Mad Queen Leaves the Palace

Xiao Mu'an looked at Xiao Lan with a serious expression and said softly, "Lanlan, we need to go through the deed process for our ancestral home in the next few days. After thinking it over, I think it's more appropriate to register it in your name."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Lan frowned slightly, quickly shook her head, and refused without hesitation, saying, "Brother, absolutely not! This ancestral home is a family heirloom of our Jiang family, and it should rightfully be inherited by you! How can it be so easily registered under my name?" Her clear, watery eyes were filled with determination and worry.

“Lan’er, please don’t rush to refuse! Your brother has been thinking about this all along. This property was originally given to Mother by our maternal grandparents. Moreover, before coming to the capital, I had already discussed this matter carefully with Mother. Even if we don’t give it to you now, it will definitely be part of your dowry when you get married. So, instead of waiting until then, it’s better to transfer it to your name now. That way, this courtyard will truly become your property.” Xiao Mu’an earnestly told Xiao Lan about the decision he and his mother had discussed before coming to the capital, and he hoped that his sister would gladly accept this offer and take the courtyard.

Xiao Lan knew perfectly well that Xiao Mu'an's concern for her was entirely genuine. She tilted her head slightly, looking at Xiao Mu'an with tender eyes, and said softly, "Brother, next year will be the year you take the imperial examination. With your outstanding talent and exceptional abilities, winning a top-three position is certainly within your grasp. However, there is one thing we need to consider carefully beforehand, and that is the matter of housing. Before becoming an official, the house given to us by our ancestors is acceptable, but if we buy property after becoming an official, I'm afraid it will attract some criticism and gossip! Besides, I've always been thinking about our ancestral home. It's very close to the Imperial Academy, and after it's been renovated and furnished next year, you can move there. This way, it will be much more convenient for you to go to the examination hall during the imperial examination."

"But..." Xiao Mu'an's mind was in turmoil. He had originally intended to say that these precious items were to be kept as dowry for his younger sister when she got married. However, his thoughts shifted, and he thought of his sister, Xiao Lan, who was about to become a prince's consort. The royal family had not yet formally exchanged betrothal gifts. If the Xiao family were to start preparing Xiao Lan's dowry in a grand manner at this moment, and if those with ulterior motives found out and publicized it, they would inevitably be subject to pointing fingers and criticism from the world.

Thinking this, Xiao Mu'an swallowed back the words that were about to come out. He shook his head slightly, sighed inwardly, and said no more. After all, at such a sensitive time, any small action could lead to unexpected consequences. He had to act cautiously and not cause unnecessary trouble for his family because of a momentary slip of the tongue.

Just then, Xiao Lan spoke up without hesitation, "Brother, after we finish repairing that place, I plan to move all the things Aunt sent there. If you have some free time then, why don't you go and take a look, see if there's anything we need to buy?" After saying this, Xiao Lan looked closely and saw that her brother, Xiao Mu'an, still looked completely indifferent. So she couldn't help but persuade him again, "Brother, my Wutong Residence is about to officially open! I've been so busy lately, I haven't had a moment to spare to worry about these things! Besides, brother, you shouldn't always be cooped up at home studying those books. You should go out for a stroll and get some fresh air occasionally!"

"Alright, alright, brother will definitely go there as soon as he has a spare moment. Then tomorrow, I will send someone to replace that contract." Xiao Mu'an knew perfectly well what his younger sister was thinking; she didn't want him to be cooped up at home studying all day. Besides, the imperial examinations were approaching, and if she wanted to gain a foothold in the capital, she naturally needed to build up her connections early on. In addition, his sister was going to marry into the royal family and become a prince's consort, so he, as her brother, absolutely couldn't hold her back! Therefore, Xiao Mu'an quickly asked, "Lanlan, you've been in the capital for much longer than your brother. I wonder where the young masters from the official families in the capital usually like to spend their time entertaining themselves? Is it like in Jiangnan, where they often hold poetry gatherings and such?"

Upon hearing Xiao Mu'an's words, Xiao Lan instantly understood her brother's thoughts—he longed to make friends with like-minded people. So, she smiled and said, "Brother, there are still half a day of classes at the academy this morning! After school, I'll ask our teacher. Speaking of which, if you truly want to delve into scholarship, the Imperial Academy and Minglu Academy are both excellent places! However, I've also heard something—a bizarre murder case supposedly occurred at the Imperial Academy. Although the Prefect of the Capital keeps it a secret, considering that even the princes have chosen to study at Minglu Academy this year, the murder case is likely true. If the teacher agrees, you could study at Minglu Academy as an auditor. This way, you can make many good friends and expand your network; secondly, if you encounter any academic difficulties, the proximity will make it much easier to ask the teacher for help!"

Upon hearing this, Xiao Mu'an's eyes lit up, but then a hint of worry appeared on his face. He quickly said, "That is indeed a good idea! However, I have never taken the entrance exam for Minglu Academy, so I'm really unsure of myself. I don't know if the academy would be willing to accept someone like me. Besides, even if the academy has auditing slots, I'm afraid I can't guarantee that I can stay at the academy to study all the time. To be honest, Lanlan, I really long to make some new friends. If I were in Yuzhou, it would be easy; I could just participate in poetry gatherings and other activities. It's just a pity that I'm new to the capital and don't know anyone here yet."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Lan blurted out without hesitation, "Well, I've had quite a bit of dealing with the academy's headmaster before, because of Xiao Yu'er's enrollment! Besides, with your renowned reputation in Shu Prefecture, obtaining an auditing pass shouldn't be an insurmountable task for you, brother! Also, the poetry gatherings in the capital are quite different from those in Yu Prefecture! To put it bluntly, the poetry gatherings in the capital are just ordinary people getting together to discuss poetry and compose poems, just to appear cultured. However, in my opinion, brother, you could selectively participate in some of them. After all, some poetry gatherings might allow you to meet more like-minded people, or even gain a lot of creative inspiration!"

Xiao Lan clearly remembered that in her previous life, her brother was supposed to participate in the imperial examination and achieve a top-three ranking. However, apart from Cui Jiuhan, the other two successful candidates had distinguished themselves and gained fame at the poetry gathering the previous year. Unfortunately, her memories of that time were somewhat hazy, and she couldn't recall exactly when that crucial poetry gathering was held.

Therefore, Xiao Lan thought to herself, "It seems I need to quickly send someone to inquire about the upcoming poetry gatherings and see which talented men and women will be participating." After all, time is of the essence, and if she could obtain relevant information in time, it might be helpful to her brother's path to the imperial examinations.

That said, those two scholars who became famous through the poetry gathering and subsequently passed the imperial examinations, despite not being of noble birth, ultimately became a force of integrity in the court through their talent and hard work. They upheld justice and principles, were unafraid of powerful figures, and were wholeheartedly dedicated to the well-being of the country and its people.

It's a pity! These two men didn't seem to gain the favor or be given important positions by the later Emperor Yan Linfeng. As time went by, for some unknown reason, they gradually lost power and were eventually even exiled to remote areas. Thinking of this, Xiao Lan couldn't help but sigh softly, secretly lamenting the fate of these two loyal ministers and generals.

However, in this life, Yan Linfeng has lost his strategist and advisor, making his ascension to the throne far from easy. Recalling his past life, upon reflection, he realizes that his tragic end was perhaps a consequence of his own unjust actions. Back then, many virtuous officials failed to receive the recognition and appointment they deserved. Instead, after Yan Linfeng ascended the throne, simply because of his guilt towards Ye Lanyi, he promoted her ignorant and incompetent second brother.

It should be noted that Yan Linfeng was not the legitimate son of the emperor. In order to consolidate his power, he had no choice but to bring many women from meritorious and noble families into the palace. As a result, not only were many upright and honest officials suppressed, but the atmosphere in the court became extremely corrupt. Admittedly, this method did allow him to firmly grasp power, but how long could a royal rule maintained by marriage last? Moreover, the influx of these noble women caused the originally peaceful and harmonious harem to become chaotic, noisy, and filled with corruption.

At that time, Xiao Lan, as the head of the harem, was constantly preoccupied with affairs and had no time to spare. She not only had to deal with her husband, Emperor Yan Linfeng, but also had to navigate the complexities of his many concubines, keeping her extremely busy. Over time, this took its toll, causing her to become mentally and physically exhausted, almost prematurely aging. Whenever she thought of this, Xiao Lan couldn't help but feel a chill of fear.

Looking back now, the scenes from her past life were still vivid in her mind. Even though she hadn't ultimately died at Ye Lanyi's hands, she probably wouldn't have been able to withstand the open and covert struggles and intrigues of Yan Linfeng's many wives and concubines, and would have been driven to her death by them sooner or later. Thinking of this, Xiao Lan quickly shook her head vigorously, trying to drive the memories out of her mind and refocus her attention on the present.

Then, she looked at Xiao Mu'an again and said slowly, "Brother, in the capital, officials and their families with some status often hold events such as flower viewing parties and banquets. However, such gatherings require invitations from the host family, and only those invited can participate. Although our Xiao family and the Jiang family do not currently reside in the capital, firstly, my aunt has always maintained close relationships with many ladies because of my uncle's career prospects; secondly, the guests at Wutong Residence will be mostly high-ranking officials and dignitaries from the capital! Therefore, brother, you don't need to worry. I will definitely find a way to help you integrate into the social circles of the capital before the palace examination." After speaking, Xiao Lan patted her chest a few times with considerable confidence.

This action made Xiao Mu'an, who was standing to the side, chuckle and tease, "Look at you, you're already engaged and married, but you're still so childish."

Xiao Lan gently shook her head, a slight smile playing on her lips, revealing a hint of nonchalance: "Oh dear, no matter how much I grow older, I will always be my brother's most beloved little sister!" She blinked her bright eyes, turning her gaze to her brother beside her, her eyes filled with anticipation and affection.

Then, as if suddenly remembering something important, Xiao Lan clapped her hands excitedly and said, "Oh, right! Brother, if you don't have anything particularly important to do these next few days, would you like to come with me to Wutong Residence? I have some things there that I need you to help me write down." After saying that, she folded her hands in front of her chest, leaned forward slightly, and looked at her brother earnestly, as if afraid that he would refuse.

Xiao Lan pondered to herself that she planned to give each room in Wutong Residence a unique and poetic name, and hang exquisite paintings and matching poems in the rooms. This idea actually originated from a casual reminder she received from Xiao Mu'an.

Xiao Lan was deeply gratified that Xiao Mu'an had been fortunate enough to escape Cui Jiuhan's schemes. At the same time, she realized that for Xiao Mu'an's future development, she needed to plan ahead and make more preparations. After all, whether it was studying at Minglu Academy, participating in poetry gatherings, or attending various banquets in the future, Xiao Mu'an might not always have the opportunity to fully showcase his talents due to the large number of people present.

After careful consideration, Xiao Lan believed that the best way to showcase Xiao Mu'an was to create a long-term and eye-catching platform, and Wutong Residence was the ideal location. By carefully naming each room and pairing it with appropriate paintings and poems, a rich cultural atmosphere could be created. Furthermore, Xiao Lan even conceived of inventing a few fictional characters to add to the story. This way, a few interesting storybooks written in his spare time would likely be quite popular, perhaps even becoming bestsellers!

Whenever she thought about these things, Xiao Lan couldn't help but lament how tight her schedule was, and how she couldn't act too flamboyantly or outrageously. Otherwise, with her intelligence and creativity, becoming the wealthiest woman in the Great Xia Kingdom would probably be a matter of moments. However, reality didn't allow her to act so recklessly; she could only try her best to create more favorable conditions and opportunities for Xiao Mu'an within the limited circumstances.

When Xiao Lan asked for his help, Xiao Mu'an immediately replied, "I've been getting tired of reading these past few days, so I'll go to Wutong Residence with you for the next few days."

Xiao Lan knew that Xiao Mu'an's excuse about being tired of reading was just that—an excuse. Even if Xiao Mu'an was a bookworm, how could he possibly be tired of reading? However, Xiao Lan didn't expose him and said, "Then, brother, tomorrow is a day off at the academy. I'll pick you up after school and we'll go to Wutong Residence together."

After Xiao Mu'an agreed, the two briefly discussed some matters. Xiao Lan then called Wu Yuyu and headed towards the main gate, intending to find Yan Nanhui to return to Minglu Academy together. However, they unexpectedly saw Yan Nanhui standing by the horse.

Xiao Lan said, "Your Highness, it's cold at night. Why don't you come with us in the carriage?"

Unexpectedly, Yan Nan said, "Lanlan, I'm going back to the palace to see my father now. If it gets too late, I'll stay at my mother's place. I'm afraid you'll get anxious if you don't see me, so I'll wait to tell you before I leave."

Xiao Lan assumed that Yan Nan Hui was probably going to discuss the bamboo salt matter with the emperor, so she didn't say much. She simply brushed her hair and said to Yan Nan Hui, "Then Your Highness should go quickly. My cousin and I will return to the academy first."

After the three parted, Yan Nan rode his horse towards the palace, while Xiao Lan and Wu Yuyu mounted their horses and headed towards Minglu Academy outside the city.