Pampered Consort of the Fragrant Orchard Chapter 095.2: Heart-to-Heart Conversation (2)

Du Xiaoli never expected that Lu Junqi, who had only been here for less than a month, would mature so quickly. Her current self seemed to have grown out of her childish behaviors and become somewhat of an adult in just a short time.
She had indeed experienced quite a lot this month. In particular, circling around the gates of hell would certainly make a person understand a lot of things. Lu Junqi's quick maturity could be regarded as something she gained from that dangerous experience.
"Miss Du, do you think I talk a lot?" Lu Junqi asked suddenly.
"No. I feel honored that you’re able to disregard our previous enmity and chat with me, Princess," Du Xiaoli replied.
"Sigh, hearing you say this, I know you’re still keeping a distance from me," Lu Junqi said.
"Princess, you have a noble status. I, Xiaoli, dare not hold myself so highly," Du Xiaoli said nonchalantly.
"I’ve seen you get along with Princess Changle, Miss Fu, and others. Although you are generally more polite to everyone, you are completely different when you are with them," Lu Junqi said with a sigh. "I guess that makes sense. My previous behavior must be hard for all of you to accept. I apologize for what I did before."
After saying that, she bowed slightly to apologize to Du Xiaoli.
"Princess, you’re speaking too seriously!" Du Xiaoli quickly stopped her.
"Oh," Lu Junqi uttered. She straightened her posture and went to stand before the railing. Looking at the reflection of the moon in the water, she said: "I don't know what's wrong with me. When I thought about how I’m leaving tomorrow, I just really wanted to have a chat with you and say goodbye. Having said all these to you, my heart feels much lighter all of a sudden."
Du Xiaoli suddenly thought of an expression that she had heard in her previous life and said it to Lu Junqi: "Princess, it is only when you wear lighter armor that you’ll be able to go further in a battle.”
"Pfft, your words are similar to what those masters said and carry a sense of zen!" Lu Junqi smiled suddenly. The despondency on her face disappeared, and her whole person seemed to glow with a fresh appearance.
Du Xiaoli played along with Lu Junqi's words and teased, "One day when a Buddhist temple’s presiding host is busy, I will go there to be the guest host for two days."
"Hu——" Lu Junqi let out a long breath and said, "If you go to Eastern Li in the future, remember to visit me. I will also be the host and treat you well."
"If I go to Eastern Li, I will definitely appreciate your hospitality, Princess. It's cold this late autumn, and we have been out for a long time. We should return," Du Xiaoli said.
Du Xiaoli was fine since she had internal strength, therefore she didn't feel much of the chill in this cold weather. However, Lu Junqi didn't know martial arts. It would be troublesome if she caught a cold.
Lu Junqi poked her arm and indeed felt a slight coolness. So she nodded and said: "Then let's go back."
The two returned to the palace hall. When Fu Yalan saw Du Xiaoli return, she felt relieved.
Fu Yalan pulled Du Xiaoli over to ask: "Xiao Li, why was she looking for you?"
Du Xiaoli glanced at Lu Junqi. The latter shook her head at Du Xiaoli, signaling for her to keep what happened a secret.
So Du Xiaoli smiled heartily and said, "It’s nothing. She just wanted to have a small chat with me."
"Well, that's good then." Fu Yalan could tell Du Xiaoli wasn’t at liberty to tell her about it, so she didn't ask any more questions.
Du Xiaoli took a sip of wine and said, "Yalan-jie, I think you’re really like my sister-in-law now."
Fu Yalan glared at Du Xiaoli and replied, "What are you talking about? I’m caring about you as a friend!"
"Tomorrow morning, just stay home and don't go anywhere. I reckon my father and brother will be wanting to go over to your place first thing in the morning," Du Xiaoli warned.
"This little mouth of yours! You just won’t let me off now, huh?! You’ve been laughing at me at every chance you get!" Fu Yalan said.
"Have I?"
"Yes!"
"Then take it as I have! Once you marry into my family, you will be my sister-in-law. When that time comes, I’ll have to respect you as my elder and won’t be able to tease you anymore. So, I have to seize the moment and make the most out of every opportunity to tease you now, hahaha!"
Upon noticing the many people around them, Fu Yalan decided to settle the score with Du Xiaoli later: "Okay, Xiaoli, let's see how I deal with you later on!"
"Sigh. In the future, my brother will soon no longer spoil me, he will spoil you instead!"
"You're still saying more!" Fu Yalan looked at Du Xiaoli angrily and implied she would punish the latter on the spot if she teased her again.
Du Xiaoli knew that Fu Yalan was embarrassed. Women of this era were still very reserved about marriage.
At this moment, Du Xiuheng was with his academy classmates. He heard Du Xiaoli's voice, so he turned around. When he saw Du Xiaoli rolling about in laughter and Fu Yalan staring at Du Xiaoli with a bashful face, he couldn't help but smile slightly.
"Brother Xiuheng! Congratulations on getting such a good achievement. Let me toast you a cup. In the future, when Brother Xiuheng soars to greatness, don't forget about me!" A man walked over with a cup of wine and tried to get close to Du Xiuheng.
"Haha, thank you! I’m still hoping to be able to rely on you instead in the future!" Du Xiuheng held up his wine cup and clinked it against the man’s cup. Since the other party drank the wine in one gulp, Du Xiuheng had to do it in one gulp as well.
The people from Northern Qi and Eastern Li were going back to their countries the next day, so the banquet ended fairly early. Du Xiaoli and Du Xiuheng sent Fu Yalan back first. Then Du Xiuheng accompanied Du Xiaoli to Suiyuan before finally returning to the Prime Minister's Manor.
When Du Xiaoli returned to Suiyuan, Xia Yuan and the others had already prepared the bathwater for her. She took a bath, put on her sleepwear, and climbed straight into bed.
"Pheeew, it’s finally over." Du Xiaoli sighed deeply for a while.
"Mistress, this period of time sure has been busy for you. You’ve even lost weight," Xia Yuan said as she tidied up the house.
"Have I?"
"Yes!" Xia Yuan exclaimed. She took a mirror and stuffed it into Du Xiaoli's hand. "If you don't believe me, have a look for yourself. Your chin is so pointy now!"
Du Xiaoli lay back onto the bed and held the mirror high. She commented, "Well, it does seem that this chin of mine is indeed somewhat pointy. But it's good that I’ve lost weight. It's called being skinny, you know?"MoonWhisperer, BlackieMeow's Thoughts

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