C15 He Fell to the Ground with His Four Legs Facing the Sky

When Luo Lingyan first arrived, she thought she had landed in a remote and impoverished area. To her surprise, it turned out to be a prosperous little island, part of the Kingdom of Saijiang, gifted by the current emperor to Mo Xuxiao.

Mo Xuxiao's father, Mo Chi, was the commander of the Celestial Wolf Army in Saijiang. Mo Xuxiao, known for his martial prowess and intelligence from a young age, was deeply admired and loved by his father. He grew up in the military camp.

At thirteen, Mo Xuxiao led the Celestial Wolf Army to defeat the bandits at Yuepo. By seventeen, when his father fell in battle against the Nanxuan Country, he took command as the Young Marshal and conquered Nanxuan.

Later, during a discussion of merits and rewards, Mo Xuxiao requested the emperor's permission to leave the military and pursue commerce. Whether the emperor feared his growing influence or suspected potential rebellion, he agreed, granting him a small island and some people, naming it Xuxiao Island.

Thus, as Luo Lingyan traveled, she encountered the elderly, the sick, and women and children, all "gifts" from the emperor. These were the old comrades and families of Mo Xuxiao's father.

"Sis, over there is the Island Master Mansion, and beyond that is the shop owned by the Island Master’s family. We have goods for sale on our island too."

"Yeah." Following Zixuan's gesture, Lingyan spotted a grand estate, its buildings and walls seamlessly connected, exuding an impressive aura. She wondered when she might live in such a large house. But what she really wanted at the moment was a carriage.

Both she and Zixuan carried two baskets each—she had herbs, and Zixuan had dried fish. She thought the baskets of herbs wouldn't be too heavy, but she had to rest twice and it took her half an hour to reach the dock.

The lush greenery of the coastal shelterbelt greeted them. Lingyan walked along a stone jetty stretching from the shore to the sea, arriving at a luxurious ship. The rhythmic sound of the waves and the deep blue sea stirred excitement in Lingyan, who was experiencing the ocean for the first time.

After setting down her load, Lingyan instructed Zixuan, "The Island Master and the others might not be here early. You stay here and watch our things; I'll go check it out." Without waiting for Zixuan's response, she jumped from the jetty to the sandy beach.

The sand beneath her feet was fine and white, stretching out in a vast, connected expanse. She ran, shouting with excitement. Seeing Lingyan so happy, Zixuan couldn't help but laugh.

The beach near the long embankment seemed well-maintained, with no shells in sight. However, as Lingyan ran along the right side, she discovered a stretch of sand teeming with shells—moon shells, starfish shells, painted scallops, conch shells, and even some she couldn't name. These shells were vibrant and eye-catching, and she couldn't help but imagine turning them into beautiful crafts.

The thought of this potential business venture excited her. She bent down, gathering the prettiest shells into a pile. Just as she was contemplating how to turn these shells into money, she heard her brother Zixuan calling out, "Sis, come back quick, the island folks are here."

Instinctively, Lingyan looked up to see nearly a dozen people had appeared at the dock. Hearing the "clop-clop" of hooves, she sprinted back. Breathless, she reached the edge of the embankment and struggled to climb it. Just as her hands touched the top, Xuxiao reined in his horse in front of her. "Whoa..."

Startled by the horse rearing up and neighing loudly, Lingyan instinctively pulled her hands back, causing her to lose her balance and fall backward...