Chapter 4 Aftermath: Phoenix is ​​playing a very strange cosplay game...

They awoke amidst a whirlpool of noise. Shadows flickered, candlelight danced. The incessant chatter and worries of Old Madam Gao, the weeping of Lady Gao upon her lost possession, Lady Xianyu's reprimand of the maid's negligence, Changsun Wuji's boastful tale of escaping danger single-handedly, and Gao Shilian's vivid description of Changsun Anye's wicked plans—all surged into Changsun Qingjing and Li Shimin's ears like a tidal wave, then buzzed and throbbed in their minds.

"Are all the people in our Gao family blind and deaf? Are they all bound hand and foot? What kind of host is this? Letting the young master who has been kind to my daughter and grandson lie here unattended!" Old Madam Gao's angry rebuke was both calm and sharp.

"Very well..." Madam Gao nodded, then apologized to Shimin, who was still sleepy from being unexpectedly woken up by everyone, and then invited him to take his seat. The young man had the illusion of being the center of attention after rescuing someone from dire straits.

Madam Gao slammed her fist on the table in anger and said, "A-Jian, you are not allowed to mention your sister's heartless stepson tonight."

"Yes, yes, yes..." Gao Shilian continued, "Fortunately, Wuji used the white hawk sent by the young master of the Li family to deliver a message. Upon hearing the news, the young master of the Li family rushed to intercept me halfway, and only then did I learn that my sister and her two children had been held captive by An Ye... Alas, I was confused before, thinking it was just a child exaggerating, who would have thought that An Ye would really kill his stepmother and younger brother..."

Xianyu coughed a few times and nudged Gao Shilian. "Alright, alright, let's not talk about that beast..." Gao Shilian chuckled awkwardly. "A family reunion, a close call indeed. Young Master Li is a great benefactor to our Gao family."

After Gao Shilian and Changsun Wuji repeatedly confirmed the order, first it was Madam Gao, then Gao Shilian and his wife, and finally Gao Shi and her children who bowed deeply to Li Shimin. The young man had never experienced such a solemn occasion except for family sacrifices, and Li Shimin could only frantically switch between bowing, kowtowing, and kneeling.

Following his elder brother's example, Changsun Qingjing gracefully approached Li Shimin, placed his hand on his forehead, and bowed twice. Li Shimin was somewhat nervous and waved his hand repeatedly, saying, "No need, no need, the ceremony is too formal."

"Alright, alright, little sister, you scared Shimin! If you bow to him again, he'll have to prepare the 'six rites' for you!" The women covered their mouths and chuckled. Madam Gao picked up her fan and lightly tapped Wuji's head: "You're too frivolous and have no sense of propriety. Go and apologize to the guest."

Li Shimin suddenly recalled his strange and fascinating encounter with the girl before him: their first bow to each other when they were rescued from the fire at the Changsun Mansion, their second bow to each other after surviving the ordeal in the courtyard corridor of the Gao Mansion, and their third bow to each other in front of her elders.

Faced with Changsun Wuji's joking apology, his eyes darted away, as if he were the one being accused of being frivolous by the Gao family.

But he sincerely wanted to etch every smile and frown of this pitiful little girl into his heart, so that when he encountered unpleasant things in the future, he could recall the sweet fragrance of walnuts in his memory.

Gao Shilian did not show much admiration for the series of family backgrounds and titles, and ended the conversation with the remark, "The Duke of Tang is indeed good at educating his son."

Interestingly, the other party did not display the arrogance often associated with those from illustrious families. Shimin consistently reacted indifferently to the long list of achievements and titles bestowed upon his ancestors and parents, or perhaps he didn't believe he could rightfully claim their glory. Instead, he greatly appreciated Gao Shilian's assessment of him—a statement detached from the official history of the Tang State Duke's family and directed solely at him: "Wuji, your friend is truly a sworn brother. If he ever faces any difficulties in the future, remember to go through fire and water for him!"

"Then I certainly won't refuse!" Changsun Wuji poured cups of fruit wine and offered them to Shimin. Shimin, moved by the moment, forgot he never liked drinking and downed the wine in one gulp, only to feel a burning sensation in his mouth and stomach, and cough repeatedly. This prompted Gao Shilian to laugh heartily: "Even a young hero has his weaknesses! Wuji, don't make things difficult for him!"

Everyone hastily ate some old-fashioned dishes and cheese cakes. Even the not-so-authentic Khotan-style steamed whole lamb tasted incredibly tender. After slicing carp with a flying knife to cleanse their palates, Gao Shilian's concubine, Zhang, served "Five-Spice Drink." Due to the urgency of the matter, the dinner, though not lavish, was meticulously prepared.

Everyone present was exhausted in their own way, whether from fighting against others, being under house arrest for a long time, being overly frightened, or having many worries. Madam Gao did not engage in polite small talk, but simply urged everyone to rest early.

Xianyu had already arranged rooms for the guests, but Changsun Wuji and Li Shimin were determined to sleep together. The elders tried to dissuade them, but to no avail. Finally, Madam Gao instructed Wuji, "Very well, you two probably have some childish private things to say. However, Wuji, you must not pester the young master of the Li family with endless chatter!"

...

The two boys indeed couldn't sleep.

"...After receiving the message from the white hawk, I lied to my brother and said that my sister had asked me to go hunting. I stole the best horse in the house, took a clever servant with me, and ran wildly to find your uncle's whereabouts..." The sound of stomping on the floor came from Wuji's room.

"I ran into Lizheng Lane, but your uncle's servant said that your young master had just set off for Luoyang. I thought it best to find your uncle first, so I spurred my horse to chase after him. I finally met him at a crossroads. At first, your uncle thought I was talking nonsense because I was young. It was only thanks to my persuasive tongue that I was able to convince your uncle to turn back and save you."

The two young men, who had survived their ordeal, moved about in the room, using bowstrings, scabbards, and paperweights to simulate the chaotic sounds of a fight, recalling their first fierce battle.

Changsun Qingjing happily jumped into his brother's room: "What you're saying is so interesting, I want to hear more!"

"Don't make a sound, sit down, sit down." Changsun Wuji and Li Shimin hurriedly tidied up the messy furniture, books, teacups, fruit plates... then patted the lint and dust off their clothes. After arranging three cushions, the three of them sat down one after another.

“Ah, your brother almost forgot, there’s a brave girl in this adventure story…” Suddenly, a walnut in Li Shimin’s hand cracked open with a “snap” sound.

Qingjing took the walnut, chewed it happily, and then asked again, unwilling to give up, "And then?"

"The girl's mother was imprisoned, and her brother was being followed, so she made a wish to a white hawk: 'White hawk, white hawk, if you save my mother and brother, I will marry you.' The white hawk was very moved, so it transformed into a roc and carried the girl away..."

"What kind of random books have you been reading lately? What kind of nonsensical supernatural tales are these?" Changsun Wuji burst into laughter.

Changsun Qingjing pouted: "Ah, you two are bullying me, I'm going to tell my grandmother."

"Then nobody will crack walnuts for you!"

As the three were chatting and laughing, a low, reproachful voice came from outside: "Young master, the old lady told you to settle down early, why are you bothering the guests and nagging endlessly? Young lady, running around in the middle of the night, what if you catch a cold!"

The old woman watched as Wuji and the other man lay down and closed their eyes, then blew out the lamps for them. She then carried the exhausted and struggling Changsun Qingjing away, and the night passed without further incident.

"How long has the morning bell been ringing?" Li Shimin hurriedly fastened his belt and rushed out of the room, feeling anxious as if he had just woken up from a dream. "I have to go back. My parents aren't in Daxing, and my brother has been in charge of the household these past few days. I lied and left home yesterday. My brother must have been looking for me all day, probably very worried that I've gotten into trouble."

“You, a Tongzhi official, went to snatch someone from the residence of a third-rank Right Valiant Guard General. It’s not a question of whether you caused trouble or not, it’s a question of how big a hole you made in the sky.” Changsun Wuji straightened his clothes and resumed his usual humor.

He sat leisurely on the floor, toying with the golden knife his father had left him: "How about I have my uncle write a letter explaining the reason and thanking your brother?"

The clever little maidservant spun around the anxious Li Shimin like a delicate and steady top, holding a food tray. He had no choice but to take the porcelain bowl from her and hurriedly gulp down a few mouthfuls of cheese.

"Please thank your maternal grandmother, uncle, and aunt for their warm hospitality, and say goodbye to them for me. Take good care of your mother. Everyone went through a lot of trouble to rescue her, so don't lose her again."

Changsun Wuji didn't insist on keeping him, but simply escorted his friend all the way to the stables. Li Shimin woke up his retainers who had eaten and drunk their fill at the Gao residence the night before, then mounted his horse. He was convinced that the sooner he returned home, the lighter his punishment would be, so he didn't linger there any longer. The familiar scent of walnuts wafted to his nose again, stirring up a flood of memories.

"Look, I risked my life to deliver the message, and then came with your uncle to rescue you. I'll even get a beating from the family for not coming home last night. You owe me a huge favor. How are you going to repay me?"

"Of course, I can only pay with my life!" These words didn't sound like a joke at all; they seemed to be something he had thought about deeply and kept in his heart, finally revealing his true feelings on a chance occasion.

Li Shimin was startled: "I was just joking, why are you taking it so seriously!" He spurred his horse a few steps, then turned back and shouted: "I haven't decided what you need to repay yet! You can owe me for now!"

In his peripheral vision, it seemed as if a pale green was gazing at him.