Six, running away from home

I was momentarily stunned, staring at that guqin, and I grabbed it with the intention of smashing it to the ground. If it weren't for Yanzhi's quick reflexes in catching it, it is likely that a valuable guqin would have been shattered on the spot

As soon as I let go, Hupo, trembling with fear, clutched the body of the piano, immediately jumping back and distancing himself from me, terrified that I might go mad again

You and Deng Yu

Li Hua, in fact, Deng Yu has quite good conditions. He knelt down in front of me, displaying a gentle demeanor akin to that of a brother and father. It must be said that at this moment, Yin Shi is exceptionally charming and emotional, with a low and rich voice that is highly seductive

I felt somewhat embarrassed to inquire with her whether Liu Xiu was tall or short, or whether he was fat or thin, fearing that she might start to overthink things. Thinking of that handsome young man who had a rather annoying smile, I decided to change the subject on the spot

The child was at a loss whether to cry or laugh, and her hand trembled while holding the tea bowl, causing the water to spill out. "You, you think you are so important? Although Deng Yu has not yet reached the age of adulthood, with his talent, suitors have already come to his door like fish crossing the river. You, truly, do not know what kind of vision you have, choosing the most down-and-out Liu family scion of all people."

In any case, from the perspective of an outsider like me, I really cannot distinguish between the male and female versions of the shenyi. They look quite similar regardless of how they are worn

My heart is racing. Ever since I earned my black belt, I have sparred with my senior and junior brothers numerous times, and I have even practiced breaking wooden boards with my palm. I have always given my all, never holding back. Although I have intentionally toned down my strength a bit this time, I still feel uncertain deep down.

"Ahem." Deng Chan smiled, "Do not underestimate him. Although Deng Yu is young, he is a well-known figure in the Deng family, Xinye, and even in Nanyang Prefecture."

It seems that there is none

No, it is impossible. I quickly regained my composure. That was close; indeed, one must not become infatuated with "beauty," as I almost fell into the trap of illusion.

It is merely a chance encounter. I interrupted his question without a second thought, wondering if that fool Deng Yu had been reported by some malicious person. If Yin Shi were to find out that my behavior was so unusual, so different from that of his obedient sister, then I...

Deng Chan cast a doubtful glance at me and said, "Do you only remember Liu Xiu?" The implication was one of great dissatisfaction, and I hurriedly poured her a glass of water in an attempt to appease her

A few seconds later, I breathed a sigh of relief; fortunately, I was still breathing: "Yin Butler, I apologize! The ground is cold, you can lie down for a bit before getting up." I stuck out my tongue and skillfully made my way to the backyard.

This arrangement is very similar to a dojo. I had someone move the folding screen bed and writing desk to the outer chamber, leaving a dining table so that I could sit directly on the bed to eat. I saved as much space as possible, creating an unobstructed area of about 10 square meters in the inner room specifically for practicing Taekwondo

I took a large step back and saw Yin Lu standing at the bottom of the window, bowing deeply to me.

I stick out my tongue, why are relationships so complicated! After going around this circle, it seems like everyone is a relative, the Yin and Deng families truly deserve to be known as the two prominent families of Xinye.

She blinked and smiled slightly: "In fact, if you are interested in Deng Yu, I believe my cousin would be more than willing to agree to this marriage proposal"

I shook my head, feeling that the Deng Yu mentioned by Deng Chan must refer to another person, and it was truly impossible to connect him with the little ghost I knew.

"Miss, please return!" Yin Lu's posture remained unchanged as she repeated the words once more

"Young lady, think carefully!" The voice of the rouge was filled with tears. Amber's face turned pale, and for a moment, she was still unable to react. After a while, her legs trembled, and she collapsed to the ground.

Rouge and Amber walked out with a look of trepidation. Once they closed the door, I quickly changed my outfit, reverting to male attire. However, I was unable to style my hair into a man's topknot no matter how hard I tried. In desperation, I simply let my long hair fall over my shoulders and jumped directly out of the window

I enjoy wearing men's clothing because only men's attire allows me to avoid wearing long skirts, and the lower garments in men's fashion are much looser compared to the deep skirts of women's clothing

Practicing leg kicks in such skirt pants, especially the airborne leaps, is simply life-threatening for me. After pondering for two days, I finally had Yan Zhi sew the kind of mid-length pants that fit my leg shape. At first, Yan Zhi was just puzzled, but when she saw me wearing the pants she had sewn and performing airborne kicks, her astonished face left her speechless and made me laugh for three days.

I nodded slightly, thinking that since Deng Yu has the surname Deng, he must be a member of the Deng Chan family. However, it seems that the relationship is still quite distant.

You might want to consider that I see how attentive Deng Yu is towards his sister, perhaps...

I must truly thank Yin Shi, as it was probably due to his compassion for my frail and ailing sister that he arranged the dormitory on the first floor. If it had been on the second or third floor, I would not have dared to jump out of the window so recklessly

The attire of the Han people is splendid yet intricate, with women typically wearing skirts, and underneath, they do not wear long pants. Even if they do wear them, it is usually the type with a very low crotch seam and wide, baggy legs.

Though his footsteps were light, I could sense him slowly pacing behind me, his gaze sharp and piercing, like a thorn in my back. After a long while, he casually initiated the conversation: "Does the new outfit fit well?"

I played dumb and spoke ambiguously: "That... I don't quite remember."

I wish I could just bang my head against the wall. That damned Deng Yu! He took a joke seriously, and while it wouldn't have mattered if he did, he actually went so far as to apologize in such a solemn manner.

So... what is Deng Yu to you?

Yin's expression changed dramatically; the gentle demeanor he had just displayed, akin to that of a father, vanished in an instant. He shouted sternly, "Are you still so stubbornly oblivious?" I was taken aback by the speed at which he turned against me, faster than flipping a page in a book. Before I could react, he had already swept away with his sleeves.

Is there a remedy for regret in this world

"It fits perfectly, as it was given by my elder brother"

I would not stop until I had finished the task. Without waiting for him to straighten his back, I raised my hand and delivered a horizontal strike, the edge of my palm cutting sharply into the back of his neck. Yin Lu did not even let out a grunt before he fell headfirst to the ground, landing motionless.

He commanded me to reflect on the ancestral portrait every day, for one hour in the morning and one hour in the evening, without any negligence

It is said that when one offers excessive kindness without reason, it is either deceitful or thieving

My room is quite spacious, with an area of over 20 square meters. Inside, there is nothing but an eight-foot-long wooden bed, a three-and-a-half-foot three-sided screen bed, a writing desk, a dining table, and several lamps. In the Han Dynasty furniture, chairs and stools, which are cumbersome and clumsy, had not yet appeared.

Then why did he come to my house? Wasn't it you who brought him here?

I have always believed that once January is over, I could freely go out. In fact, I even started planning my outing the day before yesterday, preparing to go on a shopping spree. However, since I had no money in my pocket, I had already discussed with Yin to temporarily borrow his monthly allowance for this month. Little did I expect that all my plans would be thwarted by Yin's sudden change of mind. Just as I was eagerly preparing to go out, he had Hu Po deliver an ancient zither to me, saying that he had already arranged for a zither master and wanted me to stay in my room and wait to learn the instrument.

The image of that annoying smiling face floated in my mind, and I found it hard to believe what Deng Chan said. She noticed my skepticism and smiled, saying: "Deng Yu was able to recite poetry at the age of thirteen, gaining fame among the neighbors. Later, he studied at the Taixue in Chang'an, and his knowledge and talent are unmatched. Such a person is usually difficult to invite even with formal requests, but this time he agreed to accompany Liu Xiu out of friendship as classmates. If it weren't for his face, how could Liu Xiu's cousin, who despises him, allow Liu Xiu to step into the Yin family door?"

Indeed, on the afternoon I received the new clothes, the busy person Yin Shi appeared before me. I knelt meticulously in front of the embroidered portrait of the official, my gaze unwavering, my back straight as a rod, treating him as if he were air

After that rude blunder incident, I was punished by Yin Shi with a deduction of one month's salary, in addition to being placed under house arrest. Moreover, Yin Shi believed that since I was able to climb through the window, it indicated that my health had recovered very well. During the house arrest period, my meals were reduced from three meals a day to two, and all meat dishes were eliminated, except for fruits and vegetarian food.

I often hear you mention your brother, but I still do not know who he is

I let out a sigh, suppressing the frustration in my chest, and gently set the piano down: "Rest assured, I won't smash the piano. It looks like an antique, and in two thousand years, it will be even more valuable. It would be a pity to destroy it."

She widened her eyes, appearing quite surprised: "Deng Yu? How do you know Deng Yu? He is not related to me in any way; if we must draw a connection, it is that he shares the same surname, Deng, and can be considered a distant cousin within our Deng family lineage. In terms of family hierarchy, he is my distant cousin.

I am just joking! I have no interest in that kind of child!

I am tired and want to take a break. Yan Zhi, you and Hu Po go out; do not come in without my orders

As soon as her foot touched the ground, she suddenly heard a deep voice in front of her saying: "Miss, please turn back"

I was almost captivated and lost my soul by his expression

She shook her head helplessly and sighed, saying: "Liu Xiu's second sister, Liu Yuan, married my brother; she is my sister-in-law"

Pity me, staring at the old face of Guan Xiu every day, filled with grievances, yet unable to inquire about his ancestors from eight generations ago—sigh, who would have thought that the surnames Yin and Guan happen to share the same ancestor.

On the seventh day after Deng Chan's departure, Yin Shi sent me a brand new set of ruqun, which took me by surprise. Aside from the few new garments he had previously sent Liu Ji to make for me at the beginning of the year, it was expected that he would not be so attentive towards me during my house arrest.

No! No! Why is it that no matter what I say, everyone always associates me with Liu Xiu? I don't even know whether this Liu Xiu is round or flat, so why should I repeatedly let him take advantage of me for no reason?

In that fleeting moment, I was filled with despair, never expecting that the dark forces would be so ruthless as to leave me no avenue of retreat. My stubbornness flared up instantly, and I returned to obediently follow his instructions to practice the piano, fearing that I would also be unable to escape the fate of being ridiculed by him

"My brother's name is Deng Chen, courtesy name Wei Qing. Even if you don't remember him, you should at least recall his relationship with Liu Xiu, right?" She deliberately teased me

After a moment of silence behind me, he suddenly let out a sneer and laughed, "How do you know that this dress was definitely given by me?" I turned back in surprise, and upon encountering his strange expression that seemed both amused and mocking, my heart suddenly skipped a beat, and an ominous premonition arose within me. "Someone said this was a gift of apology for his sister."

On the third day of my confinement, Deng Chan came to visit me and took the opportunity to say farewell

Oh, the cake seller! I can foresee what Yin Shi will say next

By the end of the day, I had completely opened up my body's flexibility, feeling particularly adept and in control. The only shortcoming I could mention is the bothersome long hem on my body.

I cautiously bent down and reached out to test his breath: "Hey, you a big man, don't just put on a show, you can't take a hit like that."

The one-month period of house arrest soon came to an end. Under the involuntary regimen of dieting and exercise, I successfully lost weight. During this month, I did not remain idle; I resumed practicing Taekwondo. The rooms of the Han Dynasty were quite convenient, especially in affluent households like the Yin family, which emphasized comfort. The floors of the rooms were entirely covered with mats, and to add to this, in winter, a layer of felt was placed over the mats. Upon entering, one must remove their shoes and walk around in socks on the felt, which felt soft and light, creating a particularly luxurious sensation. During this month, I did not remain idle; I resumed practicing Taekwondo. The rooms of the Han Dynasty were quite convenient, especially in affluent households like the Yin family, which emphasized comfort. The floors of the rooms were entirely covered with mats, and to add to this, in winter, a layer of felt was placed over the mats. Upon entering, one must remove their shoes and walk around in socks on the felt, which felt soft and light, creating a particularly luxurious sensation