After listening to the story, Bai Xi felt content and excitedly pulled Leng Sa towards the bustling commercial center of Yong City. The most prominent building here was a six-story structure. Yong City was an old city with a history of over a thousand years, and in recent years, it had seen the construction of many high-rise buildings. However, the most talked-about was this department store building. Presently, Yong City was also one of An Xia's most prosperous cities. Walking on its streets could sometimes give you the peculiar sensation of traversing between ancient and modern times. One moment, you might be in a quaint courtyard alley, and the next turn could reveal towering skyscrapers and a bustling thoroughfare.
Although modern transportation like cars was still relatively uncommon in places like Yong City, there was already a tram system in the city center. Cars, and even motorbikes, occasionally whizzed by.
Pedestrians on the streets displayed diverse appearances. Some wore youthful student uniforms, while others donned Western-style clothing, exuding a modern vibe. Traditional attire like long robes could also be seen, adding a touch of elegance to the scene. At times, you might even spot foreigners with various hair colors and skin tones, indicating how everyone had grown accustomed to living in this ever-changing and emerging world.
The department store in the city center was the first tall building in Yong City and stood for over thirty years. While it might appear ancient among the various buildings in the city, the memories it evoked upon its completion were irreplaceable, even by the larger and taller structures that came afterward.
Since its construction, this place has remained the largest and most prosperous department store in Yong City, a status it held up to this day.
Having been in this world for three years, Leng Sa had long confirmed that she hadn't traveled back to the past. This was an entirely different world with a distinct historical timeline and legendary figures. Of course, there were some familiarities as well, such as An Lan University, where she was now.
An Lan University's predecessor was the An Lan Academy in the ancient Dong Ling region, initially established for women's education.
Over a hundred years ago, as comprehensive universities were emerging, the institution adapted to the times, transforming into An Lan Women's University. About twenty years ago, it lifted gender restrictions and became a true co-educational comprehensive university. Today, when the male-to-female ratio in most universities was 7:3, An Lan University's ratio was incredibly skewed at 8:2, with eight female students for every two male students.
It had to be said that the woman who used to joke and quarrel with her every day had become the founder of her school. Leng Sa's feelings about this were quite complex. Whenever she heard the teachers and classmates passionately praising the accomplishments of the Duchess Rui of Dong Ling in establishing An Lan Academy, she couldn't help but silently comment to herself: These people probably never thought that the lazy Xie Anlan would work hard alongside the Duke Rui and was probably attracted by his looks.
Leng Sa was currently enrolled in the Faculty of Arts at An Lan University. This major was chosen by her grandfather, and Leng Sa didn't mind. She just needed to attend school, and the choice of major wasn't her primary concern. After all, what she needed most was to catch up on the cultural and historical knowledge of this world.
Afterward, for two years, Leng Sa would daily lament her past decisions. If the name 'Anlan' led her to think it was just a coincidence, the name 'Lan Meng' was unbearable. You've even changed your surname to Luo, how can you still be called Lan Meng?
The most unfortunate case was Blood Fox, who hadn't even left a name in history. There were many anecdotes and records in the An Lan University library's collection that mentioned the significant deeds of the Grand Regent Prince Consort Dashen. However, those memoirs were written like novels, and future historians generally didn't take them seriously.
It was said that on some overseas islands, there was a tomb called the 'Divine Blessing Mausoleum'. Leng Sa contemplated that maybe in the future if she had the chance, she could go take a look.
Leng Sa wasn't fixated on the idea of finding her former friends. After all, no matter what, she was several hundred or even thousands of years too late. Even if she managed to find those three, they would likely have turned to dust by now.
Although she couldn't quite comprehend why Lan Meng, who died around the same time as her, went back several hundred years, while Hua Chi, who died earlier than both of them, went back even further. The one who should have outlived them by at least a second, Blood Fox, went back even farther in time. In the end, she could only attribute these mysteries to the charlatan White Fox.
After all, the profound academic questions of space and time weren't something a sniper like her could grasp.
As someone whose body was most likely already in pieces, she didn't expect charlatan to truly work miracles and pull her back.
It was fine as long as everyone was alive.
The current Emperor of An Xia was established after overthrowing the last-generation Grand Regent Princess, and the country's founding was not even three hundred years old. In recent decades, both An Xia and the world have undergone tremendous changes. Fortunately, An Xia had not been lagging behind. Twenty-five years ago, the former Emperor of An Xia abdicated in favor of his younger brother. The current Emperor Cheng Ping proclaimed the abandonment of the imperial system, returning power to the people of An Xia, and implementing a constitutional monarchy.
However, despite this reform having avoided warfare, it wasn't entirely successful.
Now, the true power in various regions of An Xia lay in the hands of the regional governors. These governors held both military and political authority, directly threatening the power of the cabinet.
While the central institution also commanded a significant number of troops, they only had control over the areas near the capital. Presently, apart from the capital, there were seven or eight formidable governors in the east, west, south, and north, creating a situation akin to seven powerful factions coexisting. However, the events of those years hadn't passed for too long, so everyone still maintained a certain level of courtesy toward each other and adhered to the agreements they had made.
The upper class of society didn't really have much to do with girls like Leng Sa, so she had been living quite well for the past three years. While the modern technological advancements of her previous life are far from being matched in this era, An Xia remained a strong nation, and the lives of ordinary people were not too difficult. She felt that this way was just fine.
"Hey, aren't these Leng Mingyue and Bai Xi?" a sharp voice suddenly sounded, instantly capturing everyone's attention. Passersby in the department store began to look around for Leng Sa's whereabouts.
Bai Xi was in the midst of holding up a dress to ask Leng Sa about it, but upon hearing the voice, her expression immediately changed, and she glared angrily at the direction of the voice.
Several girls around their age happened to walk over. The leading girl seemed completely oblivious to the gazes of the passersby, and she approached Leng Sa with enthusiasm, "Mingyue, what a coincidence to see you here. You haven't been to class these past two days, and we've all been worried about you."
Leng Sa raised her eyes and calmly looked at her, "Who are you?"
The girl's face stiffened instantly, and Bai Xi had already stormed over angrily, "Zheng Xian, do you have any shame? You're not even in the same class as Sasa. What are you worried about?"
This girl was none other than Zheng Xian, the cousin of Fu Family's Young Master's fiancée, Zheng Ying.
Zheng Xian's expression changed slightly, "I'm just concerned about Leng Mingyue. What does it have to do with you?"
Bai Xi sneered, "If it weren't for your Zheng family, would Sasa have missed school for two days? You don't need to worry; Sasa is perfectly fine. She'll be back to school on Monday."
Leng Sa gently patted Bai Xi's shoulder, "Aren't you interested in this dress? It looks good. Go and try it on."
Bai Xi immediately became excited, "You think it's pretty too? I really love it!"
"If you like it, then go and try. Don't waste time talking to irrelevant people," Leng Sa nudged Bai Xi.
The others weren't having it, "Leng Sa, Xianxian is just concerned about you. You're being too indifferent."
"That's right. We're all classmates. What irrelevant people…"
Leng Sa gave Zheng Xian a faint glance, "Getting into an argument at this time wouldn't be detrimental to me. Are you sure you want to pick a fight with me? It seems… your relationship with Zheng Ying isn't that good either." At this moment, the Zheng family would prefer to stay low-profile, and Zheng Xian deliberately provoked her in a public place—what would outsiders think?
Zheng Xian's complexion changed, "You… what nonsense are you spouting? We… we're just here shopping with Sister Ying, and we greeted you when we saw you. If you don't appreciate it, fine, I was just trying to be kind!"