Qin Mu saw Zhao Yan was truly angry, so he softened his tone a bit, "Madam, the day after tomorrow morning my eldest sister and niece are returning to Ding’an City. Tomorrow, don’t wander around anymore. We are all family, why are you never ho!"
Zhao Yan answered irrelevantly, "Are you going to make a midnight snack or not?"
Qin Mu was extrely disappointed and stopped talking.
Zhao Yan noticed Qin Mu’s indifferent attitude towards her and snorted coldly, "Hmph, fine, let starve then!"
After speaking, she went to sleep.
Qin Mu shook his head helplessly.
Not long after, Zhao Yan shouted towards the next room, "Xiaoju!"
Xiaoju ca in, "Miss, what’s the command?"
"Go make a midnight snack!"
Xiaoju stamred, "But, aren’t you fond of the food Madam makes?"
Zhao Yan scolded, "You little hoof, almost beca the master. If I tell you to make it, then you do it!"
Actually, Xiaoju could cook, but she was getting lazier learning from Zhao Yan.
"Yes, Miss." Xiaoju went to the kitchen.
The next day, Zhao Yan went to play mahjong as usual.
Recently, her luck had been great, so she had completely forgotten last night’s worries.
"Doctor Liu, I did not expect you to enjoy playing mahjong so much!" Zhao Yan bead at Liu Yishou.
Liu Yishou laughed and said, "If it weren’t for Mr. Zhang’s son needing dical attention, I wouldn’t be here daily, losing silver constantly!"
Upon hearing this, Zhao Yan imdiately asked, "Is Mr. Zhang’s son’s illness getting better?"
Liu Yishou sighed, "I’m afraid it will need a few more days."
Zhao Yan felt a little regretful; in a few days, Liu Yishou would be leaving!
"Miss Zhao doesn’t seem like soone who lacks silver, why do you enjoy playing mahjong?" Liu Yishou asked.
Zhao Yan smiled gently, "I just purely like playing cards!"
"I assud so, your sister-in-law’s household is so well-off, none of you seem like people who lack silver!"
"Don’t ntion it, what wealthy people? So stingy they’re miserable," Zhao Yan said with disdain, Qin Shuang had silver, but she had never seen her bring any ho!
"Stingy or not, they’re family. Rarely do they co back, they should stay a while, right?" Liu Yishou deliberately asked.
"Hmph, she’s leaving Xiaoshan City early tomorrow morning! It’s been so many years since she was back, and when she does co, she doesn’t stay long. I don’t think she’s very filial. A married daughter is like water splashed out. Alright, let’s focus on playing cards!"
After hearing Zhao Yan’s words, a barely noticeable smile appeared at the corner of Liu Yishou’s lips.
.....
Early the next morning, Zhan Lan packed her luggage simply, preparing to return to Ding’an City with her companions.
Her grandmother ca in carrying large bags, "Lan’er, take these along to eat on the road!"
Zhan Lan opened the packages to find small bags of osmanthus cake, spiced peanuts, amber walnuts, beef jerky, and various other snacks.
"Grandmother, I won’t be able to eat so much on the road. We might et very soon, how about this: I’ll just take the osmanthus cake and beef jerky."
"Alright, you choose what you like to eat." The Old Madam smiled affectionately.
Zhan Lan, Qin Shuang, and others left early in the morning. Uncle, Young Uncle, Aunt, two cousins, even Zhao Yan ca to see her off, but her grandfather was not present.
The Old Madam held Zhan Lan’s hand and said, "Your grandfather has so official duties to attend to."
Since everyone knew they would soon et again in Ding’an City, this farewell wasn’t particularly sorrowful.
Yesterday afternoon, after Zhao Yan returned ho, she was thrilled to learn they’d soon move to Ding’an City. Her eldest sister’s and brother-in-law’s ho must be very prosperous, otherwise how could they afford to bring their entire family to Ding’an City!
Zhao Shi excitedly said, "Eldest sister, An Shu, the road is bumpy, go slower."
Qin Shuang responded with a smile; she actually didn’t like her brother’s wife, but since her brother loved her, it was fine.
Zhan Lan didn’t look at Zhao Shi but instead looked at her grandmother and said, "Then my mother and I will wait for you in Ding’an City."
"Alright." The Qin Family was worried that Zhan Lan and Qin Shuang’s departure might attract unnecessary attention, so they escorted them to the door and let them go on their own.
By midday, Zhan Lan and her entourage finally arrived at their resting place.
She lifted the curtain of the carriage and looked out at the warm sun, which was very dazzling. It was spring fatigue; Imperial Doctor Xue was getting old and needed rest, and the horses needed fodder. The three carriages stopped at the Yuelai Inn to rest and recuperate.
Sitting by the bed, she stretched lazily. Recently, she had gained so weight, and as she grew chubbier, she beca prone to drowsiness.
After taking a brief nap, Zhan Lan got up, joined everyone for a al, and then left the inn.
Before sunset, they needed to reach the postal station in Lizhou City to stay the night.
"Madam, once we cross that hill, we’ll be in the territory of Lizhou City." Yun He said to Zhan Lan, riding beside her.
Zhan Lan nodded, "Alright, understood."
Suddenly, with a swish, several arrows shot out fiercely from the forest.
Qin Shuang instinctively protected Zhan Lan like a hen shielding her chicks.
Zhan Lan remained calm, shielding Qin Shuang and shouted towards the outside, "Hide in the corner of the carriage, don’t stop, keep moving forward!"
Imperial Doctor Xue panicked, and the two maids were too frightened to breathe.
The area around the carriage was made of steel, not easily penetrated by arrows, and the coachn were selected from her Hidden Guards; hearing Zhan Lan’s words, they quickly moved forward.
Indeed, monts later, the cold arrows ceased.
Because Wu Qing had swiftly killed the assassins hidden in the woods, bringing dozens of Hidden Guards towards Zhan Lan.
Zhan Lan frowned; soone wanted to kill her!
Luckily, besides bringing along Dark Guard Commander Qin Ming, she had instructed Dark Guard Deputy Commander Wu Qing to secretly bring dozens of Hidden Guards to act on opportunity.
"Have you discovered anything?" Zhan Lan asked Wu Qing.
Wu Qing nodded, "Master, they don’t seem to be from Dayu. When we killed them, so had already poisoned themselves."
Zhan Lan furrowed her brows slightly; failing their mission and committing suicide, who exactly were these Death Guards?
The opponent must still have follow-up actions. It was urgent to reach Lizhou City before sunset!
Here in the wild, unable to see the enemy’s whereabouts, it was very disadvantageous for them.
"Lan’er!" Qin Shuang drew the weapons used against mountain bandits and thieves from the carriage, Zhan Lan also picked up a sword.
The sound of galloping hooves allowed Zhan Lan to quickly estimate how many enemies there were.
Qin Shuang gripped the sword tightly and said, "Lan’er, mother is..."
Before Qin Shuang finished speaking, suddenly, she felt a pain in her neck and instantly passed out.
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