Chapter 423 Glimpse
While Song Lan was pouring tea, Yun Chen looked around the hut.
The furnishings were simple, with small decorations made of honeysuckle and mugwort, two pots of green calamus, and two large rows of bookshelves filled with books.
Although simple everywhere, it is exceptionally clean and fresh, which is in stark contrast to Wolan's previous extravagant preferences.
The only thing that remains unchanged is the proud temperament of woad. Although it has lost its gold and jade decorations, it still reveals its inherent pride.
But Yun Chen was really glad. Perhaps it was this pride that made Song Lan choose to survive after experiencing such a great setback as being expelled from the Eastern Palace, and embark on a completely different and broader path from the girls from aristocratic families.
Facing this old friend today and former "enemy", Yun Chen didn't know what to talk about, so he could only make small talk:
"By the way, I heard your brother is getting married. Will you go back for the wedding banquet? If so, calculate the date so you can leave with my army when we return to the capital."
"I'm not going. I've already sent a gift." Song Lan said, looking at Yun Chen meaningfully. "You've been away fighting for too long and haven't been back to Beijing often. I guess you haven't met the bride yet, right?"
Yun Chen shook his head, and Song Lan smiled slyly: "Then you must pay close attention to the bride when you go back."
Not knowing what Song Lan meant by this, Yun Chen scratched his head in confusion. This silly look made Song Lan laugh. She sighed deeply, picked up the brewed tea, bowed slightly, and held the tea in both hands to Yun Chen, saying solemnly:
"I'm using tea instead of wine to formally apologize to you, Yun Chen. I've let you down in many ways in the past."
Yun Chen had no choice but to drink the tea, so he quickly drank it in one gulp, helped Song Lan up, and said with a smile:
"The tea isn't hot this time, it's delicious."
Seeing Yun Chen forgive everything in the past in an instant, no, it should be said that he never took any offense against Song Lan to heart, Song Lan felt relieved and relieved of many of her past guilt, and shook her head helplessly:
"Yun Chen, I misunderstood you too much in the past because of your male identity. After leaving the East Palace, that competitive and arrogant place, I have thought a lot. Even if you were not a woman disguised as a man, I would probably still hate you."
"Why?"
"Because you're one of the rare, extremely honest people in this world. In this world full of intrigue, you're honest, pure, and fearless to the extreme. People don't even have to spend time speculating; they can see through you. That's why they easily trust you, like you, and easily see themselves in you—for example, my most unbearable and ugliest side."
After a long sigh, Song Lan continued, "As the saying goes, 'a straight heart is the path to enlightenment.' Your 'sword of sincerity' is more powerful than all the schemes and tricks in this world."
Yun Chen only understood half of what he said, and after a while he gave a thumbs up and complimented:
"Songlan, you really are talking like an old scholar now, but a very beautiful old scholar."
Song Lan couldn't help but burst out laughing. At this moment, a primary school boy of four or five years old ran in holding a book and asked in a clear voice:
"Master, you just said 'This is a humble room,' but what did the last part mean? I've forgotten it again."
Song Lan restrained his smile, put on a serious "sir" face, and said:
"'Only my virtue is fragrant,' I just taught you three times. How come you haven't memorized it yet? Try reciting it again. If you can't, you won't be allowed to eat dinner."
Faced with this threat, the elementary school students responded happily. It was obvious that they were not afraid of Songlan, a paper tiger with a sharp tongue but a soft heart. He never missed a meal every day. He jumped and ran away with his books.
Looking at the backs of the little schoolchildren, Song Lan's face was full of gentle smiles, as if covered with a layer of velvety light.
Noticing that Yun Chen looked at her with relief, appreciation and emotion, Song Lan felt uncomfortable, her face fell again, and she pretended to be angry:
"Please fight less. If you continue, who knows how many more children will become orphans and have no education. I can do my best, going from village to village, building and teaching in every school, but even if I live a hundred years, I can't save all the children in the world."
"Have you been to many places?" Yun Chen asked.
Song Lan said nonchalantly, "It's been almost two years since I got here from Kyoto, not much. I've visited eight cities and built thirty-two schools."
Yun Chen was shocked: "You are just a weak woman, traveling alone. Not only is the journey dangerous, how can you build so many schools by yourself? So many children need to study and learn calligraphy, and they also need to feed themselves. It must cost a lot of money, right?"
"Do you think my Su family is some small family? Even though we can't compare to your Huo Gang, we can still afford this little money." Song Lan looked at Yun Chen with disdain, then covered her mouth and laughed secretly:
"As for travel safety and building a thatched cottage for reading, I usually stay not far from the camps of your Lion and Tiger Armies. Your soldiers are all fools. As long as I ask them for help, such as giving me a ride or carrying wood, they will be willing to do it."
Yun Chen was speechless. She had indeed heard Rong Yi and the others chatting before, saying that there was always a beautiful girl wandering outside the military camp, looking for soldiers to help pull wood in their free time.
The girl was arrogant, rude, and had a bad temper, but the soldiers were happy to help because they knew the school was for war orphans. Yun Chen even asked the soldiers to donate 3,000 taels of silver.
I didn’t expect that girl to be Isatis!
One had to admit that Songlan was truly clever, knowing how to leverage power and protect herself. Her calculating skills were truly admirable. Yun Chen was convinced.
Looking at the sky, it was already late and there was no time to stay. Yun Chen left all the gold and silver he had with him, and also distributed a bag of honey candy to the elementary school children. He also left the carriage and horse to Song Lan to facilitate her travel.
Before leaving, Song Lan glanced in the direction Yun Chen came from and asked casually:
"You just came from the south? What are you doing in those deep mountains and forests alone? It's winter now. Although it's warm in the south, there are bound to be wild animals coming out to hunt for food before hibernation. After all, you're a girl. Isn't it dangerous to go alone?"
Yun Chen patted the Taiping Sword at his waist and raised his eyebrows proudly:
"Don't worry, I haven't met anyone who can defeat me in a one-on-one fight yet. But you should be more careful. If you need help in the future, go to the nearest Huo Gang or Huwei Army and tell them my name. I will help you."
"Tsk, you're a general now, the highest rank among military officers, so you're showing off?" Song Lan rolled her eyes. "Alright, hurry up and leave. It's not safe in the dark. It would be terrible if there were bad guys in the woods."
"It's okay, Yan Shijiu is in there." Yun Chen said, "Do you remember Yan Shijiu? The General of Dawn, my best friend, the handsome one. I remember you two talked, so you should remember him. He didn't die in the Luojiang Royal Court. God blessed him and he escaped death and is alive. Now he has hired a miracle doctor to treat him in the forest!"
After saying this, Yun Chen waved his hand and walked away without noticing Song Lan's face suddenly turned pale.
Only the woad was left there and it took a long time to calm down.
The scene of being plotted against that year caused her to lose her innocence and had to stay away from Kyoto from then on. The past often hurt her cruelly again in her dreams at night.
Song Lan took a deep breath to adjust her mood. When she felt calmer, she turned around and was about to leave, but suddenly her whole body was shocked and all the hairs on her body stood up.
She took a few stiff steps in the direction where Yun Chen left. Looking at Yun Chen walking in the sunset with an arrogant look, Song Lan felt an unprecedented creepy feeling.
Ever since being framed by Yan Shijiu, Song Lan had spent countless nights wondering why.
According to her subsequent speculation, Yan Shijiu probably wanted to help his own man "Zhi Luo" to ascend to the throne, so he wanted to alienate her and Nan Lijun, with the ultimate goal of consolidating his position as a "male favorite".
Combined with the subsequent drama of distinguishing loyalty from treachery on Mount Li, he instigated Nan Lijun to lead the Northern Expedition in person... Song Lan watched everything and vaguely guessed that Yan Shijiu might not only want to be a princess's male favorite, but his ultimate goal was to seize power in the Kingdom of Nan.
However, Yun Chen had just clearly stated that Yan Shijiu was her best friend.
Huo Gannian loves Yun Chen so deeply, how could a man as poisonous as Rong Yan Shijiu be by Yun Chen's side?
Unless, Huo Gannian knew nothing about Yan Shijiu's actions and intentions.
But is that possible?
If Song Lan could easily see it, how could Huo Gannian, who was as cunning as the sea and as meticulous as a dragnet, not see it?
Absolutely not.
So, the reason why Huo Gannian never dealt with Yan Shijiu, allowing Yan Shijiu to become friends with Yun Chen, and even allowing Yan Shijiu to stir up trouble around Nan Lijun, could it be that...
The more he thought about it, the scarier it became. Songlan got goosebumps all over his body and felt a chill in his bones.
When she looked at Yun Chen again, he was just a silly little lamb, surrounded by tigers and wolves. If he was not careful, he would be doomed.
"No, no, Yun Chen is not a threat to anyone. No matter who is the emperor in this world, it is absolutely impossible to kill a good person like Yun Chen. Do you want to remind Yun Chen? Tell her to be wary of everyone around her? No need. Even if she is calculated and used, her life will not be harmed, right..."
Isatis muttered to herself in a voice that only she could hear, her face as pale as paper, and she stumbled back to the hut.
She was terrified by the shocking conspiracy she had witnessed, and even more worried about the future and fate of the great Nan Kingdom.
I feel worried about Yun Chen's uncertain future.
Song Lan tossed and turned all night long, unable to sleep, hesitating whether to remind Yun Chen.
Too dangerous for herself, mind you.
If I don't remind you, Yun Chen saved her life twice, and she also had a past of being misunderstood and wronged. How could it be just a cup of tea? She, Song Lan, was not a rat who would not repay a favor.
After thinking about it, Song Lan got up, took out a pen and paper and hurriedly wrote a letter. Then he rode the horse that Yun Chen had left behind during the day and headed towards the Huwei Army camp.
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