novelraw Chapter 496: 497: Was She Wrong?
Chapter 496: 497: Was She Wrong?
Chapter 496: Chapter 497: Was She Wrong?
Dugu Xiaojin felt distressed at the thought that, in a few days, the Queen Mother and King, all three of them, would be leaving Chu City, while Xiao Li would be left behind alone.
He worried that Feng Xiaoli would be bullied again. Xiao Li was a clever and quirky child, not easily picked on by others, but she was still very kind-hearted.
Dongfang Xiu, on the other hand, was the complete opposite. Dugu Xiaojin was very clear about her temperament; she was spoiled from a young age and was used to getting everything her way. If she didn’t get what she wanted, she held grudges.
This time, since she was at a disadvantage because of Xiao Li, she would definitely find a way to retaliate, and with the entire Crown Prince Mansion’s family not in Chu City, no one would restrain Dongfang Xiu. Xiao Li might very well suffer.
“Who would have thought, our Xiaojin is quite the sister-con.”
Seeing Dugu Xiaojin’s tense and handsome face, as if he was ready to protect his sister, Feng Bailing was instead amused.
Feng Bailing even mused to himself that Xiao Li was only so small, and Dugu Xiaojin was already so protective. He wondered what Dugu Xiaojin’s reaction would be when Xiao Li grew up and found the love of her life.
It must be tough for Xiao Li’s future husband. After all, with a brother and father like Dugu Xiaojin and Dugu Wu, wouldn’t it be intimidating for any man?
However, Feng Bailing had another thought. She only had a one-year marriage contract with Dugu Wu, and several months had already passed, meaning that Xiaojin and Xiao Li, the siblings, might have to part ways after the Competition Among Ten Countries ends.
Both little ones would surely be very sad.
Feng Bailing felt a sinking feeling in her heart, even beginning to doubt if her initial decision was the right one.
But Dugu Xiaojin was unaware of Feng Bailing’s concerns and asked curiously.
“Queen Mother, what does ‘sister-con’ mean?”
“Being a ‘sister-con’ means praising you for being a good brother who loves and cares for his sister.”
Feng Bailing came back to her senses and ruffled Dugu Xiaojin’s hair.
“However, we can’t take Xiao Li with us to Qinghe City, although I know you care about Xiao Li and want to protect her.”
Feng Bailing was also reluctant to part with her daughter, but the Competition Among Ten Countries was no trivial matter. They were heading to Qinghe City to participate, and Feng Bailing always felt that things were not so simple.
With Ten Countries competing, she and Xiaojin would likely be too preoccupied to take care of themselves, let alone Feng Xiaoli. It would be safer to leave the little one in Chu City in the care of Dongfang Lianhua.”
As soon as Feng Bailing said this, Dugu Xiaojin’s handsome little face fell.
“The Queen Mother promises you that I will make arrangements for Xiao Li and send her to the Commandery Princess’ Mansion. The Princess’ nanny will take good care of her. And there’s Hei Dian too. Besides, Xiao Li is not entirely helpless. She would be unhappy if she knew we were underestimating her.”
Feng Bailing recalled when her daughter told her about the Six-character Daming Mantra.
The little one was indeed mischievous, to eavesdrop outside the study late at night. What surprised Feng Bailing even more was that Feng Xiaoli could also grasp the profound aspects of the Six-character Daming Mantra.
It was no mystery that Dugu Wu and Dugu Xiaojin father and son had insights after seeing the Six-character Daming Mantra since their talents were extraordinary. But Xiao Li was different; she neither had the Wenhua Seal nor the Wuji Seal, yet she had some comprehension, which was a bit strange.
After hearing about the Daming Mantra, she spoke it out loud and calmed Emperor Yongye’s raging fury—which was a feat that even Dugu Wu might not achieve!
The Daming Mantra also instilled Feng Xiaoli with a compassionate heart, and she was no longer as blunt as before. Feng Bailing felt even more reassured.
Dugu Xiaojin thought about it and felt that the Queen Mother had a point, since bringing Xiao Li along was indeed inconvenient.
“Queen Mother, even though the Princess’ nanny is very strong, and Xiao Li also has Hei Dian for protection, there could still be oversights. Like today when entering the Imperial Palace, Hei Dian couldn’t go inside to protect Xiao Li. I do have a good idea, though. I want to leave the Parasitic Bee Queen to protect Xiao Li.”
Xiaojin thought of a compromise.
“The method is feasible, but by doing this, you’ll be lacking a layer of protection during the Competition Among Ten Countries…”
Feng Bailing still had some concerns.
The Parasitic Bee Queen, now nurtured by Dugu Xiaojin, could completely understand human commands.
The Parasitic Bee Queen was hatched by Feng Bailing. Since it saw Feng Bailing and her family upon birth, the Parasitic Bee Queen was very familiar with the scents of all four family members and would only not initiate attacks when it saw them.
Especially with Xiao Li, as the feelings between her and the Queen Bee were also very good, she would often play hide and seek with the Queen Bee in the Wu Courtyard.
“Queen Mother, rest assured. You’ve forgotten, I also have the Amber Spider and Baishan, and they are also my good helpers. Xiao Li needs more protection.”
Dugu Xiaojin spoke with conviction, and the mother and son made a decision on the spot. From that moment, the Parasitic Bee Queen was responsible for ensuring Feng Xiaoli’s safety, and if it detected anyone harboring malicious intentions towards her, it would attack.
Of course, all of this was still unknown to Feng Xiaoli, who was a happy-go-lucky person. Shortly after returning to Prince Shun’s Mansion, she had already put all the unpleasantness that happened in the Imperial Palace out of her mind.
After settling down her daughter, during the remaining days of mourning, both Feng Bailing and Dugu Wu became busy without prior agreement.
Dugu Wu was busy handing over affairs of the Ministry of Revenue and preparing for departure, while Feng Bailing, taking advantage of Dugu Wu’s inattention, took the Amber Spider on a trip to Xinqi Village.
This trip to Xinqi Village saw her collecting all the newly harvested medicinal herbs into emergency boxes and the Medical Cabin, and she also brought a large number of cultivated Genetic Seeds.
“Princess Consort Wu, we’ve selected fifty reliable men and women from among the villagers according to your instructions. They will take a batch of seeds to Daye and Nanshe early tomorrow morning.”
The village chief, accompanied by fifty villagers, came to meet Feng Bailing.
After Li Mubei and Feng Bailing last discussed the shortage of medicinal herbs and goods in various countries, Feng Bailing had the idea to expand the Genetic Seeds to some villages in Daye and Nanshe.
Ouyang Chenchen and Li Mubei each selected villages similar to the circumstances of Xinqi Village, which were impoverished and where the villagers were simple and hard-pressed to resolve even their basic food and clothing needs, but they came from generations of farmers and were adept at cultivation.
Feng Bailing chose fifty villagers from Xinqi Village to be sent to those villages to serve as village chiefs and to teach the local villagers how to cultivate genetic crops.
Genetic crops could be harvested in about a month, and by then, they would directly supply various places.
After arranging everything, Feng Bailing began extracting medicine liquid.
The Amber Spider had a good appetite and could produce fifty pounds of medicine liquid every day.
High-quality ginseng, top-grade cordyceps, and rare hundred-year Polygonum multiflorum, Feng Bailing spared no expense in feeding them to the Amber Spider.
The quality of the medicine liquid obtained was improving day by day.
By the day before departure, Feng Bailing’s Medical Cabin already had an additional four hundred pounds of medicine liquid. She only kept fifty pounds for daily use, and the rest was handed over to Zhang Erfa.