The land is poor and resources are scarce; the weather is freezing cold.
This Songyuan, in that area, could already be considered a "prosperous and important town".
If things are like this in Songyuan, life must be even more difficult in Linchuan, the most remote border region in the northwest.
Prince Yunlie, along with his comrades, guarded the nation's borders for nearly ten years in that barren and harsh land.
ten years.
Whether driven by ambition to lead troops and achieve future success, or simply for the meager pay, they all genuinely used their blood and sweat to form an unbreakable shield on the northwestern border amidst the wind and snow.
Thousands of miles behind them lies this prosperous and bustling world.
But many of them may never have the chance to see firsthand how bustling and prosperous the vast world they are defending is.
She met a group of such respectable and praiseworthy young men, but her initial intention in getting to know them was only for profit and calculation.
Embarrassment, shame, guilt, and remorse all surged into Luo Cuiwei's heart. At this moment, she truly wished that things could start over.
There was no shady plotting or underhanded schemes, no cowardly schemes or calculations.
Yun Lie and his comrades did not deserve to be treated this way.
They deserve genuine respect and admiration, not cold-blooded interests and calculations.
She should not be pushed into a dangerous situation where she could be ruined or even held accountable because of her own selfish desires.
****
In that instant, Luo Cuiwei, filled with regret, decided to completely abandon yesterday's draft and give up her previous, rather sloppy plan.
Just then, the waiter came and served the dishes, which gave her the opportunity to calm her emotions.
"So, in Linchuan, besides practicing military formations and engaging in martial arts competitions, you just hunt and fish on weekdays?" Luo Cuiwei handed over a pair of bamboo chopsticks.
Yun Lie took it and replied, "Sometimes I also beat up those Northern Di people who come to my door looking for death to relieve my boredom."
His serious addition of this project made Luo Cuiwei chuckle to herself.
The thin layer of tears that had been tinged with sadness and melancholy in her bright, watery eyes transformed into tears of joy, which secretly seeped out from the corners of her eyes.
Yun Lie was confused: "What are you laughing at?"
“I suddenly remembered what Uncle Chen just said,” Luo Cuiwei took out her handkerchief to wipe away the tears of laughter from the corners of her eyes, her voice trembling softly, “Did Your Highness really use dough… to sculpt a ‘Northern Di person riddled with arrows’?”
Yun Lie's eyes flickered, and he quickly lowered his face to look at the dishes on the table, saying decisively, "The food is getting cold."
This topic has been brought to a decisive close.
Luo Cuiwei, who laughed until she cried for the second time, clearly saw that his fair, bronze-colored face was covered with a suspicious dark red that burned all the way to the tips of his ears.
****
The food at the small eateries in the alley could not compare to that of the Luo family, but Luo Cuiwei enjoyed this simple meal very much.
At noon, when the two returned to Dengshi Main Street from the alley, Luo Cuiwei couldn't help but turn her head to look at Yun Lie's solemn face every few steps, and then imagine him expressionlessly and seriously pinching the "Northern Di people who were hit by several arrows". She would immediately lower her face and shake her shoulders to laugh silently.
This staunch border hero is actually quite childish in private. It's hilarious the more you think about it. She's really... hahahaha.
"Uncle Chen, you traitor!" Yun Lie glared at him, furious and at his wits' end. "If you laugh again, I'll..."
Unable to think of a way to threaten her, Yun Lie awkwardly stammered.
Luo Cuiwei burst into loud laughter: "So you... you're going to create a Luo Cuiwei riddled with arrows too? Hahahaha."
Perhaps because she had decided to set aside her scheming and interact with him openly and honestly, she became less cautious and reserved than before, and didn't realize that she no longer addressed him as "Your Highness".
Yun Lie was slightly annoyed that she had found out about his childish behavior, but when he saw her bright and cheerful smile, he couldn't help but smile too.
"Dream on. I don't need an arrow with you," he glared at her with a mocking laugh, seemingly resigned to his fate. "If you push me too far, I'll go back and make another 'you.' If you use that to make fun of me again..."
Luo Cui's smile froze, and she took two steps back in surprise.
Seeing that she had calmed down, Yun Lie raised his eyebrows triumphantly and slowly said, "...I'll steam 'you' into a pancake and then bite off your head."
Is it vicious? Is it cruel? Hmph.
Luo Cuiwei immediately breathed a sigh of relief, patted her chest, and blurted out, "You scared me to death! I thought you were going to pinch a naked person..."
Realizing she had almost said something inappropriate, she quickly bit her tongue to shut herself up, her cheeks flushed as she glanced up at Yun Lie's expression.
Thankfully, she didn't show any expression; she probably didn't notice.
They've really relaxed too much; they're spouting all sorts of nonsense.
Luo Cuiwei lowered her eyes and smiled guiltily, not daring to look him in the eye again: "Hurry up and pick out the lanterns, otherwise the streets will get crowded again in a little while."
With her eyes lowered, she missed the obvious dazed blush on Yun Lie's face, a look of deep thought on her face.
****
Although Xiong Xiaoyi had previously speculated that the Luo family's alliance with the Prince Zhao's Mansion might be an attempt to boost their own prestige, Yun Lie always felt that it couldn't be that simple.
However, for the past two weeks, Luo Cuiwei has only made friendly visits and mingled with everyone in the mansion each time she visits. She has also unintentionally solved Linchuan's urgent problem, but she has never made any excessive demands.
Since they met this morning, the girl had hesitated to speak several times, and Yun Lie had noticed her nervousness and unusual behavior.
He originally thought that, given her patience and sincerity over the past half month, he would be willing to lend her a hand, as long as what she was planning wasn't too outrageous.