Chen Ruonan was a young woman, easily embarrassed. Being treated like this by Wei Li made her feel terrible, and tears welled up in her eyes. She thought that her brother had been with him for so many years, there must be some affection between them, and as his sister, she wouldn't be treated too badly. But...
She felt a surge of inexplicable resentment and grievance towards Zhao Xiheng, whom she had never met.
She wanted to see what kind of person that princess was.
Zhao Xiheng sat on the kang (a heated brick bed) wrapped in two layers of quilts, lost in thought, her whole body wrapped up like a small mountain.
Suddenly the door was pushed open, and a tall, slender girl entered, carrying fire tongs and a basket of charcoal.
When Zhao Xiheng saw the charcoal in her hand, it was as if she had seen a long-lost relative, and her eyes lit up instantly.
She greeted him warmly, "You must be tired, are you cold?"
Seeing this, Chen Ruonan felt embarrassed. She was the type of person who responded better to gentleness than force. When someone was soft-hearted towards her, she softened as well and didn't know what to do. She didn't even dare to look at Zhao Xiheng.
She had heard that the emperor's daughters were all arrogant and domineering, and she was prepared to meet a haughty woman before she came in, but Zhao Xiheng smiled at her instead.
She shook her head awkwardly, then silently lit the stove.
No matter what, she just doesn't like Zhao Xiheng, because Wei Li likes Zhao Xiheng!
As the weather was about to warm up, Zhao Xiheng's mood improved, and she became more talkative. Her sweet tongue flowed freely as she showered Chen Ruonan with compliments, "You're so amazing! You can make charcoal, which I can't. Are all the young ladies in Pingzhou as capable as you?"
Chen Ruonan blushed and her tail was wagging high, but she still didn't respond to Zhao Xiheng.
"Whose young lady are you? Where did Wei Li find you? When I came here last night, there was clearly no one in the manor."
“My brother is Chen Ruojiang,” Chen Ruonan explained, pouting, as if afraid Zhao Xiheng wouldn’t know her brother’s name. “He’s the lord’s deputy general.”
"Huh? You're the deputy general's sister? How can we ask you to come and burn charcoal?" Zhao Xiheng thought Wei Li was really a scoundrel.
The deputy general is someone of importance to him. You treat his sister like a servant. Aren't you afraid that if she gets upset, she will resent you? If even your close friends and family resent you, who will you ask to do things for you in the future?
Zhao Xiheng thought for a moment and suddenly realized that she had found the root cause of the deputy general's indifferent attitude towards Wei Li's injury.
Wei Li doesn't win people's hearts, so apart from the relationship between lord and subordinate, there's naturally no warmth among them.
Zhao Xiheng's tone was full of disapproval of making Chen Ruonan burn charcoal, which made Chen Ruonan feel as if Zhao Xiheng was on her side. This gave Chen Ruonan an outlet for her grievances, and her resentment towards Zhao Xiheng dissipated somewhat.
She knew that her brother worked for Wei Li, so they were in a superior-subordinate relationship. Even if she became Wei Li's maid, it wouldn't be a big deal. But she was still upset because she liked Wei Li.
Being treated like a maid by the person you like, even if you know he doesn't like you back, would still make you feel wronged.
Zhao Xiheng praised her a few more times, "No wonder you are so efficient. You are the deputy general's sister. Like your brother, you are both very capable."
Although Chen Ruonan initially had a prejudice against Zhao Xiheng, thinking that princesses were all delicate, domineering, and incompetent women, Zhao Xiheng praised her and then her brother. One cannot hit a smiling face, so even if she had a sharp tongue, she couldn't say anything too outrageous. But she was angry inside, so she could only ignore Zhao Xiheng.
She secretly observed Zhao Xiheng and discovered that she was incredibly beautiful. Hundreds of times more beautiful than anyone she had ever seen.
Chen Ruonan lowered her head, looking at the brightly colored dress she was wearing, wishing she could disappear into the ground, but she still stubbornly said, "What's the use of being powerful? My lord doesn't like me, he only likes you."
She glanced at Zhao Xiheng several more times, then lifted her skirt and ran out.
Zhao Xiheng scratched her head. Did this young lady like Wei Li?
What is it about Wei Li that makes him likable? It's really strange how people can like all sorts of people in this world.
Ah! If anyone wanted to be with that old dog Wei Li, she'd gladly offer him up with both hands, just don't let him cause her any trouble in front of her.
Vice General Wei Li was speaking outside.
“My lord, the Prince of Zhenbei spent two years building a palace at the foot of Changbai Mountain, comparable to the emperor's palace. However, due to the delay, he did not purchase any furniture or other items. This must have cost a fortune.”
According to him, the lord is not particular about his life, and the Zhenbei Prince's Mansion was only renovated last year, so it is not bad to live there. Why spend more money to renovate the palace at the foot of Changbai Mountain?
The palace on Changbai Mountain was originally intended for the Prince of Zhenbei to abandon his royal residence and move his entire family there.
"Do I look like I'm short of money?" Wei Li flicked the snow off the corner of his clothes.
When the Prince of Zhenbei sent him to patrol Changbai Mountain, he watched the palace being built bit by bit. It was magnificent and luxurious, with expensive golden nanmu wood and white marble bricks everywhere.
He found it troublesome and always felt that he slept more peacefully in his old little house. But so many people had died here. Zhao Xiheng was timid. If she came with him here, she would probably cry to him every day. When the snow melted next spring, she would probably be terrified to death when she saw the red water all over the ground.
If he wants to be a widower, he should kill Zhao Xiheng with his own hands before he dies, instead of letting her be frightened to death.
"First, clear out a courtyard over there, just enough for people to live in. We can fill it with things later." Wei Li glanced at Chen Ruonan as she hurriedly drew a bucket of water from the well and rushed into the house.
"Princess, please wash your face." Chen Ruonan heated the water on the stove, then ladled it out for Zhao Xiheng to wash her face and brush her teeth, her tone somewhat awkward.
The room warmed up, and Zhao Xiheng put on her clothes and happily went over, though her legs were numb and a little sore. As she got closer, Chen Ruonan noticed a cut on Zhao Xiheng's lip and that she was walking unsteadily. Her mind went astray, and tears welled up in her eyes.
Waaaaah, this princess is my love rival!
The lord even kissed her, kissing her so much her lips were raw! And, and...
Chen Ruonan sat on the ground, sobbing uncontrollably.
The faint sound of crying made the veins on Wei Li's forehead throb uncontrollably.
Why are you crying?
He's so angry!
He kept Zhao Xiheng by his side to see her unhappy and cry, but how did he end up making someone else cry? What bad luck.
Wei Li rubbed his temples, kicked open the door, and went inside.
Zhao Xiheng was startled and quickly looked at Wei Li, whose face was gloomy. She subconsciously picked Chen Ruonan up from the ground.
Uh, does he think I'm the one who made this young lady cry? She really didn't!
The concubines in the palace used all sorts of tricks to compete for the emperor's favor, and pretending to be pushed down was a common tactic. Strictly speaking, this young lady was her rival in love.
Although she disliked Wei Li and wished he were far away from her, being far away was not the same as being strangled to death.
Zhao Xiheng suddenly realized that she was a delicate and powerless parasitic flower in front of Wei Li, and that her behavior was inappropriate, so she quickly let go, and Chen Ruonan fell to the ground with a thud.
She felt a chill run down her spine, and Chen Ruonan felt a tingling sensation in her buttocks.
Deputy General Chen helped his sister up.
"What happened?" Wei Li asked Zhao Xiheng, his gaze deep.
Zhao Xiheng couldn't answer for a moment. As for why the young lady was crying, she didn't really know. She was fine, and then she suddenly started crying. She really couldn't explain it.
Now she even suspects that she has been set up.
"Well, I don't know either..." Zhao Xiheng waved her hand, even preparing to burst into tears with Chen Ruonan.
Although Chen Ruonan liked Wei Li, she wasn't a particularly malicious person. She cried and shouted as she explained, "It has nothing to do with the princess. I wanted to cry on my own. It wasn't the princess who bullied me."
Zhao Xiheng pouted. Goodness, your explanation is worse than no explanation at all. It just doesn't sound right.
"Nonsense, do you think I don't know you were the one who cried?" Wei Li glared at Chen Ruonan, then grabbed Zhao Xiheng's arm. "With those skinny arms and legs, how could they possibly bully someone as big and strong as you?"
Zhao Xiheng is timid and easily frightened into tears. She is only capable of being bullied by others, let alone bullying others.
Chen Ruonan stopped crying for a moment, then suddenly burst into a wail, clinging to her brother's arm, almost fainting.
No girl would be too happy to be told she's big and rough by her crush.
Zhao Xiheng clicked her tongue inwardly. It was too tragic, truly too tragic.
The person I love doesn't love me back and even mocks me.
"Take your sister and leave now." Wei Li's head was throbbing from crying, and she started to shoo people away.
As the lieutenant walked to the door, he suddenly remembered the most important thing on this trip, which he had almost forgotten due to being frequently interrupted.
"My lord, King Zhiyao of Qingzhou and Liu Huan of Youzhou went to war in Jizhou last night. Hua Shangle of Jizhou sent a message to Pingzhou this morning, hoping that you can provide support. He is willing to cede three counties as a reward. In Jinyang, the emperor learned that Princess Ming'an had been sent to Goguryeo for a marriage alliance and immediately suffered a stroke. The crown prince is now the regent."
The situation is not optimistic; the Great Zhou Dynasty is on the verge of a dramatic change.
"What does this have to do with me?"
But Wei Li didn't care about these things. Not only these things, but even his own life, he seemed to have never cherished it.
Qingzhou, Jizhou, and Youzhou are located at the lower end of Pingzhou. To the north and southeast of Pingzhou lies Goguryeo, to the east it faces Japan across the sea, and to the west it borders the Xianbei.
If Zhao Xiheng were to leave Pingzhou, Qingzhou, Jizhou, and Youzhou would be the only routes she would take, and now these three places are being dragged into the flames of war.
She couldn't help but lick her lips and secretly glanced at Wei Li. It seemed that she could only lie in Pingzhou and be a lazy bum, with nowhere else to go.
Compared to that, Pingzhou is really safe...
Wei Li realized this too, and with a slight smile, he pinched Zhao Xiheng's chin and pulled her close, "Little princess, you have nowhere to go."
Zhao Xiheng made up her mind and grabbed Wei Li's arm, "I don't want to go anywhere, I just want to be with my lord!"
Before Chen Ruonan had even left, she saw the two people standing very close, gazing at each other tenderly. The crying she had finally managed to stop suddenly burst into another wail.
She was really suffering.
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