After her transformation and rebirth, she manipulates the innocent and ruthless to overthrow the wor

Chapter 297 Lantern Festival

Time flies, and the Lantern Festival is here in the blink of an eye.

Xiao Mu's departure date was set for the eighteenth day of the first lunar month.

Perhaps because the General's Mansion needed someone to take charge, He Shi was released from confinement ahead of schedule. However, Xiao Mu did not lift He Wan's punishment, even though He Shi came to him several times to beg him.

Because he knew that once he and Ran'er left, the General's Mansion would be the domain of this mother and daughter. At that time, would He Wan still obediently kneel in the ancestral hall?

Xiao Ran hasn't had a free time these past few days.

She used the real gold and silver she had received from the Empress and Prince Yan to buy a shop on East Street.

It's just that it's registered under Nangong Ming's name.

She wanted to arrange for Chun Tao, Xia He, and Xiao Lan to work in this shop, so that even if the He family mother and daughter found out something, Nangong Ming's name would still be enough to deter them.

night.

The Lantern Festival was very lively, with crowds coming and going. There were also food stalls along the roadside. As Xiao Ran walked along the roadside, she inadvertently saw a hairpin displayed on a roadside stall.

It's a wooden hairpin, the craftsmanship is so-so, but strangely it has a pear blossom pattern carved on it.

When the vendors saw Xiao Ran approaching, they tried their best to call out their wares, afraid of missing out on this elegantly dressed young lady.

"Does the young lady like it? This was made by our master craftsman; his skill is unparalleled, and we guarantee your satisfaction!"

Xiao Ran picked up the hairpin and examined it for a moment before putting it down.

This pear blossom hairpin is not as well-carved as Duanli.

Vendor: "Young lady, would you like to try it on?"

"no need."

As Xiao Ran was speaking, she turned around to leave, but was interrupted by a familiar voice.

"How much silver will it cost to wrap this up for this young lady?"

The vendor beamed with delight: "Alright, young master, that'll be two taels in total!"

Xiao Ran turned her head and looked directly at the person who came: "Young Master, you have gone to great lengths. I did not take a liking to this hairpin."

Ruichen, however, did not take it to heart and slowly inserted the hairpin into her hair.

"You don't need to covet it; as long as you stay for it, it's yours."

Ruichen seemed quite satisfied with his hairpin-inserting skills, lingering her gaze for a few more moments.

Xiao Ran, however, saw the Crown Prince and Shen You from behind him.

The Crown Prince cheerfully ordered his men to buy this and that, but Shen You kept her head down. Although she looked shy, Xiao Ran could see her sadness.

A few days ago, she secretly took Wenming to the Shen residence to see Shen You.

The Shen family did not dare to stop Wen Ming, after all, he was a court attendant appointed by the Emperor, and this time he was also commissioned by the Emperor to paint for Shen You.

Although the two spent some time alone, Shen You burst into tears after Wen Ming left. Xiao Ran had never seen Shen You express her emotions so openly before.

After that, she heard that Shen You had been staying at home all day, saying that he was preparing for his wedding. It wasn't until today that she saw Shen You again.

Still with the Crown Prince...

Xiao Ran stepped past Rui Chen and walked up to Shen You, bowing respectfully: "Sister Shen."

Shen You raised her eyes and softly said, "Mm."

The crown prince seemed somewhat surprised, but after seeing his elder brother's expression, he understood everything.

"Did Miss Xiao make this arrangement with her brother beforehand? I didn't realize that..."

"We have an appointment."

"It just happened."

The two voices coming at the same time made the crown prince somewhat embarrassed.

Xiao Ran didn't explain much, only saying, "Second Young Master, I have something I'd like to say to Sister Shen You. May I borrow Sister Shen You for a moment?"

The Crown Prince glanced at Shen You, then at Xiao Ran's serious expression, somewhat surprised, but still nodded:

"Ah... okay, you guys go ahead."