Chapter 20

Li Mu once thought that since the Li family hadn’t been confiscated and her family was still around, they would never let Li Zhi be sent to Mingyue Nunnery to become a nun. She never expected that Li Zhi’s fate would circle back to its original path, and this time, her still-living parents caused her to become a nun.

Fortunately, the situation was different from the book.

In the book, Li Zhi goes to Mingyue Nunnery because she is divorced and homeless. This time, she chooses to become a nun to avoid being used as a tool for her father’s anger and being married off randomly. With her family taking care of things, her life should be much better than in the book. Also, because her family was still around, she couldn’t shave her head like in the book. The founding emperor of this dynasty had set age restrictions for becoming a nun due to population needs. Women had to be at least forty to become nuns, and violators would be beaten and forced to return to secular life, implicating the nunnery.

Several emperors had passed, and this rule was no longer as strict as it initially was, with many loopholes. Women like Li Zhi in the book, whose families were destroyed, divorced, and had no children, could shave their heads and become nuns. The current Li Zhi couldn’t do that. She needed to practice with her hair for three years in the nunnery before she could shave her head.

Li Mu wondered if she would still meet Gu Chi this time.

Li Mu hadn’t met Gu Chi many times. She saw him once when serving tea to Grand Princess Zhaoming, once at the Mid-Autumn family banquet, and occasionally at King Yan’s mansion when he came to see Lin Que. Each time, he was very respectful to Li Mu, genuinely treating her as his sister-in-law—even though Li Mu was younger than him.

Besides that, Li Mu’s impression of him was that he was quiet, with a cold and unapproachable appearance. When playing Werewolf, his cold expression made it hard for people to suspect him of lying.

If he met Li Zhi like in the book, without the tragedy of the Li family in between, would their relationship…

“Why are you looking at me like that?” Lin Que looked up, meeting Li Mu’s complicated gaze.

Li Mu: “I’m thinking about something.”

How should a pair of sisters and a pair of brothers, the older ones and the younger ones, address each other? Should they each call the other by their respective titles?

Gu Chi called her sister-in-law, and she called Gu Chi brother-in-law?

Lin Que: “I want to know what kind of question would make you show such an expression.”

Li Mu’s expression made Lin Que think the question must be interesting.

It was something uncertain, so Li Mu couldn’t say it for now, but she promised, “If there’s a chance, I’ll tell you.”

If Li Zhi and Gu Chi end up together, and if you’re still around, then we can discuss this intriguing question together.

September was a busy month. Li Mu’s sister-in-law successfully gave birth, her second sister became a nun, Lin Qiwu celebrated her eleventh birthday, and Lin Yan’an entered the palace as a study companion for the seventh prince.

On Lin Qiwu’s birthday, Li Mu accompanied Lin Que to the Princess’s mansion and gave Lin Qiwu a Kaiyuan bow that Lin Que had helped her choose.

Lin Qiwu was in a growth spurt, and her old bow was too light. She was about to get a new one, so she was delighted to receive the bow from Li Mu and the horse gear from Lin Que. She happily spent most of the day at the racetrack.

After her birthday, Lin Qiwu learned she had another teacher and complained until she heard Li Mu would also attend the lessons, improving her mood.

Li Mu couldn’t imagine what would have happened if they hadn’t included the horse gear and had just told Lin Qiwu that Lin Que’s birthday gift was a new course. The girl might have rolled up her sleeves and fought her brother.

Before the lessons, Li Mu was quite nervous. Unlike modern classrooms filled with students, this class had only three students, which made the pressure intense.

Fortunately, Lin Que arranged for Li Mu to attend the lessons behind a curtain, separated from Lin Qiwu and Li Yunxi. An Ying could only see her shadow, preventing her from losing sleep the night before the lessons.

The course wasn’t held daily; it depended on An Ying’s schedule. Li Mu found the lessons manageable and diligently did her homework. Fearing that poor work would lead to public criticism in front of the children, she had Lin Que review her work before submitting it.

Lin Que not only helped her identify mistakes but also supplemented her knowledge with relevant laws, customs, and past cases, explaining everything in detail. Despite this, An Ying still pointed out some issues, which greatly benefited Li Mu.

Li Yunxi also enjoyed An Ying’s lessons. An Ying often praised her for her remarkable insights at such a young age, though it would have been better without the “unfortunately” that followed.

Unfortunately, Li Yunxi was a girl—something Li Mu didn’t like hearing.

Lin Qiwu found the lessons challenging but still studied earnestly despite her dislike.

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On the morning of Lin Yan’an’s first day as a study companion in the palace, Li Mu woke up early. She stared at the canopy above her bed for a while, closed her eyes to try to sleep again, but kept opening and closing them. Finally, she slowly sat up, cross-legged on the bed, unsure of what she was struggling with.

Lin Que was awakened by Li Mu’s movements and asked, confused, “Is the house on fire?”

Li Mu explained, “Yan’an is entering the palace.”

Lin Que still didn’t understand, “I know it’s today, so why are you up so early?”

Li Mu, with a serious face, said, “It’s his first day. I should see him off.”

Lin Que: “You want to see him off?”

Li Mu wanted to but didn’t dare, so she had been struggling since she woke up.

Lin Que: “Should I see him off?”

Li Mu’s eyes lit up: Yes. She looked at him expectantly.

Lin Que covered his eyes with the back of his hand, unwilling to get up, “He’s turning thirteen after his birthday next month. At that age, I had already joined the army. He’s just going to the palace, not the battlefield.”

Thirteen? She was eighteen when she went to university and still hoped her parents would see her off. Did anyone come? No, she went to school alone, moved her luggage, and handled enrollment alone. Her roommates’ parents helped them and even brought local specialties. She was both scared and envious.

Lin Que noticed that Li Mu had been quiet for a while. She didn’t continue to disturb him or lie back down to sleep. Instead, she moved her hand and looked at him, seeing Li Mu fiddling with her fingers with a calm expression.

Li Mu looked up and met Lin Que’s eyes but said nothing. She silently lay back down, covered herself with the blanket, and closed her eyes as if to say, “Alright, I’ll go back to sleep,” without any intention of forcing Lin Que.

Lin Que continued to cover his eyes with his hand, stayed quiet for a few seconds, and then got up. The first thing he did was rub Li Mu’s slightly warm face with both hands. After that, he got out of bed and called for hot water and clothes to be prepared outside.

Li Mu quickly sat up, her face red from the rubbing, and waited for Lin Que to wash up and change clothes.

Before leaving, Lin Que made a deal with Li Mu: “Don’t sleep until I get back.”

Li Mu nodded readily and agreed.

When Lin Yan’an saw Lin Que and learned that he had come specifically to see him off, his usually calm face showed a rare crack.

Lin Que, expressionless, said, “Your mother woke me up before dawn, insisting that I see you off to the palace gate on your first day as a study companion.”

Lin Yan’an opened his mouth but couldn’t make a sound.

Lin Que turned and walked towards the door, and Lin Yan’an quickly followed, showing the nervousness and confusion typical of his age for the first time.

In the carriage, Lin Que said, “She really treats you like a child.”

Regaining his composure, Lin Yan’an smiled, “Father, I’m still quite young.”

Lin Que raised old grievances: “When you went to Yangzhou to study for half a year without returning, why didn’t you think like that?”

Lin Yan’an lowered his eyes, looking sincerely remorseful.

The carriage headed towards the palace gate, with King Yan’s mansion lanterns hanging on it. Other officials’ carriages and horses on their way to court would make way for them, ensuring a smooth journey.

Lin Que leaned against the carriage and closed his eyes, speaking softly, “I don’t know how much longer I have to live. Qiwu has your grandmother to look after her, and A Chi can already handle things on his own. But you and her, I can’t stop worrying about.”

Lin Yan’an, with his hands in his sleeves, asked, “Father, do you regret it?”

Lin Que opened his eyes, frowning at him, “Why would I regret it?”

Lin Que was just worried, not thinking they shouldn’t be his wife and son.

When they reached the palace gate, Lin Yan’an exited the carriage and watched it leave. Before following the young eunuch at the gate inside, he whispered, “I don’t regret it either, Father.”

When Lin Que returned, Li Mu was leaning against the bedpost as agreed, her eyelids drooping as she struggled to stay awake.

It was clear that her usual sleeplessness was due to anxiety. Otherwise, why would she get sleepy when told not to sleep?

Lin Que changed his clothes, washed his hands, and returned to bed to continue sleeping.

Li Mu finally lay back down, and this time, they both slept soundly until their usual waking time.

Perhaps because of her social anxiety and lack of social interactions, life was very stable and passed quickly.

On the second day of October, Lin Yan’an’s thirteenth birthday, the three of them rarely sat down together for lunch.

Li Mu, knowing Lin Yan’an liked carving seals, gave him some good stone materials based on the miscellaneous books she had recently read. Lin Que gave him a long sword.

The day went well until the evening, when they were about to have dinner. Lin Que returned with a frosty face, saying he had quarreled with Lin Yan’an and was too angry to eat dinner.

Li Mu didn’t ask what the argument was about. Lin Que talked a lot and would naturally tell her when he wanted to.

As for not eating dinner… they were adults. If he didn’t want to eat, no one could force him. Li Mu rarely felt at ease, but this time it backfired.
In the middle of the night, Lin Que, having calmed down, woke her up, saying, “I’m hungry.”

Not eating dinner would make anyone hungry. It was normal, nothing to be surprised about.

With her eyes closed, Li Mu pulled the blanket over her head.

Lin Que pulled the blanket back, “I don’t want to call someone to prepare food. Come with me to the kitchen. The palace is quite interesting at night.”

Li Mu turned her back to him, showing her lack of interest.

Lin Que nagged behind her—

“Weixi?”

“Weixi…”

“My dear Weixi, come with me. Don’t leave me alone.”

Li Mu, who had finally fallen asleep: “…”

She suddenly understood why Lin Que had rubbed her face that morning. So she slowly turned back, sat up, and rubbed Lin Que’s face in return.