She's skilled in medicine, martial arts, and even understands animal language—the abandoned dau

Shen Man pulled Lanxiang to sit down by the bed, her cold fingertips nestled in her mother's palm, the candlelight flickering in her eyes.

"Before His Highness the Crown Prince left, he told me that once things in the capital were settled, he would personally come to the border town to propose marriage to me. This jade pendant was a gift from him."

She lowered her eyes and gently stroked the patterns on the jade pendant, murmuring softly, "If he breaks his promise, then it means he is untrustworthy. In that case, I will remain the city lord and guard the border forever."

This thousand-mile-long pass, with its fifty thousand soldiers guarding the frontier, is my only reliance.

Shen Man looked out the window, paused, and then continued, "But if he really comes to propose marriage, then I will return the border town to the court and marry him in peace..."

"Man'er, it turns out you had this planned all along. I was just overthinking it!"

Seeing that Shen Man was not obsessed with this relationship and had already prepared a way out, Lanxiang felt relieved.

But a moment later, she began to feel sorry for her daughter again.

“Man’er, it pains me to see you bear such a choice at such a young age. But if you really marry the Crown Prince and enter the deep palace, you will inevitably be involved in the complicated palace intrigues. I am really worried about you.”

"If you stay in this city, even with 50,000 soldiers by your side, the journey will surely be incredibly arduous." Lanxiang gently stroked Shen Man's hair, her eyes filled with worry.

Shen Man smiled slightly and comforted her, "Mother, don't worry. If it really comes to that, I will have a way to deal with it."

Your Highness, you don't seem to be a heartless person. If he truly cares for me, then by marrying into the royal family, I can do more for the people of Chiyan.

If he betrays me, this city will be my strength, and I will not let anyone bully me.

Seeing her daughter's determination, Lanxiang's worries lessened somewhat.

She held Shen Man's hand tightly and said, "Okay, Mother believes in you. No matter what choice you make, Mother will stand by your side."

Shen Man leaned against her mother's chest, feeling the warmth and gaining strength in her heart, quietly waiting for the future to unfold.

That night, the mother and daughter talked intimately for a long time until Lanxiang couldn't stay awake any longer, and Shen Man then took her back to her room to rest.

The next morning, Shen Man did not go to her office as usual, but instead summoned her servants and asked them to dress up Lanxiang carefully.

After getting everything ready, I'll take her out for a stroll.

As the morning light spilled over the gray walls, Shen Man led Lan Xiang out of the government office.

By this time, the morning market in the border town was already bustling with activity. Mule caravans carrying mountain goods clattered along the bluestone road, and the shouts of street vendors mingled with the enticing aroma of freshly baked sesame cakes.

"Mother, it's still early. Let's find a teahouse and get something to eat first." Shen Man said, taking Lanxiang's hand as they entered a teahouse called "Wangyun Pavilion".

The mother and daughter went through the carved wooden lattice door, went up to the second floor, and found a private seat by the window.

Through the window, you can see the entire street scene. Silk shops, blacksmith shops, and medicine shops stand side by side, and at the street corner, a few children are chasing and playing with sugar paintings.

The young man quickly set out the celadon tea set, and a few golden osmanthus blossoms floated in the emerald green tea soup, which was Yunwu tea, a specialty of the border town.

"Man'er, do you come here often?" Lanxiang asked, holding a teacup and looking down at the bustling street.

Shen Man poured Lanxiang a cup of tea: "I don't come here often. A year ago, when the street was being renovated, I specifically designated this area as a commercial district."

"Mother, look! The owner of that silk shop was originally a refugee, but now she's able to support her family business."

The mother and daughter sat in the teahouse for about 15 minutes before getting up to leave.

As they walked down to the market, Lanxiang was suddenly drawn by the sound of silver bells.

The roadside stalls were filled with exquisite silver ornaments, with carved bracelets and jade hairpins gleaming warmly in the sunlight.

"This craftsmanship is amazing..." Lanxiang picked up a hairpin with a lotus pattern and couldn't put it down.

"If you like it, Mother, then buy it," Shen Man said, and was about to pay for it.

"Lord Ding, please consider this hair ornament a gift from me to this lady. If it weren't for you opening a workshop and inviting a master craftsman to teach us the craft, how could I possibly be able to set up a stall here!"

The stall owner was a young woman in her early twenties. When Shen Man handed her the money, she hurriedly refused.

Shen Man smiled and insisted on stuffing the silver into the stall owner's hand: "This is not acceptable. Your craftsmanship is so exquisite, this hair ornament is worth the price."

The stall owner couldn't refuse and had no choice but to accept it.

As the sun rose higher, the mother and daughter turned into a narrow alley paved with bluestone slabs.

Lanxiang suddenly stopped in her tracks—the walls were covered with notices, including announcements from the government recruiting craftsmen and opening schools, as well as notices posted by the people seeking medical help.

“Man’er, these…” She looked at the neatly written notices, her voice trembling slightly.

Shen Man pointed to the newly painted white wall next to the notice: "On the fifteenth of every month, the government will set up a stall here, and people can come and bring their troubles."

Lanxiang's fingertips traced the bold ink marks on the notice, and in a daze, she saw her daughter's figure bent over her desk late at night.

She had seen Shen Man reviewing official documents before the morning mist dissipated. The candlelight illuminated her slightly furrowed brows as her pen scratched across the paper. Little did she know how much effort she had put into bringing vitality to the border town was hidden between those lines.

"These are all your..." Lanxiang's throat tightened, and before she could finish speaking, she was interrupted by a burst of laughter from the street.

Several children chased each other, rolling iron hoops, when the boy leading them suddenly stopped and bowed respectfully: "Greetings, City Lord!"

The other children followed suit and bowed, their innocent voices startling the sparrows under the eaves.

Shen Man smiled and patted the head of the nearest little girl, then took out a handkerchief to wipe the dust from the tip of her nose: "Xiao Qiu, are you being naughty again?"

The little girl giggled and dodged away, turning to Lanxiang and saying, "Madam, Master Ding taught us to read! I even got a little red flower at school last month!"

As Lanxiang watched her daughter and children being affectionate with each other, her eyes gradually welled up with tears.

As the sun began to set, the mother and daughter walked to the riverbank in the city.

On the newly built stone embankment, several elderly people were leisurely fishing. Not far away at the dock, the cargo unloaded from merchant ships was piled up like a small mountain, and the porters' shouts and the sound of waves crashing together created a melody.

As Lanxiang gazed at the shimmering river, she suddenly remembered how she used to worry that her daughter would be blinded by the yellow sand when she was young. Now, this land had blossomed in her hands.

“Man’er,” Lanxiang held her daughter’s hand tightly, her voice filled with unprecedented pride, “you have brought life to this town and made the people the masters of the land.”

Mother used to worry that you would overwork yourself, but now I understand that you are pouring your heart and soul into this light, illuminating the path for millions of people.

Shen Man nestled against Lanxiang's shoulder and murmured softly, "Mother, do you still remember when I was a child, my grandfather, the village head, was beaten? At that time, I made a vow to change this world."

Now, this city, under my rule, finally resembles a scene of peace and prosperity!