Army Outside the City Gates (5)
The steward let everyone stand in the courtyard and had all the lanterns lit, however it was still somewhat dark. Du Xiao Li came out into the courtyard. Borrowing the lantern light and moonlight, she still had the people in the courtyard all studied clearly.
There weren't many people in the entire estate. The servant girls and boys added together only came to twenty some. Despite seeing Du Xiao Li was just a thirteen year old girl, they still respectfully bowed to her.
Du Xiao Li said a few perfunctory words, and then let them go back to continue sleeping. These people were all found by Fu Wan San and were all honest and well-behaved people, so there was no need for her to say anything more.
By the time Du Xiao Li finished her bath, it was already deep into the night. When Xia Yuan went to take a bath, Du Xiao Li had Qiao Zhu called before her, letting her move a stool to her bedside to sit.
"Qiao Zhu, do you know who I am?" Du Xiao Li asked.
"Prime Minister Manor's Miss, should be that rumored talentless, virtue-less, unlearned, and uncultured Du third miss that just arrived in the capital the day before yesterday." Qiao Zhu said.
"How do you know?" Du Xiao Li asked.
"There isn't anything in the capital that I don't know!" Qiao Zhu patted her chest and said. Suddenly, she realized that her actions just now were somewhat unfit for her current attire and shyly laughed out, putting away her hand and saying, "The Du family's previous miss, Du Ke Xin, isn't as nice as miss."
"Hehe, you're very familiar with the people of the capital?" Du Xiao Li was amused by Qiao Zhu's appearance.
"Of course I'm familiar. We, as beggars, eat the household's food and listen to the household's affairs. The affairs of those official family's children are often brought out and talked about. We hear it a lot." Qiao Zhu proudly said.
"En, you know that I've just arrived in the capital and aren't familiar with the affairs of the capital. In the future, with you following by my side, whenever I encounter any problem or person, I will ask you." Du Xiao Li said.
"No problem, leave it to Qiao Zhu." Qiao Zhu boldly said, and then somewhat embarrassedly looked to Du Xiao Li, asking: "Miss, now that I'm following you, what will grandpa do?"
"First let him stay here for now. I bought a piece of land behind the Du Manor. When the time comes, we'll be building a fence, and just let your grandpa watch the perimeter there. That place is only separate from the Du Manor by a small river, and it's convenient for you to go see him." Du Xiao Li thought for a moment and said.
"Really? Thank you miss, you really are Qiao Zhu and grandpa's lucky star!" Qiao Zhu happily said.
"Miss, we seem to have found a little honeybee! This mouth is sweet like it's smeared in honey!" Xia Yuan returned from her bath, and upon hearing Qiao Zhu's words, teasingly laughed.
"Hehe." Qiao Zhu, after getting teased by Xia Yuan, embarrassingly laughed.
"Alright, everyone's all tired today, go rest soon." Du Xiao Li said.
"Miss, I want to go watch over grandpa." Qiao Zhu said.
"En, go then."
Qiao Zhu made a sound in response and happily ran out, heading to the old beggar's room. After Xia Yuan blew out the lantern light, she went to the side room. However, she and Du Xiao Li both didn't sleep, each practicing their inner energy on their bed.
The morning of the next day, Qiao Zhu waited outside Du Xiao Li's door, and after hearing movements inside, knocked on the door and entered carrying a basin of water.
"You sure learn fast, having just become miss's servant girl, and already acting the part perfectly." Xia Yuan looked to Qiao Zhu and said. Seeing her delicately pretty face and clever eyes, she said with a smile, "Miss, we seem to have found a charming person!"
Du Xiao Li also finished dressing and turned to look at Qiao Zhu. Although she was already cleaned last night, the light was dim and wasn't as visible as during the day.
"Miss, this is the clean towel I got from asking the mama here." Qiao Zhu had the basin put down and said.
"How's your grandpa doing now?" Du Xiao Li walked over to wash her face and asked.
"His spirit is much better than before! Miss's medical skills are truly amazing!" Qiao Zhu said with a smile.
"We have to rush back this morning. Before leaving, I'll perform acupuncture on him again. Once he arrives in the capital and is closer, I can properly treat him again and have the previously left behind ailments cured. If my father acts fast, you two will only be separated for just ten some days. You don't need to worry too much." Du Xiao Li said. She turned around and saw Qiao Zhu's face filled with tears, "What's wrong?"
"Wuuwuu, aside from grandpa, there has never been anyone be this good to Qiao Zhu before. So this is what it feels like to be care about by someone other than grandpa. Wuuwuu, to be able to encounter miss is really great!" Qiao Zhu just cried out.
Xia Yuan walked over and wiped her tears for her, saying: "Miss is a very good person. What we can do is just have miss served well, and have the things she orders take care of."
"En, en, I know, I will!" Qiao Zhu nodded her head and said.
Du Xiao Li smiled, but didn't say anything. She didn't want to say that she saw her past life's shadow from Qiao Zhu, and that's why she wanted to treat her well. Just like herself in the past, often yearning for someone to be good to her.......
After eating breakfast in the estate, Du Xiao Li didn't have time to properly tour her estate. Just, when they were heading out, they passed by the grape orchard, and she stopped for a look.
The grapes were planted on the two sides of the path according to Du Xiao Li's instructions. Currently, there were already strings of grapes hanging on there. This year, the north was rather warm, so looks like this grape will ripen soon.
"So this is grapes!" Qiao Zhu followed down from the carriage and looked to the garden full of grapes in surprise.
"Yes, miss likes to eat grapes very much. En, regarding miss's matters, I'll slowly explain them to you when we get back. What miss likes, and what she doesn't like, you have to remember well." Xia Yuan said.
"Okay."
Du Xiao Li strolled around the grape orchard for a little while, and then immediately got back on her carriage and headed off towards the capital. But before they could reach the city gates, they encountered the army not far from the gates. If not for that guard stopping the horse carriage in time, they probably would've collided with the people riding the horse in front.
"What happened?" Xia Yuan asked.
"We seemed to have ran into the army returning to the city." The guard replied.
"Didn't they say they would arrive tomorrow? How come they returned today?" Qiao Zhu mumbled to herself.
"Miss, Feng Ming seems to have the rule, when encountering the army returning to the city, one must descend the carriage to welcome." Xia Yuan said.
Du Xiao Li pulled open the curtains for a look. The entire army, because of their horse carriage, stopped moving, and everyone all had their gazes directed at her horse carriage. Looks like she had no choice but to descend the carriage. Thus, she said to Xia Yuan and Qiao Zhu, "Let's go then."
Qiao Zhu and Xia Yuan got down first. Then, they helped Du Xiao Li get down.
As soon as Du Xiao li got down, she locked eyes with the person in black armor leading the troops in front. Startled, she thought to herself, 'How come it's him?!'
Want more chapters? Sponsor a chapter and fuel my caffeine addiction by supporting me on !
Any amount is appreciated, and for every $25 total donation, an additional chapters will be posted. Please include PCFO in the message so I know it's for this, and also indicate if you wish to remain anonymous.
Additional Chapters Queue: 2