Chapter 8: Killing Three Birds with One Arrow

Zhan Lan lowered her gaze, recalling the days before her rebirth, when she was always Zhan Xuerou's follower.

To highlight Zhan Xuerou's intelligence and beauty, she never dressed herself up nor revealed her true self.

Zhan Xuerou, among the noble daughters, boasted about her literary and martial prowess, but they didn't believe her. At every festival and grand gathering, they made her perform with a spear like a monkey, turning her into everyone's joke.

Now, Zhan Xuerou has an absolute sense of superiority, as the fourteen-year-old doesn't know that she is not the legitimate daughter of the General Mansion.

"Don't mock Sister Lan, she has been diligently studying hard recently, hard work can compensate for lack of skill, I believe in Sister Lan!" Zhan Xuerou said coldly as she looked at Cui Ying and Bai Lu, her voice tinged with anger.

In her heart, Zhan Lan sneered, the most disgusting thing in the world is: when you see someone's hypocritical side, but others don't see it, they think she is truly as good as she appears.

Zhan Xuerou is just that kind of person!

The young master of a noble family, Li Heng, looked at Zhan Xuerou admiringly and whispered to Wang Qingchen:

"I say, General Zhan's legitimate daughter, Miss Xuerou, is truly a heroine among women. Despite her seeming delicacy, she fiercely protects her younger sister."

Wang Qingchen merely smiled without a word, instead, his expectant eyes were fixed on Zhan Lan.

For some reason, he always felt that the young lady opposite was like a lion lying in wait in the jungle for its prey, waiting for the best moment to strike.

Zhan Lan definitely had more impressive performances in store.

Indeed, Zhan Lan gently raised her placard, and under everyone's gaze, stood up.

Her voice, carrying the momentum of thousands of troops, burst into the ears of the audience.

""Chu Sai Xing", wild sands and long clouds sweep past the Western Mountains, a lone city oversees Fengyu Pass..."

With Zhan Lan's verses, scenes of battlefield sand rising and patriotic fervor seemed to appear before everyone. The grand hall fell silent, so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

And in the latter part, it even captured the poignant devotion of a general in his twilight years serving his country.

The blood of those present boiled, and Dean Qingfeng, looking into the distance, was lost in his thoughts.

Zhan Lan's long poem deeply moved him.

Compared to the earlier poems of trivial love, this poem's vision and depth were exactly what he wanted.

Wang Qingchen felt the same deep connection.

For some reason, both felt as if they had found someone who truly understood them, their bodies trembling, unable to calm for a long time.

Facing the continual praises, Zhan Lan smiled wryly; this poem was given to her by Young Master Si Jun and Qingfeng Scholar after a victorious battle she had won.

She had combined both poems and edited them based on her military experience; at that time, both men had even praised that the Queen had good literary grace.

In this life, this poem caused the Qingfeng Scholar to fall into deep self-doubt, wondering how at just fourteen, she could have such talent!

Why at such a young age, she had such a mindset, such an expanse!

He, an old man past his prime, had yet to produce such a great work. Should he not lament in the northwest!

Si Jun's gaze once again fell upon Zhan Lan, unlike before when he would look away in an instant.

This time, his gaze held a measure of admiration as he looked straight at her.

"What a woman, such breadth of mind, whose daughter is this?" he deliberately asked an elder beside him.

"Responding to Young Master Si, this lady is General Zhan's adopted daughter, Zhan Lan. I heard that this lady knew some boxing skills, but I didn't expect her to be talented in both literature and martial arts, truly rare!"

Si Jun remembered, rumors had it that the Zhan Family's adopted daughter admired him; he had seen Zhan Lan before, had sneakily glanced at her, her demeanor had been meek and compliant, quite different from today.

Si Jun's gaze upon Zhan Lan, in the eyes of the noble daughters, appeared particularly glaring.

Zhan Liluo clenched her back teeth in pain from jealousy over Zhan Lan stealing the limelight, while Zhan Xuerou sipped her tea quietly but was internally frustrated and wanted to drive Zhan Lan out and tear her mouth apart.

Zhan Xuerou was always on guard against the beautiful Zhan Liluo, but underestimated an adopted daughter inferior in every aspect!

Behind the screen, a handsome man with a cheeky smile and a naïve charm whispered into Mu Yan's ear.

"Yan, look at the three daughters of the Zhan Family, Zhan Xuerou with skin fairer than snow, renowned for her talent, evoking pity; Zhan Liluo charming and alluring, with perfectly beautiful features, and now the talented Zhan Lan emerges, stunning in appearance with an extraordinary demeanor and literary talent, Zhan family's beauties, possessing one is already sufficient! Especially Miss Zhan Lan's figure, tsk tsk tsk..."

The different surname prince and Heir of Prince Zhen Nan, Bai Chen, grew more and more excited as he spoke.

Mu Yan's gaze fell on Zhan Lan, and although she tried her best to conceal it, he still noticed the wound in the palm of her right hand.

It was a knife wound!

Moreover, her voice and that of the girl from last night were extremely similar; the one who boldly stripped his clothes must be her.

Bai Chen peeped through the screen to look at Zhan Lan, "Yan, to think of such a stunning and pure beauty, using her delicate jade hands to massage my shoulders, then composing a poem to heighten the mood, just thinking about it excites my soul!"

Mu Yan turned around and looked at Bai Chen, his voice cold, "She will use her soft, delicate hands to twist off your head!"

Bai Chen's eye twitched; Mu Yan was always accurate in judging women, could it be...

"Yan, did you sleep with that girl?" Bai Chen suspiciously looked at Mu Yan. Except for Miss Qingcheng, Mu Yan had never commented positively on any other woman.

"Get lost! Is the matter handled?" Mu Yan gave Bai Chen a cold stare.

"It's handled! Wang Qingchen will certainly be drunk today; he won't be able to approach Young Master Si."

Bai Chen pinched his own mouth and whispered.

Mu Yan nodded; Wang Qingchen was a talented individual. Now that he knew Si Jun wanted to win over Wang Qingchen, he simply disliked Si Jun and didn't want Wang Qingchen to go over to Si Jun's side.

The Qingfeng Scholar stood up from in front of the screen; his gaze fell on Zhan Lan.

"Today, I accept Young Master Si Jun and Zhan Lan as my disciples. Come another day to formally become my disciples!" After saying this, he turned around and left, his eyes smiling as he invited Mu Yan to leave from behind the screen.

As soon as the Dean Qingfeng said this, the hall was in an uproar.

"Who would have thought, today the Zhan Family's adopted daughter has become a disciple of Dean Qingfeng!"

"Young Master Si has a noble identity and exceptional talent, everyone's choice, but Zhan Lan is the first female disciple the Great Scholar has taken!"

"Yes, most of the Great Scholar's disciples are in the court, each distinguished among men, who would have thought!"

"What's there to question, Zhan Lan is only fourteen and already so talented, we are no match, let's compete next year!"

Upon hearing Zhan Lan has become a disciple of the Great Scholar, Zhan Liluo felt a fire ignite in her heart, her eyes maliciously fixed on Zhan Lan, Cui Ying also glared furiously, "It's unbelievable, such a person could also become a disciple of the Great Scholar!"

Zhan Xuerou smiled as she watched Zhan Lan; even though she was almost infuriated to the point of exploding, desiring to slap Zhan Lan's face, she appeared very composed on the surface.

Her heart felt empty; if it weren't for Zhan Lan's appearance, she could have become fellow disciples with Si Jun!

Zhan Lan and Si Jun both bowed in the direction of Dean Qingfeng; Zhan Lan caught Si Jun looking at her from the corner of her eye.

She didn't spare him a single glance; if not for her unresolved deep hatred and undisclosed identity, she would have wished to flay him alive right now!

Zhan Lan lowered her eyes, a dark gleam surging within.

Today.

Firstly, Zhan Qingqing lost her chastity and could not participate in the Book Forest Conference, missed the opportunity to falsely accuse Wang Qingchen, who was intoxicated, of ruining her chastity and marrying into the Wang Family.

Secondly, she seized the quota of being a disciple from Zhan Xuerou preventing the latter from contacting Si Jun.

Thirdly.

Zhan Lan's gaze turned toward Wang Qingchen, who was staring at her. The moment their eyes met, he averted his gaze as if guilty, his face blushing instantly.

Zhan Lan lips curved into a smile; thirdly, she aimed to snatch Wang Qingchen, Si Jun's most reliable counselor, from his grasp!

One stone, three birds! How delightful!

Suddenly, an annoyed voice sounded near Zhan Lan's ear, "Zhan Lan, you are too strong, I'm almost falling in love with you!"

Zhan Lan turned around to see a woman dressed in a bright yellow dress, her hair styled in a double bun.

Her shallow dimples deepened with her smile; the woman leaned forward, patting Zhan Lan's shoulder with her soft hand.

Seeing the woman for a moment, an ache surged in Zhan Lan's heart.

It's her!

We meet again!