The one who truly held enormous power was the Main Branch of the Song Family. The Second House and the Third House of the Song Family, who could only survive by attaching themselves to the Main Branch, were not worth regarding at all.
If Duan Lan did not take them into consideration, then certainly, Marquis Mu wouldn’t either.
Of course, not many people in this world truly knew about this internal matter. Even the Emperor, let alone the Empress, were unaware. Otherwise, why would the Empress persistently wish to form a marriage alliance with Song Yalin from the Song Family? To put it plainly, wasn’t it because she hoped to win over the power of the Main Branch of the Song Family?
Seeing that his advice had no effect whatsoever, the attendant’s face turned beet red with embarrassment and he could only awkwardly ask, "What is your intention, sir?"
Duan Lan raised an eyebrow and replied with a light laugh, "Rather than the Second or Third Houses of the Song Family, I find this Song Yalin to be rather interesting."
Qingyun blinked in surprise: "Do you mean you fancy the Third Miss of the Song Family? Although her reputation has suffered, she is from the legitimate line of the Song Family and if you want her to be a concubine I’m afraid..."
Before Qingyun could finish, Duan Lan silenced him with a cold look. The attendant immediately shut up, a chill crawling up his spine.
Duan Lan spoke coldly, "Keep a close eye on this Song Yalin. This woman isn’t just a simple character. Keep her for future reference, she could prove to be highly useful."
"Yes..." Qingyun hesitated before nodding in agreement.
Inwardly, he heaved a sign, feeling extraordinarily wronged.
I had thought that finally our young master seems interested in a girl and could solve the matter of his lifelong partner, yet who could have known that she was just another chess piece for his game. Both master and madam are turning white-haired for concern of the Young Master. When will these days come to an end!
----
These days, Xin He increasingly found it strange that Duan Lan was indeed composed and nothing had come to pass. Would the Emperor truly allow him to idle away his days here?
"Mother, why are you lost in thoughts again?" Ah Guai pinched Xin He ’s face.
Xin He growled, prying her small hand off her face, "Don’t pinch mother’s face."
Ah Guai pouted, "Mother always pinches me but doesn’t let me pinch her, but lets father pinch her face. That’s bias."
Xin He helplessly rubbed her forehead, I can’t do anything about it if your father wants to pinch my face!
"Ah Guai, how many characters have you’ve written? Let mother take a look." Xin He picked up a few Big Characters Ah Guai had written to look at them, then she laughed, "You’ve really improved."
Ah Guai squealed in delight, "Really?"
Xin He patted her little head, "Yes, Ah Guai is becoming very smart. Come, mother will teach you another character."
Although Ah Guai was now attending school, she was just there to play with her brothers. She obviously could not keep up with Xiao Bei’s lessons. During class time she would sit on the side, learning to write or occasionally doze off.
When it came to Ah Guai’s real education, it was still Xin He who taught her.
Just then, a young maid hurried in and announced, "Princess, a distinguished guest has arrived."
Xin He raised an eyebrow, "Who?"
"I don’t know who it is. The person just asked me to come and announce that a distinguished guest from the capital city had arrived. It’s a woman, she said her surname is Li."
Xin He’s expression changed and her hand that was holding the brush stiffened, "Surname Li?"
Shulan and Xiaoyu’s faces also turned more serious: "Someone from Le Yuanhou’s estate?"
Xin He had many thoughts racing through her mind, but she didn’t have time to ponder over them. She raised her hand and said, "Xiaoyu, please bring the person to the flower hall." 𝐟𝗿𝐞𝚎𝚠𝐞𝚋𝕟𝐨𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝕔𝕠𝚖
Xiaoyu nodded, "Yes."
Then she quickly turned and left.
Ah Guai naively asked, "Father once said mother’s surname was also Li. The woman with the surname Li, is she mother’s sister?"
Xin He fondly touched Ah Guai’s little head, "Mother has no sisters and only one younger brother."
Ah Guai couldn’t quite understand at this moment, she grabbed the hair on her little head, and asked with a puzzled expression, "But mother’s father’s surname is Li..."
Xin He smiled but didn’t say anything more, she directly picked up Ah Guai, "Let’s go and meet our guest."
Initially, she was wondering if the person was sent by Le Yuanhou. Thus, she didn’t think much about it and directly brought Ah Guai with her. But now when she saw that it was Li Junyan, Xin He felt that it wasn’t suitable to bring Ah Guai to such a place.
Originally, she thought it was someone from Le Yuanhou’s estate, so she didn’t take it to heart and brought her here. But now, after seeing Li Junyan, Xin He thought that it was inappropriate to expose a child to such realism.
Xin He patted Ah Guai’s head gently: "Ah Guai, you go out and play with Shulan, mother has official matters to deal with."
Ah Guai looked at Li Junyan curiously but obediently did not question any further and followed Shulan out the door.
Li Junyan sneered as she watched Ah Guai leave. "Sister, it seems you are living quite a good life. This daughter of yours is as beautiful as you. She will certainly be able to enchant man’s hearts easily in the future, just like you. Your life is going smoothly."
Xin He’s face instantly turned icy cold and she promptly swung a slap across her face.
Li Junyan cried out and fell back into her chair.
Xin He towered before her, her eyes icy as she said, "This slap is a lesson for you to be careful what you say, especially in front of me. Keep your mouth clean. No snide remarks, especially about my daughter."
In her life, Xin He had been insulted a fair few times. She had heard all sorts of slurs like "seducer", and she did not take these to heart often. The reason why Li Jun Yan fell foul today was because she used the same term on Ah Guai.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
