“What?!!”
Everyone in the residence was stunned, hardly daring to believe it. Old Madam Lan was so shocked she nearly fainted.
She had misjudged human nature.
At a time like this, even dogs would probably avoid them—let alone when Ji Yunqian’s elder sister was the current empress.
Her poor little granddaughter!
Lan Shuang pressed the advantage while things were hot. “Ji Yunqian said either I get divorced, or I stay behind as a concubine. How could anyone from the Lan family ever become a concubine?”
“He dares?!”
The eldest sister-in-law, Madam Min, ground her teeth in fury. “The legitimate daughter of the Duke of Zhen-guo becoming a concubine—he doesn’t deserve it!”
“How could this be…”
The second sister-in-law, Madam Xu, choked back sobs. “You and Ji Yunqian grew up together. He used to treasure you like a pearl…”
“Grandmother, sisters-in-law—someone so heartless and unjust isn’t worth clinging to. I want to stay and face this hardship together with you.”
Lan Shuang’s words made Old Madam Lan clap her hands and laugh. “Good! Worthy of being a daughter of the Duke of Zhen-guo’s household!”
If Lan Shuang had chosen to survive by becoming Ji Yunqian’s concubine, then she wouldn’t be Lan Shuang.
Her granddaughter looked gentle on the outside, but inside she was strong-willed.
Not only the servants of the household—even the imperial guards conducting the confiscation were moved by her bearing.
But soon everyone was stunned again, because the guards in charge of searching came back to report.
“Report—the storerooms are completely empty.”
“The kitchens only have a small sack of grain.”
“We only found some vases and bowls—nothing valuable.”
“…”
Not just the guards—the Lan family members were shocked as well. Their household might be frugal, but surely it couldn’t be completely bare?
Could these men be deliberately trying to trick them?
Commander Liu of the imperial guards questioned Old Madam Lan with a stern face. “Old Madam Lan—did you hide your valuables privately? Deceiving the army is a capital crime!”
“No!”
Old Madam Lan herself was bewildered. Lan Shuang stepped forward and said:
“Commander Liu may not know this. My father has always lived simply—every bit of silver in the household accounts was used to aid the elderly and wounded soldiers who returned from the battlefield.
If you don’t believe me, you can send people to check the small alleys on West Street in the capital. Those people have no one to rely on.
They rendered service to the nation—if they didn’t die on the battlefield, they can’t very well be allowed to starve to death.”
“Yes,” Madam Min followed Lan Shuang’s words. “Father and Mother devote themselves wholeheartedly to the country. We usually live quietly and modestly—our Duke’s household truly isn’t wealthy.”
She had thought the guards were dissatisfied that what they found was too shabby.
Commander Liu also noticed that these women were indeed dressed plainly, with simple hair ornaments. The Duke of Zhen-guo had been a good general who served both country and people.
What a pity…
He still harbored doubts—even if they had moved their wealth, could they really have done it this fast?
Just then, a commotion suddenly erupted from the neighboring marquis’s estate.
“Quick—report it to the authorities, the marquis’s residence has been robbed!”
“The princess’s dowry has disappeared—this is no small matter!”
“…”
“Not only their place—apparently the thieves also stole the only things left in our storerooms,” Lan Shuang said smoothly.
Everyone believed her at once. Commander Liu frowned slightly, his tone turning sour.
“Enough. Take off the clothes you’re wearing and change into coarse hemp garments. The Duke of Zhen-guo’s residence is to be reclaimed.”
The estate had been granted by the late emperor—naturally the new emperor would take it back.
No one objected. They removed their still-soft outer robes and put on rough hemp clothing.
Even the plain jade hairpins on their heads were confiscated. Now they were truly worse off than commoners.
It was at this moment that eighteen-year-old Lan Shan was carried back in—his backside beaten until it was a bloody mess, making everyone cry out in shock.
“Shan-ge’er…”
“Third Brother—why suffer like this?”
“…”
“Third Brother.”
Lan Shuang hurried forward. Lan Shan was her twin—dragon-and-phoenix twins—and the two shared some resemblance.
Because he had opposed the new emperor’s order, Lan Shan had knelt for several hours outside the palace gates. Not only had it been useless, he had also been beaten with boards.
“I… I’m fine.”
Lan Shan’s concerned gaze fell on Lan Shuang’s face. “Shuang’er, shouldn’t you… be at the marquis’s estate?”
He had thought that even if the whole family fell into disaster, at least Ji Yunqian would protect Shuang’er.
“Ji Yunqian wanted me to be a concubine, so I came back.”
Lan Shuang’s tone was flat, as if she were speaking of someone irrelevant. Under cover of her sleeves, she quietly took out wound medicine and a hemostatic powder.
Lan Shan roared in anxiety, “That bastard dares?!”
His little sister—how could she ever become a concubine?!
Ji Yunqian, oh Ji Yunqian—he had truly misjudged him!
So be it. A blessed girl does not enter an unlucky household. Only pity that such a beautiful younger sister would have to suffer some hardship.
“Shan-ge’er, in your current state, how will you go to the northern lands?”
Old Madam Lan was heartbroken. All the men of the Lan family were to be exiled north—how could this child endure it?
“Grandmother, I’m fine. It just looks serious.”
Lan Shan forced up a smile as Lan Shuang quietly stuffed the medicine onto him.
“Third Brother, take good care of yourself.”
“The emperor is benevolent and has allowed him to stay one more day in the capital—he must depart tomorrow.”
That was the message left by the people who escorted Lan Shan back. The Lan family could only accept it helplessly.
Apart from confiscating the residence, the household servants were all resold. Though Lan Shuang and the others were reluctant, they had no choice but to accept it.
Fortunately, the masters of the household were kind-hearted—upon receiving the news they had secretly distributed some monthly wages to the servants, at least preserving the bond between master and servant.
The Duke of Zhen-guo’s residence could no longer be lived in. The entire Lan family, young and old, were driven out. Supporting the grief-stricken old madam, Lan Shuang tried to comfort her:
“Grandmother, as long as the green hills remain, there will be firewood to burn. As long as our whole family is safe, that’s what matters.”
Besides, the gold and treasures in her space were more than enough for them to live lavishly.
“Yes, Grandmother.”
Madam Min hugged tightly her son Lan Su, who was not yet three years old, feeling extremely grateful that the child was still young—otherwise exile would have broken her heart.
Only the second sister-in-law, Madam Xu, kept wiping her tears with a handkerchief, sobbing softly.
“No matter how poor or tired we become, we can still live… but who knows how Yong-ge is doing now.”
At the mention of their husbands, everyone fell silent.
Indeed—they might only be poorer and suffer more, but the emperor would not spare the generals.
“Second Sister-in-law, Father and the brothers have done nothing to shame themselves. They’ll surely be fine.”
In truth, Lan Shuang herself wasn’t confident—but the frontier was hundreds of miles away, far beyond their reach.
For now, all she could do was calm her grandmother and sisters-in-law.
“I won’t wait until tomorrow. I’ll set out today and write to you once I reach the north.”
Lan Shan was also worried about their father and brothers and felt restless. Old Madam Lan hurriedly said:
“Shan-ge’er, one day won’t make a difference. Rest for a day before you go.”
“Yes, Third Brother.”
Lan Shuang still wanted to secretly treat him—otherwise that leg of his might leave lasting trouble.
While everyone was deep in gloom, a luxurious carriage suddenly stopped in front of them.
From it stepped down a little maid in pink, holding something red in her hand.
Lan Shuang didn’t yet understand what was happening, but she clearly saw everyone’s expressions change—Lan Shan’s face turning pale as snow.
“Third Young Master Lan, this is the marriage contract between you and my lady.”
The pink-clad maid spoke arrogantly.
“Now that the Lan family and the Zhou family are no longer properly matched in status.
My lady has been weak and sickly since childhood and cannot endure hardship. If Third Young Master Lan truly cares for her, we ask that you kindly let my lady go.”