Chapter Eighty-Nine: Li Zheng's Identity

Lin Miaomiao wandered through the street, watching as she and Li Yanhe observed the bustling vendors. Her gaze fell upon an exquisitely crafted hairpin, and she couldn't help but want to pick it up for a closer look. Just then, she heard a woman's voice addressing the shop assistant, "Shop boy, I'll take this hairpin."

The voice belonged to a domineering woman. Lin Miaomiao turned and saw a young lady dressed in pale yellow. Lin Miaomiao glanced at her but said nothing.

The woman looked Lin Miaomiao up and down and sneered, "Just a low-ranking princess, yet you dare stand in my way? You must be blind."

Lin Miaomiao smiled coolly at the words, saying nothing. She turned to Li Yanhe and said, "Let's go."

The woman, infuriated by Lin Miaomiao's indifference, pointed at her and snapped, "Don't you have any manners? I'm talking to you!"

Lin Miaomiao glanced at her with utter disdain and retorted, "Who’s barking here? If I stoop to argue with a dog, I lower myself. If I ignore it, the dog grows bolder."

Her cold gaze fell upon the woman, who turned green with rage and was about to strike when Madam Zhao, standing by Lin Miaomiao, stepped forward to block her path.

"Princess Lin'an, if I were you, I wouldn’t be so aggressive here," Madam Zhao said.

Princess Lin'an shot Madam Zhao a furious glare and then turned to Li Yanhe, her voice icy. "You rejected me for this little nobody? Li Yanhe, I waited for you for five years—this is how you repay me?"

Listening to her, Lin Miaomiao found the woman laughably absurd. Li Yanhe had done nothing, yet Princess Lin'an placed all the blame on him.

Annoyed by the accusation, Lin Miaomiao pulled Li Yanhe behind her and said to Princess Lin'an, "What’s wrong with you, old woman? Do you enjoy looking for trouble? You come into my shop, make a scene, and act so arrogant—are you out of your mind?"

She fixed Princess Lin'an with a look that clearly said, "Are you an idiot?" and added, "Waiting for someone is your own business—who says effort must always be rewarded?"

"And besides, you’re not Li Yanhe’s wife. What right do you have to insult anyone?" Lin Miaomiao said coldly.

Princess Lin'an, unused to being spoken to so bluntly, was furious. She pointed at Lin Miaomiao and shouted, "You little wretch, what did you just call me?"

Lin Miaomiao burst out laughing at the insult. Just as she was about to retort, she saw Li Zheng descending the stairs.

Li Zheng gave Princess Lin'an a cold look. "Lin'an, I never imagined a princess could lack such decorum. It’s one thing to question a prince of the realm, but to utter such vile words..."

Princess Lin'an shivered at his tone. Li Zheng turned to the onlookers and barked, "Clear out!"

Everyone hurriedly knelt at his command. Li Zheng looked down at them with distaste. "Pathetic."

Li Yanhe shot Li Zheng a cold glance, then pulled Lin Miaomiao with him as he strode toward Li Zheng. Lin Miaomiao, unsure what was happening, noticed the severity on Li Yanhe’s face and sensed trouble, so she dared not ask and simply followed.

They entered a room together. Li Yanhe stepped inside, a mocking smile on his lips.

Realizing his scheme had been uncovered, Li Zheng clapped his hands and addressed the rest, "Leave. As for you, Princess Lin'an, you’d best spend some time in the manor reflecting on your behavior."

With that, he turned and went upstairs. After he closed the door, Li Yanhe looked at him and said, "I never suspected, Uncle, that your secret to amassing wealth was this."

Hearing Li Yanhe, Lin Miaomiao suddenly understood—Li Zheng had been listening upstairs the entire time.

She stood quietly aside as Li Zheng smiled and fanned himself.

Li Yanhe said, "If you’re betting with me, you’ll have to pay up."

"You’ve earned quite a bit these last few days. Since you used me in your wager, how about splitting it with me?"

Li Zheng’s face fell at his words. "Nephew, it’s not easy for me to save a dowry for my future wife. You can’t do this to me."

Lin Miaomiao found his complaint inexplicably amusing.

Li Yanhe didn’t give Li Zheng a chance to protest. He took Lin Miaomiao by the hand and walked out, calling back, "Remember—half."

By the time he finished, they were already outside. Li Zheng turned to his servant and snapped, "Useless fool. If you can’t even handle such a trifle, what good are you to me?"

The servant immediately knelt. Li Zheng threw a stack of silver notes at him in disgust.

Meanwhile, Lin Miaomiao and Li Yanhe searched for a place to eat. Lin Miaomiao, holding Li Yanhe’s hand, looked up and asked, "Why was everyone so afraid of Li Zheng earlier?"

Li Yanhe replied, "Prince Zheng has the authority to supervise officials. Unlike other royals, he doesn’t possess the Royal Jade Token."

The mention of this brought to Lin Miaomiao’s mind the ancient secret agencies tasked with monitoring officials.

In that instant, she realized just how great Li Zheng’s power was. She looked at Li Yanhe, puzzled.

"What exactly is this Royal Jade Token?" she asked.

Li Yanhe sighed, then explained, "The jade token is a symbol of royal status."

With his words, Lin Miaomiao understood: Li Zheng wasn’t recognized as a member of the royal family, so he lacked official status. If he ever rebelled, he would have no legitimate claim.