Men and women are different after all. Ye Wanmian could guide Xiao Jingcheng, teaching him how to walk and how to use chopsticks, but there were some things that she couldn't do even if she had the intention and the ability.
— Such as more intimate actions like bathing and changing clothes.
Qi Wen was naturally in awe of Xiao Jingcheng and was always suppressed and bullied by him, so he couldn't do these things either. But Li Zhao was different.
He came from the Li family of Luozhou. In the past, the Li family and the Xiao family were both subjects of the State of Chu. He even dared to call the name of the King of Mu directly. In his mind, imperial power was like an empty shell. Naturally, he didn't need to care about the identity of this "Crown Prince" Xiao Jingcheng.
Coincidentally, Li Zhao also needed to take care of himself and change into a clean set of clothes. It was just right for him to bathe Xiao Jingcheng.
From time to time, there came Xiao Jingcheng's urgent and pitiful cries from outside, as well as the barking of Dahuang watching the fun. Occasionally, there was also Li Zhao's steady and calm scolding. One could imagine that the scene must be extremely wonderful.
Although there was a medical book spread out in front of Ye Wanmian, she had no intention of reading it carefully. Instead, she propped her face up and was slightly in a daze.
She wondered what Li Zhao really looked like?
That was the Li family of Luozhou, a prestigious and noble family that was once as famous as the Shen family of Hexi and the Xiao family of Lingyang.
She rarely had the chance to see the emperor. But judging from the appearance of the King of Mu, as well as the appearances of Xiao Jingcheng, Xiao Yixuan, and Xiao Wuchen, she thought it shouldn't be too bad.
And the queen, Shen Lingyun, was as elegant and beautiful as a celestial maiden from the Ninth Heaven.
So what about Li Zhao, the descendant of the Li family?
Half an hour later, the noise outside gradually stopped.
Ye Wanmian seemed to sense something and looked up. Li Zhao's voice came from outside the door, "Mujin, it's done. You can come out now."
Ye Wanmian's heart skipped a beat. She swallowed hard, got up, and rushed to the door. She couldn't wait to pull the latch and open the door.
The gentle breeze caressed her face, and the silver moon illuminated the courtyard. Under the pomegranate tree, there were two figures standing there.
Ye Wanmian's gaze quickly swept over Xiao Jingcheng and then landed on the other person beside him. She opened her eyes wide and subconsciously held her breath.
She could hardly recognize Li Zhao.
His messy and dirty hair had not only been carefully washed but also obediently hung down behind his back. Moreover, the ugly and knotted beard on his face had been shaved clean, revealing his complete face.
It was a handsome and heroic face. The passage of time had not damaged his outstanding appearance. Instead, it had settled between his eyebrows, adding a charm that others didn't have.
He was not as tall as Xiao Jingcheng behind him, but only about two inches shorter. Even so, he was still taller than most men in the world.
If Ye Wanmian had to use a more appropriate word to describe Li Zhao in front of her, perhaps...
He was like a scripture that had been influenced by sandalwood and Buddhist music for years.
Just a fleeting glance, and it seemed to contain countless lights and shadows, making people want to explore further.
If it weren't for the clothes he was wearing that she had bought, she would have thought that a stranger had broken in.
"Uncle... Uncle Li?" Ye Wanmian tentatively called out.
Li Zhao smiled, with a hint of teasing in his tone, "What, don't you recognize me?"
It was still the same voice. It was really him!
Ye Wanmian let out a sigh of relief. Then her eyes brightened. She trotted up to him and sized him up closely, "Uncle Li, it's really you! I didn't expect you to look like this!"
Qi Wen also walked out of the house and exclaimed, "I... I'm not seeing things, am I? You're the uncle we picked up before?"
Li Zhao said, "The real deal."
Seeing that Ye Wanmian and Qi Wen's attention were all on Li Zhao, Xiao Jingcheng was very angry. He stubbornly blocked in front of Li Zhao and barked twice at Ye Wanmian.
Xiao Jingcheng had also changed into the clothes Ye Wanmian had brought back. The clothes were a bit loose for Li Zhao, but they fit Xiao Jingcheng perfectly.
He deliberately puffed out his chest, completely blocking Li Zhao behind him. But Ye Wanmian only glanced at him and then pushed him aside and continued talking to Li Zhao.
"Uncle Li, you're not fully recovered yet. Come and sit by the stove to warm up. Don't catch a cold again."
Li Zhao nodded with a smile, "Okay."
As soon as Ye Wanmian finished speaking, a magnified face suddenly appeared in front of her. Xiao Jingcheng looked extremely aggrieved, "Reward... reward..."
His pronunciation was clearer than when he had dinner. Moreover, Ye Wanmian didn't expect him to say the word "reward".
After Xiao Jingcheng finished speaking, he even raised his hand and gestured.
"One, two, three, four. Reward."
Ye Wanmian stared wide-eyed.
He even knew how to count?!
Qi Wen, as usual, added fuel to the fire and said, "Madam Jiang, Gou Dan said you owe him four rewards."
Ye Wanmian felt a bit guilty, "I've already given you the rewards. This set of clothes on you and the meal this afternoon, aren't they? And there aren't four. At most... at most three."
Xiao Jingcheng moved closer to her, "Reward..."
Noticing his gaze on her lips, Ye Wanmian was so scared that she quickly raised her hand to cover the lower half of his face, "Alright, alright. I'll make you a midnight snack. Is that okay?"
Ye Wanmian let out a soft sigh. Taking advantage of the remaining heat in the stove, she added some firewood and made a pot of noodles.
Qi Wen wasn't interested in this midnight snack and went back to the room to sleep early. Li Zhao and Xiao Jingcheng sat by the stove. While waiting for the noodles, they also took the opportunity to dry the moisture on their bodies and hair with the heat from the stove.
The noodles she cooked were very plain, with little oil. But when she served them, Xiao Jingcheng's eyes lit up, and he swallowed hard. It seemed that it wasn't plain noodles but the most delicious delicacy in the world.
Ye Wanmian placed the chopsticks in front of him and Li Zhao and reminded them, "Be careful. It's hot. Eat slowly."
Xiao Jingcheng couldn't wait to pick up the chopsticks and the bowl and stuffed the noodles into his mouth. As expected, he got burned. He covered his mouth and looked at Ye Wanmian with tears in his eyes, "It hurts..."
Ye Wanmian suppressed her laughter, picked up the noodles with the chopsticks, blew on them, and when they were a bit cooler, she held them in front of him, "Try again?"
Xiao Jingcheng leaned forward. First, he tentatively touched the noodles. Finding that they weren't hot anymore, he took a big bite.
"How about it? It's not hot anymore, right?" Ye Wanmian asked.
Xiao Jingcheng nodded vigorously and slurped the noodles down his throat. While Ye Wanmian was lowering her head to eat the noodles, he glanced at Li Zhao and bared his teeth provocatively.
Obviously, he still remembered the grudge from before and was competing with Li Zhao for Ye Wanmian's attention.
That was so - called - vying for favor.
Li Zhao looked at him indifferently, his expression remaining unchanged. His gaze landed on the steaming noodles in front of him. He picked up the bowl and started eating.
Although it was plain noodles, the taste was unexpectedly good. Not only was the saltiness just right, but the noodles were also very chewy, making people want to take another bite.
For a moment, the only sound in the small courtyard was the sound of quiet noodle - eating.