Wei Li's breathing, which he had just managed to catch, became erratic again. This was Zhao Xiheng's own doing, not something he did voluntarily.

He walked over in a few steps, and Zhao Xiheng suddenly pulled out a handful of leaf cards from behind her back.

"Is my lord sleeping? If not, let's play cards!" Zhao Xiheng looked at Wei Li with her big, watery eyes, her pleading gaze almost irresistible.

They were playing cards when they started talking about something.

Wei Li glared at her, then grabbed her chin. "Zhao Xiheng, is it fun to play with me?"

Zhao Xiheng tilted her head slightly. What did she mean by playing him? What was he thinking about in the middle of the night?

Tsk, men are so hard to understand.

Zhao Xiheng blinked, and although she didn't speak, her eyes clearly condemned Wei Li for being unreasonable. She let out a soft moan, "It hurts so much."

Then he shook the leaf cards in his hand, "I originally wanted to play cards with the lord."

Wei Li pinched her cheek hard again, then sat on the bed and snatched the cards from her hand. "What do you want to play?"

"Don't cry if you lose, I won't let you win even if you cry."

"I won't cry, I definitely won't cry," Zhao Xiheng assured him, patting her chest.

She was shocked after taking the picture—she was so flat! Was she really that flat? She wanted to touch her a couple more times, but with Wei Li there, it would be too indecent to do so, so she had to give up the idea.

Anyway, she's still young, she'll definitely grow up!

“According to the rules of Jinyang, if I win, you have to promise to give me something!” Zhao Xiheng knelt on the bed and began to explain the rules to Wei Li.

It's still uncertain who will win and who will lose.

Because Zhao Xiheng was afraid of the cold, the charcoal fire in the room was burning very brightly. At least Wei Li felt it was too hot, and his forehead was covered in fine sweat.

He subconsciously tugged at his collar to cool himself down, but when he met Zhao Xiheng's eyes, he suddenly pulled his collar tighter. He touched the skin on his neck; the thorny spots felt like they were burning, so hot that even his fingers felt stinging.

Wei Li quickly withdrew his fingers and then gathered the cards together.

"What do you want? Why do you have to ask me in such a roundabout way?" he asked, and then began to shuffle the cards.

"Well, that box of letters you brought over during the day, if I win, you'll give it to me." Zhao Xiheng said hesitantly, "Anyway, I'm just killing time, and if I can't sleep, I have to find something to do."

She felt it was too dangerous for her to be alone in a room with Wei Li, a young man, late at night. She thought that being well-fed and warm led to lustful thoughts, and her former wet nurse had said that men were unreliable, which she thought was quite true.

Neither of them got up early today, and given Wei Li's night owl-like energy, he probably wouldn't be able to fall asleep anytime soon. She had to find something to do to wear him down. She had a feeling that Wei Li was now radiating danger.

Wei Li looked at her with the same gleam in his eyes as a young animal about to be released from its pen seeing tender meat.

Zhao Xiheng casually picked up a card and said, "Guess whether it's an odd or even number."

If Wei Li guesses correctly, he will play first; if Wei Li guesses incorrectly, Zhao Xiheng will play first.

"one."

Zhao Xiheng turned the card over, revealing a bright "four". She was delighted and said, "My lord, you are too kind. It is my turn to play first."

Wei Li nodded calmly, even with a hint of a smile that was hard to detect. "Okay, then you go first."

Zhao Xiheng pulled up a small table between the two of them and shuffled the cards again.

This behavior clearly shows a lack of trust in the fairness of Wei Li's shuffling just now.

Zhao Xiheng first played the lowest-ranking card, and Wei Li followed suit. The two played back and forth, and it was quite pleasant.

Wei Li noticed that Zhao Xiheng was playing quite well, and casually asked, "Who taught you? Would the palace teach such low-class things?"

Although leaf cards are widely circulated, they are always passed around and played with in private; no one would put them on the table.

As a princess of the Great Zhou Dynasty, Zhao Xiheng probably wouldn't be taught this skill by anyone.

“My father,” Zhao Xiheng said calmly, then casually played another card.

Zhao Xinglie was eclectic, indulging in everything from elegant pastimes like the winding stream party to the common street game of cricket fighting. As a child, Zhao Xiheng was often led astray by him, becoming "obsessed with trivial pursuits and neglecting his studies."

In his words, this is called sharing joy with the people.

Wei Li's eye twitched. After a moment of silence, he threw out a card. "Father-in-law is truly knowledgeable and has a remarkable memory."

He rested his chin on his hand, wondering what kind of amazing person Zhao Xiheng's father was. Not only could he govern the country and bring peace to the people, but he could also go to the battlefield and the court. He not only wrote sarcastic remarks to his wife, but he could also teach his daughter to play cards. He had heard that he was also proficient in music, chess, calligraphy and painting, and even had a collection of poems included in the anthology of poems that scholars must memorize.

How come he can do everything?

Zhao Xiheng's hand trembled, and she dropped a card. "Shameless bastard! Who's your father-in-law? You call him father-in-law so smoothly!"

Wei Li flipped over the card Zhao Xiheng had dropped and held it down, warning her with his eyes, "You can't take back what you've played."

He threw his cards onto the table, and he won.

Zhao Xiheng angrily slammed down her cards, "No way, let's play again! You cheated, the last round doesn't count."

Wei Li held her down as she was about to jump up, then tapped her on the forehead. "Go back to the bathroom tomorrow night."

Zhao Xiheng's eyes were brimming with tears. Wei Li tapped her forehead and said, "Crying won't help. It's not like you're the one going to the drill ground early tomorrow morning, so you don't need to go to bed early or get up early."

"?" Wei Li is going to the training ground?

Is he starting to work hard now? She had heard that although Wei Li now occupies Pingzhou, he does nothing of note and just bullies the people every day.

"Sleep, sleep, sleep now!" Zhao Xiheng hurriedly packed her things. It was a good thing that Wei Li was working hard.

Now that the Great Zhou is in such chaos, if he continues to be as incompetent as before, things will be in utter ruin. Pingzhou might be dragged into the war soon, and Wei Li, having lost the support of the people, will be besieged and killed early on. As Wei Li's nominal wife, she probably won't have a good ending either.

As long as Pingzhou remains peaceful and Wei Li is in power there, Zhao Xiheng's life will be easier. She still hopes that Wei Li can make progress.

Wei Li went downstairs to turn off the lights, leaving only a dim light in the outer room, which faintly shone into the inner room. The brightness was just right, enough to induce sleep.

The two lay side by side, looking at each other in silence.

Unexpectedly, Zhao Xiheng, who had thought she would have a hard time falling asleep tonight, fell asleep very quickly.

The next day, it was still dark when the clapper of the hour of Chou (1-3 AM) sounded, and Wei Li grabbed her by the neck and shook her awake.

Zhao Xiheng was about to curse when she suddenly realized that the person in front of her was Wei Li. She couldn't let the image of a weak and helpless woman she had cultivated in front of Wei Li be ruined, so she swallowed her curse.

Still half asleep, Zhao Xiheng's voice was a little hoarse. "My lord, it's still early."

"Get up." Wei Li continued to shake her, pulling back her blankets as he did so. "I'm going to the training ground today."

A gust of cold wind instantly jolted Zhao Xiheng awake. Shivering, she sat up, clutching her blanket, her hair disheveled and cascading over her shoulders.

You dog, you old dog, what does your going to the training ground have to do with me?

"My lord, should I go too?" Zhao Xiheng asked him in return. In this cold weather, she really didn't want to take a single step outside, even if you killed her.

"Why should I bother with you? Just get up now, I can't stand the sight of you sleeping."

Wei Li was still young, in the prime of his growth, and had plenty of energy. He could stay up all night, but once he was asleep, he was always wide awake. Getting him out of bed early in the morning in the cold wind was like taking half his life. He glanced at Zhao Xiheng sleeping soundly beside him, her face rosy and serene, and suddenly felt a surge of anger and extreme resentment. He grabbed her by the neck and shook her awake.

Why can Zhao Xiheng sleep in the house while he's exposed to the cold wind? Get up!

"Get up, or I'll throw you into the snowdrift outside," Wei Li threatened menacingly.

Zhao Xiheng's heart was filled with turmoil, but her lips pursed and her eyes reddened. "You said yesterday that you would treat me well in the future, but you changed your mind today. My lord, do you not care about me anymore?"

Wei Li's heart skipped a beat, and he was suddenly stumped by the question. But he had gone back on his word more than once or twice. He pinched her cheek and said, "Don't be so sour. Get up. We'll talk about the future later."

Good heavens, Wei Li's lack of sleep is something that nothing can cure.

Zhao Xiheng slowly got up and yawned softly.

The maid got up early to light the charcoal fire and then prepared a hot meal for the two of them. This morning's breakfast was millet porridge with steamed egg custard.

Zhao Xiheng ate a couple of bites, but because she was too sleepy, she had no appetite and her eyelids were almost drooping as she looked at the bowl.

Before leaving, Wei Li maliciously instructed, "Before I return, keep an eye on Madam and don't let her sleep."

After saying that, he flicked the forehead of the half-dead Zhao Xiheng.

The maids nodded in agreement, and even Zhao Xiheng herself covered her face, yawning as she responded, "I know, my lord, please take care. Be careful of the slippery road. I'll be waiting for you at home."

Wei Li had just stepped out of the courtyard under the resolute gazes of everyone.

The maid who had informed him returned shortly after, shouting, "The lord has left!"

Several people surrounded the small couch with a screen, spread out warm bedding, and placed a stove nearby. "Madam, go to sleep. We will come to deliver a message as soon as the lord enters the mansion."

Zhao Xiheng held their hands, and two sleepy tears welled up in her eyes. They were truly her good sisters!

Although this sidelong glance reflects just how unpopular Wei Li is, the happiness at this moment truly belongs to Zhao Xiheng herself.

She had just lain down when someone came in with a bitter expression. In his left hand was a sugar figurine that had been bitten and was missing pieces. It was something Zhao Xiheng hadn't finished eating last night and had asked her to freeze.

He was holding a kitten by the neck with his right hand.

"When I went out, that little brat was stealing candy. How am I going to explain this to Madam?" She sighed. The candy figurines weren't worth much, but the ones the master bought for Madam were valuable.