Chapter 127: Magnificent Splendor

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Jiang Ruoming, carrying a basket of books on his back, ran over to Jiang Lan’s side and earnestly explained, “Uncle, Naonao doesn’t eat vegetables.”

Jiang Lan thought for a moment. “Picky eating isn’t good. Don’t pick up bad habits from him. Eat more meat today; it looks like you’ve lost a bit of weight again.”

Naonao lay on the ground, chewing on some unknown grass, his face full of envy as he looked at his master.

Eating meat = a paradise on earth.

“No, he usually eats quite a lot. Maybe he just doesn’t gain weight,” Jiang Ruoming explained.

Jiang Lan glanced at the thin and weak Ming’er, then at the plump, chubby creature on the ground, and said seriously, “Be honest—is it that you haven’t eaten properly these days and have been giving all your meat to this fat rascal?”

“It seems so,” Naonao perked up his ears, looking intently at the two, sometimes glancing at Jiang Lan as if seeking attention, sometimes rolling the grass in his mouth while pawing at Jiang Lan's hand.

Jiang Lan sternly addressed the chubby beast, “Go play somewhere else. I have no time for you now. If you keep causing trouble, tonight you’ll only have this.”

Fearing he wouldn’t understand, Jiang Lan even waved a handful of grass in front of him and repeated the warning.

Ming’er stood by in stunned silence. What’s Uncle Lan up to today? Could it be those rumors from the academy are true—that he’s been cursed?

But these past few days, the courtyard seemed quite clean, with no sign of any evil presence. Could it be some invisible force at work?

Lost in thought, Ming’er suddenly grabbed Jiang Lan’s hand and pinched the web between her thumb and forefinger hard.

He muttered repeatedly, “Evil spirits, be gone. Evil spirits, be gone...”

Qingli, standing nearby, was dumbfounded before bursting into laughter.

Jiang Lan shot her a glare, then lifted Ming’er up with her other hand.

“You brat, asking for a beating! Daring to pinch your elder! Let’s see if I don’t teach you a lesson!”

Then she tossed the boy high into the air. Ming’er’s voice stammered mid-flight, “Unc—le, I—didn’t—mean—th—at, ah—”

Jiang Lan caught him again, then threw him up once more.

“No, saying you didn’t mean it won’t do. I’m your elder—I can’t hit you, you know that?”

“I kn—owwwww—!”

Only the sound of squeals and laughter remained thereafter.

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Hearing the shouting from afar, the nanny hurried over, frightened out of her wits. But since the one tossing the boy was the highest master in the courtyard, she could only fret helplessly.

Qingli was not worried at all—if the great immortal slipped up, she was right there. Besides, who was the great immortal? Could he really make a mistake?

Since Naonao had come to live in the courtyard, Sister Lan had moved out to the neighboring yard. Actually, her wet nurse and the nannies wanted her to move even farther away, but the young master was hesitant, and Sister Lan often missed her brother, so they gave up.

Because they kept a fierce beast, Jiang Lan’s courtyard was the quietest place around.

Usually, aside from the palace eunuchs who tended to the beast, almost no one came.

This morning, however, a group of people arrived, making the place lively for once.

Naonao had been cooped up in his cage for a long time, so he was let out for some fresh air and to intimidate anyone with ill intent.

Well, from now on, he’d romp freely in this courtyard. Jiang Lan planned to annex the neighboring yard and turn it into a front hall, so guests wouldn’t be startled.

With this in mind, Jiang Lan ordered someone to bring the blueprints and began a major renovation.

“Xichi, go fetch the old steward.”

The old steward examined the blueprints Jiang Lan handed over, thought about their feasibility, then twirled his mustache and said, “Starting construction won’t be a problem, but it’s best to calculate an auspicious time.”

Jiang Lan nodded, “We just have someone at home now. Later, you go ask and pick the soonest time for the work to begin. Finish as early as possible so I won’t have to run back and forth.”

“Understood, young master.”

Looking out at the setting sun behind the western mountains, Jiang Lan instructed, “Heat all the drunken chicken brought back today, and bring some fruit wine. I want to have a good feast with Ming’er.”

“Ah, drunken chicken is really best eaten fresh. Reheating it loses some of its flavor, even though the heart is well prepared,” Jiang Lan waved her hand toward Ming’er, who had barely eaten any chicken. “Next time, the chef will take you to the Taibai Pavilion to eat some properly!”

“I’ll remember that, Uncle.” Although he wasn’t fond of meat, Ming’er forced himself to eat more because Uncle could grow taller and protect what he wanted to protect.

“Good.” Jiang Lan finished all the leftover chicken.

After eating all the drunken chicken, Jiang Lan went out with Xichi to the courier station to walk off the meal in the sunset.

“Where is the courier station? How long will it take on foot?” Jiang Lan asked Xichi beside her.

“On Chang’an Street, past three blocks, then turn left and walk another three blocks—it takes about forty-five minutes.”

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“Alright, let’s walk over there.”

Jiang Lan strode confidently down the street, while Xichi behind her remained vigilant.

Without any secret guards in the shadows, their young master was the most “low-profile” of all such heirs.

Though it was only a few blocks, Jiang Lan felt she had walked a long time. If she hadn’t spotted the tall roof of the courier station from afar, she might have hailed a carriage within a few hundred yards.

Upon arrival, after registering the reason for her visit, Jiang Lan noticed the soldiers outside gave her suspicious and distrustful looks.

What was this attitude? Did they doubt her character?

As Jiang Lan entered, she overheard whispered conversations among the soldiers outside before she had even taken a step inside.

“Is this Duke Wei’s son telling the truth or lying?” The initial question came from a somewhat plump man whom Jiang Lan recognized clearly.

“Those wealthy young masters are never trustworthy. Claiming to come see the master, but they just can’t forget that Princess of Liang. Now they’ve found an excuse to sneak in and spy on her boudoir.” The voice of a tall and thin man followed.

“What does that Princess of Liang look like? She’s been here so long, always wearing a veil. I’ve never seen her face. Is she really as breathtakingly beautiful as the rumors say?” The plump man swallowed hard, as if the princess were sitting right before him.

“Of course she is. Otherwise, would Duke Wei’s son risk his reputation by sneaking into her room at night? Even after being stabbed more than a dozen times, he still visits. She must be an enchantress beyond compare. Otherwise, why would a noble son, who’s seen every kind of woman, risk his life to go there?”

“You’re right! The young master is quite lucky with women. Not long ago, he even chartered an entire pleasure boat, spent the night on the lake with two twin beauties. Just imagining it, it must have been…”

The rest of their words became increasingly unpleasant to hear. Jiang Lan ignored the gossip, but her curiosity about the Princess of Liang—who had been entwined with her injuries from the start—grew stronger.

Since she was here today, she might as well take the opportunity to see what lay beneath that veil.

Guided by the soldiers, Jiang Lan first went to the room where Kong Kong stayed.

The courier station adjacent to the palace was indeed different—luxurious and magnificent, with seasonal fruits displayed everywhere, all of the highest quality.

Jiang Lan looked at the old monk sitting there and envied him quietly. “Such a fortunate life.”