Chapter 5

“You know, you’re like a mum. You seem more like a woman than a man sometimes.”

Ding Xiang commented.

“Do you want to know something I’m more masculine in?”

Liu Wei smiled creepily. Zhang Li turned to face his chair, and brought his second bowl of soup with him.

“Soo chair, do you want to be my friend?”

Ding Xiang looked mourningfully over to the child. He also prayed for the male mum. It’s really sad, when your child would rather talk to a chair than you.

“Oh.. I still don't know your names. Can you like, tell them to me?”

“I’m Wei Liu Wei, and my younger brother is Wei Zhang Li.”

“You have two Wei’s in your name- that’s too funny!”

Liu Wei glared and placed one hand on the wall, and another, on the handle of his sword, slowly pulled out his weapon. Ding Xiang walked back into a wall, and placed both of his hands up. If a stranger started walking in, they would be confused. A muscular maiden being ka-be-doned, by a slender suitor. The suitor was also shorter…

Sadly, no one came in, but Zhang Li opened the door, allowing a deer to jump around, until the deer went into the kitchen. Ding Xiang and Liu Wei stared at the deer’s dark eyes. It looked back, and then it sat down. Zhang Li sat down, next to the deer, and stared at the chair that he tried to talk to.

“Chair, since no one wants to buy supplies, do you want to go with me?”

Liu Wei looked at the pitiful sight, and started to drape his arms around Zhang Li, bear hugging him. Ding Xiang's eyes brightened at the thought of going down the village.

As a royal who was confined in a fancy prison, going out to explore was a luxury. His older brother could do it how many times he wanted, and especially now, he wanted to experience what a normal person would go through.

“Take me with you!”

Ding Xiang jumped on Liu Wei, hitting him back and forth.

“I swear, you’re probably older than me, and you’re more of a child than Zhang Li.”

Zhang Li turned around, hands still playing with the deer, who was invited to watch the ka be don scene. The deer, then somehow patted Zhang Li, then stood up and trotted away, waiting for someone to open the door for it.

“Ok fine, you can come with us. But if you make too much trouble, I will perform my sword skills on you.”

Liu Wei smiled evilly. Ding Xiang huffed and crossed his arms.

“I’m from the royal family, of course I trained with the sword! Who do you think I am?”

“A freeloader!”

Zhang Li smiled brightly, and Ding Xiang looked at the group and contemplated his life choices.

“Even the cute boy has such a sharp tongue… the outside world really is vicious!”

Zhang Li opened the door for the deer, who looked angry that it had to wait a long time to get out. Zhang Li smiled guiltily before leaving the house after the deer walked away.

“Oi! I need to get my basket, we’re not going shopping without one!”

“Okay big brother, I’ll wait for you outside with Ding Xiang.”

Zhang Li pushed Ding Xiang out of the door, and then closed it. Zhang Li wanted to confront him, wondering why he was out here, and deep in the mountains in the first place. Zhang Li started at Ding Xiang, eyes expectant. Ding Xiang started to sweat, and rubbed his head with one head.

“I don’t really like the imperial household, so I left! You did that too didn’t you?”

Zhang Li sighed, he made Ding Xiang crouch, and got out a ribbon. Ding Xiang really looked like a dog, waiting patiently, for whatever Zhang Li will do. The 8 year old tied Ding Xiang’s hair into a bun, like his own hairstyle.

“The villagers know Liu Wei well, and know that he has adopted me. If you try to act mighty, and steal the spotlight from him, someone from the royal family might be alerted, and come to the village. I’ll also be caught.”

Zhang Li patted Ding Xiang’s back. Looking at the bun he had made on his head.

“Are you guys ready?”

Liu Wei looked at the bun on Ding Xiang’s head, and laughed. Ding Xiang’s face turned red, and he opened his mouth to protest. Zhang Li had already started walking down the mountain, expecting the duo to start following.

“You really become a leader, little brother.”

“It’s not my fault you keep getting into fights with Liu Wei.”

Zhang Li pouted, and turned back to face the trial, to get to the bottom of the mountain. He ushered for them to hurry up, and they gladly followed.

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***