The Xuanwu Street was teeming with people. The moment Caiyu lifted the sedan curtain, her breath caught in her throat.
"Second Sister!"
Caiyu finally found her voice. She flung herself out of the sedan, startling the sedan bearers so much that they scurried to a halt in a flurry.
Song Yongzhen and Song Boming were also thoroughly shocked. They dismounted in a hurry and stumbled forward to catch Caiyu, who had tumbled out of the sedan.
"Ouch!" Song Yongzhen cried out in pain as he landed on the ground and served as a human cushion. "Who's your second sister?"
He had no idea who the second sister was, but if anything happened to Caiyu, the fourth brother would surely never forgive them!
Song Boming quickly reached out to support Caiyu and exclaimed in surprise, "Hey! She can talk now!"
At the sight of the familiar face in the Tartar envoy team, Caiyu's mind went blank.
"Survive. You must survive!" The voice of her second sister whispering in her ear in the pit kept echoing in her mind.
Tears streaming down her face, Caiyu stared at the dazzling and flamboyant woman sitting majestically in the sedan chair in the middle of the Xuanwu Street.
That was clearly her missing second sister!
"Second Sister!" Caiyu tried to dash forward.
But a hand reached out from the side and grabbed her arm.
Caiyu turned her head. Her heart skipped a beat again as she looked at another familiar face and murmured, "...Elder Sister?"
Since arriving in Shangjing, she had often wondered what the situation would be like when she finally reunited with her elder sister if her identity were to be revealed one day.
Yesterday, she had chatted merrily with Sheng Jiangli and even anticipated inviting him today to visit the Wutong Courtyard.
However, after arguing with Song Yinghuai when she returned last night, she had been so disheartened that she had completely forgotten about the visit to the Wutong Courtyard.
Who would have thought that today would be full of surprises? She not only ran into her elder sister here but also saw her second sister, who had been missing for several years!
Lan Jinqin's eyes were brimming with tears. She gently pulled Caiyu into her embrace. "Shu'er, my dear sister. You've grown up so much."
In the blink of an eye, the little girl had become a young woman.
And Lan Jinqin herself had already been married and divorced. Now she was a married woman.
"E-Elder Sister!" Caiyu trembled as she hugged Lan Jinqin tightly.
Amid the bustling crowd, it seemed as if only Lan Jinqin and Lan Jinxiang existed in her world.
Finally, she had her relatives back.
The two sisters embraced each other, their eyes filled with surging emotions.
Even though there were a thousand words and a million feelings to express, in the end, all that remained were tearful eyes.
Lan Jinqin was always a calm and composed person. After the initial excitement, she took a deep breath and said with a smile, "There are too many people here. Let's go back to the Wutong Courtyard and talk!"
Caiyu nodded obediently and followed Lan Jinqin out of the crowd.
Song Yongzhen and Song Boming were completely dumbfounded. They stared blankly as the two women got into the carriage and drove straight out of the Xuanwu Street.
"Brother Nine, should we follow them to the Wutong Courtyard?" Song Yongzhen asked worriedly.
Song Boming pondered for a moment and then shook his head. "The third young lady is just catching up with her elder sister. Nothing will happen... But that second sister she called just now, um, isn't that the Tartar Khatun?"
Song Yongzhen nodded blankly. "Ah, yes. Is the Tartar Khatun Miss Lan the Second? It can't be..."
---
The Chengde Hall in Shangjing was resplendent and imposing.
Emperor Guangwu sat high on the dragon throne, with the highest-ranking civil and military officials of the Great Ye Kingdom standing on both sides.
The Tartar envoy team, led by the guards, strode into the hall with their heads held high.
As the group gradually approached, many officials' faces changed drastically. "This! This isn't..."
The woman in the center, surrounded by the crowd, was particularly eye-catching.
A bright and distinctive set of clothing looked extremely dazzling on her. She wore the phoenix crown of the Tartar Khatun, exuding a hint of murderous aura amidst her flamboyance.
Her eyes, through the heavy glint of gold and jade, looked down disdainfully at the magnificent palace.
That face!
Many officials in Shangjing were still familiar with it!
Back then, among the three sisters of the Lan family, the eldest was famous in Shangjing, the second in the Jin region, and only the third was still too young to be well-known.
Although Lan Jinxiang's face had become more beautiful, imposing, and mature over the years, her facial features remained the same.
Many officials who were once acquainted with the Lan family had seen her before.
The woman who was said to have died a tragic death during the exile had actually returned to the world!
And she had become the new Khatun of the Tartars!
How could this not be shocking!
Everyone immediately remembered that Miss Lan the Third had just revealed her identity last night.
The fact that Miss Lan the Third was still alive was already a great shock.
However, Miss Lan the Second today was even more shocking beyond words.
That Chinese woman who had stirred up a storm in the Tartar royal court and had successively married three Khans.
Turned out to be Miss Lan the Second of the Lan family, Lan Jinxiang!
Emperor Guangwu, sitting on the dragon throne, tightened his face. His breathing quickened slightly, and his gaze involuntarily shifted to the position where Song Yinghuai was standing.
Recently, the matters of the Lan family seemed to be out of control and kept popping up in front of him.
He had just issued an order to execute the Lan family yesterday, thinking that it would be the end of it.
Who would have thought that there would be another huge "surprise" today!
The new Khatun of the Tartars was actually the deceased second daughter of the Lan family!
If she, as the Tartar Khatun, demanded that he release the entire Lan family, how should he respond?
Lan Jinxiang, surrounded by the crowd, stepped forward step by step.
The tall man standing on one side stared intently at the flamboyant woman who seemed to be approaching him. The storm was brewing in his pupils, and his hand hanging by his side unconsciously clenched tightly.
His knuckles turned white, but he didn't even notice. He just kept looking straight at the graceful and imposing figure of the woman walking towards him.
His heart was pounding so hard that it almost jumped out of his chest.
When Lan Jinxiang reached in front of Xu Ziyi, her steps paused imperceptibly.
Her beautiful eyes sparkled with a flowing light. Her red lips curled slightly as she glanced at him.
Xu Ziyi's breath caught in his throat instantly, and his arm almost lifted involuntarily.
Quickly, he closed his eyes and tried his best to suppress his impulse. He forced himself to calm down on the verge of losing control.
When Lan Jinxiang saw that he had quietly shifted his gaze when he opened his eyes again, she couldn't help but let out a soft snort and continued walking forward.
That soft snort kept ringing in Xu Ziyi's head.
It made his face turn pale.
Lan Jinxiang and the other envoys stood still. She raised her head and said loudly, "I am Khatun Wendusujin Xiang of the Tartars. By the order of my king, I have come to discuss the border issues."
She looked arrogant and didn't even seem to intend to pay respects to Emperor Guangwu first.
As soon as Lan Jinxiang finished speaking, the Chengde Hall erupted into a buzz. The officials whispered to each other, their faces filled with anger!
What kind of attitude was this for peace negotiations?
"How dare you! You didn't even pay respects when you saw our emperor?" Wen Zilong couldn't hold back any longer and scolded loudly.
Lan Jinxiang suddenly turned her head. Her beautiful eyes were like sharp blades as she glared fiercely at Wen Zilong.
That fierce and imposing gaze startled Wen Zilong. He took a half-step back in fear and stared at her in horror.
Lan Jinxiang curled her lips and looked at him. "I am the Khatun of the Tartars, the mother of a nation. I am on equal footing with the emperor of the Great Ye Kingdom. Why should I pay respects to him?"
Song Chengyuan said with a gloomy face, "Nonsense! Everyone here knows who you are, Lan Jinxiang. You are a subject of our Great Ye Kingdom. Don't think that just because you're wearing a wolf's skin, no one will recognize you!"
"Hehe!" Lan Jinxiang squinted her eyes. "Lan Jinxiang? The second daughter of the Lan family was killed by the foolish emperor and the treacherous officials four years ago. The person standing in front of you now is the Khatun of the Tartars. My status is recognized by all the people in the Tartar land. You have to accept it even if you don't like it!"
Song Chengyuan's face changed. "Who are you calling a treacherous official?"
"Whoever is talking is one!" Lan Jinxiang said disdainfully, turning her face away. She looked at Emperor Guangwu. "Emperor of the Great Ye Kingdom, I've come from afar for the peace between our two countries. But as soon as you see me, you try to intimidate me. One after another, you scumbags are bombarding me, the Khatun of the Tartars. Instead of focusing on the peace negotiations between our two countries, you keep dwelling on the etiquette and my identity. I don't think you have any sincerity in the negotiations at all. Maybe... we should just stop talking!"
Her fierce voice echoed in the Chengde Hall.
It was like a strong gust of wind, making everyone feel a chill in their hearts.