The master and servant hid behind the pillar, whispering to each other, their heads nearly touching.
Hang Li listened to their hushed talk about Li Chi and the academy students. He glanced up at Xue Ru across the way, her face showing helpless frustration as Di Tao pestered her with flattery. Hang Li’s lips tightened, his heart feeling as though a jar of mud had been poured into it, his breath heavy.
“Some things you have to fight for yourself. Waiting won’t get you anywhere,” Xiao Yan said lightly.
Hang Li looked up. “Master…”
Xiao Yan continued, “She’s no longer the overlooked little concubine’s daughter. Once the dust is wiped off a treasure, everyone can see its worth.”
“And there are plenty of ways to win someone’s heart. Not everyone is a gentleman like Di Tao. Don’t be like Gu Helian, foolishly standing by and regretting it later.”
Hang Li’s lips moved slightly. He had thought there was no need to confess his feelings, Xue Ru already knew. He believed that with the uncertainty of life and death on the northwestern battlefield, he shouldn’t tie her future to him. He thought he could wait. But now, he hesitated.
Xiao Yan didn’t care whether it was Di Tao or Hang Li who ended up with Xue Ru. His concern was for Tang Ning, and his care for Xue Ru was an extension of that. As long as her future husband was honorable and treated her well, Xiao Yan didn’t mind if it wasn’t Di Tao or Hang Li.
He had no intention of using Xue Ru to curry favor with anyone. He simply couldn’t stand Hang Li’s attitude, liking her but doing nothing, just waiting for fate to decide.
If he had acted like that, little Haitang would’ve been snatched away long ago.
Xiao Yan said no more, stopping there. He composed himself, stepped forward, and lightly tapped Tang Ning.
Tang Ning, who was happily chatting with Hua Wu, jumped in surprise and turned around. “Brother?” She glanced behind him. “Why are you here? Where’s Master Cao and the others?”
“They left after we finished talking,” Xiao Yan replied.
Following Tang Ning’s gaze, he suddenly called out, “Di Tao!”
Di Tao, who was pestering Xue Ru with conversation, startled. His face flushed the moment he saw Xiao Yan and the others. He hurriedly muttered to Xue Ru, “I’ll come find you later,” then scampered over.
Xiao Yan looked at him. “Didn’t you say you were going to the latrine? Then you never came back?”
Di Tao grinned sheepishly. “I saw you talking with Old Master Cao, and I couldn’t follow the conversation, so I just wandered around…”
“Wandered around and ended up in the back courtyard?” Xiao Yan gave him a cold look. “Where are your manners? And why aren’t you calling me Uncle Xiao anymore?”
Di Tao’s scalp prickled. He glanced at Xue Ru, then mumbled, “I just thought, with your youthful, dashing, and unparalleled charm, standing next to my dad, you don’t look like the same generation. Calling you ‘uncle’ feels unlucky…”
As for Xiao Yan’s first question, he pretended not to hear it.
Seeing Xiao Yan’s expressionless stare, Di Tao felt a chill down his spine. He quickly turned to Tang Ning for help. “Sister-in-law…”
Save me!
Tang Ning couldn’t help but laugh, lightly patting Xiao Yan. “Stop teasing him, or he’ll start crying.”
Hua Wu giggled beside them. “This servant has never seen a general cry, but if Young General Di sheds a tear, maybe someone will comfort him. Right, Miss Ru?”
“You stinky Hua Wu!”
Xue Ru’s face flushed red, and she reached out to tickle Hua Wu.
The little maid dodged with a playful giggle, teasingly lifting her sleeve. “This servant dusted on some perfume today, I’m not stinky at all. But Miss Ru, why’s your face so red? My lady, look, did Miss Ru put on too much rouge?”
Tang Ning smiled lightly. “It does seem like it. That rouge color looks nice, Aru. Where did you buy it? Hua Wu should get some too…”
“Sister!!”
Xue Ru stomped her foot in embarrassment, turning to tickle Tang Ning.
Tang Ning grabbed Xiao Yan’s sleeve, spinning behind him to hide, laughing so hard she swayed. Xiao Yan, forced to shield her, sighed helplessly. “Careful, you’ll fall.”
…
After the commotion, Di Tao, worried Xue Ru might truly be upset, found an excuse to drag Xiao Yan and Tang Ning away. Once they left, Xue Ru, slightly embarrassed, covered her face.
She wasn’t clueless. Having grown up sensitive to others’ intentions, she understood Di Tao’s feelings after his repeated, earnest attempts to seek her out. Even if she were slow, she’d have figured it out by now.
She wasn’t angry at Hua Wu or her sister for teasing her. She understood that her sister’s playful remarks were a subtle reminder: if she had no feelings for Di Tao, she should reject him clearly to avoid misunderstandings.
Xue Ru had been worried about affecting the relationship between the Di family and her sister’s group. But after today’s events with the Cui family, she steadied her resolve.
It seemed she needed to find a chance to talk to Di Tao clearly.
“Aru.”
The voice behind her made Xue Ru pause as she patted her face. Turning, she saw Hang Li standing under the corridor, her face lighting up with joy. “Brother Hang, when did you get back?”
Hang Li’s heart warmed at her bright, sparkling eyes, but seeing the lingering flush on her cheeks, his joy faded.
Xue Ru stepped forward, smiling. “I heard from Uncle He that you’ve been busy lately. I haven’t seen you at the residence for days. Are you done with your work? When can you teach me martial arts again? I’ve mastered the moves you taught me last time, I can show you anytime…”
Her smile was radiant, a warmth entirely different from how she faced Di Tao.
“I was telling you, the other day at the academy’s martial arts class, I sparred with some students, and none of them could beat me. Even the instructor praised my talent, saying it’s only my age holding me back. If I’d started training as a child, I might’ve become a master.”
The little lady chattered beside him, clutching her account book, bouncing with excitement. Her words brimmed with pride and delight, a lively spirit unlike her usual gentle, well-mannered demeanor.
Hang Li watched her quietly, his expression soft.
Xue Ru talked for a long time without a response. She looked up at him. “Brother Hang, why aren’t you saying anything?”
Hang Li said, “I’m going to the northwest.”
Xue Ru froze, her cheerful steps halting. Clutching the account book tightly, she asked softly, “When was this decided? Why didn’t you tell me?”
Hang Li replied, “It was decided a while ago. I mentioned it to the master, and he agreed. I’ve been preparing for the northwest, so I haven’t been at the residence much.”
“Oh.”
Xue Ru gave a quiet response, but in an instant, she lifted her smile again.
“Going to the northwest is good. With your martial skills, you shouldn’t be stuck in this little Jiyun Lane.”
“I heard from Sister Yuejian that you’re very skilled, no less than Canglang and the others. You only stayed at the Tang residence to protect Sister. Now that Sister’s marriage to Brother Xiao is set and the capital is peaceful for now, going to the northwest will let you carve out a bright future for yourself.”
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You can read ahead to chapterr 770 (100+ extra chapters) here
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