Abandoning Wife and Selling Daughter? Turning Around to Marry a Powerful Minister and Wiping Out Your Entire Clan! - Chapter 18

“The garrison commander said Zhou Quan gave them your portrait,” Tao Yi Ming whispered.

Zhang Xiaolan’s eyes turned bloodshot, and she gripped the window lattice tightly, veins bulging.

Tao Yi Ming was afraid she might act recklessly, so he blocked the carriage door, fearing she would impulsively confront Zhou Quan.

He had seen her skills before—her disguise techniques were unmatched, probably the best in the entire Great Zhou Dynasty.

“Xiaolan, if you disguise yourself and have Shopkeeper Hao make a fake travel permit for you, can you slip out of the city gate?”

“Yi Ming, you’re too naive. Disguise isn’t the solution to this problem,” Zhang Xiaolan pressed her lips together, staring intently out the window. “Disguises only work for a moment, but when I reach the next place, how will I prove my permit is real?”

“Fake is always fake. It can never become real,” she murmured, as if talking about the city gate issue—or perhaps something else entirely.

Tao Yi Ming couldn’t afford to overthink it right now. He just needed to know what Zhang Xiaolan was planning.

She must not confront them head-on. The people must never fight the officials!

“If solving the problem is too hard, then why not deal with the person who caused it?” Zhang Xiaolan’s tears fell, but her lips curved into an eerie smile.

Madam Tao felt uneasy, worried that Zhang Xiaolan’s mind was unwell, or worse, that she was bottling up her emotions.

“Xiaolan, what are you planning?” Madam Tao asked cautiously.

“Nothing much, just giving him a taste of his own medicine.” Zhang Xiaolan’s smile grew even more dazzling. “Since he uses the Censorate to suppress people, why not let him experience the pain of being impeached?”

Madam Tao opened her mouth but didn’t know what to say. She wanted to change the subject, but then she noticed two bright red marks at the corners of Zhang Xiaolan’s eyes—vivid as fresh bl00d.

“Xiao… Xiaolan, you…” Madam Tao pointed at her eye corners. Tao Yi Ming saw it too.

Just as he was about to speak, Zhang Xiaolan gave a charming smile and collapsed in the carriage.

“Xiaolan! Xiaolan…” The two panicked and hurriedly brought her back to the Tao residence.

After calling a physician, they learned that she had fainted from excessive grief and pent-up anger.

The two sighed and sent the doctor away.

At dawn the next day, Madam Tao found Zhang Xiaolan packing her bags.

“What are you doing?” Madam Tao rushed over to stop her.

“Nanny, I want Zhou Quan dead. It’s better if we keep our distance from now on,” Zhang Xiaolan’s eyes were emotionless. She didn’t want to drag Madam Tao into this—she had been too naive.

“What nonsense are you saying?” Madam Tao glared at her, trying to snatch the bag away. She knew Xiaolan had a kind heart, but she also wasn’t a coward. Zhou Quan was just a mere Censorate official—did he really think he could rule over the entire capital? Did he think she had never seen high-ranking officials before?

But this time, Zhang Xiaolan didn’t let go. “Nanny, I can’t stay here any longer.”

Madam Tao was stunned for a moment, then softened. “If you want to move out, fine, but don’t become distant from me.”

Hearing this, Zhang Xiaolan’s eyes welled up with tears, but they vanished in an instant.

She bowed deeply. “Nanny, please take care of yourself.”

With that, she turned and left.

At noon, Tao Yi Ming took special leave to return home, only to find Madam Tao sitting in Xiaolan’s room, staring into space.

Zhang Xiaolan hadn’t lied—she truly didn’t want to implicate her nanny.

She wandered outside all day, only returning to her house at dusk under the cover of darkness.

Of course, she was in disguise.

Throughout the day, she had mapped out Zhou Quan’s routine.

He worked at the Censorate, and Shen Ting kept a close watch on him, leaving little room for mistakes.

Tomorrow was his day off. She doubted that a man who seduced Shen Ting would remain so disciplined.

Zhang Xiaolan woke up early, dressed carefully, and headed to a spot where Zhou Quan would definitely pass.

When Zhou Quan left his house, he strolled leisurely through the streets.

He was thinking about Zhang Xiaolan. It had been less than three months since he married Shen Ting, and he was already tired of her.

Zhang Xiaolan used to be so obedient—always considerate, never short of money, and even offering him fresh political insights.

But looking at Shen Ting now, besides being young and pretty and managing household affairs, what else did she have to offer?

Why hadn’t he appreciated Zhang Xiaolan before?

Oh, now he remembered.

Back then, his parents constantly reminded him that as long as he controlled Zhang Xiaolan, he would have a worry-free life and steady political advancement. The Zhou family could rise again and regain noble status in the capital.

Hearing this every day had infuriated him. Was he really doomed to rely on a woman to elevate his family?

Lost in thought, Zhou Quan stopped at a breakfast stall and had a bowl of lamb soup.

After eating, he whispered a few words to his servant and continued forward.

Zhang Xiaolan silently calculated—up ahead were a restaurant, a jewelry shop, and a fabric store. Where would Zhou Quan go?

He doted on Shen Ting. Most likely, he’d buy her some jewelry to please her.

With that in mind, Zhang Xiaolan followed him.

To others, she was just an ordinary woman who had finished her breakfast and was now casually strolling.

Zhou Quan noticed someone else leaving the stall at the same time and felt a bit smug—he could still attract the capital’s married women.

At Yuanhua Jewelry, Zhou Quan didn’t enter immediately. He waited at the entrance until his servant came out with two small boxes.

Then, he walked toward the capital’s most famous restaurant, Fenghua Tower.

Zhang Xiaolan followed silently, watching as Zhou Quan went inside while his servant remained outside.

Just as she was wondering why, a carriage arrived in front of the restaurant.

The door opened, and a stunning young lady stepped out.

Her skin was flawless, her brows delicate, her lips naturally rosy. A floral mark adorned her forehead, making her look even more enchanting.

Holding onto her maid’s hand, she gracefully stepped down and sweetly asked, “Has the young master arrived?”

Her voice was as clear and melodious as a songbird, crisp like a mountain spring. Her eyes shimmered with charm—she was indeed a beauty.

Zhang Xiaolan froze for a moment, realizing that the beauty was speaking to Zhou Quan’s servant.

She scoffed inwardly—some habits never change.

Just as she was about to follow them to see how far things would go, someone suddenly grabbed her arm from behind.

“What are you still doing here? Hurry up and help in the kitchen!”