FID – Chapter 267

This piece of sweet-scented Osmanthus grove covered quite a vast ea, almost occupying half of the southern suburbs.

It stretched for ten miles, and the air was strongly fragrant.

At first glance were tall trees with dense branches and leaves dotted with patches of golden yellow.

Walking among them would soothe people’s mood.

“Every October, people in the capital like to come here. The Osmanthus grove has become one of the famous attractions in the capital.” Seeing the smile on the young girl’s lips, Fu Yuzheng explained in a low voice with her.

“Is it the same as the Red Maple Mountain in the outskirts of the capital?”

“So the last time you and the King disappeared for a day, did you go to the Red Maple Mountain?”

Fu Yuzheng was in a rare relaxed mood for teasing, and made a touch of scarlet quickly climb on the girl’s porcelain white cheeks. It was moving.

Feigning anger, Liu Yusheng glared at Fu Yuzheng, “You turned out to be this gossip.”

“I was merely asking. Why are you blushing?”

“I’ll return the favor when you have a sweetheart, wait for it!” The girl vowed boldly. 

But it dashed the teasing from Fu Yuzheng’s eyes.

Bitterness crept into her heart.

Her sweetheart.

Would there ever be one?

In the future, when the King’s affairs were completed and her revenge was avenged, perhaps she would find a corner where she could live the rest of her life free from disturbances.

If she was still alive.

However, in terms of emotional matters, she would force herself nor would she wallow in it.

She’d be fortunate to get it, but not her life.

Besides, in this world, the majority of men were fickle. How many men were there who could be single-minded and devoted to each other?

If she couldn’t find one, she’d rather not.

She would never repeat her mother’s mistake.

Following the footsteps of the people in front of her, she walked through a corner of the Osmanthus grove and the view opened up in front of her.

Surprisingly, there was a pavilion built there. Refreshments and wine were prepared there, with two maids standing side by side at the entrance.

Zuo Xuan greeted the women and seated them. This respite here should be her early preparation for the garden party.

Liu Yusheng followed into the seat. When looked outside the pavilion, she found that its location was very clever.

The foundation was built higher than the level ground, so everyone could completely capture the view of the surrounding forest while looking out and sitting there.

The view was magnificent, and the air was fragrant – a good place to rest.

“Miss Liu is new here. As the host, I’d like to toast you a thin cup of wine. This green plum wine is a tribute from Shanggong palace. Our mansion received two jars, and I took them out today to share with everyone. Enjoy it well.” After sitting down, Zuo Xuan immediately poured two cups of wine and handed one to Liu Yusheng.

“Many thanks.” Liu Yusheng smiled, took the wine and really tasted it carefully, sipping a little lightly.

Someone snickered out, “Miss Liu, you can drink wine to your heart’s content, but if you drink like this, won’t it take until dark for you to finish a cup?”

Liu Yusheng laughed and said, “I am from a humble family, and it is rare for me to taste tribute wine, so I have to taste it slowly. I am not as knowledgeable as you all. I am sorry.”

“Miss Liu, you flatter us. What good stuff isn’t at the Nanling Palace? If you’re living in the Nanling Palace, will the King still begrudge such a jar of green plum wine?” Zuo Xuan said.

“I don’t know how many good things there are in the King’s mansion, but I’m only staying there as a guest, so I wouldn’t dare to ask more.”

Another person said, “I heard that Miss Liu came from the Xinghua Village in Yunzhou, and that you also have a Little Divine Doctor title. Can you practice medicine? So can you read and write? I always thought that people in the countryside were illiterate.”

“Miss Liu is a doctor, so of course she can read and write. Otherwise, how can she give people a prescription? If a doctor can’t write a prescription, wouldn’t that be neglecting people’s lives?!”

Liu Yusheng smiled but remained silent.

Fu Yuzheng was here as an escort, and would not arbitrarily overstep her bounds. On top of that, none of the people here she could rebuke.

The malice continued.

“I have lived in the capital for many years, and have never been to the countryside. I’m very curious, Miss Liu. What do you usually eat when you dine?”

“I have heard people say that even steamed buns with white noodles are rare in the countryside. That is something that can only be eaten on New Year’s Day, and only for those who are a little wealthy can afford it. Most of them eat black flour buns and drink wild vegetable soup, is it true?”

“I heard that people in the countryside raise chickens, ducks, pigs and sheep in their own yards. They work with livestock all day long, and go out with a strange smell.”

Whether they were involved in this topic or not, the women’s eyes were all on Liu Yusheng, either huddling together and whispering, or covering their lips to hide their smiles. They were just waiting to see Liu Yusheng’s reaction.

“Is that so? It turns out that Young Misses can still hear so many rumors about the countryside.

I used to think that Young Misses are the kind of people who only know the smell of wine and meat and don’t know if there’s anyone on the road who’s frozen to death.

It’s only now that I realized you still know how to care about people’s livelihood and suffering. I misunderstood.”

Liu Yusheng took a sip of wine and smiled.

“You’ve heard so much, but I wonder if you have heard that the vegetables you import and eat on a regular basis are watered with urine?

Oh, also, you get to eat pork every day, right? Did you know that pigs grow fat by constantly eating scraps?

I am also curious to know what Young Misses’ body smells like if they don’t wear perfumed powder and have eaten these things.”

The complexion of the ladies drastically paled one after another. Some covered their mouths, forcefully suppressing the urge to vomit. When they looked at the food on the table, their appetite instantly disappeared!

“Miss Liu! This is a gathering of noble girls. How can you speak so-so vulgar?!”

Liu Yusheng tilted her head and said innocently, “I’m from the country. Country people are vulgar, haven’t you heard?”

“…”

Fu Yuzheng lowered her head, trying her hardest to suppress the shaking of her shoulders. Her pretty face was suffocated with red because of holding back her laughter, and the cold hue in her eyes was nowhere to be seen.

Miss Liu could always teach people unexpectedly.

No voice or conversation was heard in the pavilion for a long time. Only Liu Yusheng was not affected in the slightest. Not only did she eat the dishes, drink the beverages, enjoy the scenery outside, but also appreciated the color of the faces of the noble girls.

Zuo Xuan took a deep breath and pulled out a strong smile. “Today is a garden poetry party. We shouldn’t sweep the spirit because of a few words. How about a drinker’s wager game?”

Fu Yuxian immediately agreed, “Okay, let’s take the seven-character poem as a model and write a poem each. Since Miss Liu can read and write, she should have no problem, right?”

“I dare not spoil the fun, but I can barely try,” Liu Yusheng responded with a smile.

The kind of smile, faint and calm, as if nothing could break her momentum, dazzled everyone. 

Soon, someone sang a poem on the spot.

When it came to praising the golden autumn and Osmanthus fragrans, they made neat sentences and rhymes. It was evident that the noble girls have learned poetry, songs, music, chess, calligraphy and painting since they were young.

When it was Fu Yuxian’s turn, she took a special look at Liu Yusheng and opened her lips, slowly reciting, “The red sun is burning like fire, the rice in the field is half-baked. The farmer’s heart is boiling like soup, the noble’s son waves his fan.”

The sarcasm was clear and superior.

Liu Yusheng only smiled without showing a trace of anger, disappointing those who were closely observing her reaction.

Fu Yuxian’s poem was simple and easy to understand, Liu Yusheng couldn’t possibly not understand the irony, right?

So how could she be so calm?