Chapter 118 Good Girl Calls Out "Auntie"
He Ran rarely wore women's clothing because it was inconvenient for wielding swords and knives.
She bought all of this herself.
She had just taken a step when she stepped on the hem of her skirt, which covered her feet, and was about to fall backward.
Jiang Xingyao reached out to grab her, but missed. He lost his footing and fell down the steps.
Just as He Ran was about to fall flat on her face, she threw her shawl backhand, which wrapped around the stone drum at the entrance of the county government office.
She grabbed the shawl with both hands, flipped in the air, and landed steadily on the ground.
Jiang Xingyao, who had fallen, was right at his feet.
"Lord Jiang, there's no need for such a grand gesture."
Liu Minghan had just gotten out of the car when he saw Jiang Xingyao lying on the ground.
"Who are you? Didn't you see someone fall? You want to take advantage of someone like that? Aren't you afraid of shortening your lifespan?" He Ran quickly helped him up.
"How dare you be so disrespectful to the Prefect!"
The servant wanted to step forward and reprimand him.
Liu Minghan stopped him, saying, "This young lady is unaware of the friendship between me and Lord Jiang, who were classmates."
He Ran continued his sarcasm, "So you're the governor who abandoned the people and never rose to prominence."
“You two are from the same school, how come you are so kind and virtuous while he is such a petty person?”
Li Ruoshuang couldn't help but get off the horse.
"This young lady's words are rather harsh. Who is the villain and who is the gentleman—is that just your opinion?"
She didn't want to get out of the car, but Minghan couldn't argue with a woman, so she said, "Isn't that okay?"
"And who are you? What I say is none of your business. Just because I can't say one thing doesn't mean you can!"
He Ran has never lost a fight, nor has he ever lost an argument.
In the homes of all the generals in the Southwest Camp, everyone knew that you shouldn't mess with the He family's young lady.
Li Ruoshuang was speechless. When had she ever seen such a shameless person?
“You are sharp-tongued, young lady. I will not argue with you, but your derogatory remarks are truly infuriating.”
"You're angry? I'm not angry yet!" He Ran disliked this kind of pretentious posturing the most.
"If he weren't so foul-mouthed, I wouldn't bother with him at all! And what are you, monkey from somewhere, chattering away? What does it have to do with us!"
"A monkey?" Li Ruoshuang's face flushed with anger. "How can you be so rude and uncouth! I... I am from the Li family of the capital..."
Before she could finish speaking, He Ran interrupted her, "You're from the capital! No wonder you sound so sour!"
“A high-ranking official disregards the people, while a daughter of an official family distorts the truth.”
She clapped her hands twice, "A perfect match!"
She turned and leaned against Jiang Xingyao, as if to whisper, but her voice was so loud that everyone could hear her.
"Lord Li! A civil official of integrity! Look at him, he's so good at flattery. He's already become a second-rank prefect. How come you're so weak? You were a top scholar in the imperial examination, how come you only got a small official position?"
"Don't you dare slander my grandfather!" Li Ruoshuang said angrily, her face turning red.
"Oh! You heard that? Sorry, I just have a naturally loud voice."
He Ran smiled and winked at the bookworm.
He seemed to be seeking praise.
Jiang Xingyao's eyes were full of smiles as he quietly pinched her fingertips.
He then stepped aside, saying, "Please, Lord Liu."
He Ran raised his hand to look at the fingertips that he had just pinched, and then looked up to see the bookworm's earlobes slightly red.
She was in a great mood and didn't even glance at Li Ruoshuang, who was still standing there.
"Let's go play with my little sister!"
As Li Ruoshuang was about to get into the car, she subconsciously turned her head to look at He Ran.
"Jiang Xingyao's sister?"
He Ran ignored her and turned to enter the county government office.
Li Ruoshuang gritted her teeth and grabbed her, "Is that right!"
He Ran shook off her hand. "Miss Li from Beijing, do you even know me? It's none of your business who I want to see!"
"This isn't the capital city. If others have to bow and scrape to your Li family, I, He Ran, won't accept that!"
Li Ruoshuang became anxious, "She's not dead, so why should Minghan be burdened with the guilt of killing his friend's sister?"
"You caused the death of your best friend's sister? Do you feel guilty?"
She paused, "You have things to do in this too."
"To kill and to feel guilty, it turns out, can appear in a single sentence. Truly worthy of being the daughter of the Li family."
She pointed at Li Ruoshuang and said, "Stay away from the Jiang siblings. My red-tasseled spear doesn't discriminate."
He Ran threw her head back, and the hairpin in her hair flew with a "whoosh" towards Li Ruoshuang, grazing her hair and flying towards the carriage behind.
The hairpin was firmly embedded in the frame of the carriage.
A strand of Li Ruoshuang's hair fell loose, and her face turned pale with fright!
He Ran scoffed, turned around, and went into the county government office.
Yao Shisan was looking at the account books.
She had already moved the remaining grain from the granary to the county government office. Fortunately, the matter of the bandits had been resolved, and the remaining grain could last for a few more days.
Xiao Shu's actions yesterday made her realize that she was now nothing more than a puppet in his hands.
She could be used as a pawn to threaten Zhou Congxian.
It could also be a merchant he used to conceal his true purpose.
She still remembered that in her previous life, when a border war broke out, Zhou Congxian was often busy traveling.
Being confined to the inner quarters, she was not acutely aware of the changes in the outside world.
If we look at it from her current perspective...
This could very well be an internal division or infighting that gives other countries an opportunity to exploit.
Whether it will turn into a chaotic world remains to be seen.
Xiao Shu is now using her.
She could also use Xiao Shu to do more things.
"younger sister!"
Yao Shisan looked up and saw He Ran, dressed in women's clothing, appear at the door.
She was a little unaccustomed to being called "little sister" by a pretty young girl.
"Miss He, you're dressed so beautifully today, are you here to see my elder brother?"
"Isn't it pretty?" He Ran spun around, and her two guards actually said it wasn't pretty, acting all awkward and like they were completely different people!
"It's just a little awkward to walk in; I always step on my skirt."
Yao Shisan glanced at the hem of her skirt, which was already dirty from being stepped on, and said, "Then don't wear a skirt. Miss He looks good in riding attire too, so dashing and heroic."
He Ran's eyes lit up with a smile; she now understood why she loved this younger sister so much.
You speak so nicely!
When she wore men's clothing, her parents and her two older brothers said it was inappropriate for her. When she wore women's clothing, the guards in her third brother's camp and her two older cousins laughed at her.
She didn't even know what to wear.
“My dad said we’ll be packing up in a few days. I haven’t been out to play at all since I came to Dingxian.”
"When are you bookworms going on your day off? I want to go out and play with you guys!"
Yao Shisan chuckled, "Going out to play? Miss He has chosen the wrong person. My elder brother has been in office in Ding County for so long, and he hasn't gone anywhere to play..."
He Ran had an "I knew it" look on his face. "If a bookworm knew how to enjoy life, wouldn't he become a high-ranking official just like his scoundrel classmate?"
Then, she slammed her hand on the table, "But don't worry, with me here, I'll make sure everything is arranged!"
He Ran is a man of action.
The room was fully equipped with carriages, guards, cooking utensils, and even kites for children to play with.
Jiang Xingyao has been getting a headache these past two days because of their argument over whether to accept the offer of amnesty.
I finally got two days off, but He Ran dragged me out early in the morning.
During the six months he was in office, he visited many places in Ding County.
But he hasn't been to any of the fun and interesting places yet.
I had only heard that there was a meadow on the outskirts of the city where, in the spring when the flowers were in full bloom, the girls from wealthy families in the city would come to enjoy the spring and fly kites.
The two guards beside He Ran are both skilled at cooking and cleaning.
It was all forced upon her by her picky mouth.
The two had already built a stove here beforehand.
Wow! Mother, there are so many flowers here!
As soon as Fu'er got out of the car, she kept running around and couldn't be caught.
He Ran's fingers flew as she wove a small flower wreath, which she then waved in front of Fu'er's eyes. "Fu'er, what did you call me?"
"Pretty sister!"
Fu'er is now very good at coaxing people; she knows how to say nice things.
He Ran clicked his tongue softly, "They're from different generations!"
"Call me 'Auntie,' and this is for you!"
"aunt!"
Very good at it; the child's voice is loud and clear, as pleasant as a silver bell.
"He Ran!" Jiang Xingyao said, his face flushed. "Stop talking nonsense in front of the children."
He Ran laughed so hard he almost fell over when he saw him.
Shuang'er leaned closer to her sister and sighed, "Sure enough, every pot has its lid. Lord Jiang is so long-winded, like an old man. Only Miss He can handle him."
Yao Shisan nodded at her, "Yes, Wei Xun is like a mute, and only you think it's good."
Shuang'er is no longer easily embarrassed by a few words; she raised her eyebrows and said, "That's right!"
"Now that my sister doesn't want Prince Zhou or Prince Cheng, who else could she possibly fall for?"
Yao Shisan glanced at her, "Move it! The jingling copper coins, the gleaming silver, the glittering gold—I'm tempted!"
Finally, she added, "The more the better!"
Shuang'er: "Sister, you're obsessed with money!"
"Shuang'er, could you please turn this over?"
"They're here!"
Just as Yao Shisan was about to say something more, Shuang'er was called away.
"Mother has rabbits!" Fu'er ran over, wearing a little flower crown.
"Mother, hurry and catch the rabbit!"
...
Xiao Shu and General He stood on the hillside at a distance, watching the scene of several young people laughing and joking.
General He stood with his hands behind his back. "Your Highness, what do you mean by this? My daughter is cheerful and likes to make friends. Is there anything wrong with that?"
He didn't rush to answer, but just looked at Yao Shisan, who was chasing rabbits with Fu'er in the distance.
When she got closer, General He froze when he saw her face.
"Qinglian..."
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