Chapter 472: Chapter 472: Si Yao Gets Beaten
Zhan Lan crossed her arms and watched the drama unfolding before her. Si Yao was grabbed by a fierce woman, who rasped, “Disguising as a man to seduce my husband, you little hussy, such tricks! Do you wish to die?”
“Beat her!”
Si Yao and her attendants were thrown into sacks and received a round of punches and kicks.
“Ah, rebellion, rebellion!” Though furious, Si Yao dared not expose her identity. She was the Empress of Beiyue; there was no good reason for her to be at Jiao Fangsi.
Moments later, the fierce woman took her followers and left. Si Yao emerged from the sacks wailing as her contact approached.
Si Yao wanted to vent but considering her identity, she could only accept being beaten at Jiao Fangsi.
Spectators gathered in increasing numbers. She concealed her face with long sleeves and was escorted out of Jiao Fangsi.
Zhan Lan glanced at Si Yao, limping away, clicked her tongue, and shook her head, “These people clearly don’t know how to cherish beauty.”
Ye Xiuhan noticed her sly expression and knew it must be Zhan Lan’s arrangement.
“General Zhan, don’t beat them to death. Reporting back will be difficult for me,” Ye Xiuhan said with a smile on his lips.
Zhan Lan feigned innocence, saying, “General Ye, dying from exhaustion on the road is not unheard of. If I don’t beat her to death, should she fall ill on the journey, surely the Emperor of Beiyue can’t blame General Ye!”
Ye Xiuhan shook his head, smiling, “General Zhan, you speak the truth.”
Knowing that Si Yao was destined to die, Zhan Lan was free to take her life if she wished.
Zhan Lan closed the window, shutting out the sounds from outside. “The last time we fell into the valley together, I was betrayed by my men, plotted by this woman. I don’t intend for her to return to Beiyue alive!”
“Alright, happy to cooperate with General Zhan.” Ye Xiuhan suppressed the smile in his eyes.
The two conversed like friends, with Zhan Lan feeling at ease. Among the four nations, Western Rong was the most distasteful, Eastern Wei eagerly watchful. Having friends like General Ye Xiuhan of Beiyue and future emperor Xiao Luobai ensured Nanjin was not besieged from all sides.
“I must take my leave!” Ye Xiuhan said to Zhan Lan.
Zhan Lan gestured for him to proceed.
Not long after Ye Xiuhan left the teahouse, Mu Yan entered the room and asked, “Finished chatting?”
Zhan Lan touched his cheek, “Mm.”
“You’re not jealous, are you?” Zhan Lan watched Mu Yan’s expression.
Mu Yan lightly tapped her nose, “Lan’er is so open, my heart is as vast as the sea.”
Zhan Lan smiled faintly, “The sea…is it?”
“Quite impressive!” Mu Yan playfully pinched her waist, and Zhan Lan laughed, dodging.
Mu Yan knew exactly where she was ticklish.
“Like the sea, indeed.” Zhan Lan surrendered.
“Let’s talk business.” Zhan Lan blocked Mu Yan’s mischievous attack.
Mu Yan stopped his playful gestures and looked at her.
Zhan Lan steadied her breathing, “Thank you, my husband, for having the Imperial Physician care for my grandfather.”
“Of course, grandfather is part of my family too.” Mu Yan’s eyes overflowed with gentleness.
Zhan Lan spread her arms, embracing Mu Yan, “Husband, I need to visit Jiao Fangsi.”
Mu Yan suddenly released her, gently lifted Zhan Lan’s chin, “What do you plan to do?”
Zhan Lan met his dangerous gaze with a smile, “To find a woman.”
“Go ahead!” Mu Yan nodded.
Zhan Lan swiftly pecked his cheek, Mu Yan smiled, watching her retreat, realizing the little woman knew increasingly well how to make him happy.
…
Jiao Fangsi.
The brothel owner excitedly called for Cui Ying, “Ying’er, quick quick quick, a generous gentleman has arrived, offering five hundred silver notes for you to accompany him!”
Cui Ying’s face lit up with joy, “Yes.”
Cui Ying hadn’t fared well at Jiao Fangsi, as Prince Qi occasionally visited her but never gave Silver.
The brothel owner could not profit, swallowing anger silently.
Hence, encountering a generous patron, Cui Ying was delighted because she needn’t endure the brothel owner’s temper for a while.
Cui Ying swayed into the room and casually shut the door. She saw a gentleman dressed in pale moon-colored clothes standing in the center.
She sweetly called out, “Sir.”
When Cui Ying first came to Jiao Fangsi, she refused to sell herself but got beaten several times until she adapted.
Now even her tone carried the intonation of brothel women, losing the haughty demeanor of a Lady Cui.
Cui Ying called out “Sir,” and seeing no reaction, she swayed closer with a jestful smile, “Sir, please sit!”
Once the person across turned around, Cui Ying was scared stiff, sitting down abruptly.
The person before her was disguised as a man, with lips faintly curled in a smile as they gazed at her.
Cui Ying trembled all over, “Zhan… no, Regent Princess Consort, what do you seek from this humble girl?”
She once belittled Zhan Lan; now she felt utterly humiliated.
She mocked Zhan Lan for barely reading, but Zhan Lan was a recognized talented woman, a protegee of the Qingfeng Scholar.
She mocked Zhan Lan as a foster daughter, yet Zhan Lan was the legitimate daughter of the General Mansion.
She mocked Zhan Lan for being brash and unloved by men, yet Zhan Lan’s husband was the Regent King Mu Yan, whom she longed for in dreams.
Her status now was lowly, not fit even to carry Zhan Lan’s shoes.
Even though she once bullied Zhan Lan, her own plight as a downtrodden brothel worker treated like a public plaything, it seemed Zhan Lan was relentless to forgive her!
Cui Ying knelt, bowing her head to Zhan Lan, “I’m sorry, my past ignorance, it’s all my fault!”
Zhan Lan observed the now unrecognizable Cui Ying, devoid of any trace of her former arrogance and pride.
“Cui Ying, I will ask you some questions, answer them honestly.”
“Yes, yes!” Cui Ying dared not raise her eyes to Zhan Lan.
Everyone knew that Prince Zhenbei Zhan Lan wielded formidable means. Even without Mu Yan, her mere stamp could shake half of Nanjin’s kingdom.
After posing several questions, Cui Ying revealed everything, leaving no detail unspoken.
Zhan Lan smiled with satisfaction.
Suddenly, Zhan Lan’s hand gripped Cui Ying’s chin.
Cui Ying looked up to see Zhan Lan gazing down at her with a mischievous smile on her flawless face.
Their faces were close, and for a moment, Cui Ying was captivated. No wonder Mu Yan was smitten; how did she overlook Zhan Lan’s beauty before?
Lost in thought, suddenly, Cui Ying’s cheek was forcefully pinched by Zhan Lan.
Cui Ying winced and instinctively opened her mouth, allowing a black pill to swiftly enter, sliding down her throat.
“No!” Cui Ying realized instantly that Zhan Lan mustn’t have given her anything good.
Terribly frightened, she desperately tried to induce vomiting.
Zhan Lan listened to her retching and spoke coldly, “Lady Cui, it’s useless!”