Pampered Consort of the Fragrant Orchard Chapter 109.3: Parting Pact (3)

“Mhm, I sent someone to monitor his movements.” Luo Qi was also not stupid– what Du Xiaoli thought of he had naturally thought of as well, “But compared to this, I'm more worried about your situation.”
“Mine?”
Before coming to Northern Yuan, I heard about the Wind Blowing Snow situation, and I also know about that murder chase. Although Water Moon Paradise’s people interfered for you and diverted public attention to the mysterious Sect Master, you're still not completely safe right now.” Luo Qi said.
“I understand, I've practiced to the fifth level now, and I'm already touching the threshold of the sixth level. Once I break through the sixth level, even if they come after me, I won't be afraid.” Du Xiaoli said confidently. Seeing Luo Qi was still frowning, she added, “Besides, there's still Xiao Yi-gege and you! With you guys around, I'm not even afraid of the court or the Jianghu world, I can be as domineering as I want!”
“You!” When Luo Qi heard her say that she has him and Han Mingyi, he felt slightly more comfortable in his heart; at least he still has a position in her heart, right?
Albeit that this position, right now, had nothing to do with love.
“Alright, I've arrived. I'm going back now, everyone's been tired lately so tomorrow, after the marriage send-off, we’ll rest here for a night before going back tomorrow.” Du Xiaoli saw the inn in front of them and said with a smile, “We'll properly get together again another time.”
“Go on, I heard that you were treating injuries the whole day today and then you still went to treat Xia Hong, so you must be exhausted now. Go back and rest early.” Luo Qi patted Du Xiaoli's head like when they were children.
“Mm, I'll go in now, good night Luo Qi-gege!” Du Xiaoli waved at Luo Qi, pushed open the gate, and walked in.
Luo Qi waited until Du Xiaoli closed the gate behind her before turning back the way they had come.
“You’re back.” Ji Liufeng said when he saw Du Xiaoli return, leaning against the doorway of the hall.
“Why haven't you rested yet?” Du Xiaoli was somewhat surprised to see Ji Liufeng, it was already past midnight, right?
“It's fine, now that I’ve seen you come back, I’ll go to sleep,” Ji Liufeng said casually.
Du Xiaoli smiled, knowing that Ji Liufeng was worried about herself. She acknowledged, with a light smile, “Mm, good night.” Then she returned to her room.
Ying Ge was waiting for her in Du Xiaoli's room. Seeing her return, she hurriedly went up to help her rest, and waited for her to fall asleep before lying down on a cot in the room.
Du Xiaoli lay on the bed, listening to the slight sound of the falling snow outside. Sighing, she rolled over to face inward, and slept.
The night swirled with wind and snow.
The next morning, everyone got up.
Since the injured couldn't continue on, the procession to send off the bride split in half. As a result, Ji Liufeng temporarily displaced a few hundred people from the frontier soldiers, weaving them into a new procession to escort the bride.
After one night, the carriages had also been prepared. Although they couldn't catch up with the carriages from the capital, there was no other way now, so they had to split the dowries into parts to send. The good thing was that not many carriages were destroyed.
Before their departure, Du Xiaoli called everyone out. She spoke softly with Han Mingxiang in the room for a while, and only then did she call in the four maids sent by Han Mingyi, telling them to take care of Han Mingxiang, hide their martial arts skills, and so on.
After everything had been explained clearly, Du Xiaoli helped Han Mingxiang exit the inn, board the carriage, and set off to the outside of Lu City.
As they left the city, Du Xiaoli pulled the curtains open a bit, gazing at the tall city barrier and the gate so heavy it took more than twenty people to push open one side of it.
As the long procession went out from the city gate, she looked at the wide and sprawling suburbs outside. She quietly observed to herself: with such an open view, it would not be easy for others to ambush them.
“Click– clack–” After the bridal procession departed from the city, the gates were immediately shut. It seemed that their defense day-to-day was still very strong.
While they were on the road, Du Xiaoli was dragged by Han Mingxiang to talk about the fact that she knew the Sound Arts. Du Xiaoli couldn't help but want to roll her eyes– she still hadn’t forgotten this piece of gossip!
In spite of this, she still told Han Mingxiang how she had learned martial arts. When Han Mingxiang heard about how Du Xiaoli hadn’t even known qinggong, and that Leng Er had even told her it would be a waste of time to practice martial arts, Han Mingxiang couldn't help but laugh. Her eyes curved into two small crescent moons, and she sighed: ''It would have been nice if I was there back then. That way I could have gotten to know you earlier.”
“It's not too late now!” Du Xiaoli said.
“You might not know this but at that time I was still living in the palace. I heard that Fifth Brother had gone to a southern city to recuperate from his injuries, so I tried to find a way to get out. I hid underneath a merchant carriage several times but was discovered, and then I even scaled the wall and was almost arrested because they thought I was an assassin. That incident also alerted Father Emperor, and as a result, I was grounded by him for almost a month!” Han Mingxiang thought of when she was younger and felt that she was quite naughty at that time.
“I wouldn’t have expected you'd actually climb a wall, hahaha ......”
“If you laugh again, if you laugh again I'll hit you!” Han Mingxiang threatened when she saw Du Xiaoli's hysterical laughter.
“I really wouldn’t be able to see it at all! Tsk tsk......”
Du Xiaoli wasn't at all afraid of Han Mingxiang's threats, freely speaking her mind.
“You keep laughing at me, let's see how you laugh at me!” Han Mingxiang pounced on Du Xiaoli and reached out to tickle her.
Du Xiaoli didn't use her internal force to push her away, but instead immediately countered, reaching out to tickle Han Mingxiang's waist.
The two of them were twisted into a ball and played for a while before Han Mingxiang placed her head on Du Xiaoli's shoulder, tears rolling down her face in large streams. Du Xiaoli patted her shoulder, feeling her eyes tear up too.
Ever since knowing that she was going to be married off– other than that time she cried after hearing Ji Liufeng's words in the Blizzard Pavilion– Han Mingxiang had never shed a single tear. However, in the last bit of this journey, she could no longer suppress the sadness in her heart, and unable to control her own emotions, she cried out loudly while resting on Du Xiaoli's shoulder.
Ji Liufeng and Leng Yi were walking at the very front. When they heard Han Mingxiang's crying, Ji Liufeng's eyes also turned red. Leng Yi took a look at the two and waved his hand, signaling for the troops to stop.
Ji Liufeng looked at the distant sky and didn't turn his head to look at the carriage, but a wave of sadness identical to Han Mingxiang's overflowed from his body.
Du Xiaoli patted Han Mingxiang's shoulder, letting her release her emotions. After a while, Han Mingxiang's cries gradually weakened and she slowly regained her composure.
“Princess, you're a strong and intelligent woman. No matter what kind of situation you encounter, you have to be strong and survive. As long as you live on, there is hope. Live on so that I can find you.” Du Xiaoli said, and then also mentally added: so that I can bring you back.
After her bitter crying session, Han Mingxiang felt much lighter in her heart. Hearing Du Xiaoli's words, she nodded and said, “I will. I won't let myself be like Eldest Imperial Sister and the others.”
“Mhm, I believe in you. In a few years, I will definitely go to Northern Yuan to see you. This is considered our promise to each other, okay?” Du Xiaoli said.
“Okay, I'll wait for you.” Han Mingxiang wiped her tears and said, “Tell them we’ll continue on their way.”References 1. — i think the closest western equivalent of qing gong is parkour?? but if you’ve ever seen people jump really high and kind of look like they’re flying, that’s what is being referred to here ^-^ MoonWhisperer, skyrise's Thoughts

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