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Chapter 156: Chapter 156: Setting Up On One’s Own
Zhan Lan couldn’t rest easy leaving Xiao Tao alone to suffer at the hands of the Li family.
She shielded the aggrieved Xiao Tao behind her and said in a deep voice, "Xiao Tao has already done very well. If you dislike her, I will take her away. Tomorrow, I will buy you two maids to serve you comfortably."
Mrs. Li sneered, "Lan’er, where do you get the silver to bless me with such fortune in my lifetime?"
Zhan Lan scoffed, "First-class military merit. His Majesty awarded me one hundred thousand taels of silver. Isn’t that enough?"
Mrs. Li was left speechless by Zhan Lan’s retort. Since waking up, had she been too obvious in her dislike and scheming against Zhan Lan?
Mrs. Li realized that Zhan Lan was no longer like before; whatever she said was no longer the final word.
She was grown up now, no longer afraid of her.
Mrs. Li’s eyes welled up with tears, and with a sense of grievance, she wiped them away, "Daughter, mother is in poor health, and after recovering from a serious illness, I’ve been in poor spirits. Don’t resent mother for being moody. After your father passed, my heart has been filled with sorrow..."
Watching Mrs. Li’s poor acting, Zhan Lan faintly smiled and said, "Then you should take good care of yourself."
Having said this, she turned to Xiao Tao and instructed, "Take good care of madam."
Xiao Tao quickly nodded.
Zhan Lan was determined. She would continue to look for a house tomorrow morning. Even if it was barely satisfactory, she needed to make a decision.
The night at the Mu Residence.
Vermilion Bird reported to Mu Yan the day’s business from the Xingtian Department and finally said, "Master, today, the Hidden Guard saw Miss Zhan looking for a house with her maid. It’s said that Mrs. Li wants Zhan Lan to marry her cousin..."
Mu Yan had been listless, but on hearing Vermilion Bird’s words, he first frowned, then his eyes brightened.
He asked nonchalantly, "She is looking for a house to move out of the General Mansion? Who is her cousin?"
Vermilion Bird nodded, "Our informant in the General Mansion didn’t get the details, but we know Miss Zhan argued with Mrs. Li."
Mu Yan’s eyes darkened, then he smiled slightly and said to Vermilion Bird, "Understood, you may go."
Vermilion Bird closed the door from the outside, puzzled by his master’s reaction. Reasonably, after the Master and Miss Zhan had been so intimate in the forest cabin that night, shouldn’t they be discussing marriage?
And now, Miss Zhan was going to marry her cousin, and the Master didn’t seem in a hurry at all?
Vermilion Bird scratched his head, more and more baffled. Could it be the Master performed poorly that night and was rejected by Miss Zhan?
Indeed, having been celibate for so many years, perhaps he really didn’t perform well for the first time.
Vermilion Bird praised himself internally for being so clever. Should he prepare some tonic for the Master?
He had an idea and would make arrangements starting tomorrow!
...
The next morning, Zhan Lan arrived at the main street again, searching for an estate.
A middle-aged house broker approached enthusiastically, bowing to Zhan Lan, "Is this young lady looking for an estate?"
Liu Xi watched the house broker warily, "Do you have any?"
"Yes, yes, by coincidence, I have several nice estates that have just come onto the market. Miss, why don’t you take a look? The commission has been covered by the house owners, you won’t need to spend an extra tael of silver."
Zhan Lan also wanted to quickly find a house, so she said, "Liu Xi, follow him and have a look."
The house broker showed Zhan Lan four estates, but they were dissatisfying, just like yesterday.
She shook her head, "Let’s look more after lunch!"
Suddenly the house broker recalled something and said, "Oh, miss, there is another estate, sold just last night. It’s clean and the right size, most importantly, it’s quiet. Right opposite is Wangjiang Lake, with a pleasant view. Moreover, the owner intended to do business in Ding’an City, but they haven’t been here long and the business is too hectic, they couldn’t handle it, so they decided to sell."
Zhan Lan wasn’t very hopeful but responded, "Let’s see the last place then!"
Liu Xi got on the carriage and lowered the curtain as they headed to the destination.
Zhan Lan got off the carriage and saw a vermilion front door with a brand new plaque on it, still without any inscription.
Zhan Lan followed the house broker into the courtyard, which was about two acres in size. Not particularly large, but the layout was delicate, with pavilions, terraces, and towers, offering a new scenery at every step.
It was evident that the merchant also had taste and discernment.
What surprised her more was a vacant space behind the courtyard, perfect for practicing martial arts.
The group entered the main house, which was two stories tall, furnished meticulously with an Eight Immortals table, Grand Master’s chairs, a concubine’s couch, and a bed finely carved from golden-threaded nanmu wood.
Zhan Lan could even smell the pleasant scent of fine wood.
There was a bathing room, a living room, a kitchen, everything that was needed.
Adding up the rooms for the servants and maids, there were more than a dozen rooms in total.
Zhan Lan was very satisfied in her heart; such a house was hard to come by.
She looked at the house broker, "Is the owner here?"
The house broker smiled, "Miss, the owner has fully entrusted us. Rest assured, we have all the land and property deeds."
Zhan Lan faintly smiled, "I can only rent this estate for now; I don’t have the money to buy it."
The house broker nodded slightly, "Miss, the land here is extremely valuable. If you wish to rent, it will be more expensive. It would cost three hundred thousand taels to buy, but if you want to rent it, the annual rent is six thousand taels."
Zhan Lan nodded, "Then rent it for now, and if I have enough money later, we’ll discuss again."
The house broker said with a smile, "Miss is straightforward, let’s just sign a contract then."
Liu Xi was stunned looking at her young miss, who nonchalantly rented the house for six thousand taels of silver.
Despite knowing that Zhan Lan now had silver, she didn’t expect the rent to be six thousand taels a year, and the Master did not even blink.
After returning to the General Mansion, Zhan Lan casually brought back two maids.
Mrs. Li, seeing two fierce-looking maids standing at the door, frowned, "Lan’er, what are you doing? I quite like Xiao Tao, there’s no need for so many maids."
Zhan Lan curved her lips and sidestepped the topic, "I’ve rented an estate. Will you come with me?"
Mrs. Li not under her watch, she couldn’t be at ease.
Mrs. Li furrowed her brows. Zhan Lan had actually taken the initiative to move out of the General Mansion, so she asked, "Where is it?"
Zhan Lan crossed her arms and leaned against the door frame, "Don’t worry, it won’t be a downgrade for you. It’s in an excellent location, right by Wangjiang Lake."
Mrs. Li pondered for a moment. It was good for Zhan Lan to move out; that way, her interactions with the General Mansion would reduce, and her identity would be less exposed.
"Alright, I will go with you." For once, Mrs. Li’s face bore a rare smile.
Zhan Lan didn’t have much to pack, and it was done fairly quickly. She waited for Mrs. Li to finish preparations, ready to bid farewell to her grandparents and parents.
