Chapter 103: Reveal you secret

Lan Xiang frowned deeply.

After all these years, he did have fatherly feelings for Lan Jinjing. She was the daughter he had raised for fifteen years. But some things weren’t about blood ties; they were about right and wrong.

“Master, Madam, the Tenth Princess and the Seventh Prince are here.”

Lan Xiang and Madam Yang were instantly stunned.

Di Zian walked into the hall, carrying Ah Bao.

Lan Yixuan was the first to be surprised.

“Isn’t this…?”

Wasn’t this the little girl from last night?

This morning, she hadn’t seen the little girl and had even searched outside for a while. When she noticed signs of someone crawling through the dog hole, she thought the little girl had crawled away through it last night.

She had been worried and a bit sad.

“Oh dear, Xuan’er, you really are from the countryside. Even if you don’t know better, when you see the princess and prince, you should kneel.” Madam Yang pulled Lan Yixuan to her knees.

“Rise. I’m here today with the little princess to attend to some matters,” Di Zian said.

Madam Yang and Lan Xiang exchanged glances.

Matters?

Could it be related to the court officials’ donations?

This issue had spread throughout the court today.

Lan Xiang had attended court that morning and donated a hundred taels of silver. He had informed Madam Yang about it upon his return.

Was the emperor losing his mind? How could he entrust something as important as the officials’ donations to an eight-month-old child? Although the little princess was clever and smart, she couldn’t even speak clearly, and could only take a few steps without running. How could she handle such an important task?

“Seventh Prince, you mentioned the officials’ donations, right?”

Di Zian remained expressionless. “If you have any concerns, speak to my sister. I’m just here to run errands.”

He was his sister’s mobile chair.

Madam Yang: “…”

Ah Bao had already wrapped her arms around Lan Yixuan’s leg. “So… pretty…”

【Sister Lan is beautiful and kind-hearted, and now her heavenly luck has returned.】

【What a lucky koi fortune; all good things will come to Sister Lan.】

Di Zian couldn’t help but glance at Lan Yixuan.

Every time he saw her in public, she was gentle and demure, the epitome of a refined young lady. But only Di Zian knew that this girl was quite a cunning little devil, and she was excellent in a fight.

Perhaps she was hiding her true nature in the Lan residence because she felt uncomfortable. But Di Zian had noticed it.

Lan Jinjing secretly sneered. “Tenth Princess, do you know my sister?”

Ah Bao ignored Lan Jinjing.

【Sister Lan is not your sister!】

【Little Intruder doesn’t have a sister.】

Ever since Ah Bao had called Lan Jinjing a cuckoo occupying a magpie’s nest, in Ah Bao’s mind, Lan Jinjing had earned the nickname “Little Intruder.”

The intruder in the magpie’s nest.

Lan Jinjing’s warm greeting was met with cold indifference.

When the Tenth Princess ignored her, she simply stopped speaking.

What’s so great about this? When she becomes the Seventh Prince’s Concubine, even the Tenth Princess will have to call her “Seventh Sister-in-law.”

Thinking about this, Lan Jinjing quickly glanced at Madam Yang.

Madam Yang understood.

“Seventh Prince, may I ask, did His Majesty mention anything about the Concubine selection?”

“Madam!” Lan Xiang quickly interrupted.

Madam Yang was taking advantage of the Seventh Prince’s presence to ask. She was afraid that if she missed this chance, it might not come again.

Di Zian coldly replied, “What does the Concubine selection have to do with you?”

“This…” Madam Yang glared fiercely at Lan Xiang. Today, he must not have mentioned to the emperor that they wanted to marry Lan Jinjing to Di Zian.

“Seventh Prince, I apologize if I’m being forward, but what do you think of Jinjing?”

Di Zian glanced at her and said, “Not interested.”

Madam Yang: “…”

Lan Jinjing: “…”

They never expected the Seventh Prince to be so blunt.

Even saying he didn’t like her would be better than “not interested.”

“Seventh Prince, with those words, how is our Jinjing supposed to go out in public?”

“Then don’t go out.”

Madam Yang: ???

No way. The Seventh Prince must be here just to irritate her.

While Madam Yang was busy bickering with Di Zian, Ah Bao had already climbed onto a small table. She dangled her legs over the edge, pulled out a few melon seeds from her little pouch, and watched Madam Yang as if enjoying a good show.

After Madam Yang finished speaking, Ah Bao giggled, then tugged at the sleeve of Prime Minister Lan, who immediately leaned forward with a humble expression. “Little Princess, what do you have to say?”

Ah Bao pointed to the purse hanging from her waist and held out her small hand. “Gold… money.”

She didn’t know the words for “money” or “donation,” but she could say “gold.”

The little one’s voice was soft and childlike, but those words were crystal clear, quite unusual for a child her age.

Prime Minister Lan was so shocked that his face nearly fell off. The Emperor was really bold, sending a child for this. If the donations didn’t come through, it wouldn’t be too embarrassing for the little princess; after all, she was just a child. But if the donations were successful… well, that was unlikely.

“Little Princess, that’s not right,” Madam Yang spoke before the Prime Minister could respond.

In the Lan family, even though Prime Minister Lan was the head, Madam Yang managed the finances. Moreover, since Prime Minister Lan had only ever had Madam Yang as his wife, without taking any concubines, she was highly favored and wielded significant power in the household.

Regarding this donation, Prime Minister Lan would have to heed her opinion.

“Donations should be voluntary, giving as much or as little as one wants. If someone doesn’t want to donate, they shouldn’t have to. Do you understand?” Madam Yang said with her nose in the air, dismissing the little girl in front of her.

If not for her status as a princess, who would care about her? She wouldn’t even be allowed in the door!

Ah Bao blinked her large, bright eyes and opened her small mouth, “…Gold… money!”

【I don’t care! No matter how high or low your rank, if Ah Bao is here, you have to donate.】

【You live off the state, eat the state’s food. Now that the state is in trouble, is it too much to ask for some money?】

【A good official serves the people with what they take from them.】

【But when it’s time to give back, everyone plays dumb.】

“We don’t have any more to give. We already donated a hundred taels, and we won’t be donating any more. Princess, please stop this nonsense.” If not for her royal status, Madam Yang would have chased her out with a broom by now.

Trying to get money from the Prime Minister’s residence? No way!

Not even through the window!

Ah Bao hesitated for a moment as she shelled another melon seed, noticing the disdain in Madam Yang’s eyes.

Ah Bao furrowed her little brows, “…Secret.”

【If you don’t donate, I’ll reveal your secret!】

Madam Yang sneered, “The little princess is quite the joker. What secret could a little girl like you possibly know about me?”

【Hmph, I know lots of secrets!】

Di Zian, standing nearby, perked up his ears.

This Madam Yang was known as the stingiest person in the entire Prime Minister’s residence. Getting her to part with money was harder than climbing the sky.

Even the Prime Minister had no control over her.

Ah Bao giggled and tugged on Prime Minister Lan’s sleeve, looking up at Lan Jinjing, “Not… related.”

Prime Minister Lan sighed.

Madam Yang, however, sneered, “Ever since Lan Yixuan returned to the Prime Minister’s residence a year ago, the entire capital knows that Jinjing is not the biological daughter of the Prime Minister’s family. That’s no secret. Little girls shouldn’t eavesdrop on adult conversations and think they’ve struck gold. Little Princess, I suggest you go back to where you came from. You are, after all, of royal blood, meant to be cherished in the palace.

The world outside is harsh; be careful not to get hurt and cry.”

Her tone was full of mockery.

Ah Bao glared at Madam Yang, her nose in the air, and snorted, “Is related.”

Madam Yang was startled, her eyes widening.

She understood what Ah Bao meant.

【Lan Jinjing isn’t Prime Minister Lan’s biological daughter, but she is yours.】

Di Zian’s first thought was: Did the Prime Minister get cuckolded?!

But this didn’t add up.

If Prime Minister Lan had been cuckolded, then how could Lan Jinjing and Lan Yixuan be born in the same year?

How could Madam Yang have borne both the Prime Minister’s child and Lan Jinjing in the same year from two different men?

That’s impossible!