novelraw Chapter 192 : A Pleasant Surprise
Chapter 192 : A Pleasant Surprise
The planet Shen Han now inhabited shared many commonalities with her home before transmigration.
For instance, the Free Federation's language, culture, and lifestyle were predominantly based on Han culture.
Additionally, countries like Yin Country, the Jiying Empire, and New Li Country corresponded to certain nations in Shen Han's memories.
However, the small kingdom called Solanguo that Gu Junwan mentioned in the flying car evoked a strange feeling in Shen Han.
Solanguo was far from the Free Federation, with a flight time exceeding thirty hours.
Yet in that distant and unfamiliar country, people spoke the Federation language, and their appearance and lifestyle were largely similar to the Federation.
The medicinal herb that could fundamentally improve Gu Qianqiu's constitution was called Dragon Horn Ginseng.
Named for its resemblance to a dragon's horn, it had different names in other places.
When Gu Junwan was young, Tang Yucai had visited Solanguo, staying there for nearly half a year.
But ultimately, she failed to find the herb she sought.
Dragon Horn Ginseng was originally a specialty of the ancient country but had long since become extinct according to historical records.
Its reappearance in public view was due to a fishing group from Solanguo accidentally landing on a deserted island during a sea voyage.
The island also contained unidentified tomb ruins, and the group's employees brought back everything they could carry in the ship's hold.
Half a month later, Solanguo would hold an auction.
The auction items were the things brought back from that deserted island.
Besides Dragon Horn Ginseng, there were other rare medicinal herbs, as well as gems, jade artifacts, and other items.
Gu Junwan had originally planned to anonymously purchase directly from the auction organizers at a high price, but they outright refused.
The person handling negotiations for the auction side didn't know they were talking to the Federation Empress's team.
He even said smugly on the phone: "Esteemed customer, you all want to buy that Dragon Horn Ginseng at a high price, so come compete at the auction site. The highest bidder wins."
After several probes all yielding similar responses, Gu Junwan abandoned the private purchase route.
She couldn't directly pressure Solanguo using her identity as the Federation Empress.
Because revealing her needs too early would be tantamount to exposing her weakness to others, thus becoming subject to their control.
After some planning, the task ultimately fell to Shen Han.
She would personally lead a team to Solanguo to participate in the auction, striving to obtain that Dragon Horn Ginseng by any means necessary.
After three days of preparation, Shen Han set off with her team.
The group of ten included six warriors and four experts well-versed in auctions, all using false identities with correspondingly altered appearances.
Although Solanguo was small, its control over firearms and blades was very strict.
This was one reason for the small number of warriors in Shen Han's team.
As for Teacher Tang, who had been eager to participate in this operation, she obediently remained at Peace Palace awaiting news.
To travel discreetly, Shen Han specifically chose a tour group, taking a night flight.
When she arrived at the corresponding waiting area with her entourage, she was somewhat surprised to find that her group was the last to arrive.
Over thirty people, both men and women, mostly young, were already seated neatly on the long benches.
Seeing Shen Han approach with her people, many waiting passengers lifted their eyes to observe her.
Their gazes held no malice, only curiosity.
As if an odd alien had walked up to them.
Shen Han paused, turning her head to look at the nearest row of fellow passengers.
Those who met her gaze either continued to stare or quickly averted their eyes.
This whole scene was too suspicious!
"Situation has changed, everyone disperse separately."
"Don't look around during the journey, contact again after leaving Terminal 1!"
After quickly issuing orders to her team members in a low voice, Shen Han turned to leave, pushing her suitcase.
At that moment, a tall woman and a short man emerged from a nearby smoking room, blocking Shen Han's path.
"Where are you going? Isn't the waiting hall behind you?"
"Comrade Shen Nuan, are you hungry? Want some instant noodles? I can reluctantly run an errand for you."
Hearing these familiar voices, Shen Han's expression froze, then her eyes lit up with joy.
She asked in a voice only the three of them could hear: "Why are you here?"
The two who suddenly stopped her were naturally Ning Xi and Ma Haoyu.
When Shen Han passed the smoking room earlier, she had glimpsed their silhouettes through the glass door.
However, they had changed their appearance and makeup, so she didn't recognize them at first.
Ning Xi chuckled softly: "We're the Empress's guards. Our presence here is naturally to protect our superior."
Ma Haoyu also grinned mischievously, rubbing his hands: "Boss, don't blame us for keeping this from you. We're just following orders."
"Just say, are you surprised and delighted now?"
After hearing their words, Shen Han immediately turned to look around.
But after a full circle, she didn't see the most familiar figure she was seeking.
Ning Xi took her suitcase, saying softly: "Don't look anymore. The Empress, Xu Zhao, and Jiang Xinyue will board directly through the VIP channel later."
"This entire tour group is our own people, right? No wonder I sensed a different aura from them."
"Oh right, why do they keep secretly glancing at me? Does my current disguise look strange?"
Hearing these words, Ning Xi smiled meaningfully.
She pulled Shen Han aside and whispered: "Don't you check the internet? The whole nation is hoping for you and the Empress to get married."
"Those soldiers are elites from the special operations brigade. They're very curious about you. With such a good opportunity right before their eyes, of course they'll stare at you."
After saying this, she added in her heart: Of course, they can't see much no matter how much they look.
Unlike me, who can sit in the front row to watch the show!
Upon hearing that Gu Junwan would accompany her to Solanguo, Shen Han's emotions had been in constant flux.
Happy one moment, worried the next, her expressions changing like emoticons.
Shen Han was naturally overjoyed to travel with her wife.
But thinking about the potential safety risks in this journey, she became very concerned.
This was a secret trip for the Empress, and to a distant country at that. The security conditions were vastly different from usual.
Dozens of elite warriors sounded like a lot, but without the support of firearms, if a real battle broke out, their effectiveness would be greatly reduced.
With the Federation's territory so far away, rescue would also be a major problem.
During the waiting time before boarding, Shen Han felt as if she had experienced severe cold and extreme heat.
Cold sweat and hot sweat alternately broke out, dampening the hair at her temples.
Her encrypted messages to Gu Junwan went unanswered.
She couldn't find anyone to discuss her many questions with.
She could only stare incessantly at the clock face, as if that would make time pass faster.
At this moment, Shen Han understood even more deeply Tang Yucai's sense of anxiety and loss.
She felt anxious just imagining Gu Junwan potentially in danger.
How could Teacher Tang possibly remain calm in her situation?
Finally, the moment for boarding arrived.
Shen Han eagerly completed the ticket check and settled into her seat.
She knew that after the cabin door closed, Special Assistant Xu would certainly come to find her.
The number of boarding passengers wasn't large, Shen Han estimated only about seventy in total.
Moreover, the entire plane was filled with their own people.
Just as the plane was about to begin taxiing, Xu Zhao, also in a changed outfit, finally walked up to Shen Han.
Seeing the Alpha's bright eyes, Xu Zhao rarely joked: "Passenger, signing up for a membership card can provide an upgrade service. Do you need it?"
Shen Han quickly stood up, urging her towards the first-class section.
"Yes, yes! I want the most expensive wash-cut-blow membership card, the kind where they help style your hair after washing!"
Xu Zhao secretly laughed to herself, not wasting time, and quickly led the dog whose eyes were almost glowing to the Empress's area.
In the luxurious first-class cabin.
The enclosed space well catered to personal privacy.
Seats could be reclined into beds, and lighting could be adjusted for different modes like work or rest.
Besides providing exquisite food and drink, the area also had a mini-bar and private bathroom.
After bringing Shen Han to the Empress's cabin, Xu Zhao tactfully withdrew.
Before leaving, she didn't forget to close the cabin door for them.
Shen Han didn't move, standing dumbfounded, gazing at the young woman seated not far away.
Gu Junwan's attire had also changed.
But compared to the almost disguise-level makeup of Shen Han, Xu Zhao, and others, she only relied on her outfit to conceal her appearance.
She had just settled into this cabin, not even having time to remove her sunglasses.
Her already fair and beautiful face looked as small as a palm, set off by the large sunglasses.
Today, Gu Junwan wore a light-colored dress embroidered with vintage patterns, both elegant and imposing.
Slender earrings perfectly accentuated her neck line, giving an incredibly beautiful impression.
Shen Han stared at her wife without blinking, her heart pounding like a drum.
She didn't know what was wrong with her. They had been together for over two years, yet she still often couldn't control her breathing and heartbeat in front of the other.
Gu Junwan reached up to remove her sunglasses, raising her eyes to look at her Alpha.
Shen Han wore a brightly colored floral shirt on top, paired with jeans and black canvas shoes.
With a small camera hanging around her neck, she looked every bit the standard tourist.
This time she hadn't darkened her skin tone, but had put effort into modifying her facial features.
Her originally gentle and delicate face now carried a somewhat honest and shy feeling. At first glance, she looked like a literary girl on her first long-distance trip.
Now, seeing her Alpha's dumbfounded look, Gu Junwan's red lips curled slightly, letting out an involuntary soft laugh: "Silly Alpha, don't you recognize your own wife?"