Chapter 71.1 – Poisoned

T/N: Chapter sponsored by Anons and sakurako! Thank you for sponsoring!

The old mama left the osmanthus forest with Du Xiao Li. She didn’t even turn back to look at Du Xiao Li. She just

directly passed through the flower garden in front of the forest and arrived at a palace hall.

When Du Xiao Li exited the forest, she discovered that she’d followed Du Ke Xin to a rather remote area of the

imperial palace. But this palace before her, although was in a rather remote area, it wasn’t the least bit shabby. The

decorations and whatnot all appeared grand and refine.

As she studied this palace, she temporarily forgot to walk. The old mama that was already at the palace entrance

turned around and coldly berated, “Still not coming!”

“Oh.” Du Xiao Li was startled and quickly walked over.

The old mama lead her to the building in the middle and said, “Wait here.” And then entered the building.

Du Xiao Li looked around in all four directions. What was this place? To not even see a single guard or servant girl

around. Could it be the legendary cold palace? But this decoration didn’t seem like it either. Why would the cold

palace be decorated this extravagantly? But if one were to say that some noble personage lived here, why would

there not be the most basic guard or servant girl here?

“Follow me.”

The old mama came out a moment later and said to Du Xiao Li. From beginning to end, her expression never

changed. Afterwards, not waiting for Du Xiao Li’s reply, she turned around and entered again.

Du Xiao Li followed her inside. Never thought that this place was actually like her residence, need to go up to the

second floor before seeing someone.

She looked to the old mama in front her. The other party’s footsteps up the stairs were actually silent. Don’t know

what kind of martial arts she practiced.

“Master, the person is here.” The old mama’s aged voice sounded in front, pulling back Du Xiao Li’s train of

thought.

“You’re here ah, come over and let this grieving one see.” A similarly aged voice, yet this voice carried a burst of

high and above feeling. That was a kind of innate noble presence.

This grieving one? Wasn’t that the Empress Dowager or Grand Empress Dowager’s self-address?!

(T/N: Or as Jen likes to call it, the address of a wife to a dead emperor, because they supposed to be forever grieving

for the dead emperor. Grand Empress Dowager is mother to the previous Emperor and grandmother to the current

Emperor.)

Du Xiao Li was still on walkway of the second floor. Hearing the voice inside, she took two steps forward, coming

into the room. Inside there were two servant girls standing to the side. Additionally, two old women were sitting in

front drinking tea, and one of them she recognized!

“Girl, still not coming to greet the Grand Empress Dowager.” Meng Old Madam looked to the shocked Du Xiao Li

with a smile and called out to her.

Du Xiao Li knelt down and said, “This subject Du Xiao Li greets Grand Empress Dowager!”

“You’re Du Xiao Li? Lift your head and let this grieving one see.” The Grand Empress Dowager faintly spoke.

Du Xiao Li lifted her head and looked to the grandly dressed Grand Empress Dowager, feeling her appearance was

somewhat resembled Han Ming Yi.

“A rather delicately pretty child.” The Grand Empress Dowager looked to Du Xiao Li’s appearance and evaluated,

“Alright, get up then. Meng Gu, give her a seat.”

“Yes, master.” Meng Gu, the old mama that had brought Du Xiao Li here just now, went to the side hall and brought

a stool over, placing by Du Xiao Li’s side.

Du Xiao Li curtsied towards the Grand Empress Dowager before finally sitting down.

“And the other two intruders?” The Grand Empress Dowager asked.

“Got knocked unconscious by her and thrown under the big tree in the middle of the osmanthus flower forest.”

Meng Gu replied.

“Then just let them stay there. Later, throw to the Emperor to take care of.” The Grand Empress Dowager said and

then looked to Du Xiao Li, coldly asking: “Du Xiao Li, why did you trespass the forbidden palace?”

(T/N: Not to be confused with the actual ‘Forbidden Palace’, the name here just means a palace that is forbidden to

enter.)

“Forbidden palace?” Du Xiao Li finally understood Du Ke Xin and Chen Yue’s purpose. Facing the Grand Empress

Dowager’s questioning, she quickly knelt down, “This subject didn’t know this is the forbidden palace. To have

trespassed, asking for Grand Empress Dowager’s forgiveness!”

“Ai, second sister, look at how you scared the girl.” Meng Old Madam looked to Du Xiao Li and felt somewhat

heartache.

“This grieving one didn’t say was going to punish her. She got scared herself.” The Grand Empress Dowager said,

“Alright, quickly get up, else old three is going to think this grieving one wants to bully you again.”

“Thank you Grand Empress Dowager, thank you grandma Meng.” Du Xiao Li got up after thanking and then

returned to her seat.

Actually, Du Xiao Li had already known the Grand Empress Dowager wasn’t planning on punishing her. Else, she

wouldn’t have bestowed her a seat. However, since she asked like that, she needed to act accordingly no matter

what.

“Girl, how come you entered the forbidden palace? Don’t you know the forbidden palace can’t be entered without

permission? If it weren’t for me just happening to be here, you all would’ve been directly killed by Meng Gu

earlier.” Meng Old Madam said.

“Speak, what did you all trespass the forbidden palace for?” Meng Gu fixedly stared at Du Xiao Li, like as if she

was to lie, she will immediately punish her.

Du Xiao Li explained that in the afternoon after she parted ways with Han Ming Xiang and them, she’d encountered

Du Ke Xin and Chen Yue and got dragged here by them. She also explained what happened afterwards.

“So you thus had them knocked out and dragged back into the forest again?” The Grand Empress Dowager said.

When Du Xiao Li heard Grand Empress Dowager say ‘dragged’, she recalled herself at the time having each in one

hand. It was indeed very close-fitting. But, how did they know? Meng Gu’s actions just now, as well as Grand

Empress Dowager’s words, all didn’t indicate that she’d already had her actions at the time told to them?

Could it be—-

She turned her towards the outside. As expected, she saw the osmanthus forest. Moreover, with the forest’s

thickness, one can perfectly see the place where she knocked out Du Ke Xin and Chen Yue and also the path in

which she dragged them back on.

Turns out, her actions were all witnessed by them.

“As soon as you all entered the forest, Meng Gu had already noticed. If you were ordinary trespassers, you would’ve

long been killed by Meng Gu. If not for old three recognizing you, asking this grieving one to forgive you, you all

would’ve had the same ending as the others.” The Grand Empress Dowager said after seeing that Du Xiao Li already

understood.

Du Xiao Li once again got up and bowed towards the Grand Empress Dowager and Meng Old Madam, “Thanking

Grand Empress Dowager for not killing, thanking grandma Meng for saving.”

“Alright, this time, this grieving one will let it go, but next time, if you dare trespass the forbidden palace again, you

will be punished.” With Grand Empress Dowager saying it as such, today’s matter was overlooked just like that.

“Yes, this subject will bear in mind.” Du Xiao Li curtsied again and then returned to her stool.

“Second sister, didn’t you previously say you’ve been feeling lightheaded lately? How about letting this girl have a

look for you?” Meng Old Madam said.

“She even knows medicine?” The Grand Empress Dowager said in surprise.