Mad Queen Leaves the Palace

Chapter 109 The Beauty of Shaozhou

After a long journey, Xiao Lan and Yan Nan finally returned to Shaozhou City. On their first day back, after a short rest, they couldn't wait to go to the mountains outside the city to check on the saline-alkali land. As night fell, they rushed back to the city to continue spending quality time with Jiang Huangshi.

After spending just a few days together, Xiao Lan keenly noticed a significant change in Jiang Huangshi's overall demeanor—her face had become rounder, and her figure more voluptuous. Undoubtedly, this was the result of Xiao Mu'an's meticulous care and constant attempts to please his grandmother. Seeing the happy smile radiating from Jiang Huangshi's face, Xiao Lan was filled with joy.

Upon returning from Yan Nan, he did not choose to stay at the post station, but instead unhesitatingly brought all his luggage to the Jiang family. This action undoubtedly showed that he was very familiar with the situation of Xiao Lan's family and knew that there were different degrees of closeness within the family. This approach was both convenient and allowed him to better integrate into this large family.

As evening fell, the three did not let time slip away. They had just bought some fresh mutton during their outing that day; mutton was a rare commodity in the Jiangnan region. This was because a couple from the northern nomadic lands had recently appeared outside Shaozhou, bringing their flock of sheep and horses. It turned out that the winters in the northern deserts were harsh and the living conditions unbearable; this couple, seeking a safe haven in the warm and humid Jiangnan region, had come specifically to find a place to live.

Initially, the couple had their eyes on the vast, lush grasslands of Phoenix Mountain. However, things didn't go as planned. They never expected that half of Phoenix Mountain had already fallen into Xiao Lan's hands, while the remaining half had been generously gifted to Lin Dayou by the prefect for the purpose of establishing a镖师 (bodyguard/escort) school. Even more infuriating, the mountain was now heavily guarded by soldiers to prevent unauthorized entry.

After arriving in Daxia, this Hu (non-Han Chinese) couple wanted to make a living by raising sheep and horses. However, raising these livestock was no easy task; the first problem to solve was their feed. The couple had to search far and wide for fodder. Unfortunately, most of the fodder in Daxia was specifically for horses, and the price was quite high. After some discussion, the couple finally decided to sell their horses, as the cost of feeding them was simply too high to bear.

After that, they focused on raising sheep and planned to slaughter a few sheep every day to sell the mutton at the market. However, things didn't go as planned. The dietary habits of the Xia people differed from those of the Hu people, and they didn't particularly like mutton, so the couple's mutton business remained very slow. For several days in a row, they could only watch helplessly as their fresh mutton went unsold.

Just then, Xiao Lan overheard this story. She learned that the reason the Hu couple couldn't go up the mountain to graze their sheep was partly due to her own actions. Out of compassion, Xiao Lan immediately sent someone to the Hu family's house to buy all the remaining sheep they had, including the already slaughtered mutton.

Seeing Xiao Lan's generosity, the Hu couple were moved to tears and decided to give him all their sheep, essentially giving them away for free. After the sheep were brought back to the mansion, Xiao Lan personally supervised the kitchen that very evening in preparing a delicious mutton stew. Jiang Huangshi and the others, who initially didn't particularly like mutton, were astonished after tasting the stew and discovered that mutton could be prepared so exquisitely, praising it highly.

Later, Xiao Lan noticed that Yan Nan Hui and Xiao Mu An didn't seem to have had enough fun, while Jiang Huang Shi had already fallen asleep. A clever idea struck her. She instructed the maids to bring various seasonings and skewer the ingredients. Then, in her small courtyard, she skillfully set up a small, exquisite stove.

Flames licked the bottom of the pot, crackling and popping. Xiao Lan enthusiastically began grilling delicious skewers for her brother and fiancé. Soon, the aroma filled the entire courtyard.

Several people sat around the stove, enjoying the tender and juicy skewers while sipping fragrant rice wine from Shaoguan. The taste was so satisfying and irresistible that it left them feeling incredibly relaxed and comfortable.

Just as everyone was enjoying their meal, Xiao Lan suddenly stopped what she was doing as if she had remembered something important, and asked Xiao Mu'an, "Brother, have you heard any news about that Cui Jiu lately?"

Upon hearing his sister mention Cui Jiu's name, Xiao Mu'an immediately turned around, a hint of annoyance on his face. However, at that moment, neither Xiao Lan nor Xiao Mu'an noticed that when Xiao Lan uttered the name "Cui Jiu," Yan Nan Hui, who had been leisurely drinking from his glass, abruptly stopped in his tracks. Time seemed to freeze, only his slightly trembling fingers betraying the turmoil within him.

“When I returned to Yuzhou before, I heard from people that he actually went to Qingzhou Academy to look for me. But no matter how hard I racked my brains to recall, I really couldn’t figure out when we formed such a deep friendship.” Xiao Mu’an’s expression was cold, and his words revealed a hint of doubt and indifference.

Upon hearing this, Xiao Lan stared intently at her brother and said softly, "Brother, my dream should be true. Moreover, after multiple verifications, it is enough to prove its authenticity. I'm afraid that after he arrived at Qingzhou Academy, if he didn't find you, he either returned empty-handed or found out where you were by asking around and then went to the capital to continue his search."

Xiao Mu'an frowned slightly, pondered for a moment, and then asked, "Sister, in your opinion, does he really dare to harm me so recklessly?" As he said this, a hint of worry flashed in his eyes.

"Actually, this matter might not be specifically targeted at you. Perhaps the other party really wants to harm our Xiao family! Ever since you mentioned Cui Jiu's strange behavior last time, I've been thinking about this issue. Think about it, why is he so persistent in targeting you? The other so-called popular candidates, in terms of family power, are far inferior to our Xiao family. If he really wanted to make a move, wouldn't it be easier and more effective to harm them? Besides, Cui Jiu himself is not without ability. If he were willing to put in the effort to study, he might not fail the exam. So, these are the doubts that I haven't been able to figure out." Xiao Lan had unexpectedly learned the secret of being a Phoenix Maiden through her previous conversation with Xiao Zhenwei. She originally wanted to tell her brother frankly and ask if this was the reason for the trouble, but with Yan Nanhui standing by, many inconveniences made it difficult for her to speak.

Therefore, Xiao Lan had no choice but to change her mind and say, "Brother, in my opinion, why don't you come back to the capital with me this time? In the future, we can arrange more guards to protect us secretly. If Cui Jiu dares to make any rash moves, we can definitely capture him on the spot and expose his evil deeds."

Just then, Yan Nan Hui, who had been silent all along, suddenly spoke up, asking with a puzzled look, "You two have been chattering away here for so long, but who exactly is this Cui Jiu you're talking about?"

Hearing this, Xiao Lan hesitated for a moment. She didn't want to reveal too much about Cui Jiu, but then she thought that Yan Nan Hui did need to know some things. So, she took a deep breath and slowly said, "This Cui Jiu was my brother's classmate and friend when he was studying in Xiwu Prefecture. However, this person harbors ill intentions and is filled with jealousy towards my brother, constantly plotting to ruin him. Not long ago, when my brother was in Yuzhou, Cui Jiu repeatedly invited him to some poetry gathering. At first, my brother didn't suspect anything amiss, until he sent people to inquire around and then he suddenly realized what was going on. It turns out that Cui Jiu secretly colluded with some shady people and specially arranged for a prostitute from a brothel to try to ruin my brother's reputation! He's extremely insidious and cunning!"

"Oh? Such a thing actually happened! That's truly unexpected! So, Lanlan, haven't you thought about teaching that Cui Jiu a lesson? Or, Brother Mu'an, if the situation is really that critical, why don't I send more people to protect you? After all, safety comes first, and we can't let you and your sister get hurt!" Yan Nan frowned, pondered for a long time, and finally decided that if the situation was not optimistic, then the only option was to increase manpower to ensure that they would not encounter any unforeseen disasters.

Hearing Yan Nan's words of concern, Xiao Mu'an felt a surge of warmth in his heart. He quickly bowed respectfully to Yan Nan and said sincerely, "Thank you for your kindness and care for my sister and me, Fifth Prince. However, my sister and I have been inseparable for the time being, and we have a sufficient number of guards around us. We believe that we should be able to handle any situation for the time being. So please don't worry too much about it, Fifth Prince. Trust that we can take good care of ourselves."

Just then, Xiao Lan chimed in, "Don't rush! As the saying goes, 'There's no such thing as a thief who can guard against a thief for a thousand days.' Since that despicable Cui Jiu dared to plot against my brother, how can we simply expose his crimes and let it go so easily? Humph! That's too lenient on him! I've already discussed it carefully with my brother. After we finish this mission, we'll return to the capital together. If that Cui Jiu is foolish enough to come and provoke us, we'll catch him on the spot and see how he tries to deny it! At that point, it won't be as simple as just making him apologize to my brother."

After saying that, Xiao Lan took a big bite of the lamb skewer in her hand, as if the lamb skewer were part of Cui Jiu's own flesh. Thinking of the suffering her brother Xiao Mu'an had endured in her previous life, a fierce anger burned within her.

In her past life, Xiao Mu'an's handsome face had been slashed open with a long gash! The wound not only disfigured him but also nearly cost him his life due to severe infection. Fortunately, it was the cold winter, and the low temperature slightly slowed the progression of the illness. Even so, when Xiao Lan saw her brother's face contorted in agony, her heart was filled with endless heartache and anger. Finally, Xiao Lan had a flash of inspiration and remembered that she could use saline solution to disinfect and relieve Xiao Mu'an's pain. However, the excruciating pain her brother had endured was deeply etched into Xiao Lan's memory, unforgettable for all eternity.

"Then after we return to the capital, I'll send you more men." Yan Nan pondered, recalling that the men Yan Zhen had previously allocated to Xiao Lan would likely be taken back after their return. Thinking of this, he felt it necessary to send them additional men to prevent them from being targeted. After all, in the complex and chaotic capital, a slight misstep could lead to utter ruin.

"Your Highness, there's really no need for such trouble!" Xiao Lan quickly waved her hand, her face beaming with a smile. "This time when I came to Jiangnan, my uncle was worried that I wouldn't have enough manpower, so he specially dispatched a full hundred people for me! And about fifty of them will accompany me back to the capital. At that time, some will stay at Wutong Residence as guards, while the others will stay close to my brother and me to protect our safety. So, Your Highness, you can rest assured and don't need to worry about this." After saying that, Xiao Lan handed a skewer of freshly grilled delicacies to Yan Nan and continued with a smile, "By the way, once my uncle successfully opens a branch of the escort agency in the capital, if Your Highness needs some skilled escorts who can protect you, you can come to me anytime!"

Xiao Lan already had a clear plan in mind. She knew that Zhenyuan Escort Agency's reputation was not yet established, so she decided to first take on bodyguard duties for some of the capital's powerful and wealthy. After careful consideration, Xiao Lan cleverly chose to establish the first escort agency in the capital near Luming Academy. This arrangement had multiple benefits: on the one hand, it could help those students deliver letters and packages; on the other hand, it could ensure the safety of herself and her brother.

Just then, Yan Nan Hui spoke up, "That's good, but Lan Lan, when can we go and inspect that salt field?" Although he was currently with his beloved, a sense of worry still welled up inside him as he thought of his pregnant mother. After all, his elder brother hadn't survived. Although it was publicly stated that it was due to an unstable pregnancy, everyone knew in their hearts that someone had secretly harmed Consort Tong through some means. Unfortunately, they hadn't obtained concrete evidence at the time, and this matter remained a knot in the hearts of Yan Nan Hui and his mother that they couldn't shake off.

"Let's go up the mountain the day after tomorrow. Judging from the current situation, we should be able to produce salt blocks by then! In fact, if it were still summer, with plenty of sunshine, salt blocks would probably already be appearing by now." Xiao Lan responded to Yan Nan with a smile, patiently explaining some basic principles of salt fields to him.

However, they were completely unaware that on the same night, while Shaozhou was still immersed in peace and tranquility, the scene in the distant capital was completely different—the entire capital was in complete chaos, a scene that could only be described as upside down! Various noises and arguments rose and fell, making people turn their heads in disbelief.