"And you, how have you been since we parted?" he asked. "I heard you also participated in the competition. Did you win any prizes? Also, why did you suddenly revert to being a woman?"
Wu Xiyu had so many questions he wanted to ask. He wanted to know what kind of life she led after she left, who she met, and most importantly...
Does she miss him?
Although his heart was in turmoil, he remained calm, not letting her know that his eyes held a tranquil, clear blue.
But at this moment, he could only ask superficial questions that seemed irrelevant to him.
"Well... it's a long story." Li Mingke put one hand on his chest and stroked his chin with the other.
How should I talk to him about it?
"You know my skill level. The All-Star Tournament was like child's play for me. That's what I thought at the time. But I didn't expect... well, there was a little accident on Misaki Island. I got injured and was forced to withdraw from the competition."
"What! You're injured! Where are you injured? Is it healed?"
Wu Xiyu looked her up and down with a worried expression. When he saw Li Mingke's half-confused and half-embarrassed expression, he suddenly realized his own lapse in composure.
He calmed himself down. "I... I was just worried about you. We're brothers who've been through thick and thin together, oh no, siblings? That's not quite right, anyway, we've been through thick and thin together! I was worried about you getting hurt!"
Li Mingke nodded in understanding, "It wasn't a serious injury, I just needed to rest for a couple of days. And then, taking this opportunity, my mother let me resume my original identity."
"As for the specific reason... you came at the last show. My mother has already explained it before. When I was young, someone predicted that I would have to dress as a boy until I turned 18. I just turned 18 a few days ago, so I took this opportunity to go back to dressing as a girl."
It's not convenient to say the truth, but my mother has already explained it once, so she just took it directly. Besides, the reason sounds very convincing.
"I see!" Wu Xiyu clapped his hands.
"Sigh, you must have had a tough time all these years. It must have been inconvenient to do many things while pretending to be a man, right?"
"It's alright, there's really not much difference between men and women."
Li Mingke genuinely thought so.
Society did not make overly strict distinctions between men and women; women could wear hats and men could wear flowers in their hair. However, her mother was stricter with her in this regard so that others would not discover her true identity.
“You look great right now,” Wu Xiyu said with a smile.
"Was I not good-looking before?" Li Mingke feigned anger.
"That's not what I meant!" Wu Xiyu hurriedly explained, "You look just as good now as before, only your temperament is slightly different."
I like them both.
"Haha." Li Mingke laughed too.
As the two were talking, a voice rang out from not far away:
"Mingke, I just went looking for you, but Lord Li told me you weren't there and had been summoned away. I was wondering who it could be, but I never expected it to be our Emperor of Daye!"
It was Bie Chen who was coming towards them.
"Farewell, Chen!" Li Mingke waved from afar.
Wu Xiyu, who had just been all smiles, suddenly turned cold.
He watched Bie Chen approach, his steps light and quick, his chin taut, making his jawline appear even more angular.
Bie Chen walked up to Li Mingke in a few steps, seemingly ignoring the other person beside her, and spoke to her with a smile.
Wu Xiyu unconsciously clenched his fists.
He asked, "Mingke, whose young master is this?"
He forcefully squeezed his way into the middle of them.
This stumped Li Mingke.
"His name is Bie Chen... um... he is..."
who is he?
What should she say?
He was one of your brothers who was sent to Zen Mountain when he was young?
It's not appropriate for her to say this; Bie Chen should bring it up himself.
"Who is he?" Wu Xiyu continued to ask.
Does he really not know?
Li Mingke looked at him and found that he was staring at her intently, as if he really knew nothing and was waiting for her to introduce him.
"He is a friend of mine."
That's the only way to put it.
“Friends?” Wu Xiyu practically spat out the word through gritted teeth.
They've only known each other for a short time, yet she already considers him her friend?
And what about him?
He did ask that question.
"Then what am I to you?"
"You...you are my friend too."
Li Mingke felt that Wu Xiyu was like a bomb that had been suddenly lit, but she really didn't know what she had said that had angered him.
"Friends too?" He let out an angry snort.
"Mingke, we've been through thick and thin together. To say we're just friends is just too hurtful, isn't it?"
He tried to reach out and put his arm around her shoulder, but was interrupted halfway through.
Bie Chen very cleverly pulled Li Mingke forward, just beyond the reach of Wu Xiyu.
Bie Chen laughed, "Ming Ke has so many friends. He can even be friends with His Majesty the Emperor of Daye. It's truly enviable."
He said he was envious, but there wasn't a trace of envy in his voice.
Even if Li Mingke was slow to realize it, he would understand her current situation.
"Well... it's getting late. I told my mom before I left that I would go back soon. My sister is still injured, and I need to go back to take care of her!"
This place is no place to linger! Of the Thirty-Six Stratagems, the best is to flee!
She turned and ran.
"Mingke, I just arrived and you're already leaving? We haven't even exchanged a few words yet!" Biechen complained.
"Let's talk about it later, I really have to go back!"
Run! Run!
She said goodbye to the two of them and ran back to Li Pinyue's residence like a rabbit.
Bie Chen stretched out his hand, as if he wanted to say something more, but Li Mingke had already disappeared.
He reluctantly put his hand down.
He stood there for a long time before turning around.
He finally began to look the young man in the eye.
"It's been so long!"
"My dear brother!"
...
When Li Pinyue saw Li Mingke enter the house, panting as he closed the door, picked up the teapot on the table, poured water, and started drinking, she thought something had happened.
"Sis, why are you running so fast?"
"There's a ghost chasing me!"
After downing several large glasses of water, Li Minghu slumped into his chair.
She looked around the room. "Where's Mother?"
"She went out; it seems someone from some family came to invite her to discuss something."
A servant with a bowed back came in and said a few words. Li Zengqing followed the servant, but the two spoke too softly and she couldn't hear what they were saying.
After Li Pinyue finished speaking, she turned her gaze back to the book she was holding.
So he was reading a book!
Li Mingke moved closer to his younger sister and asked, "What book is Yue'er reading? I have several good books from the latest issues of various bookstores. If Yue'er wants to read them, I'll have someone fetch them for her."
Li Pinyue listened, glanced at her, then stood the book upright, revealing several large characters:
The Wonderful Dharma of Emptiness and Flowers - Final Volume
Li Mingke was dejected.
He's still studying despite his injury!
So, a genius truly lives up to their name? Not only are they incredibly talented, but they're also constantly working hard!
"Sis, you can keep those storybooks and comic books for yourself!"
Although Li Pinyue did not express it directly, Li Mingke could still hear the deep contempt she felt for him in her words.
She changed the subject.
"Moon, what do you do when you're not practicing your martial arts?"
"Read a book."
"Where are the girls in your room? Are they out playing or keeping you company while you read?"
I wonder if Yue'er's maid is as hardworking as her mistress?
Surely not? Haha!
“Of course, you’ll read with me.” Li Pinyue’s expression remained unchanged.
"Sister, do you remember a girl named Fengmian who used to follow me? Back then, she wasn't even my study companion; she just served tea and water. But after auditing classes for a few years, she took the exam and is now a female official."
Li Mingke: ?
She remembered it; she thought Sister Fengmian had made enough money and gone home!
"So the maids in my room studied with me while I studied. They could read my books as they pleased. I promised them that if any of them had other ideas and didn't want to stay with me anymore, I would let them go."
Those who could become the personal maids of the young ladies in the Li family were selected through a rigorous process, and most of them were born into the family. Even so, their monthly wages were higher than those of most people outside.
For example, Fengmian, although she was a female official, only earned the equivalent of three months' salary as a maid in the Li family for a month. Of course, she left the Li family for other pursuits.
Not to mention that personal maids are the master's right-hand women, and they will help the master manage important affairs in Pengzhou in the future.
Few people around Li Pinyue wanted to leave, but since their mistress was so outstanding, they all unconsciously worked hard to keep up with her.
Li Mingke felt ashamed.
She thought of the maids in her room:
They would gather together to eat sunflower seeds and look at pictures of handsome men, and every few days they would invite a theatrical troupe to perform. They would also follow the serialized novels published by various bookstores together.
No, we can't continue like this!
She wants reform!
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