Wei Guo

In the morning before the sun had fully risen, Liling and her parents were getting prepared to head out first, servants loading their belongings. The three hop onto their carriage and began to ride towards the capital's gate.

Liling stares out the window reminiscing her outing with Lan. "I wonder if the south is as fun as the capital.." Wei Guo looks at his daughter, "Mm, the south is by the ocean, the setting is different but definitely beautiful." "You've been there before?", his wife asks. "Mm, father took brother and me there when we were kids."

Wei Guo is Guang He's biological son, born a year after Wei Jing was adopted. He grew up without a mother after she passed giving birth to him. Guang He raised both boys by himself, and cared for them unconditionally, whether they're of different lineage or just different. The Wei clan is made up of generations of military men. Wei Guo was never as talented as his brother when it came to military works. He, on the other hand, was a book worm. However, even though he's better than most scholars in the imperial court, he decided for a peaceful life in the manor, aiding his father and brother instead.

The road to their vacation home took eight hours. When they made it, Liling excused herself to clean up before dinner. She comes to where her parents are already seated, waiting for her. She's again in a bright dress with dangling jewels, pearls, and jasmine ornaments to her hair. For a ten-year-old, she's already a beauty that would cause many heartbreaks in the future. Wei Guo and his wife smile at her arrival and motions her to sit.

Mid-meal, Wei Guo finally took notice, "that jasmine ornament.." Liling looks up from her bowl of rice and took a sip of tea, "Oh, yeah, jiejie picked it out for me when we explored the capital. I also picked out an orchid for her! Isn't it pretty?" She shows off the flower. Her mother smiles, "It's very pretty. Liling is very lucky for such a caring jiejie." "Mm! Jiejie is different from other girls. She cares for me and always protects me. My friend has three sisters who always bully her.. I'm glad Lan jiejie isn't like that!" Wei Guo nods in agreement.

The night Lan came, her greeting shocked him. When coming to know her origins and story, Wei Guo was the one who suggested to keep her talents hidden. "Father, if His Majesty comes to know of Lan's abilities, he would be more suspicious. It's best to keep it a secret. With Liling, it'll be believable that she's just a regular lady in the future."

At first, he was also cautious of Lan, but as time passed, the girl was nothing less than family. Lan brought out different aside to the family. Wei Guo smiles. He's glad Liling has a sister like Lan to look up to.

The next morning, the rest of the family finally arrived. Liling greeted her grandfather and uncle, then immediately grabbed Lan in to show her the house. Since it's mostly an isolated house, the girls didn't wear their veils. Together, they are the duo that would kill men's hearts when they're older, many thought. Guang He laughs at his granddaughters though, "they never change," recalling Lan's first arrival to the manor.

In the main hall, three men are in their casual robes: Guang He is seen in the middle seat, while Wei Jing sits to his right and Wei Guo to his left. "You did a splendid job setting up the place Guo'er" Wei Guo stood up, cupped his hand [left over right] and bowed, "thank you, father."

The three sat and drink tea. "Father, Emperor Yuan has yet to say or do anything..knowing his temper, I think we should still be cautious," Jing stated. "Brother is right." Guang He knows very well that this vacation won't fully release them from suspicion, "increase guards, and" he looks to Jing, "don't train Lan here. We don't have a place for her here. His Majesty might have spies, so our cover-up could be exposed."

Wei Jing understood. They had a secret underground training center made for Lan at home, but being that this trip was planned so fast, they couldn't build one in time. Killing the emperor's spy would only be equivalent to declaring war. He and Guo sigh. Their family is innocent, yet they have to suffer from so many cautions and assassins.

Lan and Liling went on a walk outside the house. The vacation home is located next to a forested mountain. Liling took her time to enjoy the foreign nature that surrounds her. Unlike Lan who's been to training camps and battlefields where there is similar nature, Liling grew up in the capital city.

"Wahh, jiejie, have trees always been this tall?" Lan laughs and responds, "Mm, there are even taller ones out there. Come, lemme show you something." Lan leads her cousin to an open area.

Liling tilts her head in confusion, "...grass?" Compared to those trees she barely sees in the capital, she always sees grass in their garden..it wasn't anything special.

Lan smiles and began to pluck one that's long and has a rubbery exterior. Placing it between both sides of her thumbs, Lan places her mouth to it. "Jiejie, that's a bit...dirty." Then, Lan blew. Out comes the sound of a whistle.

Liling's jaws dropped. "Wahhh, how'd you do that? That's so cool. Can you teach me?" Lan nods and began to teach Liling how to whistle a grass. The two enjoyed each other's company in nature until dinnertime.

At the dinner table, Liling showed off her new talent. Her grandfather laughs, "I'm glad my little Ling'er is enjoying her time here." "Mm! Having jiejie here makes it ten, no twenty times better!" The adults at the table laugh at the little girl's cute remark. Lan winks at her cousin and mouthed, "likewise."