Reborn to Become A Queen: The Real Heiress's Comeback

Hengchang Pawnshop.

Zhan Lan felt quite good as she left the pawnshop after pawning her items, putting away some broken silver and a silver note, preparing to return to the General Mansion.

The spring breeze caressed Zhan Lan's cheeks, carrying with it an enticing aroma.

Zhan Lan lifted her gaze towards the end of the alley, the fragrance stirring the gluttonous worm in her belly.

Baoxiang House, a renowned restaurant in Ding'an City, famous for its exquisite cuisine.

It was Zhan Lan's favorite restaurant in her past life, alas, she had no silver as a maiden.

After she became the Empress, Si Jun did have some of Baoxiang House's signature dishes sent to her from outside the palace.

But it was not until she was imprisoned that she realized Si Jun had long since invited the chefs from Baoxiang House into the Imperial Kitchen.

Because Zhan Xuerou liked them.

Without realizing it, Zhan Lan's steps led her deeper into the alley, drawn by the aromatic fragrance.

"Sour and sweet candied hawthorns..."

Street vendors peddled their candied haw on a stick, and Zhan Lan casually bought two.

Zhan Heng and Zhan Rui, the two little ones, were most fond of candied hawthorns, but unfortunately, Madam deemed it unclean and would not allow it. Zhan Lan decided to secretly bring them back for them.

After all, in her past life, it was because of a candied hawthorn that Zhan Rui was lured away by someone.

In this life, no matter what, even if Madam is displeased, she must let her sister have her fill of candied hawthorns.

Thinking of her younger brother and sister, a warm feeling rose in Zhan Lan's heart.

The paper bag holding the candied haw would stick together quickly, Zhan Lan decided to enjoy the delicacies of Baoxiang House another day.

Reliving a lifetime, she cannot short-change herself.

"Ow ow..."

Suddenly, the sound of a puppy's cry reached Zhan Lan's ears, and she looked up to see something happening in front of Baoxiang House.

For a moment, passersby gathered around.

Zhan Lan frowned and started to turn back, hearing the puppy's crying sound so pitiful.

And it was accompanied by a familiar female voice.

"Which family's wild brats are you, so ill-mannered, haven't you heard that a good dog doesn't block the way?" The woman's voice was arrogant and domineering.

A little boy's voice responded, "You hurt Little Black, you're a bad woman!"

The voice was even more familiar!

Zhan Lan hurried forward, her strength allowed her to part the crowd of onlookers, and sure enough, she saw a white-dressed woman stepping arrogantly on a little black dog in front of a carriage.

And two dirty children, with disheveled hair littered with dried grass, were crying and tugging at the woman's skirt on either side.

The boy was six, and the girl was four, both attractive upon closer view.

The woman pushed the two children away and Zhan Lan quickly caught them.

"Lady Cui, what is this!?" Zhan Lan's eyes grew colder.

Cui Ying, the daughter of the Minister of the Ministry of Criminal Justice, deliberately stepped harder on the dog's paw, and as the little dog whined pathetically, Cui Ying scoffed, "I was wondering who it could be, turns out it's the adopted girl from General Mansion!"

Hearing Cui Ying's words, the crowd immediately stirred.

"The adopted girl from General Mansion, is that the one taken as a disciple by the Qingfeng Scholar?"

"Indeed, my youngest son can recite her 'Chu Sailing' by heart, ah, truly a burst of talent!"

Cui Ying was infuriated, her teeth itching with rage as she glared at Zhan Lan. This girl dared to embarrass her in public, she wasn't like this before.

She was nothing more than Zhan Xuerou's little lackey, just a dog!

"Sister!" The two little ones turned back and simultaneously grabbed Zhan Lan's hand.

"Sister, she's a bad woman, she hurt Little Black." Zhan Rui was indignant, her two little buns on top of her head wobbling, her large black grape-like eyes filled with tears like crystals.

Zhan Heng also straightened his back, as long as Sister Zhan Lan was there, they were not afraid!

"Oh, little children, from which family's wild seeds are you, casually calling someone sister, this sister may well..."

Slap slap!

Cui Ying's words were cut short as Zhan Lan's hand, out of nowhere, had already swung over.

She saw a blur before her eyes, and twin pains flared on her cheeks, all she saw was a fleeting shadow passing by.

The crowd suddenly exploded into chaos.

"Oh no, this girl is in trouble, she actually hit the Chief of Staff's daughter!"

"Let's stay away. When the Ministry of Justice comes to arrest someone, we don't want to be involved!"

One woman, a mother herself, couldn't stand it anymore and whispered, "However, the Chief of Staff's daughter is quite overbearing. It was just two kids hugging a small dog and accidentally blocking the way. Was that really necessary?"

Her husband covered her mouth, "Keep it down, do you not want to live, have you forgotten what the Ministry of Justice does!"

Amidst a cacophony of discussions, Cui Ying finally realized she had been hit in public!

She clutched her face in both anger and embarrassment, staring at Zhan Lan, "You dare to hit me!"

With that said, she kicked the little dog away and raised the whip in her hand to strike at Zhan Lan and the two children.

Zhan Lan grabbed her whip in one motion and flung it aside.

"Beat her up!" Cui Ying ordered the two Protectors following her.

She had never been hit by someone in her life, and now she was hit by an adopted girl, how could she endure such a tremendous humiliation.

Zhan Lan calmly handed the candied haws to Zhan Rui, while Zhan Heng had already dashed over to pick up the injured Little Black.

Little Black's paws and head were covered in blood, sticky and matted with its glossy black fur.

"Sister, avenge Little Black!" Zhan Heng clenched his small white teeth, glaring at Cui Ying.

Zhan Lan removed the dried grass from Zhan Heng and Zhan Rui's heads; these two rascals must have sneaked out again through the back yard's dog hole.

The two children, having escaped the General Mansion and caused trouble, conscientiously made way and hid not far behind Zhan Lan.

Cui Ying's two Protectors, wielding sticks, swung them towards Zhan Lan.

Zhan Lan dodged left and right, spun around to Cui Ying's back, and pressed a hairpin against her, holding down her shoulders.

"Miss!" Seeing that Zhan Lan had taken their miss hostage, the two Protectors with sticks dared not move.

"Ah, Zhan Lan, you damned woman, let go of me!"

Zhan Lan whispered into her ear, audible only to the two of them.

"The two children you see before you are the beloved son and daughter of General Zhan Beicang, and what do you think your father, the Chief of Staff, would do if he knew about your actions?"

"So many people have seen you call General Zhan's children bastards and hit the General Mansion's dog. According to Nanjin's law, anyone who slanders the name of a loyal and courageous military officer shall be punished with flogging."

Cui Ying's legs went weak; how could she have known these two dusty children were the son and daughter of General Zhan Beicang, she said furiously, "You're talking nonsense!"

Zhan Lan sneered, "Shall I inform Old General Zhan about this?"

"Zhan Lan, you're despicable!" Cui Ying clenched her teeth; she knew too well how dearly Old General Zhan treated Zhan Lan, much to the envy and jealousy of Zhan Xuerou and Zhan Liluo.

"If your mouth isn't clean, I'll rip it apart for you." Zhan Lan pushed the hairpin slightly forward, her voice pressing closer with an oppressive tone, bringing cold sweat to Cui Ying's back.

Cui Ying had never thought Zhan Lan would be like this.

Previously, she was just a follower of Zhan Xuerou, not daring to say a word, and now she dared to threaten her!

Why can't she control her shaking body.

She even felt a murderous aura from Zhan Lan, she could definitely talk the talk and walk the walk.

Zhan Lan's voice was low, yet her presence echoed like a blood-stained general who had survived countless battles, emerging from a mountain of bodies seeking revenge, chilling to the bone.

"Also, whenever you see me in the future, remember to keep your distance, got it? Lady Cui." Zhan Lan stood half a head taller than Cui Ying, completely overpowering her in both height and momentum.

Cui Ying, bursting with rage and humiliation, was helpless; after all, she indeed had publicly called the Zhan Family's son and daughter bastards.

Even if she was hit and threatened by Zhan Lan, she had to endure.

After all, her father's rank cannot compare to the General Mansion.

And now, Zhan Lan was so intimidating!

Zhan Lan let go of Cui Ying, who angrily ordered the two Protectors, "Stand down!"

"Zhan Lan, you wait for me!" Cui Ying had to keep up appearances before so many onlookers and dropped a harsh word.

"Wow, Miss Cui has some leek on her teeth!" Zhan Lan tilted her head and laughed as she looked at Cui Ying fuming with rage.

"You!" Cui Ying's mouth, just about to open, snapped shut again, her face turning red!

The onlookers couldn't suppress their laughter; Zhan Lan was too cunning, teasing the Minister's daughter like that.

Cui Ying looked around; people around her dared to mock her, and suddenly she saw someone sitting at the window on the second floor of Baoxiang House, which made her freeze in place.

It was him!