“Old woman, go and tell your cousin not to be angry. I have a way to make Father obediently hand over the dowry that was promised.”
Shi Lan's lips curved slightly, a gentle smile on her face.
Aping responded and left. After a while, the noise outside gradually stopped, and the mansion returned to its usual tranquility.
As night fell, Shi Lan bathed and changed her clothes. Stepping on the moonlight that spilled across the ground, she gracefully danced. Suddenly, a wisp of dark cloud drifted across the clear, dark blue sky. The cloud, like mist or vapor, slowly drifted up to the position above Shi Lan's head as it gathered and dispersed.
Shi Lan took out a fine, soft strand of hair, and with a gentle flick of her delicate fingers, the hair seemed to suddenly light up, like a black light, pulling the dark clouds above straight towards the Shi residence.
Shi Lan stared at the sky for a long time without saying a word, and her good complexion, which had just recovered, instantly became haggard.
"Is this your solution?" A clear, deep voice sounded from behind. Shi Lan's back stiffened, and a bitter expression appeared on her face. "Uncle."
In the moonlight, Ji Lang glared at Shi Lan with hatred, "Who gave you the audacity to ruin your body like this? Those filthy things are not worth wasting your lifespan for."
Shi Lan had just finished performing the spell and was feeling a bit weak. She staggered as she stood up before regaining her balance. "Uncle is right, but I was determined to perform this spell. I'm just moving the date forward a bit."
Ji Lang had been watching her from the shadows, so he knew what kind of witchcraft she was using. "Was it Zhou Shi who was affected by the spell this time?"
Shi Lan shook her head. "It's Shi Yao." Shi Lan noticed Ji Lang's disapproving expression and said, "In the Shi family, Zhou Shi and Shi Yao are the most despicable. Cousin, I'm about to leave here and probably won't come back for the rest of my life. If I don't take revenge here, do you expect me to let them have their fun here?"
Ji Lang shook his head but didn't say anything. In his opinion, no one was more important than Shi Lan. As long as she was well, he didn't care whether others lived or died. Besides, the technique wasn't some insidious or wicked one. So when he turned to leave, he only told her, "Start drinking the medicine I bring you on time from tomorrow."
Shi Lan shrugged, acknowledging the agreement. Ji Lang was not short of money; the medicine he had sent last time was extremely effective. After three to five doses, her depleted essence and blood were almost completely replenished, but the loss of lifespan could not be made up for.
Two days later, at dusk, Shi's father changed his previous practice of avoiding them and took the initiative to visit the gate of the Ji residence. Accompanying him were seven fully loaded flat-headed wide carriages.
Shi Lan did not go out. Her father was her father, and it was better for Ji Lang to handle the dowry matters, since Shi Lan's status made it impossible for her to go against her father's wishes.
As night fell, the mansion returned to peace, and A-Ping happily ran back from the front yard.
Upon hearing that Shi's father had increased the dowry he had sent a few days ago by four or five times, Shi Lan curled her lips and thought to herself that Shi's father's family was all awful. The father was cold and aloof, the fake mother was hypocritical and kind, and the younger sister was shallow and ignorant. As for that young man, with such a group of people accompanying him, he probably wasn't much better.
The original owner lived in such a family for sixteen years and was able to resist the temptation of wealth and refuse to become a concubine, which is truly rare. Perhaps it was the good genes of the Ji family that allowed the original owner to remain untainted by the mud. It is just a pity that although the lotus is beautiful, it cannot withstand the wind and rain, and in the end, it ended up in a miserable and withered state.
The next day, after Shi Lan finished her studies, she came to the bamboo building, where Ji Lang told her the news he had gathered the day before.
Two days after the surgery, Shi Yao suddenly became delirious while out for a stroll. She publicly revealed that she had secretly harmed a noblewoman out of jealousy. Now that the noblewoman's family has found out, they have appealed to the King of Jiang, requesting His Majesty's judgment. Shi's father is in a terrible predicament. His newly promoted official position may be in jeopardy. He also has to find a way to treat Shi Yao, who has caused such a disaster. As a result, Zhou's condition has also changed. Her condition, which had been improving, has deteriorated rapidly. She is now being treated as a madwoman and locked in her room, unable to go out even a step.
After listening quietly, Shi Lan felt the burning sensation in her heart subside a little. She knew in her heart that what she did was right, and that the sacrifice of her life essence and the loss of her lifespan were worthwhile.
The original owner actually hated him. She hated her father who coldly abandoned her, hated the seemingly kind but secretly ruthless and greedy Zhou Shi, and hated the sharp-tongued Shi Yao who always liked to bully her.
However, she was a person who did not fight back. Faced with all kinds of difficulties and injustices, she only remembered filial piety and buried her resentment and hatred deep in her heart.
When the imperial decree demoting Shi Fu to a county magistrate with a fief of only four hundred bushels of grain reached the Shi residence, Shi Lan, carrying a box full of gold leaves, boarded a carriage to join the princess's wedding procession. Before leaving, she left A Ping at the Ji residence.
Aping was completely loyal to his original master, and Shilan hoped that such a loyal servant could enjoy a peaceful old age.
On the carriage, Ji Lang, having tried to dissuade her several times without success, quietly placed a piece of warm, white jade into her palm. His face remained unruly, but his eyes held deep concern. "Your dowry will be exchanged for gold and silver by your uncle in a few days and sent to the Zhao Kingdom. Take this. There are spies loyal to the Ji family in the Zhao Kingdom's palace. Find an opportunity to contact them. This is the last bit of help your uncle can give you."
Shi Lan's eyes welled up with tears, which rolled back and forth, threatening to spill onto her clothes.
Seeing her like this, Ji Lang snorted, "It's not too late for you to back out now."
Shi Lan's eyes were filled with tears, but a determined smile remained on her lips as she shook her head.
Ji Lang was furious. He flicked his sleeve and jumped off the carriage. His clear, deep voice came from outside the carriage, "Ah Lan, you must remember that the blood of the Ji family flows in your veins. You are infinitely more noble than those princesses and princes."
Shi Lan lifted the carriage curtain and looked at Ji Lang's graceful figure, her wide sleeves fluttering and her large robes swaying gently in the wind. She smiled slightly and said, "Uncle, don't worry. I will make sure everyone knows that there is a woman in the world named Shi Lan."
The wedding procession slowly set off. Two months was enough time for Shi Lan to completely dismantle Duan Yang's wariness. As they approached the capital of Zhao, Duan Yang's attitude towards Shi Lan became noticeably warmer.
The caravan wound its way through the streets of the capital, with crowds of onlookers lining the roadside. Duan Yang, with an air of nobility, was led by envoys from the Jiang Kingdom and officials from the Zhao Kingdom into the post station for rest.
Shi Lan, dressed in a simple, loose white dress, followed silently behind with the other three concubines. From her angle, she could clearly see Duan Yang's tense chin, stiff shoulders and back, and uncontrollable trembling as she stood a step ahead.
Shi Lan pursed her lips, her slender body standing tall and straight. Her steps were neither too big nor too small, just enough to keep up with the pace in front of her, yet she remained hidden in the shadows behind Duan Yang.
Among the officials who came to greet them, a handsome young man dressed in dark armor quickly noticed Shi Lan, who was different from the others. Looking at her elegant figure, the young man paused and looked her up and down.
Despite her unparalleled beauty, she chose not to wear makeup; despite her graceful demeanor and noble bearing, she willingly remained behind the crowd, hidden in the shadows.
Why is that?
The young general's eyes showed a hint of doubt.
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