Chapter 16

A fly in the ointment

"Uncle, aunty!" Lian Mu Han called while entering the courtyard; breaking the suffocating silence.

Lian Jin Yu looked up at the call and smiled "Mu Han …”

Dong Fang Jin followed a few minutes after. An Zhong Tao and Lian jin Yu seeing the crown prince arriving, stood in ceremony. Dong Fang Jin quickly asked them to be at ease.

"This prince came in your residence and is currently enjoying the general's and his wife hospitality. There is no need to be so formal, it would make this prince feel alienated…"

At these words, An Zang Tao and Lian Jin Yu nodded and called for seats to be added and tea to be prepared. In a few second the still courtyard was bursting into chaos.

An Qing Ran came back at that moment cheerful saying from the courtyard entrance "I am back, I will immediately serve you…"

But, when she saw Lian Mu Han and Dong Fang Jin she stopped in her tracks speechless. Why did these two come here?

Were they trying to destroy her plan? She wanted to create an opportunity for her parents to interact with each other. She didn't need outsiders coming and bother them!

Thinking about this she couldn't help but ask "Cousin are the lanterns in the city beautiful this evening?".

Lian Mu Han obviously understood what she meant, but ignored her.

"His Highness and I came for a visit and were hungry. We heard that a meal was being prepared here so we decided to come in and visit aunty… This one is sorry to impose…"

Lian Mu Han sounded very embarrassed but his face did not show any intention to leave.

An Qing Ran was speechless "Why is cousin being so polite…?"

"I thought my cousin would not welcome us!" interrupted Lian Mu Han before she could finish, a grin on his face.

Qing Ran looked at her cousin's innocent act and gave up. She knew the kind of person her cousin was. Others could easily be cheated by his harmless appearance but she wouldn’t. After all, if he wasn't a clever person would he have such a close relationship with Dong Fang Jin?

Thinking about this she realized she didn't know much about this crown prince. In her previous life, he was twenty years old when he died and she never had the chance to interact with him. She never met the prince at twelve years old!.

Subconsciously, she observed the youth. Dong Fang Jin was sitting on an ebony chair with a smiling face. However, An Qing Ran soon realized that this person shouldn't be underestimated. Glimpsed of sharpness flashed from time to time flash in eyes. This look seemed to pierce through one person heart!

At that moment she felt like he knew everything about her. Even the fact that she was reborn! Coming back to herself she realized that she was thinking too much. It was impossible for the prince to know.

Moreover what she wanted today was for her parents to get closer, but, these two uninvited guests distracted her.

"Ran er come and meet the prince," said Lian Jin Yu lovingly when she saw that Qing Ran stood by the courtyard entrance. What happened to my gracious daughter Today? Was she scared by her aunt's plot?

Hearing her mother call for her An Qing Ran walked towards the group, waiting to courtesy.

Dong Fang Jin did not let her, with an amused smile he said "Miss An! There is no need to stand in ceremony before this prince…"

An Qing Ran still perform ceremony and turned to her mother and father with a smile: "It's great that our family can finally eat together! But I don't know what the kitchen prepared…"

Before she could finish and leave again. Lian Jin Yu grabbed her hand and pulled Qing Ran to her side. "Ran er, you should sit and rest. Why are you working so hard? It looks like you are the one managing the general's household…"

An Qing Ran laughed at her mother's rebuke "It's just… I am really, really happy! What can be more fun than to eat together as a family?"