Beginning of Arc 3: Hai'an City, One week Later
In Yue Manor, the door of the main hall opened and three figures walked through.
Li Wei couldn't help staring. The wooden door looked so ordinary... She just followed them through the door of her bedchamber in Li Manor and they've arrived in Hai'an as if the two kingdoms were separated by a mere wall, not two months' worth of journey.
Song Yishan pulled a stunned Li Wei into the garden. He casually picked a ripe lychee from the lychee tree and ate it as if there were no worries in the world. "Mmm, big sister, this lychee is sweet."
She kicked the ground only to find it was hard. It actually isn't a hallucination. "Yishan, how did we get here so fast?"
Song Yishan chuckled at Li Wei's childish action. This big sister, she carried herself so calm, but she was funny sometimes.
He popped a second lychee into his mouth. "Oh that? Master Yue created a portal so we didn't have to waste time travelling. He was actually considerate and cast the spell over a door so you wouldn't be creeped out."
Li Wei hesitated to pick the red lychee. Eh... Is this tree real? Instead of questioning about the fruit tree, she felt mischievous and threw indifferently , "Yishan, are you my brother?"
Song Yishan, who was greedily eating a bunch of lychees, choked. "I-I am not your brother!"
She took a bite and indeed, the lychee was sweet and edible. "But you call me big sister?"
"Khan Bojing is my brother."
This time, the fruit in her mouth flew out. "Brother?!"
"Excuse me, sworn brother." Song Yishan's cheeks turned pink as he continued dreamily. "Maybe future brother in law..."
She understood it at once. This brat has a crush. "You like Khan Nazha?"
"Shhh, don't speak so loud!" Song Yishan looked around in alarm, as if the princess could pop up anytime.
Li Wei rolled her eyes. "Why would she be here? A princess is naturally in the palace."
The simple minded boy took her words as an encouragement. He dutifully stood up and announced, "I'll let Khan Bojing know you've arrived."
She only nodded as he skipped away joyfully. No doubts, he used Khan Bojing as an excuse to see the princess.
She peeled and popped another lychee into her mouth. Princess Khan Nazha was Khan Bojing's only sibling, the child of the emperor and current empress. As half siblings, there would usually be tension, but Khan Nazha was fond of her brother. She deeply admired him as a role model and as the good older brother he was, Khan Bojing naturally spoiled her.
The problem was Li Wei herself. Khan Nazha and her didn't get along at all. Both women had a similar temperament-- strong headed, stubborn, and unyielding. Thinking about it again, Li Wei softly laughed to herself. What petty fights they had.
When footsteps returned, she asked without looking up, "Yishan, back so fast?"
"Take a look before you call the name, will you?"
Khan Bojing stood on the stone pathway. Unlike the simple clothes he wore before, he was dressed appropriately as a prince in an expensive blue and gold robe. His hair was pulled up in a bun adorned with a gold crown. He smiled handsomely, relieved to see her in front of his eyes.
Li Wei stared at him. It had not been long since their separation, but she missed him more than she thought. He almost didn't look real.
"Li Wei?" Khan Bojing paused before teasing, "Yue Biya?"
She walked towards him and he walked towards her. Once they were just steps apart, she spoke first, "Khan Bojing, how did you know?"
"Know what?" His words denied it, but his smile couldn't hide what he was thinking. Seeing that she clearly wasn't amused, he broke into laughter. "Alright, I didn't know. I had no idea. I happened to run into Master Yue before he left for the north. I asked him about such a strange birthmark and everything else unraveled."
"..." That year, Yue Shangwu was to leave on an expedition to the north. Because this time he was forced to return to Hai'an earlier, he was able to come across Yue Shangwu. As a result, she found out about her parents. It was... a blessing in disguise.
"Li Wei, are you mad? I swear it wasn't my intention, I accidentally glimpsed at it when pulling the blanket." Khan Bojing lied. His statement was a lie. He prepared to be beaten.
In actuality, he noticed her mark the moment he sneaked into her room. Her thin nightdress wasn't hiding anything... When he hovered above her, he secretly took another closer look at the mark on her chest.
Li Wei nodded, his explanation sounded reasonable. Eh... who cares if he saw? The bigger matter was, he had done her a huge favor. "Yebai, thank you. Truly."
"Huh?" Khan Bojing was at a loss for words. Did she just... thanked him?
Li Wei couldn't chuckled at his blank face. Of course, a gentleman like him would be worried about her feelings. "I'm serious, I never knew my parents are still alive. It's all thanks to you."
He quietly breathed in relief. Good, she didn't notice his guilty crime.
After meeting with his parents in Yu'an, he was already on his way back to Na'an. An unexpected ambush forced him to compromise with his father's command.
In his teens, his father was more flexible with him going back and forth to the palace. It was no longer the same.
He was not allowed to leave without permission. Ye Dequan could no longer afford to be his stand in. Sooner or later, Khan Bojing would have to reveal himself. While it lasted, he enjoyed the small taste of freedom being the woodcutter's son.
Khan Bojing was also surprised when he found out Li Wei's background. He almost couldn't believe his ears... although this truth would make his life easier.
He shamelessly brought her into his arms and spoke tenderly, "You don't have to be alone anymore."
"En, I know." Li Wei nodded, her chin pushing onto his shoulder. She was just starting to enjoy being close to him when he pulled back.
His eyes scanned both her front and back intensely. He was clearly unhappy as he asked, "What's his name again? Gu Guangli?"
Song Yishan, that naughty boy was fast! Out of all details, he reported that one first. Li Wei could only nod helplessly. "But don't mind him."
It was as if he didn't hear her. "Where did he touched you?"
"Umm..." Li Wei bit her lower lip, debating if she should tell him or not. He wasn't the type of person to lash out in anger, perhaps it's fine to tell him. But again, would he really stay calm?
"Never mind, don't think about him." He pulled her petite body back to him. "Just focus on me."
His last words caused her to forget her thoughts and immediately glanced up. Focus on him?
Khan Bojing's shameless side naturally showed up when in front of her. In response to her questioning eyes, he only smiled proudly. "Look at me when you're sad, tired, or for any reason at all. I will brighten your mood."
"Then, Li Wei thank Your Highness in advance." Her mischievous eyes twinkled with amusement as she spoke in a serious tone. To address him so formally, he will surely be annoyed.
Khan Bojing narrowed his eyes, trying to see what she was playing at. "Oh?"
"Yes, Your Highness." Li Wei didn't think she would be able to hold in her laughter any longer. His expression was too entertaining.
"The more distant you call me, the closer I'll call you." He flashed her a grin before he whispered into her ear. "How about that, Xiao Wei?"
Xiao Wei. To hear his voice call her the way he used to, nothing sounded more beautiful. "It's a deal then, Yebai."
. . .
"Big sister, something good happened to you?" Song Yishan asked as he watched her from across the table. It wasn't hard for him to guess the reason. "Khan Bojing?"
Xiao Wei. Xiao Wei. Xiao Wei. When he called her this way, she feels as if Khan Bojing loved her. "En, we agreed to call each other's informally from now on. Yebai and Xiao Wei."
While Li Wei was happy, Song Yishan wasn't. Hearing Khan Bojing and Li Wei's progress, he pouted in jealousy. Ah, how he wishes to call the princess so endearingly.
When he went to the palace, he couldn't meet her. Because his efforts turned out to be a disappointment, he didn't want to share. The big sister should only hear good news. "Big sister, did you know master and I were about to leave to Le'kai? If Bojing wasn't forced back, he would've missed our departure. Our leave this time was actually meant to be really long. I even packed enough for ten years' time."
Song Yishan, this brat, was more thoughtful than she had guessed. She gratefully placed a drumstick on his plate.
No wonder she didn't meet him before, he had gone with his master. But to be gone for so long, Song Yishan would have no chance to be with Khan Nazha...
Li Wei twirled the cabbage wraps with her chopsticks. "Father, why were you leaving for Le'kai?"
Le'kai was a full six months' journey from Hai'an. Three times the distance to Na'an. To use magic for teleportation, neither would it be simple nor go unnoticed. Logically, Yue Shangwu wouldn't take the risk unless in dire situations.
Li Wei had seen Yue Shangwu before. He actually reported to the palace two times, but it was always brief and only with the emperor. No wonder Khan Bojing never had the chance to have a discussion with him.
She slowly chewed, taking her time to analyze the situation. Things were more complicated than she thought. By the time she died, Yue Shangwu hadn't officially returned.
"Secret mission to spy on them. There's words going around of a war." Yue Shangwu stated simply.
Song Yishan dropped his chopsticks onto the ceramic plate. This, wasn't this confidential information? Master Yue isn't going to be spilling all the tea, is he?
Yue Shangwu looked at his daughter and said, "If you're curious, come to my study after dinner."
Li Wei nodded happily while Song Yishan looked as if he had been betrayed. Master... What's going on with you?