After the coming-of-age ceremony, it was lunch. During the break before eating, Madam Meng took Du Xiaoli's hand and said, "Originally, I was thinking of recognizing you as my goddaughter, but seeing that you were so busy, I thought I would wait. Who knew that the Emperor would accept you as his godsister first and now when we see you we have to pay respects to you.”
Du Xiaoli smiled, saying, “Although I can’t be Aunt Meng’s goddaughter, you are still my Aunt Meng!”
“Good, good.” Madam Meng gazed at Meng Jiangzhuo who had returned from changing her clothes. With deep reluctance and unwillingness in her eyes, she said: “In the future when she leaves for Jiangnan, you guys must come to the manor to visit me often.”
“We will.” Du Xiaoli assured her.
After eating lunch, Du Xiaoli and the others chatted together for some time before they each headed back.
“Xiaoli.”
Outside the gate of the Meng Manor, after Fu Yalan and Ji Liuxia had already left, Han Mingxiang called out to Du Xiaoli.
“Princess.” Du Xiaoli turned, looking at Han Mingxiang.
“I have a few things I want to say to you,” Han Mingxiang said, “Let’s find a place to talk.”
“Okay.”
Upon arriving at a teahouse, the two of them asked for a private room and had their maids stand guard at the door.
Looking at the familiar neighborhood, Du Xiaoli thought back to when she had attended that banquet on her second day here. It had been this very private room she had been in with Mo Yang.
Th furnishings in the room hadn’t change one bit, and even the screen room divider^[1] was exactly the same as the one from back then, but her heart was no longer as relaxed and free as it had been when she first arrived in the capital.
“Princess, have some tea.” Du Xiaoli poured a cup of tea for Han Mingxiang, setting it in front of her, before pouring another cup for herself, holding it in her hand.
Han Mingxiang was fixated on the street outside the window but Du Xiaoli didn’t break the silence, just quietly accompanying her.
Only after quite some time did Han Mingxiang slowly open her mouth to speak: “These streets, in another ten days or so, I won’t be able to see them anymore.”
“Princess, if it’s a matter that can’t be changed then you can only set down your worries and accept it. If you continue ike this, it will only hurt your own body. See it’s only been so long and you’ve already lost so much weight.” Du Xiaoli comfortingly encouraged her.
“I know,” Han Mingxiang diligently mustered up a smile, saying, “I called you here today because I want to ask you to do something.”
“Princess, please go ahead.”
“When I get married, I need a royal sister to send me off. I want to have you accompany me on my final journey to Feng Ming,” Han Mingxiang beseeched.
“Me?” Du Xiaoli was somewhat taken aback.
Han Mingxiang nodded, saying, “Now that you are also a princess, you can be considered a member of the royal family. If I mention it to the Emperor, it shouldn’t be a problem. You just need to send me to the border. The only thing is it might be approaching New Year’s Day when you return.”
“Okay. I’ll accompany you.” Du Xiaoli nodded and agreed.
“Thank you, Xiaoli. It’s our good fortune for me to encounter you before leaving here.” Han Mingxiang said.
“It’s my good fortune to meet all of you after coming to the capital.”
“Liufeng, how has he been lately?”
“Last time when he got drunk, he was severely punished by Xiaoyi-gege. As of now his situation should be okay, I’ve only heard that he is in the military camp in the capital to recruit soldiers or something along those liens.” Du XIaoli replied.
“That’s good.” Han Mingxiang smiled bitterly.
Meanwhile, in the military camp, Ji Liufeng, in a full suit of armor, came to Han Mingyi’s room.
Han Mingyi was in the middle of discussing matters with a few other generals, and when he saw Ji Liufeng enter covered in filth, he couldn’t help but frown.
“Bang——”
Ji Liufeng immediately knelt down, lowering his head wordlessly.
“We can discuss the rest tomorrow, you all can return first.” Han Mingyi waved his hand at the others and those few generals could tell from a glance that the two had things to discuss, and they all exited.
Han Mingyi went to the table and sat down in the chair behind it. Looking at Ji Liufeng who was kneeling on the ground, he said, “You went to find someone for a fight again?”
Ji Liufeng lowered his head even more.
“Go ahead, what matter was it.” Han Mingyi looked at Ji Liufeng, hating that this piece of iron couldn’t become steel^[2].
“The Princess’ marriage alliance bodyguards…” Ji Liufeng stopped speaking halfway through.
“You want to go?” Han Mingyi said.
“Yes.”
“Why bother?” Han Mingyi sighed, saying.
“I’ll send her safely over.” Ji Liufeng said.
There are some mistakes that take a person a lifetime of regrets, complaints, and unravelling, to patch up.
“If you maintain your current state of shriveled up depression, only knowing how to pick fights with people all day, there will be no room for you to take her.” Han Mingyi said.
“Thank you King Ding.” Ji Liufeng, kowtowed as he said. Then, he rose and left.
“Sigh…” Seeing Ji Liufeng like this, Han Mingyi found himself sighing as well. “When we had you go earlier you refused, any regrets you have now are useless. Leng Yi, in the future if you have a woman you love, you better not be like him.”
“Master, I won’t,” Leng Yi answered.
But noone knew if his “I won’t” referred to not having someone he loved, or not being like Ji Liufeng.
[1] 屏风 or screens, were used as privacy/room dividers but are more dated and not common in western furnishings [search: 屏风 to see an example of what they looked like!]
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