"Who are you……"
Clearly, Cheng Liang seemed to have no memory of the woman in front of him.
The woman quickly introduced herself, saying, "I'm Lanxiang! General Cheng, don't you remember me?"
"Lanxiang..." Upon hearing this, Cheng Liang slowly searched his memory.
Seeing that she didn't remember her, Lanxiang was about to go up and talk to her when she suddenly remembered something.
Sui turned around and grabbed the hand of the old woman beside him, saying, "Grandma, wait for me here. I'm going to thank this savior."
“Okay, go ahead!” the old man obediently agreed.
Lanxiang smiled, relieved, and took two quick steps forward, saying with delight, "General Cheng, it's been so long! I never expected to run into you here!"
The atmosphere remained somewhat awkward, but she seemed hesitant. After a pause, she continued, "Actually... what that person said was right. I was indeed a courtesan in the Wanjiao Pavilion in the south of the city. My name is... Lanxiang."
"Wanjiao Pavilion in the south of the city... Lanxiang..." Upon hearing this, Cheng Liang recalled for a moment and finally remembered.
Then, equally surprised, she exclaimed, "I remember now! It was you!"
Seeing that he finally remembered her, Lanxiang nodded happily and thanked him: "Just now, Lanxiang was harassed by street ruffians. Thank you for saving my life, General Cheng."
Cheng Liang said, "It was just a small favor, no need to thank me!"
Sui glanced behind him at the old man who was still obediently waiting in the same spot.
After Lanxiang noticed his gaze, she quickly introduced her, "That's my maternal grandmother..."
Cheng Liang nodded, then asked her, "How did you come to the capital?"
Lanxiang looked back at the white-haired, frail old man again, who seemed to be burdened with too much sorrow.
Sui's face instantly turned melancholy, and he said, "To be honest, I brought my grandmother with me to stay with my father."
"Your...father...doesn't he live with you?" Cheng Liang asked, puzzled.
Lanxiang looked at Cheng Liang's face and gave a helpless smile.
He then slowly shook his head, his face growing increasingly somber, and said, "Actually... I never wanted to have anything to do with that person again in my life, but fate has played a cruel trick on me. I'm afraid I won't be able to take care of Grandma for the rest of my life..."
Hesitantly, she silently cursed in her heart, "How can there be so many heartless and ungrateful men in this world! Why did we, mother and daughter, have to encounter them all? Now... I'm about to die, but I must take good care of my elderly grandmother before I die."
After a pause, Lanxiang spoke again: "My father, he abandoned my mother after starting a relationship with her, betraying her expectations. But even so, he must pay the price for his youthful betrayal. I cannot forgive him so easily!"
Upon hearing this, Cheng Liang finally understood some of the reasons. As a woman, she would eventually get married and would naturally be unable to take care of the elderly for the rest of their lives.
So he asked her, "Do you know where your father is now? You have your grandmother with you, and you don't have a carriage, so it's inconvenient for you to travel. If it's on our way, how about we give you a ride?"
With that, he moved back to the carriage and said, "I will go and report to His Highness right away."
"What... His Highness the Prince of Qin... He's here too?" Lanxiang exclaimed in surprise.
"His Highness has just finished the morning court session and is on his way back to his residence!" Cheng Liang explained.
Lanxiang quickly tidied herself up, then turned back to help her grandmother toward the carriage, preparing to pay her respects to Xuanyuan Han.
Before the grandfather and grandson could even reach the carriage, Xuanyuan Han had already gotten off.
Dressed in a black brocade robe, with his hands behind his back, he stood tall and imposing, like a deity.
As soon as the grandfather and grandson approached, they quickly bent down, preparing to bow and pay their respects.
Upon seeing the old man's unsteady gait, Xuanyuan Han immediately spoke up in a deep voice to stop him: "Since you are all old friends of my queen, there is no need for such a grand gesture!"
Lanxiang, who was already halfway through her actions, was surprised to hear this and said, "Your Highness?"
At this moment, Cheng Liang explained to her, "Miss Yi is now the Princess Consort of Qin!"
"What?" Upon hearing this, Lanxiang immediately looked up and stared at him with wide eyes, stunned.
Just as Lanxiang stood there, stunned and speechless, Xuanyuan Han looked around at the noisy surroundings and said, "Alright, this is not the place to talk. Get in the carriage first, and we'll discuss everything back at the manor!"
As soon as he finished speaking, he went over and mounted his horse.
Lanxiang stared at the tall and luxurious carriage of the Prince of Qin's mansion, thinking that her own lowly status made her unworthy to ride in it.
“But…” Just as she was about to refuse, Cheng Liang gave her a wink.
Upon seeing this, Lanxiang dared not say anything more and could only help her grandmother step onto it.
We arrived at the Prince of Qin's residence.
As soon as Xuanyuan Han dismounted, he headed back to Lin Yuexuan on his own.
Lanxiang, supporting her grandmother, walked along the corridor of the Prince's Mansion, led by Cheng Liang.
With each step the grandfather and grandson took, they saw pavilions and towers scattered about in a charming and picturesque manner, a sight that dazzled the eye and deeply attracted them with the majestic yet grandeur of the Prince of Qin's mansion.
Lanxiang thought to herself in astonishment, "I never imagined that girl would actually become the Princess Consort of Qin! Prince Qin, Xuanyuan Han, is a god-like figure, the dream of countless noble ladies on the Lingkong Continent!"
As he was pondering, Cheng Liang suddenly stopped, pushed open a door beside him, and said, "Please rest here for a while. A maid will bring you food later. I will arrange for carriages and horses, and then have someone take you wherever you wish to go."
Lanxiang quickly declined, saying, "This is not very kind of you, it would be too much trouble for the General and His Highness!"
The old woman couldn't help but exclaim, "Seeing is believing! His Highness Prince Qin is truly a kind person!"
Cheng Liang smiled and said, "After all, back in the south of the city, you two did help our Princess Consort. Now, you don't need to refuse this small favor!"
Upon hearing Cheng Liang's words, Lanxiang felt a pang of guilt, realizing that she had almost harmed Yi Shangyun back then.
Fortunately, Yi Shangyun was unharmed in the end.
She herself didn't care, but her grandmother had already been walking for a long time from the south of the city to here and was no longer able to walk long distances.
So she said politely to Cheng Liang, "Then I'll have to trouble General Cheng."
He had just finished speaking when he seemed to suddenly remember something. After hesitating for a moment, he finally spoke and asked, "By the way, General Cheng, Yun and I..."
However, as soon as the words left his mouth, he seemed to realize that he had said the wrong thing, so he quickly corrected himself: "It has been a long time since I last saw Her Highness the Princess. I wonder if I could see Her Highness the Princess again?"
Cheng Liang remained silent.
Lanxiang asked in confusion, "What's wrong? Is it inconvenient?"
Cheng Liang thought for a moment and said, "To be honest, Your Highness, she has not been in the palace these past few days."
Lanxiang asked in surprise, "Not at the Prince's residence? Where is the Princess now?"
"This... I'm afraid I can't tell you!"
During this special period, in order to keep Yi Shangyun's whereabouts completely confidential, Cheng Liang could not tell anyone.
Lanxiang was still guessing when Cheng Liang suddenly interrupted her thoughts again: "By the way, where are you going? I'd like to make arrangements for your itinerary."
Lanxiang snapped out of her daze and replied, "We're going to Lu County!"
Upon hearing this, Cheng Liang was stunned for a moment, and asked in surprise, "Lu County? It just experienced a sandstorm, and now it's deserted and extremely dangerous. You want to go to Lu County?"
Lanxiang explained, "General, you may not know this, but just now in a tavern on the street, I heard that the man went to Lu County a few days ago. Let alone Lu County, even if it's the underworld, I will definitely find him."
Seeing Lanxiang's resolute attitude, Cheng Liangyi could only nod: "Alright, I understand. I'll make the arrangements right away. It's getting late, so you two can stay here for the night. Tomorrow morning, I'll have someone escort you on your way."
Thank you!
Thank you!
Lanxiang and her grandmother thanked them in unison.
As dusk settles, the city lights begin to twinkle.
Inside the Yunshui Pavilion, everything was brightly lit.
During the days that Yi Shangyun was away, Xuan Yuanhan would quietly come here alone every night.
Standing at the doorway, looking at the unchanging, familiar courtyard and attic, it felt as if the shadow of Yi Shangyun still lingered everywhere—her scent, her smile, her tears…
The evening breeze gently caressed me, as if her endless tenderness was enveloping me.
She never actually left.
"Yun'er, you must wait for me. I will come to pick you up soon..."
Just then, Xuanyuan Han suddenly noticed a figure moving in a dark corner of the courtyard and shouted, "Who's there?"
Unexpectedly, a person slowly walked out.
The tall figure raised his hand and lifted the black cloak covering his body. Xuan Yuanhan recognized him at a glance: "Third Young Master Yi...it's you!"
Thinking of how Young Master Yi had repeatedly provoked him regarding Yi Shangyun, he said angrily, "What are you doing sneaking around here?"
Young Master Yi glanced at him dismissively and asked, "Xuanyuan Han, where did you hide the girl? I've searched everywhere and can't find her!"
Xuanyuan Hansui deliberately lied, trying to provoke him, saying, "My queen consort stays obediently by my side every day."
Before he could finish speaking, Young Master Yi angrily retorted, "Nonsense! She's not even in the Prince's residence!"
Clearly, it seems that Young Master Yi has once again thoroughly searched the entire mansion.
Although Xuan Yuanhan was angry, he still tried his best to suppress the anger in his heart and said in a deep voice: "Young Master Yi, I warn you, if you continue to challenge my patience and ignore the existence of the guards of the Prince's Mansion, I guarantee that next time you sneak into the Prince's Mansion, you will not be able to escape!"
Young Master Yi seemed genuinely stunned by Xuan Yuanhan's words. He quickly stepped forward, brought his nose close to Xuan Yuanhan's, and questioned him, "Xuan Yuanhan, what right do you have to imprison the girl?"
Xuanyuan Han remained unmoved and retorted, "What qualifications do I have?"
She paused, then reminded him, "Don't forget... Yun'er... she is now my rightful queen... I have the right to do anything to her, and it has nothing to do with anyone else, nor can anyone interfere!"
Young Master Yi was so angry he couldn't even speak: "Xuanyuan Han...you can't treat the girl like this..."
Xuanyuan Han stopped speaking and just stared straight into his eyes.
Just as their eyes met, a guard hurried over...
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com