Chapter Fifty-Seven: A Secret Oath

When Lie Chang’an realized he was about to taste a meal she had cooked herself, a wave of warmth swept through his heart, impossible to suppress. He was more eager than ever to try a bite, but seeing that the Crown Prince had yet to lift his chopsticks, he forced himself to remain calm, answering as if nothing was amiss, “Miss, you are truly gifted—your first attempt at cooking, and it turns out so perfectly.”

Guli was so flustered by the praise that she dared not lift her head.

The Crown Prince laughed heartily, picked up his chopsticks, and invited everyone to eat. One mouthful after another, the table was filled with praise.

Lie Chang’an picked up some shredded potatoes, placed them in his mouth, and nodded sincerely. “It’s truly delicious.”

Hearing this, Guli’s cheeks flushed again, a tender sweetness blooming in her heart.

So this was what it felt like to cook for someone you love. At last, she understood the sentiment behind those ladies who “washed their hands to make soup” for their beloved.

“How did the matter go?” the Crown Prince asked halfway through the meal.

Lie Chang’an put down his bowl and chopsticks, took a pouch of silver from his robes, and placed it on the table. “I’ve given that greedy landlord a harsh lesson, and conveyed the young master’s message. He promised to obey without question, and swore to use all his wealth to help the needy villagers from now on.”

The Crown Prince nodded and passed the pouch of silver to Wei Qingheng. “Young man, here’s your silver back. Don’t worry, that landlord won’t dare to act so brazenly again.”

Guli knew well that retrieving the silver so easily, and making the landlord submit and promise to give up his fortune, must have been because Lie Chang’an carried the waist token and issued orders in the name of authority, instead of revealing his true identity. Otherwise, that arrogant landlord would never have complied.

“Thank you, both of you,” Wei Qingheng said, staring at the bag of silver he’d thought lost forever. He knew he had met true benefactors. He couldn’t say just what he felt—gratitude, relief, excitement, or perhaps an unspoken humility and sorrow.

His gaze drifted toward the young lady beside him—so noble, so beautiful, so untouchable. She was someone from a world entirely apart from his own.

Wei Qingheng turned to Lie Chang’an and suddenly asked, “Young master, you must be very skilled in martial arts, aren’t you?”

The question caught Lie Chang’an off guard. Before he could respond, Guli smiled and nodded, “Of course. Chang’an has trained since childhood—he’s certainly skilled.”

Wei Qingheng asked, “Is it truly good to learn martial arts?”

“Of course,” Guli replied. As the only one among the four who couldn’t fight, and always needed protection, she felt she was most qualified to answer. “Learning martial arts not only allows you to protect yourself, but to travel the world, earn military merit, and most importantly, to protect those you most wish to protect.”

To protect those you most wish to protect…

Wei Qingheng clenched the pouch of silver tightly, repeating those words silently in his heart.

“Come, let’s hurry on our way after we finish eating,” the Crown Prince said, paying little mind to this interlude. But he saw the ambition in the boy’s eyes—a kind of defiance, a refusal to bow to fate.

With that in mind, the Crown Prince didn’t wish to overlook someone who might one day prove valuable to the dynasty. So, as they departed, he turned back and added, “If you ever need help, seek out Master Li of the Chao Ren Hall in the capital. He will aid you.”

Chao Ren Hall was under the Crown Prince’s jurisdiction and was responsible for the annual selection of soldiers from all corners of the land. Those selected were then sent to the military barracks for training.

With these parting words, the Crown Prince led everyone away.

The courtyard returned to tranquility.

Wei Qingheng watched the graceful figure board the carriage and slowly disappear down the road, vanishing from sight.

He clenched his fists and turned into the house.

His ailing mother had finished her meal and was already asleep, but Wei Qingheng’s gaze landed on the familiar silver ingot at the bedside.

He walked over, grasped it tightly in his palm, and couldn’t help but recall the words of the spirited young lady.

She had said that by learning martial arts, one could protect those they wished to protect.

It was clear to him that the one called Chang’an was her protector.

If that was so, then if one day he, too, could become as skilled as Young Master Chang’an, would he not also be able to protect her?