Time flies, and half a month has passed in the blink of an eye. Shi Lan has been training her muscles and bones every day, and finally yesterday she shortened her training time to less than an hour. Based on past experience, she has successfully trained her skin to be soft and tough, but as for the muscles and bones inside, it will probably take some more time.
During this period, Shi Yi kept a very low profile. Even when her father ignored her again, she seemed to give up after only a slight attempt. In order to find out what was going on inside, Tian Xing even sneaked out to the back of the yard at night, only to find Shi Yi dancing and gesturing silently in the house.
Upon hearing this, Shi Lan pondered for a long time. She instructed Tian Xing not to let her guard down, while also ordering Cui Zhi to keep an eye on the tense old woman.
Summer weather is always sunny with dark clouds. On this rare holiday, Shi Lan took Cui Zhi to the garden to relax. In the distance, they saw a figure walking quickly along the edge of the flowering trees with his head down. When he saw them coming, he went around to the side of the shady trees, slipped to the side of the rockery, and disappeared in the blink of an eye.
Shi Lan squinted at that spot, her mind racing at that moment.
As early as when she was looking at the original owner's memories, she wondered how Shi Yi, a young lady who had never left the mansion, could hook up with Ning Zhan, who occasionally came to the Shi mansion. Qi Yundi was thousands of miles away, so how did Shi Yi get to know him? Now her question has been answered. It is said that there are three things that transmigrators must do: show off their poetry in public, treat servants as sisters regardless of their social status, and make friends widely regardless of their background.
Shi Yi was also a time traveler. Although it was unknown where she came from, judging from her various actions, she still couldn't escape these three things. Before, she tried to please her father in order to show off her literary talent and spread her fame through him. Unfortunately, Shi Lan ruined it. Her mother's pleading made her father's already softened fatherly heart harden again. The teacher was rigid and refused to teach her anything other than the Four Books for Women and Biographies of Exemplary Women. Shi Yi had no chance to show her talents.
As for addressing the servants as sisters, Shi Lan grinned. She had noticed during that visit that Cherry was very afraid of Shi Yi. It seemed that Shi Yi had established her authority in a short period of time and did not intend to take the appeasement route.
As for making friends with all sorts of people, Qi Yundi probably did so while she was wandering around.
Shi Lan rolled her eyes and glanced at the oblivious Cui Zhi. She quickly removed the small pendant from her ear and said, "Cui Zhi, one of my pendants is missing. I guess it fell off on the way here."
Cuizhi looked her over and over and saw that the small gourd carved from hibiscus jade behind her ear was missing. She quickly said, "Miss, please don't move. I'll go back and look for it for you."
Shi Lan nodded obediently.
Cuizhi retraced her steps, while Shilan focused her gaze on the only path leading to the back door.
At the back gate of the Shi residence, Granny Zhang nervously closed the door, when a question suddenly came out from behind her.
Do you know your crime?
Granny Zhang was startled and hurriedly turned around. Upon seeing Shi Lan, she was terrified and immediately knelt down, trembling. "Miss, spare me! I didn't want to, it was the Second Miss..."
“This has nothing to do with me,” Shi Lan interrupted Granny Zhang’s incessant pleas for mercy and said coldly, “Open the door.”
Granny Zhang looked up in astonishment, staring blankly at Shi Lan.
Shi Lan gave her a cold glance, and the small person suddenly exuded a terrifying aura.
Granny Zhang was so frightened that she dared not speak. She got up with trembling legs and hurriedly opened the door.
Shi Lan, with her short legs, stepped over the threshold. "Where did she go?"
Granny Zhang pointed to the right with a trembling finger. Shi Lan glanced at her and whispered, "Go and tell Cui Zhi quietly that I'll be right back. Tell her not to disturb anyone else."
Granny Zhang was sweating profusely. Letting the young lady out of the manor without permission was a serious crime. If Madam Shi found out, she would surely be beaten to death.
Shi Lan took a step to chase after Shi Yi, but Granny Zhang found a gauze hat from somewhere and silently handed it to her.
Shi Lan glanced at her, ignored her ingratiating smile, put the hood over her head, and walked along the wall toward the market.
It was nearing noon, the busiest time of day in the city. Through the hazy veil, Shi Lan looked around, feeling that she couldn't take it all in with just her eyes.
Nowadays, the rules for women are not as strict as before. For the sake of making a living, it is common for women to show their faces in public. Daughters of officials are more particular and are always surrounded by maids and servants when they go out.
Shi Lan followed closely behind Shi Yi, who was dressed as a scholar. Shi Yi wandered aimlessly through the streets, seemingly just strolling around. Shi Lan was short and had short legs, so she had to jog to keep up with the tall Shi Yi. Before long, she was out of breath.
It was as if Shi Yi had eyes in the back of her head. Just as Shi Lan relaxed her guard, she suddenly darted to the side and disappeared in the blink of an eye.
Shi Lan lifted her veil, tiptoed, and searched anxiously, her fair face flushed from her hurried walk.
In the bustling and chaotic crowds of the market, it would be incredibly easy for Shi Yi to slip away.
After searching left and right for half an hour, Shi Lan stopped in frustration. She had to admit that Shi Yi's counter-tracking ability was something she could not match.
Across the street, Rong Qing, wearing a jade crown and brocade robe, peeked out of the teahouse and looked with interest at Shi Lan, who was dressed in brocade and alone. A servant who was bowing and serving beside him stepped forward and said, "Master, shall I invite her up for a seat?"
Rong Qing took a sip of the wine cup in his hand, glanced at the expensive brocade on Shi Lan's body, turned his head to glance at his attendant, casually tossed the wine cup aside, stretched his long legs, and stood up like a javelin. "No need, I will go and invite her myself."
The attendant responded with a "yes," lowered his head, and concealed the astonishment in his eyes.
Rong Qing strode out of the teahouse and walked up to Shi Lan.
"Little sister, are you looking for someone?"
Rong Qing's face was as white as powder, his eyebrows and eyes were like a painting, and his high nose bridge was slightly sharp, but fortunately his soft lips and the baby fat that had not yet faded softened his imposing aura.
Shi Lan remained silent, only staring warily with her dark eyes at the boy who looked only five or six years older than her.
Perhaps it was Shi Lan's attitude that made Rong Qing feel a little embarrassed, or perhaps he was used to being pampered and was not used to being rejected by others. Just as Shi Lan stepped back, his face flushed, and a blush of embarrassment and annoyance suddenly flashed across his fair and jade-like face.
Shi Lan's senses were not as sharp as before, and the damage to her soul made her reaction a little slow. Even so, she could still tell that something was wrong with him. She quickly took two steps back and pressed her back against the meat pie stall by the roadside.
Rong Qing took a deep breath, suppressing the sudden surge of anger, and tried to soften his tone as much as possible, "Where are your family members?"
Shi Lan shook her head, her chubby little hands clenched tightly.
Rong Qing looked around and, seeing that no servants were looking for their master, extended his hand to Shi Lan, "Little sister, why don't you come with me to the teahouse? I'll send someone to help you find your family."
Shi Lan shook her head again, her short fingers clenched so tightly they turned white.
(To be continued.)
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