Chapter 61: I Only Spoke the Truth

“I’ll thank you on Nan’s behalf first, Brother Li. Haha!”
Zhang Xiaolan’s laughter was sincere and heartfelt; she truly appreciated it. She was moved that Li Rui was so attentive, remembering even such small things.
“Master, you treat Miss so well—how fortunate! Master, should we change how we address her soon?”
Xiao Lian praised Li Rui while also mischievously teasing them. In this world, only someone as generous as Li Rui would let his servant joke with him.
“Change how I address her?” Li Rui didn’t catch the deeper meaning behind Xiao Lian’s words.
“She should be called Madam!” Xiao Lian spoke playfully, but she genuinely hoped Zhang Xiaolan and Li Rui would soon be officially together.
“Xiao Lian, maybe your mouth needs to be stitched up, hmm?”
Zhang Xiaolan pretended she was about to sew Xiao Lian’s lips shut, making Xiao Lian dash away in panic while Zhang Xiaolan chased after her.
The two laughed and played while Li Rui watched, smiling quietly from the side. After quite some time, with Xiao Lian begging for mercy, they finally stopped, and Zhang Xiaolan, satisfied, went off to wash and dress.
After breakfast, Li Rui took Zhang Xiaolan hunting in the mountain woods. Both were in high spirits, especially Li Rui, whose long-standing troubles had finally cleared. The setting was familiar, but the mood and their relationship were altogether different.
“Do you think this wreath is pretty?” On a hillside, Zhang Xiaolan had gathered many wildflowers, weaving them into a ring she placed atop her head and showed off to Li Rui.
Li Rui was already roasting a mountain pheasant in the shade and wouldn’t let Zhang Xiaolan come near, afraid the heat would burn her. Restless, Zhang Xiaolan went to pick wild things nearby.
“It’s beautiful—especially on you, Lanlan.”
Li Rui, for once, indulged in sweet words. He didn’t know why, but being with Zhang Xiaolan always put him at ease and filled him with joy.
“Brother Li, I never knew you could say such charming things to a girl,” Zhang Xiaolan teased him with a smile.
She couldn’t help but marvel—she’d known him for quite some time now, and he’d always been the silent, stoic hero, the handsome gentleman. In her words, he was like a block of wood, yet now he was saying things girls liked to hear, which made her see him in a new light.
“I’m... just telling the truth.”
Li Rui answered haltingly. Now that Zhang Xiaolan had pointed it out, he felt a little embarrassed and lowered his head, pretending to be busy with the roasting.
“I know you’re telling the truth, Brother Li, and I like hearing it.”
Zhang Xiaolan came to his side and spoke softly, almost like a lover’s whisper. Li Rui’s heart soared, feeling as though he was experiencing his first love. He turned and, reaching into his quiver, pulled out a vibrant red rhododendron and offered it to Zhang Xiaolan.
“This is beautiful—I want you to have it, Lanlan.”
Li Rui handled the flower carefully, having picked it earlier and kept it safe in his quiver. He’d removed all the arrows and tied them up, hanging them to the side.
“Wow! What a lovely rhododendron—thank you!”
Zhang Xiaolan took the flower happily, and seeing Li Rui look at her so tenderly, she couldn’t help but smile. Li Rui was entranced, but just then, Zhang Xiaolan, catching him off guard, quickly planted a kiss on his cheek as thanks.
To Zhang Xiaolan, such gestures between lovers were normal expressions of affection, but given the circumstances, the place, and the era, her action left Li Rui utterly flustered, his face turning crimson.
Li Rui’s startled expression, staring at Zhang Xiaolan, only deepened the red on his cheeks. Even this sturdy man couldn’t help but feel shy, but her gesture was both thankfulness and love, and he was utterly delighted and surprised.