After dinner, everyone sat on chairs, sipping tea to aid digestion.
After praising the delicious meal once more, they spoke of their plans to return to the capital.
"We'll probably set off tomorrow," Wei Xiyong said, taking a sip of tea.
Lan Canghai said, "I will also return with you. For the matter of Shuiyong City, I should personally implore His Majesty for punishment."
Everyone fell silent. Although this battle was won, Shuiyong City involved tens of thousands of lives, and it was under Lan Canghai's jurisdiction.
While everyone understood, His Majesty might not have pursued accountability out of consideration for the Crown Prince and Crown Princess. Yet, ultimately, it was still his dereliction of duty.
Wei Xiyong nodded and said, "It is time to return. But rest assured for now, His Majesty is a wise ruler. Though there will be punishment, it won't be too severe."
Lan Canghai sighed, stood up, and said, "I'll go instruct the deputy general on some matters. You all sit first."
Lan Canghai went out, and Lan Yan followed closely behind.
"Father, daughter will return to the capital with you."
Lan Canghai turned back and said, "No need. Don't worry, it will be fine. Your elder sister is in the capital to look after things."
Though his eldest daughter appeared frail, she was also intelligent.
Lan Yan nodded and said, "Alright then. I'll wait for you in Lan An. I'll take my leave now."
With that, she walked outside.
Looking at his second daughter's retreating figure, Lan Canghai suddenly recalled Duke Weiguo's words that day.
"Yan'er, why don't you return to the capital with your father? You haven't seen your eldest sister in a long time."
Lan Yan turned back, happily saying, "Okay! Big sister gave birth to a child, and I haven't even seen him yet. I'll go to the street now and buy some toys from the border town to take back for him!"
Lan Canghai nodded and said, "Go."
Yan'er was no longer young. If she stayed in the border town, she might truly only be able to find someone in the army to entrust herself to.
It wasn't that people in the army were bad; it's just that he himself was in the army. The men in the army were mostly rough and boisterous tigers. How could they take good care of his daughter, who appeared cold and aloof but was actually very delicate?
That day, listening to Duke Weiguo's words, it seemed this matter had potential.
Through his observations during this period, although Wei Yuanling could sometimes be careless, he also possessed the refined side of a capital gentleman.
The Duke Weiguo's mansion had a proper family tradition and no messy connections. If Yan'er stayed in the border town for too long and then went to those convoluted families, she might suffer losses. The Duke Weiguo's mansion was a good choice.
Lan Yan was unaware of her father's thoughts. She was simply happy at the thought of seeing her elder sister and nephew soon.
Once on the street, however, she found herself in a dilemma.
She had no idea what children liked and could only listen to the hawker.
"Hahahaha, Lan Yan, you're not going to buy this bow and arrow for a months-old baby, are you?"
A voice sounded from behind Lan Yan, stopping her hand as she was about to pull out silver.
Lan Yan turned around and saw Wei Yuanling standing behind her, she didn't know when he had arrived.
"When did you get here?"
Wei Yuanling found it amusing how this girl, who appeared sharp, was completely bewildered by the hawker's spiel.
"When the boss was boasting about how divine this bow and arrow were."
Wei Yuanling stepped forward and picked up the bow. This bow was half the size of a normal one, and its body was adorned with gaudy, poor-quality gems and pearls.
"You're shaking! We find it heavy just holding it. You're letting a months-old baby play with this? It's useless, it's not pretty, and you're just being fooled."
The hawker, seeing his business being spoiled, glared at Wei Yuanling and said, "Sir, don't you think it's pretty? The young lady thinks it's pretty. Look at these gems and pearls, how dazzling! Children love colorful things like this."
Wei Yuanling spread his hand and offered the bow. "You like things like this? Your taste... is unique."
Thinking that Wei Yuanling spent most of his time in the capital, she asked, "What do children in the capital like?"
Wei Yuanling looked at a set of wooden carved weapons nearby. There were five pieces in the set: a saber, a sword, a spear, a hammer, and an axe.
Each was only a bit larger than a palm, and the craftsman's skill was excellent. There were no splinters, and the edges were rounded, so children wouldn't get hurt playing with them.
"This is good. It's light and easy to grasp, just right."
Wasn't this much better than that gaudy gem-studded bow?
Lan Yan nodded and looked at the boss. "We'll take these. How much?"
Seeing that the gem-studded bow and arrow wasn't selling, the boss felt it was a pity.
"Three taels of silver for the set."
Lan Yan thought it was a good deal, much cheaper than that bow.
"Three taels! Why don't you just rob someone? Although this thing is well-made, it's just a palm-sized wooden stick. Five hundred wen." Wei Yuanling said.
"How can that be? Sir, you can't bargain like that..."
"Three hundred wen! Take it or leave it, we're leaving if you don't sell!"
"Aiya, aiya, fine, fine. I met my match today. Three hundred wen it is, take it, take it!"
Lan Yan and Wei Yuanling exchanged glances.
In Lan Yan's eyes was surprise. Bargaining could be done like this? Three taels cut down to three hundred wen.
In Wei Yuanling's eyes was regret. He gave too much!
Lan Yan paid the money, took the items, and walked side by side with Wei Yuanling.
"I didn't expect you to know how to bargain. I thought all young noblemen from the capital threw money around." Lan Yan said.
"What's so surprising about that? My family is different from others. We're not given much allowance. Even so, I can save money."
It's just that the money he saved was all taken by Wei Yuanrao, that guy.
Fortunately, his cousin's "Today's Drunk" earned money, and there would be dividends at the end of each year.
Otherwise, he would truly be poor.
"The Duke's mansion truly has a reputation for integrity and frugality among the nobility," Lan Yan chuckled.
A dignified young master from a ducal mansion, actually learning to haggle prices. That was certainly novel.
"Actually, it's fine. I don't worry about food or clothes on a daily basis, and I receive a court salary. Besides social expenses, I have a small surplus." Wei Yuanling said.
He had no interest in feasting or pleasure, but was interested in achieving great deeds.
"I wonder if His Majesty will promote my official rank when I return to the capital this time."
He earned the title of top military scholar through his own strength, only to be given a leisurely post.
He hoped to gradually reach the height of his grandfather's former glory, without relying on his family's protection.
"He will. Since the founding of Tianqi, there hasn't been such a great victory. Even the battle against Northern Yan a few years ago wasn't as significant as this one. Our casualties were few, but the opponent truly had over three hundred thousand people." Lan Yan said.
The two walked along the street, chatting and shopping.
Most of the time, Wei Yuanling would pick the items and haggle the price, and Lan Yan would pay with silver.
When they returned to the City Lord's residence, the two were laden with purchases.
"Thank you for today." Lan Yan took the items from Wei Yuanling's arms and thanked him.
"It's a small matter. I'll head back to my room first." Wei Yuanling waved dismissively.
Watching Wei Yuanling's retreating figure, Lan Yan's lips curved slightly.
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