Chapter 461: It

Ling Xueyao asked indulgently, "Darling, what do you want?"

The little girl pointed at Ye Qingran, "I want the bird in her hand!"

Ling Xueyao followed the girl's hand and saw Ye Qingran holding a thousand‑paper crane.

"One thousand taels of gold, sell me that thousand‑paper crane."

In a commanding tone.

No one expected such a twist; everyone stared at Ye Qingran, assuming that if she had any sense of self‑preservation, she would obediently hand over the crane.

However…

Ye Qingran refused, "Not selling."

That thousand‑paper crane was just folded by her. Xiao Hu likes this thing, and she was planning to fold some to give him.

It's a gift for her son; how could she casually sell it to others?

Besides, she isn't short of money.

Those words left everyone stunned; they hadn't expected Ye Qingran to refuse.

"No, I want it!"

The little girl wore a coquettish, willful expression.

"Not selling?" Ling Xueyao raised an eyebrow, clearly not expecting Ye Qingran to dare refuse her.

Her sharp gaze scanned Ye Qingran from top to bottom, full of contempt.

"Do you know who I am?"

Ye Qingran was unbothered, "I know— the Little City Lord of Huangjin City, the jewel in the palm of the Lord of Dan Valley."

When Dan Valley was mentioned, Ye Qingran's tone was slightly subtle, but no one noticed.

Ling Xueyao sneered arrogantly, "You know who I am, and you still dare not sell? Are you sure?"

Ye Qingran ignored her.

Ling Xueyao's complexion darkened.

Obviously, Ye Qingran's attitude displeased her.

"Mother, give this ugly thing ten thousand taels! She must think the money is insufficient!"

The little girl shouted loudly while in the maid's arms.

Ling Xueyao looked indulgently at her daughter, "Did you hear? Ten thousand taels of gold for a thousand‑paper crane—you've made a fortune!"

Ye Qingran found it amusing.

What a domineering mother‑daughter pair!

"It's not about the money; this is a gift for my son."

"Ten thousand taels of gold could buy you many gifts for your son!" Ling Xueyao was clearly impatient.

She has always been of noble status, getting whatever she wants; when had anyone dared to defy her like this?

Ye Qingran's expression grew a bit somber, "I think I've been clear enough: not selling!"

She had already made herself clear; does the other side still have to be aggressive?

"You greedy, ugly woman, aren't you just after money? Name your price!"

Those words came from the little girl.

Ye Qingran looked at the little girl with some surprise.

She and her two sons seemed the same age, yet the words she uttered were shocking.

Her child, though mischievous, never said such things.

"Kid, money isn't everything!"

When those words were spoken, Ling Xueyao sneered coldly.

"Who do you think you are? Giving my child a lecture—do you even deserve that?"

Ye Qingran didn't mind.

If it weren't because the little girl was the same age as her child, she wouldn't have said a word.

Seeing Ye Qingran's unyielding stance, Ling Xueyao's eyes flashed with murderous intent.

If the setting weren't inappropriate, she wouldn't have wasted so much time chatting with Ye Qingran.

"Mother, she won't sell, so just snatch it from her!"

Those words came from another little boy.

It was said as if it were obvious, as though there was no problem at all.

His gaze at Ye Qingran was full of provocation.

"Brother is right, Mother, stop talking to this ugly woman, just have someone snatch it for me!"

The little girl echoed.

She acted as if it were natural, as if this hadn't been done before.

Ling Xueyao crossed her arms, glowering at Ye Qingran with impatience, "If you know how to act wisely, hand over the thousand‑paper crane; otherwise don't blame me for not giving you a chance."

Those words carried an implicit warning.

Ye Qingran's patience, no matter how great, was worn away by the three of them.

Her tone also deepened, "I'll say it once more: not selling!"

"Miss, it's just a thousand‑paper crane, is it really worth this?"

"Exactly, the little kid wants it, just give it to her!"

"You look all respectable, why be so stingy?"

Some people who came for the assessment pointed at Ye Qingran, shouting curses.

Ye Qingran glanced at them with a slightly cold gaze.

Their gazes flickered away.

"I'm not close with them, so why should I give them my origami cranes just because they ask? This time it's origami cranes; next time they'll want my life—should I give that too?"

Ye Qingran's words struck the ground with force.

No one could refute.

Ye Qingran then pointed at one of them, "I like your jade pendant—give it to me? For a Mysterious Emperor, a jade pendant is nothing, right?"

That person was one of the few who had just blamed Ye Qingran.

"What, you're unwilling?"

He instinctively retorted, "This jade pendant is very important to me!"

"Is it? Well, this origami crane is important to me too."

That person was speechless.

Ye Qingran gave a cold smile.

Many people always speak without feeling sore in the waist, loving to stand on the moral high ground to criticize.

"I didn't expect you to have such pride." Ling Xueyao laughed mockingly.

"Do you know that offending me means offending Huangjin City and Dan Valley? Even if you become an instructor at the Academy, your future days won't be easy."

The few people who had just been educated by Ye Qingran now looked at her with contempt.

"Who in Beimingzhou doesn't know that Huangjin City and Dan Valley cannot be offended? Especially since the other party is the Young City Lord's Wife of Huangjin City and the daughter of the Lord of Dan Valley!"

"This woman's ending will surely be miserable!"

Ye Qingran shrugged, "Then bring it on."

Ling Xueyao narrowed her eyes, a cold glint flashing in the depths.

"Good, very good!"

"You have pride? Then I will dismantle and crush it!"

"However, now is not the time."

"Dear, shall I have the Origami Crane Lady fetch you another later?"

"As the Young City Lord's Wife of Huangjin City, Ling Xueyao knew this was the Divine Province Academy; if she acted too blatantly, it would harm her reputation."

"But her daughter obviously didn't think that deeply."

"No, I want it now! Mother, if you kill her, she won't have so much nonsense, right?"