Young Lord Refuses to Leave

Su Li immediately instructed the kitchen to prepare meals. Since Xiao Zetian hadn't eaten dinner either, she made two portions—one sent to Baipiwu, the other for Xiao Zetian.

Baipiwu was busy making masks when he suddenly received a beautifully prepared late-night meal, told it was specially arranged by Su Li. He and Xiao Zetian each got a portion, and the food was exactly the same.

Baipiwu looked at the table full of homely late-night dishes and felt a warm glow in his heart.

He had wandered the jianghu for so many years, encountering all kinds of people. Some coveted his disguise skills and approached him covertly, wanting to learn his craft; others used force to suppress him, forcing him to serve their purposes.

But only Su Li made him feel that she treated him as an equal, never looking down on him as a lowly jianghu man, genuinely admiring his skills.

Baipiwu quickly finished the late-night meal, energized and ready to work. Two hours later, he had made five masks in total—three for Su Li and two for Xiao Zetian.

At night, inside the room, Su Li happily held the new masks, trying each one on like they were precious treasures.

Baipiwu also taught her how to change her voice, so she could freely alter it according to the mask she wore.

She received four masks in total: one was for the Wutong Academy, depicting a graceful young gentleman; the other three were of an ordinary young man, an old woman, and a middle-aged man respectively.

These basically covered various ages and genders, and Su Li was full of praise for Baipiwu's thoughtfulness.

As for Xiao Zetian, he toyed with his two masks but his face twitched, unable to smile.

“Hey, why don’t you try one on?” Su Li, wearing the mask of a middle-aged man, leaned over with a mischievous smile, looking at Xiao Zetian.

Xiao Zetian’s face suddenly looked awkward. He put the mask back in the box and said, “It’s late, let’s sleep. We have to get up early tomorrow to go to Wutong Academy.”

Su Li noticed Xiao Zetian’s strange expression and grew even more curious. She leaned closer and said, “Come on, try the mask on so I can see. I haven’t even seen what your mask looks like yet.”

“Well... no need to see it... Darling, go to sleep.” Xiao Zetian placed the box behind him.

Su Li said “Oh,” then took off her mask and pretended to get out of bed to wash her face. Seizing the moment when Xiao Zetian wasn’t paying attention, she quickly grabbed the mask box and said, “I want to see what’s so strange about this mask!”

“Darling, don’t look!” Xiao Zetian thought to himself that this was bad, but Su Li was too quick and had already opened the mask in her hands.

“This mask is... Pfft! Hahaha!” Su Li burst into a bell-like fit of laughter as she recognized the mask’s appearance. She clutched her belly and rolled on the bed laughing, “Hahaha, such a... mask! Put it on so I can see! Hahaha!”

“Darling!” Xiao Zetian gritted his teeth watching Su Li laugh wildly, wishing he could grab that Baipiwu and give him a good beating!

“Put it on! I worked so hard to convince Mr. Bai to make you this mask. If you don’t wear it, I’ll be so sad.” Su Li wiped tears of laughter from her eyes, trying hard to hold back her chuckles, her shoulders shaking—there was no sign of sadness!

“No!” Xiao Zetian was at his wit’s end, snatching the mask back and mumbling, “This damn mask, I’ll give it to Xiao Yun to wear!”

Su Li pictured Xiao Yun wearing this mask and couldn’t help bursting into laughter again. She waved her hand and said, “No way! The disguise mask is tailored to fit your face shape, so only you can wear it, not Xiao Yun. Darling, such a... pfft! ...mask, just keep it, hahaha!”

“Oh my, I’m dying of laughter!” Su Li laughed for a long time before finally stopping to carefully examine the mask.

The masks Baipiwu made for Xiao Zetian included one relatively normal one of an ordinary young man in his twenties, and another was an exquisite beauty—a high-nosed, deep-eyed Western dancer!

Su Li thought about Xiao Zetian wearing the face of this Western beauty and couldn’t help but laugh.

“Ah, Mr. Bai is really meticulous. Your tall and slender figure would stand out too much if you disguised yourself as an ordinary Jin dynasty woman. Westerners are generally tall, and many dancers are as tall as you, so he gave you a mask of a gorgeous Western dancer, which fits your figure perfectly... Pfft! If you disguise as a woman, it has to be as a Westerner, hahaha! This mask is really beautiful, probably could be the top star in the capital!” Su Li laughed until tears came out, finally understanding why Xiao Zetian refused to try it on.

Having the mighty war god general dress as a Western dancer was just too embarrassing!

Xiao Zetian looked at his little wife, who was smiling like a blooming flower, with a face full of disbelief. He grunted softly, put away his mask, and scooped Su Li up, heading to the bathroom next door.

Su Li let out a startled cry. Xiao Zetian stared at her expressionlessly, a sly curve appearing at the corner of his mouth. "Wife, you're all sweaty from laughing. Let your husband help you clean up!"

"Ah, no! You, you! Taking revenge for personal reasons! Mmm..."

Early the next morning, Su Li got up bright and early, packed up all the things for the doctor, and loaded them onto the carriage.

At breakfast, Su Li also called over Bai Piwu and introduced him to Lady Wang, explaining that Bai Piwu was a friend Xiao Zetian had met outside.

Lady Wang looked Bai Piwu over and smiled, "What a handsome boy! Where is your family from? Are you married?"

Bai Piwu, orphaned since childhood, was shy in front of Lady Wang, who was as kind as a mother to him. He shook his head, "I lost my parents when I was little and don't know where my family is. I'm not married yet."

"Oh, poor child," Lady Wang's motherly instincts kicked in immediately, and she insisted Bai Piwu have an extra bowl of porridge.

After breakfast, Su Li set off for Wutong Academy, though she told others she was headed to Qingya Vegetarian Restaurant.

This excuse was quite reasonable and didn't arouse any suspicion.

"You don’t have to come with me. Wutong Academy is full of hidden talents; you might run into someone who knows you. Tell the emperor you’re resting and can’t return to the capital. It’s better not to be seen wandering outside," Su Li advised Xiao Zetian, who wanted to follow.

Su Li’s reasoning was sound. Given the current sensitive situation, it was best to lay low for a while.

"Lingdang, you go," Xiao Zetian said, summoning Lingdang, who had been following Li Yanhao on orders. Since Su Li wasn’t home, Lingdang didn’t need to keep an eye on Li Yanhao anymore.

Lingdang was well-prepared and even brought a small bundle along, then got into the carriage with Su Li.

Li Yanhao pouted unhappily, watching as Su Li and Lingdang climbed into the carriage and left the house.

With the country boy gone on a trip, Su Li also left, and even Lingdang wasn’t at home, the heir was lonely once again.

Xiao Zetian crossed his arms, looking at Li Yanhao’s unhappy face and sneered, "Young master, you’ve been freeloading at my house for months. Isn’t it time you went back home?"

Li Yanhao immediately widened his eyes, "Oh, you ungrateful backstabber! You never said this when you needed me, but now you want me to leave? No way! I’m not going anywhere—I’m staying right here!"