The innkeeper clearly liked Zhao Xiheng very much; when she returned from her outing yesterday, she specially brought her a sugar figurine. She shaped it into the likeness of Sun Wukong, majestically carrying his golden cudgel.
Zhao Xiheng liked it very much, happily thanked the proprietress, and then, looking at the exquisite Monkey King's head, took a big bite and bit off half of it.
The sweet maltose melted in my mouth, and I felt so happy.
The innkeeper brushed the snow off his face and came in, saying, "Why don't you stay here for the New Year? Your brother's injury hasn't healed yet, has it? There aren't many people staying at the inn during the New Year. With you all here, it'll be more lively. I'll have your aunt make you some glutinous rice strips..."
The proprietress slapped him on the shoulder and said, "Why are you talking about the New Year? Who dares to celebrate the New Year these days? Are you out of your mind?"
Zhao Xiheng, with a candy stick in her mouth, leaned over to rub the proprietress's hands, which were red from the cold, and then asked her affectionately, "Auntie, why can't we celebrate the New Year? Ever since I came to Pingzhou, I've found that Pingzhou is very different from other places. Other places start preparing for the New Year early, so why is Pingzhou still so deserted?"
The landlady really liked the child, so she quietly pulled him to sit by the stove and whispered, "Starting this year, Pingzhou has ordered that no one is allowed to celebrate the New Year. If any family celebrates the New Year in a grand manner, they will be dragged to the execution ground in Pingzhou. Several thousand people have died in Pingzhou because of this. Ever since Wei Li took over Pingzhou, we haven't had a single day of peace. We live in constant fear."
The boss also came over to warm himself by the fire. "This idiot is probably out of his mind. He gets upset when others are happy and he never wants anyone to have an easy time. We can only have fun in our own room. We can't laugh in public."
When it comes to Wei Li, the two of them seem to have endless complaints.
"You have no idea, he suddenly appeared out of nowhere at a young age and won the favor of the Prince of Zhenbei. The Prince of Zhenbei raised him as his own son, and he would carry two knives on his waist every day, brandishing them on the mountainside. Today he would cut down this person, and tomorrow he would peel off the skin of that person. In the end, good heavens, he killed his adoptive father's whole family and became a king himself. He is a heartless beast."
Zhao Xiheng was terrified, fearing that Wei Li or the deputy general had overheard. She secretly glanced back and, not seeing the two of them, finally breathed a sigh of relief.
So she quickly changed the subject, "Auntie, I've just arrived in Pingzhou, and I don't know what good food there is. Can you tell me?"
The proprietress began to list out the food available in Pingzhou for her.
Zhao Xiheng was somewhat distracted, thinking to herself that the desolation and loneliness of Pingzhou was all caused by Wei Li alone. He wouldn't even let people celebrate the New Year, nor would he let the common people laugh. He would even kill them if they encountered them. This kind of dictatorship, cruelty, and violation of human nature and ethics was why everyone was full of complaints and dissatisfied with him.
As for his killing of his adoptive father's family to seize power, I had heard about it from the person who assassinated him last time, so I wasn't too surprised.
She couldn't understand why Wei Li was acting so strangely, not letting people celebrate the New Year and other holidays. Was he some kind of reincarnation of the Nian monster, afraid of the sound of firecrackers?
As for spending the New Year here, Zhao Xiheng would never dare to agree to it.
Wei Li forbids the people of Pingzhou from celebrating the New Year. They can celebrate secretly if they can't see it, but now they're openly disobeying him. She's really worried about this family.
There are still nine days until the New Year. I hope that Wei Li will be as lively and energetic as the deputy general said, and take her to Pingzhou tomorrow. I also hope that this family will not lose their heads and can have a good New Year.
The next morning, Zhao Xiheng was still dreaming when her door was kicked. Judging from the force of the kick, she figured it must have been that old dog Wei Li who got out of bed; otherwise, no one would bother kicking the door for no reason.
Wei Li stood in front of the door, his hands behind his back, his black clothes making his pale face, which was still recovering from a serious illness, even more apparent.
Before Zhao Xiheng inside could react, he kicked the door again, as if he would kick it down if Zhao Xiheng didn't open it.
Zhao Xiheng hurriedly put on her coat, and Wei Li almost kicked her leg as he was about to raise his third foot.
Winters in Pingzhou are extremely cold, and the coldest winters are perfect for sleeping, especially for someone like Zhao Xiheng who is afraid of the cold. She wishes she could sleep in a warm bed for all twelve hours of the day.
Wei Li looked at her.
She had clearly just gotten up in a hurry. Her little face was rosy and plump, like a peach. Her eyes were slightly droopy, and her eyelids were a bit swollen. Her double eyelids were almost gone, probably because she drank too much sugar water last night. But she wasn't ugly. Instead, she looked even more youthful and cute. A tuft of hair on her head was sticking up.
Wei Li raised his hand and gave her a hard rub on the top of her head. The rub was a bit too strong, causing her to stagger back two steps, which made her a little unhappy.
"Princess, my foot! You're sleeping so soundly your hair is sticking up. How embarrassing." Wei Li still felt the cool, moist touch of her hair on his hand, and then he mocked her in a hoarse voice.
Zhao Xiheng lowered her head and didn't refute him, thinking to herself, "You're the only one who doesn't embarrass yourself. You have two big dark circles under your eyes, yet you're so dignified! Wei Li is such a dignified person! A dignified person who stays up all night cultivating immortality!"
She was cursing him in her heart, but on the surface she looked very obedient. This reminded Wei Li of what she had said yesterday, "If someone suddenly appears who is doing well, he must be very shocked and desperate."
Bullshit! He just found that person an eyesore, so he wanted to humiliate and kill him. What jealousy or despair?
What a coincidence, this person was right in front of him.
Wei Li felt a tingling sensation in his heart, and looked at Zhao Xiheng with a dark and unreadable gaze.
Let him think carefully about how to treat her.
Ah, of course we should drag them all down to this rotten mud. It would be a disgrace for someone as high and mighty as him to be placed alongside someone like him, and their dignity would be shattered inch by inch.
Anyone whose name is associated with Wei Li seems so unbearable, so detestable and repulsive, doesn't he?
"We're setting off for Bu Xian City this afternoon."
"Hmm." Zhao Xiheng thought to herself, as expected, the deputy general understands Wei Li well; he was indeed lively and energetic again in just two days.
"When we arrive in Buxian City, what kind of accommodation would you like?" Wei Li tilted his head slightly, a slight smile curving his lips, and gazed at Zhao Xiheng with his dark pupils.
Zhao Xiheng was taken aback, thinking he was joking with her.
After all, when has he ever been so considerate?
"Now that I've said that, once this is over, there won't be another chance to bring it up again."
He was the one who suggested it, so Zhao Xiheng thought for a moment and tentatively said, "It needs to be warm and a little bigger."
Wei Li seemed to be listening attentively, nodding earnestly, her reflection shimmering in his dark pupils. "Anything else?"
After all, little princess, you have to stay there for a very, very long time without being able to leave. This small request might drive you crazy.
Zhao Xiheng pressed her advantage, "I want a great view and a beautiful landscape! Something where you can see Changbai Mountain right from the window!"
She secretly observed Wei Li's expression. Although his smile was eerie, it seemed to be within acceptable limits. So she pressed on and continued to make her request, "Don't make it empty. Make it more lively with lots of things."
"That's all?" Wei Li asked.
"That's all." Zhao Xiheng was still a very perceptive young girl.
"Little princess, you are so innocent." Wei Li smiled and smiled as he uttered a few words softly.
Zhao Xiheng vaguely remembered that the last time Wei Li said this to her was when they first met.
She couldn't help but shiver as she wrapped herself in her coat.
Knock, what big move is Wei Li brewing up again?
The New Year is almost here, God, my only New Year's wish this year is that you can give Wei Li a normal human brain, thank you.
Zhao Xiheng made a wish while looking out at the blue sky and white clouds.
This is the first New Year's wish she hasn't made for herself since her father passed away.
Wei Li, who had already left, suddenly turned back, pinched the bridge of his nose, and asked, "I remember you had a maid. Where is she?"
Zhao Xiheng's expression remained unchanged, and she calmly said without panting, "She ran away. She thought it was too hard to be with me, so she ran away."
"Competent? You just let him get away like that?" Wei Li's face darkened.
"What can I do if I don't let her leave? Her heart isn't with me anymore, what's the use of leaving her body?" She covered her face and sighed, quite dramatically.
"Zhao Xiheng, where did you learn that Pingzhou accent? It's so half-baked." Wei Li suddenly slammed her door shut, and before slamming it, he had to say something sarcastic in authentic Pingzhou dialect. Fortunately, the door was sturdy enough that it only wobbled and creaked a few times before it stabilized.
Zhao Xiheng caught a glimpse of Wei Li's face; it was as black as the bottom of a pot in the kitchen.
Hey, she's only been here a few days, so it's fine if she's only half-baked.
Wei Li clenched his teeth and walked away with heavy steps.
He went to great lengths to bring the maid back to her from Pyongyang, and she just let her go like that?
I should have just killed him in Pyongyang; that would have saved me the trouble and saved me from wasting his food.
Zhao Xiheng is such a troublemaker.
So, is she going to continue sleeping or go have breakfast?
Zhao Xiheng touched the tip of her nose and began to waver between the two options.
In the end, I decided to go have breakfast.
The early bird catches the worm; a good breakfast sets the tone for a good day.
Thanks to Tuo Weili's good fortune, he was somber as if he were going to war. So everyone at the post station also felt the grief of sending their husbands off to battle. They glanced at him quietly and then fell silent.
Zhao Xiheng felt that Wei Li had a certain aura about him, the kind of aura that was as if he were in a mass grave just by standing there. This aura was so gloomy and depressing that everyone's mood was not high.
She was affected, and her breakfast was reduced from four steamed buns to three.
The proprietress felt she hadn't eaten enough, so she gave her a homemade pickled tea egg. The eggshell was cracked open to reveal a fine spiderweb pattern, and it was covered in brown pickling sauce, making it look very flavorful.
Wei Li glanced at it, a cold, indifferent smile curving his lips.
Zhao Xiheng, so many people like you.
He slammed the chopsticks down heavily.
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