Chapter 39: Lan Ji's Decision

  Lan Ji and the crowd stared blankly as Cloud Granny carried Wind Grandpa flying over their heads, only shocked, without taking any action. After a long time, Lan Ji let out a long sigh, "Clean up here thoroughly, everyone go back!"

  Everyone heard that they quickly swept the floor of the building, and in a short while, everything was spotless. The people left without a single one staying behind. These people were all good at getting things done efficiently. Looking at Blue Sister still being sad, they were surprised that she was actually a sentimental person. Little did they know, women who had been selling smiles for years, which one didn't have a painful past? Thinking back to those years, Blue Sister was also the number one courtesan among all the beautiful flowers, in the midst of men's wine and cups, night after night of springtime, thinking that she had almost forgotten about Wind Brother. But so many years had passed, not a single man had entered her heart, so many years had passed, when it was deep at night and people were quiet, Blue Sister thought of the happy past with Wind Brother in Evil Moon Valley. If she knew that after leaving Evil Moon Valley, Wind Brother would fall in love with Cloud Beauty, this ugly and untalented Cloud Wife, she would never agree to leave Evil Moon Valley. But everything doesn't have ifs, love doesn't have ifs.

  Lan Ji also asked Feng Gege before, what did he fall in love with Yun PoPo?

  "I don't know, I'm handsome, she's ugly, I'm clever and resourceful, she's a simpleton. Why? It's like the turtle looking at the green bean, we're a match made in heaven, she's the green bean and I'm the turtle. For her, I can give up everything."

  It's not like that, for Yun Po Po's sake, he endured the hardships at Fengyun Ferry for so many years, tolerating the orders of an unknown junior, risking his life time and again to escort Hu Zhongren's wife to this vast ocean country.

  Lan Ji was extremely worried, Hu Zhongren being the richest man in Tianchao wasn't a problem, but he also had many connections and informants everywhere. She couldn't help but worry about Feng Gege, silently scolding Yun PoPo for not knowing how to cherish her husband. If it were up to her, she wouldn't let Feng Gege suffer or put his life in danger for someone else's sake.

  Alas, Lan Ji let out a sigh. Now, all worries were unnecessary, as Feng Gege was already dead. She no longer had to worry about Hu Zhongren's spies and assassins pursuing her beloved Feng Gege. However, she would never see her dear Feng Gege again. Although they rarely met in the past, whenever she captured Hu Zhongren's wife, Feng Gege would personally come to find her. It was like this when she was in the brothel, and it remained so even after she arrived in the country of Hanhai. Apart from Yun PoPo, Feng Gege trusted no one more than herself.

  The sweetness of past memories cannot withstand the heartache of today, a surge of resentment rises from the bottom of my heart. This hateful peony actually dared to kill her own Wind brother! If I don't catch her and tear her into pieces, it will be hard to dispel the hatred in my heart. Thinking about it, thinking about it, I involuntarily clenched my fists, and suddenly my confused mind had a plan, had a goal - yes, capture Peony, kill her, and offer sacrifices to Brother's spirit!

  Looking at the red glow in the western sky, it seemed like a pool of bright red blood, Lan Ji regained control of her emotions and returned to her own Smoke Flower Pavilion.

  Where is this peony going?

  How come I didn't notice she was so defiant? Are the other wives also like her, obedient on the surface but disobedient at heart?

  If that's the case, then I'm also in a bit of danger. Since they detest Master Feng and Mistress Yun, they might also detest me, Blue Maiden. Now that Mistress Yun has left, my situation is even more precarious?

  The more she thought about it, the more reasonable it seemed. She couldn't help but walk to Chunlan and Qiujie's residence. Several maids saw Lanji and hurried forward to pay their respects. Lanji made a silencing gesture with her hand and quickly walked into Lankui Pavilion.

  Lanju Pavilion is where Chunlan and Qiujie live together, they have always been serving people together, which is also liked by some men with special hobbies. Now, they have been promoted to the top class and rarely show up in person. So, during their leisure time, their thing is to train Zhenzhen. Zhenzhen is the biological child of Autumn Chrysanthemum, who recognized Chunlan as her godmother and Blue Sister as her god-grandmother. Although she is not yet ten years old, she has grown up like a big girl, with symmetrical limbs, an elegant appearance, bright eyes, white teeth, a pink face, and red lips. The most rare thing about her is that she is clever and quick-witted, which pleases Blue Sister very much.

  Today, Zhenzhen was learning the art of enchantment. Because her eyes couldn't focus properly, Qiuju scolded her severely, while Chunlan pleaded on her behalf. As soon as Lanfei entered, Zhenzhen immediately found a supporter and kowtowed to her: "Grandma, look at my mom, she's always so strict. Just because of one glance, I was punished to do 30 repetitions, my eyes are all blurry now. Please help me beg for mercy."

  Lan Ji smiled and said: "He's just a ten-year-old child, why be so harsh?"

  Qiu Ju said: "Doesn't mom really know my kind intentions? The Double Ninth Festival is coming soon, but there isn't an outstanding female disciple under our banner. I want to let Zhenzhen try, and also avoid being ridiculed by others!"

  Blue girl thought for a moment, and also felt that Chrysanthemum's words were reasonable. In the past few years, Orchid Palace's income was indeed not much, compared to Peony and Paeonia, but it was too early to let Zhenzhen participate in the competition. After a moment of contemplation, she said: "How about this? I'll give you that little lotus I just bought, you can train her well, maybe she can win some prizes, who knows?" Spring Orchid said: "That little lotus, we saw her at the Hu Mansion too, her appearance is pretty and clever, but she's pregnant, so it's probably not suitable for high-intensity training. Plus, time is tight, I'm afraid there's no guarantee."

  Lan Ji nodded, the law of the Hanhai Kingdom stipulates that pregnant women must be protected, regardless of their origin, as long as they enter the Hanhai Kingdom, they are citizens of the Hanhai Kingdom and cannot act against their will. In the Hanhai Kingdom, as long as a child is born, not only can the child obtain a token from the Hanhai Kingdom and enjoy various rights, but even the mother can also obtain a token from the Hanhai Kingdom and enjoy preferential treatment for a long time.

  Zhen Zhen whispered in Lan Ji's ear: "Why don't you give that Ninth Lady to my mother, it will definitely be a success."

  Lan Ji smiled slightly: "Little rabbit, your abacus is indeed clever, I'll help you pick the biggest fruit for your mother."

  "Where, I see that Ninth Lady is stupid and dull, I think if Mother disciplines her a bit, she'll become more clever", can't she create some wealth for Grandma? Otherwise, he just eats without doing anything, how can it be?" Zhenzhen said while rolling her eyes.

  "Never mind, I originally wanted to send her to the King of Hanhai, but thinking about it again, there are also some drawbacks. The information we obtained was brought by Feng Gonggong and Yun Popo, saying that Hu Zhongren had already promised to abandon Wen Shu, so she would not be considered Mrs. Hu. Hu Zhongren may not be willing to come and rescue her. Also, it is said that she is the fiancée of Yue Qianshan, so Yue Ye will not stand by and do nothing. And it is also said that she is the daughter of Liu Fengchun, so the Liu family will not ignore her either. However, if these three parties do not know that she is here, we cannot gain benefits. The best way to spread this news is during the Jiuzhai Festival. Even if she can't get a good ranking, it can let these three families know, and they will definitely ransom her back with a lot of money, so we can make a fortune."

  Several people applauded and praised Lan Ji's clever plan.

  Actually, Blue Maiden had planned to offer Liu Qingqing to the King of Hanhai in exchange for some rewards. However, Feng Gege's death extinguished her desire for fame and fortune. Now, she is happy to be free from worries and has handed over Liu Qingqing to Chunlan and Qiujie to take care of. After completing this coming-of-age ceremony, she plans to retreat to Xiamon Valley and no longer interfere in the affairs of Hanhai Kingdom. There is no greater sorrow than a dead heart. Now, as long as she avenges Feng Gege's death by killing Peony, she will wash her hands clean and retire from the Jianghu world.

  But in the jianghu, she of course knew that the jianghu was full of dangers. Even if you didn't want to harm others, others might still want to harm you. After all, she wasn't a kind person herself in the past and had done many evil deeds, so being on guard against people's machinations was always necessary.

  "After I return, have someone bring Qingqing to your Orchid Chrysanthemum Palace and let her stay in the Orchid Chrysanthemum Pavilion. Time is urgent, so it's better for you to train at any time. As for Zhenzhen, let her follow me and live in the Smoke Flower Palace, accompanying me. My Shixiong Fengbao's death was a huge blow to me, but with Zhenzhen as my comfort, I can get through these sad days."

  The words were reasonable. Chunlan and Qiujie reluctantly agreed, but in their hearts, they knew that Lanji was using Zhenzhen as a hostage. This time, Mudan's behavior had made her vigilant, so holding onto Zhenzhen would allow her to control the two of them.

  Lan Juan led Zhen Zhen out of the Lanju Pavilion, with a maid and servant following behind carrying various tools that Zhen Zhen used daily. Zhen Zhen was overjoyed, no longer having to suffer under her mother's rule, feeling an indescribable happiness, like a fish entering the ocean or a bird entering the forest, happily running alongside Lan Juan, seemingly completely unaware of the sorrowful emotions of her mothers.

  Lan Ji returned to the fireworks pavilion and saw Liu Qingqing still tightly bound to the chair. She hastily ordered her attendants, "Loosen it a bit, do you want his life?"

  I quickly untied the ropes binding Liu Qingqing, and Liu Qingqing freed from the ropes, stretched her limbs. This guy, he tied them really tightly, although I told him to tie them tighter so they'd look more realistic, but not this tight.

  After circling around the house twice, Liu Qingqing said: "Quickly bring me a cup of hot tea, no one has taken care of me for half a day, do you think I'm air?"

  Everyone was silent, and no one dared to mention the death of Feng Gonggong. Because she had witnessed Feng Gonggong's death with her own eyes and heard the news, she vomited blood and fainted. Lan Ji also looked puzzled, "How can there be such a big difference between before and after?"

  Zhen Zhen didn't care what the adults thought, and said: "Who has the time to bother with you? That wind official was killed by Mudan, everyone is busy going there, who has the spare time to bother with you! I'm telling you, this Liu Qingqing is stupid. Mom and them will definitely fail."

  Lan Ji asked: "Just now, you heard the news of Feng Gonggong's accident, why did you spit blood and faint?"

  "He's my lifesaver, I haven't even thanked him yet, and he's gone just like that. How can I not be emotional?"

  "He's your lifesaver, where did that come from?" Lan Ji was puzzled, could someone who had been sold out and given a ransom be considered a lifesaver? Probably only Liu Qingqing would say something like that.

  Liu Qingqing said: "Of course, I'm grateful to them. Because I didn't want to stay in the Hu Mansion at all, and I don't know if I have a relationship with Yue Qianshan or not, nor do I know if I am Liu Fengchun's daughter. In this situation, it's not suitable for me to go anywhere, right? But he smuggled me here, so now I can be free, isn't that right?"

  Lan Ji smiled and said, "You're quite clever, but in the vast ocean country, it's not that easy to get by. As a woman, you either sell your art or sell your body. Of course, if you can do both, that would be even better. We could make a fortune together."

  "No problem, I'm very open-minded, if we can succeed, seven parts of the wealth will be yours and three parts will be mine." Liu Qingqing said generously.

  "Good, it's settled! I'll send someone to take you to the Orchid Palace right away for training. Although time is a bit tight, with your qualifications, you should be able to succeed!"

  "Zhen said with a smile: 'If you succeed, don't forget about Blue Sister and me.'"

  Liu Qingqing said: "That's natural. However, I have a condition, which is that you can't harm Xiao Lian, she's my good friend."

  Lan Ji smiled and said: "Don't worry, I'll take good care of her this time. I believe she can bring us wealth too. If Hu Zhongren knew she was here and pregnant with his child..."