Chapter 113: A Joyous Union and a Child-Blessing Painting

Concubine Xin, who had been weeping, stopped crying abruptly.

“You little brat, who do you think you are to come to my house asking for donations?”

Di Hongluan: “…”

She held back her frustration and forced a smile. “I’ve brought a gift for you, Great Uncle.”

Without waiting for permission from the Great Uncle or Concubine Xin, Di Hongluan instructed her maid to unveil the painting.

“Great Uncle, this is a gift for my little uncle. He’s of age now, and it’s time he got married. I carefully selected this painting, which suits him perfectly,” Di Hongluan said with a smile.

The Great Uncle’s eyes fell on the four bold words written on the painting: “A Joyous Union.”

A child-blessing painting for a joyous union!

The Great Uncle was nearly apoplectic. This was blatant mockery of the Duke’s household! Was his son supposed to marry a man? Joyous union, my foot! They’d become the laughingstock of the entire empire.

Fury surged through the Great Uncle. Concubine Xin, who had just managed to calm down, was once again enraged by the sight of the painting.

How could her son, Huan’er, have a child with another man?

Tears welled up in her eyes.

“You wretch! You wretched child!” Concubine Xin cried louder, and the already enraged Great Uncle glared at Di Hongluan with a fury that knew no bounds. “Get out! Get out now!”

Di Hongluan: ??

What’s wrong with the Great Uncle? Is he mad?

“Great Uncle, don’t you like this painting? Older people and younger people often have different tastes. Why not let Uncle Zhao Huan take a look? He might like it. The meaning behind it is so wonderful. I know you’ve driven Uncle Zhao Huan out, but there’s no such thing as an overnight grudge between father and son.”

Is this about an overnight grudge?

This concerns the family’s lineage and the Duke’s reputation!

“Are you refusing to leave?” The Great Uncle, unable to contain his anger, grabbed a broom and chased Di Hongluan and her painting out of the house.

Standing outside the Duke’s mansion, Di Hongluan was shocked.

She’s the protagonist!

She has the protagonist’s aura!

How dare this old fool chase her out?

…

Meanwhile, Di Zian and Ah Bao had arrived at the Wen Residence.

This residence belonged to Concubine Hui’s family—a wealthy and prestigious household.

Ever since Wen Qingyuan was imprisoned, Madam Xu had been bedridden for months after being beaten. Recently, she had just started walking again.

With the Wen family’s only son in trouble, Madam Xu was now considering having another child. She couldn’t rely solely on her daughter; she needed another child, no matter what.

“What’s that smell?” Di Zian sniffed the air, catching a strong whiff of medicinal herbs in the courtyard.

Minister Wen came out to greet them, quickly explaining, “Oh, it’s the Seventh Di Ziand Tenth Princess! My wife has been feeling unwell, so she’s brewing some medicine in the courtyard.”

[Ah, Madam Xu is taking some potent medicine in hopes of having another child for Minister Wen.]

Di Zian almost stumbled, nearly tripping over the doorstep.

“Seventh Prince, be careful,” Minister Wen said, noticing Di Zian’s odd expression as he looked him up and down, bewildered.

Was something wrong with his face?

“Your Highness, do I have something on my face? Why are you looking at me like that?”

“Uh, no, there’s nothing.”

Your wife has something.

You two are into something strange.

“Seventh Prince, Tenth Princess, I won’t lie to you. I know why you’re here today,” Minister Wen sighed. “I’ve already prepared everything.”

Minister Wen pulled out a small black box containing a full 5,000 taels of silver.

Di Zian had no doubt that Minister Wen could come up with that amount. After all, Minister Wen was famous for his integrity and frugality.

Those 5,000 taels must have taken years to save up.

“Princess Ah Bao, what do you think? Is this enough to leave now?” Minister Wen, already troubled by many things, hoped the Tenth Princess wouldn’t cause any more problems. They couldn’t afford to offend her but couldn’t keep her away either.

Ah Bao’s round eyes curved into a smile.

[Not enough, not enough. Minister Wen has more silver!]

Di Zian: “…”

This?

Minister Wen didn’t seem like the type to stash away money.

His father often praised Minister Wen for his integrity and honesty.

Seeing that the Tenth Princess had no intention of leaving, Minister Wen started to panic. “Princess Ah Bao, I swear that’s all I have. It’s everything I own. I wouldn’t dare deceive you.”

Ah Bao smiled slyly and glanced at Madam Xu, who had just entered the hall.

“He’s got money hidden,” she said.

[This Madam Xu, she’s quite the wealthy one.]

[Unlike the fake Madam Yang, who relies on the Prime Minister’s favor and never spends a dime, Madam Xu may be favored by Minister Wen, but she’s been hoarding money secretly, fully aware of her actions.]

[Minister Wen prides himself on being incorruptible, but in reality, he’s swimming in wealth.]

Di Zian felt a twitch in his eyebrow.

Madam Xu was embezzling funds without Minister Wen’s knowledge?

Husband and wife are supposed to be one. If this continues, Minister Wen will definitely get into trouble sooner or later!

“Ten Princess, what are you looking for?” Madam Xu entered the room with a pout, already aware of the fundraising efforts among the officials.

“Old Wen, didn’t you already donate everything we had from the Wen family?”

“I did,” Minister Wen replied.

Recently, he and Madam Xu had reconciled. After all, they’ve been married for a long time; he couldn’t just watch his wife die. Moreover, their daughter was in the palace, and their son was in prison. In the future, it would just be him, Madam Xu, and his elderly mother at home.

Madam Xu had saved him in her youth, injuring her leg in the process, and he was still grateful. Naturally, he wouldn’t abandon her.

“If you donated everything, why isn’t the Ten Princess leaving?” Madam Xu signaled to Minister Wen with her eyes.

Minister Wen was extremely anxious.

He had no idea either.

How could he dare to chase the Ten Princess out?

Madam Xu quickly pulled Minister Wen outside and sternly warned him, “That Ten Princess is a little jinx, don’t you know? Haven’t you heard? Misfortune follows her wherever she goes. Our family is already unlucky enough, and you let the Ten Princess into our home. Are you trying to make life difficult for the Wen family?”

“My dear, you can’t speak like that. The Ten Princess is of royal blood, and she’s here for the sake of the court. There’s no reason to leave her standing at the door.”

Madam Xu’s face hardened, her voice cold, “Throw her out! Throw her out! The Ten Princess is a jinx! If the Emperor hadn’t taken her with him on that undercover visit, he wouldn’t have uncovered the cheating scandal during the imperial exams, and our son wouldn’t have been implicated.

In the end, it’s all the Ten Princess’s fault.

Now she wants us to donate money. You’re the official, and she’s the master. If you must donate, donate, but I don’t want to see her. Get her out!”

“My dear, what are you saying…”

While they were whispering to each other, a sudden cry rang out.