Chapter Twenty-Four: A Lesson for Changle!

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"Changle! Ahem, well, just do as you wish!" Li Yi suddenly remembered—this was a princess! It was one thing to exchange a few words, perhaps deny it later if necessary, but to actually have her do chores was simply too much.

"Brother Li! No need to stand on ceremony! You're racking your brains for my sake; it's only right that I do something in return!" Changle smiled faintly, exuding both elegance and nobility.

"Heh! This isn't just for you—it's for me as well. But since you insist, I won't hold back! Changle, fetch the brush and ink!"

"At your command!" Changle let out a soft laugh, even bowing to Li Yi before turning toward the desk to grind the ink.

"What an enchantress!" At the sudden display of grace, Li Yi nearly had a nosebleed.

Approaching the desk, Li Yi found a straight board to use as a ruler and picked up a brush to sketch out the dimensions and proportions for the fan ribs. Once finished, he fashioned a simple compass from two brushes to draw the fan's surface.

Changle waited patiently until Li Yi was done before asking, "Brother Li, what are you making?"

Li Yi blew on the rice paper, checked it over, and nodded in satisfaction before answering, "This is called a folding fan—one of the objects most beloved by men. Tomorrow, bring this folding fan as a gift for your father, the Emperor. I'll prepare something else for you to present to your mother, the Empress, and all your troubles will be solved!"

As he spoke, Li Yi flopped onto a stool, grumbling, "This is way too low. Looks like I'll have to put inventing tables and chairs on my agenda!"

"A folding fan? Will that really help? Is it made of gold or silver? My father lacks for nothing, after all."

"Sigh! You really lack life experience. If you don't mind, I'll explain it to you." Li Yi shook his head. The backwardness of this era wasn't just technological—education, culture, entertainment, everything was lagging behind. The road ahead was long indeed!

"Brother Li, please, I'm all ears!" Though they'd only spent an hour together, it was enough for someone as discerning as Changle to see Li Yi's character—flippant but never unreliable. That was why she trusted him.

"No need for such formality! I can't stand this atmosphere. Let's just chat. If I'm right, praise me; if not, take it as a joke. No harm done, right?" Li Yi sprawled against the wall, radiating laziness.

"Pfft! Brother Li, you really are..." Changle was at a loss for words. It would seem improper, yet somehow, his manner was strangely comforting.

"Not exactly proper, right? People here make life so hard for themselves! When you're happy, you're afraid of being called improper so you stifle your smile. When you're upset, you fear being accused of pettiness so you pretend indifference. You hold back laughter, swallow your tears, and even if you fall and bruise yourself, you have to assure everyone you're fine. In the royal family, the fewer troubles the better, and you've grown used to wearing a mask—so much so you no longer know how to take it off!"

Li Yi's words pierced Changle's heart like a sword. He was right—this was her life, the sorrow of being royal. Perhaps she could no longer remember the little girl who could always nestle in her parents' embrace. If she were still that child, would she worry so over returning to the palace late? Lost in thought, a tear slid silently down her cheek.

"Hey now! Stop! No need for golden tears, I can't handle them! Besides, life is never entirely our own. But aren't there still Xueyan and Zixuan? And at the very least, there's me! If you ever need someone to vent to, come to me—even if you curse me out, I won't talk back. My only real talent is having a thick skin! And for an old friend, I’ll give you a seventy percent discount!"

"Pfft! Hahaha!" Changle, seeing Li Yi's antics, couldn't help but burst into laughter, loud and clear.

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"That's more like it! As the saying goes, a smile takes ten years off your age! Now, back to our earlier topic—gift-giving. It's an art, never underestimate it; there's a world of knowledge in it! Let me ask you: if two men were courting you, one gave you a chest of gold and silver, the other a cheap yet beautiful dress, which would you choose?"

"The dress!" Changle replied without hesitation.

"Oh? But a dress is hardly worth anything, not even a single tael of silver—why choose that?"

"Because I like it!"

"Exactly! That's the reason—because you like it! Remember, gifts aren't about value. When someone thoughtfully gives you something you like or need, that gift gains additional worth, because it’s filled with their care and concern. They know what you want or need, so they must care about you. But the one who gives you gold and silver may only covet your beauty and simply want to possess you, not truly care for you, because he never really pays attention to you."

As Li Yi spoke, he took off his jacket, pulled Li Xueyan—who had been eavesdropping—inside, and draped the jacket over her shoulders. He continued, "Sometimes, care shows in the smallest things—a cup of water when you're thirsty, an extra layer when it's cold. Those are gifts too. So, even if the folding fan doesn't compare in value to your father's chopsticks, it will be the best gift in his eyes, because it's something his daughter made for him with care."

"Brother Li, I understand now!" Changle's eyes shone with clarity. Sometimes, truth is simple, like the food you eat every day. You only fail to understand its meaning because you never paid attention to it. But once you do, it tastes all the sweeter.

"Brother Yi, I'm thirsty!" Li Xueyan clutched her coat tightly, her face radiant with happiness.

Li Yi wouldn’t let this opportunity slip by. He hurriedly poured Li Xueyan a cup of water. She took a sweet sip, but before she could swallow, she sprayed it all over Li Yi's face—because a voice called from outside: "Lichen, I'm cold!"

"Then come inside! Why are you silly enough to stay out there? Ah! What are you doing? Ouch! Mother help me!"

Li Yi wiped his face, silently mourning for Jiang Lichen. "See, jealousy is in a woman's nature—it has nothing to do with personality," he mused, watching as Li Zixuan chased Jiang Lichen around, swinging her fists.

"Hehe! Brother Li, you really are a troublemaker! But he deserves it!" Changle giggled. "Brother Li, how do you know so much?"

"There you go again with your innocent questions. Let me tell you: there are two things in this world you should never fully trust—a woman's tears and a man's words. You know plenty about women, so let's talk about men. Maybe Xueyan has told you how dashing and upright I am, and my words have moved you, so you think I'm amazing. That's a big mistake! To judge a person's character—especially a man's—don't listen to his speeches. Watch his actions and see if they truly move you. So, Princess, let me tell you honestly, I'm not a good man."

Looking at the roguish Li Yi, Changle replied seriously, "You've misunderstood—I never thought you were a good man!"

Li Yi was momentarily stunned. At his side, Li Xueyan was doubled over with laughter, and even Changle couldn't help but join in after her own words.

His dignity in tatters, Li Yi jumped up, grabbed the blueprint, and shouted, "You two, stop fooling around! Time to get to work—take me to see Yiyi! Hurry!"

Changle and Li Xueyan exchanged a helpless smile, linked arms, and left Li Xueyan's boudoir for the workshop.

Li Yi and his companions went straight to the workshop, where Yiyi stood outside with over a dozen craftsmen and maids, her cheeks red from the cold. Li Yi hurried over, took off his jacket again, and draped it over Yiyi. "Silly girl, why are you standing outside in this cold? Get inside!"

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Yiyi smiled sweetly and dashed inside with the coat. Li Yi led everyone into the room and explained the steps and requirements for making the folding fans. The men would craft the ribs from rosewood; the women would make the fan surfaces from rice paper. "Everyone, let's focus! We need these urgently for tomorrow, so I'm sorry to drag you all out so late. Do your best—if you finish well, I'll personally see to it that everyone gets a five-hundred coin bonus and a half-day off!"

Everyone glanced at Li Xueyan, and seeing her nod, they cheered and set to work. After all, this was still Li Xueyan's household; as for Li Yi, they didn't really know him!

"Brother Yi, you're making fans, but it's winter!" Once inside another room, Li Xueyan couldn't wait to ask.

"Heh! That's right, fans are for summer, but these are made of paper—how much wind do you think a paper fan can create? So these fans aren't for cooling off, especially not for men!" Li Yi smiled mysteriously.

"If it's not for cooling, then what is it for?"

"Haha! It wouldn't be any fun if I told you now!"

"Brother Li, since you said a gift for my father is best if made by hand, shouldn't I make it myself?" Changle, seeing everyone working, had a sudden thought.

"No, better not. It may look simple, but it's tricky to make. It's the thought that counts—don't force it, or it'll lose its meaning. Hm? Lichen, why are you still sitting here? Go help! If you don't learn how to make a folding fan tonight, you can forget about getting one. This is the very first batch, and it will be the most meaningful. If you miss out, don't blame me!"

Jiang Lichen shot Li Yi a resentful look and left.

"Brother Li, you're picking on Lichen again!" Seeing Jiang Lichen bullied, Li Zixuan immediately protested.

"See? You're all like a family, always standing up for each other! Don’t worry, learning something new isn’t a bad thing. There will be plenty of things for him to handle in the future—he needs the experience!"

Li Zixuan blushed and lowered her head, silent.

"Just waiting here is so boring!" Li Xueyan always hated boredom. She never minded it before Li Yi arrived, but ever since spending time with him, she could no longer stand a dull life.

"Haha! Alright, then I'll tell you all a story!"

The four girls exchanged glances and nodded in unison.

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