If Shi Lan once felt pity for the barbarians because of the one-sided massacre by her guards, then at this moment, Shi Lan's heart is as cold as iron.
Wang Liu glanced indifferently at Shi Lan, whose face was grim, and strode forward.
Soon someone arrived at the spot where they had stood the night before. A tall flagpole stood on the city wall, with a gray-white head hanging from it.
Shi Lan squinted, stared intently for a moment, and recognized that this was the Yuan family member whom she had stabbed to death with her sword last night.
"Does A-Lan know this person's identity?"
Shi Lan shook her head. The original owner's status determined her lack of knowledge. All Shi Lan knew was what the original owner knew and what she had inquired about here, and none of this included the Bei Liangyuan family.
Wang Liu looked up at the head swaying gently in the wind and said, "He is the youngest son of the Yuan family patriarch, the twenty-third in line, and his name is Yuan Long."
Shi Lan felt a chill run down her spine. She was not an ignorant commoner; she knew the importance of a legitimate son to a family, especially the Yuan family, which controlled a group of ruthless barbarians like wolves.
Thinking of the light, fleeting thrust of her sword, she turned her head to look at the boundless yet desolate land, and suddenly felt the deep-seated, endless malice within it. Her fair skin tightened slightly, and thinking of the dried-up piece of flesh blown into a small strip by the wind, a cold wind whistled behind her.
Seeing her pale face, Wang Liu knew she had figured out what he wanted her to know, and said with a smile, "A-Lan, do you think it's appropriate for you to stay in the Xun family now? Or are you sure they're willing to offend the Yuan family for your sake?"
Shi Lan's forehead was sweating. What did this guy mean? Did he want her to leave the Xun family and become his guard or maid?
Shi Lan pursed her lips, wavering between insisting on confronting him and lowering herself to join the Wang family first, and then finding another way later.
Yun, covered in sweat, staggered towards them from afar. Before he even reached them, he cupped his hands and said, "My lord, I have not failed in my mission."
As he spoke, he held up a thin sheet of paper that looked like silk and said, "This is the letter of release of slaves written by Xun Wu, and there is a mark on it as proof."
Wang Liu frowned in dissatisfaction, but since Yun had already spoken out, the effect he had deliberately created was wasted. He glanced at Yun indifferently, then took the paper and examined it carefully.
Shi Lan watched the two exchanging cryptic messages and began to have a vague guess in her mind.
Wang Liu casually handed the silk to Shi Lan.
Shi Lan took it and stared blankly at the crooked, dog-scratched handwriting on it.
This is unbelievable! A top student has become illiterate here.
Yun was slightly startled by Wang Liu's actions, but quickly calmed down. Seeing Shi Lan's bewildered and questioning expression, he suddenly felt that he had wasted his time. In order to have someone thank him in the end, Yun patiently explained to Shi Lan, "This is a letter of release from slavery written by the Fifth Young Master of the Xun family. You can take this to the yamen to have your slave status lifted, and from now on you will be a commoner."
That means that the freedom he had been longing for was now in his hands.
Upon hearing Yun's affirmative answer, Shi Lan stared in astonishment, her mouth agape. It took her a while to process what she had just said. She looked at Wang Liu blankly and asked, "How did you manage that?"
Ever since meeting Shi Lan, Wang Liu had been subtly suppressed by her, both in terms of martial arts and the elegant tea ceremony. Seeing Shi Lan's surprised expression, Wang Liu felt a faint sense of pride.
"As a member of the Wang family, there's nothing I can't do if I set my mind to it."
Shi Lan rolled her eyes inwardly, not wanting him to be smug, and deliberately twisted the truth, saying, "I mean, the round trip only took one night. How did you manage that so quickly?"
Wang Liu:
How embarrassing.
What should I do if I've been delusional?
Wang Liu's fair cheeks quickly flushed red.
Yun couldn't bear to see his lord being bullied, so he quickly said, "The Wang family has countless fine horses. As long as we exchange two for one, and return as soon as we finish our business, that's perfectly fine."
Shi Lan glanced at Yun and was truly impressed by him. No matter what, he always put Wang Liu and the Wang family first, and even when explaining something, he would include a compliment to the Wang family.
“That requires someone to be willing to go through all the trouble,” Shi Lan said, cupping her hands in greeting. “I am deeply grateful for your tireless efforts, traveling day and night.”
Yun hurriedly waved his hand and said, "Ah Lan, there's no need to be so polite. I'm just following orders."
Shi Lan turned her gaze and saw Wang Liu adopting a superior posture, calmly gazing into the distance.
Shi Lan pursed her lips, but ultimately accepted his kindness, and solemnly cupped her hands, saying, "Thank you, sir, for redeeming me."
Wang Liu waved his hand dismissively, saying, "It's nothing, don't worry about it."
Shi Lan smiled and turned to leave.
Yun glanced at Wang Liu, then at Shi Lan's back, and then at Wang Liu, whose gaze was also fixed on that figure. Yun sighed resignedly and chased after him, her legs trembling.
"Ah Lan, please wait a moment, I have something to discuss with you."
Shi Lan's lips curled up, she paused for two steps, and waited for Yun to catch up before asking, "What is it?"
Yun coughed twice and said, "I've been traveling day and night without even having a sip of water. Why don't we go back and talk over a meal?"
Shi Lan glanced at him sideways.
Yun quickly gave her a smile.
Shi Lan was very grateful to Yun for bringing her the release certificate overnight. Just now, if he had come a little later, she didn't know if she would have said something she would regret in order to save her life. Therefore, she was willing to give Yun face. Besides, she had not yet been removed from her slave status. Even if she was removed, she would need to find a strong backer before she left so that the Yuan family would not dare to easily turn her into jerky.
Therefore, Shi Lan nodded slightly and followed Yun into the room where tea and food had already been prepared.
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