The Little Consort's
Eps. 24: Dare to Try

People say that when you try something, you keep trying. At first it may be just a trial and error, but over time it becomes a habit, and becomes an addiction. That was what Li Anlan was experiencing at the moment. Once he tried, he wanted to try again.

Li Anlan wanted to try to exit the palace again. Since the day of his return some time ago, Li Anlan's sleep was no longer sound because he was always thinking about the hustle and bustle that was happening in the city center, as well as how delicious the food outside the palace was, especially the food in Lanxin Pavilion. Li Anlan also thought about the fate of the rundown children he met the other day.

Therefore, she secretly sent a letter back to her brother. Li Anlan asked Li Afan to send him some money and some food that the slums could enjoy. The Thief's earnings must have been erratic. The children may be starving because the Thief has not managed to get anything at all.

In his letter, Li Anlan also pointed the way through the description towards the old house. Although the writing is worse, it can still be read. An intelligent person like Li Afan would have no difficulty in guessing the contents of the letter. In addition to asking Li Afan to send him money and food, Li Anlan also asked him to find him a nice and strategic two-story building. For his purposes, Li Anlan did not mention it.

The plan, Li Anlan would use the building to start his business. He plans to open a restaurant and inn. For his workers, he will look for it and determine for himself what kind of qualifications are in accordance with his wishes. If the building had been obtained, Li Anlan would have tried to sneak up again, disguising himself as someone else.

Li Anlan no longer told Xie Roulan to send the letter out of concern that the palace guards would be suspicious. If a lowly concubine servant came out of the palace as often as possible, inevitably they would definitely be wary. They will wonder what important things or necessities require that the servants seem to leave the palace more than anyone else.

For this reason, Li Anlan kept a white pigeon and trained it. After feeling quite skilled, Li Anlan then flew it. His letter he tied at the right foot of the white pigeon. A few days after, the pigeon returned to Xingyue Palace with a letter tied to its left foot. Li Anlan hurriedly picked up the letter. Apparently, the letter was a reply letter from Li Afan.

“The building you want is available.”

“I finally got it!” Li Anlan cheered to herself.

The door of Xingyue Palace opened. Xie Roulan came in carrying his breakfast ration. After she had arranged her food on the table, she was about to continue her other work. But, Li Anlan intercepted him and told him to sit down to eat with him.

“You must be hungry.”

“I've eaten mangroves, Mistress,” said Xie Roulan.

“That's not enough to prop up your little belly.”

Inevitably, Xie Roulan ended up eating with his master. Despite having eaten a lot together, Xie Roulan still felt awkward. She was a lowly slave who was bought with money, while her master was a beautiful rich noble girl. Only, his fate was not so lucky because he was not talented and did not have the intelligence to be forced into the palace to become an outcast concubine.

Xie Roulan grew up with Li Anlan. He remembered, he was bought by a cruel and greedy fat young man. Xie Roulan was once a beggar and his life suffered greatly. Until one day at the peak spring festival, he meets a man in his thirty years who is carrying a girl his age.

The thirty-year-old man carrying the girl gave her a warm mangrove and porridge, then asked her what her name was and where she came from. At that time, Xie Roulan had no name. People just call her a beggar girl. Knowing that, the kind man then gave him the name ‘Xie Roulan’, which became his name until now.

The good man was Li Anlan's father, Lord Royal Highness Li Han. The daughter he was with was Li Anlan. Seeing Xie Roulan, little Li Anlan then asked Lord Nobles Li Han to bring him into the residence and become his study companion. Lord Nobles Li Han then asked Xie Roulan to bring them to his master to buy them back. When Lord Nobility Li Han met the Fat Man, he immediately gave a sum of money to redeem Xie Roulan. After the deal was completed, Xie Roulan was brought back to the residence of Royal Li.

Little Xie Roulan knew the return of the favor. She refused to be Li Anlan's study partner and preferred to be a servant. He promised that he would always be there for Li Anlan throughout his life. As long as he breathed, he would be Li Anlan's servant for all eternity. He only realized that his master was not good at anything when he was twelve years old. Xie Roulan increasingly did not want to leave Li Anlan. So, he continued to follow and accompany his master wherever he went, including to this desolate palace.

“Roulan, find me another shirt!” li Anlan's orders when the two of them finished eating. The waiter nodded. He understood the meaning of his words. If Li Anlan told him to look for a shirt, then it meant that his master would sneak out again.

“This time what will the mistress do?”

“Business.”

Xie Roulan was not convinced. But, he also did not dare to ask anymore. The servant girl chose to immediately look for the clothes that Li Anlan had asked for.

During the day, in the bustling city center, people were busy passing by. Restaurants and shops are busy serving customers. The building's kitchens billow, blowing smoke and steam from steam pans, frying pans, and combustion furnaces. Spring weather is also very sunny. Flowers bloom charmingly.

The most crowded and most eye-catching building was a building thirty meters away from Lanxin Pavilion. The building was crowded with many people. But, the strangeness is that the visitors to the building are young men.

“Master, why is the building so crowded?” ask a young man to another young man.

“Young master building owner is looking for workers.”

“Why are only men coming?”

“Because indeed the Young Master only needs young and handsome male workers.”

That strange statement awakened a great curiosity in the young man's heart. Young and handsome male worker, what does that mean? Supposedly, if you want to start a business, should not be picky workers. As long as it is willing and paid, it is already exceptional. The owner of that building must be a fool.

The young man then entered the building. Inside, dozens or even hundreds of young and handsome men jostled to get in line. On a stage in the middle of the room, two men dressed as men were sitting on their feet. One of the two men had a beautiful face, the other a handsome face with a thin mustache over his upper lip.

“Do not scramble! You guys I'll recruit if you meet the qualifications!” exclaims The Handsome Man with the mustache.

The voice seemed familiar. The young man who had just entered came forward, splitting the long queue to make the other young men scream in annoyance. Up in front of the stage where the Handsome Man had a mustache and the Beautiful Man was sitting, the young man flicked his robe and spread his fan.

The Handsome Man with a thin mustache, upon hearing that voice, immediately got up from his seat. As his eyes looked at the young man in front of him, instantly his hair stood all over. The young man's gaze pierced his heart and heart. The handsome man with the thin mustache became misbehaved.

The beautiful man who was sitting next to him got up. His heart wondered why the Handsome Man suddenly stood up and sculpted like a statue upon seeing the young man.

“What's up?” whisper it to the Handsome Man with the mustache.

“Long-Long-Long-”

“Longlonglong?”

“Long Ji Man is here!” reply the Handsome Man slowly.

“Who? This young man? Who's Long Ji Man?”

“Your Majesty the King!”

The Beautiful Man, who was none other than Li Afan, was shocked to death. The young man before him was King Dongling, the husband of his younger brother! Li Anlan was as possessed by a demon and was silent as a statue. He was like a caught thief! Li Afan lost all his words. He doesn't know what to talk about. He alone felt shocked and nervous, let alone Li Anlan. His face was pajas like a corpse.

“Ahahahaha, Young Master is very confident!”

Li Anlan came down to approach Long Ji Man. He took the man to a rather quiet corner of the room. Long Ji Man wagged his fan. The air in this room turns to heat.

“Your Majesty, what are you doing here?”

“I should have asked! Why would a concubine sneak out of the palace?”

Li Anlan did not answer the question of his king. The woman disguised as a man looked briefly at the crowd of people. He must finish his business first.

“Let me explain.”

Li Anlan then returned to the stage and told everyone that the recruitment of workers would continue. He asked Li Afan to handle his work. Seeing her concubine talking familiarly to a man, somehow Long Ji Man's heart became uncomfortable. Moreover, their distance was so close. He was a powerful king, the owner of this entire Dongling land. Why did he feel like he was about to lose something small and insignificant?

Long Ji Man walked over to Li Anlan. He went up on stage to make people around him yell at him, deeming him breaking through the queue. Li Anlan could not prevent it. He doesn't want to ruin everything.

“Who is he?” his tan was half-whispering, while pointing at Li Afan with an eye gesture.

“He's my old friend!”

“You have friends?”

“Can I not have acquaintances because I am an untalented fool?”

The cynicism thrown from Li Anlan's mouth made Long Ji Man flick his clothes and fan. His face turned flat and cold. This woman dared to clash with him again. He didn't even feel scared or guilty at all.

“If you don't return to the palace now, I will make you unable to see the crowd again forever!”

That cold tone implied an order that contained powerful strength and power, which no one could dispute for any reason and by anyone. An expressionless flat face, a cold tone coming out from the mouth of a king, made Li Anlan intimidated. For the first time he was a little scared.

Meanwhile, Li Afan who saw the interaction of his sister and sister-in-law could not do anything. Li Anlan had been found out and guilty, if defending him would not be useful. Li Anlan would be further cornered if Li Afan opened his voice. That flat and cold face of King Dongling was truly terrifying!

Li Anlan could not let Long Ji Man get even more angry at him. His brain turned violently thinking of the fastest way to take the man away from this building without causing any commotion. But, these people are too many. Now, the three people on the stage were already the center of attention.

“Ahahaha, gentlemen, I must take my friend back. The beautiful man by my side will take care of you.”

After saying that, Li Anlan immediately pulled the sleeves of Long Ji Man, bringing his owner out of the building through the back road. Li Anlan's originally panicked expression turned flat, even more leading to annoyance.

“Do not speak! I'll take you somewhere!”

Long Ji Man said nothing. He let his outcast concubine drag him away, took him away from the building and went down the narrow and deserted streets. Long Ji Man wanted to see what action Li Anlan would take next. He wanted to know how far this foolish woman could act.

...***...