi’s side and said.

“No need, I’ll do it myself.” Han Ming Yi raised his hand in refusal, then carried his own plate to the long table and

began selecting the things he wanted to eat.

Han Ming Yuan and Han Ming Xiang also refused their servant’s request, carrying their own plate over to the long

table. Once they finished choosing, Fu Ya Lan and them went.

T/N: I suddenly really miss number one enslaved free laborer Luo Qi, feel like he won’t appear again for a while–at

least in the next upcoming chapters he won’t appear. I was looking at the chapter titles for the next few chapters,

there’s one that’s particularly amusing.