Two weeks later after Qian Lan was officially adopted, the noble that visited last time returned for another visit; this time with another empty carriage. Qian Lan's adopted father had called for her early in the morning to come alone to the main building as her sisters were asked to remain in their bedroom.
"Qian Lan, your father needs to speak with you. Dress in this outfit and come out when you're ready."
"Oh…okay mother."
Qian Lan unfolds the bundle and finds out it was a beautiful hanfu dress along with a pair of new shoes. Not to mention it looked much newer than the hand me downs she had been wearing.
"Wow, this looks new."
"Ah, that must've been where father went the other day. Looks like he went to the next village to buy that."
"Pei, what about you and Mei? Where's yours?"
"It's alright, we have plenty of clothing. You've been wearing our old ones even when it was too short for you. Looks like that one should fit your height perfectly. Here, I will help you get dressed."
Pei and Mei knew the reason behind the new clothes and shoes but remained silent. Pei quickly walked from her shared bed with Mei and walks over to Qian Lan in the other bed.
"Here, let me help you."
"Oh! Thanks!"
Qian Lan hands the three-piece dress to Pei. Layer after layer Pei helped Qian Lan into the hanfu. It was a beautiful dark red color with a beautiful pattern of flowers sewed onto the long sleeves of the dress. Once Qian Lan was fully dressed, Pei motioned for her to walk to their makeup table at the other end of the bedroom.
"What's this Pei?"
"You might meet the nobleman when you go see father so you need to looks presentable."
"I guess…. if you say so."
Qian Lan sits quietly on the chair as Pei helped her braid and clip her hair up. Using what little makeup they had; Pei added a tint of red to Qian Lan's lips and a dash of blush to give her pale skin some life.
"Well, I knew you were pretty but with only a little makeup you look even better now."
"You think so? I've never really worn any before."
Even when Qian Lan was still with her family, her mother never really allowed her to wear any makeup. Only when she started working did she start using lip gloss. Pei stared at the happy Qian Lan and could feel her guilt sinking in. Pei couldn't understand why she was feeling terrible making Qian Lan take her and Mei's place. Trying to not waste anymore time, Pei quickly tells Qian Lan to get going.
"Qian Lan, get going before mother comes and yells at us."
"Oh! Right, I'm off sisters! I'll be back in a bit."
Qian Lan walks back to her bed and quickly puts on the new shoes. Seeing as they were a perfect fit, Qian Lan figured her adoptive father must've had them tailored for just her. As she opens the door to leave; Pei quickly runs up to Qian Lan and pulls on her long dress sleeve.
"What's wrong Pei?"
"Can I give you a hug?"
"Huh? Sure, I'll be gone only a few minutes though."
"I know, but I just feel like giving you one."
Unsure as to why Pei was acting so different, Qian Lan opened her arms as Pei slowly wrapped her arms around her back. Pei and Mei were taller than most of the girls Qian Lan had seen in the village so Qian Lan didn't feel too out of place. The twin sisters had to be at least five feet three if they were in her time. They were beauties compared to all the woman she has seen so far and definitely more endowed then she was. After two minutes, Qian Lan had to break away from Pei.
"Uh…I think I should get going."
"Oh, you're right. I've kept you too long."
"I'll be back in a bit."
Once Qian Lan was out of the room and her footsteps could no longer be heard, Pei returned to her shared bed where Mei was still waiting at. Mei looks at Pei and could see her in distress.
"What's wrong Pei?"
"I don't know, but ever since that first night father and mother brought Qian Lan over, I've felt an instant connection to her. Knowing we're sending her to such a dangerous thing is making my chest hurt."
"You just got attached to her. Once she's gone everything will go back to normal."
"I guess…. I'm going to sleep. I don't feel like doing anything."
Pei lays on her side and faces the wall. Pei had no idea that Qian Lan was a descendent of her from the future. Hence why she was the most affected one out of the sisters. Meanwhile, Qian Lan comes across her older adoptive brother.
"Ah, good morning. Qin Rong."
"Qian Lan, where are you going dressed like that?"
"Father asked to see me so I'm heading to the main room."
Qian Lan remained silent as she could see Qin Rong staring at her and at what she was wearing. It wasn't like Qin Rong was ugly. It was the fact that he was her ancestor that made Qian Lan hate his advances. Qin Rong had to be at least a head taller and twice the size of Qian Lan. Feeling uneasy she quickly tries to make a run for it; only to get grabbed by her right wrist by Qin Rong.
"Let me go! Mother and father are waiting for me!"
Qian Lan was ready to grab him and flip him over. She wasn't lying when she said she knew judo. Qian Lan quickly breaks free from Qin Rong hold and turns to leave.
"Wait!"
Qin Rong grabs hold of Qian Lan's right wrist again and pulls her closer to him and was now holding onto her thin waist. Catching her off guard, Qian Lan forcibly pushes Qin Rong away with everything she had.
"Are you crazy?! I am your sister!"
"We are not bound by blood! I was against father adopting you anyways!"
Qian Lan couldn't believe how narrow-minded Qin Rong was. Rather than shock she felt disgusted knowing Qin Rong had alternative motives towards her.
"I'll pretend I didn't hear you just now. Mother and father are waiting for me so I'm leaving."
"Fine, I'll just deal with you later then."
Qin Rong's parting words sent shivers down Qian Lan's spine. Qian Lan glared at Qin Rong as she quickly walks away; towards the main room. Once Qin Rong was out of sight, Qian Lan could finally breathe.
"Sigh…that crazy bastard. Can't believe some jerk like that is my ancestor."
After walking continuously for another few minutes, Qian Lan finally reached her destination. Quickly knocking on the door; Qian Lan pokes her head in and greets her adopted parents who were sitting across from the nobleman. Qian Lan was shock to find the nobleman so young. He had to be around the same age as her and he is looks were definitely celebrity status if he were to be from her time. Realizing she was still at the door; she quickly walks into the room and kneels a few feet away from her adopted parents.
"Greetings, mother and father."
"Qian Lan, you should greet Xia Long first."
"Ah, pardon me. Greetings Xia Long. I am Qian Lan."
"Don't worry about me, please stand up."
"Thank you."
Qian Lan stands up from the floor and could see her adopted mother motioning for her to take a seat next to her. The noble man Xia Long takes a glance at Qian Lan's adopted father and nods.
"Is she the one coming with me?"
"Yes."
"Alright then, I think this concludes our conversation. I will head to the carriage first; she does not need to bring anything as everything will be provided for her."
Qian Lan was confused by what the man was saying. Once the nobleman was out of sight, Qian Lan's adopted father turns to face her.
"Qian Lan, I want you to go with that man."
"What? To where father?"
"There is a tournament in the capital. Two girls from our village was chosen to participate. You and another young woman will be leaving with this man today."
"What tournament father? What is going on?"
"I don't know the full details, but the winner will be awarded wealth and fame. We may even get our noble title back if you win."
"But…why me? I barely know anything about the outside world!"
"I think out of your sisters, you are the brightest and smartest one. You have a much higher chance of coming back then if I were to send your sisters."
"I…I guess, but I don't know anything about the capital."
"You will learn when you get there."
Just as Qian Lan was going to decline; she remembered what her adopted brother Qin Rong had said to her earlier. Worried that he might try something, Qian Lang reluctantly agrees without knowing the real reason.
"Alright, if its what you and mother wish for. I will go. Thank you for taking care of me this whole time."
"Of course. We will be waiting for you. Your mother will walk you to the carriage."
Qian Lan silently follows her mother to the carriage as Qin Rong bursts into the meeting room where his father was.
"What's the meaning of this Qin Rong?"
"Father! Is it true you're sending Qian Lan to the capital?!"
"Your sisters told you, right? I am, what of it?"
"Father! I wanted to take Qian Lan as my wife!"
"You stupid son! She is your sister!"
"We aren't even related by blood! If you never adopted her, I could've easily married her!"
"Even if I didn't adopt her, I would have never agreed to it! We don't even know who her real parents are and where she came from! You need to find a wife from a good family that can support you! If you've said enough, then get out of my sight!"
Qin Rong storms out of the room and runs after Qian Lan and his mother but it was too late. Qian Lan had already left in the other carriage with the nobleman as they leave to pick up the other girl from the village.
After sitting silently alone in the carriage for ten minutes; the carriage finally came to a stop. In comes a beautiful woman. She was a commoner for sure but had something elegant about her. She was pale, and reminded her of her sister back in her time. As Qian Lan stared at the woman, the noble man Xia Long comes by to check on their carriage.
"It will be a two-day trip, but we'll have a lunch break in four hours. Please relax until then."
Xia Long quickly closes the door and the carriage starts moving again. Unable to bear the silence anymore, Qian Lan decided she might as well learn more about the girl.
"So…. since we'll be here for two days, I think we should at least try to get to know each other."
The pretty woman chuckles at Qian Lan's words.
"I also agree. Let's get along sister. This will be a long trip."
"Good! I like the sound of that! Let's introduce each other then! I am Qian Lan."
"I am Yuhan. Qian Lan…aren't you the adopted daughter of the village leader?"
"Ah, yes I am. How did you know?"
"I see, my father is friends with the village leader. I happened to overhear their conversation the day your father brought in your adopting paperwork."
"Oh! I see, Yuhan if you don't mind telling me. How old are you?"
"I will be nineteen this year."
"Oh, then I'm older! I just turned twenty this year."
"That makes you my big sister then."
"Heh Heh, I guess!"
Qian Lan blushes from Yuhan calling her big sister. She had always been the youngest so it felt different being the older one now. As the girl passed time away talking, Qian Lan askes Yuhan what she knew of the capital.
"Yuhan, what do you know about the capital? I've never been there so I'm not sure what to expect."
"Well…I've been there only once as a kid. I begged my father to take me once when he went there for work. The capital is very large. There's lots of food and people. Oh! The royal family and the royal palace are in the capital too. I heard the new king was just crowned too!"
"A new king?"
"Yes, I heard he's rather young and has no queen yet. Maybe I'll get to be his queen!"
"Don't tell me that's your motive for going to the capital Yuhan."
"Of course not. I was merely joking. We're just commoners so there's no way he would ever look our way. It doesn't hurt to dream you know!"
"I guess you have a point there. What else is there in the capital?"
"Hmmmm…...let me think. Ah! The high shaman lives there too!"
"Shaman?"
"Yes! Rumors has it that she can foresee the futures of those she touches!"
Two hours go by and just as Qian Lan was going to ask another question; the carriage came to an unexpected stop. Qian Lan listened closely in case something was wrong. As Yuhan was going to say something, Qian Lan quickly shushes her.
"Qia…. mmph?!"
"Shhh!"
Qian Lan knew something was wrong. She could hear Xia Long yelling. In a matter of seconds, the sounds of sword clashing were now surrounding the carriage they were in. Yuhan finally catches on and holds onto Qian Lan tightly. The only thing going through Qian Lan's mind was oh crap. Yuhan glances at the door and realizes there was no lock. She quickly let's go of Qian Lan and crawls to the door to try and hold it in from the inside. As she was about to grab the door someone unexpectedly opens it from the outside. Qian Lan took one glance and could tell that; that man was not a part of the nobleman's guards.
"Crap! Yuhan move!"
The strange and barbaric man grabs onto Yuhan's right leg as she was about to crawl back to Qian Lan. The strange man screams to his people about finding women in the carriages.
"Guys! There's two women here!"
The barbaric man attempts to drag Yuhan out of the carriage as Qian Lan runs to grab onto Yuhans hand and pull her towards her. Yuhan screams in terror as she tries to kick off the man's grip on her leg. Yuhan kicks with all her might and ends up kicking the man in the face when he loomed in closer.
"Gah! How dare you kick my beautiful face!"
The man reaches to his waist and pulls out a sword. He holds it up and was ready to chop off Yuhans leg if that was what it took to get her out of the carriage. Qian Lan froze immediately and knew she needed to do something. She had watched tons of martial arts movies as a kid growing up and without thinking Qian Lan remembers a kicking move from a movie she had seen. She quickly let's go of Yuhan's hand and using the seat of the carriage, Qian Lan kicks the man with everything she had. Catching the man off guard, she sends him flying backwards. Qian Lan consoles the crying Yuhan and tells her follow her. Slightly poking her head out of the carriage, Qian Lan could see the nobleman and his guards fighting a group of men that looked like bandits at a distance away. Qian Lan knew her fate was sealed if she allowed the bandits to win. Quickly walking out of the carriage, Qian Lan heads towards the nobleman and his men. To her surprise the bandit she kicked was up and charging at her with his bare hands.
"Aw man! Seriously! Just stay down!"
As the man charged at her, Qian Lan grabs hold of his arm and tosses him over onto his back and puts him into a choke hold. The bandit screams in pain before finally knocking out from the lack of oxygen. Once the man was out cold, Qian Lan grabbed Yuhan and they both made a run for it. Once the nobleman noticed Qian Lan and Yuhan he motioned for them to wait in his carriage. After what seemed like forever, everything was finally quiet. The nobleman Xia Long finally opens the carriage and informs the girl it was over.
"Are you two alright? I didn't think we'd get ambushed by bandits on our way to the capital. You two did good on your own."
"Damn right we did. You should really have more guards for situations like this!"
"Ha Ha! Yes, this is a lesson learned for me. My men will tie up the bandits and use the other carriage to get rid of them. You two will remain with me in my carriage until we get to the capital."
Qian Lan knew Xia Long was planning to kill off the bandits. Knowing she shouldn't get on his bad side she only nod in agreement to his terms.