As the sun gradually set, Shi Lan smiled and escorted Shi Luan to the door.
Shi Luan clung to the door frame, refusing to move for a long time.
Shi Lan looked at the pitiful Shi Luan with a dark expression and said helplessly, "Brother, didn't I say that my husband and I would go to the county to find you first thing tomorrow morning?"
Shi Luan blinked his dark eyes, which were remarkably similar to Shi Lan's, and made a final plea, "Little sister, can't we go back together today? Your sister-in-law has already prepared the room and is just waiting for you to come back."
Shi Lan secretly rolled her eyes. If she went with him, her silly boy would go crazy if he came back and found her gone.
Besides, she was on a mission. If he found out from others that she was the county magistrate's younger sister, who knows what kind of wild thoughts Li Tiezhu, that stubborn guy, would have.
“Brother, have you forgotten? I’m married now. How can I just run back to my parents’ home without a word?” Shi Lan said, raising her hand to push Shi Luan until she pushed him to the side of the carriage before saying, “Alright, hurry back. Your sister-in-law is waiting for you.”
Shi Luan stared wide-eyed at Shi Lan, feeling a deep sense of loss. His sweet and gentle sister no longer cared about him, her wise and powerful brother.
Shi Lan was utterly speechless at his expression, which desperately needed to be appeased.
Brother, there are other people around. Can you please be a little more mindful of your official image?
After finally managing to persuade Shi Luan to leave, Shi Lan looked at the village head, who was still stunned and dumbfounded, and chuckled twice, "Uncle, is there anything else?"
The village head was so startled by Shi Lan that he jumped up from the spot and bowed very respectfully. "I was blind and did not recognize your greatness. I offended you before, Miss. Please forgive me."
Shi Lan was taken aback by his words, and when she came to her senses, she found it amusing. "Uncle, please don't say that. You are Tie Zhu's cousin, which means you are my cousin too. There's no offense involved. I should thank you for taking care of me during this time."
These words warmed the village head's heart, and he thought himself wise for not following Li Deyun's family in committing evil deeds. Now look, good people are rewarded; he's now related to the county magistrate.
Shi Lan smiled and offered a few more compliments before seeing the village head off with a cheerful expression.
Back inside, Shi Lan sat at the table and couldn't help but chuckle.
If Li Chunni knew that Li Tiezhu's luxurious clothes were all because of the original owner of the body, would she still be so determined to follow him?
Shi Lan thought it was probably not the case.
The reason Li Chunni became obsessed with Li Tiezhu was simply because, before her death, she saw that he had not only become successful but also treated the original owner of the body with great care. Compared to the heartless Young Master Liu, the regret she felt was not just because she had missed a truly good man, but because she felt she had missed the opportunity to become successful with someone like Li Tiezhu, and thus missed the wealth and honor she could have easily enjoyed. That's why, upon being reborn, she returned to Li Family Village and even murdered the original owner of the body.
Shi Lan played with the jade pendant, smiling as she gazed into the void. Perhaps she should find an opportunity to visit the Liu residence and let Li Chunni truly experience the fear and despair of falling into death again.
Several steady footsteps came from outside the door. Shi Lan got up and gracefully opened the door, smiling as she looked at Li Tiezhu, who was rushing back.
“Husband,” Shi Lan walked gracefully to him and wrapped her arms around his waist, “Husband, you’re finally back.”
Li Tiezhu was honest and always followed the rules. Since Shi Lan became pregnant, he had always strictly followed the doctor's instructions. During the time Shi Lan was in this body, the most intimate moment between them was when he couldn't help but kiss her.
So when Shi Lan hugged him, Li Tiezhu was so startled that he hurriedly looked around, his face turning red. He was not good with words to begin with, and could only say, "Wife, go back inside, don't let anyone see us."
Shi Lan buried her head in his blood- and sweat-smelling clothes, ignoring his large hand that seemed to be pushing her away but wasn't. Her voice vibrated through the clothes and against his skin: "Husband, my family came looking for us today." Immediately, Shi Lan felt the strong muscles under his hand tighten, but there was no movement on his head for a long time.
Shi Lan tightened her arms around Li Tiezhu and hugged him tightly before letting go and looking up at him.
Li Tiezhu's eyes darted around, his lips trembled slightly, and he was so flustered that he didn't know what to say.
Shi Lan sighed softly, turned around and went to the kitchen to fetch a basin of water. "Wash yourself first, and I'll tell you the whole story later."
Li Tiezhu responded blankly, then stuck his hand straight into the basin and remained motionless.
Seeing Li Tiezhu, whose soul seemed to have left his body, Shi Lan had no choice but to wring out a handkerchief and wipe his sweaty face and calloused hands clean.
Then she pulled him back into the house and told him everything she had heard from Shi Luan that day.
It turns out that Shi Lan came from the Shi family, one of the most prominent families in the capital. His stepmother, though outwardly kind, was cruel to his two children, who had lost their aunt at a young age. Shi Luan, having passed the imperial examinations, was appointed an official here. To control him, his stepmother wanted to marry his niece to him, but Shi Luan refused and instead married his mentor's daughter. His stepmother harbored deep resentment and, taking advantage of Shi Luan's new post, wanted to marry his daughter, Shi Lan, to an old man as a concubine. Shi Lan, like Shi Luan, was stubborn and refused to comply. She persuaded her wet nurse and her son to take her to find Shi Luan. On the way, they encountered bandits. The wet nurse and her son risked their lives to hold off the bandits, but Shi Lan was injured during the escape and lost her memory…
After listening to Shi Lan's story, Li Tiezhu clenched his hands tightly, as if he was trying to suppress something.
Shi Lan placed her hand on his warm, strong arm and said softly, "Big brother knows about you and me and wants to see you. Shall we go to the county tomorrow morning?"
Li Tiezhu glanced at Shi Lan, then hurriedly lowered his head, a glint of light flashing across his eyes.
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