Waiting

As she walked into the Duke's estate from the back entrance, the scene from earlier kept playing in her mind.

His cold voice kept resonating with the same sentence together with the content of the report from her investigation that seemed to have fused together again and again in her mind.

"What possibly she has to have my attention? She is nothing but an illegitimate daughter! After I get back at the Duke, I would have nothing to do with her She is nothing but the leeway to me."

At this, she could not help but ask herself, 'Did the older brother was affectionate towards me only for his motive? Did he despise me so much that if not for his motive he would rather have nothing to do with her? Was it because I am now an illegitimate daughter of the Duke Lan Bichen?'

Thinking of this, she paused in her steps, looked at her feet on the ground. Asked herself," Does it worth it?"

Realising how stupid her question was, she shook her head and sighed.

Taking a deep breath she looked up only to find, she had unknowingly reached near the centre of estates where the main courtyard is. The place where the Duke and the duchess chambers were.

The servants and maids who saw her neither bowed nor stopped to greet her but had a surprising look in their eyes as saw her in there.

Though noticing their behaviour towards her, she didn't get angry or upset at that as she would rather look around the estates where she lives but it could be considered that she doesn't.

Hadn't it been seven or eight years since she visited this place in the estates?

Glancing around, it would be right to say, anywhere one's eye could reach it will only be greeted by its beautiful yet imposing design and decoration.

It is noted in the books of the country's history, the ancestors of the Lan family along with the founding father of the country had gone through the blood and sweat together.

So the relationship between the royals and Lan's is deemed close to other noble families.

The grandiose of the estates is one of the reasons to find those words true.

Though it's a Duke estate and was only third after the Imperial Palace and the Prime Minister's estate in terms of designs and decoration in the country, the lush green mountain behind the estate only increases its beauty to another level and because of this, it would always get to be the talk of the town whenever they held banquets or organise events in the estate.

As both the Old Madam Lan and Madam Lan loves plants and flowers and pays great attention to them, in the entire estate along with mesmerizing designs of the building, one could see various types of flowers and plant even those that are rare to find and hard to cultivate.

Of course, they could do so as apart from the success in various fields, the Lan family men were also known for their doting and loyalty towards their women.

In the capital or maybe in the country, the Lan family's connections run deep in both politics and the finance world.

Her eyes paused at the only white blossom tree with blooming flowers at the centre of the main garden, where tea parties are generally held.

Looking at the white flowers, she muttered to herself, "Mother, perhaps that's the reason I haven't gotten a chance to pay your debt."

She closed her eyes and took a deep breath before opening her eyes again, she said, " Mother, I hope you be patient and is waiting for me to pay your debt."

Just as thought to go there and sit for a while, she heard footsteps coming from the side corridor.

She tilted her head a little and she saw a row of servants and maids carrying some boxes and trays following the young man in his early twenties and a little girl around thirteen or fourteen coming towards the garden.

Looking at their clothes and the elegance they were exuding one could instantly tell that they were the young master and young lady of the family.

Although she barely cross paths with them, she, because of her investigation could recognise them at a glance, not to mention she was currently standing in their residence.

Lan Yansheng, the young master of the Lan family, is talented in strategies, cunning in nature but is warm and loving towards his family and friend. At this young age, he is the second rank official in the court and was rising towards the top as he is directly under The Crown Prince.

Lan Xiulin, the pampered young lady of the Lan's, talented in arts and music, witty and smart, looking at her cute appearance one could tell she would become a known beauty in the coming future. And with her talent, she would surely be a part of fame just like her brother and other Lan's.

As she was looking at them she heard the young girl's cheerful voice, " Yan-gege, you are going to help me decorate the garden this time. Mother had told me once, that you have a very great taste, and every time you took the responsibility of any event or banquet it had been praiseworthy."

Smiling at the girl's words, Lan Yansheng, said, " Yeah, yeah, you don't have to exaggerate it. I will compensate you by organizing this birthday banquet for our mother's birthday, but I really can't be present for the banquet. So, don't get upset, alright?"

The little girl pouted and said, " You are just being smug about your talent but Yan-gege can you not stay for mother's birthday, she will be really happy. Can't you delay it by a few days?"

At this, the young man caressed the little girl's head and said in a coaxing tone, " I know that you really want to make mother happy on her birthday but Lin Lin, I really can't, but I promise I will bring back something good for both mother and you."

Hearing this the girl's eyes brightens momentarily but she still pouted in the next moment saying, " It's not about gifts Yan Gege, It's just that if you can be with us on her birthday, she would really be happy. You know family matters to mother the most"

After a pause, she frowned and continued, " You don't know as you are often out on missions but the mother is still not..."

As they were going towards the garden and she was standing beside the pillar, she decided to walk back to avoid crossing paths with them.

But hadn't expected that would capture Lan Yansheng's attention.

Lan Yansheng, though official but had been learning martial arts since young. So with years of practice, he was vigilant enough to notice small movements besides the pillar but seeing, it was Su Xin, he raised his brow and asked in an astonishing voice, " How come you are you here?"

Lan Yasheng's astonishment didn't come from anything but from Su Xin's behaviour that ever since she entered Duke's estates, she had never once tried to mingle with them let alone come to the main garden which is close to their courtyards where they reside.

And the only time she visited the main courtyard was on her first day of entering the estates and that too when their grandmother brought her here to meet their father...

Being seen, Su Xin could only take a step forward and stand in front of them but didn't greet him by acting cordially nor did she smile amicably at them.

With serene expressions, she looked at Lan Yansheng, said, " For a breather."

She didn't explain anything as she had never done because she was never a member of this family, and to begin with, they never cared to pry her to explain.

Without glancing at others, she nodded at him and turned to leave.

The servants and maids behind him, noticing her had long bowed their heads. As neither they can greet her the same as they greet their young master and the young miss because neither the Duke nor Duchess has acknowledged her presence nor they can disrespect her because of the Dowager Duchess warning years ago.

But the little young miss of the family doesn't think so.

Standing beside Lan Yansheng, when Lan Xiulin saw her stepping out, her expression had long changed from jovial and cheerful to a cold one. She didn't greet as she had never considered her even as her elder not to talk about accepting her as her elder sister.

Why should she? When Su Xin was the most depressing and upsetting topic for her parents?

Seeing her about to take a turn at the end of the corridor, Lan Xiulin, ignored the presence of her elder brother and servants and in a slightly raised voice, said, "My mother's birthday in coming days. I hope you know very well what to do."