"Young Master, the lord is calling you."
A lanky short man reported respectfully. Li Yuan stared at him for a brief second before following behind him in the conspicuous part of the house.
"Heh, you are really thinking of driving my house bankrupt right?" Yi Lan spoke lightly, her long hair open reaching her calf.
Li Yuan quietly picked up the exquisite tea cup placed on the ivory table in front. Not responding to her, he instead said, "How much do you know about the young lady from the He family?"
A faint flicker glowed in Yi Lan's eyes for a brief second before dimming again.
Brushing her delicate fingers through her silk soft hair, she commented casually, "Sick, frail and…Infertile."
Her voice rose by just a notch on the last word. To her surprise however, Li Yuan was nonchalant.
"That's what everyone in the town knows. As the top underground gambling house it's quite pathetic for you to have no other news."
Yi Lan walked closer to him, with a sultry voice, she spoke in bare whispers, "Oh? Are you now interested in a girl? But isn't she a tad bit too young for you?"
However, before her long sleeves could touch his skin, he turned his head sideways, looking into her eyes straight.
Yi Lan moved away, not showing the embarrassment she felt.
"The He Family's second son used to be reckless in his younger days. After gambling away quite a good amount of wealth, he got grounded by the late old master. While grounded, he made a risky decision to run away from the house. Young and hot-tempered, he hadn't taken much into consideration before taking the rash decision."
Yi Lan paused, expecting him to say, "I didn't ask you to tell me her family history" in his usual tone. However, that never came. Instead Li Yuan frowned, dissatisfied with the pause.
"Continue."
"He escaped during the nighttime, being the pampered son of a wealthy family, lost his way soon enough. Eventually landing himself inside a forest, surrounded by robbers. Lady Si was passing by the forest with her guards in a carriage, returning to her house after having paid a visit to her maternal family when she encountered the scene. She saved He Xiong."
"And so they got married despite the He family looking down on the Si's merchant family." Li Yuan commented.
Yi Lan finally had a smile on her face. Afterall it was rare for him to make a wrong guess so confidently.
"Not Quite. Lady Si was attacked on her way back home as she was escorting He Xiong Back. The robbers were initially outnumbered by her guards and left the vicinity. However, unfortunately, the leader had quite the connection and blocked them on their way before they could get out of the forest. And Lady Si was violated. He Xiong was heartbroken for not being able to help her but eventually he managed to take down the men and run for life with her. After two months, in the third month they got married and the He family seemed to not have any grudges against the Si family. In fact the late old master and the old madam behaved more than just humbly with the newly married Lady Si."
Li Yuan pondered deeply. A family of generals having served the royal family for generations accepting a marriage with a merchant family so easily?
So, Si Yulin must have been pregnant during the wedding ceremony. But no matter how reckless He Xiong was, he surely won't be shameless enough to sleep with his savior without even giving her a proper status. This could only mean, that…He Qilin was an illegitimate child.
Which would also explain why Si Yulin had an early labour which in turn made He Qilin a sick child from the very day she was born.
Yi Lan picked up the glass of wine she had prepared for herself, bringing it near her lips. As she took a sip, she kept her eyes focused on Li Yuan, trying to read his mind.
Much to her disappointment though, Li Yuan merely took out a heavy pouch and placed it onto the table before leaving.
—---------------------
"Mother, you called for me?"
"Yes, come in." The elegant woman quietly sitting in front of the mirror admiring her face spoke softly. She dismissed the attending maid, before turning to look at her son.
He had grown up. The only one who she could rely on in this entire palace. The seed she had painstakingly brought up, guarding from the numerous cruel plots of women vying for her spot.
Tang Fanghua bowed respectfully before taking the seat beside his mother.
"How has your health been, mother?"
"Good. Just the usual…Never mind. These words can be saved for later. Did you receive the letter from your maternal uncle?"
"Yes mother. Don't worry, I have everything under my control. I am going to talk to Tang Yuanxiao tomorrow. If he joins us then…."
"Why won't he? He is practically physically useless. Crippled and Blind. He can't perhaps dream of getting the throne? And if he joins the second prince's camp that would put him directly under the suspicion of your father. That's just waiting for the death sentence. As for the fifth prince…he is far too young to be in the radar of the court ministers."
"And first brother?" Tang Fanghua didn't have his mother's confidence.
"You don't have to worry about him for now. Try to gain your father's trust instead. There will be a hunting event next month. Save him from the assassin attack."
"Assassin attack?" Tang Fanghua frowned, before realization dawned upon him.