There is a god in the sky

Chapter 389 Freshmen

The Xiao father and son waited for a whole day.

As dusk fell, the sound of a baby crying finally came from inside the house.

The father and son got up together and rushed to the delivery room, standing in front of the door looking around.

"God help me, I hope it's a girl," Master Xiao prayed.

The door opened, and the midwife came out carrying the wrapped-up baby, asking for a reward.

"Congratulations, sir! Congratulations on the arrival of your lovely daughter!"

Master Xiao was indeed very pleased and laughed loudly, "Good! Good! There will be a reward! Everyone will be rewarded!"

The midwife wanted to let him hold the baby, but Mr. Xiao quickly stepped back, not daring to take it.

Xiao Ji was curious about this younger sister who was twenty years younger than him. He reached out and took her into his arms, but he felt that the child was small and ugly, and did not look like a member of the Xiao family at all.

"You can't hold him like that, you have to hold him horizontally in your arms," ​​Shen Lan reminded him as she came out.

The midwife didn't dare correct him for holding her in the wrong position and stood awkwardly to the side.

"Alright, let's go inside and take a look. The baby was just born, we can't leave him out in the wind. Let's bring him inside."

Master Xiao went inside to see his wife, while Xiao Ji saw Shen Lan out.

He deliberately led Shen Lan around to the garden.

The garden is filled with chrysanthemums of all colors and varieties this season.

In previous years, the Xiao family would hold a chrysanthemum appreciation banquet at this time.

This year, many families are in mourning, and Madam Xiao is about to give birth, so there's no one to appreciate these chrysanthemums.

Do you like chrysanthemums? Why don't you take a few pots home and grow them?

The chrysanthemums grown by the Xiao family are all of the finest quality.

Shen Lan also planted a few potted flowers in her small courtyard, but she was not good at growing flowers and they were barely alive.

Xiao Ji realized this, which is why he thought of sending her flowers.

Shen Lan's gaze lingered on the flowers, then she shook her head and replied, "No, thank you. The flowers are beautiful, but they also need careful care. Giving them to me would be a waste, and besides, my humble courtyard is not suitable for displaying such precious flowers."

Xiao Ji, however, did not think so.

"Flowers bloom to be seen; if they are placed here and no one appreciates them, then their splendid lives are wasted."

And there's no question of whether they're suitable or unsuitable; they're just a few potted plants.

Shen Lan thought it made sense and readily accepted, choosing several pots of flowers in different colors.

Xiao Ji then selected an extra pot of fiery red chrysanthemums.

"This pot is named Fire Phoenix. The phoenix is ​​reborn from the ashes, just like your life. From now on, everything will be new. Don't be bound by the past."

Shen Lan took the flowerpot, turned it around, and thought the flower was beautiful, and its name was beautiful too.

Xiao Ji was observant and noticed that Shen Lan had been listless lately, not going to the yamen anymore and spending most of her time at home.

Having avenged her great grudge, Shen Lan felt a light, unreal sensation throughout her body.

It was as if she came into this world just to experience this, and now that it was over, she had no idea what to do next.

If Li Ye and Li Ge hadn't both been in the palace, she would most likely have left the capital.

She met Xiao Ji's concerned eyes and asked with a light laugh, "Any unusual cases in the yamen lately?"

"No, they are all minor cases, and several judges are handling them."

"Is Magistrate Xu really gone?"

Speaking of Magistrate Xu, Xiao Ji hadn't seen him for a while before sending someone to check on him, only to hear that the Xu family was holding a funeral. According to the Xu family, Magistrate Xu ran out on the day of the palace coup and was struck by a mad horse.

He lay in his hospital bed for several days before finally passing away.

For reasons unknown, the Xu family did not immediately announce the death to the public, but instead quietly held the funeral.

"Yes, all the neighbors went to pay their respects, but there's something suspicious about it."

"what?"

"A neighbor said that a group of people seemed to have come to the Xu family a while ago and stayed there for a few days. During those days, the Xu family was quiet and there was no sound at all."

A neighbor, finding it strange, secretly climbed over the wall to peek and said he saw Magistrate Xu being beaten.

Shen Lan sighed, "He's just a minor official, why did he go and provoke people he shouldn't have?"

"It's probably because he held a low-ranking official position and didn't show much involvement in factional struggles that he was chosen by those people."

As they talked, they reached the door. Shen Lan turned around and said, "Please wait, sir. I can go back by myself."

Xiao Ji reached out and grabbed her, a thousand words stuck in his throat, not knowing where to begin.

"Shen Lan, you..."

Not far away, someone walked towards them and called out, "Lan'er."

Shen Lan looked in the direction of the sound and saw Li Ye standing not far away, waving at her.

Xiao Ji swallowed back the words he had been preparing for a long time, withdrew his hand, and said, "Go on, we'll talk about it another day."

"……it is good."

Shen Lan turned back every three steps and saw Xiao Ji standing at the door watching her go.

She could clearly sense the difference in Xiao Ji's attitude towards her, and the growing attraction she felt towards him.

"How did you know I was at the Xiao family's house?" she asked as she walked up to Li Ye.

She lives alone now, and Li Ye occasionally visits her when he has time off.

"Madam Xiao is giving birth today. I guessed you would be here, so I came here to wait for you."

"Is something wrong?"

"No, I just happened to have some free time, so I came to have dinner with you. I'd like to try your vegetarian dishes."

"Let's go then, it'll be late-night snack by now."

"It's alright, we won't go back tonight. Li Ge has also left the palace, and we even brought some good wine with us."

Shen Lan hadn't seen Li Ge for a long time.

He is now a rising star, highly regarded by the new emperor, who has even entrusted him with the Imperial City Guard.

What kind of government office is the Imperial City Guard? It's the emperor's eyes, ears, and the sword in his hand.

When King Zheng first ascended the throne, there were many who were not convinced of his authority.

Now he is practicing benevolent governance, focusing on appeasement towards the people and officials, and rarely killing anyone.

However, killing people was not enough to deter those with disloyal intentions, so the Imperial City Guard became his tool for eliminating dissidents.

Li Ge was far more ruthless than Zhao Jinxiao, and soon he became infamous, becoming a powerful eunuch feared by everyone.

Pushing open the door, Shen Lan saw Li Ge sitting alone in the yard, drinking. He looked lonely and forlorn.

There were several dishes on the table to go with the drinks, but they were all meat dishes. No wonder Li Ye asked her to come back and cook vegetarian dishes.

"Has Madam Xiao given birth?" Li Ge asked casually.

"She gave birth, and it's a girl. Madam Xiao and Master Xiao are overjoyed."

Li Ge looked up, his gaze passing through her to the distance, and said reminiscingly, "I once had a very well-behaved and adorable younger sister. Do you remember her?"

Shen Lan was stunned for a moment, and a small figure appeared in her mind.

When they were little, Li Ge liked to play with her. The little girl was only three years old, but she was already jealous and always said that she had stolen her brother.

Shen Lan left in a disheveled state, saying, "I'm going to the kitchen to cook a few dishes."

She was in a good mood on the way, and even wondered what life would be like if she married Xiao Ji.

Yes, she was tempted.

She began to seriously consider the marriage.

When she entered the kitchen, Li Ge showed a frustrated expression.

"I didn't mean it, I just said it offhand. Actually, I don't even remember what she looks like."

Li Ye also has siblings.

Some wounds may appear to have scabbed over, but they can bleed even with the slightest touch.