Dugu Jingyao is reborn as Li Chu's beloved

Chapter 516 Accepting the Order

In the blink of an eye, the imperial edict that Li Chu was to go to the south to provide disaster relief and Li Xi to appease the refugees reached the two palaces. This edict clearly required Li Chu and Li Xi to set out the day after tomorrow without any delay.

Inside the Prince of Chu's mansion, Li Chu and Dugu Jingyao had been prepared for this news. They accepted the imperial edict with composure, as if everything had been anticipated. However, in stark contrast were Li Wanqing, Cui Caiping, and Zheng Wan. They knew nothing about this matter beforehand, and the sudden decree caught them off guard.

Cui Caiping remained relatively calm. After all, she had her child by her side, and her relationship with Dugu Jingyao had improved. She figured that at most, Li Yun wouldn't be able to see her father for a while, but the child was still young and didn't recognize people very often. Plus, Li Chu rarely visited Linglong Pavilion, so it wasn't a big deal.

Li Wanqing's situation was slightly different. She was currently pregnant, and although she believed Dugu Jingyao would not harm her or her unborn child, she still felt a little worried. After all, Li Chu's journey was long and would take a long time, and he would probably encounter many difficulties and challenges along the way. Thinking of this, Li Wanqing couldn't help but step forward and warned Li Chu, "Your Highness, you must be careful on this trip."

Zheng Wancai was a little panicked. Although Cui Caiping was the only one who would argue with her in the palace, it was never a big deal and she had gotten used to it. Moreover, Dugu Jingyao treated her very well. However, she was the one with the lowest status in the palace and the only one without children. It was unknown when Li Chu would come back, so wouldn't it be a distant dream for her to have children?

She now only felt that her body was useless. After Dugu Jingyao gave birth, Li Chu had visited her several times, and every time she drank the pregnancy medicine, but she still didn't get pregnant. The main reason was that even Li Wanqing, who had such a poor body, got pregnant. Zheng Wan couldn't help feeling a little lost.

However, Zheng Wan still echoed Li Wanqing's words and said, "Yes, Your Majesty, you must take care of yourself. Your concubine... and my sisters are still waiting for your return!"

Cui Caiping felt that it was a bit awkward for her to say nothing, so she nodded and said, "Yes, I hope the prince has a smooth journey and returns soon."

Li Chu nodded and said, "Okay, I will take care of myself. You all should be well at home and don't cause any trouble for the princess. If anyone does something wrong, you don't have to report it to me, just deal with it directly."

Dugu Jingyao nodded slightly and said, "Don't worry, I will definitely take good care of our palace."

Li Chu looked at everyone and said, "Let's all go to the main hall for dinner tomorrow night. If there's nothing else, please go home."

Li Wanqing, Cui Caiping and Zheng Wan bowed and said goodbye, while Li Chu returned to Wangyuexuan with Dugu Jingyao.

As soon as they entered the inner room, Dugu Jingyao asked Shi Jian to dig out a box and said, "Donkey, you don't have to take the other things, but you must take this box I prepared for you."

Li Chu asked curiously, "Is that the secret plan that A Yao prepared for me?"

Dugu Jingyao hit Li Chu on the shoulder and said, "I'm talking to you seriously!"

Li Chu smiled gently and said, "Okay, okay, then Ayao, tell me, what is in this box?"

Dugu Jingyao opened the box, revealing bottles and jars, as well as small wooden boxes. She explained each one, "These are all the miraculous elixirs I brought back from Yunnan. Since I don't have a doctor with me this time, these things can save my life in a critical moment. This bottle contains excellent wound medicine; this box contains a detoxification pill that can cure all poisons; and be careful with this one, as it contains a unique Yunnan poison. And this bottle contains the antidote, and the instructions are written in this envelope."

He could understand the golden wound medicine and the antidote pills, but this poison? Li Chu was indeed a little confused: "Ayao, I can understand you preparing other medicines for me, but what is this poison?"

Dugu Jingyao carefully packed the contents of the box, closed it again, and handed it to Shijian. She then whispered something in Li Chu's ear. Li Chu suddenly understood what she had said. Li Chu said, "Ayao, you've thought it through. Although you can't be by my side all the time, you are still my best military advisor. Don't worry, I will act accordingly and protect myself."

Dugu Jingyao nodded, looked at Li Chu with a firm look and said, "Well, I believe Donglang." After that, Li Chu hugged Dugu Jingyao in his arms, and Shijian on the side also retreated tactfully.

Shi Jian found Feng Shengyi and told him how to use some of the medicines in it. Feng Shengyi was actually reluctant to be separated from Shi Jian for so long. Although the two had not made a commitment and had not gotten married, they could at least see each other every day before, but now they have to be separated for such a long time.

Feng Shengyi asked Shi Jian: "Shi Jian, don't you have anything you want to tell me?"

Shi Jian was never one to hesitate. She nodded and said, "Of course. Besides protecting the prince for the princess, you must also pay attention to your own safety. I... will be waiting for you to come back."

Feng Shengyi laughed when he heard this and said, "Okay, I will definitely protect the prince and return safely so that I can marry you!"

Shi Jian, despite her usual composure, blushed upon hearing this. She punched Feng Shengyi and said, "Who said I'm getting married so soon? Besides, I need the princess's consent to get married, and she hasn't agreed yet. Don't talk nonsense!"

Although Feng Shengyi was hurt by the beating, the smile on his face was so bright. He said, "Okay, Shijian, wait for me to come back. When I come back, I will tell the princess that I want to marry you."

Although Shi Jian said she was unwilling, she was actually happy in her heart. She quickly said, "Okay, I won't talk to you anymore. I still have work to do, so I'll go and get busy first." After that, she left Feng Shengyi alone, disheveled in the wind.

At the Prince of Nanyang's Mansion, after Li Xi received the imperial edict, he sent away the palace servant who had delivered it. Ting Lan breathed a sigh of relief, thinking, "Fortunately, I have completed my master's mission."

Gu Shiyi was a little angry. She didn't expect that Li Xi would finally choose to appease the refugees. Such a good opportunity was snatched away by Li Chu. She turned around and returned to Yuhe Hall without saying anything.

Li Xi naturally knew why Gu Shiyi was angry, so he didn't care about Gu Shiyi's attitude.

Tinglan stepped forward and saluted Li Xi, saying, "Congratulations, Your Highness, on getting what you wished for."

Li Xi smiled slightly, stepped forward and whispered in Tinglan's ear, "Wait for me, I'll come find you tonight." Then he said loudly, "Okay, there's nothing to congratulate. You can go back first. I need to go to Yuhe Hall."

Tinglan politely bowed and left.

Li Xi asked Li Yuan to keep the imperial edict and went to Yuhe Hall himself.

Originally, Gu Shiyi was questioning Li Xi why he didn't fight for such a good opportunity. In order to prevent Gu Shiyi from making things difficult for Tinglan after he left, Li Xi tried his best to coax Gu Shiyi.

After Li Xi explained the reason to Gu Shiyi, he teased Li Yu in Yuhetang, accompanied Gu Shiyi for lunch, and even played around with Gu Shiyi during the nap.

After a nap, Li Xi left Yuhe Hall and returned to his study. After finishing his official business, he went to Yalan Garden again at dinner time. Tinglan had sent Xiu'er to prepare dinner early, and also specially bought peach blossom wine from Tianxianglou.

The two of them ate and drank happily. After Li Xi and Ting Lan were both a little tipsy, Ting Lan used all her tricks to seduce Li Xi. Li Xi liked Ting Lan to begin with, so naturally he couldn't control himself and started moving.

Later, when bathing, Li Xi insisted on joining her, and the two of them played around in the water.

Finally, on the couch, Tinglan laid on Li Xi's chest and said, "Your Highness, I want to go with you to comfort the refugees."

Upon hearing this, Li Xi immediately stopped Tinglan and said, "Lan'er, dear, although I don't want to leave you for too long, I'm going to do some work. Others don't bring their families, so it's not appropriate for me to do it."

Tinglan said coquettishly again: "I really can't bear to leave Your Highness, and I am a very good person. I will just stay by your side as a maid and won't cause any trouble."

Li Xi still refused and said, "I really can't take you with me. You wait for me obediently at home. I will be back as soon as possible."

Tinglan raised her head and said tearfully, "But, Your Highness, you will be gone for at least ten days or half a month. If the princess finds any excuse to punish me while you are away, I will have nowhere to appeal..."

Li Xi hugged Tinglan tightly and said, "If you are afraid of this, then I will inform the princess in advance. If I find out that she has touched you, I will not let her off easily when I return."

Seeing that Li Xi was determined not to let her go, Tinglan wiped away her tears and continued to lie on Li Xi and said, "Okay, I believe you, but what if I miss you?"

Li Xi smiled and said, "Silly Lan'er, can we still exchange letters? I will definitely come back as soon as possible."

Tinglan could only say, "Well, I'll wait for Your Highness to come back."

Li Xi nodded in satisfaction, and perhaps because he was tired from all the fuss, he soon fell asleep. However, Tinglan was wondering how he could sneak into the team that was pacifying the refugees.