Grandma Gu left satisfied with the reply.
Shi Lan was equally satisfied with the dark figure following closely behind her, but she had to put on an expression of trepidation, fear, anticipation, and excitement.
Who knows if there are other spies in this mansion?
Back inside, Shi Lan sat by the window, quietly gazing at the sky, hoping everything would go smoothly and that she could use this opportunity to find out where Liu Weng was staying.
As the sun began to set, Yue Zhan still hadn't returned. Shi Lan grew anxious and sent Zhu'er outside to greet him. But as night fell and the stars filled the sky, Zhu'er returned, looking chilly, and reported to Shi Lan, "My lord is back and is talking to the steward."
Shi Lan breathed a slight sigh of relief; the fact that the person had returned meant that things had progressed.
The newly changed heavy curtains fluttered, and a figure lifted them aside and strode in, "Lan Niang."
Shi Lan hurried forward, looked up at him with a smile, and asked, "Ah Lang, how did things go?"
Yue Zhan did not answer, but turned to Zhu'er and ordered her to fetch him water to wash up. After she left, he said, "Things are not going well. The person who made the contact ran away, and the person who was keeping watch did not catch up."
After he finished speaking, he looked up at Shi Lan.
Her brows were furrowed and her lips were tightly pursed. Although she didn't say anything, she was clearly unhappy.
Yue Zhan reached out his hand, hesitated for a moment, patted her shoulder, and said, "Fortunately, the person who was supposed to be contacting us didn't notice, and we didn't alert them."
Shi Lan flicked the handkerchief draped over her shoulders, turned and sat down on the round, crescent-shaped stool, glancing at him. "Didn't you say you sent a skilled person? How could they have gotten away?"
Yue Zhan felt a little embarrassed, knowing that he had wasted her efforts. He would feel uncomfortable if he didn't explain it clearly.
Thinking that he had upset Shi Lan, he felt bad too, so he walked up to her, half-squatted down, and looked into her eyes. "Lan Niang, this was an accident. That old lady only stood by the wall for a while and did nothing. The person who was watching her was afraid of alerting her, so he didn't dare to approach. After she left, he went over and found out that there was a market outside the wall. By the time he wanted to chase after her, it was too late. This was my oversight. I should find someone who is familiar with the situation in our mansion."
Shi Lan looked at him without saying a word, but felt a warmth in her heart.
This was actually official business, and Yue Zhan didn't need to explain so much to a lowly servant like her. But he did explain, and in such detail and with such sincerity, even with an air of apology. This was quite rare for him. She knew she should stop while she was ahead, but she just didn't want to. She suddenly wanted to be pampered like this, to be allowed to act spoiled and domineering as she pleased.
"So what do we do now?" Shi Lan asked him, pretending to have a long face and glaring at him.
Yue Zhan smiled at her, his bright and cheerful smile putting Shi Lan in a great mood.
“Isn’t this you? That old guy has been looking for you time and time again, he must have something to ask of you,” he said, grabbing Shi Lan’s hand. “Good Lan’s mother, just tell me what he wants. This time I’m going all out to bring him back, and you can beat him to death.”
Shi Lan pulled her hand away, glanced at his grinning face, and rolled her eyes at him.
Who would believe that he, with his aloof and stern demeanor, was the Grand Commander of the Anxi Protectorate?
Yue Zhan had come to terms with it. Having experienced several worlds and searched aimlessly, he had changed a lot. His appearance was now nothing to him. He would do anything to get his hands on that chubby baby, even if it meant going through fire and water. Besides, she hadn't actually made him go through fire and water; she was just coaxing him. It was no big deal.
"Alright, stop showing off your white teeth. I already know your teeth are white."
Yue Zhan's face stiffened for a moment, his smile vanished, and he grasped her hand again, his face full of earnestness: "Lan Niang, believe me, I will definitely win her over this time."
Shi Lan nodded. She still believed in his skills. If it weren't for the fear of being discovered by Aunt Gu, he should have gone today. That way, this blunder wouldn't have happened. With that in mind, she didn't stand on ceremony and told him about her conversation with Aunt Gu.
Yue Zhan frowned when he heard that a token was required.
This token can be used not only to leave the city, but also to mobilize thousands of soldiers on the border. If it is given to that Turk, and something goes wrong, his safety is a minor concern, but it may cause turmoil in Anxi and bring suffering to innocent people.
Shi Lan also understood the implications, and after speaking, she said, "I know a little carving. You bring me the token, and I'll carve one to appease the enemy. As long as the city guards recognize it, there won't be any trouble."
Yue Zhan thought for a moment and shook his head, saying, "No, that old man Liu has a high status in the Turks. He must have seen the design of the token. If we give him a fake one, I'm afraid he will recognize it on the spot, which would only make things worse."
He took out a plaque with a tiger's head carved on it from his pocket and handed it to Shi Lan, saying, "This thing looks ordinary, but the carving is very complicated. Ordinary craftsmen simply cannot carve it exactly the same."
Shi Lan curiously weighed it in her hand; it was very heavy.
The original owner would never have handed it over to the person as soon as they received it, afraid that they wouldn't even look at its appearance clearly. Unlike now, when they can just pick it up and play with it at will.
Yue Zhan squatted for a while, and when his legs started to ache, he stood up and called for help.
Zhu'er was already waiting by the door. Hearing the summons, she hurriedly brought in the toiletries. Yue Zhan washed his face and hair and asked, "Is there anything else to eat?"
Shi Lan was startled. It was almost the end of the 7 PM hour, and she hadn't expected that he hadn't eaten yet. She quickly asked Zhu'er to prepare the meal.
Yue Zhan found it troublesome and didn't want to go through all that trouble, so he just asked Zhu'er to make a soup dumpling with meat broth.
Shi Lan has a small stove here. It's not suitable for making complicated dishes, but it's fine for making soup noodles.
Having witnessed Yue Zhan's appetite, Shi Lan worried that the soup dumplings wouldn't be enough to fill him up. So she asked Zhu'er to bring some steamed meat to stew in the soup, and also to see if there were any cakes or pastries to fill his stomach.
Zhu'er accepted the order, but worried that she couldn't carry it herself, so she dragged Dou'er along with her.
The room fell silent instantly; the vast space was so quiet that you could hear each other breathing.
Yue Zhan took off his soft armor and straightened his clothes behind the screen. Shi Lan sat at the table, head down, silently playing with the token, with the rustling sound of clothes rubbing against each other occasionally reaching her ears.
Strangely enough, Yue Zhan used to change clothes in this room, and Shi Lan used to be here too, but she never felt uncomfortable like this time.
Shi Lan felt something was off, but she couldn't quite put her finger on why.
Yue Zhan turned and walked up to her. Seeing her staring intently at the token under the lamp, he bent down slightly and asked, "What are you looking at?"
A warm breath hit her face, and Shi Lan suddenly leaned back to the left, staring at him with wide eyes. "What are you doing? You scared me."
Yue Zhan was speechless. How could he be so frightened when the two of them were in the same room?
Shi Lan leaned forward and pushed him away, feigning impatience, saying, "Don't get so close."
Yue Zhan shrugged, walked to the other side of the table, sat down, and picked up the bamboo slips on the table to read them.
Shi Lan continued to stare at the token until Zhu'er and Dou'er came in and set out the meal. Only then did she glance at him while moving the candlesticks. (To be continued.)
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