Reborn Daughter: The Young Lady Wants to Make a Trouble

When Li Xueyue walked out of the Li Mansion wearing her family's most simple jewelry and accompanied by the proud Li Wenmin, the Duchess could only sigh for her children.

"Wenmin, are you planning to join us?" Duchess Wang Qixing chuckled, her voice friendly and enthusiastic, but her eyes were full of hints, and she got into the carriage effortlessly.

"As if I could eat with him around." Li Wenmin wrinkled his nose in disgust. "But no, unfortunately, I will be stuck training soldiers. Even though we are finalizing a peace treaty with Han Jian, it is still not set in stone. We always have to be prepared for war."

Li Xueyue swallowed. The thought of war was daunting and terrifying. Was Li Wenmin going to fight, too? Her eyes flickered to the badge pinned on his chest, the gleaming metal marking him as a general.

Li Wenmin would be one of the leaders of this battle, and his head was the target of every soldier behind enemy lines. Her hands began to tremble and her eyes were filled with fear at the mere thought of his head flying off her body.

No, war must not break out.

"Yes, we must always be prepared for war." Duchess Wang Qixing looked into the distance with a dull look and repeated softly. However, the war she was going to start would take place in her Wuyi Kingdom. She had already read the diary last night.

Granted, it was stolen from her husband's desk, but she didn't care. Women are most formidable when they can control their emotions and don't let it control them. She is the epitome of calm, unlike her husband who flew into a rage after reading the diary.

After reading the diary, she quietly put it back to its original place and went back to her room with an expression on her face that her servants had never seen before.

"But don't worry, Mom!" Li Wenmin smiled brightly at her, the sun bathing his tall frame. He patted his chest proudly, his eyes gleaming with determination. "Even if a war breaks out, I will always protect our family!"

"Even if it means raising a sword against the royal family?" Duchess Wang Qixing asked in a faint, soft voice. No one except her closest people, her children, could hear her.

Li Wenmin's cheerful smile froze. "What?"

Did he hear his mother's words clearly? His confused eyes searched her face, and his smile turned into a straight line. He did it. The murderous look in her eyes was not difficult to detect. Her gentle smile suddenly became sickeningly sweet, even a little bloodthirsty.

"Mother?" he muttered, his voice trembling with uncertainty. Is she okay?

"Think carefully about my words, my dear child," she whispered, bending down from the carriage and placing a chaste hand on the side of his face, her eyes full of love for her son.

Li Wenmin stood there blankly, as if rooted. "I don't understand..."

"Have you read the diary?"

"I—" Li Nu's eyes widened in shock and she jerked her head up. "You—you read it—but—but how? I don't—" His voice trailed off, and before he finished the question, he knew the answer.

Li Xueyue sat quietly in a corner of the carriage, turning her head away from them. She clenched her fingers and forced herself to remain calm, as if she had not just heard the promise of betraying the royal family.

“Xiaoyue, tell mother…” Li Wenmin exhaled and shifted his attention from his quiet sister to the Duchess.

He searched for his mother's face, the woman who had raised him without a nanny. Her face was as beautiful and dignified as ever, and her eyes sparkled with the love she had for her children. His mother loved him unconditionally, and he could see the fear in her eyes - the fear of losing him by making such a sinful confession.

She pinched his face gently, and her face was filled with warmth when she saw her son was so confused. His expression was like a lost puppy.

"Don't worry, we'll be back before you go home for dinner," Duchess Wang Qixing said calmly, her voice brisk, as if she was not asking her son to betray the country he had sworn allegiance to.

When she pulled her hand back, Li Wenmin grabbed it immediately. "Mom, I—"

"Silly boy, there's no need to be so formal around me," she said thoughtfully.

She tapped his nose with her long fingers, just as she had done when he was a poor, crybaby boy. As a child, Li Wenmin had always been more attached to his mother than anyone else. The one person he could always rely on was the Duchess, whose patient smile and understanding eyes soothed his troubled soul.

"Y-You love me right?" "What?" he asked suddenly, eyes wide and full of uncertainty, his grip on her hand tightening. "Right?" he repeated softly, approaching the carriage.

Duchess Wang Qixing was surprised. Wasn't her love for him enough? She chuckled and patted his cheek. "If I don't love my own children, who else can I love?"

"What if I can't meet this request?"

"I will love you no matter what, my dear child."

She tried to pull her hand away from his unbearable grip, but he tried to hold on tight—fearing she would turn her back on him.

"Mom, I—"

"You act like I'm going on vacation and my ship is most likely to sink in the high seas." Duchess Wang Qixing chuckled. "Just think of my request as a simple joke."

Li Wenmin didn't react, but slowly let go of her hand. "I'm just worried, that's all."

"Are you worried that I'll be different when I come back?"

"Yes."

"Why am I like this?"

"Because I..." Li Wenmin's voice became smaller and smaller, and he couldn't finish his words.

“Silly child, didn’t I love you enough when I was a child?” Duchess Wang Qixing shook her head. “No matter what you decide to do, you are still the son I raised with my heart and effort.”

"Whatever happens?"

"It doesn't matter." Duchess Wang Qixing said firmly.

Duchess Wang Qixing gave him one last smile. "See you at lunch this afternoon? Or are you just coming back for dinner?"

"The commander is away, and I may have to train his soldiers, so maybe, let's eat." Li Wenmin replied, thankful for the change of topic. His eyes stayed on Xueyue who didn't respond.

"Commander, don't you have a day off?" Duchess Wang Qixing asked curiously.

"Yes, but Wen Jinkai is very dedicated. Even if he takes a day off, he will send people to train the soldiers. Unfortunately, I am the first person that comes to mind."

Li Xueyue frowned and looked at him. "Okay, tell him not to bully his soldiers anymore."

“You should tell him, because you’ll waste your time meeting him.” Li Wenmin chuckled. “Besides, I doubt he’ll listen to me. He’s two levels above me, so he’s not obliged to accept my advice.”

“How stupid.” Li Xueyue blurted out. “What if his soldiers have a better strategy than him? Everyone’s opinion matters.”

Li Wenmin shook his head. "It is more important to enforce the hierarchy. You have not been exposed to the cruel reality of society, so you don't know these things, Xiaoyue."

Li Xueyue was startled with both hands. Right there. Subtle nagging, don't be so friendly.

"In this world, either you eat or you are eaten. Xiaoyue, you must remember this. You can be a sheep, but don't forget that you are surrounded by wolves, greedily devouring your kindness," said Li Wenmin.

Duchess Wang Qixing saw the regret on Xueyue's face and her expression softened a little. "You can be nice to others, dear. You just have to be more careful about who you're targeting with your kindness."

Li Xueyue nodded and turned her eyes to Li Wenmin. She thought his expression would be serious, but it was not the case. His face was full of patience and understanding, knowing that it would take some time for her to change.

"Brother Wen, see you later?"

Li Wenmin gave her a big, toothy grin. "Goodbye, Xiaoyue." He turned to his mother, his smile a little stiff. "And you, Mom—"

"If you call me mom again, I'll grab your ears. Mom sounds too formal," she complained. "I'm only in my early 40s!"

Li Wenmin chuckled. "You look so young, you were almost mistaken for my sister."

"I know." Duchess Wang Qixing grinned. "Go home quickly, and don't eat too many snacks during training." She said before closing the door of the carriage.

The carriage began to move along the road leading to the royal capital. Duchess Wang Qixing stuck her head out of the window and saw Li Wenmin still standing there, looking at the carriage carefully in case of any accidents.

When she caught his gaze, she waved goodbye, watched him slowly raise one hand, and waved back. Soon, the carriage disappeared, and Li Wenmin was left to ponder his mother's words. Would he betray the royal family?