Reborn Daughter: The Young Lady Wants to Make a Trouble

"Wait. What?! Why?" Xueyue's eyes widened in anger. She couldn't believe his words, nor the determination on his face.

Li Wenmin clenched his fingers into fists, and his face cracked instantly. "It's dangerous for you to have it."

"He said it would keep me safe."

"Do you understand the meaning of a man giving a pendant with his name on it?" Li Wenmin shot back, but frowned at how harsh his tone was. He loosened his fingers and wanted to pat her head, but she dodged his hand and pressed her lips into a line.

"Xiaoyue, don't be angry with me, I just want to keep you safe." Li Wenmin sighed, "I care about you, sometimes more than I care - oh, forget it."

Xueyue didn't miss his hesitation. Who was he talking about?

"What's important now is that you give me the pendant."

"but why?"

Suddenly, someone interrupted the conversation. "No one goes around giving away pendants with their last name and coat of arms."

Xueyue turned around and met the nonchalant expression on Li Chenyang's face. He crossed his hands behind his back and looked at her shocked face.

"I don't understand." Xueyue blurted out.

"When a man gives you such a valuable gift, it means he has already recognized you as his woman." King Li Chenyang explained, trying to suppress his smile.

Xueyue was stunned when she heard his words, her face went blank.

what?

Li Wenmin roared, "If you own the pendant, it means you are the commander's woman. No one can touch anything that belongs to Wen Jinkai."

"but-"

“No buts. Where is it?” Li Wenmin asked, holding out his hand. “Xiaoyue, you have to give it to me.”

Xueyue hesitated, her eyes full of uncertainty. Her brows furrowed and she bit her lower lip. She didn't want to hand it over. She didn't understand why she was so reluctant.

"I...I..." Xueyue struggled to come up with a coherent sentence.

King Li Chenyang placed a hand on her shoulder soothingly. "Think about it, little one. You don't have to hand it over today."

"Dad!" Li Wenmin folded his arms and snorted. "If she insists, it's tantamount to acknowledging the caveman's claim. You can't allow the commander to marry her? She's only eighteen!"

"Alright, alright, Wenmin, calm down." King Li Chenyang simply looked around.

Li Wenmin understood the message instantly. There were too many people watching. It was wonderful. "Let's go into the tent."

King Li Chenyang nodded and walked in. Li Wenmin followed him, but when he saw Xueyue was pinned to the ground, he stopped immediately.

He tried to put a hand on her back, but she avoided his touch. He tried again, but she used her eyes to make a hole in the ground to avoid him.

"Xiaoyue." Li Wenmin frowned and called out. "What's wrong? I won't hurt you."

"No... but you will force me to hand it over." Xueyue's voice was incredibly small and timid. She tried every way to refuse his request, but found that she couldn't do it.

She could easily manipulate the conversation and get away from his push, but she didn’t want to. She trusted Li Wenmin more than she trusted herself. He was her brother and best friend.

Guilt was eating her alive. He had given her so much without asking for anything in return. He had treated her like his own sister when it wasn't necessary. Yet, here she was, refusing his simple request.

Xueyue couldn't lift her head. Her fingers played with the pendant the Duchess had given her. It was a two-toned oval jade, one side green and the other azure. It was a harmonious blend of ocean and forest. Silver surrounded the two sides, spelling out "Li Xueyue".

"Xiaoyue, you overestimate me." Li Wenmin told her kindly. "No one can force you to do anything you don't want to do."

"Li Wenmin is not okay either?"

"Especially Li Wenmin." He smiled sincerely. "Silly girl, the days I can control you are the days when it snows in summer."

Li Xueyue finally raised her head. "Okay."

"Okay, let's go in now. The painting competition is over. There's no need to stay outside any longer."

Li Xueyue nodded and followed Li Wenmin in. He stared at her petite figure, wondering how on earth she was able to tame not only the commander but also the general and the minister.

He shook his head, deciding not to think about this unanswerable question anymore.

“You’re here, dear.” Duchess Li Qixing smiled brightly. “The competition is over, and that despicable Bai family won first place.”

Li Xueyue's eyes widened. She didn't expect that Duchess Li Qixing would use such a strong and hateful word as "despicable".

Princess Li saw her confused face, blinked her eyes and said, "I hold a grudge."

Li Xueyue nodded slowly. "Do I have the same resentment?"

"Of course." King Li Chenyang said slowly. "This is a family full of villains."

"Start with the clan leader." Duchess Li Qixing chuckled, obviously knowing something that the children did not know.

Duke Li Chenyang had a reason to leave the stage midway. He was discussing a matter with the emperor in private, about the culprit who shot the arrow at Xueyue. They already had a suspect in mind, but the specific punishment would be decided by the royal family - unless Xueyue wanted to have a say in the matter.

But no one knew that a warning had been issued in the forest. A threat issued and carried out by a single girl.

Li Xueyue understands that the first step to destroy the Bai family is to target the person they cherish most in this world-Bai Tianai. Once her minions are dealt with, she will have no one to rely on except Zheng Leiyu. In other words, whether their relationship will be stable after this game.

Of course, Bai Tianai only participated to show off her strength. Xueyue knew better than anyone that Zheng Leiyu was a weak-willed person. Jealousy was his biggest flaw, and his reaction when he realized that Bai Tianai would be getting attention would be priceless.

Li Xueyue smiled to herself. She could leave Zheng Leiyu's downfall to Bai Tianai. After all, a scorned lover is always a vengeful lover.