The original owner stomped her foot in exasperation: "How can you be like this! I'm talking to you about serious matters."
Upon seeing this, Shang Shaoyan couldn't help but burst out laughing: "Oh, I was just kidding."
After saying that, Shang Shaoyan said solemnly, "Don't worry, according to what you said, they are also my parents, and I will definitely avenge them."
The original owner blinked, as if wanting to say something, but suddenly said, "Oh, I can't talk to you anymore—this is the last time we meet. Take care of yourself from now on."
Shang Shaoyan nodded, but for some reason, he asked, "So what are you planning to do now?"
The original owner's figure had slowly faded away, leaving only a fleeting, shy sentence: "I'm going to buy a house."
Shang Shaoyan: "!!!"
...
Shang Shaoyan woke up suddenly, her face contorted in a grimace. Ignoring the concerned looks from the maids, she casually threw on a cloak and ran toward Shang Yunlan's courtyard.
Brother! Our money! Our big house! We gave it away cheaply to someone else!
Seeing this, Granny Li was quite puzzled: "What's wrong with the county princess? Who offended you?"
Shang Shaoyan paused, suddenly remembering that Granny Li was someone who knew her and Shang Yunlan's identities.
She wasn't in a hurry to find Shang Yunlan, so she dismissed the maids, pulled Li Mama to sit down, and looked serious.
Granny Li's heart skipped a beat; she felt that something terrible must have happened.
Shang Shaoyan sighed, "I won't say those roundabout things to you anymore, Granny. I was really angry just now and wanted to have a heart-to-heart talk with you."
The fewer people who know about the wrongful deaths of the Duke and his wife, the better. It's not that Shang Shaoyan doesn't trust Granny Li, but Granny Li is getting old and he's afraid that knowing about this will strain her health.
Granny Li nodded and grasped Shang Shaoyan's hand: "Princess, please speak freely. This old servant is listening."
Shang Shaoyan took a deep breath: "Just now, I dreamed about Shang Shaoyan."
These words seemed nonsensical, but Granny Li understood them immediately. She widened her eyes slightly, looking at Shang Shaoyan with disbelief.
"She said that the two pairs of siblings were switched places because of the Heavenly Lord of Fate, and now that they've been switched back, she told me to live well here..." Shang Shaoyan said, then felt aggrieved, "But my brother and I, that was simply a life of paradise!"
Upon hearing this, Granny Li was somewhat at a loss for words: "What kind of heavenly life are you living?"
Shang Shaoyan looked worried: "Although my brother and I lost our parents when we were young, we grew up relying on each other and eventually achieved some success."
"Where we come from, women can also study and become officials. My brother went into business so I could have a better life and became the richest man in the country—every profession is equal where we come from, and my brother's actions are very respectable. As for me, I had achieved quite a bit in my studies, but I hadn't finished my studies before I switched places." Shang Shaoyan pouted, very unhappy. "Before my brother and I came here, we were planning to buy a very, very big house..."
Upon hearing this, Granny Li's first reaction was surprise: "Women can also study and become officials? And even lowly merchants can be highly respected?"
Shang Shaoyan nodded and explained, "Where we come from, girls start school at the age of three, just like boys. Almost everyone there has enough to eat and wear, so people pursue a higher quality of life, which greatly elevates the status of merchants."
Granny Li nodded, then asked with some doubt, "How big is that 'very, very big residence'? Compared to that place..."
As she spoke, Granny Li pointed in the direction of the palace.
Shang Shaoyan was taken aback for a moment, then honestly shook his head: "Not as good as. Not even as big as the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion."
Granny Li: "..."
Shang Shaoyan quickly explained, outlining the difficulties of buying a house in the 21st century. Li Mama, being as clever as any man, naturally understood.
However, she was somewhat amused and exasperated: "According to the county princess, it is extremely difficult for you to have your own residence in your area. Why don't you think about it? After you exchange it, you will have a house that is many times larger than that one without having to work hard. Isn't that a worthwhile deal?"
Shang Shaoyan almost cried: "It's different, Granny."
She then went on to describe in detail a series of inventions that have benefited mankind, such as air conditioning and wireless networks, which made Granny Li exclaim "Wonderland!" with a longing expression.
“In that case, it’s no wonder you’re so hung up on it,” Granny Li said with a sigh. “But since you’re already here, Princess, you should let it go.”
Yes, the Chinese have a timeless saying: "Since we're already here."
Shang Shaoyan was about to say something when Shang Yunlan walked in.
It turned out that he had also dreamed of the original Shang Yunlan. As soon as he woke up, he rushed over to Shang Shaoyan's place, only to find Shang Shaoyan talking to Granny Li. He secretly listened for a while.
"Don't worry, An'an, have you forgotten what I originally studied?" Shang Yunlan smiled and tapped Shang Shaoyan's head. "Just relax, I'll try my best to figure these things out."
Shang Shaoyan rolled his eyes: "Fine, I wonder if I'll be able to see that day before I die."
Granny Li quickly spat three times: "What are you talking about dying? The county princess is alive and well, and she's destined to live to be a hundred years old."
...
After Granny Li left, Shang Yunlan looked at Shang Shaoyan with a half-smile on her face.
Shang Shaoyan rolled his eyes again: "Fine, I admit it, I was testing Granny Li."
Shang Yunlan sighed: "Is there anything worth testing?"
Shang Shaoyan said, "What we'll be doing from now on boils down to two things: rebellion and infrastructure construction, right?"
Shang Yunlan nodded. This was exactly what he had just revealed—his sister was in charge of both rebellion and governing the country, while he was in charge of infrastructure.
Shang Shaoyan continued, "Granny Li is a shrewd person. If we keep everything to ourselves, she will be the first to disagree if we rebel in the future. After all, she doesn't really trust us at heart. She might even think we are monsters who want to ruin the century-old reputation of the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion."
Shang Yunlan understood: "I get it. You're testing her level of acceptance, and then subtly influencing her thinking so that she won't interfere with us."
Shang Shaoyan nodded in satisfaction: "You're teachable. After all, you're an elder, and I don't want to kill you in the future."
Shang Yunlan: "...It's terrifying that you even have this thought."
He paused, then, ignoring Shang Shaoyan's angry glare, looked up at the roof and asked, "So when are you going to Shuzhou?"
Shang Shaoyan sighed: "Look at the situation for yourself. That letter from my aunt just now was clearly a trap. Once I leave, I don't know when I'll be back. By the time I get back to Shengjing, it'll probably be too late."
Shang Yunlan pondered for a moment and said, "I have an immature suggestion... Why don't you take those weapons that you keep in the suburbs to Shu Prefecture, find the divine doctor, then change your route to the Northwest, subdue the Shang army, train them for a year, rebel in three years, and unify the North and South in five years? What do you think?"
Shang Shaoyan: "..."
Numbly watching Shang Yunlan's expectant expression, she said, "This suggestion... is indeed not very mature."
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