Chapter 96: Protecting Your Own Wife

Mrs. Yang’s chest heaved with anger. “If I’d known you’d cause such trouble today, I should’ve let you starve to death in the countryside! What good is a biological daughter if blood ties can’t compare to my Jinjing?”

“Mother, you’ve gone too far!” Lan Moxiu said sternly.

Mrs. Yang, her face red with fury, snapped, “Moxiu, I’ve warned you before to stay away from Xuan’er. Spend your time teaching Jinjing instead.

Now look what’s happened. Xuan’er has offended the royal family. Didn’t you hear what Jinjing said? The Seventh Prince left with a cold expression.

I’m sure the Seventh Prince will come after Xuan’er sooner or later. Who do you think can protect her then?”

“My Lady, the Seventh Prince has arrived,” the steward reported.

Mrs. Yang felt her vision go black and almost collapsed.

Lan Jinjing quickly supported her. “Mother, what do we do? The Seventh Prince is here. He must be here to settle the score with Sister. How about we hide her?”

“Hide her? Where could we possibly hide her in this household?”

Lan Jinjing bit her lip. “Then maybe I should go speak to the Seventh Prince?”

“What status do you have to speak to the Seventh Prince?” Lan Moxiu said in a low voice.

Mrs. Yang said, “Moxiu, you and the Seventh Prince were classmates. Why don’t you speak to him and ask him not to blame our household? As for Xuan’er, we can’t protect her. Let’s just hope the Seventh Prince doesn’t involve the rest of us.”

Lan Yixuan laughed coldly. “None of you need to say anything. I’ll speak to him myself.”

She couldn’t stay in this household for another second.

Grandmother, it’s not that I’m disobeying your last wishes, but… it’s just too unbearable!

I can’t pretend anymore!

Even if it means death, she would leave the Prime Minister’s residence.

Let them continue doting on Lan Jinjing, the fake daughter.

When Di Zian arrived, he immediately sensed the tense atmosphere in the hall.

Just as Lan Moxiu was about to speak, Lan Jinjing stepped forward. “Sister, come here. Didn’t you say you wanted to kneel and apologize to the Seventh Prince? Come on, hurry!”

Lan Yixuan didn’t even glance at Lan Jinjing.

She walked straight up to Di Zian.

Di Zian looked her up and down, feeling extremely excited despite maintaining his composure.

This was the third time he had been this close to Lan Yixuan.

The first two times, he got beaten up whenever he was close.

This time, it shouldn’t happen again, right?

Lan Yixuan kept her head down.

But Di Zian still noticed, “You were hit?”

His voice was emotionless, giving nothing away.

“Your Highness, please don’t be angry. I’ve already punished this disobedient girl. If you’re still not satisfied, I will punish her more severely,” Mrs. Yang said, bowing.

Di Zian’s eyes were as sharp as knives. “You hit her?”

Mrs. Yang was now at her wits’ end. The Seventh Prince was clearly upset.

How unlucky she was to have given birth to such a disaster.

“Yes, I hit her.”

“Who gave you the right to hit her? As her mother, how could you beat her like this? She is your biological daughter!”

Mrs. Yang was stunned and looked up at Di Zian in confusion. “Your Highness???”

Lan Yixuan was also taken aback. Looking at Di Zian’s demeanor and hearing his voice… why did it seem familiar?

Oh no. She suddenly remembered!

That night, she had snuck into the imperial kitchen and encountered a man in black. She might have even given him a beating.

Could it be that the Seventh Prince recognized her?

No, it shouldn’t be possible. She had been disguised as a young eunuch and had her face covered. If the Seventh Prince had recognized her, he would have already held her accountable, wouldn’t he?

“Lan Yixuan, don’t be afraid. If anyone in the Lan family dares to lay a hand on you again, just tell me, and I’ll stand up for you,” Di Zian declared.

Lan Yixuan looked at him as if he were an idiot. What was wrong with this Seventh Prince? She had slapped him today, yet instead of seeking revenge, he was protecting her?

Lan Jinjing’s expression changed at these words. “Your Highness, Lan Yixuan hit you earlier today. If you’re angry, please let it out. Don’t keep it bottled up, making everyone in the Lan family anxious and unsure of what to do.”

Di Zian’s face darkened. He was irritated just hearing Lan Jinjing speak. “Who said I came here to settle a score with Lan Yixuan? I just came to check on her.”

Mrs. Yang was bewildered: “?”

Lan Jinjing was speechless: “…”

Lan Moxiu seemed to have figured something out.

“Your Highness, what is there to check on about Lan Yixuan? I heard she upset you today…” Mrs. Yang forced a smile, still trying to gauge the Seventh Prince’s intentions.

“It was my fault for almost scaring her. It has nothing to do with her,” Di Zian replied.

Mrs. Yang’s eyes flashed. Was the Seventh Prince out of his mind?

“Alright, today’s matter is over. I won’t pursue it, and you are not to punish her either. Understand?”

Mrs. Yang quickly nodded, “Since Your Highness has said so, of course, I understand.”

Di Zian let out a silent sigh of relief. “Then I’ll take my leave.”

As Di Zian left the mansion, he nodded at Ah Bao, who was hiding in the corner. He had done his part. Now it was up to Ah Bao.

Ah Bao gave Di Zian an “OK” sign.

Di Zian, having no idea what the gesture meant, guessed, “A circle? Completion? Oh, alright, sister, I’ll leave this to you!”

Ah Bao grinned, showing her white teeth, “Brother, don’t worry.”

Earlier, Ah Bao had told Di Zian that Lan Yixuan might be beaten to death, which had frightened him into action. He couldn’t hold back any longer and went to the Prime Minister’s Mansion. After all, [a man must protect his own wife!] His appearance seemed to have worked. However, he still regretted that Lan Yixuan had suffered a slap; had he known, he would have intervened sooner.

“Brother, Sister Lan is in trouble,” Ah Bao had said, pointing to the clouds in the sky, fearing Di Zian wouldn’t understand.

“Please, sister, help your brother and save Lan Yixuan. I beg you,” Di Zian had pleaded with red eyes for the first time, leading to the scene just now. Ah Bao was about to enter the Lan mansion to help her brother pursue his future sister-in-law.

Inside the hall, Mrs. Yang stared at Lan Yixuan. “What’s going on between you and the Seventh Prince?”

“I don’t know him.”

“You don’t know him? Then why did he help you just now?” Mrs. Yang didn’t believe Lan Yixuan was telling the truth. “Lan Yixuan, it’s not that I don’t care for you, but you know the misfortune of your fate. If the royal family finds out, do you think they’d let you marry the Seventh Prince? If the royal family holds us accountable, the Lan family wouldn’t be able to bear it. I can’t let one person drag down the entire family. So, no matter what your relationship is with the Seventh Prince, end it now. Your sister’s auspicious fate is the only one fit to marry into the royal family as a princess Concubine. You are not to compete with her on this.”

“Mother, this is not something my sister can decide alone. How can you say such things?” Lan Moxiu spoke up.