5. Circularity

I was very eager to say that I wanted to hit someone, but upon seeing Deng Chan's panicked and pale face, I calmed myself down and smiled, saying: "I don't intend to do anything, I just want to see for myself..." to find out who this person really is.

I glanced at him; his face was full of sincerity, and I couldn't help but frown

They are vying to become my meal, what can I do about it

After breaking up with Yin in the backyard, I secretly returned to the room. As I jumped through the window, I found Amber curled up behind the screen, sobbing softly, her eyes red from crying. Seeing that she was truly frightened, I took a copper hairpin from a pile of trinkets I had bought at the market and handed it to her. To my surprise, she clutched the hairpin and cried even harder.

This fellow is none other than the scoundrel whom I kicked at the back door at noon; at this moment, the left side of his face is still somewhat unusually red and swollen

I dare say that he must not have had much contact with the former Yin Lihua; otherwise, who knows, his eyes might have already fallen to the ground. I cheerfully placed my hand on his shoulder and said, "Let's go! Accompany your older sister to browse the market, that's the main thing." With my other hand, I pretended to strike in front of his eyes, "Otherwise, if your older sister is not happy, the consequences will be very serious"

Good! He readily agreed, propping his chin on one hand, looking at me with a beaming smile

Because you are so cute! I smiled until my eyes curved up

He waved at me, and I nodded. Before the cooks in the kitchen could come out to investigate, I quickly slipped through the small door. Yin promptly closed the door behind us, and, still feeling a bit shaken, patted her chest and said: "Sister, you really know how to scare people. Didn't we agree to come quietly? Why did it turn into such a commotion..."

With my 100-meter time combined with Deng Chanmo's slow little steps, it is naturally impossible for her to catch up with me. Along the way, the maids and attendants were all dumbfounded, glancing sideways repeatedly, but I pretended not to notice. At this moment, my heart was filled with curiosity stirred up by this person named "Liu Xiu". Until this curiosity reveals its answer, I find it difficult to settle my mind.

She held onto me tightly and said, "Don't go, cousin will be unhappy if he sees you"

Aunt, come and see who has arrived

I was quite perplexed by his actions; he did not allow me to enter, yet he bypassed the main door and walked to a secluded window ledge. Through the sheer curtain, I could vaguely see seven or eight figures sitting on the floor inside, with the host, Yin Shi, seated at the head of the table.

This is terrible! This is terrible! Indeed, curiosity kills! ... I still don't know how the shadow will punish me, he ...? ... He won't hit me, will he ...? Then ... ... This is terrible, should I quickly pretend to be exhausted and just faint?

Li Hua! Cousin told me that after you recovered from your illness, you never mentioned him again, nor did you engage in any self-deprecating behavior. However, I still want to confirm, if you were to see him again, would you still feel sad for him, still feel heartbroken?

I shivered and quickly withdrew my hand, grabbing the dazed shadow beside me, laughing and joking: "Hehe, the weather is nice today... Ah, so the market is right outside the back door, how lively. Come on, let's hurry and go!"

To be honest, I cannot discern any distinction between the male and female versions of the curved hem deep robes from the Han Dynasty. In my view, these formal garments worn on official occasions are indeed indistinguishable. I do not appreciate the trailing hems that drag on the ground like a rag; although they sway gracefully while walking, exuding elegance and refinement, I still prefer to stride boldly. That slow, turtle-like way of walking does not align with my personality. I do not appreciate the trailing hems that drag on the ground like a rag; although they sway gracefully while walking, exuding elegance and refinement, I still prefer to stride boldly. That slow, turtle-like way of walking does not align with my personality.

It seems that Yin Lihua has a fondness for Liu Xiu, which is not a secret among the Yin family. Is Yin Lu's "humane" leniency towards me an attempt to help me to the best of his ability, alleviating my longing?

The table... table cousin! It turns out to be Deng Chan!

Let go! I didn't expect this kid to stand up straight and be quite tall; at least compared to my current height, he is actually a good half a head taller. With such a height advantage, combined with that rather arrogant smile, he gives off a very punchable vibe

Miss! Yin Lu stomped her feet

A sudden flutter in my brow ignited a surge of curiosity

At this moment, anger surged from my heart, and I did not care about his appearance. With a slight misstep, I shouted loudly and executed a backspin kick, my right foot striking his face with great force

I shrugged my shoulders, moved my arms and legs, and imagined the spinning kick I had just executed. It seemed that my waist strength was insufficient at the moment of the kick, and my control was somewhat lacking... Hmm, if the devilish coach saw this, he would probably roar at me again, scolding me for my incorrect posture

I gained a lot, but I can only lament that the red envelope given by Yin Shi was too small, not enough to be satisfying. On the way back, I still followed the original route, but I did not see that annoying and irritating guy at the back door again

The pain furrowed my brow, and in just a few seconds, I felt as if I were having a heart attack, nearly collapsing to the ground. I lowered my head and stared at him intently, and he too raised his head, unabashedly meeting my gaze.

Run fast! The ultimate BOSS is here! Ignoring my sprained ankle, I am hopping on one foot in a frantic escape

During the Han Dynasty, commercial areas were referred to as "shi". Although Xinye is not a large city, it does have its share of markets. However, these so-called markets, in my view, are merely a square enclosure made of rammed earth walls. The locals call these walls "yuan" and refer to the entrance with a wide opening as "huo". The term "yuanhuo" serves as a general designation for this type of market.

I opened my mouth in surprise, as if the whole world already knew that Yin Lihua had feelings for Liu Xiu

But... but... apart from my sister, even my mother has never... never... kissed me

"Do you like it?" I asked with a smile, "If you do, I will kiss you every day from now on!"

Since it is not the case, then why are you stopping me from doing anything?

My fingers clenched tightly, an inexplicable anger surged from within me, and I said resentfully: "Where is he?"

I suddenly looked up and scrutinized him from head to toe... This fellow has an impressive appearance; given time, he is bound to become a handsome man. Could it be that...

"Are you really Yin Lihua?" He stood up in surprise, his height advantage towering over me, instantly deflating my arrogant demeanor. "So you are Yin Lihua." He reached out to touch his swollen left cheek, looking at me with a somewhat bewildered expression.

He was caught off guard and was kicked squarely, flying two meters into the air before crashing heavily to the ground. The loud thud upon landing startled Yin Jiu, who stood frozen in place with wide eyes, mumbling "Oh" and "Oh" in a daze

I looked around and realized that in the midst of the panic, I had lost my sense of direction. This frantic run had actually taken me in a large circle around the outer wall of the Yin family's residence. Just another fifty meters and I would return to the main entrance of the Yin residence

"Pfft..." The shadow was left speechless, "Sister, your words are rather rude. It truly is..."

He is indeed kind-hearted, but with so many people inside and a distance of more than ten meters, aside from being able to distinguish the various clothing styles of the crowd, how would I know which one is Liu Xiu

The fifth year of the New Tianfeng, the first month

"Who is it?" Seeing her suddenly serious and solemn expression, I couldn't help but laugh and say, "Is it a handsome guy?"

Please... please have the young lady change back into women's clothing

Do I not look good in men's clothing

The characters on the bamboo slips are in a formal seal script, they recognize me, but I do not recognize them. Deng Chan gently brushed her jade-like fingers over the characters, sighing, "You have read this set of 'Shang Shu' for three whole years, and the slips have become so smooth from your daily touch..." She sighed softly, looking at me with a mix of pity and sorrow, "Even if you forget everyone else, you still cannot forget him"

I rose to greet her, and behind Liu Ji, a graceful figure emerged. Before I could see clearly, the person had lunged forward, grasped my hand, and shouted: "Li Hua!"

After she saw that I was silent for a while, she sighed deeply and asked, "Do you want to see him?"

Liu Xiu, disregarding the murderous gaze of Yin Shi, I steeled myself and shouted once more, "Come out!"

"Don't hold back! His voice is very pleasant, perfectly matching his appearance, fresh like the morning sun. Unfortunately, the words he speaks are utter nonsense, unless... you also give me a kiss!"

No, it won't." He murmured to himself, "If you are Yin Lihua, there is no reason not to recognize Liu Xiu. Who exactly are you?"

Miss! He bent down and bowed, "Please follow me this way."

What are you doing? If you want to take revenge, please do it openly and honestly. Scaring people can actually lead to serious consequences, do you understand? Feeling furious, I raised my hand and struck his head without hesitation

He was originally a guest at my home, and when my brother said he would come to your house to celebrate the New Year, he brought him along as well

Li ... ...

I remember the farewell with her last month; her sorrowful expression once led me to believe that she would never step through the gates of the Yin family again

What a pitiful child

I snapped back to reality and saw the young man grinning widely, the right side of his face swollen and red from my grip, yet he seemed completely oblivious, still smiling radiantly. ... However ... . ... Such a smile was truly eerie.

I had been lingering in the market until dusk, and only when the vendors began to pack up did I reluctantly withdraw, still feeling unsatisfied.

Hmph! Is carrying a sword really that impressive? Thinking back to the image of Yin Shi in his long robe, with a long sword hanging at his waist, exuding a refined yet spirited demeanor, he truly looked both handsome and cool. No wonder this little brat is so enamored. Just wait and see, one day I will challenge those swordsmen, and even with my bare hands, I will make them roll on the ground in defeat!

I observed for three days and had already grasped this pattern, so after shaking off Amber, I headed straight for the backyard

The young man groaned and struggled to rise while covering half of his face. It was only then that I realized I had impulsively caused a great disaster. This was near the back door of the Yin family, and judging by the young man's appearance, he was likely the son of a prominent family in the village. Beating him was not the main concern; what worried me was the endless troubles that would arise if he exposed my identity. I could hardly imagine the terrifying expression on Yin Shi's face upon learning of this matter.

A low gasp escaped, and I pulled him, causing him to stagger.

"Why did you just look for Liu Xiu?" He answered the question with a non sequitur

Sister... he gasped heavily, "I can't run anymore." He shook off my hand, supporting himself on his knees, breathing heavily.

I stood under the window for about ten minutes, and Yin Lu began to urge me to leave repeatedly. I was unwilling to return empty-handed, so in a moment of desperation, I reached out and climbed up the window railing.

Miss! Yin Lu lowered her voice, anxious to the point of hopping on her feet

Why

I glared at him, using both intimidation and persuasion: "Do you not trust your sister?"

Yin shrank his neck and hurriedly said, "I dare not, I will obey my younger brother's command."

The items sold in the market are dazzling and varied. As I gaze at the food, the necessities, the clothing, and the accessories, I inexplicably feel a sense of indescribable excitement—these are all antiques

As soon as there was a slight struggle, I was grabbed by the neck and forcibly dragged away. After taking just a couple of steps, I suddenly felt a tightness at the back of my neck, as someone had seized my collar from behind.

I found a secluded corner and huddled with my shoulders drawn in. With my eyes closed, I recited "Amitabha" countless times, and when I opened my eyes again, the surroundings were silent—my shadowy consciousness had not caught me!

Deng Chan took a scroll and unfurled it

Liu Ji smiled and said, "You sisters take your time chatting, I will have someone prepare food for you." She truly is a perceptive and clever person

Sister ... ... you, you are so amazing ... ...

The one guarding the door was the butler Yin Lu, who was initially taken aback upon seeing me, but then a look of understanding gradually appeared on his face

The skill of slipping away is my greatest strength. In those years, the devilish coach of the club would often pull people in for long-distance and short-distance running, under the guise of building physical strength and honing mental resilience. In the end, I surprisingly triumphed over the athletics club at the school sports meet, winning the dual championship in the women's 100 meters and 1000 meters.

What are you doing? I bared my teeth and turned my head, glaring angrily.

The backyard was deserted; at this moment, the men were all in the front hall drinking and enjoying themselves, while the servants were bustling between the kitchen and the front hall. As for the housewives, including Liu Ji, they were either accompanying guests in the front hall or taking a nap and resting in their rooms

The Prodigal Son

I ... ... I did not ... ...

Antiques from two thousand years ago, in today's context, can probably only be found by digging in tombs to unearth a few inferior pieces. Yet now, I have truly and genuinely come into contact with these ancient cultures from two thousand years ago

Ah? His dazed expression is quite amusing. I patted his head; he has not yet reached the age of maturity. His hair is parted in the middle, styled into two small tufts, and tied with a golden hairband, giving him a somewhat youthful charm. The more I look at him, the cuter he seems. I leaned in and gave him two quick kisses on both sides of his cheeks.

Are you Liu Xiu

With a sound of "pa," Deng Chan threw the bamboo slip to the ground and said solemnly: "He has returned from Chang'an, and moreover... he has come to Xinye!"

Taking advantage of her inattention, I grinned widely and turned to escape through the door

I felt a chill in my heart as he stared at me. After a pause, I suddenly remembered something and couldn't help but point at him and exclaim: "You... how did you end up here?"

A few seconds later, I suddenly reached out my hand. Perhaps I acted too quickly, and he was unable to evade it, as I firmly pinched his cheek.

The young lady should take a glance here and then return, without causing any trouble for the petty person

There were quite a few relatives visiting throughout the year, with the most frequent being the Deng family living in Xinye. However, among the many women from the Deng family who came, I never saw Deng Chan again.

Yanzhi received twenty lashes, nearly losing her life. Now she lies on the couch, barely breathing. If I hadn't secretly sent the doctor who was treating me to check on Yanzhi's injuries, it is likely that this girl would have lost her life on the joyous occasion of the New Year.

I rushed out of the inner chamber and directly dashed towards the main hall. As I passed through the central hall, my foot got caught on the trailing hem of my skirt, nearly causing me to fall. In my frustration, I disregarded the elegance of etiquette, grabbing the hem of my skirt with both hands and lifting it as I hurried forward.

My heart suddenly twitched, as if it were about to explode, beating wildly

Li Hua—"Deng Chan was flustered, hurriedly grabbing my sleeve, 'What are you going to do?'"

"The expedition did not go well!" Without waiting for him to get up, I pulled him over and said, "Of the thirty-six strategies, fleeing is the best!"

I struck twice, yet it became increasingly difficult to withdraw my hand, so I could only reluctantly pull back. Looking down, I caught sight of my torn sleeve and couldn't help but exclaim, "Look at this, it's all your fault! You actually tore my sleeve, you must compensate!"

I suddenly stood up, placing one hand on my hip in a villainous pose, and pointed down at his forehead: "Little brat, don't go looking for trouble to make yourself seem capable. I am Yin Lihua, so what? Is that not allowed?"

Sister... Sister... she awkwardly tried to pry my hand open.

I retracted my smile, stepped forward, and pulled aside the curtain. There, behind the curtain, squatted a handsome youth of about sixteen or seventeen years old. With a headscarf tied neatly, he was dressed in a very elegant and tidy manner, yet he was squatting on the ground in a carefree and unrefined manner, his smile radiant like the stars.

Amber was indeed bewildered by me. Taking advantage of her inattention, I swiftly darted past her, bent down to pick up the silk shoes at the entrance, and quickly rushed to the window

Hello, we meet again

Deng Chan's hand clearly trembled: "I knew you never really forgot. They all say you have changed, but I have always been unable to set my mind at ease. You have been thinking about him for so many years; how could it be so easy to forget?"

Miss! Amber finally confirmed that I was not joking, and her face changed in fright. She blocked the doorway, shaking her head like a rattle drum, "Miss, you cannot go out like this!"

No..." He smiled awkwardly, "It's just that I believe a sword better represents a man's spirit!"

He actually did not dodge, allowing me to hit and scold him

Yin was completely taken aback, and in a moment, her little face gradually turned red as she stammered, "Sister, why... why..."

Liu Xiu! I am chewing on this name. I am very curious about what kind of person he is, to the extent that Yin Xiaomei loves him so deeply, to the point that she insists on dragging me here to be her backup.

No... it's not that, it's just...

He smiled so broadly that only his teeth were visible, not his eyes: "No!"

I was stunned by the overwhelming malevolent energy surrounding me. In a moment of distraction, I slipped and fell over the railing. Had it not been for Yin Lu catching me just in time from below, I would have likely suffered a terrible fall

"Hey!" Suddenly, an exceptionally loud shout came from behind me, causing me to slip and nearly fall to the ground. "Lihua, remember this: my name is Deng Yu!"

Ah! He stumbled back a step, but inadvertently bumped into someone behind him, "I-I'm sorry..."

The anxious little one let out a sigh of relief, and I patted my chest vigorously. Damn, I was so tense just now that I almost had a muscle spasm

With Amber's surprised shout, I propped myself up on the window frame with one hand and leaped out of the window, effortlessly jumping outside.

Although this body has shrunk, my physical strength remains. A few days ago, while practicing leg stretches, I found that there has not been much decline in either flexibility or agility.

At this hour, it seemed that the evening banquet was about to commence, so I could no longer pay attention to Amber. I hurriedly changed into a set of ruqun and sat upright on the couch, pretending to read a bamboo slip. Holding the heavy book for less than a quarter of an hour, a burst of gentle laughter and conversation came from outside the door, and Liu Ji entered, accompanied by another person.

I lowered my head to fasten my belt, straightened my waist, and looked into the bronze mirror. Although I cannot claim to be as graceful as a jade tree in the wind, this outfit does not seem bad on me.

Just taking a casual look. I am indeed just taking a casual look; if it weren't for appearances, I wouldn't bother to pick up these cumbersome items

The handsome young man stood right behind me, one hand stretched out long, his slender fingers tugging at the back of my collar, his face still adorned with a radiant smile.

Oh my, I was ultimately so frightened that I fell to the ground

I remain silent as usual; regarding the unknowns of the past, I can only choose silence to conceal my own unease

I am quite disappointed. This expression fell in his eyes, and his glass-like gaze flickered as he asked, "So eager to find Liu Xiu, could it be that you are the daughter of the Yin family, Yin Lihua?"

He hesitated for a moment: "But my elder brother will not allow it, and... I am even more eager to learn swordsmanship!"

Oh? I raised my eyebrows, "So he should be here now, right?" I flicked my sleeves and strode out.

From her various words, I seemed to grasp some clues. It appears that this "he" is not of simple origin. A flash of inspiration crossed my mind, and I quietly probed, "Liu Xiu?"

In the backyard, there were quite a few chickens and ducks. As I approached, those chickens and ducks saw a stranger and began to cluck and quack in a chaotic uproar, catching me off guard. At that moment, the small door to the backyard suddenly swung open, and a shadowy little head poked in: "Sister! Over here!"

There is nothing particularly special about it, I said in confusion, pulling at his cheek with my left hand while pressing my right hand against my chest. My heartbeat had returned to normal, as if the momentary abnormal reaction just now was merely an illusion of mine

She was taken aback, clearly not understanding, but fortunately, her thoughts were not focused on my teasing

The new maid assigned to serve is named Amber, and it is said that she is the head maid in the Yinshi room

Oh? Is that so? Seeing the shadow, I nodded in affirmation, and my heart was filled with joy. "So, do you want to learn?"

Why

I paused at the door, letting out a deep sigh

As soon as the shout fell, everyone in the room turned their heads in unison. Damn it, which one is Liu Xiu after all

With a swish, I straddled the window railing, raised my hand to lift the gauze curtain, and shouted loudly into the hall: "Liu Xiu—"

I was so caught up in my excitement as I moved forward that I didn't pay attention, and suddenly I heard a "sizzle" sound; the cuff of my right sleeve was torn. Deng Chan was stunned, and I raised my sleeve, saying with a half-smile, "Cousin, you did that on purpose, didn't you?"

My sleeve was suddenly yanked down with great force, and I nearly lost my balance. I turned around sharply, only to find myself facing a pair of amber-colored eyes.

Miss

In the circular plaza, there is a market building where the market administrators usually stay. Both buyers and sellers conduct their transactions during the day, and the market closes at sunset, somewhat resembling modern vegetable markets and small commodity markets

I am unwilling to waste more time with him. Just thinking about the impending storm of dark knowledge makes my head feel heavier than two. Looking around to ensure no one is watching, I crouch down, preparing to sneak back to my room to change out of this eye-catching outfit

Like a headless fly, I was darting around the garden, my mind solely focused on not being caught on the spot by the shadowy figures, as that would undoubtedly lead to immediate execution.

I invited Deng Chan to sit on the couch, and she caught a glimpse of a stack of books and documents I had casually placed on it. Suddenly, her delicate body trembled, and she said in a hushed voice, "You... why are you still looking at this?"

I chuckled: "This shall not be a precedent, this shall not be a precedent... What can I do? Those chickens and ducks get inexplicably excited as soon as they see me!"

Everyone at the table was left dumbfounded, astonished beyond words, and some even raised their sleeves to cover their mouths while stifling laughter. Among them, a white figure stirred slightly, seemingly about to rise. I hurriedly widened my eyes, but unfortunately, I could only catch a glimpse of him wearing a white robe, his figure tall and slender, as the shadow of the host swiftly approached the window from his seat.

"It's alright." To my surprise, the person not only did not get angry, but their voice was clearly filled with amusement, "You all continue, continue..."