Chapter 79.1 - To Not Want Face When Given (1)
Chapter 79.1 – To Not Want Face When Given (1)
Du Xiao Li felt the loathing towards her from Nuo’er. Before she could say anything, Nuo’er already straightened
herself up and went behind Wang Ze, sizing up the estate in all directions, not giving Du Xiao Li a single glance.
Fan Nuo’er was one of the more talented disciples among the younger generation. Medicine King Valley although
had quite a few female disciples studying medicine, some that were even older than her, there weren’t any that could
rival her medical skills. Moreover, she was only nineteen and was considered relatively young. Someday, she
definitely will be able to make a name for herself. That’s why, for a long time now, she’s always considered to be
like a princess of Medicine King Valley, and also the object of everyone’s worship.
Du Xiao Li can be considered the Cheng Yao Jin that charged out halfway. Even though, aside from Niu Jing, no
one else had seen her before, in the Medicine King Valley, her rumors were everywhere, completely covering up her
limelight. This made her very unhappy. Especially when she heard that Du Xiao Li was only thirteen, she further
didn’t put this little shishu to heart, feeling everything was all just rumors. How could there be someone this young,
yet better than her!
(T/N: Chen Yao Jin is a Tang dynasty General. He was originally a leader in the peasant revolt during the late Sui
dynasty. This phrase originated from a anecdote in the late Sui dynasty. There was a bandit called You Jun Da. He
wanted to steal the Sui Yang Emperor’s imperial tribute. He found himself a helper called Cheng Yao Jin, who at the
time was a very poor peasant supporting his old sickly mother. He sold bamboo rakes for a living btw. The saying
came to be after he successfully robbed the officials transporting the imperial tribute en route multiple times. Every
time no matter how many guards there were, and no matter how strong they were, they would all be defeated by
Cheng Yao Jin who charged out midway with an axe.)
Just when she was planning to secretly sneak out of the valley sometime to go check out Du Xiao Li, Han Ming
Yuan came. After Qing Chen received the news, he immediately left Medicine King Valley with Han Ming Yuan.
Hearing that her shigong* and shifu were going to go, she thus, in the name of taking care of them, followed them
out together.
(T/N: Shigong loosely translates to teacher-grandfather; the hierarchy in these schools or sects are all based on
family terms.)
Seeing Du Xiao Li today, she was indeed like how she’d imagined, merely an immature child. Although she called
her shishu on the surface, in her heart however, she didn’t put Du Xiao Li to heart.
(T/N: Shishu – teacher-uncle; specifically someone who’s a junior to your own shifu.)
Everyone all had Fan Nuo’er’s attitude taken in, each with their own thoughts, yet all didn’t say anything.
Du Xiao Li smiled and said, “Shifu, senior brother, let’s go in first.”
“En, let’s go.”
Du Xiao Li brought the few of them into the courtyard, first taking them to go see the Grand Empress Dowager and
Meng Old Madam. They were going to be living here, so the Grand Empress Dowager’s matter definitely couldn’t
be kept from them. Besides, by letting them know, they can also help remove the gu for the Grand Empress
Dowager. In any case, her shifu and the Grand Empress Dowager were also old acquaintances. Running into one
another here, it’s not like they can’t not go greet her.
The Grand Empress Dowager had already gotten up and was currently in the courtyard sunbathing and chatting with
Meng Old Madam. Hearing that Hu Yi Jian came, she said, “Our old friend came, let’s go see.”
“En, haven’t seen him in a long time.” Meng Old Madam said.
“Sigh, unknowingly, this many years have already passed.” The Grand Empress Dowager lamented, “Now, we’re all
old.”
“Still remember that time we secretly snuck out and ran into him, following behind him and watching him treat the
people. In a blink of an eye, it has already been decades.”
“Haha, back then, we were still just little girls. Now, even our great-grandchildren have already come out.”
“Yes, time passes so fast……..”
The two walked along as they sighed. When they arrived at the guest hall, they saw Hu Yi Jian and the others
already sitting inside.
“Greetings to the Grand Empress Dowager.”
“Elder brother Hu, you all have finally come.” The Grand Empress Dowager lifted her hand, letting everyone all get
up. Afterwards, she walked to the main seat in the middle and sat down, while Meng Old Madam sat down right
below her.
“Previously heard Qing Chen, that child, say you were coming, yet after waiting this many says, still didn’t see you.
Thought that before returning to the palace, I won’t be able to meet you!” The Grand Empress Dowager said.
(T/N: Lol it’s a bit weird hearing them call a gray hair old man ‘that child’.)
Du Xiao Li heard the Grand Empress Dowager address herself not as ‘this grieving one’, but rather as ‘I’. It seems,
their relationship with Hu Yi Jian was indeed not bad.
“Originally planned on coming slowly, but after receiving Qing Chen’s news, explaining your situation, we thus
directly came to the capital.” Hu Yi Jian stroked his grizzled white beard.
On the way here, Hu Yi Jian didn’t hurry at all. But two days ago, he received news from Qing Chen, saying that the
Grand Empress Dowager’s body was unwell, so he let Wang Ze directly hurry towards Phoenix city.
“Previously, Qing Chen just said your body was unwell, and didn’t say the specifics either, what’s wrong?” Hu Yi
Jian asked.
“It’s just I’ve gotten old, and this body is not good anymore.” The Grand Empress Dowager said.
There weren’t any outsiders in the room, so Qing Chen had the Grand Empress Dowager’s matter explained to Hu Yi
Jian.
“Did you diagnosis it?” Hu Yi Jian asked after he finished listening to Qing Chen.
“Not me, it was little junior sister. By the time I came to the capital, she already had the Grand Empress Dowager
received into the estate.” Qing Chen said.
“I also felt it couldn’t have been you. You aren’t familiar with gu arts after all.” Hu Yi Jian said, and then looked to
Du Xiao Li, “Xiao Li, are you very knowledgable about the southwest gu arts?”
“A little.” Du Xiao Li said, “In the past, I used to live in the southwestern direction, not very far from the Miao
border. Exiting our county, then cross another few hundred meters is the Miao borders. In the past, when there’s
nothing to do, I would study this, but not very deeply.”
“You’re very knowledgable in both medicine and poison already, but never thought you’ve also dabbled in gu arts.”
Qing Chen said with a sigh
Du Xiao Li smiled. She actually didn’t use that much time. Just, because her iq was rather high, she could learn
everything very quickly. Besides, her medical skills were from her past life, so she didn’t spend too much time on
this subject. More of her time was actually spent on researching poison. This gu is also indeed liked she said, not a
subject she studied in depth. She only understood some relatively basic and simple ones. The overly complicated gu
arts, she also didn’t know.
The gu in the Grand Empress Dowager’s body should be the person relying on the fact that no one here understands
gu, thus used the lowest level of gu.
Hu Yi Jian looked to Du Xiao Li in praise and then said to the Grand Empress Dowager, “Nevertheless, I should still
take your pulse for you.”
“Alright.”
The Grand Empress Dowager extended her arm, letting Hu Yi Jian take her pulse. Hu Yi Jian went forward and
meticulously took her pulse for a while. Afterwards, he let go and returned to his own seat, saying: “You body is
quite well maintained, should be able to endure the impact of forcing out the gu.”
“These are all thanks to your little disciple.” Hearing Hu Yi Jian say this, the Grand Empress Dowager was also very
happy and beckoned her hand towards Du Xiao Li. Once Du Xiao Li walked over, she pulled her over and sat her
down next to her. “During this period of time, she has been using medicinal cuisine to help adjust my body, else this
body of time afraid wouldn’t have many more days to live!”
“Grandma Han’s words are too serious. Xiao Li is just did what a doctor and a younger generation should do, that’s
all. Moreover, grandma Han definitely can live a long life.” Du Xiao Li said with a smile.
Fan Nuo’er, seeing everyone in the entire room all looking to Du Xiao Li, and then hearing Du Xiao Li’s words,
lowered her head and muttered, “Just know how to flatter!”
Hu Yi Jian asked about when they will remove the gu, and Du Xiao Li explained that she was currently concocting
the medicine to inhibit the gu and needed two days’ time. That’s why the time was initially set for the day after
tomorrow.
Learning that Du Xiao Li still needed to prepare the medicine, Hu Yi Jian and the others just had Du Xiao Li kicked
back to the medicine room. And after Wang Ze and Nuo’er finished arranging the room, they had them go rest, while
the three elderly gathered to reminisce about the past.
As Du Xiao Li was leaving, she looked to the three chatting and laughing, and smiled. To be able to remain friends
for decades in this era is also a relatively hard to come by thing.
“Shishu, please wait a moment.”
T/N: Sorry these chapters have been late, I haven’t been well, I’ll have the sponsor chapter finished tomorrow