“Shuang’er, your martial skills are seriously amazing!”
Xu Chahua gazed at Lan Shuang with sparkling eyes. If it weren’t for Shuang’er, she definitely wouldn’t have been able to stand up to the clan members.
“Auntie, I want to learn from you!”
Little Lan Su’s jet-black eyes were filled with longing. Min Ruolan reached out and tapped his head.
“Your tutor will be coming to the house tomorrow to give lessons. Stop thinking about other things.”
“Mother, I want to learn martial arts too—just like Grandfather, Father, and Auntie. I want to be that strong.”
After seeing how Lan Shuang protected the family, Lan Su yearned even more for that kind of power.
“Su’er, learning martial arts is very hard,”
Lan Shuang didn’t try to coax her nephew. In the original owner’s memories, she trained every day before dawn.
Even after others went to sleep, she kept practicing. Her strength had never come from stopping.
It was just a pity she’d had a love-addled brain—and had been angered to death by Ji Yunqian.
Ji Yunqian owed the original Lan Shuang a life. Sooner or later, Lan Shuang would collect it.
“Auntie, I’m not afraid!”
Lan Su spoke loudly. Min Ruolan suddenly put on a stern face and refused.
“No! Don’t you think His Majesty already fears our family enough? All I want is for you to be safe.”
If Su’er truly showed such talent, the royal court would only grow more wary of the Lan family.
“Big sister-in-law, have you ever thought about this?” Lan Shuang said calmly.
“Whether or not Su’er has this ability, as long as he’s a member of the Lan family, he’ll be feared.”
Lan Shuang had personally heard the dog emperor’s words—he had no intention of sparing the Lan family.
“Shuang’er is right,” Old Madam Lan said wisely.
“If Su’er truly has this resolve, learning some skills might help him protect himself when it really matters.”
She looked at Lan Shuang. “Shuang’er, you decide.”
“Su’er, have you really made up your mind?”
Lan Shuang asked one last time. “If you decide to do this, your aunt will wake you before dawn every single day to train.
No matter if it’s wind, rain, or snow, I won’t give you a chance to regret it.
A path you choose yourself—you’ll have to walk it to the end, even if you must crawl on your knees.”
“Auntie, I’ve decided!”
Lan Su’s face—bearing three parts resemblance to Lan Shuang—was full of determination.
“I want to protect Mother and Great-Grandmother!”
“Good child!”
Lan Shuang patted his shoulder in satisfaction. Even Min Ruolan’s eyes turned red with emotion.
“Good child. Mother believes you can do it.”
Since the child had chosen this path, she would support him.
“Let’s go inside first.”
Lan Shuang carried the grain piled in the corner into the kitchen, and Min Ruolan quickly came over to help.
As for Xu Chahua and the others—elderly, pregnant, and young—they really couldn’t be of much help.
“Shuang’er, why did you buy so much grain this time?”
Thinking of the villagers’ greedy stares, Min Ruolan felt uneasy.
“Big sister-in-law, I happened to obtain an excellent wine recipe,” Lan Shuang said, explaining her plan.
“We can brew and sell wine. A good wine doesn’t fear a deep alley.”
“Once we earn more silver, we’ll open a proper winery.”
“But I don’t know how,” Min Ruolan said hesitantly. She was interested, but lacked the skill.
“It’s fine. I’ll teach you.”
In her previous life, Lan Shuang had traveled extensively and learned many formulas. She could teach them step by step.
“I’ve brewed wine with my father before,” Xu Chahua said softly, raising her hand.
Min Ruolan was delighted—until her gaze fell on Xu Chahua’s protruding belly, and her expression turned helpless.
“You’re carrying a child. Forget it—I’ll learn instead.”
“No rush,” Lan Shuang said calmly.
She motioned for everyone to sit down and took out several paper packets sorted by color, handing out two to each person.
“The white packets contain detox pills I made—most common poisons can be neutralized.
The red packets contain poison.”
“If anyone dares to harm you, just sprinkle it on them—but make absolutely sure you don’t make a mistake!”
Lan Shuang couldn’t guarantee she would always be around, so she had to teach them some ways to protect themselves.
Everyone nodded in agreement. Lan Shuang then began preparing the wine, first soaking the selected wheat for a full day.
That evening, she took out the packed food, warmed it up, and the family sat together to eat.
The Lan family had impeccable manners: speak not at the table, and no idle chatter at bedtime.
After the meal, Lan Shuang said to Xu Chahua, “Second sister-in-law, I’ll check your pulse for a safe pregnancy.”
“All right.”
Xu Chahua lifted her child in her thoughts, her eyes softening. Lately, she had often cried alone, leaving her eyes dry and strained.
Lan Shuang placed a soft cloth under her wrist. Min Ruolan and Old Madam Lan both watched anxiously.
At first, Lan Shuang was merely checking the pulse for safety, but as time went on, her expression grew increasingly serious.
Min Ruolan frowned in worry. “Shuang’er, what’s wrong?”
She trusted Lan Shuang’s medical skills greatly now, so seeing this expression made her heart tighten.
“Has the baby been moving less lately?”
Lan Shuang asked Xu Chahua, who froze for a moment.
Shuang’er really was amazing! She knew even this. Xu Chahua quickly nodded.
“Yes… the baby used to move around a lot, kicking me frequently. But these past few days, barely any movement—only after I eat does the baby stir a little.”
“Shuang’er, will this affect the baby?”
Old Madam Lan was deeply concerned about this pregnancy, since the male heirs of the Lan family were uncertain.
Perhaps Lan Su and the baby in Xu Chahua’s womb would become the hope of the Lan family.
“Second sister-in-law, grandmother, don’t worry,”
Lan Shuang said reassuringly with a gentle smile. Then, she spoke seriously to Xu Chahua:
“Don’t overthink things. The baby will be affected by your emotions. If you are sad, the child will be too, and that is not good for development.”
“I’m just… worried about Yong-ge.”
Xu Chahua clutched her handkerchief and wiped the tears stinging her eyes. “Shuang’er, I can’t help it.”
Hearing this, Old Madam Lan and Min Ruolan also felt heavy in their hearts.
But Min Ruolan still comforted Xu Chahua:
“Second sister-in-law, don’t blame Big Sister for being blunt. If we’re not strong, and the brothers don’t return, we have to at least protect the only two bloodlines of the Lan family, right?”
This almost made Old Madam Lan break down in tears. She choked out:
“Your sister-in-law is right. If you truly love Lan Yong, then take good care of his child.”
Xu Chahua couldn’t help thinking of him. She gently stroked her slightly rounded belly.
“For the child, I’ll try to control my emotions.”
“I’ll prepare two sets of medication to stabilize the pregnancy for you,”
Lan Shuang said, her eyes serious. Min Ruolan felt guilty for Xu Chahua.
“When I was pregnant, the manor spoiled me with good food. Now, second sister-in-law is pregnant, and she can hardly get a proper meal.”
“Big Sister, it’s not your fault. I just… have no luck,”
Xu Chahua said, her mood low. Lan Shuang comforted her briefly, then escorted her back to her room.
Lan Shuang didn’t return to her own room, but went to Old Madam Lan’s room. The old lady’s eyes were sharp with intelligence.
“Shuang’er, are you hiding something from me?”
“Grandmother, did you know that second sister-in-law is carrying twins?”
Lan Shuang’s expression was serious. She had realized this the day they raided the estate—she had felt the pulse, but at the time, the situation was urgent and she hadn’t said anything.
Old Madam Lan’s pupils constricted in shock. She stood up abruptly, her voice trembling slightly.
“Really?!!”
Previously, the court physician who attended second sister-in-law hadn’t mentioned it. Most likely, that person had been sent by the emperor himself.
How malicious and cunning his intentions were!