Chapter 113: Who Are You?

Not far away, Xue Jiaoyue naturally spotted Jin Buhan as well.

Her eyes widened in a mix of surprise and delight as she pointed in his direction and exclaimed, "That’s my uncle! That’s my uncle!"

No wonder the wealthy patron was so rich; he was from the Jin family. That made perfect sense. The Jin family’s wealth was immeasurable; never mind building one three-story ship, they could afford a hundred. It was just that the Jins were rather stingy, and even if they had a surplus, they wouldn't spend it on her family.

"Your uncle?" Xiao Jian asked.

Xue Qiniang’s uncle? Wasn't that the wealthy patron?

The wealthy patron was Xue Qiniang’s uncle!

Heavens, Xue Qiniang’s uncle was a tycoon—so that was why the Xue family was so well-off!

Of course, this money belonged to her uncle’s house, not yet the Xue family’s, but it would be a different story if he married Xue Jiaoyue.

If he married Xue Jiaoyue, it would be equivalent to winning over Xue Qiu. If Xue Qiu supported him, then as Xue Qiu’s in-law, wouldn't that tycoon favor the Xue family? Wouldn't he help him?

Then the tycoon’s money would be the Xue family’s money, and by extension, his own.

Xiao Jian felt as if a windfall had dropped from the sky. Initially, he had only wanted to cultivate a connection with Xue Jiaoyue because of her exceptional beauty and decent background, but he hadn't expected her to be such a hidden treasure.

Happiness arrived so suddenly that it felt unreal!

Xiao Jian asked uncertainly, "Qiniang, is he really your uncle?"

Xue Jiaoyue laughed. "Your Highness, you really know how to joke. Would I misidentify my own uncle? Could there be any mistake? As the saying goes, a mother’s brother is as important as a father!"

With her uncle’s support, he would certainly be able to secure his position as the imperial prince. After all, his father had so many sons; without money, one couldn't become the crown prince.

Xiao Jian was convinced. He looked at Xue Jiaoyue with eyes full of tenderness. "Since he is your uncle, he will surely see you!"

"Not just me—he will see us!" Xue Jiaoyue said shyly. "I came with Your Highness. You are incomparably noble; would my uncle see me and not you?"

Everyone loves to hear sweet words, and Xiao Jian agreed with her logic. He smiled at her and said, "I am indebted to you, Qiniang!" His words were considerate, but his eyes betrayed a sense of entitlement.

Naturally, Xue Jiaoyue did not notice.

The others were also stunned by the revelation that the wealthy patron was Xue Jiaoyue’s uncle. With such a massive backer, how could anyone else hope to compete with her?

They watched as the prince began to look at her with newfound admiration.

***

Wang Weiwei and Feng Ling both felt a flash of jealousy, but for the moment, neither made a move.

Soon, their boat reached the side of the grand ship.

Jin Buhan had not yet entered the cabin, though he was about to. Beside him stood a young girl—naturally, it was Xue Fanzhi.

On the surrounding pleasure boats, people were whispering about Jin Buhan’s favoritism toward his niece, but both Jin Buhan and Xue Fanzhi remained indifferent to the commotion.

Seeing them about to step into the cabin, Xue Jiaoyue hurriedly called out, "Uncle! Uncle! It’s me!"

Xue Fanzhi turned around first and saw the beautifully dressed Xue Jiaoyue. She frowned slightly, thinking, *So she came here? And she’s with Xiao Jian. No wonder she left the house so early!*

Jin Buhan looked down, raised an eyebrow, and asked, "Who are you? You look familiar!"

Xue Jiaoyue: "..."

This "convenient" uncle of hers really hadn't seen her more than a few times throughout the year, and for a bizarre reason: he didn't like her.

Jin Buhan felt she didn't look like him. However, because Xue Fanzhi resembled the Jin family more closely, and the Jin family resembled Jin Buhan, he concluded that Xue Fanzhi was his true niece. He taught her Taoist arts, instructed her in reading and writing, and treated her much better.

But surely he couldn't fail to recognize his own niece!

Xue Jiaoyue was furious. Sensing the suspicious glares from those nearby, she said indignantly, "Uncle, it’s me, Qiniang! There are so many people here, please don't joke around!"

Jin Buhan truly didn't remember. *Oh, she must be one of the Xue children,* he thought. But there were so many girls in the Xue family that every time he visited, a whole roomful would swarm him.

"Which branch are you from?" Jin Buhan asked, scratching his forehead.

Xue Jiaoyue: "..."

*Is this man doing this on purpose?*

"I’m from the main branch! I’m the daughter of your own sister!" Xue Jiaoyue wanted to scream.

Jin Buhan wasn't interested in those details; he only knew that one niece looked like him. He gave an "oh" and asked, "Are you the older one or the younger one? The older one was born to the first wife of the eldest brother, and the younger one was born to my sister, right?"

Xue Jiaoyue wanted to douse him with cold water. She gritted her teeth and said, "I am the younger one!"

At this moment, Feng Ling whispered, "So Qiniang’s mother was a second wife!"

Xue Jiaoyue: "..."

***

*What’s wrong with being a second wife?* Xue Fanzhi was also born to a second wife, so why did no one mention her? It wasn't as if she were born to a concubine!

Besides, she wasn't actually born to a second wife, but she couldn't say that.

Xue Jiaoyue shot a cold look at Feng Ling. *A child of a second wife can board the ship; she herself is the daughter of the first wife, so why shouldn't she be able to go up?*

Thinking this, she ignored the comment and looked back at Jin Buhan, suppressing her rage. "Uncle, please let me up!"

Jin Buhan straightened his back and asked, "Why do you want to come up?"

"Naturally, I have business, Uncle!" Xue Jiaoyue was on the verge of a breakdown. She was so impatient she feared she might roar at any second; this uncle was infuriating.

But Jin Buhan shook his head. "Fine, I see. You were born to my sister, and I am your uncle. You have business and want to board, but you can't. This ship isn't for just anyone; you have to answer the question correctly!"

The question!

Xiao Jian’s heart skipped a beat.

Xue Jiaoyue pointed at Xue Fanzhi and asked, "Then how did the Eighth Sister get on board?"

Jin Buhan looked at Xue Jiaoyue as if she were a fool. "She answered correctly, obviously. Didn't I publish the answer?"

"But I wrote the same thing! Why won't you let me up?"

"You wrote it?" Jin Buhan shook his head. "No, you didn't. I didn't see it!"

*How could that be?* Jin Buhan didn't believe anyone else could have answered that question. First, the date really was his niece’s birthday. Second, no one would think of such an answer. Third, if A-Zhi came, he was confident she would write it, because only someone straightforward would say exactly what was on their mind, and his niece was exactly that type.

As for anyone else, he didn't believe anyone else was as confident as his niece.

*Oh, the other niece probably has the same birthday, but so what? She definitely didn't answer.* He hadn't miscalculated.

"No, you didn't answer!" Jin Buhan stated firmly. *If you didn't answer, don't make a scene.* He only wanted to talk with his niece, A-Zhi.

Xue Jiaoyue couldn't make sense of it. How could she not have answered? Her uncle was incredibly wealthy and wouldn't care about a single person; there was no need to lie about something like this.

There was only one answer. Xue Jiaoyue looked at Xiao Jian, her eyes filled with disbelief. "Your Highness, you didn't write it, did you?!"