164: Chapter 44 The Naïve and Sweet Girl is the Perfect Match for the Cunning

"Then why did you hide your identity?" Mu Nianci asked in confusion after hearing Meng Li's answer.

She didn't know much about royal matters, but having traveled far and wide with Yang Tiexin, she had heard a bit. She knew that without an official title or inheritance, one was almost no different from an ordinary citizen.

As such, there was nothing really worth hiding about this identity.

Meng Li replied, "There are two reasons. First, when traveling away from home, I've grown accustomed to using a pseudonym to prevent any trouble from affecting my family. Second, my elder brother had good luck two years ago; he was favored by the current Emperor and inherited a princely title."

Mu Nianci was silent for a few seconds before asking, "So, you are a Young Prince of the Great Song?"

Meng Li shook his head. "No."

Then, he briefly explained the circumstances behind Zhao Guicheng's inheritance of the title.

After listening, Mu Nianci's expression softened slightly, and she summarized based on her understanding: "So, although you and your elder brother are biological brothers who grew up together, he was adopted into another lineage because of the title. Therefore, you are now cousins in name."

"His title has nothing to do with you, so you cannot be considered a Young Prince."

Meng Li nodded slightly. "Exactly. My Nianci is so clever."

Hearing this talk as if coaxing a child, Mu Nianci rolled her eyes at him and then asked, "Then why are you telling me now?"

Hearing this, Meng Li directly stated his original plan: "Because I intend to wait until your foster father and the others are settled back in Niu Family Village, then accompany you to Hotang Village for a visit. After that, I'll take you to Hangzhou to meet my elder brother, then back to Shanyin County to meet my mother and uncle, and finally, we'll get married."

Visit Hotang Village?

Mu Nianci was stunned for a moment, a soft spot in her heart touched.

It turned out he had always remembered that she was from there.

And then, to Hangzhou to meet his brother, and back to Shanyin County to meet his elders?

Mu Nianci blushed slightly and instinctively changed the subject. "Besides your identity, is there anything else you're hiding from me?"

"Yes."

"What is it?"

"Many things."

Mu Nianci was startled and then pressed for details, "How many is 'many'?"

"Too many to finish saying."

Mu Nianci was a bit dazed.

This answer left her not knowing what to do.

A second later, Meng Li added, "I have many secrets, and I hope you can spend a lifetime slowly unearthing them."

At first, Mu Nianci didn't catch his meaning. Once she realized, her pretty face was instantly covered in a rosy flush, and she couldn't help but say coquettishly, "You only know how to coax me."

Meng Li said seriously, "I'm not coaxing you; I'm telling the truth."

Mu Nianci clearly didn't believe him. She turned her head away and spoke of something else, "It's getting late; we should head back quickly, or Sister Ronger and the others will get worried."

With that, she took a bite of the Candied haws in her hand and led her horse past Meng Li.

Meng Li: "..."

Forget it, I'll take it slow later!

He bit off the last candied haw from the bamboo skewer, tossed the skewer aside, and walked a few quick steps to catch up with Mu Nianci. Seeing she had finished eating too, he took her free hand, interlacing his fingers with hers. He felt a softness mixed with some roughness—those were calluses from practicing martial arts and doing chores.

Out of modesty, Mu Nianci instinctively tried to pull away, but after two failed attempts, she let him be.

However, her face grew increasingly red. She felt her head heating up, her heart racing, and she felt lightheaded.

Meng Li watched her with a smile, saying nothing.

They walked in silence all the way to the courtyard gate. Only then did Mu Nianci snap back to her senses. Realizing their situation, she hurriedly tried to let go of his hand.

Meng Li knew she was shy and didn't force it.

But he was still a step too late. The sharp-eyed Huang Rong saw them letting go of each other's hands. Although she didn't know the specifics, seeing the large flush still on Mu Nianci's face, she immediately came over to tease her, "Oh my, Sister Mu, where did you buy this rouge? It makes your complexion look so naturally and noticeably red."

Hearing this, Mu Nianci instinctively touched her face and found it burning hot.

A second later, she realized Huang Rong was teasing her. She gave her a mock-annoyed look, didn't reply, and went about unloading the items from the horse's back.

"So it wasn't rouge after all." Seeing Mu Nianci couldn't handle the teasing, Huang Rong gave a light laugh and turned her target toward Meng Li. "Elder Brother Meng, this is where you're wrong. You took Sister Mu out and bought so many things, how could you not think of buying her some rouge and powder?"

Hearing this, Mu Nianci wanted to defend Meng Li.

Meng Li spoke first, "Nianci is naturally beautiful; her beauty is natural and doesn't need excessive makeup."

"You like rouge so much, could it be that you lack confidence in your own looks?"

Huang Rong: "..."

Guo Jing, who was drawing water nearby, didn't catch the underlying jab. Hearing this, he looked at Huang Rong seriously and said, "Ronger, you are very beautiful."

"In my heart, you are the second most beautiful woman in the world, so you don't need to lack confidence."

Huang Rong was caught between laughter and tears by his words. She quickly caught the key point and asked with a frown, "Second most beautiful? Then who is the first?"

"My mother, of course," Guo Jing answered without hesitation.

Huang Rong was speechless; she really couldn't compete with that.

Meng Li couldn't help but laugh, thinking to himself, "The sweet simpleton really is the natural enemy of the schemer." He then turned to unload the things, only to see Mu Nianci stealing a laugh.

Yang Tiexin and Bao Xiruo also smiled.

Even Yang Kang's brow relaxed.

Huang Rong had just been quite sharp with him earlier, so seeing her get stumped made him feel a secret sense of satisfaction.

However, he soon became unhappy again.

Because the current conditions were far too different from what he had expected.

The food was one thing; although there were no delicacies from land and sea, Huang Rong's culinary skills were superb, so he couldn't find fault there.

But the accommodation...

Previously on the road, they hadn't settled down, so the conditions were lacking.

Even if he had to sleep leaning against a corner like the others while knowing Meng Li had a bed, Yang Kang could accept it.

Because Meng Li was stronger than him, and he knew it was temporary, so he could endure it.

But now that they had settled down, the house was old and simple, the bedding felt hard even with straw padding, not to mention the mosquito bites.

This was completely incomparable to his previous residence!

Most importantly, it wasn't a private room.

There were only three bedrooms: one for the Yang Tiexin couple, one for Huang Rong and Mu Nianci, and one for him and Guo Jing.

Ever since Yang Kang became aware of the world, he had always slept alone and was used to it.

Now, not only was there another person, but it was a man, and specifically Guo Jing, whom he looked down upon.

With all these conditions added together, Yang Kang found it hard to accept.

Especially when he thought about having to live in such an environment for a long time or even forever, he felt a sense of collapse and even some regret.

After tossing and turning, he couldn't fall asleep, so he simply got up to go outside for some fresh air.

Guo Jing had just fallen asleep not long ago. Sensing the movement, he woke up. Seeing Yang Kang about to head out, he instinctively asked, "Younger Brother Kang, where are you going?"

Yang Kang was feeling frustrated and ignored him.

Guo Jing saw that he was in a bad mood and hurriedly followed.

In the opposite room, Huang Rong found the mosquitoes annoying and was preparing insect repellent powder. Hearing the movement, she opened the door to look and, seeing Guo Jing chasing after Yang Kang, she immediately followed.

In the adjacent Dream Travel Residence, Meng Li opened the door and took a look. After a moment's thought, he didn't go to join the commotion.

Mu Nianci came over from inside and asked, "What's wrong with Yang Kang and Brother Jing?"

Due to their interactions being different from the original story, her perception of Yang Kang was not very good. Even though she knew he was the son of her foster father, Yang Tiexin, and thus her foster brother, she felt no sense of closeness toward him, let alone affection.

Therefore, she addressed him directly by his name to show distance, unlike how she called Guo Jing "Brother Jing" or Huang Rong "Sister Ronger."

Meng Li replied, "They probably had a little falling out. Huang Rong has followed them, so there shouldn't be any issues."

Then, he changed the subject: "Have you memorized the Mnemonic?"