Si Xitong shook her head and said, "No, it's probably already been looted."
"The deceased are gone. Perhaps the objects they left behind can serve as mementos, but if you don't want to dwell on the past, just keep moving forward with your current pace."
Xie Lanzhi didn't want her to be sad; if she went in and saw that it was empty, she would feel even worse.
Si Xitong looked at her profile and asked, "Whether in the Southern Region or in your place, Lanzhi has always been so positive and optimistic?"
“I used to be a pretty laid-back person, but now that I’ve found my purpose in life, I won’t just sit around waiting to die.” Xie Lanzhi put her arm around her shoulder. Then, she whispered in Si Xitong’s ear, “Is Lanzhang Palace your bedroom?”
She was asking a question she already knew the answer to.
"Yes, I've lived here since I was little." Si Xitong walked with her, passing Lanyi Palace. Perhaps having someone by her side made the past memories less painful than before, and looking to the future might be a good choice.
The two figures passed by several palaces,
The further Xie Lanzhi went, the more eerie she felt, making her back feel cold and her scalp tingle, as if she had encountered an evil spirit.
Her arms were covered in goosebumps.
I don't know if it's a problem with the palace or the temperature, but it doesn't feel cold at all today. It's broad daylight.
She shuddered, stopped in her tracks, and looked around: "Then I'll stay in your palace tonight. Besides, the palace is so big, there shouldn't be any ghosts or anything like that." Since transmigrating into the book, although she believed in science, if she really encountered something bizarre, she would be in trouble.
"A ghost?" Si Xitong frowned when she saw the small red bumps on her hands. "Did you sneak something else after breakfast?"
Xie Lanzhi was stunned for a moment: "A ghost is a spirit. And how did you know? I just peeled a crayfish to try it out."
“One? The seafood will cause you to get a rash. Be sure not to touch it again next time. Not even a tiny bit.” Si Xitong rolled up a corner of her sleeve, saw that the small red spot was not serious, and that it would recover in a while without needing medicine.
Fortunately, this person is in good health; otherwise, her lack of dietary restrictions would have caused her repeated health problems.
She added, "There are priests near the Star-Picking Tower, so I think Lanzhi doesn't need to worry about ghosts or spirits."
"That's good then. I'm most afraid of seeing that thing." Xie Lanzhi said, letting go of her hand and turning to stand behind Si Xitong, placing her hands on Si Xitong's shoulder blades, as if Si Xitong was taking the lead while she stayed behind and relaxed.
The mighty Grand Marshal, more ferocious than a ghost herself, is now hiding behind Si Xitong. But her tall stature makes it clear she can't hide. Like a giant elephant hiding behind a sapling—Bai Zang. No different from an ostrich burying its head in the sand.
Just imagining the scene made Si Xitong burst out laughing, and the remaining sadness instantly vanished.
Her eyes darted around, and she suddenly asked, "Lanzhi, aren't you afraid I'll be eaten first if you let me go first?"
As she spoke, Xie Lanzhi flashed forward, shielding Si Xitong like a protective mother.
"It's all my fault for joking too much; it's probably just a rash," Xie Lanzhi said with a hint of self-reproach. "I promise I won't be greedy next time."
She always instinctively protected her. Her figure was not as strong as that of a burly man, but unknowingly, she had become the most magnificent person in her heart.
"I'm not telling you to eat less, but rather that you need to be mindful of what you eat. Anything that might harm your health is absolutely forbidden," Si Xitong said, recalling how her mother had worried about her so much when she was a child. She now felt the same way about others and understood her mother's feelings.
She secretly puffed out her cheeks; she had gotten into the habit of puffing out her cheeks when she was a child and would act spoiled with her father and mother.
"The dignified Grand Marshal, in private, has a childlike appetite; if this were to be revealed, it would surely frighten many people."
"And I sometimes feel like I'm becoming spoiled in front of you. If I were to act spoiled again right now...
Will I become someone I don't recognize?
today.
She tried to open her arms to the figure in front of her, her slender hands gently encircling Xie Lanzhi's waist. The unexpected contact made Xie Lanzhi freeze.
Si Xitong gently pressed her cheek against her back, feeling the height difference between them. This person was very tall, and had a slender waist.
She had witnessed Lan Zhi's strength; a single kick could make someone vomit blood. This was only one aspect of her physical prowess.
Her intelligence far surpasses that of others.
Her military strategies coincided with his own, and he could even come up with brilliant ideas overnight.
Her potential is far greater than it appears. This person isn't in a hurry to show her talent or realize her ambitions; instead, he urges her on and always has high expectations for her.
"Lanzhi." Si Xitong lowered her eyes with lingering affection, fearing that this was all a dream: "Why is there such a wonderful person as you in this world, and why did I have to meet you?"
"What if I can't break free from my dependence on you in the future?"
Xie Lanzhi's heart was pounding so hard it felt like it was about to burst out of her chest, like a wild horse about to leap out.
In her past life, she had little experience with romance. Occasionally, she would watch idol dramas and think the female lead was like a porcelain doll, with the male lead always there to support her in crucial moments, becoming her source of courage. This kind of protective love is something you can only dream of.
Today, she began to understand the feelings of a domineering CEO. If you were to meet a woman as exquisite as a porcelain doll, wouldn't you also want to cherish her dearly?
Her face flushed instantly, and she stammered, "Little Phoenix, actually, I, I..."
"Please allow me some time."
ah!!!
The more crucial the situation, the less she knew how to answer. She felt she needed an online dating guide to offer advice.
Si Xitong pressed close to her; the cold armor could never warm her heart, but the person inside the armor always had a soft heart.
Her hand slowly moved from Xie Lanzhi's waist to her breastplate, as if confirming her authenticity.
Xie Lanzhi felt her hand was about to touch her heart. Wouldn't that reveal her wildly beating heart? Instantly, she felt like she had been electrocuted. Her whole body went numb, and then her legs went weak and she fell backward.
Si Xitong supported her against the palace wall, wondering why her body felt like it was collapsing. She was stunned for a moment, then realized, "Is Lanzhi afraid of me?"
Xie Lanzhi straightened up and coughed lightly to ease the awkwardness: "Even if a dignified Marshal of the Army and Cavalry is afraid, it should be the crayfish that caused my rash."
Her stubbornness and blushing were utterly unconvincing, prompting Si Xitong to let out a faint, amused "Ha."
She smiled reassuringly: "Lanzhi, don't be afraid. The ghosts in the palace all avoid me. They certainly won't dare to disturb you."
Xie Lanzhi breathed a sigh of relief, but also felt a little disappointed: "Then Little Phoenix will protect me today."
Si Xitong let down her guard and revealed some of her true nature, perhaps because she felt safe at home and her restless heart calmed down.
There were already palace servants waiting at Lanzhang Palace. Apart from the two old women from the Xie family, the rest were all unfamiliar faces.
But when these palace maids and eunuchs saw Si Xitong, they all knelt on the ground with excited expressions and cried out, "Your Highness, you have finally returned!"
"Fortunately, His Highness is unharmed."
"How can this old servant and the maids live without their master!"
"Your Highness has returned safely. His Majesty can rest in peace now that he knows."
"Get up quickly." Si Xitong stepped forward to help them up. She pursed her lips and looked them over, noticing the wounds on the palace servants' bodies, even the branding on their arms, and the young eunuch's limp. Everyone had clearly been tortured.
In chaotic times, people are as worthless as weeds. It's a miracle that these people are still alive, but they are left with disabilities, which will likely make their future lives difficult.
The two old women, Xie Lanzhi, looked concerned. They explained, "Marshal, these people have been forced to do hard labor in the army for a year. The poor girl was humiliated. By the time we found them, only a few of them were left."
Xie Lanzhi nodded and said, "Yes, you did a good job. From now on, you will stay at Lanzhang Palace to take care of the madam."
The two old women said happily, "This is our duty."
Xie Lanzhi didn't disturb the mistress and servants' reminiscing. Seeing how familiar the Empress was with them, she figured her trusted confidants in the palace must have survived. She dared not imagine whether these people would have survived yesterday if she had arrived in Tianjing any later.
Then.
Xie Guang rushed into the palace with his men, startling the palace servants who immediately surrounded Si Xitong, almost instinctively protecting their master.
Si Xitong reassured them, "Although this general has a fierce appearance, he is a trusted confidant of the marshal. You don't need to be afraid."
To avoid frightening the palace servants, Xie Lanzhi took the initiative to ask Xie Guang to come out with her to talk.
As soon as they came out, Xie Guang said, holding his breath, "Marshal, after many days of chasing the scoundrel, we have finally caught him. Would you like to go and see him?"
Huang Mang's arrest was inevitable.
Xie Lanzhi asked, "How were they arrested?"
At this moment, the people in Lanzhang Palace were also holding their breath and listening carefully.
Xie Guangqing cleared his throat and said, "This bastard came from the west by waterway. Who would have thought that when the ship was about to reach the shore, a big hole suddenly appeared in the bottom of the ship. The Northern Barbarian Army on the shore not only did not come to the rescue, but also made up a reason to say that the Yellow bandits led troops to attack. The troops launched fire arrows and not only burned the ship, but also killed the people who came ashore one by one, causing many Yellow soldiers to drown in the middle of the lake."
"The Yellow Bandit, taking advantage of the chaos, secretly stole a fishing boat and headed to the Northern Region headquarters. However, they encountered a current and were swept away by the current to the Seven Jin."
The First Army was the force of the Crown Prince of the Northern Region. Yelü Wen's troops were an even number, so only one group of Yellow Rebels was left to escape.
Xie Lanzhi said, "Now that we've caught him, I naturally want to see him."
She turned and entered the palace, gesturing to Si Xitong: "Fu Feng?"
Si Xitong's expression turned slightly serious, and she nodded emphatically: "Of course I'll go too."
Xie Guang followed her in. Hearing that Si Xitong was also going to the Department of Punishments, he advised her, "Madam, bloody scenes are not suitable for women to watch."
As soon as he finished speaking, he felt a chill run down his spine. Xie Guang realized what was happening and quickly explained to Xie Lanzhi, "Grand Marshal, you are not a woman."
That doesn't seem right either, so he added, "Grand Marshal, you are a woman."
The more he spoke, the more awkward it seemed. Xie Guang, who was bad with words, simply apologized directly, saying, "Grand Marshal, you are a woman, and even more so, a heroine among women!"
Xie Lanzhi's lips twitched, and without hesitation, she kicked his foot: "Lead the way."
Xie Guang was flustered and disoriented, a far cry from his previous murderous demeanor. This caused the palace servants of Lanzhang Palace to stare at him in astonishment.
The Department of Cautious Punishment.
After Huang Mang was captured, he was taken directly to the Shenxing Division.
The current Shenxing Division is the fastest-running department in the capital city of Tianjing, and some officials are still diligently performing their duties here.
Since the death of the Western Emperor, the scoundrel Huang Mang has neglected many government departments. He is bloodthirsty and has no need for the Censorate to carry out his killings. The only place he uses most often is the death row.
For the past year, the Censorate has become almost superfluous. But today it has been reactivated.
When Xie Lanzhi and Si Xitong arrived, Huang Mang was brought to the prison gate. He was wearing prison clothes and covered in bloodstains. He had just been tortured. The clerk who tortured him hadn't killed him, but had put a chain around his neck and dragged him in front of her like a dead dog.
Xie Guang brought over a long bench.
"Grand Marshal, Madam, please have a seat."
Xie Lanzhi lifted her knees and sat down, while Si Xitong did not move. Her gaze towards Huang Mang was already as cold as that of a dead man.
Huang Mang was lying on the ground when two minor officials forcibly turned him upright and made him kneel in front of Xie Lanzhi.
Xie Lanzhi used the scabbard to lift Huang Mang's wrinkled face and asked, "Is this Huang Mang?"
Huang Mang seemed too weak to speak. He was pulled up by the hair by a minor official, and he said weakly, "Thank you, thank you, Marshal."
"Spare me! Spare my life!"
Xie Lanzhi said calmly, "It's too late to say that."
"As a general who commands 150,000 troops, it wouldn't be an exaggeration for me to call you a good-for-nothing."