Chapter 103 - 103 103 Birthday Feast

Words : 1402 Updated : Sep 17th, 2025

Chapter 103: Chapter 103: Birthday Feast Chapter 103: Chapter 103: Birthday Feast Zhan Lan’s eyes darkened. These two had been following her for quite some time, but whose men were they? Originally, she thought they would leave once they were in a crowded place. Zhan Lan cast a glance back at the two men, who were dressed in black and expressionless, like well-trained Hidden Guards. “Who is your master? What do you want with me!” demanded Zhan Lan. Seeing Zhan Lan’s calmness, one of the men took out a piece of paper and unfolded it in front of her. Zhan Lan was startled when she saw the handwriting on the paper. “You, what have you done to her!” Zhan Lan said coldly. For the handwriting on the paper was Chu Yin’s, so ugly that even dogs would despise it; how could Zhan Lan not recognize it? The paper read: I am Chu Yin, Miss Zhan Lan of General Mansion’s good friend. Please help me repay the debt. Zhan Lan did not know if these men had taken Chu Yin hostage, whether it was for money or to coerce her into something! Zhan Lan’s eyes turned icy as she urgently asked, “Speak, what have you done to her!” The man in black carefully put away the paper and said with a cold face, “Our Family Head’s orders are to have the young lady board the sedan and follow us to a place where all will be revealed!” Zhan Lan did not know whether Chu Yin was safe or not, and she could only take the risk. She was also certain that they had not come for her life; otherwise, they would have made their move in a deserted alley. If that were the case, it was probably not for money but to force her to do something. Zhan Lan looked at a sedan behind the two men; she lifted the sedan curtain to see another man in black sitting inside, his expression as cold as ice. Zhan Lan sat inside the sedan, and the man in black handed her a black cloth strip. “Cover your eyes!” Zhan Lan knew it was an underworld rule, probably to prevent her from knowing the route to the destination. Believing that they did not intend to kill her, she promptly covered her eyes. The sedan carried by four people moved through the long street, and Zhan Lan tried to sense the direction inwardly, counting her steps and contemplating her strategy. ... Elsewhere, a line of sedans from General Mansion proceeded towards Wangjiang Building. Zhan Xuerou was in high spirits sitting inside the sedan, having deliberately worn the Peony hairpin bestowed by the Empress Dowager today. She even had Qiuyue open the curtains on the side of the sedan, allowing all to see the Peony hairpin on her head. Their procession of sedans was particularly eye-catching. The people knew that the Emperor had bestowed favors on General Mansion that day. When they saw the Peony hairpin on Zhan Xuerou’s head, everyone understood it was a royal gift. For, only members of the imperial family could wear peony hair ornaments. “Miss Zhan from General Mansion is truly beautiful!” “The hairpin on Miss Zhan’s head is so exquisite!” “The Emperor’s grace is boundless, he has indeed bestowed onto General’s family!” Zhan Xuerou, hearing the discussions of the people from inside her sedan, couldn’t help but smile at the corners of her lips. “Qiuyue, do you think I look beautiful today?” Zhan Xuerou asked, gazing at the scar on Qiuyue’s forehead. Qiuyue respectfully replied, “The young lady naturally possesses an elegant demeanor, particularly beautiful today!” Zhan Xuerou smiled and said, “Qiuyue, who do you think is more beautiful, me or Zhan Lan?” Qiuyue swallowed nervously and smiled, “The young lady is like the peony, the beauty of the nation. How could any wildflower compare to you?” Zhan Xuerou was very satisfied with Qiuyue’s answer, thinking to herself that this girl had finally become sensible. Qiuyue knew she didn’t like Zhan Lan, and that in the future, she would join forces with her to deal with Zhan Lan. Might as well spare her life for now! Qiuyue saw the smile on Zhan Xuerou’s face and let out a sigh of relief. Now she was becoming more and more afraid of Zhan Xuerou, but she had to earn Zhan Xuerou’s trust at the moment. That was the only way she could survive. However, inside she held an intense hatred for Zhan Xuerou. She might be a maid, but they had grown up together since childhood. From what happened with Chunhua, Qiuyue had learned of Zhan Xuerou’s cruelty. And yesterday, by the pond, Zhan Xuerou’s attempt to kill her had left Qiuyue with a clear understanding of Zhan Xuerou. Right now, Qiuyue was like a drifting duckweed, with nobody to rely on, orphaned, with no one to protect her. The only person she could rely on now was Zhan Lan, who had saved her life. From this incident and the achievements Zhan Lan had made at the border, she realized Miss Zhan Lan was not someone to be underestimated. Perhaps by following Zhan Lan, she could save her own life. For the time being, she had to flatter Zhan Xuerou, speaking ill of Zhan Lan, to clear her association with Zhan Lan. It was also a way to fight for a slim chance of survival. The sedan chair soon arrived at Wangjiang Building. Wangjiang Building was the largest tavern in Ding’an City, with six floors, and the tallest building in the city, the favorite tavern of the nobility and high-ranking officials. Compared to Zhaixing Building, it was a notch more prestigious. Its lavish and grand style was top-notch; performing troupes entertained on every floor, making dining there an act of extravagance. For the average people, it was a place they could only look at but not approach. Zhan Xuerou stepped out of the sedan, supported by Qiuyue, and her eyes lit up at the sight of the golden signboard with the dazzling characters for Wangjiang Building. It truly was a place where the rich and powerful spent freely. Her father had never been willing to come before, but this time, he had come for her birthday. Someone behind her looked up and pointed at Wangjiang Building, saying, “Ah, the Zhan Family is here, and the Wangjiang Building has even opened its sixth-floor viewing platform. It’s so brightly lit and impressive!” “Yes, I was wondering why the sixth floor of Wangjiang Building is never opened. Turns out, they were waiting for someone worthy!” “You’re not wrong, if you could stand on the sixth floor, you’d be able to see the entire night view of Ding’an City!” “Today, they say there’s a show by Little White Dove, it seems we can only listen from downstairs now!” “With General Zhan here, they must have the best performers to sing!” “Tsk tsk, after so many years of battle, General Zhan deserves to enjoy a bit!” “What are you talking about? General Zhan is known for his integrity. If it wasn’t for his legitimate daughter’s birthday, he wouldn’t bother coming here!” Listening to the crowd’s comments, Zhan Xuerou felt extreme delight in her heart; she loved this kind of grandeur, the feeling of being admired. But it seemed the people from General Mansion didn’t really like such extravagant displays. Zhan Beicang frowned as he listened to the commoners’ comments, quickly stepping into Wangjiang Building. If it wasn’t for promising his daughter, he was the last person to favor such a place of luxury, and he didn’t care for such pomp and circumstance. Shopkeeper Xue saw the Zhan Family arriving and immediately went up to greet them. “General Zhan, you’ve arrived. The fifth floor has been reserved for you. It’s very quiet and undisturbed.” Zhan Heng and Zhan Rui were gleefully looking around, pulled by Zhan Hui from either side. Qin Shuang, holding Zhan Xuerou’s hand, climbed step by step toward the fifth floor. Worry filled her eyes; her daughter hadn’t fully recovered from her illness, and climbing such a high building was an effort. If it weren’t for the fifth floor featuring a famous performance by Little White Dove, she really wouldn’t want Zhan Xuerou to exert herself.

Chapter 103 - 103 103 Birthday Feast

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