Chapter 183 My Young Master, Where Have You Been?
Lan Yuan slowly walked into the Qingyou Courtyard where the old lady lived. He walked up to the old lady, bowed, and said, "Grandma."
The old lady sat on a carved pearwood chair, her eyes revealing a trace of fatigue and helplessness. She sighed softly, "Yuan'er, the dead cannot be resurrected. Don't be too sad about your mother's death."
Lan Yuan's voice was choked with sobs: "I am an unfilial grandson. My mother is paralyzed in bed, but I am unable to show my filial piety to her." His eyes were slightly red, as if he was really grieving for his deceased mother.
The old lady waved her hand, her tone comforting: "How can you blame Yuan'er for this? You were traveling and didn't receive letters from home in time. You didn't know what was happening at home."
Lan Yuan wiped the non-existent tears from the corners of his eyes and changed the subject: "Grandma, my classmate asked me to go out and talk about something, but my hands are a little tight..." A trace of embarrassment and awkwardness flashed in his eyes.
The old lady's expression immediately grew serious upon hearing this. She turned to Madam Li, who was standing by her side, and said, "Go get the box from the dressing table."
Upon hearing this, Nanny Li quickly responded and retreated. After a while, she came back with the box and placed it respectfully on the tea table beside her.
The old lady opened the box with trembling hands and took out a silver note for five hundred taels. "Yuan'er, I don't have much money left. Take this five hundred taels for emergency use."
Lan Yuan frowned, "Grandma, how could the mansion be robbed? The Shuntian government office hasn't found any clues yet."
The old lady sighed again, her eyes filled with helplessness: "There is no clue, and I don't know where this thief came from. He actually robbed all the warehouses in the mansion."
The old lady stuffed the banknote into Lan Yuan's hand and said earnestly, "Yuan'er, take this and spend it sparingly. Things in the mansion are different now."
Lan Yuan nodded and put the banknote into his arms, "Grandma, I won't disturb you anymore. Have a good rest."
The old lady nodded, Lan Yuan stood up, bowed, and strode out.
Lan Yuan walked out of the Marquis' Mansion and went straight to the Tianxiang Restaurant.
“Brother Lan!”
Lan Yuan paused and turned around, only to see Zhu Zheyi and Yuan Di walking quickly towards him. "Brother Lan, my condolences!" Zhu Zheyi said with some comfort in his tone.
Yuan Di patted Lan Yuan on the shoulder and said generously, "Brother Lan, come on, let's go have a few drinks. We brothers will accompany you to drink away your worries."
Lan Yuan nodded and followed the two of them into the Tianxiang Restaurant.
The waiter was sharp-eyed and immediately came forward with a smile on his face: "Gentlemen, please come in!"
Zhu Zheyi waved his hand and said, "Waiter, please arrange a private room for us."
The waiter responded and swiftly led them upstairs to an elegantly decorated room.
After Yuan Di sat down, he waved his hand and said, "Bring up all the fine wine and food from Tianxiang Restaurant."
The waiter left in response, and soon came back with plates of delicious food and several jugs of fine wine, which he placed on the table one by one.
Yuan Di picked up the wine pot, poured a glass of wine for Lan Yuan, and said with a smile: "Brother Lan, come on, cheers!"
Lan Yuan picked up his wine glass and clinked it with Yuan Di and Zhu Zheyi's glasses, making a crisp sound.
"Cheers." The three of them said in unison and drank the wine in their glasses.
At first, Lan Yuan pretended to be sad, but after a few drinks, he gradually opened up.
Yuan Di chuckled and said mysteriously, "Brother Lan, you've been traveling for so long this time, you don't know. The song played by the top performer in Lichunyuan was truly wonderful. I've never heard such a beautiful song before."
Zhu Zheyi also agreed: "Yes, the girls from Lichunyuan are not only good at playing the piano, but also... they are good at kung fu." As he said this, he winked at Lan Yuan with a sly smile on his face.
Lan Yuan waved his hand when he heard this: "You guys go ahead if you want to go. My mother has just been buried, and I'm in mourning, so I won't go to that kind of place."
Yuan Di waved his sleeves lightly and said, "Forget it, forget it. I asked Brother Lan out today because I wanted to get drunk with him. Come on, cheers." After that, he raised his glass and clinked it lightly with Lan Yuan's.
Zhu Zheyi suddenly stood up and walked to the window. He leaned against it and spoke slowly, "Life is like a dream. After prosperity fades, we return to the earth. Although we are born in this world, we always have lofty ambitions. We want to express our feelings through writing and poetry and wine."
Zhu Zheyi held the wine jug in one hand and gently shook the wine glass with the other. His eyes casually swept across the street. He paused and said with a smile, "Brother Lan, isn't that your eldest brother?"
Lan Yuan was startled when he heard this, then he stood up and slowly walked to the window. He looked at the man on the street with a sharp gaze and said slowly, "Brother Zhu, Brother Yuan, I am very confident about the imperial examination next year and I am determined to win."
Upon hearing this, Yuan Di leaned down and took a closer look. He then retracted his head, patted Lan Yuan on the shoulder, and said with a smile, "Brother Lan, when it comes to talent, you are no less talented than your elder brother. I, Yuan Di, am optimistic about you."
Lan Yuan narrowed his eyes slightly, a sneer appeared on the corner of his mouth, he waved to the two of them to come closer, and whispered a few words.
Zhu and Yuan exchanged a glance, a hint of doubt flashing in their eyes, and asked in unison, "Brother Lan, do you really want to do this?"
Lan Yuan's eyes were firm, with a hint of ruthlessness in them, and he nodded slightly.
Seeing this, the two of them said in unison: "Okay!"
The three of them left Tianxiang Restaurant and followed Lan Shenye all the way. After Lan Shenye said goodbye to his classmates, he said to Mu Yi, "Mu Yi, grandma hasn't been feeling well lately. Go buy some cakes from Ruyifang and bring them back to her."
Mu Yi left in response.
Lan Yuan and his men looked at each other, then quickly stepped forward and knocked Lan Shenye unconscious with a stick.
Lan Shenye only felt a pain in the back of his neck, then his eyes went black and he fainted. Yuan Di and Zhu Zheyi helped him walk to an alley, threw him to the ground, and then started beating and kicking him.
Lan Shenye, who had fainted, groaned in pain. After a long time, they stopped.
Lan Yuan glanced at Lan Shenye who was dying on the ground, sneered, and hit Lan Shenye's leg hard with the stick.
Lan Shenye groaned in pain.
Big brother, big brother, having me is enough for the Wuguo Marquisate. As for you, if you still want to pass the imperial examination next year, you’re dreaming!
Lan Yuan waved his hand and they left the alley.
At the corner of the street, Mu Yi was carrying a box of exquisite pastries. He turned around and his eyes moved through the crowd, but he didn't see his young master.
Mu Yi scratched his head and walked through the bustling streets, "My young master, where are you going?"
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