Reborn Princess

After changing Zhou Cechen's clothes, Shen Xilan lowered his head and tied her belt.

"Were you scared just now?" Zhou Cechen asked in a low voice.

Seeing such a bloody scene, Zhou Cechen was really afraid that Shen Lilan would be frightened.

Shen Lilan shook his head.

The carriage fell into silence again.

It was so quiet that you could hear each other's breathing.

After Shen Yanlan fastened his belt, he looked up at Zhou Cechen and said, "Give me your hand."

Zhou Cechen was stunned for a moment and then raised his hand as Shen Xilan said.

A string of emerald green beads fell on his wrist.

The cold touch made Zhou Cechen's heart tremble, and he stared at Shen Lilan.

"It's here to protect you." Shen Lilan curved his lips and said.

"This is the pearl my mother asked for me at Jiming Temple. It guarantees safety."

"Now, it's yours."

Zhou Cechen's Adam's apple rolled, his jawline was tense, his eyes were dark and deep, and after a while he hugged Shen Lilan in his arms.

"Shen Lilan, I promise you that I will keep myself safe and protect you."

Zhou Cechen buried his face in Shen Lilan's neck, his voice muffled.

After getting ready, the carriage continued to move forward.

Zhou Cechen held Shen Lilan's hand and said, "The Yang family is guilty of many crimes but holds great power. I came to Yangzhou to investigate the Qin-Yang faction dispute."

"And...my mother's death."

"Is flood prevention just a cover-up?" Shen Lilan asked.

Zhou Cechen nodded, "Yes, I didn't mean to hide it from you, but..."

"I know." Shen Lilan interrupted Zhou Cechen.

"You don't have to explain it to me."

Zhou Cechen looked at Shen Lilan and held her hand tightly.

……

When Shen Xilan and Zhou Cechen arrived in Yangzhou, the Jingzhe Festival had already passed. The spring thunder had started the coming of all things.

The magistrate of Yangzhou County brought local officials to the city gate to greet them.

The raindrops fell on the oil-paper umbrella, making a "pat-pat" sound. The raindrops were fine and soft. Looking at the plaque on the tall gate of the ancient city, Yangzhou City was like an ink painting slowly unfolding.

Shen Lilan lifted the curtain and Zhou Cechen took the umbrella opened by Tang Song and extended his hand to her.

"Slow down."

After Zhou Cechen led Shen Xilan down from the carriage, the county magistrate Yang Wanli hurried to greet them.

"Meet King Ding'an."

After everyone paid their respects, Zhou Cechen glanced at the officials in official uniforms with a stern look in his eyes.

After a while, he said, "No need to be polite."

Yang Wanli stood up and walked towards Zhou Cechen: "Prince Ding'an has traveled a long way to come here to worry about the flood prevention of my small city. I have prepared a banquet. Please come to my house."

Zhou Cechen nodded and pulled Shen Lilan forward.

Yang Wanli was very perceptive. He looked at Shen Lilan and said, "Could this be..."

"My princess." Zhou Cechen said.

"It turns out to be Princess Ding'an," he said to the official behind him, "Why don't you pay your respects quickly?"

"Meet Princess Ding'an."

Shen Lilan nodded: "Get up."

"Prince Ding'an and his wife seem to be a match made in heaven. We have all sent gifts to celebrate their wedding a few months ago. I'm sure that the prince and his wife will be able to live in harmony."

Zhou Cechen glanced at Yang Wanli and nodded. She pulled Shen Xilan forward, and seeing that the two of them were holding an umbrella, Yang Wanli immediately handed her an umbrella.

"Let the princess hold this umbrella."

Zhou Cechen's eyes flashed with impatience, but after calming down, he said, "No need."

Yangzhou City is different from Yanjing City. Compared with the capital, it is more simple and has more of a down-to-earth atmosphere.

It seems that people are more lively.

Shen Lilan walked over and found the things on the stall really interesting.

After arriving at Yang's house, Yang Wanli hosted a banquet for Zhou Cechen.

Shen Yanlan entered the Yang Mansion and looked at the mountains and rivers in the mansion that had been moved from the mountains to the yard. He really felt leisurely and carefree.

After arriving at the table, Shen Lilan immediately saw Yanci and... Fu Zhen standing there?

Why is she here?

Shen Lilan moved her fingers, and Zhou Cechen, who was holding Shen Lilan's hand, felt it and asked her in a low voice: "What's wrong?"

Shen Lilan smiled and shook his head: "What a sumptuous banquet."

"Yangzhou cuisine is very unique, but I'm afraid you won't be able to get used to it."

Shen Lilan raised his eyebrows: "Not used to it?"

"Ah."

"Yan pays respect to Prince Ding'an and Princess Ding'an."

Yang Wanli smiled and said to Zhou Cechen, "This is Shopkeeper Yang, a wealthy businessman from Jiangnan. He happened to be in Yangzhou today and wanted to pay a visit to Prince Ding'an, so I thought of inviting him to a banquet together."

Zhou Cechen nodded.

After everyone sat down, Zhou Cechen picked up a crab and prepared to peel it for Shen Lilan.

"Your Majesty, I am very fortunate that you have come to Yangzhou and have given us such an honor in our small city. I, your humble servant, and all the people of Yangzhou pay tribute to you."

Zhou Cechen looked at Yang Wanli who was sitting on the main seat and said, "It is my duty to serve the people. County Magistrate Yang, thank you for your praise."

Yang Wanli agreed with a smile.

The day was peaceful and harmonious as Zhou Cechen continued to peel crabs for Shen Lilan. Everyone saw his behavior and guessed how important Shen Lilan was in Zhou Cechen's heart.

"Yan also toasts to the prince and princess." Yanci raised his glass and said.

Shen Xilan looked at Zhou Cechen and saw that he had a very cold reaction. Perhaps he had already instructed Yanci to do so. But why was Fu Zhen there too? She glanced at Fu Zhen.

Fu Zhen was looking at Shen Lilan with a smile in her eyes.

After a while, Shen Yanlan lowered his head to eat the food on the plate.

"Why are all these dishes sweet?" Shen Lilan whispered in Zhou Cechen's ear.

“This is the characteristic of Yangzhou.”

Shen Lilan paused and nodded, and Zhou Cechen placed the peeled crab meat in front of Shen Lilan.

Then a group of local officials toasted Zhou Cechen, who nodded and drank a few glasses of wine.

As the banquet was drawing to a close, Yang Wanli said, "I have already prepared the bedrooms. Please invite the prince and princess to stay at my house."

Zhou Cechen refused, "No need, I have already booked an inn, so I won't bother County Magistrate Yang anymore."

"Tomorrow I will go to the county government to make preliminary plans for flood prevention."

"Okay, thank you very much."

Zhou Cechen nodded.

After leaving the county government, Shen Yanlan looked at Zhou Cechen: "Can't you say anything?"

"He lives in Yang's house."

"That……"

"The person next to her is the owner of Wansanglou, and he is acting with her."

"acting?"

Zhou Cechen nodded: "Yes."

"She bought it with her words for a million taels."

"How much? One million taels?"

Shen Lilan calmed down after being shocked again and again.

After listening to Zhou Cechen's account of the whole story, Shen Yanlan finally guessed what Fu Zhen had done these days.

She also came to investigate what happened to the Qin family in the past.

Zhou Cechen looked at Shen Lilan's expression of frowning and nodding, then curled his lips and smiled.

"What's wrong?" he asked.

"I was just shocked by what you just said. Also, the night market in Yangzhou City is pretty good."

"Want to go shopping?"

Shen Lilan's eyes lit up and he nodded.

"Walk."

Looking at the various pearl hairpins and sachets on the stall, Shen Xilan couldn't help but take a few more glances. The result of these glances was that Zhou Cechen bought them all.

After returning to the inn, Shen Lilan took a shower and lay on the bed, thinking about what Zhou Cechen said to him today, and thought that the Yang family's empire was about to collapse.