Early in the morning, Xu Ping’an sat at the desk in the courtyard, watching the fish swimming lazily in the water. His breathing was calm, his mind as still as the water, and his eyes deep with contemplation.
Why do people live?
How vast is the universe?
The world is so boundless, yet I am so insignificant.
The fish glided through the water. If I were a fish, would I also know the joy of playing in the water?
Indeed, at this moment, Xu Ping’an had completely entered sage mode.
His brain worked rapidly, his thoughts ethereal, and even the surrounding spiritual energy seemed to be communicating with him faintly.
He sat like this for nearly half an hour until the sound of a horse’s reins jingling echoed.
A man dressed in Jin Fu stopped his horse at the gate.
He leapt down and hurried to the door, looking at Xu Ping’an before cupping his fists and greeting him:
“May I ask, is this the Xu Family Small Courtyard? I wonder if Brother Zhao Ping is here?”
“Zhao Ping?”
Xu Ping’an raised his brow. Zhao Ping was the current alias of Zhao Pingzhi, wasn’t it?
Though the letter could be sent out by Messenger Bird, for one to come personally to deliver it, someone must have been dispatched directly.
Probably someone from the Duke of the Southern Border’s Residence.
“Old Zhao, someone’s here to see you.”
Xu Ping’an called out. Zhao Pingzhi, who was picking vegetables in the Western Wing Room, poked his head out at the sound.
“Who’s looking for me?”
Though hesitant, he turned his gaze toward the gate, but when he saw the man standing there, his brows furrowed.
He quickly put down the sprig of cilantro he was holding and briskly walked over.
When the visitor saw Zhao Pingzhi, he was momentarily stunned.
“Huh? Brother Zhao, how did you come to be in such a state?”
“Xiao Zhou, say nothing for now. Did the Master send a letter?”
“Yes, this is an urgent delivery from Chao Ge, five hundred miles away. I was ordered to deliver it personally.”
The young man in Jin Fu pulled a small box from his chest. The box was sealed shut with red characters on yellow paper, and in the center was a large red seal stamped with the words ‘Duke of the Southern Border’s Residence.’
“Where is the Young Master? This letter must be delivered personally to the Young Master as instructed by the Master.”
“Delivered personally to the Young Master? Ah… this…” Zhao Pingzhi was momentarily at a loss.
So far, he was the only outsider at the Duke of the Southern Border’s Residence who knew that the Young Master was actually a Miss.
But this was not something to be revealed to others!
As he hesitated, a voice came from the room behind, on the west side.
“Is that Zhou Liang? Let him in.”
“Yes.”
Hearing this, Zhao Pingzhi quickly responded and gave Zhou Liang a glance.
“Follow me.”
“Sir?”
“Go ahead.”
No matter what, this was still Xu Ping’an’s courtyard, so even if the visitor was from the Duke of the Southern Border’s Residence, they had to request permission before entering.
It was both a matter of etiquette and respect.
Xu Ping’an didn’t mind and waved his hand.
Seeing this, Zhao Pingzhi quickly led Zhou Liang inside.
On Zhou Liang’s face flickered a trace of confusion. He glanced at the west room and whispered to Zhao Pingzhi,
“General~ did I just hear a woman’s voice? Could it be that the Young Master has taken a concubine? Should I address her as Shaofu Ren or Shaoyi Niang?”
Xu Ping’an, who was drinking tea, almost spat it out.
Even Zhao Pingzhi twitched his cheek and shot Zhou Liang a sharp look.
“Shut up!”
Zhou Liang looked dumbfounded but obediently zipped his lips and followed Zhao Pingzhi down the hall to the door of the west room.
“Miss, the visitor has arrived.”
“Zhou Liang? Come in and speak.”
Zhou Liang raised an eyebrow. That tone sounded familiar, which made him somewhat curious.
Still, he followed Zhao Pingzhi inside.
The first thing he saw was Xiao Jing’er.
Though not close friends, Zhou Liang had noticed before that Xiao Jing’er hadn’t worn any Immortal’s treasure that could disguise her gender, so she must have been in male disguise with makeup.
Now, without the makeup, although there were some differences in appearance, Zhou Liang immediately recognized her.
He sized her up from head to toe. His once sworn brother was now dressed as a woman and even had a certain grace about her!
Unable to hold back, Zhou Liang loudly exclaimed,
“Li Jing, you… you actually have such a habit? What kind of propriety is this?!”
The three people in the room had varying expressions.
Li Yuer even snorted out a laugh.
Zhou Liang was confused, staring at the woman before him.
He felt a strong sense of familiarity yet some distance, as if he could recognize her but couldn’t recall exactly who she was.
As if understanding Zhou Liang’s thoughts, Li Yuer smiled slightly, raised her hand, and took up her Tuanshan to cover the lower half of her face.
Previously, the Immortal’s treasure she carried would conceal her gender and also cause slight changes to her appearance.
Most notably, it would slightly sharpen the shape of her oval chin, making her look more masculine.
But the area above her nose did not change, which caused her to instinctively dislike how the lower half of her face looked after transformation.
So she habitually covered her face with the fan.
Now, covering her face again, when her sharp eyes glanced over, Zhou Liang shuddered all over.
“Yo… Young Master!? You…”
“Recognize me now?” Li Yuer smiled and lowered the fan.
“Li Jing!! How dare you deceive the Shizi by disguising as a man! Today, I will risk my life to bring you to Zheng Fa on the spot! To set things straight!!”
The smile that had lingered on Li Yuer’s lips just moments ago vanished instantly.