"What someone appears like to outsiders depends on what that person wants others to see," Young Master Li said with a smile.
He wanted others to see him as a prodigal, how could they see his true self?
"Makes sense."
Prince Le patted him on the shoulder, "Itās getting late, letās go."
"You go ahead, Your Highness. Iāll stay here for a few more drinks," Young Master Li continued smiling, "I heard a beauty came here a couple of days ago; Iād like to meet her."
"..." Prince Le shook his head, truly getting into character.
Ignoring him, Prince Le left first. His initial anger was gone, and now his gaze was clear, with a cold smile on the corner of his mouth, looking at the bustling crowd around him, thinking, this would soon be over.
~~~~
Prince Anās Mansion
"Why did you come here?"
Ye Ziāan looked at the man tapping his legs with headache, completely lacking any image.
Luo Linhao shook his head and said, "Of course, Iām here to lay low at your place; Iām starting my post the day after tomorrow. You wouldnāt believe how crazy those people are, rushing to give congratulatory gifts, and after giving them just leaving, yet some donāt leave and instead go to the old woman about my marriage, which is too much. Even worse, that old woman, bedridden as she is, wonāt rest, actually directing her daughter-in-law to choose a wife for me. Theyāve lined up a bunch of portraits for me to see. Do you think theyāre crazy? Iām not part of the imperial family, so why choose a wife?"
"Has uncle not mentioned anything about you and Yunyun?" Ye Ziāan raised an eyebrow.
"She had a stroke earlier; weāre afraid if we mention it, it might anger her to death." Luo Linhao shook his head, "It should be said, otherwise, how long will it delay?"
"Youāre overthinking, the old woman wonāt give up so easily, she wonāt die without effort." Ye Ziāan thought about how his uncle lost power, yet she wasnāt too affected; other matters might not have a big impact unless her own son had issues.
"Indeed, Iāll definitely have my dad talk to her." Luo Linhao thought for a moment and then asked, "Cousin, was it really that old woman who kidnapped Lele last time?"
"It was her, Lele heard and saw it herself."
"So, how do you plan to handle it?"
"Those two people have already been caught and are currently being escorted back," Ye Ziāan said, "Weāll lock them up first and talk after the matter is settled."
"By the way, cousin, why isnāt anyone coming to your house with congratulatory gifts?" Luo Linhao asked again, it seemed quite peaceful at Prince Anās Mansion, indeed quiet compared to Luo Residence.
Since yesterday, after receiving the imperial decree, people at Luo Residence had not stopped coming.
"Didnāt you know our house refuses visitors?" Ye Ziāan calmly retorted.
"Refusing visitors is useless." The half-open study door was pushed open, and in came Lele and Yangyang.
Yangyang ran up to Ye Ziāan and said, "Daddy, when are you going to take up your post? Hurry up and talk to your colleagues, can we stop the gift-giving? Even if they do, canāt they refrain from giving them to us kids? It makes us quite embarrassed in school!"
"Little brother is right, dad, you refused visitors, but the school gates are open, and those people donāt seem to get it, theyāre letting their kids bring the gifts to our school." Pausing, Lele added, "But theyāre all minor officials."
"Minor officials make sense," Ye Ziāan said, "Dadās current official position in the Capital City is insignificant to many, they certainly wonāt lower themselves to bring me gifts. Those who do are mostly officials ranking lower than me, using the opportunity to give some gifts, so that they can seek favors if needed in the future."