Of Friends & Foes

Aunt Rin's heartfelt advice rang in Li Wei's mind until the next day. Li Zhilan and the others had gone ahead on the hike, but she didn't care to exert herself to keep up. Her stamina could not be compared to them. Instead, she chose to linger behind and wander around.

She felt carefree and even laid upon a bed of flowers. Her large round eyes lazily stared at the rays of sunlight falling through the dense trees. Every now and then, she was showered by flower petals falling with the touch of the wind. Li Wei held out a hand, waiting for something to land in her palm.

San'er, who had been with Li Wei, also laid upon the wildflowers. She took a deep breath of the refreshing mountain air. Because she followed a kind miss like Li Wei, her life had been easy and full of fun. She blew at the falling petals and laughed, the sound of her sweet laughter sounded like tinkling bells in the silence.

Li Wei turned to the happy girl by her side. "Like it?"

"En. To spend time with miss in such a beautiful place, I'm very lucky."

Li Wei smiled at San'er, whose thoughts were so simple and pure. A while later, a flower petal fell onto Li Wei's hand. She placed the petal against the light. The yellow flower changed to a golden color.

"Always believe your life holds ultimate significance," Aunt Rin said.

Khan Bojing's love left a mark on her heart. The good kind, the type of love in which a person could bloom from. Honestly, she was not a suitable match for him whatever life it was. And honestly, she simply didn't care.

Since she decided to love him, she would carve out a path for herself. To be with him, Li Wei was willing.

Humans were born into different statuses, some luckier than others. How could a person be judged on factors they had no control in?

Her background couldn't be changed, but her personality and attitude could. Li Wei already vowed to change herself upon her rebirth. She was not blinded by love for Hua Xifeng. She didn't destroy the good people in her life. She pursued a new lifestyle to be more adventurous, simple, and happy.

The whole afternoon was spent with taking a nap in the forest. Once San'er woke up, they made their way back down. In the evening, Li Wei enjoyed dinner with Aunt Rin and San'er. She didn't join the feast of the second night. Politely, she rejected Li Zhilan's invitations. Li Zhilan had good intentions, but Li Wei didn't want to socialize with Mo Shufen who would inevitably be an annoying presence.

The week passed quietly, but peacefully for Li Wei. Once they returned back to the capital, Li Wei went back to her usual routine. She would wake up late in the afternoons, eat lunch, and then have fun by doing various things. Sometimes, she lazed around reading and writing in her journal. When she felt energetic, she would take on walks in the city.

The stares of strangers couldn't be avoided, but she didn't try to hide herself either. If others wanted to take a closer look, go ahead. Li Wei had nothing to be ashame of. This time she didn't pursue Hua Xifeng like a crazy woman. She didn't act spoiled or arrogant. No other lives were ruined because of her.

Even if they wanted to, there was nothing but praises to speak of. Because of her absence in the last three years, no one knew much about her. All they could talk about was her recent splendid performance in the palace.

Slowly but surely, Li Wei could tell she was changing not just in her own eyes but in the eyes of others.

Li Wei walked in the market streets in a simple yellow dress. In her hands, she held onto a sweet candy fruit stick. Every now and then, she took a bite as her eyes greedily roam the rows of endless stalls of food.

San'er took a bite of the candy in her hand and was awestruck at the taste. "Miss, this is delicious!"

"Of course," Li Wei eagerly agreed. "Tell me anything you want to eat."

San'er's suddenly felt embarassed. Was there another servant as spoiled as she was? San'er wasn't thick skinned and awkwardly asked, "Eh... miss, isn't that overboard?"

"Not overboard." Li Wei lightly brushed it off as she turned the corner into a series of fabric stores. Once she stood in front of the store with white peonies in front, Li Zhilan's figure came into view.

"Li Wei!"

Li Wei strode towards Li Zhilan at ease. Three years ago, they had an unpleasant encounter here, but today was different. She had come to pick out a dress to attend Li Zhilan's wedding.

Li Zhilan pulled Li Wei inside eagerly. "I'm so glad you're here."

Madam Yan's place was the same as before although the thousands of brocades changed to fit the season's current trend. Li Wei flipped each style of fabric one by one, trying to choose the perfect pattern. To attend a royal wedding, she should be dressed appropriately. A sophisticated design, but still humble and comfortable.

"Li Wei, what do you think?" Li Zhilan placed a pair of silver butterfly earrings against her ears.

Li Wei nodded her approval. Li Zhilan was a beautiful woman, any piece of jewelry would match her. "Very pretty."

"Alright, I'll buy it!" Li Zhilan wished to become friends with Li Wei. Although they were cousins, they didn't have a close relationship before. Once she married, she wouldn't see her family as freely as before.

Li Wei finally couldn't make up her mind and ended with nothing. She was disappointed, but Li Zhilan tried to comfort her. "Li Wei, it's okay. There are still many months before the wedding."

After shopping, they sat by the riverside. Villagers filled the streets while small boats filled the large river in the center of town. Under the willow trees, the two women sat side by side for the first time.

Li Wei passed a red bean bun to Li Zhilan who accepted it right away. "Li Wei, I remember you love eating buns."

"En." Li Wei took a large bite of the bun in her hand. It was sweet, soft, and warm.

Li Zhilan glanced at Li Wei for a long time before she said, "Li Wei, remember when that mean Gu Guangli bullied you?"

Gu Guangli was the general's son. His father was wealthy, powerful, and he knew it. Gu Guangli used his status to take advantage of others around him. He especially hated Li Wei, the orphan girl who was living a life she wasn't worthy of. In his eyes, she should've spent the rest of her life at the orphanage.

When she became more and more beautiful through the years, he continued to pick at her, but his hateful gaze changed. Li Wei's opinion of him remained the same, even as the years passed. Even when he gained a name for himself, she didn't spare him a second glance.

Other girls may swoon over his looks, his reputation, and talents but she would never.

In this life, Li Wei hadn't run into him yet. However he turned out, she didn't care to find out. Not once did he appear in her thoughts. "En, remember."

"Li Wei, after you left three years ago, Gu Guangli desperately searched for you. He threatened if I didn't tell him, he would tell lies to Hua Xifeng. No matter what he said, I didn't give in. Then, Gu Guangli left with his father to Yu'an for two years." Li Zhilan leaned closer and spoke in a hushed tone. "I heard he recently returned two days ago."

Rather than being surprised by the news, she felt touched. Li Zhilan wanted to warn her. Li Wei stared across the river to where a family was eating. Two little girls who appeared to be sisters laughed happily as they shared a bowl of noodles.

Li Wei always knew Li Zhilan didn't have evil intentions against her since young. The rumors of Li Wei taking the prime minister's daughter's place was spoken by outsiders. These rumors caused Song Yuyan to feel protective of her daughter and dislike Li Wei. Li Zhilan was herself and Song Yuyan was another. She couldn't understand it before, but Li Wei understood it clearly now. "Lan'er, I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart. For all you've done for me, even the things I'm not aware of, I appreciate it all."

Li Zhilan was on the brink of crying. She was immature before, but over the years she grew into an open minded and understanding person. Both of them had gone through their own changes over the last three years. Li Wei's sincerity touched her heart so deeply, her tears couldn't be stop. "Weiwei, I'm sorry about the past. When others bullied you, I couldn't do anything."

"Shh, it's alright." Li Wei pulled the crying Li Zhilan into a hug, the first hug shared between them. She gently patted Li Zhilan's back. "We were just children"

"While you were away, I wondered if you were eating well. Sometimes I wanted to visit you, but I didn't know where you were. So many thoughts went through my head, but in the end I could only hope you were safe."

"I hadn't been the nicest either." Li Wei pulled back and wiped off Li Zhilan's tears. "No matter what we've gone through, you're still like a sister to me."

"Really?" Li Zhilan's eyes shone with hope and she began to smile.

Li Wei nodded and hooked their pinkies together. "Through thick and thin, whatever comes our way, Weiwei and Lan'er will forever be sisters. "