That night, after drugging the servant guarding the treasury, Su Qingran began her latest operation: Emptying the Marquis Manor’s treasury.
This time she had learned her lesson.
Why bother searching for master keys?
Using her space’s ability to teleport anywhere within a one-kilometer radius was far easier.
In the blink of an eye, she slipped directly into the treasury.
And Su Mingzhi was crying poverty?
Looking around, she couldn’t help scoffing.
Wasn’t there plenty of wealth here?
Ten entire chests sat before her.
Though she had to admit, it still wasn’t as much as her own dowry.
That had been somewhat unexpected.
No matter.
Everything went into the space.
Every last chest.
The next morning, Su Mingzhi was unusually attentive.
He prepared a carriage.
He prepared travel rations.
He practically couldn’t wait to send this “plague star” away.
His poor heart couldn’t handle Su Qingran’s antics any longer.
“Tsk. What a jinx.”
A female voice suddenly sounded nearby.
Su Qingran looked up.
It was Su Mingzhi’s daughter, Su Yunshan.
“Need something, ugly?”
Su Qingran replied with a bright smile.
“What did you call me?!”
Su Yunshan stared at her in disbelief.
Back when Su Qingran’s grandfather had still been alive, she wouldn’t have dared provoke her.
But now?
Su Qingran was an orphan with no parents and no grandfather.
Where was this confidence coming from?
Thinking this, Su Yunshan immediately stepped forward and raised her hand to slap her.
Su Qingran’s eyes turned cold.
She grabbed the incoming wrist.
At the same moment, a thin syringe silently pierced Su Yunshan’s arm.
“Hiss!”
Su Yunshan only felt a brief sting, like an ant bite.
She paid it little attention.
“Su Qingran, how dare you—”
She was furious.
How could this fatherless, motherless wretch dare oppose her?
“Shut your filthy mouth.”
Leaning closer, Su Qingran whispered:
“Do you believe your father would slap you if he found out you were bullying me right now?”
“You liar!”
“My father would never hit me because of you!”
Su Yunshan glared at her viciously.
At that moment, Su Mingzhi happened to turn around after supervising preparations for the carriage.
Immediately, he noticed the confrontation.
“What is going on?”
He frowned.
Before Su Yunshan could speak, Su Qingran stepped forward first.
“Second Uncle, I’ve considered the Marquis Manor at every turn.”
“For your sake and the family’s sake, I even signed an agreement regarding my dowry.”
“But your daughter immediately comes to insult and hit me.”
“How is this any different from the Pei Residence?”
“I thought family would be different, but if I’m only going to be humiliated again, then perhaps I should—”
Before she could finish—
Smack!
A loud slap echoed through the courtyard.
Su Yunshan staggered sideways.
The strike had come from Su Mingzhi.
“Father?!”
She stood frozen in shock.
“Ranran.”
“Your second uncle has already disciplined Yunshan for you.”
“She was spoiled by your aunt from a young age.”
“Please don’t take it to heart.”
Su Mingzhi smiled warmly.
Su Qingran’s lips curved upward.
“Of course I won’t.”
“By the way, is the carriage ready?”
“Ready.”
“I even found a driver for you.”
“No need.”
“I don’t like having people follow me. I’ll drive it myself.”
Getting a free carriage made her surprisingly happy.
Traveling on foot was simply too exhausting.
And she couldn’t rely on her space abilities constantly.
If she depleted too much spiritual energy, the space might collapse.
She still needed to find a space stone eventually.
“Well… if that’s what you want.”
Su Mingzhi quickly agreed.
The last thing he wanted was for her to change her mind again.
Looking at the sickly horse harnessed to the carriage, Su Qingran strongly suspected they had drugged it.
At this rate, the poor thing would probably die after only a few days on the road.
Of course…
With her around, even death would have a hard time taking it.
After climbing onto the carriage, she sat outside the compartment and looked back one final time.
“Second Uncle.”
“Until we meet again.”
Before he could respond—
“Hyah!”
The horse started forward.
The carriage quickly disappeared into the distance.
Watching her leave, Su Mingzhi finally let out a long sigh of relief.
The plague star was gone.
At last.
Then he noticed his daughter scratching her arm furiously.
“Father, my arm is so itchy.”
Su Yunshan frowned.
Su Mingzhi glanced at her impatiently.
“If it’s itchy, then it’s itchy.”
“I told you to stop smearing so much makeup on yourself.”
“You never listen.”
“It was Su Qingran—”
Before she could finish, he interrupted her.
“I’ll deal with Su Qingran myself.”
“Stop provoking her.”
“Once she’s out of the capital, you can do whatever you want.”
Only then did Su Yunshan fall silent.
Meanwhile, Su Qingran knew perfectly well that Su Mingzhi had people watching to ensure she left the capital.
So she deliberately rode through the city gates.
The capital’s gates were heavily guarded and crowded.
Using her space ability there was impossible.
Only after leaving the city did she find a secluded location and enter her space.
Then she began disguising herself.
This time she transformed into a traveling merchant visiting the capital.
The identity would make purchasing supplies much easier.
And now that she had a carriage, merchants could simply load grain and goods directly onto it.
Much more convenient.
She brought the horse into the space as well.
The animal stared blankly at the suddenly transformed surroundings.
Moments ago it had looked half-dead.
Now it seemed instantly revitalized.
Its eyes sparkled with energy.
“You.”
Su Qingran pointed at it.
“Are you secretly Su Mingzhi’s spy?”
The horse immediately sat down in front of her.
Su Qingran suddenly felt rather foolish.
After feeding it some spiritual spring water, the horse changed dramatically.
Its eyes became bright and intelligent.
Its loyalty seemed to skyrocket.
Then it began enthusiastically rubbing its head against her.
“Please.”
“You are a horse.”
“Not a dog.”
Su Qingran looked speechless.
“Anyway, I’m going to change my disguise.”
“You can eat the grass here.”
“But don’t touch the crops, understand?”
The horse gave a long neigh.
Then blinked at her twice before trotting over to the lush grass near the spiritual spring.
“Smart choice.”
Su Qingran left it alone and headed toward the shelter building to find a new disguise and fresh clothes.
By the time she returned, the horse had stopped grazing.
“You shouldn’t eat too much of that grass.”
“You might literally explode.”
She joked.
Then paused.
“Actually… I should give you a name.”
She thought for a long time.
Nothing came to mind.
Then she remembered an old saying:
A cheap name makes for a long life.
Immediately, inspiration struck.
“Got it.”
“Your name is Goudan.”
(“Dog Egg.”)
The horse: “…”
“Well?”
“Goudan.”
“Do you like it?”
The horse: “…”
“I knew you’d love it.”
“Don’t worry.”
“If you run well, I’ll bring you in here regularly to eat grass and drink spring water.”
That single promise finally made the horse accept its fate.
Which raised an interesting question:
Wasn’t the saying about giving ugly names only supposed to apply to human children?
Since when did livestock have to suffer through it too?